Pittwater Life Febraury 2024 Issue
LAND VALUES QUERIED 1991AUSSIE-FIRST: BAYVIEW’S NEW ELECTRIC BOAT CHARGER GUIDE TO LOCAL SMALL GYMS / SAILOR JOHN FORBES SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD... / AV SOCCER / THE WAY WE WERE
LAND VALUES QUERIED
1991AUSSIE-FIRST: BAYVIEW’S NEW ELECTRIC BOAT CHARGER GUIDE TO LOCAL SMALL GYMS / SAILOR JOHN FORBES SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD... / AV SOCCER / THE WAY WE WERE
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The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
FREE<br />
pittwaterlife<br />
LAND VALUES QUERIED<br />
AUSSIE-FIRST: BAYVIEW’S NEW ELECTRIC BOAT CHARGER<br />
GUIDE TO LOCAL SMALL GYMS / SAILOR JOHN FORBES<br />
SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD... / AV SOCCER / THE WAY WE WERE
Editorial<br />
Coast Walk a shemozzle<br />
Remember the plan for the<br />
Northen Beaches Coast<br />
Walk? When the concept was<br />
launched in 2018 it proposed<br />
to deliver an “extraordinary<br />
experience from Manly to Palm<br />
Beach”, complete with purposebuilt<br />
walkways and public art.<br />
Six years on it remains little<br />
more than a blank canvas<br />
– with Council conceding it<br />
doesn’t have the cash to buy<br />
the paint needed for all the<br />
project’s brushstrokes.<br />
Council has confirmed two<br />
sections of the Coast Walk are<br />
unable to be completed “at this<br />
stage” due to limited funding:<br />
The Serpentine to South<br />
Avalon; and Whale Beach<br />
Road from Norma Road to<br />
Florida Road.<br />
It adds it will seek additional<br />
funding opportunities in<br />
future years.<br />
What a wasted opportunity,<br />
given the years when funding<br />
was available.<br />
Meanwhile, while the project<br />
has stalled, not so the visitors.<br />
We’re hearing concerns from<br />
residents of Barrenjoey Road<br />
north of The Serpentine about<br />
the “hundreds of walkers” each<br />
day struggling to negotiate<br />
the unpaved, uneven-ground<br />
strip down to Avalon, with<br />
observations of slipping and<br />
near misses with the steady<br />
flow of traffic.<br />
Which segues into the<br />
latest on last month’s item<br />
regarding Council’s new powers<br />
to implement road works<br />
without consulting the Local<br />
Traffic Committee or Transport<br />
for NSW.<br />
Whether or not that will be<br />
adopted moving forward will be<br />
discussed at the Committee’s<br />
next meeting on February 6.<br />
Last, a reminder that<br />
the extended deadline for<br />
submissions on the Streets as<br />
Shared Spaces – Avalon Beach<br />
trial close on February 28. As of<br />
22 January, 1507 responses had<br />
been received. – Nigel Wall<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 3
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Vol 34 No 7<br />
Celebrating 33 years<br />
12<br />
38<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
FREE<br />
pittwaterlife<br />
LAND VALUES QUERIED<br />
AUSSIE-FIRST: BAYVIEW’S NEW ELECTRIC BOAT CHARGER<br />
GUIDE TO LOCAL SMALL GYMS / SAILOR JOHN FORBES<br />
SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD... / AV SOCCER / THE WAY WE WERE<br />
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thislife<br />
INSIDE: The latest land valuations issued by the NSW<br />
Government for <strong>Pittwater</strong> properties are causing some<br />
homeowners confusion and concern (p6); hear what readers<br />
have to say on local issues (p10); Australia’s first electric<br />
boat fast charger station has been installed at Bayview (p12);<br />
check out our guide to small gyms (p22); The Way We Were<br />
recaps changes to our community over the past 25 years<br />
(p28); and we profile four-time Australian Sailor of the Year<br />
John Forbes (p38).<br />
COVER: <strong>Pittwater</strong> Treat / Sharon Green<br />
also this month<br />
Editorial 3<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Local News & Features 6-37<br />
The Way We Were 28<br />
Seen... Heard... Absurd... 30<br />
Community News 34-37<br />
<strong>Life</strong> Story: Sailor John Forbes 38-41<br />
Hot Property 42<br />
Art 44<br />
Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 46-51<br />
Money 52-53<br />
Trades & Services / Classifieds 34-57<br />
Food & Tasty Morsels 58-60<br />
Crossword 61<br />
Gardening 62-64<br />
ATTENTION ADVERTISERS!<br />
Bookings & advertising material to set for<br />
our MARCH issue MUST be supplied by<br />
FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY<br />
Finished art & editorial submissions deadline:<br />
FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY<br />
The MARCH issue will be published<br />
on WEDNESDAY 28 FEBRUARY<br />
COPYRIGHT<br />
All contents are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced except with the<br />
written consent of the copyright owner. All advertising rates are subject to GST.<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> The Local Voice Since 1991
New land values a puzzle<br />
News<br />
The latest Northern<br />
Beaches land values issued<br />
by the NSW Valuer<br />
General have left a bitter taste<br />
in the mouths of thousands of<br />
homeowners across <strong>Pittwater</strong>.<br />
The Valuer General declared<br />
an overall “moderate decrease”<br />
of seven per cent in residential<br />
land values across the Local<br />
Government Area between July<br />
2022 and July 2023.<br />
However, many homeowners<br />
have been smashed with<br />
high double-digit land value<br />
increases – with some readers<br />
contacting <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> to<br />
highlight what they said were<br />
increases as high as 70 per cent<br />
over two years.<br />
Land values are used by<br />
Councils to determine their<br />
annual rates.<br />
In its report, the Valuer<br />
General noted the average<br />
seven per cent decrease in land<br />
values was primarily driven by<br />
the softening in demand for<br />
residential properties on the<br />
Northern Beaches, especially in<br />
the latter half of 2022 to early<br />
2023.<br />
However, it said “prestige” or<br />
“trophy home” sales had generally<br />
continued to have strong<br />
demand and greater price rises<br />
than the rest of the market.<br />
It admitted the decrease was<br />
not consistent amongst all residential<br />
market segments. “Environmental<br />
living beachside<br />
locations including Palm Beach,<br />
Avalon Beach, Bilgola Beach,<br />
Mona Vale and Newport and<br />
areas where there is a strong<br />
demand for prestige properties,<br />
have seen moderate to strong<br />
increases in land values,” the<br />
Valuer General’s report said.<br />
NO CONSISTENCY:<br />
The 2022-23 land<br />
values for <strong>Pittwater</strong>.<br />
“Low-density residential<br />
land values depending on<br />
the suburb have ranged from<br />
steady at Collaroy Beach and<br />
Collaroy Basin and Long Reef,<br />
to showing slight increases at<br />
Mona Vale Beach and moderate<br />
increases at Collaroy Plateau<br />
and Narrabeen beachfront.”<br />
Non-waterfront properties at<br />
Bayview and Church Point by<br />
contrast had seen land values<br />
remain steady, the report<br />
continued – with large-lot residential<br />
properties at Bayview,<br />
Church Point and Ingleside<br />
also showing moderate value<br />
increases.<br />
One reader who contacted<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> about the land<br />
value increase to their property<br />
at Bayview, as well as<br />
the increases to the value of<br />
their immediate and extended<br />
neighbours’ properties, said the<br />
Valuer General’s summary contradicted<br />
their circumstance.<br />
“As a collective we’ve discussed<br />
the new land values<br />
together and we worked out<br />
more than 20 adjoining properties<br />
have gone up an average 74<br />
per cent in the past two years,”<br />
said the reader, who requested<br />
they not be named.<br />
“Some have gone up 86 per<br />
cent.”<br />
“This flies in the face of the<br />
commentary from the Valuer<br />
General – these are properties<br />
on both sides of the street, and<br />
the size of the blocks vary from<br />
small to medium to large.”<br />
The resident said the group<br />
had written to the NSW Government<br />
to complain. They also<br />
highlighted the precedent for<br />
“self-correction” which they<br />
hope the Government will apply<br />
in coming years.<br />
“In 2004 the rates went up<br />
60 per cent in one year and the<br />
Government (Labor, under Premier<br />
Bob Carr) left it alone for<br />
four or five years,” the reader<br />
said.<br />
Elsewhere in <strong>Pittwater</strong> the<br />
Valuer General said mediumdensity<br />
zoned sites in locations<br />
such as Warriewood had experienced<br />
moderate increases in<br />
land values over the past year.<br />
Mixed-use land at Mona Vale<br />
exhibited a strong increase<br />
in land values, while mixeduse<br />
zoned land in Dee Why<br />
showed a slight increase; these<br />
increases were attributed to<br />
infrastructure spending as well<br />
as the continued development<br />
of Dee Why Town Centre.<br />
“Demand remains for quality<br />
boutique development<br />
sites with potential to build<br />
residential units,” the report<br />
concluded. “This is partly due<br />
to the Northern Beaches attractive<br />
natural amenity, beaches,<br />
and proximity to employment<br />
options.”<br />
A snapshot of samples of<br />
land values provided by the<br />
Valuer General shows huge<br />
discrepancies both across and<br />
within <strong>Pittwater</strong> suburbs.<br />
For example, a property on<br />
a 588m2 block on Barrenjoey<br />
Road at Palm Beach, zoned C4<br />
(Environmental Living) saw its<br />
land value soar 13.9 per cent to<br />
$11.5 million – but a property<br />
on a 695m2 block on Nabilla<br />
Road at Palm Beach saw no<br />
change to its $3.4 million land<br />
value.<br />
And a property on a 695m2<br />
R2-zoned block on Binburra Avenue<br />
at Avalon Beach dropped<br />
its land value 1.1 per cent to<br />
$1,830,000 – while a property<br />
on a 765m2 C4-zoned block<br />
on Hudson Parade at Avalon<br />
Beach dipped 12.9 per cent to<br />
$1,350,000.<br />
Also, at Elanora Heights, a<br />
property on a 695m2 C4-zoned<br />
block on Dewrang Avenue tumbled<br />
20 per cent to $1.2 million;<br />
and at Mona Vale, a property<br />
on a 1113m2 C4-zoned block<br />
increased its land value 8.2 per<br />
cent to $7.7 million.<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
*What do you think about the<br />
new land valuation for your<br />
property? Email us at readers@pittwaterlife.com.au<br />
6 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
Locals in Australia Day Awards<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> residents featured<br />
prominently in Northern<br />
Beaches Council’s <strong>2024</strong><br />
Australia Day Awards.<br />
North Narrabeen’s Aileen<br />
Ogilvie, a four-decades community<br />
volunteer, was awarded<br />
Senior Citizen of the Year, with<br />
Narrabeen Sports High student<br />
Lachlan O’Callaghan a corecipient<br />
of the Young Citizen<br />
of the Year gong with friend<br />
Cooper Morgan; together they<br />
heroically saved the life of a<br />
swimmer in trouble off Church<br />
Point.<br />
Jimmy Arteaga of Forestville,<br />
Unit Commander for Broken<br />
Bay Marine Rescue, was named<br />
Citizen of the year.<br />
Outstanding Community<br />
Service Award recipients included<br />
Bilgola Plateau’s Gary<br />
Searles, Terrey Hills’ John<br />
Diamond, Cottage Point’s Jon<br />
Russell and Ingleside’s Terry<br />
Cook.<br />
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue<br />
Heins explained Aileen Ogilvie<br />
had been volunteering on the<br />
Northern Beaches for 37 years,<br />
HONOURED: Major Awards recipients including (from third on left)<br />
Lachlan O’Callaghan, Jimmy Arteaga and Aileen Ogilvie.<br />
starting as a <strong>Life</strong>line Counsellor.<br />
“She mentored vulnerable<br />
teenagers in high schools all<br />
along the Northern Beaches for<br />
over 21 years with Raise, also<br />
mentoring foster children,”<br />
Mayor Heins said.<br />
Lachlan O’Callaghan and<br />
Cooper Morgan – who were<br />
both 16 at the time, displayed<br />
leadership in a rescue operation<br />
that saved a life.<br />
Gary Searles has been President<br />
of Peninsula Cricket Club<br />
for three years and a committee<br />
member for the past 10.<br />
“In fulfilling these roles, he<br />
actively contributes to a variety<br />
of volunteer positions as a<br />
coach, mentor, coordinator of<br />
cricket workshops and competitions,<br />
and ‘come and try’<br />
sessions for children as young<br />
as six up to young adults.”<br />
John Diamond founded the<br />
Lions Club of Frenchs Forest in<br />
the early 1960s and has served<br />
the community with the Lions<br />
Club ever since.<br />
“He has served as President<br />
and as the elder statesperson<br />
of the club, attending meetings<br />
for over 65 years. As a foundation<br />
member, he has contributed<br />
to the fundraising of<br />
millions of dollars to help the<br />
Northern Beaches community,”<br />
Mayor Heins said.<br />
Jon Russell displayed a tireless<br />
commitment to a telecommunications<br />
tower project,<br />
where he played a pivotal role<br />
in highlighting Cottage Point as<br />
an emergency black spot area<br />
in Sydney.<br />
“Through Jon’s advocacy,<br />
funding for the construction of<br />
a telecommunications tower at<br />
Cottage Point was secured.<br />
“And Terry Cook is the main<br />
coordinator, President and contact<br />
for Peninsula Seniors Toy<br />
Recyclers, working tirelessly to<br />
refurbish many thousands of<br />
toys, games, dolls and bicycles<br />
for reuse by numerous charities.”<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
*Full list Council website.<br />
8 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
‘Offleash dog trials must start’<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> MP Rory Amon has called<br />
on Northern Beaches Council to<br />
expedite the commencement of trials<br />
of off-leash dog spaces on Mona Vale<br />
Beach South and Palm Beach North.<br />
“As we start <strong>2024</strong>, we enter the third<br />
decade of our community’s struggle<br />
with council and a maze of bureaucratic<br />
absurdities to let families enjoy a small<br />
part of beach space with their dogs,” said<br />
a frustrated Mr Amon.<br />
He said the two-decades long battle<br />
had continued since <strong>Pittwater</strong> Council<br />
closed Careel Bay to dog swimming in<br />
2003.<br />
Since then, attempts have been made<br />
and are ongoing to trial off-leash space<br />
on small sections of Mona Vale Beach<br />
South and Palm Beach North, primarily<br />
before 10am and after 4pm daily.<br />
Mr Amon said that in a recent report<br />
to Northern Beaches Council, residents<br />
were informed that it would take until<br />
at least August <strong>2024</strong> to progress the trial.<br />
“Environmental studies have given the<br />
trials a green tick of approval, and community<br />
support sits at nearly 90 per cent,<br />
with nearly 4,000 submissions made,” he<br />
said.<br />
Mr Amon said that since 2003, forces<br />
“had worked to subvert the will of our<br />
POPULAR: Rowland Reserve at Bayview is a rare<br />
waterside venue for walking dogs offleash.<br />
community, and we have evidence of<br />
this”.<br />
“This cannot continue.”<br />
Mr Amon has lobbied the NSW Minister<br />
for Lands and Property Stephen<br />
Kamper to do all in his power to have<br />
Crown Lands assist Council expedite<br />
the process through the complex Plan of<br />
Management legislation.<br />
In late 2023, Mr Amon delivered a<br />
PHOTO: Gotta Luv Dogs/Facebook<br />
speech in the NSW Parliament calling out<br />
the former <strong>Pittwater</strong> and current Northern<br />
Beaches Councils for their delays,<br />
and calling for reforms of Crown Land<br />
management.<br />
“The system for managing Crown<br />
lands is fundamentally broken,” he said.<br />
“Council has been delaying this process<br />
since before I could legally drink. I<br />
can say to the council that if this matter<br />
is not expedited with as much haste as<br />
possible, I will do everything I can to<br />
pressure the council to commence the<br />
trial. If that means knocking on doors or<br />
moving private members’ bills to amend<br />
the Act to streamline the process or embarrassing<br />
the Council into action, then<br />
that is what I will do because the process<br />
has taken far too long.”<br />
He added that although Council now<br />
appeared to be on the right track – and<br />
he thanked them for working in earnest<br />
– “… residents and I am on alert to<br />
make sure Council finally upholds the<br />
community will and I look forward to<br />
the Minister approving Council’s adopted<br />
Plan of Management in <strong>2024</strong>”.<br />
“Might <strong>2024</strong> finally be the year where<br />
families with dogs can enjoy some offleash<br />
space on Mona Vale Beach South<br />
and Palm Beach North?” – Nigel Wall<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 9
News<br />
Letters: Readers have their say<br />
Boats, caravans<br />
a roadside curse<br />
Regarding the large volume<br />
of private boats, trailers and<br />
campers parked in public<br />
streets: why not introduce<br />
an incentive – half-price<br />
registration if parked on<br />
private property and double<br />
price if parked on public roads.<br />
This could be enforced with<br />
two colors of registration<br />
stickers and an App, whereby<br />
the public could report<br />
those vehicles parked on<br />
public roads (that should be<br />
on private driveways), then<br />
followed through with a fine by<br />
the ranger.<br />
Currently on Bilgola Plateau<br />
there are so many of these<br />
rarely used toys taking up<br />
the roads and turning them<br />
into narrow one-way streets,<br />
that walking and cycling have<br />
become dangerous.<br />
TL<br />
Bilgola Plateau<br />
Planning strategies<br />
must be respected<br />
Housing reforms should<br />
be better managed and<br />
responsibilities more<br />
appropriately assigned. There<br />
is a housing shortage that<br />
needs to be addressed – but<br />
the State should not simply<br />
override the established<br />
planning strategies of<br />
local Councils or their<br />
intimate knowledge of their<br />
communities, locations and<br />
capabilities.<br />
The State’s sole responsibility<br />
should be to allocate annual<br />
house building targets to each<br />
Council. These targets must<br />
not in aggregate exceed the<br />
annual State/Federal growth<br />
targets. Councils must then<br />
determine how their individual<br />
targets are met – with failure<br />
to meet the Council target to<br />
result in increased building<br />
allocation the subsequent year<br />
+/or financial penalties.<br />
Should there be significant<br />
issues in a Council area,<br />
eg insufficient road<br />
infrastructure caused by State<br />
budget reductions, then this<br />
should be reviewed by an<br />
independent body who would<br />
determine whether or not the<br />
Council’s annual building<br />
allocation should be reduced.<br />
Stephen Balme<br />
Mona Vale<br />
One-size rezoning<br />
recipe for disaster<br />
The Minns Government wants<br />
to blanket the area with<br />
high rise with no avenue for<br />
public oversight. <strong>Pittwater</strong> is<br />
on a peninsular; there’s one<br />
narrow road in and out. When<br />
a bushfire ignites, residents<br />
will be trapped in traffic<br />
gridlock trying to escape. Has<br />
government learnt nothing<br />
from climate change and its<br />
impacts?<br />
DANGEROUS:<br />
Boats on trailers<br />
on the street.<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> should be<br />
proclaimed a Conservation<br />
National Park status with strict<br />
and appropriate development<br />
rules that acknowledge its<br />
physical limitations, flood and<br />
fire hazards and its natural<br />
environmental importance.<br />
Otherwise the Government is<br />
potentially creating a death trap.<br />
Who benefits from this<br />
proposal – not residents, not<br />
the environment, not the<br />
rest of Sydney, not first home<br />
buyers; prices will be in the<br />
millions.<br />
Anna Maria Monticelli<br />
Protect <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
No big picture<br />
thinking here<br />
The potential planning<br />
amendments that would affect<br />
the Northern Beaches do<br />
indeed appear to be “wicked”<br />
(Rory Amon).<br />
There is no return from<br />
an overdevelopment and as<br />
for all zoning amendments,<br />
it must synchronise with<br />
infrastructure management.<br />
Back in 2000, Bob Carr<br />
claimed Sydney was “full”;<br />
yet here we are in <strong>2024</strong> still<br />
without big picture thinking.<br />
Where are those fast trains<br />
that open up our regions,<br />
allowing easy access to<br />
Sydney?<br />
We do need to send our<br />
politicians to places like Japan<br />
and Europe to appreciate that<br />
cities such as Sydney shooting<br />
at a six million population is<br />
only one option – and a poor<br />
one at that – to deal with the<br />
population demands.<br />
Bruce Hall<br />
Avalon Beach<br />
Uplifting defib story<br />
Your report of Margaret<br />
Filmer’s experience (Pitt <strong>Life</strong><br />
– Dec) aroused considerable<br />
interest – that a lady of some<br />
80 years could be revived so<br />
that she could continue to<br />
lead a healthy and happy life<br />
thanks to a defibrillator on<br />
hand.<br />
It reminded us how<br />
important it is for defibrillators<br />
to be installed in as many<br />
places as possible.<br />
While defibs are not<br />
mandatory, a large number<br />
of retirement villages have<br />
installed them throughout<br />
their villages.<br />
However, on a recent tour<br />
of a village in Mona Vale I<br />
discovered only one machine,<br />
which I was told was kept in<br />
a cupboard and in a building<br />
which is locked at night.<br />
Yet I noticed there were fire<br />
extinguishers everywhere,<br />
no doubt due to the strict fire<br />
regulations.<br />
Is it not time government<br />
made defibrillators mandatory<br />
in retirement villages as well?<br />
Elderly lives matter too.<br />
Sara Herzhog<br />
Bilgola<br />
10 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> leads the ‘charge’<br />
INNOVATION: The Seavolt<br />
