Pittwater Life January 2024 Issue

The Local Voice Since 1991 

JANUARY 2024 

FREE 

pittwaterlife 

LOCAL GUIDE: 193 THINGS TO DO 

‘DEVELOPMENT ONSLAUGHT’ FEARS / BEACHES ACHIEVERS 

HOLIDAY CROSSWORD + PUZZLES / BARRENJOEY BOATSHED 

THE WAY WE WERE / HOT PROPERTY / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD...

Editorial 

Wakehurst works in sync 

We hear NB Council is making 

headway negotiating 

with Transport for NSW to 

co-ordinate State-led safety 

upgrade work on the Wakehurst 

Parkway with Council’s flood 

improvements agenda. 

As reported last month, the 

NSW Government is about to 

commence $150m of blackspot 

safety upgrades along the 

Parkway, include two lanes 

of roadway from Oxford Falls 

Road to Frenchs Forest Road. 

Meanwhile Council’s project 

aims to reduce the frequency 

of flooding at four locations 

– Oxford Falls Road West, The 

Bends, Sydney Academy of 

Sport and Wakehurst Parkway 

at Oxford Falls. 

Council concedes that given 

the programs are linked, it is 

vital that construction is integrated 

and delivered efficiently 

and cost-effectively, with minimal 

impact on the community. 

Council says it has progressed 

designs and environ- 

mental approval for both sites 

at Oxford Falls, which will 

achieve the required protection 

against flooding. Council 

has also revised options for 

The Bends that reduce harm to 

the environment and increase 

potential for flood prevention. 

Council tells us it will 

progress the detailed design, 

approvals and procurement 

for the Oxford Falls Road West 

flood improvement works, 

including community consultation, 

in the next few months. 

Council will also soon progress 

the alternative design at 

The Bends, including concept 

designs, identification of likely 

environmental approvals and 

community consultation. 

Likewise detailed design, 

approvals and procurement for 

the Sydney Academy of Sport 

flood improvement works are 

expected to begin later in 2024. 

Readers can follow progress 

on Council’s Your Say page. 

– Nigel Wall 


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Vol 34 No 6 

Celebrating 33 years 

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FREE 

pittwaterlife 

LOCAL GUIDE: 193 THINGS TO DO 

‘DEVELOPMENT ONSLAUGHT’ FEARS / BEACHES ACHIEVERS 

HOLIDAY CROSSWORD + PUZZLES / BARRENJOEY BOATSHED 

THE WAY WE WERE / HOT PROPERTY / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD... 

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thislife 

INSIDE: Read community feedback about local matters (p8); 

The State Government is handing power to Council to make 

road decisions without referring to local Traffic Committees 

(p9); What do the NSW Goverment’s new laws on mediumdensity 

housing mean for Pittwater’s villages (p12)?; Meet 

Claire Morris, who we can thank for reigniting the local live 

music scene (p17); We look at how the Barrenjoey Boatshed 

at Palm Beach became a hub for seaplanes (p28); And don’t 

miss our 2024 Local Guide (p38). Happy New Year all! 

COVER: ‘Merging’ / Sally Mayman – turtlepictures.com.au 

also this month 

Editorial 3 

Pittwater Local News & Features 6-25 

The Way We Were 18 

Seen... Heard... Absurd... 20 

Community News 22-25 

Life Story: Carmel Walton & Barrenjoey Boatshed 28-32 

Art 34-35 

Hot Property 36 

Summer Guide To Pittwater 38-49 

Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 52-57 

Money 58-59 

Holiday Crossword & Puzzles 64-65 

Food 66-69 

Gardening 70-73 

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COPYRIGHT 

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

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

JANUARY 2024 The Local Voice Since 1991

News 

‘Lucky’ refugees’ stories told 

Journalist Melinda Ham – Canadianborn 

but now living on Scotland Island 

for the past 20 years – has been 

a passionate refugee advocate since she 

was a student in Montreal and London, 

and a foreign correspondent in Malawi 

and Zambia. 

Since migrating to Australia in 1994, 

while working as a journalist, she has also 

tutored many refugees and addressed Rotary 

Clubs and other voluntary groups to 

put the record straight above the contribution 

refugees continue to make to Australian 

society, despite the negative press. 

Now she has written The Lucky Ones 

which makes her case from the interwoven 

stories of six refugee families who 

arrived here between 1948 and 2019 in 

different circumstances. 

She said each of the families had 

survived unspeakable torture or abuse 

of human rights at the hands of some 

of the most murderous regimes of the 

20th and 21st centuries: Hitler, Stalin, 

Mobutu, Ho Chi Minh, the Taliban and 

then Islamic State. 

One refugee recounted being thrown 

into a rat-infested cell. Others were 

starved. Deprived of medical care. Denied 

access to their families or international 

rights organisations. Persecuted 

for simply having “the wrong religion, or 

ethnic background. 

In The Lucky Ones Melinda chose to 

focus on families, rather than just men: 

“Women deserve to be present in the 

narrative.” 

Australia adopted the White Australia 

Policy at the same time as Federation in 

1901. By the time Polish Catholics Maria 

and Wojciech arrived on a ship from 

Genoa Italy, Prime Minister Arthur Caldwell’s 

slogan was “populate or perish”. 

The refugee families come from a wide 

geographical area: Poland, Vietnam, 

Tibet, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Democratic 

Republic of the Congo. However, 

the way their ordeals, escapes and arrival 

in Australia share the same traits 

PASSIONATE: Scotland Island 

refugee advocate Melinda Ham. 

makes for a gripping if harrowing 

history. 

Melinda began researching 

The Lucky Ones in 2018, but 

postponed it during the COVID-19 lockdown: 

“You can’t do these interviews by 

Zoom. They have to be face to face, over 

many cups of tea.” 

Originally her own story wasn’t included. 

“The publishers insisted. I wasn’t 

keen. But it explains why I came to write 

the book.” 

Beginning with student advocacy, 

Melinda’s passion for refugees deepened 

during the six years she spent in Malawi 

and Zambia, from 1989. “Five million 

Mozambicans were displaced during the 

civil war by the Mozambican National 

Resistance rebels,” she explains. 

“They fled to Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

One million were killed.” 

The Vietnamese refugees, Kasse and 

Minh, arrived in Indonesia by boat and 

then were processed by the United Nations 

High Commissioner for Refugees 

(UNHCR) and permitted to come to Australia. 

But this was during Liberal Prime 

Minister Malcolm Fraser’s time at The 

Lodge when they were welcomed. 

More than 30 years later Imtiaz, from 

Afghanistan, was poised to board a boat 

in Malaysia after his mother Nikmorgh 

had paid “thousands of dollars to people 

smugglers” for him to make the perilous 

crossing. Fortunately the 

boat was intercepted 

by police. Being a 

minor, Imtiaz was 

handed over to 

the UNHCR which 

arranged for his 

legitimate transfer to 

Australia. 

What does Melinda 

hope to gain from 

the publication of her 

book? 

“The Lucky Ones 

equips the (nonrefugee) 

Australian 

with background and 

knowledge about what 

it has taken the refugees 

to get to Australia, settle here and 

make a success of their lives. It enables 

the reader to walk beside them in their 

journey and hopefully feel more compassion 

and understanding about what they 

have experienced. 

“I hope my book will put a human face 

on the plight of more 35 million refugees 

around the world waiting for countries 

like Australia to take them in. 

“Most who come here are hard-working 

and make a success of it because of 

where they have come from and their 

background of poverty and hardship. 

Their children work hard too. 

“Refugees can be a huge bonus to a 

country like ours, especially when we 

have a labour and skills crisis.” 

– Steve Meacham 

*More info affirmpress.com.au 

6 JANUARY 2024 

The Local Voice Since 1991

News 

Letters: Readers have their say 

Mona murals #1 

I think they are wonderful. 

Perhaps they could also go on 

the northern side of Mona Vale 

Road near the cemetery. Surely 

no vandal would ruin such 

attractive pieces of work? 

Di Millgate 

Warriewood 


It’s an absolute pleasure to see 

these artists’ works displayed; 

it gives the village a lovely feel. 

I suggest there is a massive 

‘canvas’ waiting to be painted 

on the back of the buildings 

by the stormwater drain 

between Bassett and Darley 

streets. These buildings are 

a target for ugly graffiti and 

tagging. A beautiful mural 

would be a great addition. 

Helen Fewtrell 

Bayview 


The murals are fabulous! I was 

disappointed to read some 

people think it’s defacing the 

brickwork. 

When I walk past a (good) 

mural, my heart lifts and I 

smile. If I walk past a brick 

building, I feel nothing. 

Murals are also a great 

attraction; I’ve been to 

Dunedin in NZ where they’re 

a highlight and you go for a 

walk to admire the murals. 

Keep them coming! 

Dee Calvesbert 

Church Point 

Mona Vale Road #1 

I have asked Rory Amon to find 

out how much “the stop” on 

the Western stage of the Mona 

Vale Road contract is costing 

taxpayers. As yet, no reply. I 

doubt anyone in the Premier’s 

MURAL HERE PLEASE: 

To deter graffiti. 

office knows or cares. 

I understand that new 

homes developed in 

Warriewood valley were to be 

permitted only if Mona Vale 

Road was widened to allow 

residents to escape the area in 

the case of a catastrophic fire. 

Susan Hill 

Bayview 

Mona Vale Road #2 

I’m sure Rory Amon is indeed 

angry about the Mona Vale 

Road upgrade cancellation 

debacle foisted upon us by 

the Minns Labor Government. 

But sadly for him, as a 

newly minted junior MP in 

a traditionally super-safe 

Liberal seat, he has absolutely 

zero leverage to do anything 

about it. So he is left with the 

empty performative gesture of 

a petition (which we all know 

will be ignored). 

Rory, if you want to fix 

this issue there is only one 

way to do it – leave the Libs 

and become an Independent. 

Minns’ government teeters 

on the narrowest of margins; 

history tells us that sooner 

or later, scandal will see 

Labor lose an MP or two, at 

which point Minns will need 

Independents to govern. 

Darren Jones 

Avalon Beach 

Avalon Shared 

Space 

It beggars belief that there are 

objections to this initiative – it 

makes the Avalon village and 

busy intersection so much 

more user-friendly and far 

more safe. As a previous ‘four 

ways’, it was a nightmare. 

Bruce Hall 

Avalon 



Council given control over streets 

The State Government will give Northern 

Beaches Council the authority to 

design and deliver pedestrian crossings, 

bike lanes and parking changes without 

referral to local Traffic Committees. 

The major regulatory change, involving 

all Councils across NSW, is aimed at 

making streets more liveable and to better 

support walking and cycling. 

Also, Northern Beaches Council will 

soon be able to temporarily close local 

streets to vehicles to host more community 

events and boost outdoor dining 

experiences. 

And the State Government has introduced 

new legislation that will prevent 

single complainants from shutting down 

outdoor events featuring live music. 

The Government’s $15 million Vibrant 

Streets program will be available to 

councils from early 2024. It says the 

program will help reduce the cost and 

complexity for communities to use the 

streets they own. 

“This package of initiatives creates 

more opportunities to have fun outdoors 

by making it cheaper to arrange events 

and removing the often slow and complex 

application processes involved in delivering 

street activations,” said Transport for 

NSW spokesperson Brooke Wharton. 

STREET ACTIVATIONS: The NSW Government is 

cutting red tape to make events easier to stage. 

“These activations will help make 

spaces feel safer and more welcoming 

and support local employment and business.” 

The Vibrant Streets program includes 

two packages: 

Open Streets – A grant funding program 

for NSW councils to temporarily 

close streets and open them for people to 

use and enjoy. Applications for councils 

opens in January 2024. 

Permit/Plug/Play Pilot – A program 

partnering with pilot councils to help 

reduce the cost and complexity of delivering 

street-based events through an innovative 

“local problems, local solutions” 

model to allow for global pre-approvals 

for streets as event sites. 

Also, the Government passed legislation 

in November which backs live music, 

encourages the creation of more local 

entertainment zones, and will prevent 

single complainants from shutting down 

venues. 

In addition to the Vibrant Street program 

and the new legislation, Transport 

for NSW has also introduced its own 

initiatives to encourage more events and 

activities on local streets. 

The first is a change to the Roads Regulations 

to make it easier for communities 

to hold neighbourhood street events. 

It gives councils the power to approve 

road closures for neighbourhood gatherings 

on minor roads – such as a community 

party or holiday event – without 

approval from Transport for NSW. 

The second initiative, announced in 

December, is the new Temporary Delegation 

which gives council the authority to 

design and deliver pedestrian crossings, 

bike lanes, street trees and parking 

changes without referral to either Transport 

for NSW or local Traffic Committees. 

More information on Neighbourhood 

Activity Guidelines and the Temporary 

Delegation is available on Transport for 

NSW’s website. 


News 



Lili’s a rugby lioness 

News 

Narrabeen’s Lili Boyle 

recently captained the 

Australian Schoolgirl 

Sevens team to a global victory 

with her skillful and physical 

displays, and yet you wouldn’t 

know it off the pitch. 

Off the field Lili is shy and 

reserved, and has a smile that 

says butter-wouldn’t melt. On 

the pitch, she’s described as 

a lion. 

Captaining the Australian 

Schoolgirl Sevens rugby team 

to victory in the Global Youth 

Sevens on the Gold Coast 

in December, she was also 

named in the tournament’s 

Dream Team, selected from 

every nation taking part. 

A student at Narrabeen 

Sports High, she’s an ordinary 

Beaches teen who loves 

Chicken Bites in Narrabeen 

and surfing with friends at 

Freshie Beach (“we’re not very 

good!”). She hangs with her 

family and friends, does her 

studies – and then tears apart 

the opposition on the rugby 

field. 

“I’m not really in a position 

that scores points,” says Lili, 

“but I do lots of tackling and 

get through a lot of work.” 

And it’s that work ethic 

that earned the respect of her 

teammates and the captaincy 

of the team. 

“I wasn’t expecting to be 

captain, but we went up to the 

Gold Coast and at the jersey 

presentation I was named 

captain,” says Lili humbly, “it 

was mainly for my leadership 

on the pitch and the way the 

girls respect me and look up 

to me.” 

REWARD FOR EFFORT: Unassuming Lili Boyle’s leadership skills were recognised when she was selected captain 

of the ultimately victorious Australian Schoolgirl Sevens team last month. 

Grandmother Karen says 

Lili’s transformation when she 

runs out to play is astounding. 

“She’s so quiet, but just 

comes into her own on the 

field,” says Karen. “It just 

amazes me how much respect 

her teammates have for her!” 

Lili got into rugby through 

her younger brother and initially 

started playing 15-a-side, 

before progressing to 7s. A 

regular for Manly Mermaids, 

the victorious Australian 

team she captained had barely 

trained together, let alone 

played any games. 

“The girls are all aged 16, 17 

and 18, and we went through 

a selection process,” explains 

Lili. “I represented Sydney 

North and then NSW and we 

played against Qld and ACT. 

The best girls from those 

games progressed to a selection 

camp, where they picked 

the final 13 for the squad. 

“We’d never played together 

as a team, and didn’t get to 

train together a great deal, 

but we had two camps and 

also went up to the Gold Coast 

early to prepare together.” 

Lili says she and the team 

took some inspiration from our 

national golden girls The Matildas 

and it all came together for 

them in a tense final against 

the “old enemy” New Zealand, 

after beating Canada and 

Tonga in earlier games. 

“There was a real bond and 

connection between the girls 

in the final,” reveals Lili. “We 

had real trust to get the job 

done together and beat New 

Zealand 27-12.” 

At 18, Lili will now end her 

role with the Schoolgirls rugby 

team, but with pathways growing 

for women in traditional 

men’s sports, a jump in code 

to rugby league and the Sea 

Eagles might be her next port 

of call? 

The lioness of Narrabeen 

might next become an eagle. 

Regardless, expect to hear a 

whole lot more of Lili Boyle. 

– Rob Pegley 



Govt planning reforms 

News 

The NSW Government 

is under pressure to 

rethink its proposed 

planning laws that would permit 

seven-storey developments 

within 400m of Pittwater town 

centres including Narrabeen, 

Mona Vale, Newport Beach and 

Avalon Beach. 

This includes the potential 

for towering 21-metre shop-top 

housing along Old Barrenjoey 

Road at Avalon Beach and Barrenjoey 

Road at Newport. 

The Government’s broadbrushstroke 

reforms for dual 

occupancies, shop-top housing, 

multi-dwelling housing and 

mid-rise housing (see panel) 

apply to the Six Cities region, 

which incorporates the Northern 

Beaches Local Government 

Area as part of the Eastern 

Harbour City region. 

The Eastern Harbour City 

region comprises 19 Sydney 

Council LGAs. 

The Government’s reforms 

– outlined in a 40-page 

document on public exhibition 

until February 23 – propose 

non-refusal standards for new 

developments in R3 and R2 

Zones, plus shop-top housing. 

This would mean Council 

and local planning panels 

would be powerless to deny 

DAs that meet all other planning 

requirements. 

Northern Beaches Council’s 

zoning map reveals swathes 

of R3 blocks across Pittwater, 

including within Narrabeen 

EXAMPLE: Pittwater MP Rory Amon outside a Mona Vale home in R3 Zone. 

(along Ocean and Lagoon 

Streets), Mona Vale (Vineyard 

Street, the north side of Mona 

Vale Road, Golf Avenue and 

Darley Street East), Newport 

Beach (Foamcrest and Seaview 

Avenues and the eastern side 

of Ocean Avenue) and Avalon 

Beach (The Crescent and 

Avalon Parade East). Most of 

Warriewood is zoned R3. 

The planning map shows 

large parcels of R2 zones 

adjoining those suburb’s R3 

zones. 

Shop-top housing is prevalent 

in Avalon Beach, Newport, 

Narrabeen and Mona Vale. 

Although its reforms have 

not been legislated the Government 

has already overruled 

a planning refusal within 

Parramatta Council LGA; in late 

December Channel Nine Media 

reported that Parramatta Council 

was considering legal action 

against the Government for 

interfering with the integrity of 

its planning process. 

At is December meeting, 

Northern Beaches councillors 

voted to seek an urgent 

audience with Premier Chris 

Minns and Planning Minister 

Paul Scully to voice Council’s 

opposition and also request an 

extension of time for community 

submissions. 

Mayor Sue Heins said Council 

believed the proposals represented 

‘rezoning by stealth’. 

“The changes are in effect rezoning 

land for higher density 

uses without going through a 

rezoning process,” she said. 

“The rezoning process allows 

all relevant factors to be 

considered for good strategic 

planning outcomes. The 

one-size-fits-all approach as 

outlined here does not and it 

undermines the very basis of 

the planning system in NSW.” 

Planning Minister Paul Scully 

said the Minns Government 

was confronting the housing 

crisis with bold reforms to 

create tens of thousands of 

new, well-located, low-rise and 

mid-rise homes. 

“The reforms create capacity 

for industry to deliver up to an 

estimated 112,000 new homes 

across the Greater Sydney region, 

Hunter, Central Coast and 

Illawarra,” he said. 

He said currently, each local 

Council had its own rules for 

what kind of homes could be 

built in their area. 

“In many local government 

areas, these rules do not allow 

the types of homes that we 

need for the next generation, 

housing close to transport, 

infrastructure and social 

amenity.” 

Pittwater State MP Rory 

Amon condemned the Government’s 

plan. 

“Dumping significant development 

in Pittwater without 

adequate infrastructure is 

wicked,” he said. 

“The Government has 

cancelled the Mona Vale Road 

West widening and canned the 

Beaches Link Tunnel. These 

cancelled projects and now 

new density would leave our 

suburbs in gridlock and ruin 



have Pittwater on edge 

our quality of life.” 

He noted the full details of 

the Government’s plans would 

not become clear until its draft 

State Environmental Planning 

Policy (SEPP) was released following 

a review of community 

feedback. 

However, he said the proposed 

reforms had telegraphed 

the Government’s intent. 

Mr Amon said that in addition 

to doubling apartment 

block heights, Council sources 

estimated that Government’s 

changes to low-density zones 

to permit dual occupancies, 

terraces and manor homes on 

tiny blocks would mean an 

additional 44,000 dwellings 

could be created across the 

Beaches. 

“We are not against development, 

but we are deadset 

against development without 

adequate infrastructure,” he 

said. 

“In an area without mass 

transport options, these changes 

are unacceptable. With our 

community, we will fight this 

unreasonable plan and I will 

let them know how they can 

help in the weeks ahead.” 

Protect Pittwater President 

Simon Dunn told Pittwater Life: 

“Nothing highlights the need 

for environmentally sensitive 

zoning in Pittwater more than 

a State Government wielding 

a SEPP to achieve housing 

targets. 

“We have not yet seen the 

details of the proposed SEPP 

but would expect it to exempt 

environmental living zones. 

“We are therefore thankful 

that a great number of Pittwater 

residents and community 

groups had the foresight to 

strenuously oppose the drastic 

zoning changes for Pittwater 

that were initially proposed by 

the Northern Beaches Council 

in early 2023.” 

He said that, had the zoning 

changes gone unchallenged, 

“Pittwater’s unique natural 

environment would have been 

left even more vulnerable to 

inappropriate development”. 

Mackellar Federal Independent 

MP Dr Sophie Scamps said 

it was premature to “jump to 

conclusions” about the planning 

reforms leading to overdevelopment. 

“There are two issues at 

play – the need to address the 

housing crisis Sydney is facing, 

and that development should 

be consistent with community 

expectations,” she said. 

“The Government is seeking 

submissions and has also foreshadowed 

that councils will 

have input on the suitability of 

local town centres for higher 

densities, depending on the 

range of services they offer. 

“So it is premature to jump 

to conclusions.” 

She added the Government 

should be aiming to create vibrant, 

walkable, well-designed 

NSW Govt’s proposed reforms 

• Permit Residential Flat Buildings (RFBs) with consent in the 

R3 Zone within station and town centre precincts in the Six 

Cities region (includes Northern Beaches Council LGA within 

‘Eastern Harbour City’). 

• Includes introducing non-refusal standards that apply to 

RFBs wherever they are permitted (excluding R2 Zones) in 

station and town centre precincts in the Six Cities region. 

• Maximum building height RFBs – 21m within inner (0-400m) 

station and town centre precincts. 

• Maximum building height RFBs – 16m within outer (400- 

800m) station and town centre precincts. 

• Permit Multi-Dwelling Houses (MDHs) with consent in R2 

Zones within station and town centre precincts in the Six Cities 

region – maximum building height 9.5m. 

• Permit shop-top housing (STH) with no change to permissibility 

but with non-refusal standards identical to RFBs 

(heights 21m and 16m). 

* Source: NSW Government. 

and sustainable communities 

close to transport that were 

consistent with Northern 

Beaches values. 

