Pittwater Life July 2018 Issue

The Local Voice Since 1991 

NOT RAPT 

IN PLASTIC 

PITTWATER TURNS 

TIDE ON WASTE 

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JULY 2018 

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Editorial 

How to turn back plastic tide 

There’s more focus now than 

ever on cutting down our 

reliance on single-use plastic – 

and in ‘Plastic Free July’ we are 

all encouraged to modify our 

(mostly bad) habits. 

With the major supermarkets 

withdrawing single-use plastic 

bags there isn’t a better time to 

turn awareness of plastic waste 

into action. 

Organisers of Plastic Free July 

say their aim is to empower 

Australians to “choose to 

refuse” and collectively 

contribute by making small 

changes to their day-to-day 

actions. 

It is estimated each of us 

produces 565kg of household 

waste every year – and 20 

million tonnes goes to landfill 

in Australia alone. Although 

plastic waste stockpiles on 

land it often leads to problems 

“downstream”. In fact, it is 

estimated that if unchecked, 

there will be more plastic in the 

ocean than fish by 2050! 

Paying attention to the 

‘Big Four’ is the first step to 

helping save the planet: plastic 

shopping bags; plastic bottles; 

straws; and takeaway food 

containers and coffee cups. 

To help inspire you, turn to 

page 32 to learn how a group 

of eco-conscious locals live 

without plastic. 

* * * 

Pittwater Life has always 

been proud to support our 

creative community; this month 

we launch a new sponsorship of 

the Pittwater Artists Trail. 

Every month readers will get 

the chance to win an original 

artwork, or classes donated by 

PAT members. Turn to page 43! 

* * * 

Clarification: In last month’s 

story on Pasadena we 

referenced “Scotland Island’s 

Nicholas Cowdery”. Although a 

resident Mr Cowdery does not 

represent Scotland Island; he is 

the Vice President of the West 

Pittwater Association. – NW 


JULY 2018 3

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Publisher: Nigel Wall 

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Graphic Design: CLS Design 

Photography: iStock / Staff 

Contributors: Rosamund 

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Vol 27 No 12 

Celebrating 26 years 


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TIDE ON WASTE 

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thislife 

COVER: Learn what locals are doing to minimise plastic 

usage and waste (p32); hear why people are increasingly 

embracing Keoride, Pittwater’s new on-demand 

transport option (p10); we reveal the new Northern 

Beaches Hospital with a collection of exclusive photos 

(p18); local fundraising legend Beryl Driver recounts 

her 20 years’ involvement with the NSW Variety Bash 

(p28); and meet local photographer Pamela Pauline, 

whose art is helping deliver a sense of serenity at the 

new Arcadia Pittwater private hospital (p40). 

COVER IMAGE: Timothy Moon / Atelier 8 

also this month 

Editorial 3 

Pittwater Local News 6-27 

NB Hospital: Exclusive first look 18 

Life Stories: Beryl Driver 28-31 

Special Feature: Life Without Plastic 32-37 

Northern Beaches Living 38-39 

Art Life 40-43 

Surfing Life 44-45 

Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 46-51 

Money 52-53 

Law 54-55 

Showtime 59 

Food 64-66 

Gardening 68-70 

the goodlife 

Restaurants, food, gigs, travel and gardening. 

Also find our regular features on beauty, health, surfing, 

art, local history, our guide to trades and services, money, 

law and our essential maps. 

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4 JULY 2018 

The Local Voice Since 1991

Council warns of ‘highly 

volatile’ recycling market 

News 

Local councillors have 

been briefed about 

the escalating costs of 

recycling and its current 

and ongoing implications for 

Northern Beaches Council. 

In a memo seen by Pittwater 

Life, Council’s Executive 

Manager Waste Management 

& Cleansing, Natascha 

Schultz, referenced reports 

some Councils in Queensland 

and NSW had chosen to 

landfill recyclables generated 

from domestic kerbside collections 

due to costs being a 

third or more cheaper. 

She explained the ‘China 

Sword Policy’ had impacted 

on the recycling industry 

worldwide. 

“For many years recycling 

agencies here and overseas 

contracted with Chinese companies 

to receive and process 

recyclable materials,” Ms 

Schultz wrote. “The demand 

for this market was such it 

resulted in a rapid expansion. 

Combined with competitive 

pricing mechanisms China 

became the preferred processor 

for Australasia, Europe 

and America. 

“As a direct result of 

China’s prohibition on the 

‘Break the mould’ on bad plastic habits 

Northern Beaches Council wants the 

community to break bad habits, 

re-think how we live without using unnecessary 

disposable plastic items and 

join the plastic-free revolution. 

Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan 

said Council urged residents to stop using 

the ‘big four’ single-use plastic items 

and swap them for more sustainable 

ones as part of Plastic Free July. 

“Disposable plastic water bottles, 

straws, takeaway coffee cups and plastic 

bags are used for only a few minutes 

but are made from material that does 

not break down,” Mayor Regan said. 

“Did you know that every piece of plastic 

ever made still exists? That fact is 

just shocking. 

“Unfortunately, plastic ends up in our 

waterways and oceans having a devastating 

effect on our marine ecology. It 

is getting so bad that scientists predict 

by 2050, there will be more tonnes of 

plastic than fish. It’s a no-brainer – everyone 

needs to get on board. 

“Our local ‘Swap This for That’ initiative 

helps you re-think simple everyday 

decisions by being more conscious while 

shopping, eating and drinking, on your 

way to work or while out and about. It’s 

a great initiative that complements the 

global Plastic Free July campaign.” 

* Special ‘Living Without Plastic’ feature 

– see page 32; also, for Council’s 

plastic-free initiatives visit northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au 



importation of recyclables 

and the progressive decline 

of the glass and plastics 

recycling market from 2016, 

significant costs have and 

continue to be incurred by 

Kimbriki Environmental 

Enterprises’ (KEE) recycling 

partners.” 

However, partner URM had 

confirmed that none of the 

recyclable material collected 

in the NBC area was being disposed 

of at landfill, she said. 

But URM had received a 

notice to increase pricing and 

had written to KEE and Council 

in relation to the increased 

processing costs and was 

seeking to vary the current 

pricing. 

“Both KEE and Council will 

need to cover the uplift in 

fees to ensure that recyclables 

collected under the three current 

contracts for Northern 

Beaches Council continue to 

be collected, transported and 

processed,” Ms Schultz said. 

She noted the NSW Government 

had announced a $47M 

support package, with $9.5M 

earmarked for infrastructure 

projects and the remainder to 

support local councils. 

“Negotiations are continuing 

with respect to both the 

shared value arising from 

container deposit legislation 

and the continued acceptance 

and processing of recyclables 

collected on behalf 

of NBC. It is noted that the 

declining recycling market 

is highly volatile and should 

be considered as a daily 

proposition. 

“Recognition of the higher 

processing costs incurred by 

our recycling partners is key 

to this continued acceptance 

as will be the proposed measures 

touted by government 

and business.” – Nigel Wall 

More B-Line 

response 

time demand 

The Newport Residents 

Association is calling 

on Transport NSW to 

allow locals 60 days to 

assess the Review of 

Environmental factors 

concerning the proposed 

extension of the B-Line 

to Newport when the 

long awaited, delayed 

document is finally 

released in the next few 

months. 