electric boat fast charger;<br />
Eyacht’s new all-electric<br />
RAND boat arriving soon.<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> is leading the<br />
way in national sustainable<br />
boating with The<br />
Quays Marina at Bayview<br />
the first on-water location in<br />
Australia to install electric<br />
boat fast chargers.<br />
It follows increased enquiry<br />
from boating enthusiasts looking<br />
for sustainable vessels,<br />
including hybrid boats, and the<br />
impending arrival of local specialist<br />
boat dealership Eyachts’<br />
eagerly anticipated new range<br />
of fully electric RAND boats.<br />
The Quays Marina – a private<br />
marina with 106 berths and<br />
69 moorings that are leased to<br />
customers – has long been an<br />
iconic destination for boating<br />
enthusiasts.<br />
Teaming with Eyachts and<br />
renewables leader Seavolt, the<br />
introduction of the new fast<br />
boat chargers has elevated the<br />
marina’s status as a trailblazing,<br />
environmentally conscious<br />
centre for boating.<br />
Eyachts General Manager Ross<br />
Turner said the innovative addition<br />
would empower boaters to seamlessly dock, recharge<br />
and embark on their on-water adventures with minimal delay<br />
– all while embracing a clean and green energy source.<br />
The Quays have also made further substantial investments<br />
in sustainability, boasting 200 solar panels that<br />
generate a remarkable 600kWh of energy daily, effectively<br />
powering the entire marina during daylight hours.<br />
The marina recently installed four electric fast car<br />
chargers by Seavolt, which harness solar energy, further<br />
reducing their carbon footprint and promoting eco-friendly<br />
transportation options.<br />
Ross said Seavolt was leading the charge in the electric boating<br />
revolution.<br />
“Seavolt is a company committed to building<br />
electric charging marine networks Australiawide,”<br />
he said. “Their goal is to usher boat owners,<br />
marina operators, commercial enterprises,<br />
and governments into an era of zero-emission<br />
vessels.”<br />
He added Seavolt offered a range of zeroemission<br />
charging solutions, powered by 100<br />
per cent renewable electricity, and incorporated<br />
off-grid solar and battery storage systems<br />
whenever possible.<br />
Eyachts, based at The Quays Marina, has<br />
been instrumental in forging these partnerships<br />
and pioneering opportunities for sustainable<br />
boating.<br />
“Our electric boat fleet includes brands like<br />
RAND, Axopar and Greenlines, which showcase<br />
the future of eco-friendly boating,” Ross said.<br />
“RAND, for instance, leads the pack with its<br />
100 per cent electric day boats and is on track<br />
to become the most eco-friendly mainstream<br />
boat brand.<br />
“The Axopar x Evoy series<br />
combines electric efficiency<br />
with exhilarating performance,<br />
earning accolades<br />
like the Gussies Electric Boat<br />
Award.<br />
“And the Greenline Yachts<br />
range redefines sustainable<br />
cruising, blending hybrid electric<br />
propulsion with traditional<br />
boating to offer eco-friendliness<br />
without sacrificing adventure.”<br />
He added the first fully<br />
electric RAND Supreme 27 was<br />
arriving in <strong>Pittwater</strong> in coming<br />
months and would be based at<br />
the Quays Marina.<br />
“Stay tuned for more on this<br />
revolutionary new way of boating on <strong>Pittwater</strong> – you’re also invited<br />
to drop by Eyachts’ <strong>Pittwater</strong> office at The Quays or the new<br />
showroom at Warriewood to discuss our eco-boating options.”<br />
12 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Murder game that refuses to die<br />
COVID almost killed the longestrunning<br />
murder mystery company<br />
in the world three times over. But<br />
as some locals with a pent for excitement<br />
and fun are about to find out, Host A<br />
Murder is very much back from the dead.<br />
On Saturday 24 February, a “murder”<br />
will take place at the Metro Mirage Hotel<br />
Newport – and your help is required to<br />
solve ‘whodunit’. Over dinner with friends<br />
and with four rounds of investigation, you<br />
will challenge your companions, unearth<br />
clues and ask questions until the murderer’s<br />
identity is revealed – and there’s every<br />
chance that the clues will lead back to you…<br />
“Nobody finds out who the murderer is<br />
until the end of the game,” explains Peter<br />
Eedy, the man behind the clues. “That includes<br />
the murderer – and it could be you.”<br />
Peter likens the creation of each game<br />
to writing a screenplay, and the work<br />
involved is indeed impressive.<br />
“It takes two years to write a game,”<br />
reveals Peter. “The work is phenomenal.<br />
The game is created in a way that everyone<br />
has a different viewpoint and things<br />
change from round to round. Everyone is<br />
a suspect. It’s very, very clever.”<br />
Peter has been running Host A Murder<br />
for 35 years and holds the record for the<br />
world’s biggest murder game – 300 people<br />
playing simultaneously in a pavilion<br />
at the Sydney Showgrounds, just before it<br />
became Fox Studios.<br />
In 2000, he had his best ever year,<br />
with 4000 people taking part in various<br />
murder games.<br />
But four years ago, he thought it was<br />
the end.<br />
“Things were going really well and I<br />
had 10 months’ worth of bookings – and<br />
then COVID hit,” recalls Peter. “In 24<br />
hours, every booking went. I had money<br />
going out and nothing coming in and<br />
FUN: Participants<br />
dress the part.<br />
thought that was it.<br />
“I started again very slowly and then<br />
it happened again. I was wiped out three<br />
times.<br />
“It was really hard and I did a lot of<br />
meditation to get through it. We’re just<br />
building up again now, but I’m still in<br />
debt and it’s been painful and long.”<br />
And yet, Peter’s sense of fun and adventure<br />
remains.<br />
“People just love the games. Families<br />
and friends take part and all groups and<br />
ages – I’ve had three generations of a<br />
family in a team. And people make a real<br />
effort with fancy dress.<br />
“It’s amazing how people put on a<br />
costume and get into character and just<br />
lose their identity. They’re thinking and<br />
problem solving, acting and being comedians.<br />
It’s just the best fun.”<br />
With various scenarios over the years<br />
including ‘William Sheepshear at the<br />
Glib Theatre’, the latest murder mystery<br />
takes place at a mansion in the English<br />
countryside. Sir Roger has invited you for<br />
the reading of his new Will and Testament,<br />
along with his GP, Dr Mel Practice.<br />
Three Wills have been drawn up when Sir<br />
Roger is found drowned in the pool. It’s<br />
up to attendees to find out which is the<br />
forgery, and who the murderer is.<br />
Peter recommends a table of 10, so that<br />
you can play all 8 characters even if a<br />
couple of people drop out on the night –<br />
if all 10 people turn up, then characters<br />
can be doubled up. If there’s only two of<br />
you wanting to play, then get in touch<br />
and you might be able to join a table and<br />
meet new people – Peter expects around<br />
100 people to play on the night.<br />
And the added incentive for winners, is<br />
that they will be invited to an end-of-year<br />
play-off with the chance to win a week in<br />
Fiji. Death in paradise!<br />
Food, fancy dress and finding a murderer<br />
– what could be better on a Saturday<br />
night? Channel your inner Poirot and<br />
Sherlock Holmes and get ready for some<br />
real life Cluedo.<br />
– Rob Pegley<br />
*More info and bookings call 9997 7011.<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 13
Charity ride<br />
across 25 countries<br />
News<br />
Avalon couple Richard and Judy<br />
Brierley-Jones are about to embark<br />
on the motorbike journey of a<br />
lifetime with two of their oldest friends.<br />
Raising money for charity, they also<br />
hope to show that you can achieve your<br />
dreams whatever your age.<br />
Leaving Newport on 1 February,<br />
Richard and Judy and their friends<br />
Lawrence and Linda Lee plan to ride two<br />
motorbikes 35,000 kilometres across 25<br />
countries over six months.<br />
It will take them from New South<br />
Wales to Old North Wales in a trip reminiscent<br />
of Ewen McGregor and Charlie<br />
Boorman undertaking The Long Way<br />
Round (Richard acknowledges he was a<br />
fan of the TV series).<br />
“It’s been a dream since the ’80s, but<br />
The Long Way Round was also part of the<br />
inspiration,” begins Richard. “I’ve known<br />
Lawrence and Linda since I was 12, when<br />
we were in the same class together in a<br />
school in Wales. We’ve done lots of trips<br />
together over the years.<br />
“They came to visit last year and we<br />
were chatting about adventures. I told<br />
them over a few drinks that I’d always<br />
wanted to ride back to the UK and they<br />
said that they wanted to do it as well.<br />
Our dear ladies were even prepared to<br />
ride on the back!”<br />
Linda and Judy are certainly supportive<br />
partners to sit on the back of a bike<br />
for six months – but you wonder how<br />
they will pack for the trip, considering<br />
they will be camping much of the way.<br />
“Sitting on the back isn’t the easiest and<br />
they’re making a lot of sacrifices to come,<br />
but that’s the really special part of the<br />
trip, that they’ll be with us,” Richard said.<br />
“And yes, packing for two on one bike<br />
is a challenge. I’ve bought a few pipes<br />
from Mitre 10 in Avalon and have made<br />
some modifications to the bike.”<br />
Packing isn’t the only challenge:<br />
monsoons, freezing temperatures and<br />
inhospitable terrain awaits.<br />
“First of all we have to ride across<br />
Australia and the Nullarbor in the height<br />
of Summer. We have to do that, so we can<br />
cross China and Tibet in Summer. We’ll<br />
tackle the wet season across Indonesia,<br />
and we need a guide to take us through<br />
China and then Tibet in freezing temperatures.<br />
“We’ll visit Everest Base Camp on the<br />
Tibet side and there are 50 passes over<br />
3000 metres we’ll have to tackle, so<br />
altitude sickness could be an issue – and<br />
we’re all in our early 60s.”<br />
Add to the mix multiple borders and<br />
myriad paperwork and the intention to<br />
camp two thirds of the journey and it<br />
sounds anything like a holiday.<br />
“We’re planning to ride around fourand-a-half<br />
hours every day so that we<br />
REVVED UP: Richard and<br />
Judy on their packed BMW<br />
bike; and planning the trip<br />
with friends Lawrence and<br />
Linda (bottom left).<br />
don’t get too exhausted, and we’ll stay<br />
a third of the nights in Airbnb-type accommodation<br />
– although anything but<br />
luxury.”<br />
There are so many highlights Richard<br />
and the team are looking forward to<br />
though, not least after they complete the<br />
journey.<br />
“We have a friend who is involved with<br />
Wrexham Football Club and we hope to<br />
do something fun to celebrate when we<br />
finish.<br />
“It’s also for a great cause though and<br />
we really want to give something back.”<br />
The four adventurers are raising money<br />
for mental health charities – BlackDog<br />
ride (blackdogride.org.au) and Mental<br />
Health Motorbike (mhmotorbike.com) –<br />
both trying to raise awareness of mental<br />
health issues and provide support for<br />
those in need.<br />
“Mental health isn’t something we’ve<br />
dealt with ourselves, but we’ve had<br />
friends who have committed suicide.<br />
It’s something that’s not talked about<br />
enough and it feels achievable to help<br />
people. These are both wonderful charities<br />
here and in the UK.<br />
“Proceeds from our YouTube channel<br />
and any donations will all go towards the<br />
money raised.”<br />
– Rob Pegley<br />
*Follow the journey and witness stories<br />
along the way at 2upfromdownunder.<br />
com and YouTube channel @2upFrom-<br />
DownUnder.<br />
14 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Aiming for sustainable<br />
swimwear success<br />
News<br />
For many mainstream<br />
swimwear companies,<br />
you suspect the idea of<br />
sustainability and reducing<br />
their carbon footprint is a<br />
necessary evil; a box-ticking<br />
exercise to ‘greenwash’ their<br />
brands.<br />
For three enterprising women<br />
on the Northern Beaches<br />
though, it is at the centre of<br />
their ideology.<br />
Alexandra Dash created her<br />
company Shapes In The Sand<br />
over a decade ago and continues<br />
to lead the way in sustainable<br />
materials and practices.<br />
Tegan Kirkby started her<br />
business – The Someday Co –<br />
with her husband three years<br />
ago during the first round of<br />
COVID lockdowns. Meanwhile,<br />
Amanda Murray is going<br />
through the hard yards of<br />
start-up, regularly travelling<br />
overseas in search of the right<br />
materials and manufacturers<br />
ahead of her range Tao Tui’s<br />
impending launch.<br />
All three women are based<br />
on the Northern Beaches,<br />
which has been a big factor<br />
in shaping their desire for<br />
cleaner oceans.<br />
“I love nature and spend a<br />
lot of time outdoors,” begins<br />
Alexandra Dash. “My partner<br />
and I love bushwalking, rock<br />
climbing, camping and he’s a<br />
big surfer – I’m learning, too.<br />
“I think of nature as our<br />
playground and want to look<br />
after it.”<br />
At the end of her time<br />
studying fashion at Ultimo<br />
TAFE a decade ago, Alexandra<br />
started Shapes in the Sand.<br />
Wanting to support the environment,<br />
she started working<br />
with sustainable materials<br />
that most companies had yet<br />
to embrace.<br />
“I threw myself in at the<br />
deep end,” says Alexandra.<br />
“Initially it was very hard. It’s<br />
mostly just me and I’ve had to<br />
learn from my mistakes.<br />
“I get some help from my<br />
parents with packing orders<br />
and so it’s a family business<br />
to some extent. I live<br />
at Mackerel Beach and have<br />
my studio in Umina, and<br />
everything is manufactured<br />
locally by another family-run<br />
business.”<br />
Each collection that Alexandra<br />
has released has been<br />
designed by herself or local<br />
artists and has aligned with<br />
a local conservation project.<br />
Recently that has been the<br />
Powerful Owl Project run by<br />
Birdlife Australia.<br />
Hoping to diversify from<br />
swimwear in the future, Alexandra<br />
also strives to improve<br />
her footprint further.<br />
“The fabrics I use are<br />
derived from waste that is<br />
destined for landfill,” explains<br />
Alexandra. “It’s durable,<br />
quick-drying and is given new<br />
life – but it can still have some<br />
effect on the environment,<br />
even though it’s recycled.<br />
“I’m keen to move towards<br />
an even more natural fibre,<br />
and there is a lot of testing<br />
involved.”<br />
Amanda Murray from<br />
Dee Why is right in the<br />
middle of testing products<br />
and is experiencing<br />
many of the things that<br />
Alexandra did 10 years<br />
ago. Recent months have<br />
seen her travel to Bali<br />
and Hong Kong in a bid<br />
to get the most ecofriendly<br />
materials and<br />
processes for her new<br />
company Tao Tui. Along<br />
with helping the environment,<br />
she also wants to<br />
help women who have<br />
limited choice when it<br />
comes to swimwear.<br />
16 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
“I wanted to<br />
create a product<br />
for women who<br />
are larger in the<br />
chest area, but<br />
not necessarily XL<br />
everywhere,” begins<br />
Amanda. “Swimwear<br />
is based around a C-<br />
cup size and whereas<br />
there are 40 different<br />
sizes of lingerie available<br />
for women, there<br />
are only five sizes of<br />
swimwear – and this is<br />
for something you wear<br />
in public.<br />
“The difference with<br />
the swimwear I’m creating<br />
is that it has a sizing<br />
band, like on the shoulder<br />
strap of a bra, rather<br />
than just string. It’s fully<br />
adjustable and ideal for<br />
women who don’t fit conventional<br />
sizing.”<br />
INNOVATORS Tegan and Grant Kirkby started<br />
The Someday Co with offerings including a<br />
one-piece Kids swimwear range (above) and<br />
retro surf shorts and top (left); Alexandra<br />
Dash’s Shapes in the Sand features the stylish<br />
Bush Checker (top); and Amanda Murray has<br />
developed an adjustable bikini top range (left).<br />
Having come up with the<br />
idea two years ago, Amanda<br />
started working on the project<br />
in May 2022, but ramped<br />
things up last year.<br />
“Finding a manufacturer<br />
has been slow and arduous<br />
and has taken me to Bali,<br />
twice, and Hong Kong in the<br />
past few months,” she said.<br />
“I’m investigating manufacturers<br />
who can print digitally<br />
on the materials I’m using.<br />
“The reason it’s taking<br />
longer is that I want to embrace<br />
as many sustainable<br />
options in the product as<br />
possible. Yes, some brands<br />
use sustainable materials, but<br />
what about sustainable packaging?<br />
And some dyes that<br />
companies use have terrible<br />
carbon footprints.”<br />
Previously a SCUBA instructor<br />
and describing herself<br />
as an ‘ocean girl’, Amanda<br />
also studied fashion<br />
in London. Even with<br />
that background<br />
though, she’s had to<br />
learn the hard way.<br />
“I’m a bit of a risk<br />
taker, but when I<br />
want something I go<br />
after it,” she said. “So<br />
it’s been stressful,<br />
but I want to create<br />
a successful Indie<br />
brand that hopefully<br />
becomes profitable<br />
enough by the second<br />
year for it to<br />
become my full-time<br />
job.”<br />
“I’ve already had<br />
heaps of interest,<br />
and many women<br />
saying ‘I need this!’”<br />
Tegan Kirkby is in the third<br />
year of running her company<br />
The Someday Co; she thinks<br />
it will be another two years<br />
before she can give up the<br />
day job.<br />
“It’s still a ‘side hustle’ for<br />
me and my husband,” said<br />
Tegan. “We have two full-time<br />
roles and two young children,<br />
so we tag-team with the kids<br />
and work on the business<br />
weekends and evenings. Luckily<br />
we have two good sleepers!”<br />
Tegan’s mission is to rid<br />
the world of ocean plastic and<br />
so her business retails ecofriendly<br />
swimwear brands.<br />
Launching from her lounge<br />
room floor during COVID, it<br />
was driven by her search to<br />
find these brands and products<br />
for herself and her kids.<br />
“We’d just had a son and<br />
wanted to make changes to<br />
benefit his world,” explains<br />
Tegan. “And I began to think<br />
there must be other people<br />
thinking the same way.<br />
“We thought we’d give it a<br />
shot, and while we both had<br />
ad backgrounds, we needed<br />
to learn e-commerce and<br />
stock management. It started<br />
slowly, but sales are up 60%<br />
year on year, and you find<br />
that most ‘overnight successes’<br />
have been started 10<br />
years before!”<br />
Soon to start manufacturing<br />
their own brand as well<br />
as selling others, Tegan says<br />
that kids and women’s surfer<br />
makes up the majority of<br />
their sales, while eco-friendly<br />
sunscreen and sunglasses<br />
also do well.<br />
“There aren’t that many<br />
men’s brands doing sustainable<br />
lines, but companies are<br />
realising they need to tick<br />
that box. We’d love to see<br />
these products become the<br />
norm though. Then we’d just<br />
be a surf retailer, rather than<br />
a sustainable surf retailer.”<br />
– Rob Pegley<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 17
Watch the Sea Eagles so<br />
News<br />
The Manly-Warringah Sea<br />
Eagles are The Greatest<br />
Rugby League Team In<br />
The Universe. Statistics do<br />
not lie.<br />
The Sea Eagles have won<br />
eight Premierships since<br />
claiming their first title in<br />
1972 – no other team even<br />
comes close in that time.<br />
Manly is the only team<br />
to be crowned Premiers<br />
in every decade from the<br />
1970s. In <strong>2024</strong>, the Sea Eagles<br />
faithful will be dreaming of<br />
this streak continuing and<br />
another title heading to the<br />
Northern Beaches.<br />
The quest for Premiership<br />
No.9 begins in Las Vegas on<br />
March 3 in the opening match<br />
of the NRL season against<br />
the South Sydney Rabbitohs.<br />
Naturally, The Greatest Team<br />
In The Universe has been<br />
chosen to showcase rugby<br />
league to the US masses.<br />
Daly Cherry-Evans was<br />
in scintillating form last<br />
year and with the Trbojevic<br />
MAGIC MAN:<br />
The mercurial<br />
Cliff Lyons circa<br />
early 1990s.<br />
brothers, Jake and Tom, fit<br />
and ready to go, will be the<br />
backbone of a Manly outfit<br />
that will be expected to reach<br />
the Finals. New recruit Luke<br />
Brooks will be a vital extra<br />
playmaker with the ability<br />
to unleash the barnstorming<br />
Haumole Olakau’atu and the<br />
quicksilver Reuben Garrick.<br />
It’s a season to be hopeful,<br />
even confident. Consistently<br />
high performance across the<br />
squad will be needed. Coach<br />
Anthony Seibold will be<br />
demanding it.<br />
Happily, even if dreams<br />
turn to nightmares during<br />
the cold winter months,<br />
Manly fans can still warm<br />
their hearts and take comfort<br />
by remembering all eight<br />
glorious Premierships and a<br />
couple of stand-out Sea Eagles<br />
legends from each winning<br />
team (my personal picks).<br />
1972 – Manly 19 def Easts 14<br />
Fred Jones – first Premiership<br />
captain and hooker in the<br />
long gone days when real<br />
contested scrums existed and<br />
John O’Neill – a hard man<br />
front-rower recruited from<br />
Souths, one of many astute<br />
buys by Manly supremo Ken<br />
Arthurson.<br />
1973 – Manly 10 def<br />
Cronulla 7<br />
Bob Fulton – Immortal, scored<br />
both Manly tries in this<br />
brutal Grand Final, brilliant<br />
centre and five-eighth and<br />
Malcolm Reilly – tough,<br />
uncompromising English<br />
lock, you wanted him on your<br />
team.<br />
1976 – Manly 13 def<br />
Parramatta 10<br />
Max Krilich – crafty and<br />
skilful hooker and one club<br />
man, Australian captain,<br />
Harbord United junior and<br />
Phil Lowe – rangy, freerunning<br />
back-rower with ball<br />