“Even though this is a State 

issue, I will be closely scrutinising 

it and working with 

my State counterparts and 

Council.” 

Wakehurst Independent 

MP Michael Regan said he 

supported the intent of the 

reforms to increase low-and 

mid-rise development in residential 

zones. 

“There is no question that 

many people want to downsize 

from big houses into 

either large apartments, or 

something lacking here on the 

Beaches, terraces and villas,” 

he said. 

“And not just downsizers, 

but small families and executive 

couples, for example. 

“So many people have approached 

me over the years 

about wanting to have a duplex 

on their property to allow their 

kids an opportunity to remain 

in the area or to look after 

their folks in retirement.” 

However, he said he didn’t 

support the “blanket application” 

of density changes which 

did not take into account the 

“fundamental infrastructure 

constraints of the Northern 

Beaches, or other parts of Sydney 

for that matter”. 


*What do you think? Tell us at 

readers@pittwaterlife.com.au 

News 



News 

Warriewood greenspace revamp 

The build-out of 

Warriewood’s new Lynne 

Czinner Park – formerly 

known as Fern Creek Reserve 

– will provide locals with 

a revamped green space to 

offset the likely addition of 

new housing developments 

along Macpherson Street in 

the next few years. 

Both Flower Power and 

Foleys Nursery have lodged 

DAs with Northern Beaches 

Council for a combined 81 

dwellings. 

Council’s expansion of 

Fern Creek Reserve – made 

possible by additional 

property acquisitions along 

the creek – is creating a 

much-anticipated area 

of open space for the 

community of Warriewood. 

The new park along with 

the parkland to the north 

of the creek – known as 

‘Rocket Ship Park’ after its 

playground – was renamed 

in consultation with the 

community to Lynne Czinner 

Park to honour the former 

Mayor of Pittwater and 

BIGGER: The expanded Lynne Czinner Park (artist’s impression). 

environmental trail blazer. 

Council’s vision for the 

new space includes a shared 

path and pedestrian bridge 

connection across Fern 

Creek; picnic areas with BBQ 

facilities, shade and water 

bottle filling stations; a 

fitness station; a network of 

shared paths; open, grassed 

areas; native plantings and 

landscaping; and additional 

car parking on Dove Lane. 

Council said the build 

was being fully funded by 

developer contributions and 

was expected to be completed 

in April, weather permitting. 

Recently the pedestrian 

bridge connecting the 

northern and southern side 

of the park was completed 

but it will remain closed 

while the other works are 

undertaken. 

Lynne Czinner was elected 

to the first Pittwater Council 

in 1992, serving consecutive 

terms until 2008. Within that 

period, Lynne spent four 

consecutive terms as Deputy 

Mayor from 1998 to 2002, 

and in 2004 was elected as 

Mayor. 

– NW 

7THINGS 

THIS MONTH 

NYE Fireworks. Enjoy 

spectacular fireworks displays 

scheduled to light up the sky 

around Bayview from 9pm to 

9.15pm and again at midnight. 

Free Outdoor Cinema. Drop into 

the new outdoor cinema at The 

Newport on Wednesday nights 

to catch some of the best surfing 

adventure moments on the big 

screen. Movies this month include 

Kamchatka, Facing Monsters and 

South to Sian. 

Giant obstacle course. There’ll 

be something for all the family to 

enjoy when Australia’s biggest 

inflatable obstacle course (300m 

long) and other fun activities 

are set up by Tuff Nutterz at 

Winnererremy Bay Mona Vale 

from Tues 9 to Sun 14. Cost $25- 

$40; search online to book a spot. 

Donate blood. The Mobile Blood 

Donor Centre is rolling into Mona 

Vale and setting up at Surfview 

Road from Mon 8 to Sun 14. Don’t 

forget to pre-book your spot 

at lifeblood.com.au, on their app, 

or on 13 14 95. 

Get ready Swifties! Ages 10 

years and up are welcome to drop 

in at Mona Vale Library on Thurs 

18 from 2 to 5pm for an afternoon 

of bracelet making, listening 

to music and meeting other 

Northern Beaches ‘Swifties’. 

Materials are provided to make 

Taylor Swift-inspired friendship 

bracelets including beads, letters 

and elastic strings. Create up to 5 

unique bracelets to take home or 

to trade. You are welcome to bring 

along additional bead charms. 

Free. 

Polystyrene drop. Residents 

can take rigid pieces of 100% 

clean, white and dry polystyrene 

packaging for recycling to 

Kimbriki Resource Recovery 

Centre, Terrey Hills on Sun 21 

from 8am to 4pm. 

Australia Day Breakfast. 

Everyone is invited to head to 

Bert Payne Reserve Newport 

Beach on Fri 26 for Pittwater’s 

Australia Day BBQ Breakfast from 

7.30am-11.30am. Organised by 

our local Zonta and Rotary clubs, 

there will be amusement rides, 

face paining and a thong throwing 

competition, plus great coffee 

vendors, gelato and live music. 



Bryan’s new whodunnit 

Q: How did you get into writing 

and why? 

Pitches I was writing for 

film and television began to 

take on a life of their own. 

They became stories. Hence a 

bunch of them became ‘Sweet 

Jimmy’ (a collection of short 

stories published in 2021). 

Now a much longer short 

story has become a novel: 

‘The Drowning’. 

Q: What inspired 

you to write The 

Drowning? 

I know a particular 

area of the north 

coast of NSW. I 

surf there. I know 

the community. 

The little nearby 

towns. The different 

demographics. 

The vitality and the 

quiet. It was natural 

that I’d want to set a 

story there. 

Q: How did it all come together? 

When did you write 

ONE- 

FINGER 

TYPER: 

Bryan 

Brown. 

it/ how long did 

it take? 

I began the book 

late 2022. I had 

an incident that 

I knew was arresting 

for the 

reader and I 

also had three characters that 

would take me on a ride. The 

book was finished early 2023 

and then there was a little 

finessing. Not a lot. It usually 

comes racing out. Not straight 

away but on some days an 

hour or two and then nothing 

for a week maybe. 

Q: Describe your writing 

habits… 

I can’t sit for long writing 

away and I am a one-finger 

typer. As I said, the characters 

tell me the story. Some 

days they have nothing to tell 

me and then some nights just 

before sleep they announce 

where they are going. Next 

morning I’m in front of the 

computer. 

Q: Any interesting feedback 

so far? 

I’m interested in what the 

locals in a particular town 

will think because I’m sure 

they are going to reckon I’ve 

set ‘The Drowning’ there! 

*‘The Drowning’; published 

by Allen & Unwin. RRP – 

$32.99. Available at all good 

bookstores or online. 

CYC grant 

gives Marine 

Rescue boost 

Marine Rescue Broken 

Bay has enhanced its 

operational capabilities 

following the completion 

of crew and training rooms 

and a dedicated administration 

area at its Bayview 

facility. 

The internal fit-out was 

made possible through 

a $42,551 grant from the 

Cruising Yacht Club of 

Australia SOLAS Trust. 

The grant is part of a 

larger $300,000 three-year 

funding commitment. 

In the first 11 months of 

2023 the Broken Bay unit 

safely returned 283 people 

to shore, completing 132 

search-and-rescue missions 

including seven life-threatening 

emergencies. 

The new rooms will 

enhance the unit’s ability 

to respond swiftly and 

effectively to emergencies 

on the water. – NW 

News 



Peter had scores to settle 

News 

Collaroy’s Peter Dawson 

first took up golf at the 

age of 12. Sneaking onto 

the exclusive fairways of The 

Australian Golf Club at Kensington, 

he and a few mates 

would play as many holes as 

they could until they heard 

the course ranger coming for 

them. 

It was 1959 and the ranger 

had plenty of horsepower. 

“Our primary purpose was 

to avoid the ranger. Most of 

the time now they’re on motor 

bikes or little 4-wheel agricultural 

vehicles – but in those 

days he had a big white horse 

and we had one eye out for 

him and one on the ball. We 

heard him before we saw him. 

So we were very quick off 

the mark. It was exciting but 

scary too,” Peter remembers. 

This was the beginning of a 

life-long love affair with golf 

and connection to The Australian 

Golf Club, the co-host with 

The Lakes Golf Club of the 

Australian Open in late 2023. 

Peter was there, as one of 

the hundreds of volunteers 

critical to staging such a 

major event. He has volunteered 

at the Australian Open 

for 17 years, both as a course 

marshal (Quiet Please!) and as 

a walking scorer. 

“I go to the Open to volunteer 

because I love being 

around the players, I love 

seeing good shots, I love the 

atmosphere of the place. As 

soon as I step in, even before, 

going up to the club before I 

start each day I get quite excited. 

You don’t get that very 

often these days… at my age, 

anyway!” he says. 

IMPRESSIVE: Peter (second right) scoring the play of Thai amateur Elia Galitsky. 

As a walking scorer in 2023 

he was assigned to groups 

of three golfers, recording 

statistics (fairways hit/number 

of putts) and hole-by-hole 

scores and radioing in the 

scores for display on the electronic 

scoreboards around 

the course. 

The days can be long, with 

rounds taking more than five 

hours; but he is inside the 

ropes and close to the action. 

He gets to see what the golfers 

are really like, both men 

and women. Peter enjoys the 

solitude he can find in the 

midst of such a busy event, 

just in his own zone focusing 

on scoring. 

He talks about brother and 

sister superstars Min Woo Lee 

and Minjee Lee and renowned 

chatterbox Lee Trevino and 

how the best golfers are the 

carefree ones. 

“The one thing I’ve learnt is 

that the better golfers have a 

better attitude. They’re not totally 

focused… on what is going 

on around them… they’re 

there to hit a ball,” Peter says. 

From the 2023 Australian 

Open field he picks an eclectic 

group of three carefree 

golfers he would like to have a 

relaxing 18 holes with: 

Masters champion Adam 

Scott – “He’s an Aussie and 

I think he would be a lovely 

guy to play with”; 

US pro Michael Block – a 

2023 feel-good story, following 

his hole-in-one and high 

finish in the US PGA Championship; 

and 

Thai amateur Eila Galitsky 

– Peter scored her 1-under-par 

71 on the final day. “She was 

magnificent, absolutely magnificent. 

She just fired at the 

pin all day. Steady, pure golf, 

didn’t make a mistake.” 

Peter is a dedicated numbers 

man and being a walking 

scorer is a natural fit. A Chartered 

Accountant by trade, he 

spent 40-plus years revelling 

in the beauty of numbers, a 

passion and skill kick-started 

by encountering long division 

at primary school. 

“I owe it, I believe, to the 

Nuns. I think around third 

class at St Joseph’s Rosebery, 

just down the road from The 

Australian Golf Club,” he 

explains. 

A Long Reef Golf Club 

member since 2001, playing 

to a single-figure handicap 

on his good days, Peter is 

also the official scorer for 

the Long Reef on Tour (LROT) 

group – with a reputation for 

photobombing every prize 

presentation on tour. 

– Greg McHugh 



Why Avalon gets top billing 

You may not have heard of Claire 

Morris, but she’s perhaps the 

most important person in music 

on the peninsula, and the 

reason Avalon RSL has 

become the number one 

music venue. 

When Narrabeen RSL 

closed, Claire was its Events 

Manager; suddenly she had 

11 great acts lined up for 

the Northern Beaches – and 

nowhere for them to play. 

“I was in total despair,” remembers 

Claire. “I cold-called 

Avalon RSL and they jumped 

at it. They took on almost all 

11 shows in one hit. I’m so grateful to 

Cristo and the board of directors. 

“It’s not easy to put on live music – it’s 

expensive and you need resources to do 

it. On top of that, getting an RSL to put 

on a band like The Exploited [hard-core 

working class Scottish punk band] with 

open arms is a testament to them. 

“Avalon RSL is now once again established 

as a touring artist venue, like it 

was in the ’80s/’90s.” 

It certainly is, with The Exploited, 

You Am I, and The Whitlams just a few 

bands to have played recently. 

As Events and Entertainment Manager 

and Artist Liaison, Claire plays a 

massive part in that. Most of her days 

are spent talking to booking agents, 

discussing ideas, sorting social media, 

checking ticket sales and keeping 

things on track. Then at the weekend 

it’s working with the production guys 

and bands to make sure it all happens. 

“My biggest aim is that everyone 

leaves with a smile on their face,” says 

Claire. “That the audience are happy, 

the venue is happy, and the band are 

happy they’ve come out to Avalon.” 

Apart from one gig where a power 

outage saw the show cancelled (“… he 

‘GIG’ ECONOMY: Skunkhour playing the Avalon Beach RSL; and events manager Claire. 

still played a couple of acoustic numbers, 

but legally we weren’t allowed to 

continue”), the only tough part of the 

job is Monday when it’s all over. 

“When your adrenalin runs out and 

there’s no show, it’s really hard. You’re 

looking for that feeling again and trying 

to find purpose in ordinary life!” 

Clearly it’s in the blood. 

“Yeah, my dad had a hotel and I’ve 

always loved live music. I’ve worked in 

venues for over 30 years now. 

“And I love that we have such a 

fan base on the Northern Beaches – a 

strong and established audience. 

Agents and artists know that they have 

an audience [here] and that the venue 

will look after them. 

“I also love that we have a solid punk 

crowd. The Exploited and local band 

RUST showed that recently at Avalon 

RSL. Everyone thinks we’re swanning 

around in linen on the peninsula! But 

this punk scene is going on amongst a 

conservative environment.” 

Claire says the days of excessive 

‘riders’ (requests) backstage are over – 

especially at Avalon RSL – but admits 

that she’s witnessed some in her time. 

However, what goes on tour, stays on 

tour. 

“If they ask for something cheeky 

these days, it’ll be tongue-in-cheek. One 

band wanted a souvenir, so we gave 

them Avalon RSL lighters and t-shirts.” 

If it sounds a fun job and a fun life, 

well, it is. 

“The best part is you get to fill a 

room with people who might not have 

anything in common other than that 

they love the same song or band,” 

Claire said. 

“Nowhere else that’s available. Maybe 

in church. But these people come 

together just because of passion for a 

song or album. 

“I don’t think anything is better than 

that professionally.” 

Bands coming to Avalon RSL early 

in 2024 include Adam Newling, Alex 

Lloyd, Ash Grunwald, Sons of the East 

(sold out), Tijuana Cartel and Jason 

Singh. With a few other surprises to be 

announced soon. 

And if Claire could get one act to 

Avalon RSL? 

“Iggy Pop. I once drove 1800 kilometres 

to see Iggy.” 

– Rob Pegley 

News 



The Way We Were 

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

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

the more they stay the same! Compiled by Lisa Offord 

25 Years Ago… 

The Way We Were 

Welcome to January 1999, when the US TV 

show “Baywatch looks like becoming part of 

our life to the benefit of the Avalon Surf Club 

and our image around the world.” Hmm, 

not so fast… further inside the magazine 

readers learned “Avalon’s Alex McTaggart 

has a personal objection to the use of Avalon 

Beach for filming the Baywatch TV programs 

and that’s why his ‘No More Baywatch’ signs 

appeared at North Avalon and on the Bilgola 

Bends.” The story explained Mr McTaggart’s 

protest, through a recently formed 

committee Friends of Avalon Beach, was 

not against the filming but against what he 

saw was the lack of consultation with beach 

users. The “Baywatch people” wanted to film in Avalon for 

two days a week during the winter months. “I want to see a 

public meeting which we will call at which all the information 

can be made available, and the community as a whole can 

have their say. If the majority feels this is good for Avalon, 

then so be it. I will abide by that,” McTaggert said. Moving 

on… Summer Holidays in Pittwater mean “… sailing, the 

beach, long lunches, and dinners on balmy evenings. This 

month we have focussed on the best of a Pittwater summer, 

places to go, things for kids and adults to do, the best eateries 

and some great holiday reading.” Council was revising its 

medium density Shop Top housing plans to “push people 


into the commercial centres to live”. The 

plan had “already seen unprecedented 

development of units in the commercial 

centres of Avalon and Newport”. The 

“controversial policy was created by the 

Council in response to State Government 

moves for more medium density houses and 

a backlash from residents who complained 

about the original plans for the whole of 

Pittwater… the resident groups complained 

long and loud about the impact of medium 

density housing in their own streets”. Under 

the new plan each new development “… 

will have to meet genuine housing needs and 

larger developments that contain only studios 

and one-bedroom dwellings will not be approved”. Australia 

Day in Pittwater “will focus once more on Newport Beach”. 

A party atmosphere was planned, with “traditional sports 

such as thong throwing and a great wheelie bin race”. A safe 

play space at Katoa Reserve at Warriewood was unveiled 

showcasing “great design and sculptures” including stone 

carved snakes, water dragons, frogs and turtles lying in a 

dry creek bed and sandpits. The cover of our mag showed 

the beginning of the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race; 

also, it marked 25 years since The Big Swim from Palm 

Beach to Whale Beach first took place. 


The cover was “Pittwater’s own maxi-yacht” Wild 

We ran our annual Locals’ 

Oats XI, built by McConaghy Yachts in Mona Vale and 

Guide. There were some great 

owned by Palm Beach’s Bob Oatley, streaking down the gigs including The Screaming 

Derwent in Hobart on its way to the finishing line. In 

Jets and GANGajang. Also, 

news, more than $60 million in capital works relating 

the Ocean Swim Series. In 

to the Warriewood Valley land release was “in danger 

news, an off-leash dog trial at 

following moves by the State Government to reduce 

Station Beach was “closer to 

charges to developers… the scheme is being implemented reality”. Council announced 

in a desperate attempt to curry favour with the electorate its partnership in a research 

and particularly among the new home buyers finding 

project to devise a national 

house and land packages too costly”. Council’s General 

early warning system to 

Manager Mark Ferguson said the proposal could lead to alert coastal communities 

rate increases of up to 25 per of impending storm-wave 

cent a year. Work had begun damage; Avalon Public School, 

on the Renal Dialysis unit 

Bilgola Plateau PS, Elanora 

at Mona Vale Hospital; more Heights PS and Narrabeen 

women were competing in Sports High were set to get excavation will assist to keep 

the Ocean Swim series; a plan new air-conditioning systems; the lagoon entrance open for 

to build a block of 10 home Mona Vale Hospital’s Urgent several years before further 

units for seniors and people Care Centre was upgraded 

works are required.” And a large 

with disabilities at 2129 and with emergency trained staff 

contingent of Avalon locals 

2133 Pittwater Rd, Church to manage patients who selfpresent 

with injuries and 

were “busy planning a protest 

Point attracted more than 

70 objections; and Australia illnesses 24 hours a day; 

meeting to vent their opposition 

Day events were being held the mouth of the Narrabeen to NB Councils current plans for 

at Bert Payne Reserve, The Lagoon had been excavated the coastal walkway through 

Newport Arms and at the and open for public use over Little Avalon car park at 

Royal Motor Yacht Club. 

summer. “It’s understood the Surfside Avenue”. 



GN Eyachts IN JAN Marnie. $1610 + GST. Nigel emailed Marnie 4/12. Page 19

News 

SEEN… 

Finally! Well, sort of… 

the long-awaited upgrade 

of the Eastern section of 

Mona Vale Road is undergoing 

a soft opening 

until Sunday 7 January, 

with all four lanes 

open between Foley 

Street, Mona Vale and 

Manor Road, Ingleside. 

Transport for NSW 

reports the temporary 

availability will remain 

in place until 6pm on 

January 7, after which 

time lane closures will 

be reinstated until last 

works are completed for 

an official opening. The 

speed limit will remain at 60km/hour during 

this period. There will be no changes to the new intersection 

of Mona Vale Road, Ponderosa Parade and Samuel Street. For 

the latest traffic updates visit livetraffic.com 

HEARD… 

Good news for NIMBY locals who don’t like the disruption 

of Channel Seven TV series Home and Away being filmed at 

Governor Phillip Park – from 2024 they’ll be filming more 

episodes in other locations. That’s due to the Labor Government’s 

decision to amend the producer offset tax legislation, 

which provides a 30 per cent rebate to local TV drama 

productions. Seven West Media CEO James Warburton told 

AdNews that future production of Home and Away would 

involve more location filming, including in regional Australia. 

Seven chief content officer, entertainment programming, 

Angus Ross, said: “More location filming will help 

ensure Home and Away maintains its globally acclaimed 

production values and will create new work for the Australian 

production sector.”… No news is not necessarily good 

news, especially in the case of the ongoing vacancy at Avalon 

Beach Surf Club’s café and restaurant. We asked Council 

for another update on lease developments for the site. They 

told us in early December: “Submissions have been received 

and these are being negotiated to see if an outcome can be 

achieved that is acceptable. If Council accepts a party’s offer 

the next step will be to carry out a financial assessment to 

determine if the organisation has the financial capacity to 

meet the proposed lease requirements.” A follow-up approach 

to Council was made on December 22, with no reply. 

Another summer’s trade… gone. 

ABSURD… 

Who would do such a thing? Readers John and Tigi Coplestone 

say they received a rude welcome home to Etival Street, Palm 

Beach after visiting family in New Zealand late last month. The 

couple were left in disbelief and dismay to find that some opportunistic 

Grinch had roughly hacked and stolen their prized 

hydrangeas, which they had lovingly tended all year – as they 

do every year – so they could celebrate the blooms at Christmas. 

All up 40-50 white hydrangeas were pinched, presumably 

under the cloak of darkness (pictured before… and after). 

Particularly galling, say the couple, is the fact they now feel 

the need to install security cameras “regretfully, after 30-plus 

years in the area”. STOP PRESS: As Pittwater Life went to print 

the Coplestones contacted us to report they did indeed install 

CCTV cameras, which had subsequently captured vision of 

an intruder – a woman around 50, with longer than shoulderlength 

blondish hair. The vision has been referred to police. 

BEFORE 

AFTER 



News 

Pittwater News 

Midget Farrelly 

rock art tribute 

Local surfing legend Bernard 

‘Midget’ Farrelly will be forever 

honoured and remembered 

with a rock carving / public 

artwork on Black Rock at Palm 

Beach. It follows public consultation 

undertaken by Northern 

Beaches Council. Farrelly lived 

at Palm Beach for 54 years and 

surfed there almost every day; 

he passed away in 2016 at the 

age of 71, after a battle with 

cancer. He became the first 

Australian to win a major international 

surfing title in 1962. 

Two years later, he won the 

inaugural World Surfing Championships 

at Manly Beach. In 

1985, he was inducted into the 

Sport Australia Hall of Fame. 

Farrelly gave back to the local 

community through the Palm 

Beach and Whale Beach Surf 

Lifesaving Clubs, where he was 

a member and mentor for more 

than 20 years. The Recognition 

Committee recommended a 

petroglyph carving, which is 

created by incising, picking, 

carving or abrading part of the 

rock surface. The tribute will 

be installed in early 2024. 