The NRA have labelled 

the current 14-day timeframe 

for public comment 

as “unreasonable”. 

Meanwhile a group of 

unaffiliated residents 

are planning to stage 

a march from Newport 

to Mona Vale protesting 

against the proposed 

extension of the B-Line. 

The July 21 protest will 

commence at 2pm at the 

Newport Beach Surf Club; 

more info 0479 123 260. 

News 



News 

Pittwater place plan priority 

Elizabeth Brown knows her 

role as Place Co-ordinator 

for the Pittwater Ward villages 

of Mona Vale, Newport and 

Avalon will see her in the firing 

line of passionate residents looking 

to air multiple opinions – but 

insists it’s an essential part of 

her job to connect places, people 

and Northern Beaches Council. 

Since starting the newly created 

role in August last year, 

Elizabeth says she has met more 

than 200 residents across the 

three villages – including more 

than 100 in Avalon – which has 

helped her to start developing a 

data base and knowledge of the 

ward, the places within it and a 

strong sense of local issues. 

First village on Elizabeth’s 

busy agenda is Avalon Beach; so 

far she has developed an Avalon 

Town Centre snapshot document 

and will be working closely 

with Council’s Strategic Place 

Planning team on the engagement 

process for the new ‘My 

Place: Avalon’ project (formerly 

the Avalon Place Plan). 

At the same time she is continuing 

to build her contacts in 

Newport Village and Mona Vale 

Town Centre. 

Elizabeth lives at Collaroy – 

something she believes helps 

her stay neutral and avoid bias 

in her dealings with locals and 

assessment of the Pittwater 

villages. 

She is also an important “eye 

on the ground” for Council, 

helping identify any ‘quick 

fixes’ required, such as broken 

footpaths, benches or identifying 

graffiti. 

The most common issue 

raised by residents so far? 

“Parking,” she said without 

STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT: Elizabeth Brown with Newport Beach 

Chamber’s Karen Bond, Avalon Palm Beach’s Sam Garner, Mona Vale’s 

Chris Kavanagh and Northern Beaches Council Mayor Michael Regan. 

hesitation. 

Mayor Michael Regan said 

Avalon was selected as the 

Council’s first ‘My Place’ village 

subject because it was “ready to 

go and a project the former Pittwater 

Council would have liked 

to have done”. 

“We’re keen to engage local 

businesses and residents in a 

very personal way away from 

politics,” Mayor Regan said. 

“We’re equally as passionate 

as the residents to roll out these 

projects to create foundations 

for these villages, so the residents 

can take ownership.” 

Council’s Acting General 

Manager, Planning Place and 

Community Kylie Walshe 

explained the ‘My Place: Avalon’ 

project had four broad phases: 

Project initiation and data gathering; 

Plan development; Plan 

finalisation; and Plan implementation. 

“A Place Plan aims to create 

places designed for people, attract 

the right uses to the right 

places, provide a focal point for 

employment and deliver highquality 

urban design outcomes, 

improve connectivity in and 

around the centre – especially 

for pedestrians – and recognise 

the importance of streets as 

community spaces and destinations,” 

Ms Walshe said. 

“We have already undertaken 

a range of data collection and 

research, including the review 

of existing studies and documents 

from a broad range of 

sources/ stakeholders including 

Avalon Preservation Association 

and Clareville and Bilgola 

Plateau Resident Association in 

order to gain a broad understanding 

of Avalon and relevant 

issues from a community 

perspective.” 

Ms Walshe said once collated, 

the results from the PlaceScore 

survey that closed on June 24 

would provide valuable data 

on what the community cared 

about and valued in village 

centres. 

“This information will allow 

us to understand what aspects 

make a village centre enjoyable 

and pleasant places to visit and 

spend time,” she said. 

“Knowing what is important 

and what the Avalon community 

cares about will guide 

Council in planning for the 

future of Avalon in a way that 

reflects the community’s values 

and meets its needs. 

“The heart of the process is 

to inspire and stimulate the 

community to work together to 

create a greater Avalon.” 

Ms Walshe said upcoming 

community engagement included 

stakeholder workshops on 

June 30 and July 4, followed by 

pop-up stalls running through 

to July 28 (specific dates and 

times to be confirmed – check 

Council’s website). 

“We’ve also undertaken PX 

Assessments of Avalon Village 

– PX Assessments give the community 

the opportunity to rate 

their own places in real time 

revealing what is contributing 

positively or negatively to their 

experience of Avalon Village,” 

she explained. “The assessments 

have been undertaken 

by face to face surveying with 

community members since late 

May and closed in the last week 

of June.” 

Also, an online forum is seeking 

community feedback on 

workshop questions, she said. 

“And we will be establishing 

the Avalon Community Reference 

Group to guide the ‘My 

Place: Avalon’ project, with calls 

for nomination commencing in 

late July.” – Nigel Wall 



Transport pick-me-up 

News 

On-demand transport 

driver Bill Andronicos 

says he loves his 

work – because the customers 

he transfers to B-Line bus 

hubs from suburbs north of 

Narrabeen love the service he 

provides. 

Semi-retiree Bill, 60, has been 

‘chauffeuring’ for provider 

Keoride ever since the NSW 

Government kicked off the 

innovative trial, designed to 

seamlessly connect people in 

Pittwater with the new B-Line 

service, with a three-month 

term on November 26 last year. 

Three months became six 

and now the program is pushing 

into another term – with its 

overwhelming success mounting 

pressure on the Government 

to introduce the service 

full-time. 

With fares from homes to B- 

Line bus stops (and return journeys) 

priced at just $3 ($1.50 for 

students and Seniors) every day 

from 6am to 10.15pm, Keoride’s 

fleet of new, small SUVs has 

been in hot demand. 

Bill says he has plenty of 

regular customers who book 

rides from outlying suburbs including 

Palm Beach, Clareville, 

Bilgola Plateau and Newport 

– but notes he also has “two or 

three first-timers” each day. 

“It’s mostly by word of 

mouth,” says Bill as he took 

Pittwater Life on a sample run 

north of the Bilgola Bends. 

“Once people try it they can’t 

believe how good it is. I had a 

guy today, took him from Palm 

Beach to Mona Vale. He works 

in the city, has a parking spot 

in Phillip Street but prefers to 

get the B-Line as it’s no headache, 

it’s quicker saving him 90 

minutes a day, plus he’s able to 

plug in his device and work for 

an hour. 

“It frees up their cars, so his 

wife and children can use them 

if they need to. 

“Then in the afternoon he 

can have a few drinks after 

work, get the B-Line back to 

Mona Vale and have a Keoride 

vehicle waiting to drop him 

back home! 

“I had another guy who said 

he was waiting for the B-Line 

and transport trial to kick into 

action before he sold his house 

at Castle Hill and moved to 

the beaches – he now lives in 

Bilgola and has a faster trip to 

his work in the city.” 

Bill estimates “99%” of customers 

are repeat users. 

“We also get a lot of university 

students,” he continued. 

“Like the mum who used to 

have to drive her daughter 

from Whale Beach to Mona Vale 

so she could catch the bus to 

Macquarie University – now it 

doesn’t matter what time her 

daughter has to go to uni, she 

can book a Keoride to Mona 

Vale, then a ride back home 

when she returns.” 