18 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
ar in <strong>2024</strong>!<br />
skills, another Englishman<br />
(and no he did not become<br />
Governor of the Reserve Bank).<br />
1978 – Manly 11 d Cronulla<br />
11, Manly 16 def Cronulla 0<br />
(Grand Final Replay)<br />
Graham Eadie and Terry<br />
Randall – each 4-time<br />
Premiership winners, Eadie a<br />
rampaging running fullback<br />
and toe poke goal kicker and<br />
Randall a devastating tackler,<br />
block of granite forward and<br />
North Curl Curl junior.<br />
1987 – Manly 18 def<br />
Canberra 8<br />
Cliff Lyons – THE MAGICIAN,<br />
ball-playing mastermind<br />
at five-eighth and Michael<br />
O’Connor – side-stepping,<br />
goal kicking centre, dual<br />
International (Publisher’s<br />
note: poached from St George<br />
Dragons).<br />
1996 – Manly 20 def<br />
St George 8<br />
Geoff Toovey – Manly captain,<br />
fearless defender, zippy<br />
halfback and hooker, Belrose<br />
Eagles junior and Steve<br />
Menzies – try scoring wizard,<br />
his on-field partnership with<br />
Cliff Lyons was telepathic,<br />
Harbord United junior.<br />
2008 – Manly 40 def<br />
Melbourne 0 (Manly<br />
defeat an entire city)<br />
Brett Stewart – electric, elusive<br />
fullback and Brookvale Oval<br />
entertainer and Steve Matai –<br />
opposition centres feared his<br />
crunching tackles, powerful<br />
with the ball.<br />
2011 – Manly 24 def New<br />
Zealand 10 (Manly defeat<br />
an entire country)<br />
Kieran Foran – formed dream<br />
halves combination with DCE,<br />
still running hard and giving<br />
100 per cent and Anthony<br />
Watmough – mercurial<br />
backrower, something always<br />
happened when the football<br />
came his way, Narrabeen<br />
Sharks junior.<br />
– Greg McHugh<br />
*What do you think was<br />
Manly’s best Premiership<br />
win? Email us at readers@<br />
pittwaterlife.com.au<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 19
News<br />
Gencher’s shock Liberal move<br />
Northern Beaches Council’s <strong>Pittwater</strong> Ward<br />
Councillor Michael Gencher has sensationally<br />
abandoned his affiliation with former<br />
Mayor Michael Regan’s ‘Your Northern Beaches<br />
Independent Team’ (YNBIT) mid-term to join the<br />
Liberal Party.<br />
In a parting shot, Cr Gencher labelled<br />
his former Councillor party Michael Gencher.<br />
NEW ALLEGIANCE:<br />
colleagues as lacking in “clear<br />
vision” and “unified direction”.<br />
Cr Gencher’s defection boosts<br />
the Liberal Party’s councillor<br />
numbers to six of 15 and reduces<br />
YNBIT representation to five<br />
councillors.<br />
It edges the Liberals closer to<br />
being able to break the majority<br />
bloc voting that has seen YNBIT<br />
members dominant in NB Council<br />
decision-making since Council’s<br />
formation in 2016.<br />
Cr Gencher told <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong>:<br />
“This choice comes after careful consideration<br />
and reflection, driven by my unwavering<br />
commitment to the betterment of our beloved<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>.”<br />
Cr Gencher admitted he was honoured to<br />
be elected as a Councillor in December 2021<br />
under the YNBIT banner, believing that the<br />
group shared his dedication to local issues and<br />
transparency, and that “together, we could make<br />
a significant impact on <strong>Pittwater</strong> and the greater<br />
Northern Beaches community”.<br />
“However, as time passed, I came to realise<br />
that the promise of independent politics and the<br />
hope for a different kind of political representation<br />
were not fully realised in practice.<br />
“I felt that our group lacked a clear vision,<br />
a unified team, and a cohesive<br />
direction.<br />
“It became evident to me that<br />
for the betterment of <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
and its residents, I needed to<br />
make a change.”<br />
He said his decision to transition<br />
to the Liberal Party was<br />
rooted in a belief that it aligned<br />
more closely with his vision and<br />
values for community.<br />
“I see in the Liberal Party the<br />
leadership, resources, vision,<br />
and support necessary to enact<br />
positive, ongoing change for the<br />
Northern Beaches.<br />
“I am excited about the opportunities it<br />
presents for cooperation and achieving both immediate<br />
and long-term community objectives.<br />
“I have always been dedicated to serving the<br />
interests of the Northern Beaches community,<br />
and I believe that coming back, and joining the<br />
Liberal Party will enable me to work even more<br />
effectively towards our shared goals.”<br />
*What do you think? Email us at readers@<br />
pittwaterlife.com.au<br />
– NW<br />
6THINGS<br />
THIS MONTH<br />
Fun Run. Up to 7,000 entrants will<br />
be challenging themselves along<br />
the coastline from Dee Why to<br />
Manly Beach on Saturday 3 for the<br />
biggest Sun Run yet. There will be a<br />
few road closures and special event<br />
clearways (parking restrictions)<br />
around Dee Why, North Curl Curl,<br />
Freshwater, Queenscliff and Manly<br />
from 3am with all roads expected to<br />
be opening to traffic as participants<br />
make their way along the course<br />
from 9am to 11am. Bus services will<br />
also be detoured while roads are<br />
closed. Details livetraffic.com and<br />
transportnsw.info.<br />
Try Soccer Day. Avalon Soccer<br />
Club is hosting a try football and<br />
open day at Careel Bay Clubhouse,<br />
Barrenjoey Rd on Sun 4 from<br />
10am-3pm. Don’t miss the early<br />
bird registration fees (up until Feb<br />
10) plus family discounts available<br />
online now at avalonsoccerclub.<br />
com.au<br />
Classic Trivia. Do you consider<br />
yourself a trivia pro? Are you<br />
looking for a fun midweek event<br />
that will have you and your mates<br />
coming back for more? If your<br />
answer to these questions was<br />
YES... then <strong>Pittwater</strong> RSL has just<br />
the thing for you in the Distillery<br />
Bar & Lounge every Thursday from<br />
7pm. This event is 18+<br />
Social Scrabble. Join a friendly<br />
game or two of scrabble (and other<br />
board games) with a tea and biscuit<br />
in hand at Mona Vale Library on<br />
Tuesdays from 1pm-3pm. Take<br />
along some friends or make some<br />
new ones – games will be arranged<br />
in groups of three or four.<br />
Amazing Grace. Journalist,<br />
broadcaster and bestselling<br />
author of ‘Queen Victoria’,<br />
and ‘Phosphoresence’ Julia<br />
Baird will be discussing her<br />
new book ‘Bright Shining: How<br />
Grace Changes Everything’ with<br />
renowned journalist Juanita Phillips<br />
on Tues 20 at Glen Street Theatre<br />
from 6pm-8pm. Tickets priced from<br />
$52; glenstreet.com.au<br />
Seniors meeting. The National<br />
Seniors Australia Northern<br />
Beaches Branch will be holding its<br />
first meeting of the year on Thurs<br />
22 at 10am at The Manly Warringah<br />
Leagues Club, 563 <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Road Brookvale. All over-55s are<br />
welcome; contact Joan Andrews<br />
9451 4254.<br />
20 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Small gyms but perfect<br />
Why more and<br />
more people<br />
are turning to<br />
smaller local<br />
gyms to meet<br />
their fitness<br />
goals in <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
CHANGE: Small<br />
spaces are big<br />
on wellbeing<br />
News<br />
There are a host of small,<br />
bespoke and boutique<br />
gyms across <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
that provide an antidote to<br />
the big chains where you<br />
can sometimes just become<br />
a “number”. While some<br />
gyms rely on people joining<br />
and don’t mind if you never<br />
attend as it doesn’t affect<br />
their revenue model, the<br />
smaller fitness studios want<br />
people to turn up regularly.<br />
Core Culture at Newport<br />
and No-Nonsense at Avalon<br />
are just two examples of the<br />
“fitness downsizing” trend.<br />
Pierre Ainscow opened<br />
No-Nonsense gym three years<br />
ago with his wife Nina, in a<br />
shopfront next to Oliver’s Pies<br />
in North Avalon. Eighteen<br />
months ago they opened<br />
a second one. Previous to<br />
that they had been running<br />
a mobile fitness business<br />
called Momentum, with a<br />
popular product line called<br />
No-Nonsense. They rebranded<br />
and the phrase ‘no nonsense’<br />
is the ethos they work to.<br />
“I feel like there’s a bunch<br />
of noise in the fitness<br />
industry at the moment and<br />
it’s all quite sensationalist,<br />
especially on social media,”<br />
said Pierre. “People with<br />
unobtainable appearances<br />
lifting ridiculous weights,<br />
which takes a dedication that<br />
most normal people just can’t<br />
afford to give.”<br />
Pierre says they run small<br />
groups capped intentionally<br />
low, and help people achieve<br />
more realistic and tangible<br />
goals.<br />
“I prefer people not to<br />
have aesthetics goals or<br />
numbers on a scale – I’m all<br />
for people losing weight, but<br />
I’d rather a goal was walking<br />
to Barrenjoey Lighthouse<br />
without getting out of breath.<br />
“We want to cut out the<br />
noise. There are only so<br />
many ways to exercise and<br />
ultimately a squat is a squat,<br />
no matter what approach you<br />
take.”<br />
It’s a lovely, very human<br />
approach that very much suits<br />
its location. It’s also backed<br />
up by real science. Nina has a<br />
bachelor’s degree in Human<br />
Movement and all of the trainers<br />
are degree-educated with<br />
a depth of knowledge. But the<br />
end result is never intimidating,<br />
like some gyms.<br />
“Most of the people who<br />
22 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
ly formed<br />
attend have had some sort of<br />
niggle or injury – the gym was<br />
started to help people finish<br />
rehab more actively. Many of<br />
our clients have repeatedly<br />
hurt themselves training and<br />
we help them to move their<br />
bodies again.<br />
“And we really build<br />
relationships, because<br />
unlike the bigger gyms we’re<br />
appointment-based, we rely<br />
on people walking through<br />
the door.<br />
“The other nice thing is<br />
that there feels like a really<br />
cohesive community of gyms<br />
on <strong>Pittwater</strong> and we help<br />
each other when we can. It<br />
feels very representative of<br />
Avalon.”<br />
India Carolan launched<br />
Core Culture two years ago as<br />
she felt there was a gap in the<br />
market for the sort of Pilates<br />
class she’d like to attend.<br />
“There seemed to be only<br />
two types of Pilates around<br />
at the time – one was the<br />
impersonal class at the<br />
huge gyms, and the other<br />
was an overly expensive<br />
class that was very slow. I<br />
wanted to offer something<br />
around the $30 mark that<br />
involved getting a sweat on<br />
and exercising as part of the<br />
Pilates experience.”<br />
She found the place in<br />
Newport during COVID<br />
lockdown, kitted it out and<br />
the doors were opened as<br />
soon as normal life resumed.<br />
It’s been very much a family<br />
affair.<br />
“My partner works in<br />
real estate and helped find<br />
the premises, my Dad is an<br />
accountant and is a director<br />
of the business, and my<br />
sister Saskia is my right-hand<br />
woman. Even my mum is very<br />
hands-on.”<br />
Things have gone well for<br />
India and her family, with a<br />
second premises now open in<br />
Cammeray and a third studio<br />
on the way soon. India is still<br />
very much hands-on at the<br />
Newport studio though and<br />
she believes this is part of the<br />
attraction of smaller fitness<br />
places.<br />
“Yes, if you have a problem<br />
with a class, then I’m still the<br />
first person you talk to. We<br />
really build a relationship<br />
with our clients. Whereas at<br />
the bigger gyms, they’re quite<br />
happy to earn money from<br />
people who don’t attend, we<br />
want people at the studio.<br />
“I’ve also been determined to<br />
make it a luxury environment<br />
for my clients, so that they<br />
love coming. There are fresh<br />
flowers every day, clean towels<br />
and with the cost of living high<br />
at the moment, I want them to<br />
get the most out of their visit.”<br />
– Rob Pegley<br />
*Suburb-by-suburb guide<br />
to <strong>Pittwater</strong>’s small gyms –<br />
page 47.<br />
‘Revive Back to<br />
School vouchers’<br />
With the <strong>2024</strong> school<br />
year in swing, the NSW<br />
Opposition has called on the<br />
Minns Government to listen<br />
to families and restore Back<br />
to School vouchers.<br />
Having heard from local<br />
families impacted by the<br />
scrapping of the popular<br />
Back to School vouchers,<br />
Opposition Leader Mark<br />
Speakman and <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
MP Rory Amon agreed<br />
the Government must act<br />
to reduce cost of living<br />
pressures.<br />
“Families are struggling<br />
to make ends meet and what<br />
we’ve heard, and repeatedly,<br />
is that these vouchers<br />
made a real difference for<br />
parents,” Mr Speakman said.<br />
“Axing Back to School<br />
vouchers is impacting<br />
families here in Sydney and<br />
across NSW particularly<br />
hard at a time when they<br />
can least afford it.<br />
“While households<br />
struggle, the Minns<br />
Government has axed Back<br />
to School vouchers, slashed<br />
Active Kids, Creative Kids<br />
and First Lap, and limited<br />
energy relief,” he continued.<br />
Mr Amon said that<br />
families relied upon the<br />
Back to School vouchers<br />
to help them buy school<br />
uniforms and supplies, but<br />
that support for household<br />
budgets had been stripped<br />
away.<br />
In its first Budget, the<br />
Minns Government axed<br />
the former Coalition<br />
Government’s Back to<br />
School vouchers, a cost-ofliving<br />
assistance package<br />
that gave all parents $150<br />
per child in vouchers to<br />
help with the costs of school<br />
supplies, uniforms and<br />
technology.<br />
“During December’s school<br />
presentation season, I met<br />
thousands of parents across<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> and the number<br />
one concern for these<br />
families in <strong>Pittwater</strong> was cost<br />
of living,” said Mr Amon.<br />
“Not only has the Labor<br />
Government cut practical<br />
cost of living alleviation<br />
measures, such as massively<br />
successful Active Kids and<br />
Back to School vouchers,<br />
Premier Minns isn’t even<br />
across the detail.<br />
“The Labor Government’s<br />
cuts are having very real<br />
consequences for <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
families, but the Premier<br />
doesn’t seem to care.” – NW<br />
*What do you think?<br />
Were Back to School<br />
vouchers a useful saving<br />
for your family? Email us<br />
at readers@pittwaterlife.<br />
com.au<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 23
Avalon Soccer eyeing<br />
more growth in <strong>2024</strong><br />
News<br />
After a few tough<br />
seasons impacted by<br />
COVID and Sydney’s La<br />
Nina rain, Avalon Soccer Club<br />
reports it was great to have<br />
a virtually uninterrupted<br />
2023 – with Careel Bay once<br />
again packed with players<br />
young and old throughout the<br />
winter months, as an incredible<br />
93 teams took to the field<br />
in the famous red shirt.<br />
“Last season we ended up<br />
with 1,252 players, and of that<br />
playing group 1,001 of those<br />
were juniors, as we continue<br />
to grow in our youngest ages,<br />
especially the U6 group,” said<br />
club President John Kowtan<br />
(JK).<br />
“We also had 384 registered<br />
female players, meaning<br />
nearly a third of the club was<br />
girls and women, a number<br />
that we have proudly seen<br />
grow every single year. This<br />
season we have a new competition<br />
for U7 girls on a Sunday<br />
and with that coming in, and<br />
the halo effect of the Matildas<br />
and the World Cup, I think<br />
the numbers will continue to<br />
flourish.”<br />
On the field Avalon saw<br />
mixed results as several successful<br />
2022 teams moved<br />
PREMIERS: The League and Grand Final-winning U13/3 boys.<br />
into higher divisions. Yet<br />
despite the challenges, the<br />
club still produced six Semi<br />
Finalists, a Grand Finalist and<br />
a Grand Final champion.<br />
“A huge congratulations to<br />
our League and Grand Final<br />
winning U13/3 team, coached<br />
by Roger Barber, who won the<br />
double and ended up with a<br />
positive goal difference of<br />
95, taking the competition by<br />
storm,” JK said.<br />
“We also saw positive<br />
results and growth in our U14<br />
– U18 boys teams, with strong<br />
performances in division 2,<br />
and a number of players stepping<br />
into older age groups to<br />
continue their development.<br />
“On the women’s side, we<br />
proudly fielded division 1<br />
teams in W12-W16s, with our<br />
W16/1s achieving the best<br />
24 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
esult in the junior club, finishing<br />
3rd. They also had five<br />
players move up to represent<br />
the WAL1s, as we continue to<br />
develop pathways between<br />
junior and senior football.”<br />
It wasn’t just on the fields<br />
of the Northern Beaches that<br />
players made an impact; W16s<br />
player Annmarie de Uriarte<br />
made her national team debut<br />
for the Paramatildas and was<br />
part of the Australian team<br />
that won the 2023 Asian Cup<br />
in Melbourne in October.<br />
“As a club we are so proud<br />
of Annmarie and her achievements.<br />
To see an Avalon<br />
junior who has been playing<br />
at Careel Bay since she was<br />
eight, pull on the green and<br />
gold and score goals and lift<br />
trophies, is incredibly satisfying,”<br />
said JK.<br />
While it feels that the dust<br />
has barely settled on season<br />
2023, the club is already well<br />
into the planning for <strong>2024</strong> and<br />
beyond. The off-season has<br />
given the club the opportunity<br />
to think about the future and<br />
put the building blocks in<br />
place for the club to thrive.<br />
“We met with officials from<br />
FUN: Avalon boasts more than 1000 juniors, with good numbers in their U6s.<br />
Northern Beaches Council<br />
about maintenance and a variety<br />
of improvements for Careel<br />
Bay, as we look to deliver<br />
facilities that our members<br />
can be proud of. We have big<br />
plans for the infrastructure<br />
of the club, as we have grown<br />
so quickly, and we really need<br />
facilities that reflect that<br />
growth,” JK commented.<br />
“We are really looking to<br />
drive our PROJECT 2030 plan<br />
forward in the coming year,<br />
and form sub-committees<br />
dedicated to looking at our<br />
four key pillars – Football<br />
Development; Club infrastructure;<br />
Sponsorship and Marketing;<br />
and Member Services. But<br />
to do this, we need new blood,<br />
and fresh volunteers.<br />
“We have a wonderful,<br />
dedicated committee, but<br />
they are small in number and<br />
as a result we are stretched<br />
very thin. We know there are<br />
some amazingly talented and<br />
smart members of our Avalon<br />
community out there that can<br />
help us achieve our goals, and<br />
we encourage anyone to reach<br />
out as we look to develop the<br />
Avalon Soccer Club of the<br />
future.”<br />
While the future is a focus,<br />
the present season will see<br />
another bumper year of<br />
football, with registrations<br />
on track for a record number,<br />
and all 90+ teams raring to<br />
start training on 4 March.<br />
JK is bullish about the sport<br />
and its trajectory.<br />
“With the Socceroos’ recent<br />
successes and then the Matildas<br />
capturing the country’s<br />
imagination, there’s no better<br />
time to be involved in grassroots<br />
football. There’s no better<br />
place to play football than<br />
Careel Bay.”<br />
– NW<br />
*More info avalonsoccerclub.<br />
com.au<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 25
Rob reflects on his 30<br />
News<br />
Robert Hopton was 35 years old when<br />
he and his wife Christine moved to<br />
Avalon Beach, quickly establishing a<br />
home and having three children. As each<br />
of their three daughters turned six years<br />
old, they signed them up to Nippers, while<br />
Rob and Christine themselves became<br />
involved as supportive parents.<br />
Rob’s more than 30-year association<br />
with the Avalon Beach Surf <strong>Life</strong> Saving<br />
Club was formally recognised last October<br />
when he was awarded <strong>Life</strong> Membership of<br />
the Club plus the joint <strong>Pittwater</strong> 2023 Community<br />
Service Award for his volunteer<br />
efforts.<br />
The awards are given out annually by<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>’s local MP; this year Rory Amon<br />
announced Rob and Judy Kelly, 87, who<br />
volunteers with the CatholicCare Diocese<br />
of Broken Bay’s Aged Care Volunteer Visitors<br />
scheme, as the 2023 winners.<br />
Now aged 72, Rob says the main reason<br />
he loves surf life saving is the friendships,<br />
the activity, the water – and because the<br />
beach is a “real leveller” attracting people<br />
from all walks of life.<br />
“The beach is a very big part of our<br />
Australian cultural psyche, a common<br />
denominator in our society,” he said.<br />
Rob recalls a few years ago during the<br />
annual inflatable rescue boat refresher<br />
course, an 18-year-old club member instructed<br />
a group of other members on the<br />
correct way to operate the boat and how to<br />
strip down the motor and get it operational<br />
again if you were unfortunate enough to<br />
dunk it in the ocean.<br />
The group included an airline pilot, a sea<br />
captain, the CEO of a large company and<br />
Rob himself, a director of a large international<br />
architectural practice.<br />
“Here we were, standing around asking<br />
him detailed questions. It was a classic<br />
example of how age, outside experience<br />
and status meant nothing in this moment<br />
and he was the expert, not us, and we were<br />
hanging on everything he said.”<br />
For eight years, Rob was an ‘age manager’<br />
at Avalon Beach SLSC, committed to<br />
spending his Sunday mornings in the surf;<br />
training Nippers aged 6-12, Cadets under<br />
14 and then older teenagers working to<br />
obtain their Bronze Medallion.<br />
Rob got his own Bronze Medallion in<br />