Become a 

Computer Pal 

Have you recently retired, 

and looking for a way to feel 

connected and pass on the 

knowledge you have acquired? 

Computer Pals for Seniors 

Northern Beaches are looking 

for volunteers who can give 2-3 

hours of their time each week. 

Local Probus News in January 

Narrabeen Lakes Probus Club next meets 

on Wednesday 24 January at Narrabeen 

Baptist Church. Doors open at 9.45am for 

10am meeting. The guest speaker will be 

Merinda Air from the National Maritime 

Museum. Visitors welcome; more info call/ 

text 0424 464 047. 

The first meeting of the Bilgola Plateau 

Probus Club for 2024 will be held on Friday 

5 January at Newport Bowling Club. The 

meeting starts 10am; doors open from 

9.30am. Guest speaker will be Hette Mollema 

who is going to focus on ‘Toiletology’ – the 

study of toilets. Toilets are critical to our 

wellbeing, and something that we very much 

take for granted in our modern world. Hette 

intends to plunge in and flush out all the 

facts about the evolution of toilets, and the 

methods for the disposal of our bodily waste 

products that humans have devised from the 

The not-for-profit organisation, 

located at the Tramshed Arts & 

Community Centre at Narrabeen, 

helps seniors navigate the 

world of technology. Platforms 

include Android/Apple tablets 

and phones, Apple/Microsoft 

laptops and Chromebook. If 

you feel you could help, email 

anne.computerpals@gmail. 

com 

Short story 

competition 

The Northern Beaches Writers 

Group has announced 

the opening of its 2024 Arts 

& Words Project, with a first 

prize of $250 and publication 

online. Writers are encouraged 

to submit entries of up to 2,500 

words responding to the theme 

‘Glass’, along with at least 

one image that reflects and 

enhances their story. Collaborations 

and multiple entries 

are welcome. Stories can be 

non-fiction, fiction, or fiction 

inspired by true events – all 

genres and styles are welcome. 

Cost is $15 per entry (multiple 

entries are permitted but must 

be accompanied by a separate 

fee and entered separately). The 

primary judge is multi-awardwinning 

author Zena Shapter 

(‘Towards White’). Total prize 

pool is $450, including $100 for 

the Northern Beaches Commendation 

Award (locals only). 

Entries close March 31. More 

days of hunter-gatherers up to today. Visitors 

welcome; enquiries to Shelley (0415 538 864). 

The next meeting of Newport Probus Club 

is on 11 January at Newport Bowling Club. 

This meeting is one week later than usual, 

to give members the opportunity to return 

from holidays and/or recover from the busy 

Festive Season. The business meeting will be 

followed by a panel of speakers from within 

the membership and an entertaining hour is 

anticipated. Commences 10am. More info Di 

Burrell (0410 465 303). 

The next meeting of Pittwater Mens Probus 

will be held at Mona Vale Surf Club on Tuesday 

9 January. If you are a boating enthusiast, 

this is one not to miss. Gifted speaker Noel 

Phelan will deliver ‘The Halvorsen Story’ – a 

vessel which is steeped in boating history. 

Commences 10am; visitors welcome. More info 

Terry Larke (0412 220 820). 

info northernbeacheswritersgroup.com 

Draft Multicultural 

Inclusion plan release 

Northern Beaches Council will 

put its blueprint for greater 

inclusion of multicultural communities 

in future decisionmaking 

on public exhibition 

in early 2024. Council’s draft 

Championing Diversity – 

Multicultural Inclusion Plan 

2029 identifies the ways that 

multicultural communities 

can be better informed and 

involved in decision making. 

Council says it is the first step 

in an overall plan to ensure the 

needs of those from diverse 

Countdown on to 50th Big Swim 

The Pittwater Ocean Swim 

Series splashes into action 

in January, with three local 

swims in the lead-up to the 50th 

Big Swim (Palm Beach to Whale 

Beach) on Sunday January 28. 

The Newport Pool-To-Peak swim 

starts proceedings on Sunday 

January 7, followed by the Bilgola 

Beach ‘Billy’ swim (January 14) 

and the Warriewood to Mona Vale 

swim (January 21). 

Big Swim entrants are mainly 

recreational swimmers, ranging 

from 12 years through 80 years 

and over, with more than 75 per 

cent coming from outside the 

Northern Beaches – a boost for 

local businesses. 

Organisers report that several 

of the originals from the first 

swim in 1974 will be swimming 

in the 50th swim. 

With a record number of entries 

expected they will restrict numbers 

to 2000 to ensure adequate 

water safety craft and surveillance 

including jet skis and drones. 

*Whale Beach SLSC needs 

volunteers to help with entry 

registration for the Big Swim 

on 28 January. The Big Swim is 

expected to attract 2000 people. 

If you are able to help, email 

your name and contact to info@ 

whalebeachslsc.com.au 



Giant Cuttlefish snap wins day 

stunning image of a giant cuttlefish 

A swooshing through shallow water 

at Manly’s Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic 

Reserve has won the third annual 

UNDERWATER! 2023 Photo Competition. 

As part of Northern Beaches Council’s 

30th Ocean Festival, the competition 

featured captivating images of 

underwater life at the five Aquatic 

Reserves on the Northern Beaches 

by new, emerging and established 

underwater photographers. 

The competition’s judges said Talia 

Greis’ winning image ‘Torpedo’ (above) 

“beautifully captures one of the 

Northern Beaches most iconic species 

and is technically masterful”. 

In addition to the overall winner, there 

were eight other winners, one from each 

of the competition’s categories as well as 

a People’s Choice winner. 

For the first time this year, a special 

category was included to appeal to 

underwater videographers. 

More than 225 images were submitted 

in 2023, twice the number of entries 

from 2022. 

The competition’s People’s Choice 

award was won by Alana Abercrombie for 

her image, Taking a Breath – a fascinating 

photo features a turtle’s view of the urban 

coast. This category was judged online by 

more than 1000 residents. 

Meanwhile the inaugural Northern 

Beaches Ocean Festival drew 100 

enthusiastic participants to Bongin 

Bongin Bay last month for a marine sand 

sculpture event (above). The familyfriendly 

activity promoted the crucial 

message of supporting marine life against 

the backdrop of marine conservation. 

The festival’s success marked a 

powerful kick-off to Ocean Festival week, 

emphasising the urgency of marine 

conservation and aligning with the 30x30 

campaign for community engagement. 

*View UNDERWATER! images on 

Council’s website. 

News 

backgrounds have access to the 

same opportunities as others 

living in the community. Mayor 

Sue Heins said: “Our plan 

means local multicultural communities 

will have a seat at the 

decision-making table and are 

able to be active and engaged 

members of our community.” 

The plan was developed with 

input from more than 500 

community members, including 

many from a multicultural 

background, who communicated 

their experiences 

living, working or visiting the 

Northern Beaches. The draft 

plan will go on public display 

from mid-January to the end 

of February. 

Enviro Grants 

worth $50,000 

Northern Beaches Council has 

approved $50,000 in environmental 

grants for projects in 

2024 aimed at delivering a 

positive impact on the local 

environment. Council says 

recipients will deliver direct 

benefit via hands-on creek 

bank stabilisation works, 

online solar training and bush 

regeneration. In the current 

program, 10 projects will 

receive full funding of $5,000 

per project and two will be 

awarded partial funding for 

projects beginning in December. 

All projects are required to 

be completed by 31 December 

2024. See the full list on NB 


Annual Report 

highlights works 

Northern Beaches Council has 

released its annual report for 

the 2022/23 financial year 

highlighting what it said was 

a year of growth, innovation, 

and milestone achievements 

across various areas. Northern 

Beaches Mayor Sue Heins 

described the year as one of 

Continued on page 24 



Pittwater News 

News 

Safe Space awarded funding 

Liberal Member for 

Pittwater Rory Amon 

joined MoWaNa President 

Melani Kypri and Labor 

candidate for Pittwater 

Jeffrey Quinn to celebrate 

the announcement of 

$50,000 of funding to 

support MoWaNa’s service 

of the Northern Beaches 

community. 

MoWaNa Safe Space 

– short for ‘Mona Vale, 

Warriewood and Narrabeen’ 

– is a peer-led communitybased 

service to support 

people who are experiencing 

emotional or suicidal 

distress. 

Based at the Mind Café, 

Narrabeen, MoWaNa 

operates 5pm – 9pm on 

Friday, Saturday and Sunday 

each week, providing a 

welcoming and non-clinical 

environment where those in 

need can ‘drop in’. 

The funding has been 

awarded by the NSW 

Government following 

a nomination by Labor 

Candidate for Pittwater 

Jeffrey Quinn during the 

recent election period. 

The funding will be 

used to employ a part-time 

volunteer coordinator 

and trainer to ensure the 

longevity of the safe space. 

“The MoWaNa safe space 

has helped so many, there 

are countless stories of 

people whose lives have 

been transformed by this 

service,” said Mr Amon. “I am 

pleased that this funding will 

allow the service to continue 

and expand, providing 

more crucial assistance to 

vulnerable people. 

“On behalf of our 

community, I want to thank 

Melani and her team for 

their vision and tenacity, 

and Guy Morel and the 

Mind Café for donating a 

space each week for this 

important initiative. 

“I also applaud Jeffrey 

Quinn for his recognition of 

this wonderful organisation,” 

said Mr Amon. – LO 

Continued from page 23 

recovery, optimism and teamwork. 

“Council delivered $82 

million in capital works this 

year including an investment 

of over $15 million to provide 

10.3km of road resurfacing, 

5km of new footpaths, 4.1km 

of shared paths and 1.6km 

of footpath renewals,” she 

said. “This is just the tip of 

the iceberg with several major 

capital works being completed 

which provide direct benefit to 

the community including the 

new Long Reef Surf Life Saving 

club, a new pedestrian bridge 

over Narrabeen Lagoon, a new 

Marine Rescue Headquarters 

at Bayview and a new Rural 

Fire Service Brigade Building 

at Duffys Forest to support the 

great work our volunteers do.” 

View the Annual Report on 


Marine Rescue: 

Log On, Log Off 

If you are planning on enjoying 

some time on the water in a 

tinnie, cruiser, yacht, kayak, 

canoe or a jet ski, don’t forget 

to ‘Log On and Off’ with Marine 

Rescue – it’s quick, simple 

and free. MR advise to Log On 

whenever you’re heading out 

on the water and Log Off when 

you return. To Log On, call 



your Marine Rescue NSW base 

on VHF Channel 16, or use the 

MarineRescue App. When you 

Log On via the radio, the operator 

will ask you for some basic 

information about your vessel, 

your destination and contacts. 

You’ll enter the same details 

on your smartphone or other 

device if you’re using the app. 

If you decide to stay out longer, 

simply call the base on VHF 

Ch 16 or use the MarineRescue 

App to update your arrival 

time. Remember to Log Off 

when you’re back on shore. If 

you haven’t let Marine Rescue 

know you’re back safely, they 

will start to look for you! More 

info marinerescuensw.com.au 

24-hour bowls 

marathon 

Locals Peter Thomas and Sheldon 

Smith (right) completed a 

24-hour bowls marathon for 

Movember, raising $3700 to 

assist men’s health. 

The funds were added to 

the pair’s ‘Pittwater Pelicans’ 

team, which raised more than 

$10,000 for the month of November 

and – with donations 

still pouring in. 

Peter and Sheldon thanked 

everyone who helped by playing 

against them, as well as 

local donors, plus supporters 

Bayview NYE fireworks 

Northern Beaches Council 

is hosting several 

free family friendly New 

Year’s Eve fireworks sites 

for the community to 

enjoy the festivities – with 

Winnererremy Bay at Bayview 

set to explode into colour at 

9pm and 12 midnight. 

To ensure compliance 

with fireworks exclusion 

zone requirements, Rowland 

Reserve at Bayview will be 

closed. Families can enjoy 

the fireworks from multiple 

outdoor vantage points 

around the bay. 

Other locations that 

will hold 10-12 minutes of 

fireworks at 9pm include: 

Frenchs Forest – 9pm, Lionel 

Watts Reserve, Blackbutts 

Road; Dee Why – 9pm, Ted 

Jackson Reserve, Dee Why 

Beach; and Manly – 9pm, East 

& West Esplanade, Manly Cove. 

Families are encouraged 

to bring your own picnic or 

purchase takeaway from one 

of the many local restaurants 

and enjoy the fireworks 

spectacular. 

Council reminds readers 

alcohol is prohibited at Dee 

Why, Frenchs Forest, Bayview 

and Manly (East Esplanade) 

from 8pm-8am. 

*For updates on the day 

follow @beachescouncil on 

Facebook and Instagram. 

Pittwater RSL Club, Pittwater 

Bowls Club and Iprint Digital 

who sponsored the day. 

20% off sports shoes 

Shoe retailer Mike Pawley is 

offering locals a $20 discount 

(off RRP) on two brands of nonmarking 

sports/court shoes to 

help keep the six court surfaces 

at the Northern Beaches Indoor 

Sports Centre clean. Parents 

looking to buy new sports 

shoes for their school-aged 

children are urged to head 

to a Mike Pawley Sports store 

(Mona Vale and Dee Why) and 

check out the ASICS Court shoe 

or New Balance Court shoe – 

and look for the non-marking 

labels on the shoes. The store 

has a full inventory of Men’s, 

Women’s and Children’s nonmarking 

shoes. NBISC caters 

for more than 9000 volleyball, 

basketball and netball players 

each week, spending more than 

$200,000 a year in court maintenance, 

with black-soled shoes 

the biggest problem. More info 

mikepawleysports.com.au 

Vet 

on call 

with Dr Brown 

Summer is synonymous with 

sun-soaked adventures, but 

for our pets, the rising temperatures 

pose potential dangers. 

As responsible pet owners, it’s 

crucial to understand the risks 

and take proactive measures to 

ensure our furry companions 

stay safe and cool during the 

scorching months. 

Heat stroke, or heat stress, 

occurs when the body›s heat 

production surpasses its ability 

to cool down, resulting in 

hyperthermia and, in severe 

cases, organ failure. This 

life-threatening condition can 

escalate rapidly, especially for 

pets outdoors on hot days. 

Certain breeds such as Pugs 

and French Bulldogs are more 

susceptible to heat-related 

issues. Additionally, animals 

with heavy coats need special 

attention. Consider scheduling a 

grooming session to keep them 

comfortable and facilitate easier 

tick checks. 

When temperatures soar, it’s 

best to bring your pets indoors, 

preferably with access to a fan 

or air conditioner. 

Some practical tips to safeguard 

your pets: 

Ensure outdoor enclosures 

are shaded throughout the day, 

as the sun’s position changes. 

Provide fresh water daily and 

consider adding ice cubes on 

hot days. Check sipper bottles 

for blockages. 

Place a wet towel for your 

pet to sit on, create a doggy ice 

block, or use a child’s plastic 

seashell sandpit as a pool. 

Avoid walks during the 

hottest part of the day. If the 

ground is too hot for your feet, 

it’s too hot for your pet’s paws. 

Stay vigilant for signs of 

heat stroke, including excessive 

panting, sluggishness, drooling, 

vomiting, and loss of consciousness. 

If your pet exhibits these 

symptoms, act promptly: 

Move your pet to a cooler 

place and check its breathing. 

Cooling Measures: Wrap 

your pet in a cool wet towel, 

avoiding ice-cold water. 

Seek Veterinary Attention: 

Contact your vet immediately 

for professional assistance. Call 

Avalon (9918 0833) or Newport 

(9997 4609). 

News 



The Barrenjoey Boatshed will be 

reborn in the coming weeks; here we 

recount how seaplanes became part 

of the fabric of this iconic venue. 

Story by Rosamund Burton 

Life Stories 

Plane 

sailing 

Eighty-seven-year-old Cessna on floats at the back of near the boatshed to Careel opportunity to buy the lease 

Carmel Walton sits on the a fisherman’s cottage. When Bay because of strong winds, of the boatshed, the vote was 

bench near the Barrenjoey 

we return to Sydney, Vic goes but a storm overturned the unanimous that they sell up 

Boatshed, recalling how 

this place became her home 

for 30 years. Her husband, aircraft 

pilot Vic Walton, and she 

began renting the boatshed in 

1975. 

“Vic had just started working 

for Nationwide Air Services 

as a demonstration pilot 

for the Government Aircraft 

Factory’s Nomad – a twin-turbo 

prop,” she explains. “While 

waiting for his first demonstration 

aircraft he was asked 

to fly a Cessna on amphibious 

floats up to Cairns for a prospective 

customer, and I went 

with him. 

“By the time we reach 

Cairns Vic is quite keen on 

seaplanes. The prospective 

buyer takes us to Kurumba on 

the western side of Cape York 

to look at a dilapidated old 

to the bank manager, gets a 

loan for $10,000, and buys this 

aeroplane.” 

Vic and the other man 

patched up the plane; the Waltons 

gradually limped back 

to Sydney and the plane was 

taken out to Bankstown to be 

totally renovated. Vic thought 

that the Palm Beach end of 

Pittwater was the best place 

for seaplanes, and his father 

knew Aub Allen, who owned 

the lease of the boatshed. On 

a handshake, Vic and Carmel 

rented the boatshed, which 

included a takeaway shop, and 

an upstairs apartment. 

Carmel said that by the 

end of October 1975 the 

Cessna 185 seaplane had been 

restored and was in Pittwater, 

ready to start joy-ride flights. 

Vic moved it from its mooring 

seaplane and it had to be 

taken back to Bankstown for 

extensive repairs. However, by 

Christmas it was up and running, 

and despite opposition 

from some locals, concerned 

about the safety of other users 

of the Pittwater waterway and 

also aircraft noise, Aquatic 

Airways was operating its first 

joy flights over Pittwater. 

Vic, Carmel and their 

children – Lynne, Russell and 

Joanne – relocated for the 

summer from their home in 

Baulkham Hills to the small 

flat above the boatshed. Russell 

helped his father with 

the planes and Lynette and 

Joanne ran the takeaway shop 

with Carmel. No-one wanted 

to return home at the end of 

January. So six months later, 

when the Waltons had the 

and move here permanently, 

and the kids aged 17, 15, and 

13, started at Barrenjoey High. 

Vic had begun taking flying 

lessons in England aged 21, 

while staying with relatives 

over there. Back in Australia in 

1951 he was accepted for the 

Qantas Cadet Pilot Scheme, 

but Qantas had a surplus of 

pilots, so instead gave him a 

job as a flight steward. 

Carmel and Vic met when 

she was 17 and he was 22. Vic 

was working towards his commercial 

pilot’s licence, training 

at the Royal Aero Club in 

Bankstown. 

“Our first date was in a Tiger 

Moth,” says Carmel. They 

married in 1957 and lived in a 

flat at Clareville before moving 

to a beach cottage on the 

Serpentine at Bilgola, which 



they rented for five pounds, 

one shilling and threepence 

a week, and where their three 

children were born. By 1962, 

Vic had his commercial pilot’s 

licence, and his first job was 

as a sales demonstration pilot 

for Victa, the lawnmower 

company, which in the 1960s 

diversified into light aircraft. 

When the Walton family 

made the permanent move to 

the boatshed in 1976, Vic left 

Nationwide Air Services to 

work full-time on Aquatic Airways. 

However, later that year 

the Nomad had a fatal crash 

and the test pilot was killed, 

so Vic offered to do test flights 

again, explains Carmel. 

“Often during the week he 

would do test flights, then operate 

the seaplane at the weekends. 

He also did demonstration 

tours and flew at the Paris 

Air Show and the Farnborough 

Air Show in the UK. Vic had an 

interesting career. I was very 

proud of him.” 

While demonstrating the 

Nomad in Sweden he spotted 

a Cessna in a snowdrift. He reported 

it to air traffic control 

– to be told that its existence 

was known and that the owner 

was keen to sell it. Vic agreed 

to buy it. He was interested in 

recovering the engine – but 

with some help, despite its isolation, 

he managed to recover 

the whole aircraft. So he now 

had a second Cessna – this one 

on skis – which having had 

transported back to Australia, 

he transferred to floats. 

By 1978, as well as operating 

its scenic flights, Aquatic 

Airways was flying what 

Vic Walton believed was the 

world’s shortest air route: 

from Palm Beach to Gosford, 

a journey time of only eight 

minutes. The boatshed had 

fuel facilities for planes, boats 

and cars, Hobie Cats and fishing 

boats were available for 

hire, and there was also the 

takeaway food shop. 

The next additions to the 

Aquatic Airways fleet were 

two Beavers and a Cessna 206 

to make the documentary, 

Pelican’s Progress, in which 

three seaplanes flew around 

Australia. 

“Vic left Palm Beach and 

kept Australia on the left,” 

says Carmel. Paul Hamlyn 

also published a book about it 

called ‘Australia – the Greatest 

Island’ (published 1980). 

In the early 1980s, Vic and 

Carmel’s marriage fell apart. 

They still had the boatshed 

lease, so Vic continued to 

operate the seaplane business, 

and Carmel stayed living in 

the flat and ran the takeaway 

business. Until then she had 

been busy in the office organising 

flight bookings, so she 

had rented out the takeaway 

businesses at weekends, and 

only operated it herself during 

the week. Now she turned 

her attention to making the 

food outlet more of a going 

concern. 

“A friend had a t-shirt from 

Carmel-by-the-Sea in California, 

and said, ‘It’s a good name 

for your business’, so I called 

it Carmel’s by the Sea.” It went 

from just being takeaway to 

having a bigger deck with 

tables, with a greater range of 

good basic food and drinks, 

and was loved by both locals 

and visitors. “Gradually I 



CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE: Carmel at the newly renovated 

Barrenjoey Boatshed; the modest structure in the early 

1970s; an aerial showing the arrival of seaplanes; Pittwater 

Life promoted Carmel’s By The Sea; a cartoon reflecting the 

early mood of locals; a pic from ‘Australia – the Greatest 

Island’; local media picked up on Vic’s ambitions; Aquatic 

Airways’ early days; Carmel on the beach in the 1980s. 




ABOVE: Vic was accepted into the Qantas Cadet Pilot scheme and dreamed of 

flying Constellations. BELOW: Expanded outdoors dining in the 1980s. 


improved it, but it never had 

table service. It was always low 

key.” 

It was only when living 

alone at the boatshed that she 

realised how isolated it was. 

“Fortunately, Russell was 

working with the water police 

in Bayview then. The water 

police were wonderful. They 

knew I was on my own and 

kept an eye on the place.” 

Vic’s last flight, says Carmel, 

was in 1993 when he flew their 

youngest daughter, Joanne, 

and her bridesmaids in the 

seaplane to her wedding at the 

boatshed. 

“We had carpet down the 

wharf and a big silk marquee 

on the deck. It was wonderful.” 