Operator Keolis Downer says 

Keoride encourages the use 

of public transport by providing 

connections from people’s 

homes or designated local pickup 

points to B-Line bus stops 

in Mona Vale, Narrabeen and 

Warriewood, using GoGet car 

share vehicles. 

Keolis Downer spokesperson 

Segolene Deeley said passenger 

numbers had increased steadily 

since launch, with many customers 

re-booking the service 

almost daily. 

“Keoride saw a 10% increase 

in customers between March 

and April,” Ms Deeley said. 

“Through May we had carried 

more than 8,000 passengers 

in total – with around 1300 of 

them added in the final two 

weeks of the month.” 

She said majority bookings 

came from the Mona Vale area. 

“In April, 22% of customers 

were travelling from Avalon 

to the Mona Vale B-Line, and 

14% from Bilgola Plateau to 

the Mona Vale B-Line,” Ms 

Deeley said. 

To improve the passenger 



experience and increase 

comfort, eight new Toyota 

Rav4 vehicles replaced smaller 

Corolla cars at the beginning 

of June; each has been decked 

out in special Keoride livery to 

make them more recognisable 

to customers. 

Northern Beaches local Bill 

Andronicos is one of 21 drivers 

on their books. He works 

three days a week, with shifts 

between five and eight hours. 

“I thought why not?” Bill 

said. “I like driving and I don’t 

mind having a chat. I know the 

area and it’s a pretty nice place 

to drive around!” 

Local MP Rob Stokes said 

the success of the Keoride trial 

to date showed that public 

transport could be delivered in 

a more personalised way. 

“Many areas of our community 

are inaccessible by 

traditional buses – so this new 

option enables residents to request 

public transport to their 

door at a time that best suits 

them,” Mr Stokes said. 

“This service isn’t designed 

to replace traditional buses – 

but rather to complement them 

and help make access to our 

local bus network easier for 

more people. 

“Running buses on loops to 

every area of community isn’t 

practical. This personalised service 

enables public transport to 

be provided exactly where and 

when it’s needed.” – Nigel Wall 

News 



News 

Eateries in outdoor 

dining fee rise pain 

Local café and restaurant 

owners who lease Councilowned 

space for customer 

seating fear ongoing proposed 

fee increases for outdoor 

dining could threaten their 

viability. 

Their cause has been taken 

up by local residents groups 

and chambers of commerce 

who are fearful of the impact 

on small businesses and the 

atmosphere of our villages. 

Several café owners, who 

commented on condition they 

were not named, told Pittwater 

Life they could face increases 

of as much as 20%. 

“They told us it’s because we 

haven’t had an increase in so 

long; we have to like it or lump 

it,” one said. 

Another pointed to their 

outdoor seating area, noting 

few customers willing to brave 

the winter cold – even though 

it was a sunny day. 

The Newport Residents 

Association has written to 

Council, noting its proposal to 

increase Outdoor Dining Fees 

for a second time in two years. 

“We ask how will this proposed 

increase assist small 

business plus help in the 

development of vibrant village 

centres?” President Gavin 

Butler said. 

“These businesses should 

be encouraged, not penalised 

– we believe this proposed 

increase should be scrapped.” 

Pittwater suburbs are hardest 

hit by Council’s proposed 

increases, Pittwater Life can 

reveal. 

Analysis of Council’s Draft 

Fees and Charges 2018/19 

document reveals a rollercoaster 

of fee variations, based 

on charges per square metre 

per year, across the Northern 

Beaches Council region. 

Palm Beach is a case in 

point, with owners facing an 

increase of nearly 20% on their 

current $250 base rate to $295. 

North Narrabeen cafes face 

a hike of more than 15% from 

$240 to $280, while Newport 

is bracing for an almost 15% 

increase ($265 to $305). Avalon 

is staring at a 13% increase 

(from $290 to $330). 

Fees for Narrabeen are 

slated to rise 7% from $365 to 

$390, while Mona Vale faces a 

10% increase ($310 to $340). 

Whale Beach and Warriewood 

would face new introductory 

fees of $260. 

Many eatery owners outside 

the former Pittwater area have 

fared better – with the majority 

section of the Manly CBD 

(The Corso) not in line for any 

rise on its fee of $1275. 

Draft rises for North Balgowlah, 

Brookvale, Frenchs Forest, 

Narraweena are less than 2% 

($310 to $315) while Freshwater 

jumps just 4.5% (from $430 

to $450). 

Frenchs Forest Shopping 

Centre is in line for a 7% increase 

($360 to $390). 

Council’s Acting General 

Manager Environment and 

Infrastructure Todd Dickinson 

told Pittwater Life that 

Council used external valuers 

to provide third party pricing 

advice on outdoor dining to 

ensure fees fairly reflected the 

market. 

“Each location is benchmarked 

against other like 

areas and valuations take 

into account relevant factors 

including centre size, traffic 

and more,” he said. 

“Changes to outdoor dining 

licence fees in the 2018/2019 

Budget have been proposed in 

line with external valuations 

received. Increases are not 

uniform across the area and 

the total proposed increase 

recommended by the third 

party valuer has not been applied.” 

Council is currently reviewing 

resident and small business 

feedback on the proposed 

fees. 

– Nigel Wall 



Book Review 

Addicted? 

How Addiction 

affects every one 

of us and what we 

can do about it 

By Matt Noffs & 

Kieran Palmer 

Harper Collins 

$32.99 

As the grandson of Ted 

Noffs, founder of the 

Wayside Chapel, and 

the Ted Noffs Foundation, 

Matt grew up with 

a front-row seat to the 

impact of addiction. 

Over the past few 

decades, working at the Foundation alongside coauthor 

Kieran Palmer, Matt has honed his ability to understand 

the drivers of addiction and in this new book the pair 

offer a number of practical tools to help manage dependencies 

such as alcohol and drugs, through to smartphones and 

coffee. 

Addicted? is also a fascinating and accessible insight into 

the history of how addiction has been created in different 

cultures. It’s a great resource for every household given its 

down-to-earth style and advice, but buying it on the basis 

of the chapter on smartphones alone is a must. Beachside 

Bookshop has limited signed copies. – Libby Armstrong 

News 



News 

Staff help needed for 

next federal election 

The Australian Electoral due to the sheer size of the some point within the next 12 

Commission (AEC) is asking country and the sparsity of the months and we’re calling on 

Pittwater residents to sign up 

to help deliver the next federal 

election in the Mackellar electorate. 

Mackellar covers an area of 

233km2 and contains 42 polling 

places that will be staffed 

by 519 paid temporary electoral 

workers on election day. 

In total, 80,000 people will be 

needed across Australia to help 

deliver the next federal election, 

and the AEC has identified 

Mona Vale as one of the key 

areas to bolster ahead of time. 

While the date for the next 

election is not yet known, the 

AEC is asking people to register 

their interest in working now. 

Holding elections in Australia 

is a particular challenge 

population in rural areas – not 

to mention having to assemble 

a crew for just one day’s work. 

Tom Rogers, AEC Commissioner, 

said federal elections 

rank as Australia’s largest 

peacetime events. 

“With more than 8,000 polling 

places spread throughout 

Australia, the AEC has to 

employ around 80,000 temporary 

staff from across the 

country to staff each polling 

place. As such, it is crucial we 

ensure the necessary preparations 

are underway well 

ahead of the election period 

so that every Australian has 

the opportunity to have their 

say,” he said. 