2001 and joined the ranks of the club’s<br />
active surf life savers.<br />
He’s three times been awarded the Avalon<br />
SLSC President’s award (in 2013, 2014<br />
and 2021). In 2007, he received the Norman<br />
Cook award for the Most Outstanding<br />
Member of the Year and in 2017, the Order<br />
of Avalon Medal (with wife Christine and<br />
Richard Cole) for the delivery of the new<br />
Club House and the Meritorious Services<br />
Award in 2022.<br />
In his two decades of life saving, he<br />
recalls one particularly intense weekend in<br />
2022 when he was on beach duty. “There’s<br />
the beach and there’s a sandbar and a gutter<br />
between the beach and the sandbar,”<br />
he says.<br />
“On that day, there was a huge current<br />
going through the gutter from north to<br />
south. And so people were getting ripped<br />
off the sand. We rescued about 80 people<br />
and a couple of those were kids that really<br />
needed to be grabbed quickly and dragged<br />
in. And we probably stopped another couple<br />
hundred from also hurting themselves.<br />
One family of kids we rescued two or three<br />
times.”<br />
On Australia Day in 2010, Rob was part<br />
of a team rescuing a man who had too<br />
many celebratory drinks and fell off the<br />
cliff on the Southern Headland of Avalon<br />
Beach onto the rocks below. He was lucky<br />
to survive without spinal or head injuries,<br />
Rob says, but broke his pelvis, ribs, leg and<br />
arm.<br />
“What always amazes me is the number<br />
of people and rescue services that can<br />
come together because of one person. On<br />
that occasion, there were three police cars,<br />
four paramedics, ambulances, two fire<br />
brigade trucks and a helicopter – and us,<br />
the surf lifesavers.”<br />
For their efforts, Hopton and his fellow<br />
life savers won Surf <strong>Life</strong> Saving New South<br />
Wales ‘Rescue of the Month’.<br />
As well as saving lives, Rob has drawn<br />
26 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
years ‘at sea’<br />
PHOTO: NB Advocate<br />
on his professional architectural experience<br />
and took on the role of building<br />
manager of the Avalon Beach SLC since<br />
its inception in 2005 which morphed into<br />
becoming one of the prime movers in the<br />
renovation of the club.<br />
“The old club building just wasn’t fit<br />
for purpose,” Rob says. “It was built in the<br />
1920s with volunteer labour and was a<br />
great building back in the day. However,<br />
and just as an example, it only had one<br />
toilet and one shower for women, which<br />
was totally inadequate.” There was also no<br />
disability access and the electrical wiring<br />
was in poor condition.<br />
The Club under the leadership of the<br />
building committee made up of Rob, Richard<br />
Cole and Rob’s wife Christine raised a<br />
substantial part of the building costs and<br />
along with financial contributions from<br />
the then <strong>Pittwater</strong> Council and grants from<br />
the State Government, the building works<br />
proceeded in 2011 and it was eventually<br />
completed in August 2014.<br />
‘LEVELLER’: Rob<br />
Hopton (receiving<br />
his award from Rory<br />
Amon with fellow<br />
recipient Judy Kelly)<br />
marvels at the way<br />
the beach attracts<br />
people from all walks<br />
of life.<br />
“We ended up creating a new building,<br />
a resource not just for the club but for the<br />
whole community, we are very proud of<br />
our connection with the Community,” Rob<br />
says. “Of course, surf life saving is about<br />
water safety and saving lives but it’s also<br />
about renewal, bringing new people into<br />
the club every year. Today, we have around<br />
1,100 members and that’s grown a lot in<br />
recent years.”<br />
When the State Member for <strong>Pittwater</strong>,<br />
Rory Amon, awarded the Community<br />
Service Award to Rob in October he said<br />
his leadership contribution had had an<br />
“immense impact” and will be “felt for<br />
generations.”<br />
Christine Hopton has also played a<br />
significant role in the Avalon SLSC, as the<br />
club’s first female president, a role she<br />
held for eight years. Both Christine and<br />
Rob are now stepping back from active<br />
participation in the club leadership as the<br />
next generation of surf life savers rise to<br />
the challenge.<br />
– Melinda Ham<br />
Council’s new<br />
waste strategy<br />
Northern Beaches Council has taken a<br />
major step towards a sustainable ‘reuse,<br />
repair and recycle’ model of waste<br />
management with the launch of its first<br />
waste and circular economy strategy.<br />
Council’s ‘Waste and Circular<br />
Economy Strategy 2040 – Rethink.<br />
Reduce. Reuse’ action plan is a blueprint<br />
for future waste management, aimed at<br />
transforming waste and litter management<br />
services away from a ‘take, make<br />
and dispose’ model to one which provides<br />
for a more sustainable future.<br />
“We manage one of Sydney’s largest<br />
waste services, with over 330,000 bins,<br />
and our community generates over<br />
100,000 tonnes of household waste each<br />
year,” said Mayor Sue Heins. “That is almost<br />
the equivalent to twice the weight<br />
of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.<br />
“By 2040 we want to be leading the<br />
way in circular economy practices, with<br />
a waste and litter service that delivers<br />
the cleanest public spaces in Sydney.”<br />
Mayor Heins explained the strategy is<br />
central to shifting the Northern Beaches<br />
to a fully functioning circular economy<br />
that will benefit the environment, local<br />
business, and residents.<br />
“Some 85 per cent of Northern Beaches<br />
residents are willing to change their<br />
habits to reduce the amount of waste<br />
they produce, and 90 per cent already<br />
reuse or repair some household items.<br />
“We now have an opportunity to help<br />
support our local residents, create new<br />
jobs and support innovative, sustainable<br />
businesses that invest in circular practices<br />
like reuse, repair, and recycling,<br />
driving economic growth and strengthening<br />
community bonds. – NW<br />
*Read the strategy on Council’s website.<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 27
The Way We Were<br />
Every month we pore over three decades of <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong>, providing a snapshot<br />
of the area’s recent history – and confirming that quite often the more things change<br />
the more they stay the same! Compiled by Lisa Offord<br />
25 Years Ago…<br />
The Way We Were<br />
Following a “global media beat-up with<br />
claims that it has divided the community of<br />
Avalon”, <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> approached the USbased<br />
producers of Baywatch to outline<br />
their plans for moving the oft-touted<br />
“most-watched TV show in the world” to<br />
Australia and filming at Avalon Beach,<br />
concluding “it is not as bad as many<br />
think”. The show’s producer Greg Bonann<br />
told <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> the company wanted<br />
to film at “many” Sydney beaches, on<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> and on Sydney Harbour from<br />
April for six months. “We love Avalon<br />
and want to make the Club our base but<br />
we certainly will not be filming there<br />
every week. When we do film, it will<br />
be for two days, sometimes three but<br />
never weekends… when we are there,<br />
there is certainly no suggestion that we<br />
will want to close the beach off to the<br />
public… there is a lot of misinformation out there about our<br />
intentions and actions… if I have an invitation to come to a<br />
meeting and present our side I certainly will.” Bonann added:<br />
“I think this might be a storm in a teacup.” In other news,<br />
Cinema owner Roy Mustaca “who could perhaps be better<br />
described as The Last Picture Show Man” was overseeing<br />
the final touches on the painting of the sky ceiling of his<br />
15 Years Ago…<br />
seventh and largest picture theatre in<br />
Warriewood; Avalon’s “37-year-old Lions’<br />
Club is facing a membership crisis…<br />
losing several older members at a fast<br />
rate.” Pay and Display machines were<br />
installed along the beachfront at Palm<br />
Beach “where parking had previously<br />
been free to generate more revenue for<br />
beachfront improvement” and “a study<br />
is being made of the cliff faces at the<br />
Whale Beach and Avalon rockpools of<br />
rock falls hazards and how to prevent<br />
them”. Readers were introduced to a<br />
cartoon about the philosophical feline<br />
Dharma The Cat and friends created<br />
by Whale Beach resident David Lourie<br />
that “appeared on the Internet about a<br />
year ago… (and)… has developed a cult<br />
following around the world.” The “hits<br />
on the Net are growing daily. By early<br />
January the total was more than 26,000 and the hit rate<br />
has grown from 40 a day last September to an average<br />
of 115 a day in January.” The website had received “16<br />
major Internet awards including Top 10 On The Web.” It<br />
was announced that <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> would share a monthly<br />
update in its pages on Dharma’s adventures for “non-Net<br />
readers”.<br />
5 Years Ago…<br />
The cover featured Palm Beach Sailing Club’s 2009 Hobie We revealed the plan to have<br />
Youth Challenge... “now a full-scale international event<br />
the Palm Beach isthmus<br />
sailed on Hobie 16s on <strong>Pittwater</strong>” attracting 80 sailors<br />
designated one of the<br />
from 10 nations including the current World Youth<br />
world’s first Urban Night Sky<br />
Champion local Jason Waterhouse and his crew cousin, parks; the Mona Vale Road<br />
Lisa Darmanin. In news, “one of the largest skateboard<br />
widening works had just<br />
bowls in Sydney – and indeed in Australia – is planned as commenced; there was a<br />
part of an upgrade of Kitchener Park in Mona Vale.” The huge reader response about<br />
skate park was estimated to cost $1.2 million; Avalon<br />
Council’s proposed off-leash<br />
Bulldogs was combining its Registration Day at Hitchcock dog trial on Station Beach;<br />
Park Clubhouse with a<br />
Arcadia <strong>Pittwater</strong> Private<br />
“Giant League Expo”. And Hospital held an Open Day<br />
“new land valuations from to mark its first birthday,<br />
the NSW Valuer General<br />
while more than 100 beds<br />
will have no impact on<br />
no longer in use at Mona<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>’s rates structure Vale Hospital were being<br />
for 2019-2010 but will<br />
shipped overseas. Council<br />
produce a rise in land<br />
released its strategic<br />
tax.” Meanwhile, David document Towards 2040<br />
Edwards of LJ Hooker<br />
outcome<br />
outlining how it will work to<br />
Palm beach said “there achieve its responsibilities<br />
will not result in a ‘one-size-fitsall’<br />
approach to development<br />
were only 38 sales in<br />
as part of the Northern<br />
the Palm Beach-Whale<br />
District Plan for growth over and concedes the unique nature<br />
Beach area last calendar the next 20 years “but before of some areas of the Northern<br />
year where there would anyone gets red in the face Beaches (cue upper <strong>Pittwater</strong>)<br />
normally be 100 or more. and starts screaming ‘eight means they are simply not<br />
Of those sales, 28 were storey development’s around suitable to accommodate any<br />
under $3million each”. the corner’… Council says the growth.”<br />
28 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
SEEN…<br />
Surfing industry legend Shane Stedman and media man<br />
David ‘Kochie’ Koch are among those with ties to <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
on the <strong>2024</strong> Australia Day Honours list. Anthony (Shane)<br />
Stedman (formerly Mona Vale) was awarded the Medal of the<br />
Order of Australia (OAM for service to the surfing industry,<br />
while David was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia<br />
(AM) for significant service to media as a television presenter,<br />
and to economic journalism. Others included Caroline<br />
Kelly from Avalon Beach (AM) for significant service to the<br />
community through awareness and research funding for<br />
pancreatic cancer, while OAMs were given to Roberta Conroy<br />
(service to the community) and Benjamin Tory for service to<br />
the community through emergency response organisations.<br />
Judith Perrin was awarded an Honorary OAM for service to<br />
gymnastics, and to the community. And Diane Elfleet and<br />
Emma Tan were awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) for<br />
outstanding public service to healthcare, in particular the<br />
delivery of COVID-19-related services. Also seen… teenage life<br />
saver Saskia Rundle Trowbridge has been widely praised for<br />
her daring rescue of three boys at the Warriewood blowhole<br />
last month after a cliff jump left one of them injured. On<br />
patrol with Warriewood SLSC, the 16-year-old jumped from<br />
a rubber duck braving wild swells and jagged rocks (above)<br />
to bring the boys back to safety. The injured 15-year-old was<br />
taken to Northern Beaches Hospital where he was treated for<br />
concussion.<br />
HEARD…<br />
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins smacked a return<br />
into the court of <strong>Pittwater</strong> MP Rory Amon after our State<br />
Member demanded Council expedite the commencement of<br />
trials of off-leash dog spaces on Mona Vale Beach South and<br />
Palm Beach North (see story p9). Mr Amon also alleged that<br />
for more than 20 years, forces “had worked to subvert the<br />
will of our community, and we have evidence of this… this<br />
cannot continue.” Mayor Heins shot back: “… we are strictly<br />
bound by several mandatory processes. The next step in<br />
the process is to prepare a Plan of Management for the<br />
proposed sites which is legally required before Council can<br />
make a decision to progress any potential trials; however,<br />
this requires Crown Lands to delegate care, control and<br />
management of these sites. We are currently in discussions<br />
with them about this, while we are continuing to prepare our<br />
draft Plan of Management. We welcome any assistance Mr<br />
Amon can provide with lobbying the government to overhaul<br />
the very complicated Crown Lands management processes.”<br />
Meanwhile we note plans for a new, at-most three-storey,<br />
$13.6 million luxury residential project on Beaconsfield<br />
Street at Newport (below) were lodged with Northern<br />
Beaches Council in early January. Developer Jak Newport<br />
Pty Ltd plans to demolish the existing buildings at 54-58<br />
Beaconsfield Street and build a part two-, part three-storey<br />
residential<br />
building of 13<br />
three-bedroom<br />
apartments<br />
with basement<br />
carparking for<br />
32 vehicles.<br />
The site is near<br />
the Kalinya<br />
Street Local<br />
Centre, which<br />
was holiday<br />
destination up to the 1950s<br />
before medium- and low-density residential development<br />
increased. The median price for a three-bedroom unit at<br />
Newport is $1.8 million.<br />
ABSURD…<br />
Further to our item last month on Palm Beach’s ‘hydrangea<br />
hacker’, property owners John and Tigi Coplestone report<br />
the thief returned for yet another round of petal plunder<br />
– this time resulting in police action. “They returned for a<br />
third bunch of around 10 new blooms – and we have a lovely<br />
video of the lady in action,” John said. “The info was passed<br />
on to police and we believe the culprit has been served a<br />
court notice.” John said the incident had a silver lining:<br />
“Your article drew great interest from numerous passers-by,<br />
neighbours, friends. We’ve made many new friends! Your<br />
readership is obviously strong.” John added several people<br />
had sought their advice on growing their own hydrangeas<br />
and/or questioning what a season’s bloom were worth. He<br />
supplied <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> with his ‘grow-to’ guide, compiled<br />
over 17 years, which we will publish in our Gardening<br />
section in an upcoming monthly issue.<br />
30 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> News<br />
Careel Bay tennis<br />
Are you interested in getting<br />
back into tennis or maybe<br />
just starting out? Careel<br />
Bay Tennis Club offers fun<br />
social tennis every Thursday<br />
9.30am-11.30am for players<br />
of all levels. No membership<br />
or bookings are required, just<br />
come along. The Club Coach<br />
will be there to supervise. Set<br />
in North Avalon, the Club has<br />
five synthetic grass courts, a<br />
large clubhouse with renovated<br />
changing rooms and showers,<br />
an enclosed children’s<br />
play area together with picnic<br />
tables and a BBQ, and stateof-<br />
the- art night lights. Their<br />
<strong>2024</strong> sessions start on Thursday<br />
8 February. Cost is $15pp;<br />
open to everyone. More info<br />
Scott Browne (0409 607 703).<br />
A polar lens<br />
on conservation<br />
Join Marnie Ogg for her ‘Light<br />
& Dark’ event as she dives<br />
into icy realms and vibrant<br />
wonders of the Polar regions.<br />
Ever wondered what these<br />
frosty areas can teach us the<br />
art of conservation? Unravel<br />
the secrets of these polar<br />
paradises and discover how<br />
tourism becomes our window<br />
of education. On Thursday 22<br />
February at Belrose. More info<br />
darkskytraveller.com.au<br />
Literacy Network<br />
call for volunteers<br />
Literacy Network Manly Warringah<br />
is putting the call out<br />
for volunteers willing to share<br />
their English language skills.<br />
The not-for-profit organisation<br />
of more than 40 years’<br />
standing is seeking volunteer<br />
Local Probus Club news for February<br />
The next meeting of Palm Beach and<br />
Peninsula Probus Club is on Wednesday<br />
15 February at Club Palm Beach. Speaker is<br />
Hans Kunnen, a “mostly retired” economist<br />
who was formerly chief economist of Colonial<br />
First State investments and of St George<br />
Banking Group. In 2001, he was alone in New<br />
York in the middle of the world-changing<br />
events of 9/11. His story is not a tale of<br />
heroism but is mostly one of hope and help<br />
he witnessed on that terrible day. Commences<br />
9.30am; membership open to retirees, visitors<br />
welcome. More info 0421 435 792.<br />
Narrabeen Lakes Probus Club next meets<br />
on Wednesday 28 February at Narrabeen<br />
Baptist Church. Doors open 9.45am for 10am<br />
meeting. Visitors welcome. The guest speaker<br />
is Tom Sweeney, from Willoughby Theatre,<br />
who will explain how a musical is staged.<br />
More info call/text 0424 464 047.<br />
The next meeting of Newport Probus<br />
Club will be held at Newport Bowling Club<br />
on Thursday 1 February commencing 10am.<br />
The speaker will be Elizabeth Trevan, who<br />
has been in the funeral industry for 20 years,<br />
initially as a funeral celebrant and now a<br />
funeral arranger and Head of Community<br />
with Picaluna Funerals. Elizabeth is also<br />
a wedding celebrant. She will speak about<br />
‘Funerals of the Future’ – how to have a<br />
fabulous funeral! Visitors welcome; more info<br />
Di Burrell (0410 465 303).<br />
Well-known local identity Nicholas Cowdery<br />
AO, KC will be the February keynote speaker<br />
at the next meeting of <strong>Pittwater</strong> Men’s Probus<br />
on Thursday 13 February. He will deliberate on<br />
some of the issues of justice in NSW. Nicholas<br />
tutors to pair with an adult<br />
who is looking to improve<br />
their English. No prior experience<br />
in teaching is required.<br />
You will undertake six weeks<br />
of training commencing in<br />
March on Tuesday mornings<br />
from 9.30am to 12.30pm. The<br />
coordinators then match you<br />
with a student at a mutually<br />
convenient time and place.<br />
The average weekly time commitment<br />
is two hours a week,<br />
but that is flexible. More info<br />
literacynetwork.org.au, or<br />
email the coordinators at<br />
litnet@optusnet.com.au, or<br />
call 0460 803 699.<br />
was NSW Director of Public Prosecutions<br />
from 1994 to 2011 and is recognised for his<br />
forthright views on the defence of justice.<br />
Venue is the Mona Vale Surf Club, commencing<br />
10am. Visitors welcome; more info Terry Larke<br />
(0412 220 820).<br />
The next meeting of the growing Bilgola<br />
Plateau Probus Club will be held on Friday<br />
2 February. Guest speaker will be rock<br />
historian Paul Kearney who will present the<br />
history of Rock ’n’ Roll along with some great<br />
songs from that era. Visitors welcome; more<br />
info Shelley (0415 538 864).<br />
The next meeting of the Avalon Beach Ladies’<br />
Probus will be on 6 February food historian<br />
Diana Noyce as guest speaker. While the more<br />
Western traditions of decorating Easter eggs<br />
and the visitation of the Easter bunny certainly<br />
make for a lot of fun, Diana will explain those<br />
traditions are only the tip of the iceberg when<br />
it comes to different ways to celebrate Easter.<br />
Venue is Club Palm Beach, commencing 10am.<br />
(Book Club has also recommenced and the AGM<br />
will be held 5 March.) More info Margaret White<br />
(0416 182 393).<br />
The Combined Probus Club of Mona<br />
Vale will meet on Tuesday, 20 February in<br />
the auditorium at <strong>Pittwater</strong> RSL Club (from<br />
10am). Guest speaker will be Hastings Pawsey,<br />
who in the summer of early 2014, voyaged to<br />
the Ross Sea in Antarctica on a 100-passenger,<br />
ice strengthened cruise ship. At McMurdo<br />
Sound he saw both Scott’s huts, with access to<br />
the second, as well as access to Shackelton’s<br />
hut. He learnt much about Antarctica and its<br />
importance to the world’s climate. Visitors<br />
welcome; more info Robert (0407 202 266).<br />
Scamps’ seminars<br />
highlight scamming<br />
Mackellar Independent MP<br />
Dr Scamps will host a free<br />
seminar on scams, presented<br />
by staff from the Australian<br />
Competition and Consumer<br />
commission’s Scam Watch.<br />
34 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
The in-person event on 14<br />
March will be held at Ted<br />
Blackwood Community<br />
Centre, Warriewood (9.30am-<br />
12pm). It will be followed<br />
by an online presentation<br />
on April 10. The scams<br />
awareness presentations will<br />
provide practical guidance to<br />