Vic went out of business 

in 1993, and died of cancer 

a year later, but Carmel continued 

to run the café. There 

were book launches at the 

boatshed, several water police 

Christmas parties, weddings, 

and formal dinner parties in 

the upper deck dining room. 

And from the time Home and 

Away started in the late 1980s 

scenes were filmed here. 




THE YOUNG COUPLE: Carmel and Vic (right) in the 1950s. 



“In 1998 between Christmas 

and New Year it was 

stinking hot, I was short 

staffed, people were 10-deep 

at the counter, and I thought I 

don’t want to do this anymore.” 

Carmel sold the café 

business to Jackie Burns, who 

worked with her. By this time 

Carmel owned the lease of 

the boatshed with Russell and 

Joanne, and she continued 

to live there until 2006 when 

they sold it. Jackie still had 

two years to go on the café 

lease, and when that finished 

Andrew Goldsmith and his 

wife Pip Robb moved in, and 

the Barrenjoey Boatshed 

became the first of The Boathouse 

venues. 

Carmel bought a house in 

Avalon, where she now lives, 

but this place just a few kilometres 

north will always hold 

special memories. 

“I loved being here. I had 

my 40th, 50th, 60th and 70th 

birthday parties here,” she 

says, “and saw many a good 

sunset”. 



Art Life 


Gallery’s 100 years of collecting 

Manly Art Gallery & 

Museum (MAG&M) is 

celebrating 100 years of 

public collecting, with a series 

of exceptional exhibitions and 

special events in 2024. 

Kicking off the celebration 

is Collection 100: Gifted, on 

exhibition until 18 February. 

The exhibition honours the 

philanthropists, artists, donors 

and members of the public 

whose contributions have 

shaped MAG&M’s impressive 

public art collection. 

Northern Beaches Mayor 

Sue Heins said the 100-yearold 

collection all began with 

the purchase through public 

subscription of an Australian 

impressionist painting – Middle 

Harbour from Manly Heights by 

Seaforth based artist James R 

Jackson. 

“Manly Art Gallery & Museum 

is the oldest metropolitan 

purpose-built regional gallery 

in NSW, officially opening in 

1930,” Mayor Heins said. 

“The collection began six 

years before the building 

opened, when a committee of 

12, appointed by Manly Council, 

considered that a prize-winning 

artwork by James R Jackson 

was far too precious to pass 

out of Manly. 

“Describing the possible loss 

of the painting as a ‘catastrophe’, 

they raised funds by 

public subscription to purchase 

the work, and gifted it to Manly 

Council.” 

This painting will be on display 

at Collection 100: Gifted, 

alongside early works by Tom 

Roberts, Ethel Carrick (Manly 

Beach – Summer Is Here 1919, 

right) and Antonio Dattilo- 

Rubbo, and more recent works 

by Elisabeth Cummings, Wendy 

Sharpe (Blue Harbour 2018, 

below) and Kathy Cavaliere. 

Opening alongside this 

exhibition is Surface Effect: 

Ceramics Collection Stories, 

showcasing some of MAG&M’s 

extensive ceramics collection. 

This exhibition emphasises 

the intricate interplay between 

ceramics, painting, and printmaking, 

revealing the common 

threads that unite artists in 

their creative process. From ancient 

pottery to modern sculptures, 

ceramics have provided a 

canvas for painters and printers 

to explore new techniques. 

Works by Belinda Fox & 

Neville French, Elisabeth Cummings 

& Barbara Romalis, Noel 

McKenna, Danie Mellor, and 

Guan Wei make visible the 

connections between ceramics, 

painting, and printmaking 

and the shared characteristics 

intrinsic to the artists’ hand. 

Surface Effects: Ceramics Collection 

Stories runs until 28 July. 

“The spirit of generosity and 

the belief of art as intrinsic 

to our community lives on at 

MAG&M,” Mayor Heins said. 

“The gallery continues to be 

a hub for creativity and culture, 

connecting artists, donors and 

the community. 

“We thank each and every 

donor over the past 100 years 

for their generous contributions 

to our public collection.” 

Also, the Gallery will be 

hosting ‘ICONIC: Lost in Palm 

Springs’ – a discussion on Midcentury 

Modern (MCM) design 

– on Thursday 18 January 

(6pm-7.30pm). At this special 

event, artist Paul Davies, artist/ 

curator/designer Liane Rossler 

and architect Penelope Seidler 

AM will share their thoughts on 

contemporary approaches to 

living with MCM. 

It’s part of ‘Lost in Palm 

Springs’, an interdisciplinary 

exhibition bringing together 14 

creative minds – including internationally 

recognised artists, 

photographers and thinkers 

from America and Australia – 

who respond to, capture, or 

reimagine the magical qualities 

of the landscape and the 

celebrated mid-century modern 

architecture found in the renowned 

Californian desert city. 

Lost in Palm Springs runs 

until 25 February. 

*More info MAG&M website 



‘Salt’ of the 

earth works 

erging’ – a detail of 

‘Mwhich graces the cover 

of this issue of Pittwater Life 

– is one of the many evocative 

images shown by Sally Mayman 

at her recent exhibition 

at Art Gallery on Palm Beach. 

It’s part of her body of 

work ‘Salt’, which Sally said 

celebrates connections to the 

sea and our community which 

is shaped by it. 

“Through the oceans, salt 

connects us all and is an essential 

for life,” she said. “The 

oceans, like our land environments, 

are being drastically 

affected by climate change. 

This exhibition encourages 

reflection on our collective responsibility 

in maintaining the 

delicate balance of nature, so Vanessa said. 

future generations can enjoy 

what we have so loved.” 

A selection of Sally’s images 

are still on show at Art Gallery 

on Palm Beach, which is open 

every day in January. With 

16 artists represented there 

is a wonderful selection of 

paintings, ceramics, botanical 

sculpture and photography. 

Gallery director Vanessa 

Ashcroft said Art Gallery of 

Palm Beach was excited to be 

showcasing local prize-winning 

artists to the holiday makers of 

Palm Beach this summer and 

would be open every day from 

10am – 3pm in January. 

“Not only will the Palm 

Beach Gallery be open, but 

the sister gallery and flagship 

gallery in Balmain, Art Gallery 

on Darling, will also be open 

for two weeks from January 

15 – 28 with the artists of 

AGOPB exhibiting their work,” 


*More of Sally’s work can be 

seen at turtlepictures.com. 

au, including all recent collections; 

more gallery info @ 

artgalleryonpalmbeach 




35

Hot Property 

Hot Property 

Word on street: Avalon 

Beach officially ‘hot’ 

If you are planning on 

buying property and on 

the hunt for the next “hot” 

suburb you don’t have to 

look far with Avalon Beach 

named as one of the 100 

locations across the country 

to watch. 

Avalon Beach and Dee Why 

were the only suburbs on the 

Northern Beaches included 

in the annual realestate.com. 

au ‘Hot 100’, which lists 100 

Australian suburbs that are 

tipped to outperform in 2024 

and beyond. 

The list was compiled 

by a panel of industry 

professionals based on 

several economic and 

local growth drivers, such 

as supply and demand, 

population growth and 

infrastructure projects, which 

are expected to boost prices 

in the short to medium term. 

Avalon Beach was 

nominated for its location 

and amenity, while down the 

coast Dee Why made the list 

based on affordability. 

Property prices along the 

Northern Beaches pulled back 

in 2022 after skyrocketing 

during the pandemic, and 

Avalon Beach has seen a 12 

per cent correction in house 

prices since the peak in 

March 2022. 

But according to LJ 

Hooker’s Christine Mikhael, 

the beachside village is now 

at a turning point. 

“Avalon has seen a rebound 

STREET APPEAL: 71 George St, Avalon Beach (see panel story right). 

in house prices with a 2.40 

per cent increase since May,” 

Ms Mikhael said. 

“The suburb’s beachside 

appeal and strong demand, 

particularly from Eastern 

Suburbs upgraders, should 

contribute to price growth 

over 2024.” 

Young families who can 

afford it are moving into 

Avalon Beach in droves, with 

a quarter of the population 

aged under 20 – higher than 

the state average, according 

to PropTrack data and 

economic analysis. 

PropTrack director of 

economic research Cameron 

Kusher said that while there 

were never any guarantees 

which locations would 

outperform, the Hot 100 list 

gave buyers insights into 

the thinking of experts and 

what they believed were key 

drivers of price growth. 

“There are a lot of things 

that make a suburb ‘hot’; it 

can be in a desirable location 

that drives more demand, 

it can be undergoing 

gentrification to make it 

more attractive, it can be 

relatively affordable to other 

surrounding suburbs,” Mr 

Kusher said. 

“Of course, there are 

always individual suburbs 

and locations that will 

either underperform or 

overperform.” – Lisa Offord 

Sneak a preview 

You could be among the first 

to view this contemporary 

coastal home at 71 George 

Street Avalon Beach, with 

local LJ Hooker agent Peter 

Robinson planning on opening 

its doors for Auction Preview 

Inspections from January 13. 

Completed in 2021, 

Robinson says the one-of-akind 

home is meticulously 

executed in design and finish. 

The property is described 

as “exuding bespoke 

craftsmanship and a 

captivating sense of refined 

luxury, offering an open 

connection that invites the 

best of year-round living. Entry 

level offers multiple formal 

and casual zones, a dream 

kitchen and dedicated home 

office, while four bedrooms 

rest on the upper level 

including huge master and 

ensuite. There’s a seamless 

transition to both the front 

and rear child-friendly 

gardens, with all-season 

alfresco entertaining, level 

lawn and tiled in-ground 

plunge pool.” 

Other features include 

reverse cycle multi-zone air 

conditioning; high ceilings; 

ample storage; Tesla power 

wall system (fed by 19 solar 

panels); 8000L rainwater 

tanks for retention/detention; 

huge double garage with car 

hoist providing a third secure 

space; internal access and 

workshop; plus additional offstreet 

parking for van, boat or 

another two cars. 

The home’s sustainable 

architecture ensures it treads 

lightly on the environment, 

within an easy stroll to the 

beach, the village, schools 

and buses. 

– LO 



ansforming their backyard 

Tinto a captivating oasis 

became Luke and Tania’s 

mission when they acquired 

their 1970s Pettit & Sevitt 

home in North Balgowlah. The 

unruly 780m2 garden posed 

a challenge, prompting them 

to seek the expertise of Matt 

Poiner, the visionary behind The 

Conscious Gardener in Avalon. 

This was a garden makeover; 

it was the creation of a 

beautiful awareness-filled 

landscape. The journey 

unfolded as Matt’s discerning 

eye identified a starting 

point: a concrete aggregate 

pour around the pool, with 

knife-edge surrounds. Tania 

shared: “Matt’s process was 

always about the garden – he 

calls himself the ‘conscious 

gardener’, and that couldn’t 

be more fitting. He is so aware 

of your requirements, the 

aesthetic, and how you want to 

use the space.” 

As the transformation 

unfolded, tall trees made way 

for carefully curated foliage, 

including broad-leaved 

Elephant Ears and dotted 

Hibiscus allowing for more 

light. Dimmer uplighting was 

installed to ‘hero’ the tropical 

space after dusk, adding magic 

to the atmosphere. 

The battleaxe block’s slope 

presented a unique challenge, 

met with Matt’s clever 

suggestion of a sandstone 

retaining wall, featuring 

repurposed blocks from the 

property creating a sunny 

courtyard. Tania praised him, 

saying: “He’s a genius.” 

Matt, in turn, expressed his 

passion for helping clients 

bring their garden dreams to 

life, emphasising: “My role is to 

help visualise that dream and 

create the reality.” 

Matt’s qualifications as a 

horticulturist, combined with 

extensive plant knowledge and 

[advertorial] 

CULTIVATING AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE 

“Matt’s process 

was always about 

the garden – he 

calls himself 

the ‘conscious 

gardener’, and 

that couldn’t be 

more fitting” 

design experience, make him 

a true maestro in the realm of 

garden transformations. From 

concept to completion, his 

strong methodology involves 

understanding the client, their 

requirements, and uncovering 

the unique character of the 

property. 

The services offered by The 

Conscious Gardener extend 

beyond traditional landscaping, 

encompassing design, 

project management, plant 

selection, stone walls, paving, 

decks, pergolas, polished 

concrete, and even outdoor 

kitchens. Matt’s approach is 

not just about gardening; it’s 

about crafting an immersive 

experience that reflects 

the client’s desires and the 

inherent beauty of the space.

193 

Things 

Summer Guide 

To Do * 

GETTING AROUND 

The roads and ferry wharves 

get very busy at this time 

of year so make sure you 

leave plenty of time before 

heading out. While cycling 

is encouraged, the area’s 

typography and the state of the 

roads mean peddle power isn’t 

always the preferred option 

to get from A to B; however 

the uptake of electric bikes is 

helping to change that. Use 

transportnsw.info to plan your 

bus and/or ferry trips and tap 

into apps and social media 

pages for real-time updates. 

(*At Least!) 

Welcome to our 2024 Summer Guide to Pittwater and 

its surrounds; even long-time locals will find something 

new to experience. Compiled by Lisa Offord 

there are around 30 JOLT 

electric vehicle (EV) charging 

locations across the Northern 

Beaches where anyone can 

charge vehicles for up to 15 

minutes for free. In our area 

you’ll find them in Ocean 

Street and in the Lagoon Street 

Carpark in Narrabeen, near 

the library in Park Street and 

Bungan Street Mona Vale… and 

there are more to come. 

Buses 

You can take a yellow doubledecker 

B-Line bus for a birdseye 

view. The high-frequency 

buses operate every 30 minutes 

between Mona Vale and the 

CBD stopping at Warriewood, 

Narrabeen, Collaroy, Dee Why, 

Brookvale, Manly Vale, Spit 

Junction (Mosman), Neutral Bay 

and Wynyard. If you are north 

of Mona Vale, you can use the 

199 service which operates 

every 10 minutes across the day 

between Palm Beach and Manly 

to link to the B-Line. Locals’ 

Tip: Get a lift to and from your 

place to the nearest B-Line bus 

stop through the on-demand 

transport service Keoride, 

covering North Narrabeen 

Vale, Bayview, Newport 

Clareville, Bilgola Beach, Avalon 

Beach, Whale Beach and Palm 

Beach. 

Ferries 

Fantasea Cruising runs two 

passenger services – the iconic 

Palm Beach ferry Myra services 

Northern Pittwater and a highspeed 

ferry from Palm Beach to 

the Central Coast. 

Myra runs on the Palm Beach 

to The Basin, Coasters Retreat 

run. The first two stops – at 

Bennetts Wharf and Bonnie 

Doon – are the gateway to 

Coasters Retreat. She then 

stops at The Basin then 

Currawong Beach and Mackerel 

Beach. The ferry departs Palm 

Beach hourly seven days a 

week. The round trip takes 

approximately 45 minutes. 

The high-speed scenic 

service between Palm Beach 

and Ettalong on the Central 

Coast takes around 30 minutes 

and spans four waterways 

from Pittwater, Broken Bay, the 

entrance to the Hawkesbury 

River and Brisbane Waters. It’s 

a great way to take in the sites 

passing Lion Island between 

the heads of Barrenjoey 

Headland and Box Head. 

Locals’ Tip: New for summer 

is the Palm Beach Hopper Pass 

where you can hop on and off 

at each destination serviced 

by Palm Beach Ferries as often 

as you like within either a 

24-hour or 48-hour window. 

palmbeachferries.com.au 

The Boathouse Ferry Co 

operates the 50-foot timber 

passenger ferry ‘Merinda 

II’ between Palm Beach and 

Patonga. 

The Church Point Ferry 

Service which departs Church 

Point hourly on the half hour 

will take you to Scotland Island 

and the western foreshores 

stopping at Elvina Bay, Halls 

Wharf (access to Morning Bay) 

and Lovett Bay. 

Parking 

You will need to pay for parking 

at beach and reserve carparks 

across the Northern Beaches. 

If you’re visiting Palm Beach or 

catching a ferry during summer, 

Boat hire 

you can leave your car in the 

Church Point Charter based at 

seasonal car park at Careel Bay 

Princes Street Marina Newport, 

playing fields and take the 199 

boasts a fleet of clean and 

bus to Palm Beach. Or if you’re 

well-maintained 4- to 10-berth 

heading towards the city and 

power or sail boats to hire from 

don’t want to drive all the way, 

one day to a week; no licence 

the Park&Ride stations at Mona 

needed and you’ll be surprised 

Vale, Warriewood or Narrabeen 

at just how little it can cost. 

are good options – park your 

Don’t want to steer? Four- to 

car and hop straight onto the 

five-hour skippered charters for 

B-Line. Locals’ Tip: Currently Warriewood, Ingleside, Mona 

up to 18 people with a Captain 



and hostess also available. 

churchpointcharter.com.au. 

Boat ramps 

If you have a boat you want to 

float you can launch it from 

ramps at Rowland Reserve or 

Bayview Park or Maybanke 

Cove or Riddle Reserve off 

Pittwater Road Bayview; 

Bilarong Reserve, Jamieson Park 

or Lake Park North Narrabeen; 

Careel Bay off George Street 

Avalon; At Church Point 

near the parking area, or off 

McCarrs Creek Road; Clareville 

off Delecta Avenue or Lot 7312 

Taylors Point Road; Florence 

Park or Salt Pan Cove off Prince 

Alfred Parade Newport and at 

Palm Beach Governor Phillip 

Park, Sandy Point Lane or for 

dinghies only Lucinda Park off 

Nabilla Road. 

Locals’ Tip: Check 

pittwaterweather.com if you 

want to keep an eye on our 

local micro-climate. 

HEAD TO 

THE WATER 

Explore our beautiful 

waterways and golden 

beaches. From Narrabeen 

Lagoon to the northern tip of 


Palm Beach there are myriad 

places to swim, snorkel 

and engage in on-the-water 

activities or simply immerse 

yourself in the restorative 

effects of blue space. 

Best beaches 

We are truly spoilt for choice, 

with every surf beach boasting 

a unique vibe. Where possible 

swim between the red-andyellow 

flags and follow the 

lead of our lifesavers who 

know better than any of us 

when it comes to reading the 

ever-changing surf conditions. 

Check beachsafe.org.au (and 

Beachwatch pollution forecast) 

before heading out. Locals’ 

Tip: The best spot at any of our 

surf beaches during summer is 

the north end. There is (mostly) 

always a nor’-east sea breeze 

and it can be unpleasant if 

you’re fully exposed to its 

impact. Mona Vale Basin, North 

Bilgola, North Avalon and 

Whale Beach are all sheltered in 

these conditions. 

Surf Safety 

It goes without saying… but on 

behalf of all the surf life savers 

we’ll say it again… please 

swim between the flags. Rips 

are common. Typical characteristics 

of a rip include: deeper, 

darker coloured water, fewer 

breaking waves and water moving 

out to sea. If you get stuck 

in rip stay calm and focus on 

staying afloat, rips will not pull 

you under they just pull you 

away from shore. Normally a 

rip will stop just behind breaking 

waves. Stay calm, float with 

the current to conserve your 

energy, raise your arm to alert 

life savers and wait for help to 

arrive. If you are a confident 

swimmer, swim with the rip to 

just behind the waves. Then 

swim left or right to catch a 

wave back to the shoreline. 

Rock pools 

Jutting off the coast you’ll find 

some of the most dramatic 

ocean pools in the world. 

Palm Beach – The 50-metrelong 

Johnny ‘Jack’ Carter Pool 

is at the southern end of Palm 

Beach in an area known as 

‘Kiddies Corner’. 

Whale Beach – At the southern 

end of the beach, this 25-metre 

rock pool isn’t very deep and 

has a nice sandy bottom, muchloved 

for its quiet atmosphere. 

Access is from The Strand. 

Avalon – Located at the 

southern end of the beach, this 

uniquely shaped pool is just 

over 20 metres long, complete 

with a paddle pool for littlies. 

Access is from the carpark off 

Barrenjoey Road. 

Bilgola – At the southern 

end of the beach, this 8-lane, 

50-metre pool has concrete 

walls and floor. The pool has 

two sections, separating the 

serious lap swimmers from the 

wading area which is great for 

toddlers. In summertime, the 

pool lights stay on until 10pm 

for late-night swims. 

Newport – At the southern 

end of the beach, the pool is 

50-metres long with a natural 

rock platform as the floor. The 

water is waist-high and is great 

for swimming laps. You can 

reach it from the walkway at 

the corner of Calvert Parade 

and The Boulevard or along the 

beach from the beach carpark. 

Mona Vale – Accessed off 

Surfview Road at the northern 

end of the beach sitting 

on a rock platform that is 

surrounded by water at high 

tide, there are two pools – 

one suitable for children and 

less confident swimmers 

and a larger pool measuring 

30-metres for bigger kids and 

adults. 

North Narrabeen – At the 

entrance to Narrabeen Lagoon 

with access off Narrabeen Park 

Parade, this 50-metre pool 

is best known for its timber 

boardwalk enclosing a smaller 

pool from the rest of the pool. 

It’s a great spot for curious 

kids too, as there are plenty of 

natural rock pools to explore 

nearby. 

Locals’ Tip: Rock pools are 

sometimes closed due to rough 

seas, renovations and cleaning 

– and they do get a little grubby 

between cleans especially 

in summer when slime and 

grime builds up quickly from 

frequent use, so time your visits 

accordingly. Council publishes 

the cleaning schedule on its 

website. 

Tidal pools 

Our waterways are pretty 

clean but as a general 

precaution it’s best to avoid 

swimming in Pittwater for up 

to three days following rainfall 

or for as long as stormwater is 

present. Stillwater swimming 

enclosures include: Paradise 

Beach – access is off the 

northern end of Paradise 

Avenue, Avalon; Taylors 

Point Baths – located at the 

southern end of Clareville 

Beach Reserve, access is off 

Hudson Parade; Clareville and 

Bayview Baths – On Pittwater 

Road Bayview. Locals’ Tip: 

Plan ahead. Usage may be 

limited on low tides. Finding 

a parking spot can be a 

challenge. 

NATURAL ASSETS 

Pittwater is a natural heritage 

area that comprises bushland, 

wetlands, lagoons, waterways, 

rock platforms and beaches 

– it’s also home to a large 

variety of native animals. All 

native animals are protected 

species. If you find an injured 

or orphaned native animal 

contact WIRES on 1300 094 

737 or Sydney Wildlife Rescue 

on 9413 4300. If you see a 

stranded or distressed marine 

mammal report it to ORRCA 

(Organisation for the Rescue 

and Research of Cetaceans in 

Australia) on 9415 3333. 

Majestic headlands 

Appreciate the beauty of 

Pittwater’s headlands and 

take in some excellent views. 

The list is almost endless. 