“There will be an election at 

Pittwater residents to register 

their interest for election work 

now so they can help their local 

community in the Mackellar 

electorate as part of this unique 

event. 

“There are 519 positions in 

Mackellar across 42 polling 

places that we need to fill to ensure 

the election runs smoothly. 

Election work is a thoroughly 

rewarding experience and a 

great opportunity to contribute 

to the local area.” 

All temporary election roles 

are paid and full training 

is provided. Those wishing 

to register their interest in 

working at the next election, 

or wanting more information, 

should visit aec.gov.au. 

6THINGS 

THIS MONTH 

Young writers competition. 

Students up to and including 

Year 12 are encouraged to write 

an original story using this year’s 

theme words ‘tiny door’ for a 

chance to be published as an 

author in a Library eBook. Entries 

close Wed 8 August. Details on 

the Council website, at your local 

library, or call 9942 2449. 

Work with wool. Kids can warm 

up their fingers these winter school 

holidays at Mona Vale Library 

learning how to use wool and 

found objects to make colourful 

decorations. On Wed 11 from 

10.30-11.30am. For ages 6-12. 

Cost $7, bookings only; 9970 1600. 

Weaving workshop. Join 

Karleen Green at a workshop 

to create your own small coiled 

basket using lomandra grass 

and learn about natural dying 

techniques that you can try at 

home. Karleen will also share 

stories about Aboriginal weaving 

traditions and how baskets, Dilly 

bags and other woven objects 

have been used throughout history 

at the Coastal Environment Centre 

on Sat 21 from 2pm-5pm. Cost 

is $25 or $20 for Permaculture 

Northern Beaches Members. 

Bookings essential; contact 

taradubs@gmail.com. 

Have a ball. Secure tickets 

to the annual Christmas in July 

Charity Ball and make a positive 

difference in the fight against 

cancer. Organised by the Fight 

On The Beaches community 

fundraising group, the ball will be 

held at Miramare Gardens, Terrey 

Hills on Fri July 27. More info 

fightonthebeaches.com. 

Avalon Car Boot Sale. Get 

down to Dunbar Park on Sat 21 

from 8am-2pm and find a treasure 

or two. The sale is embracing 

Plastic Free July so bring your 

reusable water bottle and coffee 

cup and help do your bit to end 

plastic pollution. Music, roving 

performers, food and a surprise 

celebrity appearance, too! 

Dig this. Keep your eye out for 

local events celebrating Australia’s 

biggest tree planting and nature 

care event – Schools Tree Day on 

July 27 and National Tree Day on 

July 29. Find a site or register at 

treeday.planetark.org. 



News 

Medium Density Code deferral 

Northern Beaches 

Council has been 

granted a lastminute 

deferral on parts 

of the NSW Government’s 

Low Rise Medium Density 

Housing Code following 

representation by Mayor 

Michael Regan and Pittwater 

MP Rob Stokes. 

The Code, which will 

come into effect on July 6 

and was made under State 

Environmental Planning 

Policy (Exempt and 

Complying Development), 

permits attached and 

detached dual occupancies, 

multi-dwelling housing, 

and manor houses, and 

the subdivision of such 

developments, as complying 

development where those 

uses are currently permitted 

under Council’s Local 

Environmental Plans (LEPs). 

Mayor Regan said the danger 

for residents was that had the 

Code been triggered across the 

northern beaches as scheduled 

with the rest of NSW, it could 

have resulted in higher density 

development than currently 

permissible under Council’s 

controls – particularly in low 

density R2 zones such as 

across Pittwater. 

“The medium density 

housing code has the 

potential to create ad-hoc, 

unplanned development 

that would have impacted 

on our ability as Council to 

maintain the local character 

THE ‘MISSING MIDDLE’: Northern Beaches Council will investigate low-rise medium density options. 

of our neighbourhoods 

and put further pressure 

on infrastructure and 

transport,” Mayor Regan said. 

“And it can be a disaster for 

residents. One day you wake 

up to find a notice in your 

letterbox for a development 

next door. You have no say, 

no recourse and neither does 

your Council. 

“This opportunity now 

gives us the chance to plan 

properly for medium density 

in a way that is in keeping 

with our local area and 

supports residents.” 

The Government’s 12 

months deferral is subject 

to NB Council submitting 

a Planning Proposal aimed 

to “rectify local planning 

controls to meet the strategic 

intent of each Council area”. 

Local MP Rob Stokes said 

Pittwater’s environment and 

distance from the CBD meant 

that unit blocks were generally 

an inappropriate form of 

housing for the region. 

“Instead, we need to look 

at terraces and townhouses 

to allow for more homes, 

particularly for older people 

looking to downsize and 

younger families who can’t 

afford a detached home on a 

big block,” he said. 

“This is an opportunity for 

Council to have a close look 

at the most appropriate areas 

in our community where 

our future housing diversity 

needs can be met.” 

Mayor Regan added he 

was pleased NSW Minister 

Anthony Roberts was 

listening to concerns about 

development, infrastructure, 

affordable housing and 

transport across the northern 

beaches. 

“We look forward to 

working with the Minister 

and our State MPs to ensure 

we get planning right on the 

northern beaches, now and 

for future residents,” he said. 

“Our ability to have greater 

influence like this at the state 

level is a positive outcome of 

our new size and capacity as 

a larger council.” – Nigel Wall 



Healthy progress 

News 

It’s flooded with natural light and 

filled with state-of-the-art equipment; 

and although its beds and soft furnishings 

have yet to be installed, there is 

a distinct sense of comfort and purpose 

that purveys throughout the new Northern 

Beaches Hospital. 

Our exclusive tour in late June revealed 

attention to detail inspired by worldclass 

hospital design and best practice. 

Every material used in construction, 

the colours and surfaces in the ninestorey 

building have been meticulously 

researched. 

Considered touches such as muted 

beach tones and ocean-themed murals 

on walls, rounded edges on built-in 

furniture and ceiling lights positioned so 

they won’t shine on patients’ faces, won’t 

be lost when the 488-bed hospital fills 

with people in just a few months’ time. 

And it’s apparent the layout of wards, 

workstations, operating theatres and 

equipment are the result of consultation 

with medical, nursing, allied health and 

support staff to ensure an environment 

conducive to optimal service delivery 

and patient care. 

Take, for example, the 24/7 Emergency 

Department (ED). Comprising 50 treatment 

spaces, the large, ground floor area 

is divided into several zones including 

assessment, adult, paediatrics, resuscitation, 

short stay and mental health assessment 

(which has a dedicated lift to the 

mental health unit on Level 3). 

Imaging equipment is easily accessed 

on the ground floor level and within the 

ED and an electronic monitoring system 

will link to Medical Records. 

Adjacent to the ED is a bulk-bill GP 

Medical Centre, sited to help minimise 

the number of non-emergency patients 

who present to the ED. When a patient 

presents to the emergency area they will 

be able to self-select which service they 

wish to enter – a patient can easily be 

transferred between the two depending 

on the type of care they need. 

The hospital will be opening its doors 

to both public and private patients on 

October 30. 

You can check out the hospital yourself 

when tours start in September; send an 

email to enquiries@northernbeacheshospital.com.au 

for more information. 

* And if you are interested in 

volunteering opportunities at the 

hospital, register your interest 

before July 11 at volunteering@ 

northernbeacheshospital.com.au. 