assist people to identify and<br />
avoid scams and stay safe<br />
online. The presenter will<br />
share valuable information<br />
on where to seek help and<br />
support when recovering<br />
from a scam. It’s also an<br />
opportunity for attendees to<br />
share their scam stories with<br />
their peers. In 2023, losses to<br />
scams exceeded $4.5 billion,<br />
causing misery and financial<br />
hardship to thousands of<br />
people including hundreds<br />
on the Northern Beaches. The<br />
perpetrators of these crimes<br />
masquerade as your bank, the<br />
Tax Office, phone companies,<br />
or postal delivery services<br />
– to name a few. Scammers<br />
deliberately target older<br />
people, the vulnerable and<br />
people who are not as savvy<br />
with digital communications.<br />
Nearly 20% of reports in NSW<br />
were by people 65 and over,<br />
followed by the 55-64 age<br />
group (12.2%) and 45-54 age<br />
group (10.7%). For more info<br />
on the presentation, or to<br />
register for the online session,<br />
go to sophiescamps.com.au/<br />
events<br />
February acts<br />
for The Shack<br />
The Shack Live Music Club is<br />
held on the first Saturday of<br />
each month at the Ted Blackwood<br />
Hall at Warriewood.<br />
Each show features two live<br />
music acts in a cabaret candlelit<br />
atmosphere with BYO<br />
food and drinks for an affordable<br />
and enjoyable night<br />
of live entertainment. The<br />
concert on Saturday 3 February<br />
features Liza Ohlback &<br />
The Mercy Train, plus Luke<br />
Escombe. Tickets at shackfolk.com<br />
or cash at the door<br />
(no wi-fi).<br />
Continued on page 36<br />
Boat rescues up 18 per cent<br />
Marine Rescue NSW has completed its busiest year on<br />
record with 4,786 search and rescue missions in 2023,<br />
as favourable weather lured more boaters onto waterways.<br />
Surpassing last year’s record figure, the volunteer water<br />
rescue organisation safely returned 10,645 people to shore in<br />
an 18 per cent increase in rescue missions.<br />
In its first Budget, the Minns Government made a record<br />
$73 million commitment to support the vital work of Marine<br />
Rescue NSW and its 3,300 volunteers.<br />
More than 80,000 trips were logged with Marine Rescue<br />
NSW in 2023, almost 16,500 more than the previous year.<br />
Marine Rescue NSW radio operators managed 258,742 radio<br />
calls – or a call every two minutes – with a large number<br />
managed by the 24/7 Marine Rescue NSW State Communications<br />
Centre at Belrose.<br />
More than half the incidents in 2023 could potentially have<br />
been avoided with better boat maintenance, with 57 per cent<br />
of calls for mechanical, battery or fuel issues.<br />
*How to become a Marine Rescue volunteer – page 46.<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 35
<strong>Pittwater</strong> News<br />
Continued from page 35<br />
ty measures and which would<br />
also reveal the consequences<br />
of their decision.” Mr Amon<br />
said the cancellation of the<br />
project last September was<br />
followed by a spate of serious<br />
accidents along Mona Vale<br />
Road West. “The Mona Vale<br />
Road West upgrade would<br />
have improved safety, saved<br />
lives and reduced congestion.<br />
It’s now more dangerous than<br />
ever, with the road narrowing<br />
from four lanes to two lanes<br />
along the most dangerous<br />
section.” He implored the Gov-<br />
Mona Vale Road<br />
safety audit refusal<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> MP Rory Amon has<br />
condemned the NSW Government’s<br />
refusal to conduct a<br />
safety audit of the incomplete<br />
Mona Vale Road upgrade.<br />
“This Government continues<br />
treat the people of <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
with contempt. First, they cut<br />
the upgrade. Now, even more<br />
maliciously, they refuse to<br />
conduct a safety audit which<br />
would help keep people safe<br />
by implementing interim safeernment<br />
to assess the safety<br />
of the road and implement<br />
temporary safety measures.<br />
More info parliament.gov.<br />
nsw.au<br />
Take the kids to work!<br />
CoWork Creche, a coworking<br />
space with flexible childcare,<br />
is opening on the Northern<br />
Beaches in February. It will cater<br />
for children from 8 weeks<br />
of age through to 4 years old<br />
and has no minimum booking<br />
requirements, with parents<br />
able to book as many days, or<br />
News<br />
<strong>2024</strong> <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Regatta change<br />
Organisers at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht<br />
Club (RPAYC) have announced a<br />
new Super 40 division for their <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Regatta, to be held from 9-11 February and<br />
incorporating the ORC NSW Championship.<br />
The <strong>Pittwater</strong> Regatta is an opportunity<br />
to get the most exciting bowsprit planning<br />
boats from 31 to 44 feet together and<br />
race on a more equal footing under PHRF<br />
and ORC.<br />
The third running of the ORC NSW<br />
Championship opens the regatta on Friday<br />
9 February with an offshore Passage Race.<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Regatta Championship entries<br />
are headed by Division 1 reigning champions,<br />
Peter Byford and David Hudson with<br />
their Sydney 38, Conspiracy. In March, the<br />
pair will be defending the NSW Sydney 38<br />
Championship title they also won last year.<br />
*Close of entry is 5pm on 2 February;<br />
more pittwaterregatta.au<br />
36 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
even half days, as they need<br />
each week. CoWork Creche<br />
is fully tax deductible and<br />
is holding an Open Day on<br />
Saturday 3 February from<br />
10am to 12pm. More info<br />
about CoWork Creche, their<br />
Open Day and their inclusions<br />
and fee structure call Melody<br />
(0475 677 013) or email melody@coworkcreche.com.au<br />
Celebrate local Seniors<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> residents are<br />
encouraged to celebrate<br />
the positive role seniors<br />
play in the community by<br />
nominating them for the <strong>2024</strong><br />
NSW Seniors Festival Local<br />
Achievement Awards.<br />
“If you know a senior who<br />
helps make our community<br />
diverse, inspiring and active,<br />
then I encourage you to nominate<br />
them for acknowledgement<br />
of their contribution,”<br />
said <strong>Pittwater</strong> MP Rory Amon.<br />
“This annual festival is<br />
about celebrating the positive<br />
impact of older people in our<br />
families and society.<br />
“By highlighting seniors’<br />
continued efforts in helping<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> thrive, we are<br />
continuing to challenge ageism<br />
and empower seniors to<br />
overcome social stigmas.”<br />
Nominations close 5pm on<br />
Friday 23 February. To nominate<br />
a senior in <strong>Pittwater</strong>, visit<br />
bit.ly/<strong>Pittwater</strong>SeniorsAwards.<br />
Winners will be announced<br />
during the NSW Seniors Festival<br />
(11-24 March).<br />
*More info go to seniorsfestival.nsw.gov.au<br />
Vet<br />
on call<br />
with Dr Brown<br />
Puppies and kittens are a<br />
cute addition to the family<br />
– to ensure they grow into<br />
happy and healthy dogs and<br />
cats, it’s important to follow<br />
the health advice of your<br />
veterinarian. The team at<br />
Sydney Animal Hospitals (SAH)<br />
are here to help keep your<br />
new pet happy and healthy,<br />
and during January, February<br />
and March, our focus is on all<br />
things puppies and kittens!<br />
Good nutrition is vital to ensuring<br />
that your new puppy or<br />
kitten develops strong bones,<br />
a shiny coat and has the energy<br />
needed for lots of activity.<br />
Depending on your pet’s breed<br />
and lifestyle, our veterinarians<br />
can provide advice specific<br />
to your new pet. SAH stock a<br />
range of Hill’s puppy and kitten<br />
food, and we’re offering a<br />
free sample bag of Hill’s food<br />
when you book in for a free<br />
puppy or kitten health check<br />
with one of our vets during<br />
January to March.<br />
It’s also important to protect<br />
your new puppy or kitten from<br />
parasites such as intestinal<br />
worms, heartworm, fleas<br />
and ticks and mites. Intestinal<br />
worms can cause your puppy or<br />
kitten to lose weight and body<br />
condition, and can also cause<br />
gastro-intestinal disturbance<br />
such as diarrhoea. Heartworm<br />
can be transmitted to your pet<br />
by mosquito bites, and can be<br />
a potentially fatal condition for<br />
pets. There are many species of<br />
ticks in Australia which can be<br />
deadly, so it’s very important to<br />
protect your pet from ticks.<br />
During our free health<br />
checks, our vets will provide<br />
advice on the best parasite prevention<br />
products for your pet.<br />
Call your local Sydney<br />
Animal Hospitals or visit<br />
our website to book in your<br />
puppy or kitten for their free<br />
veterinary health check during<br />
January and February, and<br />
take advantage of our exciting<br />
offer which includes, a free<br />
sample bag of Hill’s puppy<br />
or kitten food, a free first<br />
dose heartworm prevention<br />
injection at 12 weeks of age<br />
for puppies, and a free dose<br />
of flea and tick prevention for<br />
puppies and kittens.<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 37
Four-time Australian Sailor<br />
of the Year John Forbes reflects on<br />
more than 40 years of having the<br />
wind in his sails.<br />
Story by Rosamund Burton<br />
A life<br />
<strong>Life</strong> Stories<br />
on the<br />
In November 2023, catamaran<br />
sailor John Forbes was Championship in Houston<br />
ning the 1989 Tornado World<br />
inducted into the NSW Hall with Mitch Booth when I was<br />
of Champions in recognition 19 was great.”<br />
water<br />
of his outstanding achievements.<br />
This unassuming ian Championship with Rod<br />
John had won the Austral-<br />
54-year-old <strong>Pittwater</strong> local is Waterhouse, which made them<br />
a seven-time world champion, eligible for funding from the<br />
10-time Australian champion<br />
and four-time European (AYF) to go to the World Cham-<br />
Australian Yachting Federation<br />
champion. He won a bronze pionship. But Rod Waterhouse<br />
medal at the 1992 Barcelona<br />
Olympic Games, a silver at the<br />
2000 Sydney Olympic Games<br />
and placed sixth at the 2004<br />
Athens Olympic Games. He has<br />
been Australian Sailor of the<br />
Year four times.<br />
The NSW Champions of<br />
Sport Ceremony 2023 was a<br />
gala dinner held at the International<br />
Convention Centre,<br />
Darling Harbour.<br />
“It was a massive event, attended<br />
by about 700 people,”<br />
John reflects. Cricketer Brett<br />
Lee was also inducted, and<br />
surfer Layne Beachley, AO,<br />
was officially recognised as a<br />
Legend of NSW Sport. John attended<br />
with his wife, Caroline,<br />
and their daughters Teigan<br />
and Bronte.<br />
“The night brought back<br />
many good memories. I was<br />
competing at world level for<br />
19 years. It’s hard to say which<br />
was the best moment, but win-<br />
was not able to travel overseas<br />
then and at that time the AYF<br />
didn’t recognise the crew<br />
member, only the skipper.<br />
“So Mitch Booth and I<br />
basically went to Texas on our<br />
own, and we won that world<br />
championship by an enormous<br />
margin, which was very<br />
satisfying.”<br />
This duo won the Australian<br />
Tornado Championship consecutively<br />
for five years from<br />
1990 to 1994. In 1992 they won<br />
their second Tornado World<br />
Championship. Also that year<br />
they won Bronze at the Barcelona<br />
Olympics, and each was<br />
honoured with the Australian<br />
Yachtsman of the Year award.<br />
“Both positions on the<br />
boat are important, and we<br />
swapped roles,” John explains.<br />
In 1991, he was skipper and<br />
Mitch Booth crew when they<br />
won the inaugural Nacra 5.8<br />
World Championship.<br />
John grew up at Mona Vale<br />
until the age of seven, then<br />
the family moved to Collaroy<br />
Plateau. His father Bob sailed<br />
Hobie Cats competitively in the<br />
1970s, and in 1979 became the<br />
Australian importer and distributor<br />
for Nacra catamaran.<br />
“He built those for about<br />
10 years, and when we were<br />
young, my brother and I were<br />
down at the factory helping<br />
out. We didn’t grow up on<br />
monohulls or dinghies. I just<br />
started sailing catamarans and<br />
kept going.”<br />
In 1982, aged 12, he competed<br />
with his father in the Nacra<br />
5.2 North American Championship<br />
where they placed fourth,<br />
and the following year they<br />
came second in the inaugural<br />
Nacra 5.2 World Championship.<br />
By 1985, John was at the helm,<br />
and he and his brother, Rod,<br />
claimed the 1986 Nacra NSW<br />
State Championship.<br />
In 1987, John was sailing<br />
with 1984 Olympic Bronze<br />
Medalist Chris Cairns. They<br />
won the Kiel Week Regatta and<br />
came second in the Tornado<br />
World Championship.<br />
John and his wife Caroline<br />
attended Cromer High together,<br />
starting dating at the beginning<br />
of Year 12, and have been together<br />
ever since. John decided<br />
several years before the 2004<br />
Athens Olympics that he would<br />
stop sailing competitively.<br />
“Our daughters were one<br />
and three years old. People<br />
said they grow up really<br />
quickly and you don’t want to<br />
miss it. So I stopped and spent<br />
time with the kids.<br />
John describes sailing as “an<br />
ageless sport”, and after his<br />
stellar career the catalyst for<br />
his return, 11 years later, was<br />
his youngest daughter.<br />
38 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
“Bronte said, ‘I’ve never been<br />
on the trapeze on the catamaran’.<br />
So I said, ‘let’s have a go at<br />
sailing and have some fun’. We<br />
bought this old Hobie Cat 18.<br />
She was about 15 then.”<br />
Rather than club race every<br />
Saturday, they compete in<br />
various clubs’ annual regatta<br />
which are several weeks apart.<br />
They are members of the Palm<br />
Beach Sailing Club, which<br />
hosts the Beware the Bullet<br />
Regatta annually on the third<br />
weekend in November.<br />
Palm Beach Sailing Club<br />
used to be known as <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Catamaran Club, and John was<br />
a member for more than 20<br />
years, before rejoining when<br />
they bought the Hobie 18.<br />
“It doesn’t have a clubhouse.<br />
We sail off the beach at Sand<br />
Point. The start boat is stored<br />
in a nearby garage and everyone<br />
takes turns to do start<br />
boat duty.” But this unassuming<br />
little club has nurtured<br />
the talents of many catamaran<br />
sailing greats, including Chris<br />
Cairns, Rod Waterhouse, Mitch<br />
Booth and Nina Curtis.<br />
The Mitch Booth and John<br />
Forbes sailing partnership<br />
ended in the mid-1990s and<br />
for the next 10 years John<br />
sailed with Darren Bundock.<br />
In addition to sailing regattas<br />
at weekends, and competing<br />
in Australian championships<br />
over the Christmas break,<br />
three months a year they<br />
sailed overseas, and both also<br />
held down jobs. John was<br />
working in the family business<br />
in Belrose with his father.<br />
“I enjoyed working and sailing<br />
because it gave me a break<br />
from both. I had the ability<br />
to completely switch off from<br />
work when sailing, and when<br />
I went back to work I switched<br />
off from sailing.”<br />
If they were in Europe for<br />
90 days, John explains, they<br />
would be sailing for 80 of<br />
those, mostly doing intensive<br />
training with two other teams,<br />
initially the German and<br />
Austrian teams, and later the<br />
Germans and the Greeks.<br />
“There was a lot of sharing<br />
of information, because we<br />
all wanted to go better. We<br />
didn’t care who won, as long<br />
as the three of us were there.<br />
Many people couldn’t get their<br />
heads around that.” But it paid<br />
off and this Australian pair<br />
and the German team were<br />
very dominant, between them<br />
winning many first places,<br />
and also seconds and thirds.<br />
In 1998, John and Darren won<br />
the Tornado World Championship<br />
by 18 points from their<br />
longtime German training<br />
partners, and John became<br />
the first Tornado sailor to win<br />
three world championships.<br />
“Leading up to the Sydney<br />
Olympics the Germans lived<br />
with us in our house. We’re<br />
friends for life because of that.<br />
We won the Silver Medal and<br />
they won the Bronze, and for us<br />
that was a great achievement.”<br />
John now runs the family<br />
business with his cousin, and<br />
since 2006 Caroline, the girls<br />
and he have lived at Bayview.<br />
“It feels like home for many<br />
reasons. My grandparents lived<br />
across the road and my brother<br />
and I used to come here as<br />
kids. Then Mum and Dad<br />
moved here in 1992, and we<br />
bought the house next door to<br />
them when it came up for sale.”<br />
Continued on page 40<br />
<strong>Life</strong> Stories<br />
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Assorted silverware; at the NSW<br />
Hall of Champions induction; in America, aged 13; with Mitch<br />
Booth celebrating their 1989 Tornado World title; daughter<br />
Bronte with her 2020 Hobie State Champs trophies; victory<br />
in Kiel Week, Germany in 2000 (with Teigan); with Mitch<br />
Booth winning the 1991 World Champs; with wife Caroline<br />
winning the 2023 Hobie 18 North American Championship.<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 39
<strong>Life</strong> Stories<br />
Continued from page 39<br />
Nowadays, sailing with Bronte,<br />
the emphasis is on enjoying<br />
some father/daughter bonding<br />
and (in Bronte’s words) being<br />
“competitive but not serious”.<br />
John chose to sail the Hobie 18,<br />
because it has a furling jib, and<br />
no spinnaker, but is a fast boat.<br />
“Many people like what<br />
I’ve been doing with Bronte,<br />
because it’s not too full-on,<br />
and now we’ve got a fleet of 10<br />
boats with other parents and<br />
sons or daughters.”<br />
When asked if Caroline sails,<br />
he replies that her passion is<br />
golf.<br />
“I don’t golf at all. I’m<br />
hopeless at ball sports, and<br />
strangely enough I’m not that<br />
competitive. I’m more interested<br />
in the equipment and what<br />
makes the boat go fast, more<br />
than wanting to win.”<br />
The Hobie 18 North American<br />
Championship in July 2023<br />
had 25 boats entered, and a<br />
fleet of this size hadn’t been<br />
seen for 20 years. John rang a<br />
contact in America who was<br />
able to get hold of a boat for<br />
him, but Bronte was at uni, so<br />
Caroline, who had never sailed<br />
more than one day in a regatta,<br />
was coaxed to crew.<br />
“We’ll just go and have some<br />
fun together,” John assured her,<br />
and sporting their koala-styled<br />
caps they competed in the fourday<br />
regatta – and won the North<br />
American Championship.<br />
John is currently mentoring<br />
a brother and sister sailing a<br />
Formula 18 catamaran. And<br />
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: With<br />
brother Rodney, 1976; with Teigan<br />
and their 2017 Hobie State Champs<br />
trophies; with Bronte winning the<br />
2020 Hobie State title; sailing partner<br />
Darren Bundock toppling during the<br />
2000 Worlds in Sydney; sailing with<br />
Rodney at Currumbin in 1985.<br />
for the past five years he has<br />
been refurbishing second-hand<br />
Hobie Cat 18s. When the Hobie<br />
Cat 18 was first designed in<br />
the mid-1970s, it was a powerful<br />
racing machine. John has<br />
developed what he calls the<br />
‘Hobie Cat Reimagined Project’,<br />
because today he sees this boat<br />
filling an important gap for<br />
young sailors and their par-<br />
40 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
ents. After kids have completed<br />
the Optimist, O’pen Skiff or<br />
29er programs, the Hobie Cat<br />
18 enables parents and teenage<br />
kids to sail competitively together,<br />
before the kids progress<br />
to the next level on the Formula<br />
16 or Formula 18 catamarans.<br />
John recently submitted<br />
some proposed Hobie Cat<br />
18 class rule changes to the<br />
International Hobie Class<br />
Association, to make it more<br />
youth- and female-friendly.<br />
John Forbes’ sailing accomplishments<br />
are phenomenal,<br />
and what a bonus for the<br />
sailing community that he is<br />
now directing his talents to<br />
keeping upcoming generations<br />
interested and engaged in the<br />
sport.<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 41
Hot Property<br />
Hot Property<br />
Property: What’s in store in <strong>2024</strong>?<br />
Although many buyers<br />
have found property<br />
more expensive than a<br />
year ago, experts predict cost of<br />
living pressures will keep housing<br />
prices in check in <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
According to the latest<br />
Domain House Price Report, released<br />
last month, the Northern<br />
Beaches median house price<br />
rose by 13 per cent in the 12<br />
months to December last year –<br />
from $2.3m to $2.5m.<br />
Limited stock and demand<br />
from cashed-up buyers who<br />
were not as sensitive to interest<br />
rate changes had supported<br />
the market, Domain chief of research<br />
and economics Dr Nicola<br />
Powell said.<br />
“These are buyers that are<br />
active, less sensitive to interest<br />
rates, they’re supported by family<br />
members, family wealth, or<br />
they are owner-occupiers that<br />
are well established, and they<br />
are less sensitive to the cost of<br />
debt,” she said.<br />
But growth is likely to be at<br />
a slower pace as affordability<br />
constraints bite, with Dr Powell<br />
forecasting Sydney house prices<br />
to rise between 7 and 9 per cent<br />
this year, compared to a 10.6<br />
per cent climb last year.<br />
“It could almost be a year of<br />
two halves,” Dr Powell added.<br />
“We will see a much more modest<br />
pace of growth this year<br />
until we see changes in borrowing<br />
capacity.<br />
“With Stage 3 tax cuts and<br />
then the prospect of cash rate<br />
cuts, these are things that could<br />
drive positive sentiment, housing<br />
activity and therefore price<br />
growth,” she said.<br />