Narrabeen Headland – Peal 

Place, Warriewood; Turimetta 

Headland – Narrabeen Park 

Parade, Warriewood; South 

Mona Vale Headland – 

Narrabeen Park Parade, Mona 

Vale; Mona Vale Headland 

– Grandview Parade, Mona 

Vale; Eastern end of Hillcrest 

Avenue, Mona Vale; Bungan 

Head Reserve – Bungan Head 

Road, Newport; Newport 

Headland – Barrenjoey 

Road, Newport; Eric Green 

Reserve (access from North 

of Newport Beach Carpark); 

North Bilgola Headland – The 

Serpentine, Bilgola; Bangalley 

Head (the highest point on 

Sydney’s northern coastline) – 

Marine Parade, Avalon; Careel 

Head – Whale Beach Road, 

Avalon; Whale Beach Headland – 

Malo Road & The Strand, Whale 

Beach Malo Reserve; Little 

Head – Whale Beach Road and 

Norma Road, Whale Beach; Palm 

Beach Headland – Southern 

end of Ocean Road, near 

the rockpool, Palm Beach; 

Barrenjoey Headland – At the 

end of Governor Phillip Park, 

Palm Beach. 

JANUARY 2024 39 

Summer Guide

Summer Guide 

Rock Platforms 

When the tide retreats a secret 

world of marine ecosystems 

opens up with clusters of 

mini aquariums, teeming 

with tiny creatures. Explore 

the flat, expansive, eroded 

regions at the bottom of 

our rocky headlands. You’ll 

find they’re home to a huge 

variety of plants, animals and 

invertebrates such as starfish, 

crabs and shellfish. Locals’ Tip: 

Visit the Coastal Environment 

Centre at Narrabeen to learn 

more about our rocky shores. 

Warriewood Wetlands 

Covering 26 hectares 

Warriewood Wetlands is the 

largest remaining sand plain 

wetland in northern Sydney. 

There’s a boardwalk stretching 

2.4km and trails that can lead 

you to waterfalls (see below). 

You can take a self-guided tour 

starting from Katoa Close by 

following the new signs and 

scanning the QR codes to learn 

about the plants and animals 

and history that make up this 

area. The wetlands are easy to 

find (just behind Warriewood 

Square) and it’s an easy walk 

that will take you 45 minutes to 

an hour. 

Irrawong Waterfall 

The track to the waterfall is 

accessible from Garden Street 

or the end of Irrawong Road, 

corner of Epworth Avenue 

Warriewood. It takes about 

20 minutes from the Garden 

Street entrance and is relatively 

manageable by most fitness 

levels as much of the walk 

is quite flat along cleared 

paths or wooden boardwalks. 

However, there are steps in 

sections, so not suitable for 

wheelchairs or strollers. You 

will see lots of rainforest 

and if you are lucky, local 

wildlife. The waterfall clearing 

is a popular picnic spot, but 

the size of the clearing (and the 

6m waterfall flow) depends on 

recent rainfall. It can also be a 

little muddy. There are tracks 

beyond the waterfall but be 

careful as the track is steep. 

Narrabeen Lagoon 

State Park 

Step out and walk, enjoy 

numerous water sports, or 

simply find a spot to relax 

near the water’s edge. There 

is an 8.6-kilometre trail with 

no inclines around the lagoon, 

which will take you 2-3 hours 

on foot if you want to enjoy 

the beautiful ecosystems, 

cultural heritage and historical 

sites. The well-formed track 

is a shared trail popular with 

joggers, hikers, cyclists, dogs 

on leads, mums with prams, 

and bike riders. Cyclists are 

asked to stick to the left and 

pedestrians have right of way. 

There are places to peel off 

to rest, and picnic areas with 

toilet facilities dotted along 

the circuit. If you don’t want to 

tackle the loop in one go, there 

are five short walk options 

(Middle Creek to Bilarong 

Reserve – 2.2km; Bilarong 

Reserve to Berry Reserve – 

1.2km; Jamieson Park to South 

Creek – 2.3km and South Creek 

to Middle Creek – 1.2km). 

Angophora Reserve 

Located in the suburbs of 

Avalon Beach and Clareville, 

this 18.5-hectare space 

provides a small taste of the 

peninsula similar to what 

it was like pre-settlement 

with significant samples of 

vegetation and fauna habitats 

that are under threat. The 

reserve was intended to 

preserve a giant Angophora 

tree. It also contains one of 

the most archaeologically 

significant Aboriginal shelter 

sites in the Sydney region. 

Two main walking tracks 

extend through the reserve, 

one from the Palmgrove Road 

to Wandeen Road entrances 

and one from Hilltop Road to 

Chisholm Avenue. 

WALK THIS WAY 

From challenging hikes for 

you to sink your boots into, 

boardwalks signposted for selfguided 

tours and gentle strolls 

along well-formed paths, here 

are just a few of the walks you 

can take to make the best of 

our great outdoors. Some can 

be found close to home, others 

a little further afield. You can 

discover many more walks and 

more details on the AllTrails 

app, at nationalparks.nsw.gov. 

au and Council website. Locals’ 

Tip: Protect yourself from 

ticks and mozzie bites – warm, 

wet weather means more are 

breeding and biting, including 

the ones that can carry disease. 

Barrenjoey Lighthouse 

Barrenjoey Lighthouse sits at 

Sydney’s most northern point 

– Barrenjoey Head at Palm 

Beach. Positioned 91 metres 

above sea level the lighthouse, 

its oil room and keepers’ 

cottages were built in 1881 

from sandstone quarried on 

site. There are two routes to 

the top; the more gentle 1km 

Access Trail or the shorter, 

steeper Smugglers Track. When 

you get to the top you will be 

rewarded with glorious views of 

Broken Bay, Ku-ring-gai Chase 

National Park as well as the 

Central Coast (main pic above). 

Locals’ Tip: The inside of the 

lighthouse is only accessible by 

guided tour on Sundays. 

McKay Reserve 

If you’re up for a challenge take 

the ‘stairway to heaven’ from 

Barrenjoey Road near Iluka 

Road at Palm Beach. The walk 

up through McKay Reserve 

with its 700-plus stairs and 

steep slopes, stunning views 

and native bushland will take 



your breath away. The walk is 

1.37 kilometres one way – allow 

at least 40 minutes each way. 

Locals’ Tip: If you aren’t super 

fit, best tackle this one from 

the top (access via McKay Road 

Whale Beach) to bottom. 

Bayview to 

Church Point 

An accessible walking path 

along the shoreline from 

Bayview to Church Point. One 

way is approximately 3kms. 

There are plenty of options to 

extend it either way. 

Avalon to Narrabeen 

Coast Walk 

Beginning at Avalon Beach 

Surf Life Saving Club, this walk 

will take you over Bilgola Head 

to Bilgola Beach and around 

the southern headland to 

Newport Beach. Past Bungan 

Castle, the walk drops down 

to Bungan Beach, then over 

Mona Vale Headland to 

Bongin Bongin, Mona Vale 

and Warriewood beaches, 

Turimetta Head and beach, 

Narrabeen Head, Narrabeen 

Lagoon and finishes at 

Narrabeen shops. Allow at 

least five-and-a-half hours 

to cover the 13-kilometre 

distance, with plenty of stops. 

Crown to the Sea, 

Newport 

Linking four bushland reserves 

between Newport and Bilgola 

Plateau this challenging walk 

has it all. Starting at the 

Crown of Newport reserve, 

walkers take on a 300-metre 

moderate/steep trek under 

the canopy of a rainforest 

with its rare plants, waterfalls 

and wildlife before moving 

into the Attunga Reserve, a 

1000-metre strenuous steep 

climb with incredible coastline 

views, followed by an easy 

walk, through Porter Reserve 

winding into Kanimbla Reserve 

overlooking Newport. All up 

it’s roughly 1.7 kilometres and 

takes 1-2 hours. 

Narrabeen 

Coastal Walk 

Start this walk at North 

Narrabeen pool; it’s a lovely 

way to take in the wonder of 

the area. Start by climbing 

up the steps to arrive at 

Turimetta headland. There 

are a few tracks to choose 

from. The lookout overlooking 

North Narrabeen beach is 

stunning. You can take the 

path all the way along to Mona 

Vale headland (about 3.2 

kilometres) which will take you 

around 45 minutes. 

Anembo Reserve 

Walk and Trail 

Anembo is an Aboriginal 

word meaning “quiet place”, 

and peace and tranquility 

is what you will experience. 

Surrounded by Ku-ring-gai 

Chase National Park on three 

sides, this ridgetop reserve 

includes 22 hectares of native 

vegetation providing habitat 

for several threatened species. 

Starting at Anembo Road, 

Duffys Forest this mediumgraded 

2-kilometre walk will 

take 30-45 minutes along a 

formed track with no steps. 

Locals’ Tip: Be mindful of 

giving way to horses. 

Deep Creek Trail 

Starting at the Deep Creek 

Reserve, the 5.5-kilometre loop 

by creeks and waterfalls can 

get rocky and slippery at times 

but is generally considered 

an easy track which takes on 

average one and a half hours 

to complete. It does get busy – 

be prepared to share with trail 

runners and mountain bikers. 

Resolute Loop Walk 

The Resolute Loop track lies 

at the far end of West Head. 

You can catch a ferry from 

Palm Beach to Great Mackerel 

Beach Wharf and proceed 

north along the beach to enter 

the bushland track in the 

National Park, do a loop and 

finish back where you started 

where you can cool down 

with a swim. It’s considered 

a moderate walk with steep 

sections and stairs. There are 

numerous lookouts and the 

best of the historic Aboriginal 

art in the Ku-ring-gai Chase 

National Park along the way. 

It’s about a 6-kilometre loop; 

plan it as a day trip to allow 

for relaxing and swimming 

stops. 

West Head Army track 

A must-do trek for fit history 

buffs, you will be following 

in the steps of World War II 

soldiers climbing down the 

challenging West Head army 

track to a historic army battery 

where Sydney’s Broken Bay 

was protected from possible 

invasion. The restored track 

can be accessed from the West 

Head lookout car park. Some 

parts are so steep you’ll be 

scaling ladders. Set aside 1-1.5 

hours.

AROUND 

THE CLUBS 

Local clubs are offering 

deals and live entertainment 

throughout January. 

Pittwater RSL Club 

Boasts a wide range of venues 

including outdoor deck spaces, 

restaurants and bars and great 

entertainment. Its newest 

restaurant Bocado is a blend of 

Spanish Tapas and international 

flavours with an array of small 

and large plates perfect for 

sharing. Plus, you can enjoy live 

music every Sunday on the Deck 

from 3-6pm. Pittwater RSL open 

from 10am at 82 Mona Vale Rd, 

Mona Vale. pittwaterrsl.com.au 

OF THE BEST 

CLUB HOTSPOTS 

6Drinking and dining close to 

the coast this January 

Summer Guide 

Avalon Beach RSL Club 

If you love prawns, you can’t 

go past the special every day 

this summer where you will 

only have to shell out $20 for 

half a kilo (12pm-8.30pm, dinein 

only). Happy hour specials 

include $5 frozen cocktails and 

live performances include Sun 

Room on Sat 6; Adam Newling 

on Sat 13 and Tijuana Cartel on 

Sat 20. Avalon Beach RSL Club 

is at 1 Bowling Green Lane. 

avalonrsl.com.au 

Royal Motor Yacht Club 

Pittwater-based since 1926. The 

club welcomes boat owners 

and social members and their 

guests to experience its bars 

and a variety of dining options, 

live music and a sparkling 

outdoor heated swimming 

pool. You’ll find the club at 46 

Prince Alfred Parade Newport. 

royalmotor.com.au 

Tourist trappings 

North Palm Beach Surf Life 

Saving Club’s cafe is a must 

for devoted Home and Away 

fans. Pilgrims clamber off 

tourist buses to sample meat 

pies, fish and chips and ice 

creams bought in fictitious 

Summer Bay. The volunteerrun 

kiosk is open weekends 

and on Tuesdays from 

9.30am. Just watch out for 

the chip-stealing kookaburra! 

Deck this out 

The Deck at Whale Beach 

Surf Life Saving Club is 

the perfect spot to sip a 

cheeky Sunday afternoon 

glass of chilled wine and 

enjoy the ocean views. More 

substantial eats include steak 

sandwiches with caramelised 

onions, BLTs and pies from 

award-winning local bakery 

Oliver’s Pies. Closed on 

Mondays. 

Roast by Coast 

Rowie Dillon’s Sunday 

lunch at Newport Surf Life 

Saving Club swings into its 

second year. Throughout 

January, Rowie’s by the Sea 

serves lunch from noon. 

This canteen-style pop-up 

punches above its weight. 

Weekly menus include slowroasted 

lamb, Asian baked 

barramundi and fancy salads. 

Bookings 0402 530 862. 

Palm Beach Golf Club 

Enjoy a beautiful, casual dining 

experience with a view across 

the Golf Course and out to Lion 

Island and Ku-ring-gai Chase 

National Park. Open for lunch 

Tuesdays to Sundays with 

extended evening dining in 

Summer available Wednesdays 

to Saturdays. Book online to 

make sure you get a table. 

palmbeachgolf.com.au 

Newport Bowling Club 

Sitting on the corner of 

Barrenjoey and Palm Roads 

Newport everyone is welcome 

to this fantastic little spot for 

lawn bowls (with or without 

shoes!). There is great little 

clubhouse and lovely deck 

Take a Captain Cook 

Cook Terrace’s impressive 

drinks list showcases 

everything from Aperol 

spritzes, to boozy ginger 

beers, Japanese lager and 

non-alcoholic cocktails. Food 

orders come from The Basin 

Dining Room, located on the 

other side of the club. Mona 

Vale Surf Life Saving Club’s 

bar opens Fridays after work 

and on Sundays from 1pm 

to 7pm. 

That’s a wrap 

North Narrabeen Surf Life 

Saving Club sells post-surf 

snacks including toasties, 

wraps and cakes every day 

of the week and they have a 

full menu from Thursday to 

Sunday. Hit Cafe also has a 

selection of freshly squeezed 

juices and its own brand of 

delicious coffee. While you’re 

there, pick up a 1kg bag of 

beans. Open daily, 6.30am- 

2.30pm. 

Got you covered 

Cabana Beach Kiosk occupies 

an upstairs spot at the 

rear of South Narrabeen 

Surf Life Saving Club. The 

covered terrace is the ideal 

spot for beachside summer 

dining. The breakfast menu 

has cafe faves including 

homemade pancakes for the 

kids, Californian burritos, 

and eggs Florentine. Open 

Wednesday-Sunday, 7am- 

3pm. 



Summer Guide 



Summer Guide 

overlooking the greens where 

you can sit and sample the 

massive range of craft beers 

(tinnies and on tap) and/or 

premium wines, spirits and 

soft drinks. Open Monday 

to Sunday. Takeaways 

available 7 days a week. 

newportbowlingclub.com.au 

DOG PARKS 

Pittwater has some pleasant 

spots where your dog can run 

around. Avalon Beach Reserve 

Dog Park is a mediumsized, 

fully fenced area and 

located in Central Avenue. 

Hitchcock Park Dog Park has 

a designated off-leash area 

to the north of Careel Bay 

playing fields between Etival 

Street and Barrenjoey Road; 

Dearin Reserve Newport 

has plenty of large trees 

offering shade and dogs are 

permitted off-leash 24-hours 

a day; at McCarrs Creek 

Reserve, Church Point dogs 

are to be on-leash in the offleash 

area of the reserve on 

Saturdays, Sundays and Public 

Holidays; at Progress Park 

North Narrabeen dogs are 

permitted to take a dip in the 

creek; Rowland Reserve Dog 

Park at Bayview is a particular 

favourite with dog lovers and 

dogs who love the water; 

South Mona Vale Headland 

(Robert Dunn Reserve) offers 

plenty of open space and a 

sea breeze; At Deep Creek 

Reserve, North Narrabeen 

dogs can only be unleashed 

when conducting dog training 

sessions within the fenced 

areas. At Mackerel Beach, 

dogs can be off-leash between 

the Wharf and the National 

Parks sign in the morning 

before 9.30am and after 5pmsunset 

and Terrey Hills Oval is 

open to unleashed dogs from 

midnight to 8.30am daily. 

Check Council website for any 

changes. 

Locals’ Tip: Make sure your 

pet’s tick prevention is up to 

date, and don’t forget to take 

some poop bags with you. 

QUIET 

REFLECTION 

Bible Garden 

Situated high on the 

escarpment, the Bible Garden 

in Mitchell Road, Palm Beach 

offers magnificent views 

over the ocean to Barrenjoey 

headland. Established in the 

1960s the garden features 

almost all 148 plants 

mentioned in the Old and New 

Testament. The garden also has 

a pond, seats, table and a Bible. 

All are welcome. Locals’ Tip: 

Parking can be a nightmare; 

better to walk there, or go early 

or just before sunset. 

The Baha’i House 

of Worship 

This prominent landmark 

sitting at the highest point in 

the area within nine hectares 

of native gardens is open to all 

people of all beliefs. A tranquil 

place for individual prayer, 

contemplation and reflection, 

the nine-sided structure – a 

symbol of the unity of the 

world’s religions – is one of 

eight Baha’i Temples around 

the world. There’s a Visitors 

Centre (with volunteer guides 

available to answer questions), 

a bookshop and a covered 

open-air picnic area. 173 Mona 

Vale Road, Ingleside. 

Veterans Tribute 

A memorial to commemorate 

the 1800 service men and 

women who lost their lives at 

sea while being transported to 

Japan and islands in the South 

West Pacific during World 

War II can be found at Mona 

Vale’s headland (Robert Dunn 

Reserve). The plinth has a seat 

alongside it so visitors may sit 

and reflect on all those lost 

and all those who serve still. 

MARKET FORCES 

Mona Vale 

An open-air marketplace that 

supplies certified organic food, 

artisan gourmet produce and 

conventional fresh fruit and 

vegetables, freshly baked 

breads, pastries and general 

goods is held on Sundays from 

8.30am-1pm at Pittwater RSL, 

82 Mona Vale Road Mona Vale. 

Re-opening after a Christmas 

break on Sunday 14. Check 

Mona Vale Market Facebook 

page for updates. 

Beaches Farmers 

Market 

Fabulous fresh food, fashion, 

gourmet products and more 

from 8am-1pm on Fridays (reopens 

after Christmas break on 

Friday 12) at Pittwater Rugby 

Park, Warriewood from 8am- 

1pm. Free parking via Walsh 

Street. 



Berry Reserve Market 

Set amongst the trees in a 

lakeside position at Narrabeen 

you will find more than 80 

stalls offering arts, jewellery, 

collectibles, home wares, 

fashion and food every third 

Sunday throughout the year. 

Beaches Market 

@ Palmy 

Offering food, home wares, 

fashion and jewellery at 

Governor Phillip Park every 

fourth Sunday of the month 

from 9am-3pm. 

OUTDOOR 

ACTIVITIES 

There are plenty of 

opportunities to get out 

there for fun and fitness over 

summer. 

Barefoot bowls 

Walk the greens at Newport, 

Mona Vale and Avalon Beach 

Bowling Clubs. No experience 

necessary. Contact the clubs 

for details – and while you’re at 

it, ask about happy hours and 

meal deals – they’re plentiful 

and good value! 

Biking trails 

The Terrey Hills BMX Bike Track 

is competition standard and 

well maintained by volunteers. 

It’s open to all levels and 

coaching is available. The 

track is closed when damp or 

wet to prevent damage to the 

track surface. You will find it 

near Garigal National Park at 

JJ Melbourne Hills Memorial 

Reserve, Thompson Drive. 

For mountain bike riders 

the world-class facility Bare 

Creek Bike Park at Crozier Road 

Belrose features 1.6 kilometres 

of downhill bike trails, flow 

trails, skills and dirt jump 

areas – three separate tracks, 


for kids to advanced (pictured); 

it also has walking trails, 

toilets, drinking fountains, 

bike maintenance stations and 

onsite parking for up to 40 

cars. Open 7am – 7pm every 

day (weather-permitting). 

Of course, if busy parks are 

not your thing, then there 

are plenty of great tracks for 

riders of all levels in Pittwater 

– from the gentle flat loop of 

Narrabeen Lagoon to the bush 

around Terrey Hills and the 

National Parks. 

Exercise areas 

Free outdoor exercise areas in 

many of our local parks and 

reserves are geared up with a 

variety of equipment to help 

you push up/pull up, do situps, 

arm combos, leg presses, 

shoulder presses, some also 

have step machines. You’ll 

find them at Berry Reserve, 

Bilarong Reserve, Lakeside 

Park, Newport Beach and the 

Warriewood Valley space in 

Boondah Road. 

Golf 

Boasting three public 

courses and some of the best 

invitation-only private courses 

in Sydney, if golf is your 

game you’re in the right spot. 

Accessible courses at Bayview 

and Mona Vale are 18-holers, 

while Palm Beach and Avalon 

Beach each offer nine holes of 

fun and relaxation. There’s a 

Par-3 ‘Pitch and Putt’ course 

in Terrey Hills and a putt-putt 

and a decent golf range in 

Narrabeen. 

Horse riding 

There are numerous arenas, 

equestrian facilities and horse 

riding schools and several 

horse trails in Terrey Hills and 

Duffys Forest in the Ku-ring-gai 

and Garigal National Parks. 


Summer Guide

Summer Guide 

Paddle 

Discover calm protected waters 

perfect for paddling (sitting 

or standing up) and places to 

hire everything you need on 

the foreshores of Narrabeen 

Lagoon and Pittwater. 

Paragliding 

Soar like a bird or get a bird 

eye’s view of paragliders flying 

over Mona Vale, Warriewood 

and Turimetta – all three are 

known as gliding favourites. 

Shoot hoops 

You’ll find hard courts marked 

for netball, basketball and 

pickleball next to the skate 

park at Avalon Beach Reserve 

and four multi-use hardcourts 

with lighting, fitness 

equipment and a learn-to-ride 

track around the perimeter of 

the Warriewood Valley Sports 

Courts on Boondah Road or 

take it inside at Northern 

Beaches Indoor Sports Centre 

in Warriewood. 

Skate Parks 

The Mona Vale skate park 

in Kitchener Park has 

“must-skate” status. The 

predominantly street-style 

park with a mini bowl and 

vert ramp, is a huge hit with 

skateboarders, bladers and 

BMX and scooter-users of all 

ages and abilities with the 

1800m2 space containing 

heaps of features to allow 

progression from beginner 

to advanced. You will also 

find skate parks in Avalon 

just behind the Avalon Surf 

Life Saving Club and at Terrey 

Hills playing fields. If you are 

prepared to travel further 

afield it’s worth checking out 

the skate park in Lionel Watts 

Reserve in Belrose. 

Tennis 

Dust off your tennis gear 

and book a court at Newport 

Community Centre, North 

Narrabeen Community and 

Tennis Centre, Bayview Tennis 

Club, Elanora Park Tennis Club, 

Wakehurst Couvret Tennis 

Centre, Careel Bay Tennis Club 

or Terrey Hills Tennis Club. 