Our tour of the 

new NB Hospital 

News 

PHOTOS: Nigel Wall 


CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: 

The striking profile of the 

ED located on the Frenchs 

Forest Rd side of the 

hospital; the hospital foyer 

features modern wooden 

styling for a pleasing 

aesthetic and also good 

acoustics; modern lighting 

and natural light are major 

features of the huge 

interior; an aerial view to 

Pittwater; a pastel palette 

used in the corridors; the 

hospital’s meeting rooms 

are named after places 

across the Northern Beaches; 

the stunning vertical 

garden feature by the main 

entrance; a state-of-the-art 

hybrid theatre provides 

diagnostic high-definition 

imaging while also allowing 

clinicians to perform 

myriad surgical procedures. 


News 

SEEN… 

Well, that ‘escalated’ quickly! Seems the NSW Government 

has lifted its self-imposed six-month embargo on advertising 

on the sides of the new B-Line bus fleet in a move that will 

boost the state’s coffers and, State Transit tells us, help pay 

for maintenance and repair. What a shame. We don’t mind the 

wavy blue motif depicting surf to city on the double-decker 

buses. It generates a sense of identity. The new norm? Twostorey 

advertising ‘sleeves’. Boo! Imagine the stink the good 

folk of Newport will kick up about the prospect of these giant 

billboards cruising up and down the village centre, should the 

B-Line be extended beyond Mona Vale, as is expected. 

HEARD… 

The restaurant at 

iconic Barrenjoey 

House has traded 

hands, with 

flavour-of-the 

decade hospitality 

operators The 

Boathouse Group 

taking over from 

well-known 

couple Brendan 

and Jenny Barry. 

Boathouse owner 

Andrew Goldsmith told Pittwater Life Barrenjoey House would 

be “re-energized” over July and August with maintenance, 

repair and interior updates, before re-opening in September 

with a core lunch and dinner trade. Locals needn’t worry about 

BH losing its identity – Goldsmith promised the Group would 

afford the building great respect, adding it was his “personal 

favourite Palm Beach destination”. We hear the new menu will 

feature simple, fresh, contemporary classics, delivered by “a 

fresh mindset, fresh team and fresh ingredients”. All well and 

good – but will they keep the ‘French 75’ champagne cocktail on 

the menu is what we want to know… 

ABSURD… 

Speaking of alcohol and Palm Beach, seems the locals are 

among Sydney’s worst offenders for drink driving – according to 

Bureau of Crime and Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) figures. 

Apparently 3% of licence-holders were booked for DUI in the 

period 2013-18 – with eight individuals nabbed in the 12 months 

to April this year. Avalon and Newport didn’t fare well either, 

with 2.4% and 2.3% of licence-holders respectively busted in 

the five-year period. Bayview were our best behaved, with 1.4% 

blowing positive. Let’s all think twice, hey? 



Pittwater News 

News 

July Probus talks 

Past President of the Manly 

Warringah Pittwater Historical 

Society and former 

Wallabies tourist Jim Boyce 

is the guest speaker at the 

next meeting of Pittwater 

Probus at Mona Vale Golf Club 

on Tuesday July 10. In 1963, 

Jim was selected to play with 

the Wallabies touring side to 

South Africa. On this tour, he 

and the other players were 

shocked by their exposure to 

the injustices of the apartheid 

regime. Throughout the tour, 

Jim and the other players were 

exposed to the arrogance of 

white Springboks supporters, 

officials, politicians and police 

– as well as the everyday oppression 

of the South African 

black and non-white majority. 

Jim’s talk will address the history 

of commercial buildings 

on the northern beaches. Also, 

club member Roman Zwolenski 

will talk about being in the 

military ballot to go to Vietnam. 

Roman will share his expectation 

of being sent which, 

however, did not eventuate. 

Years later, Roman visited Vietnam 

and he will reflect on the 

aftermath of the war. Meeting 

starts 10am; more info 0437 

274 074. Meanwhile visitors 

are also welcome to join Palm 

Beach Probus members to hear 

naval architect, John Jeremy, 

speak about Cockatoo Island 

and its history. Their meeting 

is on Wednesday 20th July at 

Club Palm Beach, commencing 

at 9.45am. More info 9973 

1247. 

Dee Why RSL shows 

Resilience strength 

Last April Dee Why RSL 

Club hosted their ‘Resilience 

Month’, raising a total 

of $196,420 for the Sydney 

Northern Beaches Veteran 

Centre to help further assist 

ex-service men and women 

and their families post their 

time in the military. The funds 

were raised by donating $1 

from each main meal sold at 

the Club throughout April; all 

proceeds from the $6 Anzac 

Breakfast, the Peace Garden 

Sausage Sizzle, donations at 

two-up and donation boxes located 

in the club on Anzac Day 

and through the major event 

– The Resilience Luncheon on 

April 13 – which was hosted by 

TV veteran Ray Martin. 

Testing the water 

at Bayview Baths 

Northern Beaches Council 

intends to push ahead with 

further water testing at 

Bayview Baths as a prelude 

to possible refurbishment. 

Council adopted a recommendation 

to participate in 

another round of water testing 

with Sydney Water and the 

Office of Environment and 

Heritage at the site in 2018/19. 

Should this testing prove successful, 

Council has resolved 

to work collaboratively with 

the community and funding 

agencies to secure grant funding 

for future refurbishment. 

NB Mayor Michael Regan said 

testing in October and November 

2016 indicated that water 

quality was generally suitable 

for swimming in dry weather. 

“It’s good news, as these results 

mean the Baths are still 

in contention as a swimming 

location, and so refurbishment 

may be considered,” he said, 

although adding the Baths required 

a significant upgrade to 

improve the facility. Bayview 

Baths received a ‘good’ rating 

in the 2016/17 Beachwatch 

report, largely due to it being 

a dry year, following a ‘poor’ 

rating in the two prior years. 

Council follows the Beachwatch 

recommendation for 

estuarine swimming areas affected 

by stormwater outflows, 

which says swimming should 

be avoided for up to three days 

following rainfall. 

Expert gives tips on 

wild food foraging 

Wild food expert Diego Bonetto 

will be the guest speaker at 

the next meeting of Permaculture 

Northern Beaches on 

Thursday July 26. Learn about 

the most common species 



growing in your garden, along 

the green belts and in parks 

and reserves – every plant has 

a story! Find out how these 

‘wild foods’ have been used 

for food, craft and natural 

remedies. Discover ways to 

safely harvest from the urban 

‘wild’ and enrich your diet 

with vitamins and minerals. 

Organisers say there will also 

be a swap table for any items 

from your garden, or items to 

reuse for others. Organic teas 

and coffees available; bring a 

plate of food to share. Meeting 

is from 7.15pm at the Nelson 

Heather Centre, Jacksons 

Road, North Narrabeen. (A sea 

foraging workshop will be arranged 

for later this year.) 