AT THE DOUBLE: Pretty in pink at 104 Iluka Rd; a more relaxing retreat at 106.<br />
Offloading neighbouring properties at Snapperman Beach<br />
LJ Hooker Palm Beach agents David and BJ Edwards<br />
are handling the sales of the neighbouring<br />
waterfront properties at 104 and 106 Iluka<br />
Road owned by “Australia’s richest garbo” Ian<br />
Malouf.<br />
Malouf, who made his fortune in the waste<br />
and recycling industry before turning his hand to<br />
superyacht company Ahoy Club, snapped up a<br />
third property on the same beachfront with a $40<br />
million guide a little over 12 months ago.<br />
Embracing its mid-century roots, the vibrant<br />
holiday home ‘Gidget’ channels a fun yet luxe<br />
Palm Springs vibe with bold colour, plush carpets<br />
and whimsical wallpaper throughout.<br />
Entertainment is at the forefront of 104 Iluka<br />
Rd which boasts two stunning bars, a Sonos<br />
CoreLogic expects “a milder<br />
outcome” for housing values in<br />
<strong>2024</strong>. According to the Core-<br />
Logic Home Value Index report<br />
released last month, slower<br />
growth towards the end of 2023<br />
suggested home values might<br />
not climb as swiftly this year.<br />
“The trajectory of interest<br />
rates through <strong>2024</strong> will be a<br />
key factor influencing housing<br />
trends,” said CoreLogic’s<br />
research director Tim Lawless.<br />
“Although another cash rate<br />
hike can’t be completely ruled<br />
out, the trend towards lower<br />
inflation, weakening economic<br />
conditions amid low consumption,<br />
and a loosening labour<br />
market suggests another rate<br />
hike is looking increasingly<br />
unlikely.<br />
Lawless said a reduction in<br />
the cash rate target through<br />
<strong>2024</strong> could help to “re-stoke<br />
demand” later in the year.<br />
sound system, a two-oven bright pink kitchen<br />
(above left) and multiple zones for chilling out<br />
and play (cue the giant yellow outdoor slide<br />
from the top floor verandah). It has five uniquely<br />
styled bedrooms, four baths, parking for four<br />
cars and a large, gated driveway.<br />
The neighbouring property at 106 is more<br />
restrained, presented in calming whites with<br />
hints of greys and blues. The living, family and<br />
dining areas flow across the lower level and out<br />
towards the entertaining deck. The second storey<br />
functions as a quiet “sleep zone” – with five<br />
bedrooms and three bathrooms. The top-floor<br />
retreat (above right) includes lounge and terrace<br />
plus additional bedroom. High ceilings and full<br />
width glass frame the views.<br />
“Even if interest rates do<br />
come down later in this year,<br />
credit availability is likely to<br />
remain relatively tight.”<br />
PropTrack’s Home Price Index<br />
Report released in December<br />
observed “… home prices have<br />
proved remarkably resilient<br />
over 2023, however several factors<br />
are curtailing the pace of<br />
growth” – namely interest rates<br />
and a reduction in the amount a<br />
buyer can borrow.– Lisa Offord<br />
42 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Art <strong>Life</strong><br />
Art <strong>Life</strong><br />
Studio is ‘Beginning Again’<br />
Based at Palm Beach, Kirby Olave is<br />
an emerging Australian visual artist<br />
working predominantly with oil paint<br />
on canvas. Influenced by the Renaissance,<br />
Rococo, romantic and surrealist movements,<br />
she infuses emotional expression<br />
and vivid colour palettes to create a<br />
unique artistic voice to form a sensitive<br />
and evocative exploration of her subjects.<br />
Kirby’s new solo exhibition ‘Beginning<br />
Again’ kicks off the fourth year of art<br />
connection and appreciation at The Studio<br />
space at Careel Bay Marina, devoted<br />
to showcasing the work of local artists in<br />
support of local organisations.<br />
Growing up in an artistic family, Kirby<br />
developed a natural interest and passion<br />
for art and design and was encouraged<br />
from a young age to pursue a creative<br />
life. After studying Fine Arts, Design and<br />
Art Education, Kirby found her passion in<br />
Aboriginal art and established her career<br />
working in galleries.<br />
In 2019, she was accepted as an artist<br />
in residence at Chateau Orquevaux<br />
in France, where she connected with<br />
international artists and was encouraged<br />
to pursue her own art career. Making the<br />
transition to full time artist in 2020, she<br />
NEW START: Emerging visual artist Kirby Olave<br />
with Amy and Matthew Young.<br />
went on to exhibit at The Other Art Fair in<br />
Sydney in 2021.<br />
Distinct in its capture of the beauty of<br />
the natural world and the human body,<br />
Kirby’s work is a “personal reflection” on<br />
her life as a woman.<br />
“I took an extended break from painting<br />
to become a mother so for me, this exhibition<br />
feels like an opportunity to start from<br />
the beginning,” Kirby explains.<br />
“My work is feminine, figurative, emotional<br />
and surreal in manner but aesthetically<br />
and technically realistic. There are<br />
layers of meaning, stories and secrets,”<br />
she says.<br />
Beginning Again will raise funds for the<br />
Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter and<br />
Kirby will generously donate 20 per cent<br />
of sale proceeds to this important community<br />
organisation.<br />
The exhibition will be open throughout<br />
February on Saturdays from 9am-12<br />
noon.<br />
Amy Young of Laing+Simmons Young<br />
Property says she is looking forward to<br />
welcoming members of the local community<br />
back to The Studio for another year.<br />
“We’re proud that the local community<br />
has taken ownership of The Studio, not<br />
only welcoming but actively supporting<br />
our vision to help local charities and<br />
causes through collaborations with local<br />
artists,” says Amy.<br />
“In <strong>2024</strong>, we’re getting bigger and better.<br />
Kirby’s work exemplifies the natural<br />
beauty we’re privileged to enjoy in our<br />
part of the world,” she says.<br />
– Stephen Naylor<br />
*The Studio by Laing+Simmons Young<br />
Property is in Careel Bay Marina, 94<br />
George St, Avalon.<br />
Curl Curl Space program<br />
The Curl Curl Creative Space has a fresh lineup of exhibitions,<br />
workshops, talks, and live music by emerging and established<br />
artists from across a diverse spectrum of art forms.<br />
From February 28 to March 3, resident artist Charlotte Bourilly<br />
will pay homage to French new wave rock band Taxi Girl in her solo<br />
exhibition ‘As Beautiful as a Bullet’.<br />
The exhibition explores forgotten female bushrangers perpetuated<br />
by the myth of Ned Kelly, understood from different perspectives.<br />
Wild, excessive, disturbing and beautiful, these women<br />
refused to be labelled and identified with a binary system.<br />
The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of events featuring<br />
space jazz, groove-based improv, and post-future beats performed<br />
live. More info Council website.<br />
44 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Volunteers to the Rescue<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
There are some people you<br />
come across in life that<br />
just blow you away with<br />
their kindness and humility –<br />
Karen Tan is an example. Karen<br />
has volunteered at the Marine<br />
Rescue State Communications<br />
Centre in Belrose for the past<br />
six years – a natural progression<br />
for her, after helping crew<br />
a rescue boat on the Hawkesbury.<br />
She made the change<br />
so that she could volunteer<br />
alongside her daughter when<br />
she turned 16.<br />
“My daughter wanted to<br />
get her marine radio licence<br />
when she turned 16, so that we<br />
could volunteer here together,”<br />
explains Karen. “She literally<br />
took the licence exam on her<br />
16th birthday rather than have<br />
a party.<br />
“My husband and I do a lot of<br />
voluntary work – I teach music<br />
at a local school and also work<br />
with the heritage fleet, and the<br />
kids have a number of voluntary<br />
roles now.”<br />
This correspondent invariably<br />
seeks recognition if he’s<br />
made a good job of the lawn<br />
or stacking the dishwasher, so<br />
it’s humbling to hear somebody<br />
talk about such selfless acts in<br />
such a matter-of-fact way.<br />
“I grew up in a culture where<br />
everyone volunteers, continues<br />
Karen. “It’s not formalised like<br />
it is here in Australia, but in<br />
Penang we just help.”<br />
Doug Elliott is Australianborn<br />
and bred, but shares the<br />
same ethos as Karen, and loves<br />
giving freely of his time.<br />
“It’s just great to be able to<br />
LISTENING: Marine Rescue volunteers Doug Elliott, Hilary Dowling and<br />
Duty Officer Paul Goodyer during a day shift.<br />
help people,” Doug said. “I’ve<br />
volunteered at the Marine Rescue<br />
Centre as a radio operator<br />
for just over three years now. I<br />
had retired and wanted to give<br />
something back to the community.<br />
“I tried a session here at<br />
Belrose and really liked the high<br />
standard of professionalism.<br />
Amateurs delivering a professional<br />
service.<br />
“The environment is friendly<br />
and collegiate, and it’s a great<br />
environment to work in,” Doug<br />
continues. “You’re learning<br />
every day and people are very<br />
supportive. I didn’t always look<br />
forward to my real life work,<br />
but I love coming here.”<br />
Doug explains the function<br />
of the Belrose centre serves two<br />
purposes: During the day it provides<br />
marine rescue services for<br />
Sydney, from Port Hacking up<br />
to <strong>Pittwater</strong> and Cottage Point.<br />
Then in the evening, most stations<br />
in NSW transfer their functions<br />
over to Belrose, so that it’s<br />
servicing NSW – from Newcastle<br />
south to Bega.<br />
The team also handle a logon/log-off<br />
service via a mobile<br />
app as part of their work. Doug<br />
really believes in the system.<br />
“We get details from a boat<br />
about where they’re going and<br />
when they’re coming back,” he<br />
said. “And if the boat doesn’t<br />
call at the expected time to log<br />
off then we start trying to find<br />
them.<br />
“There’s an escalating course<br />
of steps and 99 per cent of the<br />
time they’ve just forgotten to<br />
log off. But there’s that one per<br />
cent where people are in trouble<br />
and that’s where the system<br />
really works.”<br />
He said most of the calls they<br />
receive are fairly mundane,<br />
such as a boat being out of<br />
fuel, or a flat battery.<br />
“We get a rescue boat to<br />
tow them to where they need,”<br />
he said. “But then if you’re in<br />
the middle of <strong>Pittwater</strong> with<br />
no power… as soon as it gets<br />
dark, things can escalate pretty<br />
quickly to be life or death, so<br />
we treat everything equally<br />
seriously.”<br />
Both Karen and Doug have<br />
experienced some dramatic<br />
scenarios as part of their roles,<br />
but believe they get far more<br />
from volunteering than they<br />
put in.<br />
If that all sounds too confronting<br />
though, there are<br />
plenty of less stressful ways to<br />
get involved.<br />
Julie Rock is part of the Community<br />
Engagement & Fundraising<br />
Team for Marine Rescue and<br />
organises the monthly sausage<br />
sizzles at Belrose Bunnings.<br />
“I thought it would be good<br />
for my son Dean to get involved<br />
with Marine Rescue and so I<br />
went to the orientation with<br />
him,” explains Julie. “Two and a<br />
half years later he’s a qualified<br />
radio operator and I’m organising<br />
the monthly fundraising<br />
BBQs.<br />
“I co-ordinate the crew<br />
and organise the groceries<br />
to be picked up. Then on the<br />
Saturday I’m there at 6.30am<br />
to pick up the trailer. We have<br />
about 17 volunteers manning<br />
the stall throughout the day<br />
and we always need more<br />
46 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Small Gyms across <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Is your New Year’s resolution to lead a fitter, healthier life?<br />
There’s a small gym near you waiting to help (from p22-23)…<br />
Avalon<br />
No Nonsense, 5/1 Careel Head Road<br />
Circuitry, 1/9 Careel Head Road<br />
Balance Studio, 101/70 Old<br />
Barrenjoey Rd<br />
Avalon Pilates Studio, 60 Old<br />
Barrenjoey Rd<br />
Feels Pilates, 46 Old Barrenjoey Rd<br />
Pure Form Pilates, 16 Dress Cir Rd<br />
Wave Reformer Pilates, 3/6 Taronga Pl<br />
Soham Yoga, 64A Darley St<br />
Active Pilates, Shop 9, 3/5 Bungan St<br />
S1 Training, Shop 3 Level 1/7C Waratah St<br />
Modern Movement, 2/9 Waratah St<br />
Sky Personal Training,<br />
Shop 5c/1 Mona Vale Rd<br />
Insquare fit, Suite 301,<br />
Level 3/20 Bungan St<br />
KEEP THEM FED: Fundraising Team members Julie Rock (centre), Ari<br />
Esperon (left) and Phil Murphy (right) work a BBQ at Bunnings.<br />
people to help.”<br />
Marine Rescue also holds<br />
stalls at Bunnings over Xmas<br />
and at the St Ives show.<br />
Whether you’re on the front<br />
line as a radio operator or<br />
generating funds, it’s clearly a<br />
rewarding experience.<br />
“You’re helping the community,”<br />
says Karen. “The camaraderie<br />
is fantastic and there’s a<br />
real sense of belonging.”<br />
“It’s a professional, motivated<br />
and supportive environment,<br />
with both men and women of<br />
all ages,” agrees Doug. “Many<br />
are retired, but there are plenty<br />
of younger people with fulltime<br />
jobs. It’s just so gratifying<br />
when you can help your community.”<br />
“I really enjoy it as I love talking<br />
to people,” says Julie. “It’s<br />
just such a good cause and one<br />
I never realised was run by volunteers.<br />
They’re saving lives on<br />
the water – and that makes me<br />
feel really good.” – Rob Pegley<br />
*Want to volunteer? Call 9471<br />
8350<br />
Newport<br />
Core Culture, Shop 1 & 2,<br />
327 Barrenjoey Rd<br />
I Am Pilates, 86 Wallumatta Rd<br />
Perfect Fit, 367 Barrenjoey Rd<br />
Performance Health, 5/355<br />
Barrenjoey Rd<br />
The Booty Parlour, Unit 7/343<br />
Barrenjoey Rd<br />
Northern Beaches Pilates,<br />
11-13 The Boulevarde<br />
For love of… Yoga Studio,<br />
Shops 4-5/5 Kalinya St<br />
Mona Vale<br />
Concept 42, 2/81 Bassett St<br />
360 Strength and Performance, 2/8<br />
Wilmette Pl<br />
The Mona Gym, 14 Tengah Cres<br />
Warriewood<br />
Rebound Health, 14/90 Mona Vale Rd<br />
NBRHD Fitness, 10 Jubilee Ave<br />
Iron Academy, Unit 4101/4 Daydream St<br />
Fix and Flex Pilates., 1103/4 Daydream St<br />
Xen Studios, 4 Daydream St<br />
Holistic Health Club, Unit 31/14 Jubilee Ave<br />
Black Label fitness,<br />
1/2 Apollo St<br />
The Fitting Room, Unit 10/8 Apollo St<br />
Be Pure Pilates, Unit 3/8a<br />
Prosperity Parade<br />
Focus Health, Shop 2/120 Narrabeen<br />
Park Parade<br />
Soul Tiger Hot Studio, 11/3 Vuko Pl<br />
Fitness Boxx, 6/1 Vuko Pl<br />
Fitness Avenue, 15/3 Vuko Pl<br />
*This is not a sponsored listing – tell<br />
them <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> sent you!<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 47
Health & Wellbeing<br />
with Rowena Beckenham<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Focus on these eye<br />
health tips in <strong>2024</strong><br />
The New Year brings lots<br />
of new resolutions, but<br />
by February some of<br />
those may have slipped by the<br />
wayside. One thing we don’t<br />
want you to let slide is your eye<br />
health.<br />
Some 75 per cent of Aussies<br />
value their vision as their most<br />
important sense but shockingly<br />
1 in 10 of us have never been<br />
to an optometrist. Only 25 per<br />
cent of us have gone in the last<br />
two years, which is recommended.<br />
At the beginning of<br />
<strong>2024</strong> we urge you to focus on<br />
your vision and make positive<br />
change for the future. Let’s<br />
look at some tangible suggestions<br />
for you to enact:<br />
n Don’t skimp on your sunnies.<br />
Sunglasses are equally<br />
important as sunscreen when<br />
it comes to protecting yourself<br />
from sun damage. For<br />
complete protection ensure<br />
you lenses have a grade 3 UV<br />
rating, or higher.<br />
n Balance screentime with<br />
‘green time’. Our eyes require<br />
90 minutes of outdoor time<br />
using long distance vision for<br />
balance. When using devices,<br />
they should be at least 50cm<br />
from our eyes and used with<br />
good ambient lighting.<br />
n Focus on healthy foods. Just<br />
as a balanced diet and good<br />
nutrition are essential for our<br />
overall health and wellbeing,<br />
both are also vital for our eye<br />
health, as is adequate hydra-<br />
tion. Alarmingly, 66 per cent<br />
of Aussies aren’t eating the<br />
recommended five servings of<br />
veggies a day.<br />
n Ditch the cigarettes (and<br />
the vapes!). Smoking is a<br />
major contributing factor for<br />
eye diseases which put you<br />
at an increased risk of losing<br />
your sight. Diseases such as<br />
age-related macular degeneration,<br />
cataracts, dry-eye disease,<br />
glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.<br />
The more you smoke<br />
the higher the risk, but there<br />
are no safe levels for our eyes.<br />
n Get enough sleep. Rest is<br />
vital for eye function, to alleviate<br />
stress and strain, and<br />
rejuvenate for the day ahead.<br />
Insufficient sleep disrupts this<br />
process, leading to increased<br />
risk of dry-eye disease, eye<br />
strain, glaucoma, and age-related<br />
macular degeneration.<br />
Your eyes are an integral part<br />
of your health; let’s make <strong>2024</strong><br />
the year of healthy vision!<br />
Rowena has been practising<br />
at Beckenham Optometrist in<br />
Avalon for 24 years. Whether<br />
it be in Avalon alongside<br />
valued colleagues Rebecca<br />
Thompson and Stephanie<br />
Ng, teaching eyecare<br />
nurses and teachers in a<br />
remote clinic in rural Sumba<br />
Indonesia, or helping direct<br />
the future of independent<br />
optometry in her role<br />
as Chair of the board of<br />
Provision, the passion for<br />
vision, eyes and the people<br />
behind the eyes is there.<br />
48 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Health & Wellbeing<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 49
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Clear winner for a healthy smile<br />
If you were given the opportunity to<br />
decide between traditional braces or<br />
clear aligners, which method would<br />
you choose? Lead dentist at Maven<br />
Dental Avalon Beach Dr Celso Cardona<br />
said many people were surprised to<br />
learn that Invisalign clear aligners were<br />
an effective solution to treating many<br />
orthodontic problems.<br />
“There’s a misperception that braces<br />
were the only option for more complex<br />
cases, however I would say ninety per<br />
cent of cases can be solved with Invisalign,”<br />
Dr Cardona said. “Also, many<br />
people think the main reason adults<br />
choose to use Invisalign is for cosmetic<br />
purposes and to simply improve their<br />
smile; however in the majority of cases<br />
it’s for function.”<br />
Invisalign can be used for variety of<br />
purposes, including crowding and spacing<br />
issues, as well as some mild and moderate<br />
bite issues. Teeth correction and straightening<br />
offered numerous benefits including:<br />
n Improved oral health – straight teeth are<br />
easier to clean which reduces the risk of<br />
tooth decay and gum disease.<br />
VIRTUALLY INVISIBLE: Invisalign aligners apply pressure to<br />
your teeth, gradually shifting them into desired places.<br />
n Enhanced bite alignment – properly<br />
aligned teeth prevent unnecessary wear on<br />
teeth and reduce the risk of jaw problems.<br />
n Increased self-esteem and confidence.<br />
Although suitable for all ages, Dr Cardona<br />
said most of his patients using Invisalign<br />
were aged over 60 years old.<br />
As we age, it’s natural for our teeth to<br />
shift slightly, however if you notice changes<br />
such as crowding or crooked teeth,<br />
new gaps appearing, or bite problems,<br />
it may be cause for concern.<br />
“It’s not uncommon for teeth to become<br />
crooked as we age,” Dr Cardona<br />
said. “The first ones to go are usually<br />
the front bottom teeth which become<br />
overcrowded and increasingly difficult<br />
to keep clean. Overcrowding can be<br />
easily corrected using Invisalign.”<br />
Many patients Dr Cardona sees with<br />
crooked teeth or misalignment issues<br />
had undergone orthodontic treatment<br />
when they were younger. “Even after<br />
braces or other dental work, your teeth<br />
will continue to shift slightly throughout<br />
your life,” he said. “If they did not<br />
wear retainers as instructed, their teeth<br />
may have moved over time.”<br />
Other candidates for Invisalign have<br />
always had crooked teeth and may not<br />
have had the opportunity to have braces<br />
as a child. “There is no age limit on having<br />
a healthy smile,” he said. Your dentist will<br />
recommend a treatment option best suited<br />
to you.<br />
– LO<br />
* Call Maven Dental Avalon 9918 2786.<br />
50 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Hair & Beauty<br />
with Sue Carroll<br />
A close look at HIFU: Is it<br />
just a fad, or is it worthwhile?<br />
HIFU (High Intensity<br />
Focused Ultrasound) is a<br />
skin treatment that fractionally<br />
and specifically traumatises<br />
tissue while maintaining<br />
dermal (second layer of the<br />
skin) integrity. It will increase<br />
skin tightening and enhance<br />
dermal remodelling results.<br />
HIFU was first used as an<br />
early-stage cancer treatment<br />
in the medical field, and from<br />
there, it has been utilised in the<br />
aesthetic profession. It has a<br />
wide array of treatment applications<br />
for both the face and the<br />
body. The treatment is safe and<br />
has virtually no downtime.<br />
The inflammatory response<br />
that HIFU triggers leads to the<br />
following two stages of wound<br />
healing. Even though this may<br />
sound a little daunting, it simply<br />
means:<br />
1. Fibroblast synthesis jumpstarts<br />
neo-collagenesis, followed<br />
by the remodelling of the<br />
collagen fibres.<br />
2. The heat from the HIFU creates<br />
noticeable skin tightening<br />
and contraction.<br />
HIFU treatments are excellent<br />
for skin-plumping, toning,<br />
tightening, lifting and facial<br />