FISHING 

There is an abundance of 

recreational fishing spots 

around Pittwater with options 

for all levels and experience. 

Here are some local fishing tips 

to take on board. 

Yellowtail Kingfish – Hotspots 

include the moorings from 

Stokes Point all the way past 

Clareville. Also try moorings 

around Scotland Island plus 

the current line between Palm 

Beach Wharf and Mackerel 

Beach. 

Flathead – Best areas are 

along sand drop-offs and the 

convergence of sand and weed 

or sand and rock. 

Bream – Fish in areas close to 

structures such as wharves or 

rocky headlands with ample 

tidal flow. 

Narrabeen Lagoon 

Common species in the main 

lagoon are whiting, bream and 

flathead. Occasionally large 

mulloway, tailor and even 

salmon make their way through 

the entrance of the lagoon from 

the ocean to feed on the large 

schools of mullet and other 

baitfish that are present. 

Rock fishing 

The rocky platform around 

Barrenjoey Head from the 

northern end of Station 

Beach to the northern end 

of Palm Beach and the whole 

foreshore from the south end 

of Turimetta Beach to the rock 

baths at Narrabeen Head are 

classified as Aquatic Reserves. 

Within aquatic reserves, you 

can line fish and spearfish 

(subject to normal restrictions) 

and collect rock lobster, sea 

lettuce and bait weed. It is 

prohibited to collect cunjevoi 

and all invertebrates (dead or 

alive) including anemones, 

barnacles, chitons, cockles, 

crabs, mussels, octopus, pipis, 

sea urchins, starfish, snails 

and worms, and empty shells. 

This includes a prohibition 

on the killing of cunjevoi or 

invertebrates to feed fish. 

PICNIC SPOTS 

AND KIDS PLAY 

Apex Park 

Apex Park is across the road 

from Mona Vale beach and a 

popular spot for families. It has 

a huge bike path for the kids to 

ride around plus a playground 

and BBQ areas. 

Bert Payne Reserve 

A handy spot for a picnic or to 



enjoy a takeaway, the reserve 

at Newport Beach also boasts 

a great playground which 

provides an inclusive play space 

and equipment designed for 

children of varying ages and 

abilities. 

Bilarong Reserve 

Located right next to 

Narrabeen Lagoon on the 

Wakehurst Parkway, Bilarong 

Reserve at North Narrabeen 

is an ideal place for a family 

picnic. Complete with bike 

tracks, a playground in two 

halves – a shaded fenced play 

area with basic equipment for 

toddlers surrounded by a larger 

more adventurous playground 

– and fantastic BBQ and table 

set-ups, it ticks a lot of boxes. 

McCarrs Creek 

Reserve 

This is a picturesque spot with 

the Ku-ring-gai Chase National 

Park on the opposite side. The 

large grassy area is great for 

games. Dogs are welcome 

from Monday to Friday in the 

signposted off-lead dog area 

which is west of the main 

access road into the reserve. 

Robert Dunn Reserve 

The Robert Dunn reserve near 

Mona Vale Hospital takes in 

the beautiful scenery of Mona 

Vale beach and surroundings, 

with plenty of benches and 

seats. It also doubles as a 

dog park – one of the little 

treasures of the area. 

Warriewood Valley 

Playground 

Better known as ‘Rocket 

Park’ this is a great space 

with a range of exciting play 

equipment for kids of all ages. 

There are shaded areas with 

seating, BBQs and toilets in this 

peaceful setting off Callistemon 

Way, Warriewood. Locals’ Tip: 

The Rocket can get very hot in 

the heat of a Summer’s Day. 

Winnererremy Bay 

‘Flying Fox Park’ next to 

Pittwater High School in Mona 

Vale is still one of the best 

parks for children of varying 

ages. The playground has a 

giant climbing structure for 

the older kids, swings and 

much more to keep the littlies 

entertained for hours. The park 

also has BBQs and picnic areas 

and is bike-, skateboard- and 

scooter-friendly. 

SCHOOL HOLIDAY 

ACTIVITIES 

There are plenty of ways to 

keep the kids busy this January. 

Tennis 

Goodwin’s Tennis Academy 

offer instruction on strokes 

for beginners to advanced 

levels. There are also round 

robins, games and match 

play. School holiday tennis 

camps for ages 4 and up 

run throughout January at 

Kitchener Park Mona Vale with 

full and half-day sessions and 

before and after care available. 

Bookings essential. More info at 

goodwinstennisacademy.com. 

au. P:0410 523 726 

Nature focus 

Children aged 6-12 love the funpacked 

holiday programs run 

from the CEC Narrabeen where 

they learn about our natural 

environment and how they can 

help preserve it. In January, 

programs generally run from 

10am-3pm and include Nature 

Detectives, Eco Explorers, 

Marine Art and Science, Junior 

Marine Biology and Survival 

Skills to name a few. Cost $74 

per child. Bookings essential 

online. 

Reading Challenge 

School aged children are 

welcome to take on the 

Summer Reading Challenge 

running until January 31. Pick 

up a booklet from any Northern 

Beaches Council Library and 

complete all 12 challenges for a 

chance to win a prize pack. Kids 

who complete the challenge 

by January 20 will receive an 

invitation to a Summer Reading 

Party with a disco, games and 

prizes. 

Funday Sunday 

Pittwater RSL is hosting a 

Funday Sunday on The Deck on 

Jan 7 from 12pm-5pm where 

there will be face painting, 

balloon animals and free frozen 

slushies for the kids. 

INDOOR 

ACTIVITIES 

There’s no need to worry 

about boredom setting in if the 

weather isn’t up to scratch... 

Summer Guide 



Summer Guide 

Libraries 

It will be business as usual at 

Mona Vale Library and Avalon 

Beach Community Library from 

Jan 2 plus lots of extra activities 

for kids. 

Movies 

Catch a film at a local cinema. 

Take your pick from United 

Cinemas in Avalon, the 

multiplex in Warriewood, or 

the pretty turquoise art deco 

complex in Collaroy. 

Squash 

There are championship squash 

courts and a licensed club at 

Elanora Heights. 

Tenpin bowling 

Timezone & Zone Bowling at 

Dee Why RSL is loud and bright 

boasting 16 Lanes of bowling, 

at least 70 state-of-the-art 

arcade games on site and a 

modern take on bumper cars. 

Glen St Theatre 

Our closest dedicated theatre 

is located in a unique bushland 

setting in Belrose. In January 

you can see the NSW Youth 

Ballet Company presenting Don 

Quixote in two acts on Saturday 

20 and The Sensational Beatles 

Boys reliving all the Beatles 

classic hits in a 2-hour concert 

on Sunday 21. Details at 

glenstreet.com.au 

CREATIVE SPIRIT 

Look out for art and take 

advantage of the holiday vibe 

to unleash your creative side. 

Art Exhibitions & Sales 

Many of Pittwater’s talented 

artists have exhibitions and 

sales this Summer. Also, head 

south to explore and support 

our nearest regional art gallery 

Manly Art Gallery & Museum at 

West Esplanade Manly. (See Arts 

– pages 34-35) 

Public Art 

Discover our public artworks 

that are dotted around our 

villages, parks and along 

the coast. New murals have 

added a splash of colour to 

Bungan Lane; on Mona Vale 

Memorial Hall; and in Village 

Park, Mona Vale. Art along the 

coast celebrates our beach 

culture, local history, natural 

environment, and Aboriginal 

heritage. Head to Mona Vale 

Surf Life Saving Club to see 

designs based on the rock 

engravings in sites at Ku-ringgai 

Chase National Park; cast 

aluminium oyster shells can be 

found near Narrabeen Lagoon 

and bronze plaques which 

symbolize the ‘singing-in’ of 

the whales can be found at 

Avalon Beach. More info on 

council’s website. 

Three Peaks Photography 

Professional landscape 

photographer Peter Sedgwick 

runs different courses 

on the Beaches where he 

will teach you one-on-one 

how to make the best use 

of your camera, catering 

to your individual needs. 

threepeaksphotography.com. 

au. 

SHORT TRIPS 

Step onto a ferry, water taxi 

or hire a boat to explore some 

magical places. 

The Basin 

A short ferry ride from Palm 

Beach is one of Sydney’s most 

popular camping grounds 

– The Basin on the western 

foreshores of Pittwater Kuring-gai 

Chase National Park. 

With the capacity to cater to 

400 campers on non-powered 

sites it will be busy at this time 

of year but there are lovely 

places to take a dip including 

a protected swimming lagoon, 

good fishing, several walking 

tracks and wildlife. A day trip 

is a good way to check out the 

camping area for any future 

overnight stays, which you will 

need to book through NSW 

National Parks and Wildlife 

Service in advance. 

Scotland Island 

Home to some 1000 people 

and accessed by water only, 

the island is both a thriving 

community and refuge 

for native flora and fauna. 

There are no cafes, shops 

or restaurants and most 

day trippers visit the island 

to simply walk either from 

one ferry wharf to another, 

or all the way around along 

the waterfront which takes 

around half an hour. Elizabeth 

Park, at the top of the island, 

features a significant spotted 



gum forest. Roads and walking 

trails are mostly unpaved. 

Locals’ Tip: There are no public 

toilets on the island, except in 

the Community Hall and the 

Fireshed, and these buildings 

are only open when there are 

events. 

‘Secret’ beaches 

Accessible by water or walking 

track, beaches on the foreshore 

of Ku-ring-gai Chase National 

Park – including Taylors Bay 

Beach, Morning Bay, Portuguese 

Beach and arguably one of 

the nicest spots on Pittwater, 

Resolute Beach – remain 

uncrowded and beautiful. 

Patonga 

Patonga Beach is a tranquil 

seaside village at the southern 

end of the Central Coast with a 

[advertorial] 

calm bay perfect for swimming, 

kayaking and SUPs. There’s a 

campground and a Boathouse 

Hotel. 

Ettalong Beach 

Ettalong is a humming Central 

Coast village which hosts 

lovely little shops, art galleries, 

cafes, old-world-charm village 

markets, restaurants, The 

Ettalong Diggers RSL Club, a 

quaint independent cinema, 

places to swim and plenty of 

accommodation options. 

Locals’ Tip: Want to stay 

longer? Hire a boat with room 

to stay onboard overnight, 

search online for private 

holiday rentals or Airbnb, 

check out YHA Pittwater 

Eco at Morning Bay, and the 

restored and reasonably priced 

Currawong Beach Cottages. 

Summer Guide 

Home Dental for those in need 

ooth Sparkler Family Dental 

Tstands as a beacon of 

comprehensive and compassionate 

healthcare. 

What sets this clinic apart is 

its unwavering commitment to 

individual care, making each 

patient’s journey a unique and 

tailored experience. 

And their care extends beyond 

their practice within Frenchs Forest’s 

health hub – principal dentist and 

owner Sara Lonergan (at right) says 

they are always keen to reach out and 

attend to patients who can’t get to 

the clinic, whether they are at home 

or in residential/aged care facilities. 

First impressions of the waiting 

room reveal a space more like a 

living room than dental practice, 

immediately putting patients at ease 

– something Sara was conscious to 

create. 

The team values inclusivity; 

they are adept at facilitating good 

oral health outcomes for everyone 

including those with special needs, 

neurodiversity, the elderly/frail and 

those with limited finances. And for 

those grappling with dental phobia 

and anxiety, special measures are in 

place to transform the experience 

into a positive one. 

Kids are well catered for too, with 

enthusiastic oral health therapists 

who focus on prevention of dental 

decay and gum disease. 

By understanding and 

considering everyone’s unique 

situation they help tailor an oral 

health strategy that everyone 

deserves. 



Health & Wellbeing 

Chef Oliver joins Scamps’ 

junk food ad ban crusade 


Mackellar MP Dr Sophie 

Scamps recently 

teamed up with celebrity 

chef Jamie Oliver to promote 

her Healthy Kids Private 

Members Bill, as she ramps 

up her campaign to achieve 

restrictions on junk food advertising 

to children. 

“Meeting Jamie was a real 

highlight for me in my campaign 

to stop our kids being 

bombarded with advertisements 

for fatty, salty and sugary 

foods,” Dr Scamps said of 

their meeting in November. 

“His work as a healthy food 

advocate, especially food marketed 

to children has inspired 

me.” 

Most people know Oliver as 

the TV chef with the endearing 

Essex accent. But as well as 

being a global food superstar 

and advocate for healthy 

home-cooked food, he’s also 

championed the cause of improving 

children’s food habits 

and protecting them from 

harmful junk food advertising 

for decades in the UK. 

Jamie’s ‘AdEnough’ campaign 

had a simple message: to make 

it easier for children to make 

better, healthier food choices. 

In 2018 he ran a grassroots 

SEE NO ‘EVIL’: Jamie Oliver with Dr Sophie Scamps. 

action, where parents and 

children were asked to post a 

picture of themselves covering 

their eyes. 

The message? The only 

way to avoid seeing ads for 

unhealthy junk food is literally 

to cover your kids’ eyes. 

“It was hugely successful 

– he’s managed to convince 

London Transport to stop displaying 

ads for unhealthy food 

on all London Transport,” said 

Dr Scamps. 

“The UK government 

has also agreed to ban the 

advertising of foods high in 

fat, sugar and salt until after 

9pm and a ban on ‘buy-oneget-one-free’ 

deals on junk 

food. The TV ban is still to be 

implemented.” 

Oliver said he was dismayed 

that junk food manufacturers 

were targeting children. 

He said: “Basically, what we 

found out is that our children 

– your children – are being 

hunted. 

“Advertisers and marketers 

are specifically trying to advertise 

to kids.” 

Oliver explained that after 

looking at digital billboards at 

bus stops in the UK he and his 

team quickly ascertained that 

they were advertising unhealthy 

food at precisely the time kids 

were going to school, then 

switching to other products like 

holidays and travel once the 

kids were in their classrooms. 

“Kids are not born to eat 

nuggets or pizza. It’s not genetic. 

It’s marketing,” he said. 

“If you have relentless advertising 

to kids, it does change 

the outcomes.” 

In Australia, more than 

$550million is spent on advertising 

food and non-alcoholic 

drinks. 

The Federal government has 

commissioned a study from 

the University of Wollongong 

on the feasibility of banning 

junk food advertising in Aus- 



tralia. The report is expected 

mid-2024. 

In the meantime, Dr Scamps 

said she would not let matters 

rest and would continue to 

advocate for action. 

She is now holding consultations 

with technology 

companies over how to stop 

the targeting of children with 

pop-up ads for unhealthy food 

when they are on social media 

platforms such as Facebook 

and Instagram. 

“As a former GP and a mother 

of three teens, I am deeply 

concerned about the rising 

rate of childhood obesity in 

Australia, which sets them up 

for a life of chronic disease,” 

she said. 

“One quarter of all children 

and two-thirds of adults are 

above the healthy weight 

range. Obesity and diabetes 

have become societal problems 

requiring a societal response. 

“That’s why I moved my bill 

[in June]. A ban is not radical. 

Some 40 countries have done 

it, including the UK, Norway, 

Mexico and Chile. It just takes 

will by the government.” 

The Healthy Kids Advertising 

Bill 2023 calls for an end to 

television and radio advertising 

of unhealthy foods between 

6am and 9.30pm including on 

subscription and/ streaming 

services. 

It would prohibit the targeting 

of children on social media. 

This is built into algorithms 

used by the platforms and 

results in targeted ads appearing 

when children are viewing 

material, including when they 

are using sites for study. 

Unhealthy food in the 

Healthy Kids Advertising Bill is 

defined as food and drink not 

recommended for promotion 

to children in the 2018 guide 

published by the Health Council 

of the Council of Australian 

Governments. 

Research from 2018 suggests 

that restricting junk food 

advertising on TV between 

the hours of 6am and 9.30pm 

would result in $778 million in 

healthcare savings. 





with Dr John Kippen 


Inverted nipples procedures 

Generally, the more severe 

the retraction the more 

invasive the procedure 

needs to be to correct it. There 

is a chance that breastfeeding 

is not possible; with severely 

retracted nipples, the inability 

to attach during breastfeeding 

may in itself preclude feeding. 

Inverted nipples are a 

common condition affecting 

approximately two per cent of 

women. Interestingly, both men 

and women can be affected. 

One or both sides may be 

involved and often unequally. 

Instead of pointing outwards, 

the nipples appear flat, or as 

a depression or slit. Usually 

first noticed at puberty with 

breast growth and development. 

Nipples may be retractile 

in that they invert at times and 

protract at other times. They 

may be permanently inverted. 

Functionally, inverted nipples 

may be associated with rashes, 

irritation and discomfort. 

Though often quoted as being 

a problem, breastfeeding may 

still be possible. Nipples often 

spontaneously evert or correct 

at the time of breastfeeding. 

The correct technique of 

attachment with the infant attaching 

to both the areolar and 

nipple allows adequate breast- 

feeding. Correction of inverted 

nipples may be for functional or 

cosmetic reasons. 

There are many causes of 

nipple inversion. The breast 

has between 12 and 20 ducts 

that open independently onto 

the nipple. Shortening of these 

ducts or fibrous tissue between 

the ducts may cause shortening. 

Breast scars, underlying 

breast disease, breast duct 

infections and internal fibrosis 

may all cause inversion. Mostly 

no obvious cause is found. A 

full medical breast and general 

history and examination is 

necessary to exclude these 

reversible causes and exclude 

any diseases. The examination 

includes the axillae or armpit. 

Correction may be non-surgical 

or surgical. Non-surgical 

methods include massage, 

stretching, suction cups or 

piercing. There are two main 

groups of surgical procedures. 

The first preserves breast ducts 

and the second cuts through 

these breast ducts. 

Through small incisions, 

the fibrous tissue between the 

breast ducts is removed. Skin 

flaps and sutures then lift and 

hold the nipple in an everted 

or protracted position. More 

severe cases may need the 

breasts ducts to be cut. Deeper 

tissue may be lifted and moved 

as flaps to push up the nipples 

from below. 

Our columnist 

Dr John Kippen is a qualified, 

fully certified consultant 

specialist in Plastic and 

Reconstructive surgery. 

Australian trained, he 

also has additional 

Australian and International 

Fellowships. He welcomes 

enquiries; email 

doctor@johnkippen.com.au 



Vapes now by 

prescription only 

Mackellar Independent MP Dr 

Sophie Scamps has welcomed 

the decision by Federal 

Health Minister Mark Butler to ban 

the importation of single-use vapes 

from January 1 and to treat them as 

therapeutic products that require a 

prescription. 

“It is great news that from January 

1 nicotine-laced e-cigarettes can no 

longer be sold legally to our children,” 

Dr Scamps said. 

“This is something I have been 

advocating for since I was elected,” she 

said. 

Dr Scamps said so-called ‘convenience 

stores’ selling snacks and vapes had 

popped up in several locations around 

Mackellar in the past year, with parents 

“very upset” about the stores being 

typically located close to schools and 

bus stops used by school kids. 

“It’s not just Mackellar – throughout 

Australia there has been a proliferation 

of these stores in locations frequented 

by children,” she said. 

“This is not without motive. ‘Big 

tobacco’ knows that children who use 

vapes are three times’ more likely to 

take up tobacco smoking. 

“Vapes are a gateway drug to 

smoking. From my perspective as a 

doctor, I welcome Minister Butler’s 

strong action on this.” 

The Government has confirmed the 

importation of single-use vapes will be 

banned from January 1. 

Medical practitioners and nurse 

practitioners will be able to prescribe 

vapes, with patients able to fill their 

script at pharmacies. 

The Government will also introduce 

legislation to prevent domestic 

manufacture, advertisement, supply 

and commercial possession of nontherapeutic 

and disposable single-use 

vapes. 

The Government will provide an 

additional $25m to the Australian Border 

Force and $56.9m to the Therapeutic 

Goods Administration over two years for 

enforcement. 

– Lisa Offord 

SINGLE-USE 

BAN: From Jan 1. 





with Sani Nand 


Tips for sufferers of ‘Dry Eye’ 

heading into heat of summer 

eye’ is an 

inflammatory disease 

‘Dry 

which if left untreated 

will likely worsen over time. 

Tears, which compose of water, 

fatty oils and mucus, play an 

important role in lubricating 

and nourishing the outer 

surface (cornea) of the eye. Dry 

eye syndrome may occur if you 

don’t produce enough tears 

or if you produce poor-quality 

tears. 

Some of the symptoms of 

dry eyes may include redness, 

stinging or burning, irritation 

of the eyes, watery eyes, 

foreign body sensation, eye 

fatigue, blurred vision and light 

sensitivity. 

Dry eye is not as simple as it 

may sometimes seem, as the 

causes are multi-factorial in 

nature. 

One of my speciality areas 

is detecting and managing 

dry eye disease. It can be 

temporary or chronic in nature 

– more so the latter. 

Dry eyes are probably one 

of the most common diseases 

I come across in the practice 

and I have been treating this 

condition throughout my 

career. 

Eyedrops are a temporary 

solution – they do not fix the 

cause of the problem. During 

an eye test I always take a 

detailed medical history, 

go through a questionnaire 

and conduct a repertoire of 

diagnostic tests to determine 

the underlying cause of dry 

eyes. Backed by an evidencebased 

approach, treatment and 

management depends on the 

severity of the dry eyes. 

Some of the treatment 

options include prescribing 

eye drops and ointments to 

lubricate the ocular surface; in 

some instances there may be 

a need to prescribe specialised 

eye drops to reduce the 

inflammatory process that is 

involved with the dry eye cycle. 

Lid hygiene and heat 

application to the lids may be 

needed to promote the opening 

of the tear glands. 

It’s also important to discuss 

diet, lifestyle, environmental 

factors and other medical 

issues that can cause dry eyes. 

With the hot summer upon 

us, it would be important 

for dry eye sufferers to wear 

good quality sunglasses, 

drink lots of water, avoid 

direct air blowing into 

the eyes (such as car airconditioning 

and hairdryers), 

blink frequently, take breaks, 

have a well-balanced diet and 

take nutritional supplements 

designed for dry eyes. 

It is also very important to 

have an eye test at least every 

two years. 

At our clinic, we cover 

all aspects of eye health, 

offering comprehensive eye 

examinations, prescription 

glasses and contact lenses. 

Having a therapeutic 

qualification has fuelled 

my passion for detecting 

and managing various eye 

conditions. 

Sani graduated from Auckland University in 2009; she has 

been practising as a clinical Optometrist for the past 14 years. 