Call for Memories 

of Mona Vale Hospital 

Pittwater residents have 

launched a project to record 

memories of Mona Vale Hospital, 

creating a social history 

showing the facility’s significance 

to the area. Protect 

Continued on page 24 

Gatsby-themed gala a success for Women’s Shelter 

Last month’s sold-out Northern Beaches 

Women’s Shelter Annual Gala raised 

around $130,000 to support homeless 

women across the region. More than 240 

people attended the ‘Roaring ’20s’ themed 

event, which highlighted greater community 

awareness of the Shelter and its work 

on the Northern Beaches. “Hundreds of 

women right across the Northern Beaches 

continue to find themselves homeless due 

to domestic violence, financial trouble, drug 

or alcohol abuse, or mental health issues,” 

said the Shelter’s Acting President, Rosy 

Sullivan. “The NBWS provides a safe haven 

for these women. We offer more than just 

a roof over their heads and a warm bed to 

sleep in. We are helping to break the cycle 

of homelessness, by linking women with 

the right services, offering employment 

and financial assistance and much needed 

emotional support to help them rebuild their 

lives and rejoin the community.” Formerly 

the Manly Women’s Shelter, the non-profit, 

charitable organisation was recently 

renamed to reflect its growing reach across 

the peninsula. Since the Shelter first opened 

its doors in 2010, it has supported more than 

350 women to rebuild their lives. 

News 




News 

Continued from page 23 

Pittwater president Bob Grace 

said the group was calling on 

residents from Palm Beach to 

Narrabeen and in the offshore 

communities to get in touch 

about their experiences and 

treatment at the hospital. 

He added local filmmaker 

John Illingsworth would film 

interviews to create an archive 

of the hospital’s history. “We 

want to hear the stories of new 

lives, lives saved and what the 

hospital means to locals,” Mr 

Grace said. “Patients, doctors, 

nurses, other staff and volunteers 

will all have stories – 

medical treatment in Pittwater 

was a different kettle of fish 

before Mona Vale was built 

and we want to pay tribute to 

the hospital which has been an 

integral part of our community 

for over 50 years.” Protect 

Pittwater is also organising a 

film night and public forum 

at Mona Vale Memorial Hall on 

Wednesday July 18, from 7pm 

to 9pm. To volunteer to be interviewed 

for the film history 

phone 0439 788 867. 

Rural Fire Brigade 

equipment boost 

The West Pittwater, Mackerel 

Beach, Coasters Retreat and 

Scotland Island brigades of 

the NSW Rural Fire Service 

(RFS) have been boosted by 

new equipment made available 

under the RFS Association’s 

Grant Scheme. West Pittwater 

Brigade Captain, Andrew 

Cutler, said the acquisition of 

two thermal imaging cameras 

would be invaluable to the 

brigades when fighting fires 

or assisting other agencies in 

search activities. “The cameras 

will be included in the equipment 

on the two boats the 

brigades use when attending 

structural and bush fires or 

assisting in searches,” Mr 

Cutler said. These boats and 

their equipment are essential 

to the brigades as most of the 

buildings and areas the brigades 

cover are only accessible 

by water. The thermal imaging 

cameras enable the crews to 

quickly identify where the major 

heat areas of a fire are located 

and provides much more 

accurate information to better 

assign resources and identify 

potential risks to crews. 

Mackellar aged care 

Budget injection 

The Federal Government’s 

$5 billion aged care budget 

injection will deliver significant 

benefits for Mackellar, 

says local member Jason 

Falinski who visited Anglicare’s 

Marcus Loan House 

in Warriewood with Aged 

Care Minister Ken Wyatt last 

month. Mr Falinski said the 

budget increased home and 

residential care options and 

provided more choice and 

certainty for local older Australians 

and their families. 

“The Government invested 

more than $116 million in 

Mackellar aged care services 

in 2016-17, including $107 

million for residential aged 

care, $1.1 million for transition 

care, $5.3 million for 

home care and $2.9 million 

in the Commonwealth Home 

Support Program.” Other 

budget highlights included 

increasing home care packages 

from 87,000 to 151,000 

so older Australians could 

live in their own homes for as 

long as they can; $60 million 

in capital grants for new and 

expanded aged care facilities; 

$102.5 million commitment 

to older Australians’ mental 

health; an online aged care 

provider comparison system; 

health, career and finance 

checks for 45- and 65-yearolds 

for future planning; and 

pensioners will be able to 

earn $7,800 per year without 

affecting their pension. “We 

want the more than 28,000 

people aged over 65 and their 

families in Mackellar to live 

longer, happier and healthier 

lives,” Mr Falinski said. As at 

30 June 2017, there were 20 

residential aged care facili- 



ties with 1,869 places operating 

in Mackellar. 

Council scoops up 

pair of awards 

Northern Beaches Council 

was acknowledged in two 

separate honours presented 

at the 2018 NSW Local Government 

Excellence Awards 

last month. The awards 

presented were in the Community 

Partnerships and 

Collaboration category, and 

separately, The Col Mills 

Scholarship which is given to 

a younger professional drawn 

from the local government 

sector. The Community Partnerships 

and Collaboration 

award (for communities with 

a population over 60,000) 

was presented in recognition 

of the widely-praised 

Northern Beaches Council / 

Dee Why PCYC Project. The 

$26 million Dee Why PCYC 

facility on the Kingsway opposite 

Council’s Civic Centre 

was opened in June 2017 


Cruising Christmas in July 

With Australia’s British and European heritage, there’s a strong attachment 

to the tradition of celebrating Christmas in cold weather. That’s why there’s 

‘Christmas in July’, which is also known as Yulefest or Yuletide in Australia. 

So that means hearty food like roasts, and warm drinks in front of fireplaces. 

Fantasea Cruising have collaborated with Club Palm Beach to create a Winter 

Cruise experience around Pittwater followed by a delicious Traditional hot 

Christmas Roast lunch (turkey and ham) with pudding – for just $30 per person 

(groups of 10 or more). Christmas in July will be on offer from Monday to 

Sundays for the month of July. For bookings call Club Palm Beach on 9974 5566. 

News 




News 


As happy as a dog… in mud 

The trial of the small off-leash dog walking area at Avalon 

Beach Reserve parklands on Central Road may still 

have a month to run but locals are already unconvinced 

it represents an ongoing option. The park turf and and its 

temporary fencing has taken a battering over the past few 

months, with June’s ‘big wet’ turning the grounds into a 

muddy quagmire requiring the turf to be replaced. Dog 

walkers report that although well-used, the small space 

cannot handle the volume of dogs and they are concerned 

it will require maintenance every month. A report will be 

presented to the Council regarding the future use of the 

location when the trial expires on July 31. 

to deliver enhanced social, 

sporting, cultural and recreational 

options for Northern 

Beaches’ youth, as well as to 

provide an integrated carpark 

close to public transport. The 

2018 Col Mills Scholarship 

was presented to Northern 

Beaches Council’s Project 

Manager (Environment & Infrastructure), 

Russell Peake, 

who works on a wide range of 

Council’s environment and 

infrastructure projects. In 

the citation accompanying 

his Scholarship, Russell was 

described as “a bright, young 

professional, a future leader 

and a well-deserved recipient 

of the scholarship.” 

State assists Councils 

The recent NSW budget contained 

several allocations by 

the State Government aimed 

at continuing the support of 

local councils to enable better 

delivery of key services, 

facilities and infrastructure to 

their communities. Minister 

for Local Government, Ms Gabrielle 

Upton, noted highlights 

included: $98 million to help 

councils to deliver services 

and facilities for their local 

communities; $79 million to 

help pensioners make ends 

meet by subsidising council 

rates and charges; $31 million 

over 10 years for low interest 

loans so councils can invest 

in infrastructure to address 

housing affordability; $15 million 

so councils could provide 

better facilities through the 

Local Infrastructure Renewal 

Scheme; and $7 million to assist 

councils to prepare plans 

of management for Crown 

lands. 