contouring. Selective fat and<br />
cellulite reduction can also be<br />
achieved.<br />
HIFU can reach depths that<br />
laser devices can’t and does so<br />
safely on most Fitzpatrick skin<br />
types. By using precise depths<br />
of penetration, HIFU targets<br />
the epidermal-dermal junction<br />
(1.5mm, similar to needling),<br />
the dermis (3.0mm the deeper<br />
dermis or collagen zone), and<br />
the SMAS (4.5mm, the deeper<br />
collagen structure where<br />
tightening and regeneration<br />
will result with skin lifting and<br />
contouring of the jowls)). Beams<br />
of intersecting ultrasound energy<br />
bypass the epidermis and<br />
travel directly to the targeted<br />
depth, thereby avoiding surface<br />
downtime.<br />
What is the SMAS (superficial<br />
musculoaponeurotic system),<br />
I hear you ask. It plays a significant<br />
role by assisting with<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
support and shaping the face.<br />
The SMAS is located between<br />
the skin and the underlying<br />
facial muscles, starting at the<br />
bottom of the facial bones and<br />
extending up to the dermis.<br />
This system plays an important<br />
role in facial expressions, as it<br />
attaches to the muscles of the<br />
face. In addition, it will hold<br />
facial fat in place and provide<br />
foundation and support for<br />
skin. Unfortunately, As we age,<br />
the SMAS begins to deteriorate<br />
and loosen, leading to wrinkles<br />
and sagging skin. The SMAS,<br />
or the facelift layer as it is<br />
sometimes known, can assist<br />
in smoothing out wrinkles and<br />
give the face a more youthful<br />
appearance.<br />
One of the myths surrounding<br />
the HIFU treatment is that<br />
it will melt away fat. In some<br />
instances where it is required,<br />
this is the desired result.<br />
Depending on the age of the<br />
face, we all have superficial fat<br />
compartments. These compartments<br />
vary in thickness<br />
and composition. We also lose<br />
facial volume with age, so care<br />
must be taken when treating<br />
the fat pads that sag and<br />
pull on the SMAS due to their<br />
interconnecting structures.<br />
When there is sagging in the<br />
tissue around the jowls, chin,<br />
and lower mouth areas, this is<br />
often caused by a separation of<br />
the connective tissue and an increase<br />
in cell size. We therefore<br />
aim to rebuild the layers, starting<br />
with the SMAS, then the fat<br />
pads and finally the dermis.<br />
When HIFU is delivered properly<br />
it will not destroy facial fat cells<br />
and as with any treatment<br />
modality when performed by a<br />
professionally trained aesthetician,<br />
you will be in safe hands.<br />
As with most aesthetic treatments,<br />
to obtain the optimum<br />
results, prepping is simply<br />
non-negotiable. Skincare utilising<br />
SPF, tyrosinase inhibitors,<br />
Vitamin A, hydrating serums,<br />
multivitamins, peptides, and<br />
the appropriate cleansing ritual<br />
should be stringent morning<br />
and night. In Clinic treatments,<br />
both pre- and post-HIFU may<br />
consist of a light therapy<br />
modality such as BIOPTRON or<br />
LED.<br />
Treatments should be performed<br />
every 3-6 months, with<br />
a maximum of 3 treatments<br />
per year. Results can last over<br />
a year, depending on age, medical<br />
history, lifestyle, diet and<br />
home care. The HIFU glow that<br />
utilises only the 1.5mm depth of<br />
the cartridge can be performed<br />
monthly and provides a radiant<br />
and youthful appearance.<br />
What are you waiting for? Get<br />
glowing for <strong>2024</strong>!<br />
Sue Carroll is at the forefront<br />
of the beauty, wellness<br />
and para-medical profession<br />
with 35 years’ experience on<br />
Sydney’s Northern Beaches.<br />
She leads a dedicated team<br />
of professionals who are<br />
passionate about results for<br />
men and women.<br />
info@skininspiration.com.au<br />
www.skininspiration.com.au<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 51<br />
Hair & Beauty
Business <strong>Life</strong>: Money<br />
with Brian Hrnjak<br />
Business <strong>Life</strong><br />
What do Stage 3 tax cuts<br />
mean in Stage 2 of FY <strong>2024</strong>?<br />
This month as we pass<br />
the halfway mark of the<br />
financial year we look<br />
ahead to some upcoming<br />
changes and how to play<br />
them… A lot of the focus on<br />
financial preparedness for this<br />
financial year is being driven the<br />
coming change to the personal<br />
income tax scales. So much<br />
media time has been taken<br />
up with the merits of the socalled<br />
‘Stage 3’ tax cuts that a<br />
brief look over the politics is<br />
probably warranted.<br />
To do this, let’s step into a<br />
time machine and revisit budget<br />
night on 2 April 2019. Josh<br />
Frydenberg has just announced<br />
that the budget was ‘back in<br />
black’ and to celebrate, the<br />
Morrison Government would<br />
implement a three-stage<br />
program of taxation relief.<br />
Recall that budget night was<br />
brought forward to 2 April<br />
and a federal election to be<br />
held on Saturday 18 May<br />
was announced only a week<br />
following the budget.<br />
Stage 1 of the program was<br />
in the form of the LMITO – Low<br />
and Middle Income Tax Offsets,<br />
aka the ‘Lamington’ in 2019.<br />
Stage 2 was an adjustment of<br />
the scales between $37,000<br />
and $45,000 and $90,000 and<br />
$120,000 thresholds in 2020,<br />
plus extensions to LMITO and<br />
the low-income tax offset<br />
(LITO). Stage 3 is an adjustment<br />
of the scales between $45,000<br />
and $200,000 thresholds. You<br />
get the drift; lower income<br />
earners were feted by the<br />
government early and just<br />
before an election. High income<br />
earners were recognised<br />
but put on the backburner,<br />
potentially some governments<br />
into the future. No-one at this<br />
stage knew that bushfires,<br />
floods and COVID were coming.<br />
To continue with the<br />
examination of the politics,<br />
we need to look back at Bill<br />
Shorten’s campaign during the<br />
2019 election. I’ve seen the<br />
clip of him jogging… you can’t<br />
unsee it. The really relevant<br />
item for us was his interaction<br />
with a blue-collar worker<br />
in Gladstone Queensland;<br />
here’s how it was viewed in<br />
the official election review<br />
undertaken by Craig Emerson<br />
and Jay Weatherill: “On a<br />
visit to Gladstone in central<br />
Queensland, Bill Shorten was<br />
approached by a coal export<br />
terminal worker who said many<br />
of them earned $250,000 a year<br />
through overtime and evening<br />
shifts. The worker suggested:<br />
‘It would be good to see higher<br />
wage income earners given a<br />
tax break.’ Shorten responded:<br />
‘We’re going to look at that.’<br />
Labor’s policy, as outlined in<br />
the Budget reply, was to restore<br />
the 2 per cent deficit levy<br />
for incomes over $180,000,<br />
increasing the tax rate for those<br />
taxpayers. The slip or change<br />
of position was run heavily in<br />
the media. This further fuelled<br />
the ‘Shifty Shorten’ narrative.<br />
Morrison sought to capitalise on<br />
this during the second debate by<br />
physically advancing on Shorten,<br />
but Shorten parried with a<br />
‘space invader’ jibe.”<br />
Tricky; the guy wanted to talk<br />
about the scourge of bracket<br />
creep, but Bill didn’t have the<br />
heart to tell him they were<br />
going to tax him another 2% on<br />
his income over $180,000 (to<br />
51% including Medicare levy) –<br />
at least not while all those pesky<br />
TV cameras were around.<br />
And there in that paragraph is<br />
the likely reason why following<br />
the 2019 election the opposition<br />
led by Anthony Albanese voted<br />
with the government in passing<br />
the Stage 3 cuts which are now<br />
law and commence on 1 July<br />
this year. Average earnings in<br />
Australia according to the latest<br />
from the ABS were just shy of<br />
$90,000 for men and $78,000<br />
for women. It is not unusual<br />
for what could be considered<br />
52 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
traditional Labor voting<br />
occupations to cross into the<br />
highest taxation brackets. Both<br />
political parties need to be able<br />
to appeal to the broad centre<br />
and that certainly includes<br />
this higher earning cohort<br />
who dislike paying close to<br />
half of what they earn above a<br />
threshold to the government.<br />
The effect of the Stage 3 tax<br />
cuts on a range of income levels<br />
is per the table above:<br />
There are benefits to<br />
taxpayers earning from<br />
$45,000 in taxable income and<br />
rising as income approaches<br />
$200,000. Beyond that<br />
threshold there are decreasing<br />
returns. The main effect of<br />
the Stage 3 cuts comes in as<br />
income crosses over $120,000<br />
where the marginal tax rate<br />
falls from 37% to 30% and from<br />
$180,000 to $200,000 as the<br />
marginal rate falls from 45% to<br />
30%.<br />
So what would I be doing<br />
in anticipation of these new<br />
scales coming in? The general<br />
theme is simple – bring forward<br />
any deductions and defer any<br />
income if possible.<br />
We do know that these tax<br />
cuts are law so income earners<br />
around these thresholds can<br />
anticipate savings in the new<br />
financial year, this may be<br />
grounds for bringing forward<br />
superannuation contributions<br />
into this year either as a<br />
salary sacrifice if you have not<br />
been making the maximum<br />
contributions or as catch-up<br />
concessional contributions if<br />
you are eligible. Markets have<br />
been good so those hovering<br />
under the $500,000 balance<br />
threshold at 30 June last year<br />
(which allows you to make catch<br />
up contributions) may be wise<br />
to act before 30 June this year<br />
as the 2018/19 cap amounts will<br />
expire this financial year.<br />
What we don’t know<br />
is what might be in the<br />
budget. Depending on the<br />
numbers, Treasurer Chalmers<br />
may use the carrot approach<br />
and reintroduce a LMIFO type<br />
benefit for lower income<br />
earners or revert to a stick and<br />
whack retirees or high-income<br />
earners in other ways. Also,<br />
at this stage we don’t know<br />
the December quarter CPI or<br />
Average Weekly Ordinary Time<br />
Earnings (AWOTE) to know<br />
if there will be indexation<br />
of transfer balance caps for<br />
superannuation pensions or<br />
superannuation contribution<br />
thresholds, respectively.<br />
* Proving that a week is a long<br />
time in politics, as we went<br />
to print the PM signalled an<br />
intent to review the form of<br />
the Stage 3 tax cuts. While<br />
the amounts may change the<br />
principles of the discussion<br />
above are still sound and<br />
highlight the need to consider<br />
politics as a risk factor in<br />
personal financial planning.<br />
Business <strong>Life</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
Brian Hrnjak B Bus CPA (FPS) is<br />
a Director of GHR Accounting<br />
Group Pty Ltd, Certified Practising<br />
Accountants. Office: Suite 12,<br />
Ground Floor, 20 Bungan Street<br />
Mona Vale NSW.<br />
Phone: 02 9979-4300.<br />
Web: ghr.com.au and altre.com.au<br />
Email: brian@ghr.com.au<br />
These comments are general<br />
advice only and are not intended as<br />
a substitute for professional advice.<br />
This article is not an offer or<br />
recommendation of any securities<br />
or other financial products offered<br />
by any company or person.<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 53
Trades & Services<br />
Trades & Services<br />
AIR CONDITIONING<br />
Alliance Climate Control<br />
Call 02 9186 4179<br />
Air Conditioning & Electrical<br />
Professionals. Specialists in Air<br />
Conditioning Installation, Service,<br />
Repair & Replacement.<br />
AIRPORT TRANSFERS<br />
TeslaAirportTransfers<br />
Call Ben 0405 544 311<br />
New Tesla Model Y fleet; Airport<br />
transfer Mona Vale ($129), Avalon<br />
($139), Palmy ($149). Guaranteed<br />
on-time pick-up.<br />
BATTERIES<br />
Battery Business<br />
Call 9970 6999<br />
Batteries for all applications. Won’t<br />
be beaten on price or service. Free<br />
testing, 7 days.<br />
DISCLAIMER: The editorial and advertising<br />
content in <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> has been provided<br />
by a number of sources. Any opinions<br />
expressed are not necessarily those of the<br />
Editor or Publisher of <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> and no<br />
responsibility is taken for the accuracy of<br />
the information contained within. Readers<br />
should make their own enquiries directly<br />
to any organisations or businesses prior to<br />
making any plans or taking any action.<br />
BUILDING<br />
Acecase Pty Ltd<br />
Call Dan 0419 160 883<br />
Professional building and carpentry<br />
services, renovations, decks, pergolas.<br />
Fully licensed & insured. Local business<br />
operating for 25 years. Lic No. 362901C<br />
CARPENTRY<br />
Able Carpentry & Joinery<br />
Call Cameron 0418 608 398<br />
Avalon-based. Doors & locks, timber gates<br />
& handrails, decking repairs and timber<br />
replacement. Also privacy screens. 25<br />
years’ experience. Lic: 7031C.<br />
CLEANING<br />
Amazing Clean<br />
Call Andrew 0412 475 2871<br />
Specialists in blinds, curtains and<br />
awnings. Clean, repair, supply new.<br />
Aussie Clean Team<br />
Call John 0478 799 680<br />
For a good clean, inside and outside;<br />
windows, gutters. Also repairs.<br />
Housewashing<br />
northernbeaches.au<br />
Call Ben 0408 682 525<br />
On the beaches for 25 years! Softwash,<br />
hardwash, windows, gutters, roofs & more.<br />
54 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
CONCRETING<br />
Adrians Concrete<br />
Call Adrian 0404 172 435<br />
Driveways, paths, slabs… all your<br />
concreting needs; Northern Beachesbased.<br />
ELECTRICAL<br />
Alliance Service Group<br />
Call Adrian 9063 4658<br />
All services & repairs, 24hr. Lighting<br />
installation, switchboard upgrade.<br />
Seniors discount 5%.<br />
Eamon Dowling Electrical<br />
Call Eamon 0410 457 373<br />
For all electrical needs including<br />
phone, TV and data. <strong>Pittwater</strong>-based.<br />
Reliable; quality service guaranteed.<br />
Warrick Leggo<br />
Call Warrick 0403 981 941<br />
Specialising in domestic work; small<br />
jobs welcome. Seniors’ discount;<br />
Narrabeen-based.<br />
FLOOR COVERINGS<br />
Blue Tongue Carpets<br />
Call Stephan or Roslyn 9979 7292<br />
Northern Beaches Flooring Centre has<br />
been family owned & run for over 20<br />
years. Carpets, Tiles, Timber, Laminates,<br />
Hybrids & Vinyls. Open 6 days.<br />
GARDENS<br />
!Abloom Ace Gardening<br />
Call 0415 817 880<br />
Full range of gardening services<br />
including landscaping, maintenance<br />
and rubbish removal.<br />
Conscious Gardener Avalon<br />
Call Matt 0411 750 791<br />
Professional local team offering quality<br />
garden maintenance, horticultural<br />
advice; also garden makeovers.<br />
Melaleuca Landscapes<br />
Call Sandy 0416 276 066<br />
Professional design and construction<br />
for every garden situation. Sustainable<br />
vegetable gardens and waterfront specialist.<br />
HANDYMEN<br />
Local Handyman<br />
Call Jono 0413 313299<br />
Small and medium-sized building<br />
jobs, also welding & metalwork;<br />
licensed.<br />
JEWELLER<br />
Gold ‘n’ Things<br />
Call 9999 4991<br />
Specialists in remodelling. On-premises<br />
(Mona Vale) workshop for cleaning,<br />
repairing (including laser welding),<br />
polishing. Family owned for nearly 40 years.<br />
HOT WATER<br />
Hot Water Maintenance NB<br />
Call 9982 1265<br />
Local emergency specialists, 7 days.<br />
Sales, service, installation. Warranty<br />
agents, fully accredited.<br />
KITCHENS<br />
Collaroy Kitchen Centre<br />
Call 9972 9300<br />
Danish design excellence. Local<br />
beaches specialists in kitchens,<br />
bathrooms and joinery. Visit the<br />
showroom in Collaroy.<br />
Seabreeze Kitchens<br />
Call 9938 5477<br />
Specialists in all kitchen needs; design,<br />
fitting, consultation. Excellent trades.<br />
MASSAGE & FITNESS<br />
Avalon Physiotherapy<br />
Call 9918 3373<br />
Provide specialist treatment for neck &<br />
back pain, sports injuries, orthopaedic<br />
problems.<br />
PAINTING<br />
Cloud9 Painting<br />
Call 0447 999 929<br />
Your one-stop shop for home or office<br />
painting; interiors, exteriors and also<br />
roof painting. Call for a quote.<br />
Trades & Services<br />
Precision Tree Services<br />
Call Adam 0410 736 105<br />
Adam Bridger; professional tree care by<br />
qualified arborists and tree surgeons.<br />
GUTTERS & ROOFING<br />
Cloud9 R&G<br />
Call Tommy 0447 999 929<br />
Prompt and reliable service; gutter<br />
cleaning and installation, leak detection,<br />
roof installation and painting. Also roof<br />
repairs specialist.<br />
Ken Wilson Roofing<br />
Call 0419 466 783<br />
Leaking roofs, tile repairs, tiles<br />
replaced, metal roof repairs, gutter<br />
cleaning, valley irons replaced.<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 55
Trades & Services<br />
Trades & Services<br />
Tom Wood Master Painters<br />
Call 0406 824 189<br />
Residential specialists in new work &<br />
repaints / interior & exterior. Premium<br />
paints; 17 years’ experience.<br />
PEST CONTROL<br />
Predator Pest Control<br />
Call 0417 276 962<br />
predatorpestcontrol.com.au<br />
Environmental services at their best.<br />
Comprehensive control. Eliminate all<br />
manner of pests.<br />
PLUMBING<br />
Total Pipe Relining<br />
Call Josh 0423 600 455<br />
Repair pipe problems without<br />
replacement. Drain systems fully<br />
relined; 50 years’ guaranty. Latest<br />
technology, best price.<br />
RUBBISH REMOVAL<br />
Jack’s Rubbish Removals<br />
Call Jack 0403 385 312<br />
Up to 45% cheaper than skips. Latest<br />
health regulations. Old-fashioned<br />
honesty & reliability. Free quotes.<br />
One 2 Dump<br />
Call Josh 0450 712 779<br />
Seven-days-a-week pick-up service<br />
includes general household rubbish,<br />
construction, commercial plus<br />
vegetation. Also car removals.<br />
SLIDING DOOR REPAIRS<br />
Beautiful Sliding Door Repairs<br />
Call 0407 546 738<br />
Fix anything that slides in your home;<br />
door specialists – wooden / aluminium.<br />
Free quote. Same-day repair; 5-year<br />
warranty.<br />
TV ANTENNA<br />
Action Antenna<br />
Call Paul 0412 610 170<br />
Beaches-based; TV antenna<br />
installations, repairs and removal.<br />
25yrs exp. Insured.<br />
UPHOLSTERY<br />
Luxafoam North<br />
Call 0414 468 434<br />
Local specialists in all aspects of<br />
outdoor & indoor seating. Custom<br />
service, expert advice.<br />
Advertise your Business in<br />
Trades & Services section<br />
Ph: 0438 123 096<br />
56 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Trades & Services<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 57
Food <strong>Life</strong><br />
with Janelle Bloom<br />
Food <strong>Life</strong><br />
Recipes: janellebloom.com.au; Insta: instagram.com/janellegbloom/<br />
Time to reboot the family<br />
routine with healthier snacks<br />
With the holiday season behind us,<br />
February is the time to (reluctantly…<br />
sadly, even) reboot the family routine.<br />
Healthier eating becomes the priority – but<br />
that’s sometimes hard to manage. Like most,<br />
I want ‘healthier snacks’ – but I also want<br />
Pizza Toasts<br />
Makes 6<br />
6 slices grain or wholemeal<br />
bread<br />
100g mild sliced Hungarian<br />
salami<br />
12 Solanato tomatoes, halved<br />
2 cups grated pizza cheese<br />
½ cup baby rocket, spinach or<br />
basil leaves<br />
Pizza toast sauce<br />
1¼ cups tomato passata<br />
¼ cup tomato sauce<br />
1 tsp dried oregano<br />
1. Lightly toast the bread.<br />
Preheat oven grill to high.<br />
2. Mix all the pizza toast<br />
sauce ingredients together.<br />
Season. Spread evenly<br />
between the toasted bread,<br />
right to the edges. Top with<br />
salami, tomatoes, cheese<br />
and rocket, spinach or basil.<br />
3. Place under the grill for 2-3<br />
minutes, until the cheese<br />
is melted. Allow to stand 1<br />
minute before serving.<br />
pepperoni, capsicum, olives<br />
and mushrooms; Hawaiianreplace<br />
the salami with ham<br />
and tomatoes with pineapple.<br />
For a meat-free option, replace<br />
the pizza sauce with barbecue<br />
sauce mixed with tomato<br />
sauce and top with sliced<br />
mushrooms, roasted pumpkin<br />
and tomatoes.<br />
Berry coconut<br />
yoghurt popsicles<br />
Makes 10<br />
150g fresh or frozen<br />
raspberries, blueberries,<br />
strawberries<br />
2 tbs caster sugar<br />
2 tbs water<br />
1½ cups Greek-style yoghurt<br />
1 cup chilled coconut water<br />
(see Janelle’s Tip)<br />
1 tsp vanilla extract, optional<br />
delicious, nutritious, tasty, filling snacks that<br />
the whole family will enjoy. Here’s hoping the<br />
recipes below cover all those options, whether<br />
it be mid-morning, lunch or after school/<br />
sport.<br />
Set aside to cool. Roughly<br />
mash the fruit with a fork.<br />
2. Combine the yoghurt,<br />
coconut water and vanilla,<br />
mix well. Swirl ¼ cup the<br />
berry mixture through the<br />
yoghurt mixture. Spoon the<br />
berry-yoghurt mixture and<br />
remaining berry mixture,<br />
alternately between 10 x<br />
1/3-cup capacity (80ml) ice<br />
block moulds. Insert paddle<br />
pop sticks. Freeze for 8<br />
hours or until firm.<br />
3. Unmould; store in an<br />
airtight container in the<br />
freezer for up to 4 months.<br />
Janelle’s Tip: For a creamier<br />
popsicle, replace the coconut<br />
water with coconut milk or<br />
coconut cream.<br />
Dairy-free<br />
banana bread<br />
Serves 8-10<br />
2 cups wholemeal self-raising<br />
flour<br />
2 tsp baking powder<br />
1 tsp ground cinnamon<br />
½ cup raw sugar or caster<br />
sugar<br />
1 cup desiccated coconut<br />
¼ cup olive oil<br />
1¼ cups coconut milk<br />
2 large bananas, mashed (1<br />
cup), plus 1 extra banana<br />
1. Preheat oven to 180°C fan<br />
forced. Grease and line 6cm<br />
deep, 10cm x 21cm (base)<br />
loaf pan.<br />
2. Combine flour, baking<br />
powder, cinnamon, sugar<br />
and coconut in a bowl.<br />
Make a well in the centre.<br />
Add the oil, coconut milk<br />
and mashed banana. Stir<br />
gently until combined.<br />
Spoon mixture into the<br />
1. Place the berries (if using<br />
strawberries, hull then<br />
slice) sugar and water in a<br />
medium saucepan. Stir over<br />
medium heat for 5 minutes<br />