She was born in Durban, South Africa, and migrated to New 

Zealand with her family when she was 12. She says the family 

then did the “typical Kiwi move”, travelling across the ditch 

to Australia. Sani now permanently reside in Sydney with her 

husband. Having worked across most locations of Sydney she 

has returned to the Northern Beaches, joining Eyecare Plus 

Avalon Beach (formerly Milat Optometrist) – a business that has 

operated in the local area for the past 40 years. P: 9918 2400 



Hair & Beauty 

with Sue Carroll 

A look into the Crystal Ball 

for beauty trends in 2024 

The Aesthetic profession 

is never stationary. 

Innovations for health, 

wellness and self-improvement 

for the skin and body assist us 

with being the best version of 

ourselves. There is no slowing 

down when it comes to being 

healthy inside and out. 

Spas, gyms and wellness 

centres assist people with 

muscle recovery with 

cold plunge therapy and 

breathwork. People want to 

maintain peak performance, 

improve their resilience, 

circulation, energy levels and 

reduce inflammation. While 

physically, ice baths or cold 

water therapy assist with 

this, working on the mental 

and emotional aspects with 

breathwork gives a more 

balanced and positive result. 

The ’90s Skinny Brow is 

making a comeback! Some 

of the biggest celebrities and 

beauty influencers embracing 

this style. After seeing so many 

people follow this trend years 

ago and can now not regrow 

their brows, I think improved 

brow grooming is the better 

alternative. 

One thing we seem to 

never have enough of is time. 

Many time-poor clients have 

already requested effective, 

time-reduced, but still relaxing 

skin treatments. This usually 

combines high tech with high 

touch to achieve their goals. 

Treatments such as a HIFU 

GLOW, China Doll, Hollywood 

Red Carpet Facial, Tixel 

Infusion and JetPeel treatments 

make this possible. 

The next chapter of overall 

wellness is mind-body beauty, 

where mental and emotional 

well-being are intertwined 

with physical appearance and 

health. Finally, we are looking 

at the body as a whole and not 

in segments. One works with 

the other and the health jigsaw 

puzzle comes together in a 

wonderful unison. 

Pre-rejuvenation treatments 

are taking the younger 


generations by storm. Earlier 

maintenance where action is 

taken to prevent loss of laxity 

in the skin before signs of 

ageing are even visible, colour 

is more even, and textural 

changes are reduced to give a 

more flawless complexion. 

The injection of fillers is a 

minimally invasive procedure 

and assists with restoring 

volume and enhancing facial 

features. There are many 

different types of fillers today, 

using hyaluronic acid. Their 

composition, viscosity, where 

it is used, and injection depth 

will influence the final result. 

One of the many growing 

treatments where clients 

receive amazing results 

without looking as if they have 

abnormal lips is using a very 

fine hyaluronic acid into each 

lip line. The “barcodes” are 

reduced, and a more youthful 

lip is achieved. 

Mushroom-based ingredients 

hit the aesthetic industry back 

in 2018. Mushroom magic is 

making a resurgence. They 

are being incorporated into 

skincare to boost collagen 

production, brighten, and 

hydrate the skin, and provide 

anti-inflammatory benefits 

and antioxidant protection. 

Mushrooms have been used in 

Traditional Chinese medicine 

(TCM) for centuries, so consider 

this a revamp to an already 

well-known ingredient. 

The desire to let healthy skin 

shine through, rather than be 

smothered with makeup, is 

being embraced. Makeup is 

being used to enhance one’s 

natural beauty and the skin 

hybrid is born. We have had 

BB and CC creams for a while 

now where the 2-in-1 routine 

for skincare and makeup has 

assisted with fewer products 

and time-saving strategies. 

More products will hit the 

market with a hint of colour 

while giving our skin the 

nutrients they yearn for. The 

one thing to remember is that 

they cannot be used in the 

evening routine. 

It is nearly impossible to 

have not heard about AI being 

introduced into the aesthetic 

world. AI apps are being used 

to scan the skin and assist with 

homecare recommendations. 

The healthy aging concept in 

2024 is being embraced, where 

the focus is shifting away from 

how one looks at their age and 

more focused on what can be 

done to keep mind, body and 

spirit healthy. 

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 


Hair & Beauty

Business Life: Money 

with Brian Hrnjak 

Business Life 

Rebellion on the floor: 

whose money is it anyway? 

This month, quite contrary 

to the spirit of Christmas 

giving, we look at the 

question of companies getting 

into causes and donating shareholders’ 

funds and ask: Whose 

money is it anyway? 

I can’t be the only regular 

user self-checkouts at Woolworths 

who’s wondered where 

my invite was to the staff Xmas 

party this year. Woolworths, 

along with many other large 

Australian companies, have extracted 

permanent operating efficiencies 

by making customers 

do much of the work previously 

done by staff and then proceed 

to spend more on marketing 

telling us how good they are. 

More and more of this marketing 

is in the form of sponsorships 

and corporate giving. 

But how valid is it for a company 

like Woolworths, an ASX 

public listed company, to engage 

in activities like corporate 

giving or getting involved in 

questions of conscience? Is it a 

valid form of brand building, or 

is it a futile exercise in corporate 

soul searching? 

Would it alter your perception 

of Woolworths if you knew that 

the board awarded senior executives 

‘safety bonuses’ as part 

of their remuneration even after 

the deaths of two employees in 

separate workplace incidents 

that are still the subject of ongoing 

investigation? 

Would it bother you that 

a Woolworths employee, Jo 

Wright, who is also a shareholder, 

felt the need to have 

the following exchange at the 

Company’s AGM as reported in 

The Sydney Morning Herald on 

15 December: “Wright, a staff 

member on the supermarket 

floor, and her colleagues were 

pushing for a $4 hourly increase 

to their base rates, the Woolworths 

board wanted to reward 

senior executives with a portion 

of their safety bonus to their 

seven-figure salaries. ‘My base 

rate pays $25.12 an hour and 

my team bonus last year was a 

packet of Cadbury Favourites,’ 

Wright, also a shareholder, began. 

‘I’m not a member of any 

union, but I do support a $29 

base rate pay. In our store, we 

have several team members 

who are working three jobs to 

make a living wage… Is it time 

for merit-based remuneration 

existing alongside the current 

grade system using the criteria 

that applies to executive team 

pay increases?’” 

Many large shareholders ultimately 

agreed with Ms Wright 

with approximately 28% of the 

Company’s proxy holders voting 

against the Company’s remuneration 

report on executive 

pay at the AGM. This is regarded 

as a ‘first strike’ and if it is 



epeated at the following year’s 

AGM, it prepares the ground for 

a board spill. 

Another iconic Australian 

company to suffer a similar fate 

at its AGM was Qantas. Qantas 

copped a massive 83% vote 

against its remuneration report 

caused by their spat with the 

media and Federal government 

and the subsequent brand damage 

as former CEO Alan Joyce 

exited the company. 

Both Woolworths and Qantas 

also received criticism from a 

range of stakeholders for entering 

the ‘Voice’ debate as highprofile 

supporters of the ‘Yes’ 

side. Of course, they weren’t 

alone and were joined in this endeavour 

by companies such as 

BHP, Rio and Wesfarmers who 

each contributed $2 million to 

the cause. It’s a tricky business 

for companies to pick sides in 

what is essentially a question of 

conscience with a binary win or 

lose outcome; you run the risk 

of upsetting a substantial portion 

of your customer base. 

Why spend millions on 

sponsorships, charities and 

causes? According to GivingLarge, 

a research provider 

in the area of corporate philanthropy 

(whose reports ironically 

are not free), the top 50 corporate 

philanthropists have for the 

first time topped $1.5 billion in 

donations. 

According to their report 

dated 30 November which 

also appeared in the AFR: 

“Woolworths says philanthropy 

is also a focus for directors. 

Woolworths recorded a near 

tripling of its giving program 

this year, to $122 million. ‘Our 

board takes a very keen interest 

in our philanthropic agenda 

as it is a key part of the wider 

group’s purpose, in which everyone 

at Woolworths Group has 

a part to play. Food relief activity 

is discussed regularly with 

the board,’ says Woolworths 

chief sustainability officer Alex 

Holt. Woolworths attributes the 

surge in giving mainly to the 

ability, for the first time, to accurately 

value the amount of 

food donated to its food rescue 

partners, such as OzHarvest, 

Foodbank and FareShare. The 

value of food donated accounted 

for $76 million of the increase, 

while the remainder came from 

a rise in financial contributions, 

Holt notes.” 

Elsewhere in the report there 

was insight into what moti- 


vates some companies over 

and above the pure marketing 

effect: “The rise in corporate 

giving comes as surveys show 

younger employees increasingly 

want to work at companies 

whose values are aligned with 

theirs. [Our giving program] is... 

a retention tool.” 

So, it’s a feel-good factor for 

the staff and management. Putting 

some humanity over the 

top of the cold corporate bones, 

so to speak. The only problem, 

and it was a big problem for 

both Woolworths and Qantas, 

is that all the causes, philanthropic 

endeavours and corporate 

giving are worth nothing to 

your brand when you are vulnerable 

to claims that you have 

been diddling your suppliers, 

staff and customers for years. 

Eventually, the public does 

get around to seeing these feelgood 

efforts by big companies 

behaving badly for what they 

are worth and that’s very little 

unless you happen to be the 

direct beneficiary of the donation 

or cause. 

Unless they are very large, 

shareholders – ultimate owners 

of the business – have little or 

no access to management or 

directors of corporations. In 

the main they must resort to 

the angry email or voting at 

the annual general meeting. If 

last year was anything to go 

by the scorecard for corporate 

Australia this reporting season 

was bad, as Sumeyya Ilanbey 

noted in The SMH on 15 December: 

“Australian investors have 

made history this year, issuing 

a strike against the remuneration 

reports of 32 companies, 

the highest ever backlash. They 

didn’t believe the performance 

of companies they had invested 

in justified the exorbitant wages 

and bonuses of executives.” 

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

Trades & Services 


AIR CONDITIONING 

Alliance Climate Control 

Call 02 9186 4179 

Air Conditioning & Electrical 

Professionals. Specialists in Air 

Conditioning Installation, Service, 

Repair & Replacement. 

AIRPORT TRANSFERS 

TeslaAirportTransfers 

Call Ben 0405 544 311 

New Tesla Model Y fleet; Airport 

transfer Mona Vale ($129), Avalon 

($139), Palmy ($149). Guaranteed 

on-time pick-up. 

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 

Avalon-based. Doors & locks, timber gates 

& handrails, decking repairs and timber 

replacement. Also privacy screens. 25 

years’ experience. Lic: 7031C. 

CLEANING 

Amazing Clean 

Call Andrew 0412 475 2871 

Specialists in blinds, curtains and 

awnings. Clean, repair, supply new. 

Aussie Clean Team 

Call John 0478 799 680 

For a good clean, inside and outside; 

windows, gutters. Also repairs. 

CONCRETING 

Adrians Concrete 

Call Adrian 0404 172 435 

Driveways, paths, slabs… all your concreting 

needs; Northern Beaches-based. 

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. 



ELECTRICAL 

Alliance Service Group 

Call Adrian 9063 4658 

All services & repairs, 24hr. Lighting 

installation, switchboard upgrade. 

Seniors discount 5%. 

Eamon Dowling Electrical 

Call Eamon 0410 457 373 

For all electrical needs including 

phone, TV and data. Pittwater-based. 

Reliable; quality service guaranteed. 

Warrick Leggo 

Call Warrick 0403 981 941 

Specialising in domestic work; small 

jobs welcome. Seniors’ discount; 

Narrabeen-based. 

FLOOR COVERINGS 

Blue Tongue Carpets 

Call Stephan or Roslyn 9979 7292 

Northern Beaches Flooring Centre has 

been family owned & run for over 20 

years. Carpets, Tiles, Timber, Laminates, 

Hybrids & Vinyls. Open 6 days. 

GARDENS 

!Abloom Ace Gardening 

Call 0415 817 880 

Full range of gardening services 

including landscaping, maintenance 

and rubbish removal. 

Conscious Gardener Avalon 

Call Matt 0411 750 791 

Professional local team offering quality 

garden maintenance, horticultural 

advice; also garden makeovers. 

Melaleuca Landscapes 

Call Sandy 0416 276 066 

Professional design and construction 

for every garden situation. Sustainable 

vegetable gardens and waterfront specialist. 

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. 

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. 


Precision Tree Services 

Call Adam 0410 736 105 

Adam Bridger; professional tree care by 

qualified arborists and tree surgeons. 

GUTTERS & ROOFING 

Cloud9 R&G 

Call Tommy 0447 999 929 

Prompt and reliable service; gutter 

cleaning and installation, leak detection, 

roof installation and painting. Also roof 

repairs specialist. 

Ken Wilson Roofing 

Call 0419 466 783 

Leaking roofs, tile repairs, tiles 

replaced, metal roof repairs, gutter 

cleaning, valley irons replaced. 

HANDYMEN 

Local Handyman 

Call Jono 0413 313299 

Small and medium-sized building 





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. 

TV ANTENNA 

Action Antenna 

Call Paul 0412 610 170 

Beaches-based; TV antenna 

installations, repairs and removal. 

25yrs exp. Insured. 

UPHOLSTERY 

Luxafoam North 

Call 0414 468 434 

Local specialists in all aspects of 

outdoor & indoor seating. Custom 

service, expert advice. 

Advertise your Business in 

Trades & Services section 

Ph: 0438 123 096 




Advertise 

your Business 

in Trades & 

Services 

section 

Ph: 0438 123 096 



Pittwater Puzzler 

Compiled by David Stickley 

30 This type of cinema is now 

available at The 28-across (7) 

31 Sport that has been a 

big part of Collaroy’s Peter 

Dawson’s life (4) 

32 Book written by Liane 

Moriarty, set on the Northern 

Beaches, Big ______ Lies (6) 

Pittwater Puzzler 

ACROSS 

1 Game recording official (6) 

5 Plant which comprises grasslike 

herbs with pithy or hollow 

stems, found in wet or marshy 

places (4) 

9 Become less intense (4,3) 

10 A term of endearment 

expressing fondness or 

familiarity (3,4) 

13 A place where vessels may 

be bought, hired, refuelled, or 

repaired (8) 

14 Sport that Stewart 

MacKenzie excelled at (6) 

15 Takes into custody (4) 

17 The captain of a vessel (10) 

20 Author of The Drowning 

(5,5) 

21 Feature that inspired the 

theme of the playground next 

to Berry Reserve (4) 

24 Travelling over water 

behind a 18-down (6) 

25 Town on the Hawkesbury 

River (8) 

28 Suburb in which you’ll find 

Salt Pan Cove (7) 

DOWN 

2 To select from a number, or 

in preference to another or 

other things or persons (6) 

3 A course reviewing or 

updating previous studies or 

maybe a sea breeze on a hot 

day (9) 

4 Strong currents (4) 

5 Clear-headed (8) 

6 Author of The Lucky Ones, 

Melinda ___ (3) 

7 Revolutionary oceancleaning 

technology, 

essentially a floating rubbish 

collector that operates 24/7 

(6) 

8 The largest of the world’s 

continents (4) 

11 Description of Vic Walton 

who once operated joy flights 

over Pittwater (7) 

12 Trimming gardening tool 

(5) 

16 Suburb that’s home the 

Loquat Valley Anglican 

Preparatory School (7) 

18 Motorised craft commonly 

seen on Pittwater (9) 

19 From time to time (2,3,3) 

20 Campground in Ku-ringgai 

Chase National Park, The 

_____ (5) 

22 Children (6) 

23 The H in Pittwater YHA (6) 

26 Feature in Broken Bay, ____ 

Island (4) 

27 And others (2,2) 

29 Bird-to-be (3) 



Coded Puzzle 

Holiday Jigsaw 

All answers start with the given letter. Fit the answers where 

you can... 

A – Source of Pink Ladies, Granny Smiths or Red Galas, for 

example (5,4) 

B – The way one conducts oneself; manners (9) 

C – A person who shows no emotion (4,4) 

D – A semi-detached house (6) 

E – A puzzling thing or person (6) 

F – Omnivorous six-footer of tropical and subtropical America 

that can inflict a painful sting (4,3) 

G – Indian clarified butter especially from the milk of a buffalo 

or cow (4) 

H – Established customs (6) 

I – Excessive adoration of or devotion to someone or 

something (8) 

J – A glossy black varnish or lacquer (5) 

K – A vertical Japanese wall-picture, usually painted or 

inscribed on paper or silk and mounted on rollers (8) 

L – Salty expanse in South Australia (4,4) 

M – Large Western Australian freshwater crayfish which lives 

on the sandy bottoms of permanent rivers and streams (6) 

N – A fine, soft cotton fabric, originally from the Indian 

subcontinent (8) 

O – A connoisseur of wines (9) 

P – Small stretch of coastline not available to be used by the 

general public (7,5) 

Q – A bitter colourless alkaloid which is used in medicine as a 

stimulant and to treat malaria (7) 

R – A (future) time of financial need (5,3) 

S – A person who looks on at a show, game, incident, etc. (9) 

T – Treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder (7) 

U – An encouraging person (5) 

V – A cheap wine generally for popular consumption (3,9) 

W – A person experienced or distinguished in fighting in an 

armed force, tribe, etc. (7) 

X – Worked as a radiographer (1-5) 

Y – A light conical tent of skins etc, supported by posts, used 

by nomads in Siberia and Mongolia (4) 

Z – A soft, mild breeze (6) 


Work out which letters are represented by the numbers in the 

puzzle. There are three starting letters that are already populated 

in the grid. Work out the rest of the combinations. All letters of 

the alphabet have been used. Proper nouns may be present. 

Word Search 

Allenby | Amelia | Anana | Apex | Attunga 

Berry | Birdwood | Briony | Collaroy | Coral 

Coronation | Fielding | Gunyah | Hordern | Hudson 

John Fisher | Lagoon | Minmai | Nareen | Narrabeen 

Pamela | Pavich | Phillip | Plateau 

[ALL Puzzle solutions on p72] 


Pittwater Puzzler

Food Life 

with Janelle Bloom 


Recipes: janellebloom.com.au; Insta: instagram.com/janellegbloom/ 

Sharing is caring with these 

vibrant platters that matter 

Happy New Year to 2024 – the Chinese 

Year of the Dragon. It’s said to be one of 

the luckiest and most prosperous, full 

of unprecedented opportunities. Let’s hope 

so! To kick off another year I’m focusing on 

shared platters and boards, which are very 

Shared Crudité 

dip platter 

My tips for a dip platter, 

make 1-2 dips and enhance 

any purchased dips. Serve 

with a combination of fresh, 

colourful vegetables, crisps 

and crackers. 

Jalapeno avocado dip 

½ cup thick sour cream 

1 large ripe avocado, peeled 

2 tbs drained pickled jalapeno, 

finely chopped 

1 tbs finely chopped chives 

1 tbs lemon or lime juice 

Minicaps, sugar snap peas, 

Qukes, carrot and celery sticks 

and radish, to serve 

Crackers and beetroot crisps, 

to serve 

1. Spoon the sour cream into 

a sieve lined with muslin or 

un-used Chux cloth. Place 

over a bowl, cover and 

refrigerate 1-2 hours, this 

allows excess water to drain 

so you end up with thick 

sour cream mixture. 

2. Mash the avocado with a 

fork until almost smooth. 

Stir in the sour cream, 

‘in’. They have always been my favourite way 

to entertain family and friends, as the work 

is all done ahead of time. Enjoy these over the 

summer ahead! 

jalapeno, chives and lemon 

juice. Season to taste. Spoon 

into a bowl. 

Spiced hummus 

1. Combine 2 tablespoons 

olive oil, 1 tsp each ground 

cumin, ground coriander 

and smoked paprika in 

a small frying pan over 

medium heat. Warm, 

shaking the pan often until 

warm and aromatic. 

2. Pour the spiced oil mixture 

into a bowl. Cool. Add 

purchased hummus, stir to 

combine. Spoon into a bowl, 

drizzle with extra virgin 

olive oil and season. 

Beetroot tzatziki 

1. Combine a purchased 

beetroot dip and tzatziki 

dip together. Grate one 

Lebanese cucumber, 

squeeze out excess moisture 

and stir into the dip. Season 

and spoon into a bowl. 

paper towel. Pat dry with 

more paper towels. 

2. Lightly spray both sides 

with olive oil. Place into 

the air fryer in a single 

layer. Cook 180°C for 12-15 

minutes, turning halfway 

through cooking, check 

every 5 minutes until they 

feel dry, they will turn crisp 

on cooling. 

Charcuterie platter 

When assembling a charcuterie 

platter, think colours, textures 

and flavours. There are 5 

categories essential to a wellbalanced 

charcuterie platter. 

Charcuterie is all about the 

meat (in French it means cured 

meat), so these need to be the 

centre of the board. You need 

at least 2 options – but 3-4 is 

best. A combination of thickersliced 

spicy cured meats like 

salami and pepperoni with 

wafer-thin salty ham and 

prosciutto is essential. 

Spreads & condiments 

– olives, peppers, semi 

dried tomatoes, pickles 

and tapenades not only 

add colour, but they also 

complement the cured meats. 

Sweetness – think fruit 

pastes, like mango, fig or 

quince paste. These are 

delicious spooned into 

peppers, bowls or simply 

turned onto the board. Little 

jars or bowls of fragrant 

honey or spiced maple syrup 

also add balance. 

Bread and crackers – choose 

a variety of flavours, textures 

and shapes. Thinly sliced 

baked sour dough, char 

grilled Turkish bread or 

even warmed garlic bread 

is delicious. Spread warm 

fig paste over thinly sliced 

prosciutto and wrap around 

breadsticks. 

Finishing touches – fresh 

herbs, good quality extra 

virgin olive oil, sea salt flakes 

and pepper mill should all be 

on hand. 

Cheese platter 

A cheese board should be 

quality over quantity. Select 

3-4 types of cheese from a 

variety of categories (see 

below). You should allow 

between 100-150g in total per 

person. 

When selecting what cheeses 

to put together, keep in mind 

shapes and textures. 

Cheese 

Hard cheese – like cheddar, 

Air fried beetroot crisps 

1. Peel and using a mandolin, 

thinly slice fresh beetroot. 

Place onto a tray lined with 



For more recipes go to janellebloom.com.au 

pecorino, or parmesan. 

Semi-hard cheese – such as 

Provolone, Swiss or Manchego 

Soft cheese – such as ricotta, 

buffalo mozzarella, burrata 

Blue cheese – like a wheel 

of blue brie or camembert, 

Danish blue or gorgonzola 

Goats cheese – like marinated 

goat’s cheese, Persian feta or 

goats milk camembert 

Meat 

I think 2 types of meat for 

a cheese board is ideal. The 

meat should be secondary to 

the cheese. Salami, pepperoni 

and prosciutto are ideal. 

Fruit 

Think seasonal: fresh grapes 

and berries team with all types 

of cheese. Fruit pastes (see 

mango paste below), jellies 

and chutneys all team well. 