Winter author 

discussions 

Beachside Bookshop at Avalon 

Beach is introducing a 

series of intimate Sunday afternoon 

events with local authors 

over the winter months, 

commencing on Sunday July 

29 with Caroline Beecham, 

author of ‘Maggie’s Kitchen’ 

and now ‘Eleanor’s Secret’. 

The ‘Sunday Salons’ will be 

held over an afternoon tea 

from 3-4pm in the shop and 

is free. Limited capacity, so 

bookings essential at info@ 

beachsidebookshop.com or 

call 9918 9918. 

Christian School 

marks 40 years 

It began with a vision to instill 

in children a view of the world 

the way God sees it – and 40 

years later that vision remains 

a core value for Covenant 

Christian School. ‘Covie’ 

started with a class of 19 and 

one teacher in a hired church 

hall in Terrey Hills – there are 

now almost 900 students from 

all over the northern beaches 

attending at the purpose builtschool 

in Belrose. “Today’s 

students and those from 

that very first class might be 



separated by four decades, 

societal changes, unfathomable 

advances in technology 

and the providence of infrastructure 

but they have this in 

common: they have been, and 

will be, taught God’s word as a 

seamless part of their curriculum,” 

principal Bill Rusin said. 

“This educational philosophy 

impacts what you’re saying, 

how you’re saying it, and how 

you teach.” 

$1.5m to help youth 

The NSW Government is 

urging local organisations to 

apply for a share of $1.5 million 

to support projects that 

improve youth participation 

in the community. The program 

provides one-off grants 

between $10,000 and $50,000 

to not-for-profit organisations 

and local councils for 

youth-led and youth-driven 

community projects. 

Projects previously selected 

aim to upskill young 

people to provide them with 

greater opportunities for 

employment in a number of 

sectors, including hospitality, 

events planning or 

media. Since the program 

was launched in 2012, Youth 

Opportunities has provided 

$9 million in funding to 177 

projects across NSW. Applications 

for grants under 

this year’s program close on 

Monday 16 July. More info: 

youth.nsw.gov.au/youthopportunities/ 

Blues out for 

Avalon blood 

Throughout the State of Origin 

series the NSW Blues and 

Queensland Maroons have 

taken the competition offfield 

and are ‘Out for Blood’ 

– encouraging fans to get out 

and donate for their state. 

The distinctive NSW Blues 

Mobile Donation Centre will 

be at Bowling Green Lane, 

Avalon on Fri 29 June and Sat 

30 June from 9am-2pm both 

days. To make an appointment 

call 13 14 95. 

Amnesty film event 

Amnesty International 

maintains the detention of 

Asylum Seekers is a form of 

torture and is used to deter 

other refugees from attempting 

to come to Australia. The 

film Chauka Please Tell Us 

The Time is a unique record 

of life inside detention on 

Manus Island. This thoughtprovoking 

film is being 

shown at Avalon Baptist 

Church on Sun July 1 at 5pm. 

Free entry and free supper 

but voluntary donations to 

Amnesty are welcome. 

Support for Soibada 

This month a group of local 

volunteers are once again 

heading to the village of 

Soibada in Timor Leste to 

continue the work begun 10 

years ago by the students 

at Avalon’s Maria Regina 

Catholic Primary School. As 

the children grew, so did 

the project, which has now 

become the registered charity 

The Pittwater Friends of 

Soibada and to involve local 

government several schools, 

community groups, Rotary 

and surf clubs. The key objective 

of the organisation is to 

support sustainable development 

in the region by helping 

to implement projects initiated 

by the people of Soibada 

to improve their daily lives 

and their future. Visit pittwaterfriendsofsoibada.org.au 

to 

find out how you can support 

this great work. 

Award for local 

medical design 

A local family business with 

a huge global presence has 

won an Australian Good Design 

award for a medical instrument 

used by specialists 

to treat skin conditions. The 

Terrey Hills-based company 

Dermapenworld was presented 

with the award for the 

Dermapen4 micro-needling 

instrument in a category 

that has recognised iconic 

brands such as Cochlear and 

ResMed. 

Vet 

on 

call 

with 

Dr Ben Brown 

Is your pet showing signs of 

slowing down? If you have 

seen your pet slowing down 

over the winter months, if 

could be a sign that they 

could be suffering from 

arthritis. 

Arthritis is a painful 

condition characterised by 

the progressive degeneration 

of cartilage in the joints of 

the body. 

Arthritis affects up to 25% 

of dogs and 90% of senior 

cats. Signs that your pet 

could be suffering from 

arthritis include stiffness 

after laying down, being 

slow on walks, limping, pain 

when being touched, muscle 

wasting and lethargy. 

There are many things 

which we can do to help our 

pets feel more comfortable 

when suffering from arthritis, 

including medications 

including non-steroidal anti 

inflammatories. 

Cartrophen injections can 

also make your pet feel more 

comfortable by stimulating 

new cartilage production and 

helping to lubricate the joint 

surfaces. 

There are certain diets 

such as Hills J/D which 

contains omega-3 fatty acids, 

glucosamine and chondroitin 

and anti-oxidants which has 

been shown to help preserve 

joint cartilage. 

Other supplements 

such as Joint Guard are 

also beneficial in helping 

prevent ongoing cartilage 

degeneration. 

Weight management is 

also essential in helping with 

arthritis as there will be less 

stress on your pet’s joints. 

If you have noticed any of 

these signs in your pet, drop 

into one of our hospitals at 

Newport or Avalon to discuss 

with one of the vets how best 

to help manage your pet’s 

arthritis and keep your pet 

comfortable. 

News 



Driver’s 

Seat 

There’s no stopping Beryl 

Driver and her fellow 

‘Mermaids’ who are about 

to buckle up and head off 

on a 20th Variety Bash for 

kids in need. 

Story by Rosamund Burton 

Life Stories 

After turning 85 in May, Beryl Driver 

had to do the compulsory NSW 

driving test to retain her licence. 

She passed with ease; now this Order of 

Australia Medal and Australia Day Award 

recipient is preparing to head off in August 

on her 20th NSW Variety Bash. With 

friends Elyse Cole, doing her 11th bash, 

and Viktorija McDonell, on her 14th, Beryl 

is driving 4440 kilometres on mostly dirt 

roads from Bonnyrigg in Western Sydney 

to Braitling, a suburb of Alice Springs. 

Beryl’s Holden station wagon, its blue 

panels painted with brightly coloured 

mermaids, is parked outside her home on 

Bilgola Plateau. And she is in the kitchen 

making sausage rolls for the annual 

Variety fundraising event she holds at Currawong. 

Beryl Driver has had a lifelong passion 

for cars. Back in the 1970s her son Michael 

bought her a 1969 Plymouth Barracuda, 

and she spent many years at classic car 

shows with it. Because she’s always wanted 

to do the Redex Trial, but never had the opportunity, 

in 1999 a friend’s son suggested 

she should do the Bash. A week later Michael, 

who is a motor mechanic, had found 

her a car – a meticulously restored 1963 

EH Holden then owned by Warriewood 

publisher, David Scott. 