Variations: The toppings<br />
until the fruit softens<br />
are limitless, make supreme slightly. Bring to the boil<br />
pizza toasts by adding<br />
then remove from the heat.<br />
58 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
For more recipes go to janellebloom.com.au<br />
loaf pan and smooth the<br />
surface.<br />
3. Peel the remaining banana<br />
and slice in half. Place both<br />
halves, cut side up, on<br />
top of the mixture. Bake<br />
for 50-60 minutes or until<br />
a skewer inserted in the<br />
centre comes out clean. Set<br />
aside for 10 minutes in the<br />
pan. Lift onto a wire rack.<br />
4. Slice and serve warm, toasted<br />
or at room temperature.<br />
Janelle’s Tip: Banana bread<br />
will keep 3-4 days in an<br />
airtight container at room<br />
temperature. Alternately,<br />
slice and wrap individually in<br />
plastic and freeze for up to 3<br />
months.<br />
Carrot cake cookies<br />
Makes 16<br />
1 cup traditional rolled oats<br />
1 cup ground almonds<br />
½ cup plain wholemeal flour<br />
1 tsp baking powder<br />
1 tsp ground cinnamon<br />
2/3 cup brown sugar<br />
1 cup pecans or walnuts,<br />
chopped<br />
1/3 cup sultanas (optional)<br />
1½ cups grated carrot<br />
½ cup light olive oil or canola oil<br />
1 egg, lightly beaten with a fork<br />
1. Preheat oven to 180°C fan<br />
forced. Line 2 baking trays<br />
with baking paper.<br />
2. Place the oats, ground<br />
almonds, flour, baking<br />
powder and cinnamon in<br />
a bowl, mix well. Add the<br />
sugar, pecans and sultanas,<br />
mix well. Make a well in<br />
the centre. Add the carrot,<br />
oil and egg. Stir until well<br />
combined.<br />
3. Drop tablespoons of the<br />
mixture onto the trays,<br />
allowing room for spreading.<br />
Use damp fingertips to<br />
flatten each cookie slightly.<br />
4. Bake for 18-20 minutes or<br />
until the cookies are light<br />
golden and spring back to<br />
shape when lightly touched<br />
in the centre. Set aside to<br />
cool on the trays.<br />
Janelle’s Tip: Cookies will<br />
keep 4-5 days in an airtight<br />
container lined with foil<br />
at room temperature. The<br />
cookies are delicious spread<br />
with cream cheese frosting.<br />
Tuna, tomato and<br />
avocado salsa<br />
lettuce cups<br />
Makes 12<br />
1 cos lettuce, leaves separated,<br />
washed and dried<br />
200g cherry tomatoes,<br />
chopped<br />
1 large ripe avocado, chopped<br />
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil<br />
2 tbs lemon juice<br />
1 tsp seeded mustard<br />
2 tbs whole egg mayonnaise<br />
425 can tuna in oil, drained<br />
1 hard-boiled eggs, peeled,<br />
finely chopped<br />
2 tbs chopped herbs, optional<br />
1. Place the lettuce onto a<br />
serving platter.<br />
2. Combine the cherry tomato<br />
and avocado in a bowl. In a<br />
separate bowl, whisk the oil,<br />
lemon, mustard and season<br />
with salt and pepper. Spoon 2<br />
tablespoons over the tomato<br />
and avocado, stir to coat.<br />
3. Add the mayonnaise to the<br />
remaining dressing, whisk<br />
until smooth. Flake the tuna<br />
and add to the mayonnaise<br />
mixture with the egg. Add<br />
herbs, stir to combine.<br />
4. Spoon the tuna mixture into<br />
the lettuce cups, top with<br />
tomato and avocado salsa.<br />
Serve.<br />
Food <strong>Life</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 59
Tasty Morsels<br />
with Beverley Hudec<br />
Some Tiny Morsels to savour in February<br />
Flat out beating these<br />
tasty, fluffy bagels<br />
Jerusalem bagels make great toasties.<br />
Instead of more familiar NY boiled<br />
bagels, these beauties are a different<br />
shape and baked in a hot oven, so<br />
they’re lighter, fluffier like pitta bread.<br />
Fillings include poached chicken<br />
with zucchini, rocket and zaatar and<br />
smoked salmon with cream cheese. Try<br />
one at Narrabeen’s Fuel Espresso.<br />
Tasty Morsels<br />
New Mexican on the<br />
menu at Newport<br />
Hola Nopales! This vibrant fusion<br />
Mexican brings big bangs of flavour<br />
to Newport. How about 32-hour beef<br />
short ribs with a tamarind glaze,<br />
battered cauliflower tacos with<br />
pineapple coriander salsa, or Hiramasa<br />
kingfish with mango? If that’s a ‘yes’,<br />
Nopales opens Wednesdays from 4pm<br />
and from noon, Friday to Sunday.<br />
More than just<br />
a bread winner<br />
Berkelo, the popular local<br />
bakery with onsite cafes,<br />
is now doing Friday and<br />
Saturday dinners. You’ll<br />
have to “go bush” to try out<br />
dishes like ravioli stuffed<br />
with zucchini and ricotta<br />
or sourdough spaghetti,<br />
prawns and chilli. Berkelo’s<br />
Terrey Hills venue is open<br />
for daytime cafe duties and<br />
sourdough. It’s also popular<br />
for weekend cyclists.<br />
Awaken a cafe by<br />
day, bar by night<br />
Christmas heralded the arrival of a<br />
new Avalon eatery. Awaken is a cafe<br />
by day and a bar by night. Press,<br />
Pump & Grind supplies the stream<br />
of caffeine hits; while fruit and veg<br />
comes from Avalon Organics and<br />
bread from La Banette. If you’re doing<br />
lunch, there’s a burger and chips, a<br />
house quinoa bowl and a trio of mini<br />
sliders or tacos.<br />
Three of a kind: Chill out<br />
Chill Bar has been a favourite for<br />
Avalon residents and summer<br />
visitors for well over a decade<br />
now. The shop makes ice cream<br />
onsite, tempting customers with<br />
countless flavours to please all<br />
ages. Classic French vanilla is<br />
a perennial, but other scoops<br />
include pistachio and Ferrero<br />
Rocher. Still in summer, why<br />
not try cooling mango or lemon<br />
sorbet?<br />
Acai or Coco soft serve?<br />
Newport’s Blessed Bowls has<br />
both frozen delights on the<br />
menu, plus build-your-own<br />
options. The original acai<br />
bowl features organic acai, the<br />
Brazilian superfruit, organic<br />
granola, seasonal fruit,<br />
coconut shreds and honey.<br />
Swap for the Coco Beach<br />
(pictured) and you’ll get a cold<br />
summer treat.<br />
Mona Vale’s Rosa shakes<br />
up those sultry February<br />
nights with a cool selection<br />
of summer drinks. The menu<br />
features a frozen cocktail<br />
special as well as margaritas<br />
galore and a frozen lychee<br />
and mint margarita. This<br />
tequila shot is pepped up with<br />
cucumber and coconut water.<br />
Open Wednesday to Sunday,<br />
from 5pm.<br />
60 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Puzzler<br />
Compiled by David Stickley<br />
27 A manner of speaking that is<br />
natural to native speakers of a<br />
language (5)<br />
28 Any aquatic animal with<br />
pores in its body wall and a<br />
rigid or elastic internal<br />
skeleton (6)<br />
29 Make agreeable or less<br />
painful (7)<br />
ACROSS<br />
1 Someone who risks loss or<br />
injury in the hope of gain or<br />
excitement (7)<br />
5 Taste or preference (6)<br />
8 Sailing class (5)<br />
9 A class of asymmetrical<br />
molluscs, including the limpets,<br />
whelks, snails and slugs (9)<br />
11 Natural ability (6)<br />
12 An entrepreneur who sells<br />
goods through the Internet (1-6)<br />
14 A lightweight surfboard (6)<br />
15 Essential ingredient of<br />
traditional pesto (8)<br />
18 Worker who’s a jack of all<br />
trades (8)<br />
20 Large piles (6)<br />
22 An outburst of bad temper or<br />
petulance (7)<br />
24 Event that will take place at<br />
the Metro Mirage Hotel Newport<br />
on February 24 (6)<br />
26 Craft preferred by local<br />
sailor, John Forbes (9)<br />
DOWN<br />
1 Absence of wind, force 0 on<br />
the Beaufort scale (4)<br />
2 The ‘father’ of Avalon Beach<br />
(1,1,5)<br />
3 Home ground location of the<br />
Avalon Soccer Club (6,3)<br />
4 That which is morally or<br />
socially correct or just (5)<br />
5 American city that will host<br />
the opening games of the <strong>2024</strong><br />
NRL season, including Manly-<br />
Warringah v South Sydney (3,5)<br />
6 One of the types of curries<br />
available at The Cheer Factory in<br />
Newport (5)<br />
7 Vibrant fusion Mexican<br />
restaurant in Newport (7)<br />
10 Absence of light or<br />
illumination (8)<br />
13 Insistent; forceful (8)<br />
16 Mode of transport to be used<br />
by Richard and Judy Brierley-<br />
Jones and Lawrence and Linda<br />
Lee on their global 35,000km<br />
trip (9)<br />
17 Iconic growth generally<br />
restricted to tropical and<br />
subtropical climates (4,4)<br />
19 Around-the-clock (3-4)<br />
21 Pharmacy (7)<br />
23 (In Asian cuisine) quickcooking<br />
noodles, typically<br />
served in a broth with meat and<br />
vegetables (5)<br />
24 Bills of fare (5)<br />
25 Member for <strong>Pittwater</strong>, Rory<br />
____ (4)<br />
[Solution page 64]<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Puzzler<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 61
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
with Gabrielle Bryant<br />
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
Lemon myrtles: essential oils<br />
and magic for your cooking<br />
The lemon myrtle<br />
tree, backhousia<br />
citriodora, has been<br />
used by the indigenous<br />
population of Australia<br />
for thousands of years,<br />
both as tucker food,<br />
as an insect repellent<br />
and in medicinal herbal<br />
remedies. The essential<br />
oils of the lemon myrtle<br />
have antifungal and antiinflammatory<br />
properties.<br />
The lemon scent of the<br />
crushed leaves is known<br />
to repel insects and is<br />
a more friendly method<br />
of repelling insects than<br />
modern chemical sprays.<br />
It was first discovered and<br />
introduced for modern use<br />
by James Backhouse an<br />
English botanist in 1853,<br />
and is now used in the<br />
cosmetic industry, as a<br />
culinary additive and for<br />
aromatherapy.<br />
The lemon Myrtle is<br />
an attractive, small tree<br />
that can be hedged or<br />
grown as an ornamental<br />
small tree. The glossy,<br />
bright green leaves<br />
contrast against the fluffy<br />
white flowers in Summer<br />
and the lemon scent<br />
of the crushed leaves<br />
is unrivalled. Plant this<br />
rainforest tree close to<br />
paths and walkways to<br />
enjoy the fragrance that is<br />
released as you brush by.<br />
It is a small tree that<br />
is easily maintained,<br />
making it perfect for small<br />
gardens and as a street<br />
tree under the power lines.<br />
It loves sun or semi shade<br />
and once established will<br />
tolerate most climatic<br />
conditions, including<br />
drought and heavy rain.<br />
Pick the leaves and<br />
enjoy a sensational cup<br />
of lemon tree; use them<br />
in cooking together with<br />
fish, lamb, BBQs and<br />
salads; or in cheesecakes,<br />
muffins and sweet desert<br />
recipes. Crushed and dried<br />
the leaves can be stored<br />
for use as a lemon-flavour<br />
herb in any recipe that<br />
uses lemons.<br />
Caring for<br />
crepe myrtles<br />
The crepe myrtle trees, largerstroemia<br />
indica, are looking gorgeous. They<br />
love the hot, humid weather. They<br />
are flowering now and can be seen<br />
everywhere. The colours can be white,<br />
pink, lavender, crimson or red. Sadly,<br />
many are planted as street trees that<br />
grow uncared for and get butchered<br />
when cut back under the power lines.<br />
To grow crepe myrtles, prune back by<br />
one third every Winter when they lose<br />
their leaves.<br />
Crepe myrtles don’t have to be huge<br />
unkept trees; there is a dwarf variety,<br />
largerstroemia indica nana. The colours<br />
are similar – but they are shrubs, not<br />
trees. With all the attributes of their<br />
taller cousins, these smaller shrubs reach<br />
a maximum height of 1.8m – perfect<br />
for smaller gardens, in the ground or in<br />
large tubs in a courtyard. Prune them<br />
back every Winter to keep them bushy<br />
and compact.<br />
62 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Some like it HOT!<br />
Chilli peppers are easy to<br />
grow and make the most<br />
attractive pot plants or border<br />
plants in the veggie garden.<br />
They come in every shape and<br />
colour. February is the month<br />
that they are readily available<br />
as maturing flowering plants.<br />
Before you buy, check the heat<br />
rating (on the label). Chillies are<br />
rated from 1-10 – with 10 being<br />
fiery hot!<br />
Hundreds of cultivars have<br />
been developed over the years,<br />
from the original plant that<br />
was used in Mexico by the<br />
Aztecs and the Mayan peoples,<br />
both in cooking and as a paste<br />
applied to wounds. It was the<br />
discovery of South America by<br />
Christopher Columbus in 1492<br />
that began the spread of the<br />
use of chillies to the rest of the<br />
world.<br />
If you are growing chillies<br />
just for decoration consider<br />
the Rainbow chilli, a small<br />
shrub just 60cm tall with multi<br />
coloured fruits, or the more<br />
unusual Lemon Drop chilli,<br />
This traditionally is the month to replant your veggie garden but<br />
this year the weather is just too hot. Wait a couple of weeks<br />
until it cools a little at night.<br />
Pull out any veggies that have finished or that have been badly<br />
affected by mildew. Weed and turn the soil and let it rest for a few<br />
days before replanting.<br />
Tomatoes will keep fruiting<br />
if you remove any yellowed or<br />
diseased lower leaves. Trim<br />
them back for a second crop.<br />
Some seedlings can be<br />
planted now. Lettuce can be<br />
planted under tomato plants,<br />
where they will be sheltered<br />
from the heat; while carrots<br />
and spring onions can be<br />
planted year-round. Bok choy<br />
and Chinese vegetables grow<br />
quickly. Seed tape makes it<br />
easy to repeat sowing every<br />
couple of weeks.<br />
It is too early to plant<br />
seedlings of broccoli,<br />
parsnips, cabbage,<br />
cauliflower, broccolini, kale<br />
and spinach but you can sow seeds that will be ready to plant out<br />
by the end of the month.<br />
There is still time for a second crop of bush beans before winter.<br />
If you aren’t already growing herbs, this is a good month<br />
to start. Parsley, basil, chives, tarragon, marjoram, thyme and<br />
oregano will give you a basic variety of herbs to get going. Mint<br />
should be planted separately in a large pot. Once it gets into the<br />
garden it will take over and be hard to control.<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
with a rating of 7, that comes<br />
from Peru. This will grow to 1m<br />
tall and is covered with bright<br />
yellow fruit.<br />
For cooking, choose carefully.<br />
There are some that are easily<br />
found both as chillies in the<br />
supermarket and as plants in<br />
the garden centres.<br />
The mildest is the Bell<br />
Lantern chilli that has a sweet,<br />
spicy flavour.<br />
There are many medium-hot<br />
chillies but most usual are the<br />
long red peppers, the Rainbow<br />
chillies or Thai chillies. (Just<br />
check that their number is 7<br />
or under or that they have a<br />
pictorial rating of 2<br />
chillies.)<br />
Cayenne, Bird’s<br />
Eye and the<br />
Jalapenos that are<br />
used as chipotle in<br />
Mexican cooking<br />
are next with a<br />
rating of 8 (or 3 pics<br />
chillies), followed<br />
by green habaneros<br />
who rate as 10!<br />
Autumn veggie planting<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 63<br />
Garden <strong>Life</strong>
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
Jobs this Month<br />
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
Whatever happened<br />
to the Summer that<br />
was meant to be<br />
the hottest and driest on<br />
record? Our gardens are<br />
confused; one day heatwave<br />
and the next is pouring rain<br />
and thunderstorms. It is no<br />
wonder that the garden is<br />
struggling! (Don’t be tempted<br />
to remove any sunburnt<br />
leaves that appear after the<br />
random very hot days. They<br />
will protect the rest of the<br />
plant. With such strange<br />
weather patterns there may<br />
well be more hot days to<br />
come.)<br />
Grass care<br />
Mow the grass regularly to<br />
prevent it growing long and<br />
lanky. It is better to mow<br />
frequently than to suddenly<br />
expose the roots that have<br />
been shaded by tall grass. Feed<br />
the lawn this month for Autumn<br />
growth.<br />
Autumn prep<br />
Pull out veggies that are<br />
struggling and prepare the<br />
garden for Autumn planting.<br />
It is good to leave the soil<br />
empty for a couple of weeks<br />
before replanting Winter crops.<br />
Dig the garden well and turn<br />
in additional compost and<br />
fertiliser.<br />
Easy growing<br />
If you are new to growing<br />
vegetables, try a quick crop<br />
of Pak Choi seedlings or buy<br />
a packet of seed tape. Within<br />
just a few weeks you will be<br />
harvesting your crop. (If you<br />
have a compost bin, take<br />
care not to include the seeds<br />
of tomatoes, pumpkins or<br />
watermelons. They will all<br />
germinate when you add the<br />
compost to the garden!)<br />
Cut & keep<br />
Lightly prune back Summerflowering<br />
shrubs. Don’t throw<br />
away the greenery. Select<br />
February<br />
Hedge your best<br />
Keep hedges trimmed. If<br />
you are planting a new<br />
hedge, think about the<br />
Fairy Magnolias. They are<br />
an alternative to murrayas<br />
and lillipillies. Unlike other<br />
magnolias they are evergreen,<br />
compact bushy shrubs that<br />
can be pruned into hedges.<br />
Plant them 1 metre apart, they<br />
are fast growing and quickly<br />
form a hedge or windbreak up<br />
to 3 metres tall. In Spring they<br />
will be covered with a mass of<br />
fragrant flowers, either white,<br />
cream or pale pink.<br />
suitable prunings to make new<br />
cuttings. Chop the rest into<br />
smaller pieces and put them in<br />
the compost bin.<br />
Mind mildew<br />
Veggies that are affected<br />
by powdery mildew can<br />
be safely sprayed with Eco<br />
fungicide. Read the withholding<br />
instructions carefully before<br />
spraying. A spray made with<br />
1 tsp of baking soda mixed in<br />
250 ml of water is an alternative<br />
spray that is very effective.<br />
Citrus feed<br />
It’s the last time to feed citrus<br />
trees before Winter. Spray<br />
with Eco oil to protect the new<br />
shoots from leaf miner as they<br />
appear. Any new growth that<br />
is already affected should be<br />
cut off. New shoots will soon<br />
appear.<br />
Other chores<br />
Move pots of cymbidium<br />
orchids from the shade into<br />
bright light or morning sun.<br />
They will need the light to<br />
develop their flower spikes…<br />
Lightly trim back roses, remove<br />
any old flower stems and feed<br />
the bushes. In just a short time<br />
you will have an Autumn flush<br />
of flowers when the weather<br />
cools.<br />
Crossword solution from page 61<br />
Mystery location: THE BASIN<br />
64 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Times Past<br />
Road expansion to Clareville<br />
Without some prompting,<br />
very few locals<br />
would recognise this<br />
thoroughfare as looking west<br />
along Avalon Parade. In fact,<br />
it’s most likely that the photo<br />
was taken before 1920, when<br />
this same stretch of road was<br />
previously called Clareville<br />
Road!<br />
The ‘father’ of Avalon<br />
Beach, AJ Small, envisaged it<br />
as a “grand tree-lined parade”<br />
linking the beach to Clareville<br />
and <strong>Pittwater</strong>.<br />
True, Central Road had<br />
existed and served a similar<br />
purpose – but its harsher contours<br />
often led to washaways.<br />
Bert Dewbury used to deliver<br />
bread from Mazey’s Bakery<br />
at Mona Vale and complained<br />
bitterly about the number of<br />
drive chains he went through<br />
on his Harley Davidson and<br />
sidecar negotiating the sandtraps<br />
in Central Road.<br />
Interestingly, on a 1901<br />
subdivision plan indicating<br />
Central Road, it is also<br />
labelled “road to cave” and<br />
would have provided access<br />
to St Michael’s Cave from <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
via the Clareville Wharf<br />
from 1885. Coast access at the<br />
time would have been rather<br />
poor – and the reason why<br />
Charles de Boos had walked<br />
from Manly to Barrenjoey<br />
only 20-plus years earlier.<br />
A strange “tail” of a track,<br />
labelled Arnold Road, appears<br />
on several subdivision plans<br />
heading south from the intersection<br />
of Central Road and<br />
Hudson Parade for about 300<br />
feet in 1912. It was also the<br />
western boundary of the 100-<br />
acre property called ‘Risingholme’<br />
which is the one which<br />
AJ Small purchased to create<br />
his seaside village of Avalon<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
GO WEST: Clareville Road pre-1920; and the first subdivision by AJ Small in 1920 which shows Clareville Road<br />
before it became Avalon Parade one year later. (Note also that Seaview Avenue later became Elouera Avenue and<br />
Coolawin Road is still ’to be born’. Also, Barrenjoey Road is not yet Old Barrenjoey Road since (new) Barrenjoey<br />
Road around the golf course is still some eight years away.)<br />
Beach. It eventually linked<br />
up with Clareville Road to<br />
become Avalon Parade.<br />
The culvert behind the<br />
cows locates the creek’s passage<br />
from what later became<br />
Ruskin Rowe, passing under<br />
the road or track and across<br />
(and under) the present entrance<br />
to <strong>Pittwater</strong> Palms.<br />
The white fence in the distance<br />
as the road begins its<br />
climb is actually the boundary<br />
fence of the property<br />
called ‘Gunjulla’. The two<br />
stone gateposts mark the<br />
original entrance to the property<br />
and still stand fronting<br />
Avalon Parade, just above the<br />
entrance to Gunjulla Place.<br />
*Alas, no matter how many<br />
increased resolutions we<br />
endeavoured to scan the<br />
sign on the right with, it<br />
refused to reveal itself from<br />
the original photo. Can any<br />
reader enlighten us?<br />
TIMES PAST is supplied by<br />
local historian and President<br />
of the Avalon Beach<br />
Historical Society GEOFF<br />
SEARL. Visit the Society’s<br />
showroom in Bowling Green<br />
Lane, Avalon Beach.<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong> 65<br />
Times Past
Travel <strong>Life</strong><br />
Travel <strong>Life</strong><br />
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*Find out more – attend Travel View’s<br />
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9918 4444.<br />
66 FEBRUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991