Gap fillers 

Olives, cornichons, nuts, 

crackers, bread and bread 

sticks all have a place on the 

perfect cheese platter. 

minutes. Set aside to cool 

for 10 minutes (this allows 

the pectin in the apple and 

lemon to leech into the 

water.). Strain over a bowl, 

pressing the mixture to 

extract as much liquid as 

possible. Reserve the liquid 

and discard the solids. 

3. Pour the liquid back into 

the saucepan and add the 

chopped mango. Bring 

to the boil over high 

heat. Reduce the heat 

to medium-low. Simmer 

gently, uncovered, for 20-30 

minutes, stirring every 5 

minutes or until the mixture 

is very thick. Set aside to 

cool for 15 minutes. Pour 

into a blender or food 

processor and blend or 

process until smooth. 

4. Pour the mango mixture 

back into the saucepan, add 

the sugar and bring to the 

boil, stirring occasionally, 

over high heat until the 

sugar has dissolved. Move 

the pan to the smallest 

burner on the stovetop, 

reduce the heat to low. 

Simmer, uncovered, stirring 

and scraping down the 

sides every 15 minutes for 

2 hours, until the mixture 

is very thick and paste like, 

when you run the wooden 

spoon through the centre 

of the mixture, it should 

stay apart briefly. Set aside 

for 5 minutes. Pour into 

small warm sterilised jars. 

Cool, secure the lid then 

refrigerate. 

Bruschetta platter 

This is one of my favourite 

platters. When doing a 

bruschetta platter it’s always 

best to theme your platter. 

Think breakfast, lunch, 

cocktail hour – even dessert 

bruschetta! 

The perfect bruschetta base 

1 loaf good quality sour 

dough 

Extra virgin olive oil 

1 large clove garlic, cut in half 

(skin on) 

1. Thickly slice the sourdough 

straight across, not on an 

angle. 

2. Preheat barbecue grill or 

chargrill on medium. Brush 

both sides of the bread with 

extra virgin olive oil, season 

with salt and pepper. 

Barbecue or chargrill, 3-5 

minutes each side until 

toasted and lightly charred. 

3. Whilst hot, rub cut garlic 

clove over the toast, then 

drizzle with more extra 

virgin olive oil. 

Breakfast bruschetta 

Spread sour dough with 

ricotta, cream cheese 

or cottage cheese. Top 

with sauté Worcestershire 

mushrooms and basil, 

scrambled, poached or fried 

egg. 

Lunch bruschetta 

Spread sour dough with 

ricotta, soft feta or labne, 

top with fresh tomato, sliced 

cucumber, radish and herbs 

tossed together with lemon 

vinaigrette, rare roast beef 

sliced and topped with 

caramelised onion jam. 

Dessert bruschetta 

Replace the sour dough with 

fruit toast or brioche. Brush 

with olive oil mixed and char 

grill. Spread with Nutella, 

salted caramel, crème fraiche 

and top with berries and 

watermelon. Finish with a 

drizzle chocolate sauce and 

basil. 

Summer fruit 

skewer platter 

with spiced maple 

syrup glaze 

3 firm ripe mangoes, peeled, 

cut into 3cm pieces 

250g fresh strawberries, 

halved 

2 kiwi fruit, halved, thickly 

sliced 

250g black grapes, removed 

from stalk 


Calypso® mango paste 

2 Calypso® mangoes 

½ lemon 

1 small apple, skin on, sliced 

into rounds 

1 cup water 

500g white sugar, 

approximately 

1. Peel the mangoes, reserving 

the mango skin and seeds 

(see Janelle’s Tip). Roughly 

chop all the mango and 

place into a bowl. 

2. Peel the rind from the 

lemon. Place the rind into a 

medium (about 22cm base), 

heavy-based saucepan with 

the mango seeds, skin, 

apple and water. Bring to 

the boil over high heat. 

Reduce the heat to medium, 

cover and boil for 10 




Pick of the Month: 

Fresh Jalapeno 


250g green grapes, removed 

from stalk 

12 fresh lychee, peeled (or 1 

can lychee, drained) 

2 x 125g blackberries 

1 small [pineapple, peeled, 

quartered thickly sliced 

Cream and or ice cream, to 

serve 

Spiced maple syrup glaze 

1 cup (250ml) pure/Canadian 

maple syrup 

1 tsp each ground cinnamon 

and nutmeg 

1. For the spiced maple syrup 

glaze, pour the maple into 

a small non-stick frying 

pan or small saucepan over 

medium-high heat. Bring to 

gently boil, boil gently 3-4 

minutes until reduced and 

thickened. Remove from 

heat, stir in the spices. Cool. 

2. Thread the pieces of fruit 

onto 24 bamboo skewers. 

Place on a platter, cover and 

refrigerate until icy cold 

for 10 minutes. Serve the 

fruit skewers drizzled with 

spiced maple glaze and 

cream or ice cream. 

Jalapeno is a medium-sized 

plum-shaped chilli. It has a 

thick red or green flesh which 

makes it feel heavy for its size. 

It’s one of the most popular 

and versatile varieties. Use 

in salsas, casseroles, dips or 

omelettes. Pickled Jalapenos 

are very common and widely 

used in Mexican cuisine, while 

the smoked version is referred 

to as chipotle. (Heat rating 

4-5/10.) 

Buying 

Buy chillies that have a 

smooth, shiny, tight skin. 

Wrinkles or soft spots are 

signs the chilli is old. Also 

check there is no sign of 

mould around the stem. 

Storing 

Store in a paper bag in 

the crisper section of the 

fridge for up to 1 week. 

Don’t be tempted to store 

in a plastic bag as this will 

cause the chilli’s to sweat 

and deteriorate rapidly. Fresh 

chillies can be frozen in 

small airtight plastic bags for 

up to 12 months. Alternately, 

place chillies on a wire rack 

or thread with a needle & 

thread and allow to dry at 

room temperature in a bright 

sunny spot. The chillies will 

shrivel and their heat will 

concentrate. 

Preparation 

It goes without saying that 

caution is required when 

preparing these hot little 

morsels. Avoid rubbing 

eyes or touching skin after 

handling chillies (if you do 



chillies 

not wear disposable gloves) 

as the capsaicin will burn for 

hours. Remember to wash 

your hands and equipment 

such as processors, blenders, 

knives and boards in 

warm soapy water after 

preparation. 

Use a small sharp knife to cut 

the chilli in half lengthways 

on a non-porous surface such 

as a wooden board. 

Use a teaspoon to scrape 

out the seeds and white 

membrane from centre of 

chilli halves. 

Its the seeds and membrane 

(membrane hotter than 

the seeds) that contain the 

intense heat, so discard to 

reduce heat. Use a sharp 

knife to chop the chillies as 

required. 

Pickled jalapeno 

chillies 

20 fresh jalapeno chillies, 

washed 

1 cup white wine vinegar 

½ cup caster sugar 

3 tsp sea salt flakes 

½ tsp cumin seeds 

1. Wearing gloves, 

cut chillies into 5mm-thick 

rounds. 

2. Place vinegar, sugar, 

salt and 1 cup of water in 

a saucepan over mediumhigh 

heat. Bring to the boil. 

Boil gently for 5 minutes. 

Remove from the heat. Stir 

in the chilli. Stand for 30 

minutes. 

3. Using a slotted spoon, 

carefully transfer chilli to 

warm sterilised glass jars. 

Carefully pour enough hot 

vinegar mixture into jar 

to cover chilli. Seal jar. Set 

aside to cool. Refrigerate 

for 1 week to allow 

flavours to develop. 

4. Once opened, use within 3 

months. 

In Season 

January 

Apricots; Berries (Blackberries, 

Blueberries, Raspberries 

& Strawberries); Cherries; 

Lychee; Lime, Mango; Melons 

Nectarines; Peaches, Plums 

& Pineapple; also Avocado; 

Asparagus, Beans (Green & Flat); 

Eggplant; Celery, Cucumbers, 

Capsicum; Lettuce; Peas; Radish, 

Corn on cob & Tomatoes. 



Garden Life 

with Gabrielle Bryant 


Alcantareas add drama and 

colour to landscape design 

Bromeliads are easy to grow. In recent 

years they have become more and 

more popular as landscaping plants, 

where low maintenance is required. They 

multiply quickly, needing very little water 

and thriving in full sun or semi-shade. 

Exotic colours of red, purple, variegated 

green and white or soft grey bromeliads 

will fill the gaps in tropical gardens 

amongst gingers, cordylines, palms and 

crotons. 

The family is vast and very adaptable. 

Bromeliads are epiphytic plants that grow 

naturally on logs, posts or dead tree 

stumps. They will not harm their host 

plant; they only use it for support. Instead 

of growing them in 

pots try strapping them 

to a log and making a 

bromeliad tree. 

The smallest are the 

tiny air plants, tillandsias, 

that will even grow 

attached to magnets on 

the fridge. The brightflowering 

vriesias, often 

grown as indoor plants, 

send up tall flower 

spikes of yellow, scarlet, 

or brilliant orange. The 

medium-sized, deep 

purple, red or speckled 

guzmanias, the striped 

cryptanthus (with their 

crinkled leaves known 

as Earth Stars), the pale 

grey billbergias with their 

pendulous pink spray of 

flowers, the grey-striped 

aechmea that produces 

a huge pink and violet 

flower and even the 

pineapple(!) all belong to the family. 

Last, but not least, is the giant alcantarea 

imperialis rubra. 

Alcantareas have become the favourite 

of the landscaper brigade. These huge 

spectacular bromeliads grow in rosette 

form to a width and height of 1.5m. The 

more sun they get, the richer the colour. If 

grown in the shade they will become dark 

green with reddish tips. They add drama to 

any landscape design, either as a feature 

plant or grown as a centrepiece in pots. 

They can take any length of time to 

flower, from 8-15 years. The tall spikes of 

flower are produced from the centre. White, 

scented flowers appear from the red bracts 

that grow along the 3m 

stems (pictured). They 

can be seen flowering 

now across the peninsula. 

These huge flowers look 

like Christmas decorated 

trees. 

As with all bromeliads, 

once they have flowered, 

they will begin to die 

back, and new pups will 

appear at the base of the 

plant. Separate the pups 

from the mother plant 

and grow them on as the 

next generation. 

To grow bromeliads 

in pots, use orchid mix – 

not potting mix – as they 

need excellent drainage 

to prevent the roots from 

root rot. Outdoors they 

can rely on rainwater 

and will only need to 

be watered after long 

periods of drought. 

Pink freckles 

a shooting star 

It can be hard to find a plant that will 

flower in full shade, and also grow with 

some dappled sunlight. 

Tricyrtis Shooting Stars Pink Freckles 

(above) will light up the dark areas of the 

garden with orchid-like pale mauve or 

pink flowers that are speckled with violet 

spots in late summer and autumn. For 

added colour, mix the pink freckles with 

blue and mauve varieties. 

I am not sure why these showy 

herbaceous plants have been given the 

name of ‘Toad Lilies’. They look delicate 

but are hardy and easy to grow. With 

rhizomes underground that slowly creep 

along, they will soon develop into a 

dense patch of shiny green foliage. 

Left alone the toad lily will naturalise 

but never become invasive. Cut back the 

leaves and old flowers in early winter 

and new growth will appear in spring. 



Signs of the Pines 

If you look closely at the Norfolk the tree is much narrower. 

Island Pines that are planted along The bark of the Cook Pine peels 

our beaches (pictured) you will see off in thin sheets, unlike other 

that some trees are much narrower pines. As sapling trees, it is hard to 

than others, yet all are commonly differentiate between the varieties 

called Norfolk Island Pines. 

and initially they were treated as 

They are in fact different varieties. one, explaining why both varieties 

The true Norfolk Island Pine was can be seen together. In recent years 

found in Norfolk Island by the very growers have favoured the Cook Pine 

early settlers and seed was brought to and it is the variety most commonly 

Australia by Captain Cook who hoped grown as a Christmas Tree. The cones 

that the very straight trunks would be are most distinctive and can be seen 

used as masts for sailing ships. They flowering now (inset pic). The female 

proved unsuitable but the timber was cones are oval and grow at the top 

used for other purposes. 

of the tree, but the male cones can 

These trees are enormous, the be seen on the lower branch tips as 

largest being measured as 51.93m long clusters of elongated pale brown 

tall with a spread of up to 23m wide, cones. These trees flower most years, 

and it is quite unsuitable for domestic but the Norfolks only produce cones 

gardens. 

every 4 or 5 years. 

However, on Cook’s second voyage These pines often appear to be 

in 1774 he discovered a second, leaning on an angle; it could be 

narrower pine – Cook’s Pine, aurucaria thought to be from windy conditions, 

columnaris – in New Caledonia that is but recent research has shown that 

one of the oldest known trees in the they will always grow towards the 

world. 

equator. The further away, the more 

Sometimes known as the Gondwana they will lean over. Plants never fail to 

Pine, Cook’s pine is a slender tree that amaze me! 

will grow as tall as the Norfolk Island Although smaller, it is still not a tree 

Pine but the foliage is more dense and that is suitable for domestic gardens. 

Bleeding Heart (de)vine 

The Bleeding Heart vine, clerodendron thomsoniae, is a bright 

green tropical vine from west Africa. The clusters of scarlet and 

white flowers (below) that appear in terminal clusters last for many 

weeks; the scarlet 

middles will fall, leaving 

the white outsides that 

will slowly turn pink as 

they age. 

Some evergreen 

creepers will 

eventually overtake 

the garden unless 

carefully kept under 

control. The Bleeding 

Heart vine, that 

flowers in time for 

Christmas every 

year without fail, 

although evergreen 

in its native habitat, 

is deciduous in 

our cooler climate, 

and as the night 

temperature drops 

in winter, it loses its 

leaves. This makes it 

easy to control. 

The flowers come 

on the new season’s 

growth, so if it is pruned back before the new growth in 

spring, it will never become a problem. 

This is a plant that grows well in containers, or on a fence. It 

loves full sun and regular water. 



Garden Life


Jobs this Month 

January 


The strange summer 

weather is causing 

havoc in the garden. 

One day it is hot and the next 

day it rains. Take care when 

the heat comes back: plants 

will burn. If the foliage is 

burnt, resist the temptation 

to trim it. Wait until new 

growth appears before 

trimming, as the burnt leaves 

will protect the branches 

from sunburn. 

Mind mildew 

Fungus problems are 

everywhere. Spray with 

Yates Fungus Fighter on 

ornamentals at first signs of 

powdery mildew. Be careful 

on the veggies: use a natural 

spray, there are several that 

are commonly used. A cup 

of milk mixed with 10 cups 

of water, 50ml of vinegar in 

1 litre of water, or 4tsp of 

bicarbonate of soda, 2 litres 

water, 2 drops of vegetable 

oil and 2 drops of washing-up 

liquid are all tried recipes for 

sprays. 

Living Xmas trees 

After New Year make sure to 

take living Christmas trees 

back outside. For the first 

week keep them shaded from 

Grubby matters 

Watch out for suspicious 

brown patches in the lawn. 

Army grubs love rain, 

humidity and heat. Spray with 

Eco oil mixed with Dipel for 

control. Dipel is harmless to 

birds and animals that may 

eat the dying grubs. 

the sun, then harden off 

gradually to avoid sunburn. 

Carefully looked after, a living 

tree will grow with the family 

for many years. 

Veggie refresh 

Take a look at the veggie 

garden. It is not too late for a 

second planting of tomatoes, 

beans, zucchini, and 

cucumbers before the seasons 

change. 

Help nature 

Sometimes veggies need 

a helping hand. Zucchini, 

pumpkin, squash and 

cucumbers have both male and 

female flowers. When the days 

are dull, and the bees are not 

around to cross-pollinate the 

flowers, you can help. Female 

flowers have tiny fruit behind 

the flower and male flowers 

are on single stems. With a 

paint brush, take pollen from 

the male flower to the centre 

of the girls. Some days you will 

have only girls and sometimes 

only boys. Both sexes need 

to open on the same day for 

success. Watch daily and you 

can double your harvest. 

Feeding time 

It is time to feed the garden. 

Camellias, azaleas, pieris, 

magnolias, begonias, fuchsias 

and other acid-loving plants 

all love Kahoona pellets. 

Citrus, roses, veggies and 

Puzzle solutions from page 64-65 

flowering plants will thank 

you for feeding them with 

Power Feed to keep the flower 

buds coming. 

Scale insects 

Check orchids for scale 

insects. They are hard to 

control, as they live and breed 

where the leaves join the 

stems. Ants that are attracted 

by the sticky secretion carry 

the scale from one plant to 

the next. It takes time and 

patience to eliminate the 

scale. You need a small paint 

brush and a bottle of Isocol 

(a rubbing alcohol that has 

many uses). Carefully paint 

over any visible scale, making 

sure to get the Isocol well 

into every nook and cranny! 

You may need to repeat this a 

couple of times at fortnightly 

intervals. 

Mystery location: BILGOLA 



Times Past 

Stewart ‘Sam’ Alexander Mackenzie 

Famous rower Stewart Mackenzie 

was born on 4 April 1937 and 

educated at the King’s School Parramatta 

where he began the sport. 

His mother, Phyllis Mavis Blanche, and 

father, Alexander Alan, ran a poultry 

farm at Seven Hills until they moved to 

Palmgrove Road in 1963. (Stewart was 

actually trained and worked as a chicken 

sexer during his early rowing carer.) 

He was a member of the Bilgola Surf 

Club (and possibly Avalon Beach) but 

retired from surfing to concentrate on 

his sculling. 

After completing his schooling in 

1954, he rowed out of the Leichhardt 

Rowing Club. 

Stewart qualified for 

the 1956 Olympic Games 

in Melbourne as a debut 

member of the Australian 

Rowing Team, winning 

a silver medal in the 

Men’s Single Sculls. 

He was a complete 

sportsman, qualifying for 

both the discus and the 

shooting teams, but chose 

rowing. Also, whilst living 

in Florida in the USA, as 

a scratch golfer he played 

alongside the famous 

professional golfer, Lee 

Trevino. 

A feat that he was most well-known 

for was his prowess in the Henley 

Royal Regatta, where he won the 

Diamond Challenge Sculls six times – 

consecutively – from 1957 to 1962 and 

won the Silver Goblets in the Double 

Sculls. 

He avenged his defeat in Melbourne 

by the Russian Ivanoff by defeating him 

in one of the Diamond Sculls events in 

July 1957. 

In August 1957, he also won the 

LINK: Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton. 

COMPLETE SPORTSMAN: Rower extraordinaire Stewart Mackenzie, circa 1950s. 

world’s amateur sculling 

title at the European 

Games held in Duisburg, 

West Germany. 

When his outstanding 

success as a sculler was 

brought to the attention 

of Warringah Shire Council 

by the Avalon Progress Association, in 

August that year it decided to send him 

a letter of congratulations under Seal of 

Council and “to accord him a civic reception 

on his return to Australia”. 

Unfortunately he never returned to 

Australia and after residing in the UK 

for the past 30 years Stewart passed 

away in October 2020. 

Interestingly, another Olympic medallist 

Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton occupied the 

same house in Palmgrove Road after the 

Mackenzies moved up to Bilgola Plateau 

sometime around 1972. 

Besides winning gold in the 1500-metres 

freestyle at the Paris Olympic 

Games in 1924, he set five world records 

and also won a further three silver and 

one bronze medal in his Olympic career. 

He lived there with his wife Jessie, 

son Murray and daughter Patricia until 

he passed away as the result of a heart 

attack in December 1975 aged 68 years. 

Apparently he was suffering with emphysema 

and generally poor health. 

*Thanks to Christine Ellis for assistance 

with this article. 

TIMES PAST is supplied by local historian 

and President of the Avalon Beach 

Historical Society GEOFF SEARL. Visit 

the Society’s showroom in Bowling 

Green Lane, Avalon Beach. 

Times Past 



Travel Life 

Travel Life 

Your Powder Paradise Awaits 

Hokkaido isn’t just a winter 

sports destination; it’s 

a powder paradise. 

Imagine the finest, lightest snow 

blanketing every inch of the 

mountain, shrouding the world 

in a serene white canvas. 

“Club Med Hokkaido sits 

right in the heart of this 

magical winter wonderland, 

ready to whisk you away on 

an unforgettable holiday,” said 

Travel View’s Sharon Godden. 

“Whether you’re a family seeking 

thrills and laughter, or a couple 

yearning for cozy nights and 

romantic adventures, it has 

something for everyone. 

Families can embark on a 

thrilling ski experience amidst 

endless snow and après-ski 

activities in a resort inspired by 

the beauty of Japan. Designed to 

be beginner-friendly and perfect 

for young families, Club Med 

Hokkaido offers powder snow 

for all skill levels, coupled with a 

variety of off-slope delights. 

“From savoring Japanese 

delicacies to non-stop fun 

in the nearby ice village 

and access to the largest 

indoor pool in Japan, Club 

Med Hokkaido resorts 

transform the winter 

wonderland into a reality 

for all. 

“And if you’re after an 

escape for two, Hokkaido 

beckons – a pristine winter 

wonderland where Club 

Med invites you to recharge and 

indulge with your loved one. 

“Imagine thrilling downhill 

runs through untouched 

powder, together conquering 

black diamond challenges, or 

learning the ropes on gentle 

slopes.” 

But Hokkaido’s magic extends 

far beyond. 

“You’ll feast on Hokkaido’s 

bounty, from melt-in-yourmouth 

Wagyu beef to the 

freshest seafood delicacies, all 

paired with award-winning local 

sake. And cozy izakayas and 

private dining offer intimate 

settings for couples.” 

Other Club Med Hokkaido 

resorts include Club Med Kiroro 

which features two distinctive 

resorts: Kiroro Peak – perfect 

for couples and families with 

teenagers alike; and Kiroro 

Grand – where you’ll step into 

an ‘Enchanted Forest’ design 

and discover a dreamlike 

wonderland inspired by nature 

and fairytales. (Newly opened 

in December 2023, this unique 

resort caters to families of all 

ages, with kids’ facilities for 2 

years and above.) 

“Or consider Sahoro 

Hokkaido, where you 

can explore the best 

powder snow, pure fresh 

air, traditional Japanese 

cuisine, and a wealth of 

family journeys,” said 

Sharon. 

“For skiers of all levels, 

its mountains feature 

a larger ski domain, 

with a snow park, and a 

gondola. 

“With expertly guided 

ski lessons, horseback riding, 

a relaxing outdoor Canadian 

bath, and endless pursuits for 

children, a holiday tradition 

spent here will create indelible 

memories for your friends and 

family.” 

Meanwhile at Club Med 

Tomamu, fresh seafood, 

premium Wagyu beef, and 

award-winning locally brewed 

spirits make this more than a 

destination to discover, but a 

culinary journey to enjoy. 

*For more info call the team at 

Travel View on 9918 4444.

Pittwater Life January 2024 Issue

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