At the time Beryl looked after her four 

grandchildren every day, so she took them 

with her to his office. 

“He wanted $20,000 for the car. I sat 

across the table from him with my little 

grandkids and said, ‘I really want to do 

the bash. I’ll be the first woman with an 

all-female crew, but I’m only on a pension. 

I’ve got $3000 and not another cent to my 

name.’” 

David Scott told her to ring him tomorrow. 

“When I rang his secretary said, ‘David’s 

sitting here with one thumb up and one 

thumb down.’ ‘What does that mean?’ I 

asked. ‘Get your $3000 and come here as 

quick as you can before he changes his 

mind.’” 

Beryl was born in Leeton and moved to 

Mona Vale when she was two. Aged five 

she went to Mona Vale School, but after the 

first morning there decided she didn’t like 

school and walked home. Soon after she 

went with her parents to Glen Davies, near 

Lithgow, as her father had a trucking business, 

and he got a contract to build a road. 

Beryl’s mother cooked for the 300 workers. 

“She had a 22 rifle, and used to shoot 

rabbits to feed the men, and I used to drag 

along the hessian bags full of rabbits.” 

Beryl eventually started school aged 

eight when the Glen Davies contract 

finished and the family moved to Bondi, 

then left aged 14, after her Intermediate 

Certificate, to care for her mother when 

she broke her spine. 

Beryl’s father wouldn’t let her use the 

car, until she could drive a truck and semitrailer. 

When she got her licence she used 

to take the semi-trailer to dances at Rose 

Bay, and at the end of the night drop home 

all her friends. She met her husband, Brian 

Driver, at high school. They married when 

she was 19 and he was 21 and had three 

children, Michael, Bruce and Stacey. 

A friend who worked in the fire brigade 

with Beryl’s husband, and whose wife had 

just left him, asked if his two daughters, 

aged 5 and 6, could stay with the Drivers 

over the school holidays. 

“He brought the girls up, then left the 

fire brigade and disappeared for seven 

years.” Three years later her husband ran 



off, leaving her with the five children, and 

working three jobs to make ends meet. Susie 

O’Brien, the youngest of the two girls, 

and Beryl still see each other nearly daily. 

“She’s just like my own daughter.” 

These girls weren’t the only children 

to find their way into Beryl’s home. If 

children had nowhere to go, due to trouble 

at home, or after a broken marriage, they 

came to live in the small house on Bilgola 

Plateau. 

In 1999 Beryl Driver and Kit Moore, 

dressed as mermaids, and with a lighthouse 

flashing on the roof of the EH 

Holden, became the first female team to 

ever do the NSW Variety Bash. With Beryl’s 

commitment to supporting children doing 

the bash made perfect sense, as it’s one of 

the biggest fundraisers for the children’s 

charity, Variety, and visiting schools is the 

focus of the 10-day drive. 

Beryl drove the EH Holden for the next 

eight years, until her son Bruce, who is a 

welder by trade, said 2006 would have to 

be her last Bash, because the rusty body 

couldn’t be welded any more. The Bash 

had reached Huondon in Queensland, 

when Beryl told another driver, Gordon 

Douglas, that this was her last year, as she 

couldn’t afford another vehicle. 

“Beryl,” he said, “you’ve got to keep 

doing the Bash, you’re an inspiration to us 

all.” That evening Gordon showed Beryl an 

immaculate-looking 1974 Holden station 

wagon. 

“It’s yours,” he said, handing her the 

keys. 

It transpired that the exterior of the 

vehicle was in good shape, but it had 

mechanical problems, so all the parts 

from the first EH Holden went into the new 

one. The result was a rust-free body and a 

working vehicle, and 12 years later it’s still 

going. But because the bash cars have to be 

at least 30 years old, they break down frequently, 

so the Mermaids of Palm Beach, 

Bash Number 2108, travel well prepared. 

“We carry a spare radiator, two axles, 

two spare wheels and tyres, and three 

big plastic containers full of other spare 

parts.” 

She became involved in Bush to Beach 

when Jack Cannons, one of the heads of 

the Bash, founded it in 2005, organising 

through South Narrabeen SLSC for 

children from Brewarrina to come to the 

beach for the week. Beryl became friendly 

with Les and Joyce Doole, the indigenous 

couple coordinating the program in 

Brewarrina. Wanting to help the community 

further she collected clothes for 

both children and adults, and furniture 

for a women and children’s safe house, 

and made regular trips to Brewarrina with 

donations. 

Beryl was very close to the Gonsalves 

family and lived in a house on the waterfront 

next to boatshed for 42 years. She 

weathered several severe storms, and 

knew one was imminent on 5 June 2016. 

By the time she had packed a few belongings 

waves were breaking on the toilet 

block in the wharf car park. 

“I saw green water coming over the car, 

and thought when it breaks, I’m finished, 

because it’ll take the car with it. I put my 

foot down, and shot out onto the road. 

Next morning there were 12 cars written 

off in that car park.” 

The house collapsed, and her bed, furni- 



CLOCKWISE FROM 

OPPOSITE: Long-time car 

enthusiast Beryl Driver at 

home at Bilgola, making 

ready for her 20th NSW 

Variety Bash in August; 

trusty EH Holden – ‘Car 

2108’ – heads off-road; Beryl 

on her wedding day; with 

her Mermaid friends Elyse 

Cole and Viktorija McDonell; 

the Variety Bash provides 

the opportunity to meet 

and help local indigenous 

children. 




ture and belongings were swept away. So, 

she has returned to Bilgola Plateau, where 

she lived when she married and was bringing 

up her family. 

Member for Mackellar, Jason Falinski, 

recently made a speech in Federal Parliament 

about Beryl Driver, describing her as 

“a Mackellar icon… and a truly inspirational 

woman who has given everything 

she has to those in need even at her own 

detriment.” Ever since David Scott sold her 

the car he has been asking her to write a 

book about her life. 

“It’s been a wonderful 85 years,” she 

says, “but I haven’t got time – I’m too busy 

living it.” 

Footnote: You can meet Beryl and the 

Palm Beach Mermaids and check out car 

2108 when Federal MP Jason Falinski 

hosts a sausage sizzle fundraiser at 

Winnererremy Bay Playground Mona 

Vale on Sun 29 from 12.30-2pm. Also, the 

major fundraising dinner will be held 

at Palm Beach RSL on Mon 30 from 7pm. 

Dinner and entertainment $45 per head. 

All proceeds go to Variety the Children’s 

Charity. For tickets call 0410 478 897 or 

Club Palm Beach on 9974 5566 or pop into 

Pronto Cafe Palm Beach. 


* To make a donation go to 

2018varietyb2bbash.everydayhero.com/ 

au/car-2108 



CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Beryl’s former home at Palm Beach before 

it was destroyed by a storm; receiving her Order of Australia Medal; 

toasting with The Mermaids at Cape York; with her beloved 1969 

Plymouth Barracuda; and car 2108’s journey to Broom, when Beryl tipped 

a container of water from the Pacific Ocean into the Indian Ocean. 




Cover Feature 

Life 

without 

plastic 

With China’s recent 

announcement that it 

will no longer accept 

Australia’s waste for 

recycling, and the ABC’s 

War on Waste program 

highlighting that the 

contents of recycling bins 

in some regions end up 

in landfill, people are 

looking at what they can 

do to reduce their use of 

plastics. For Plastic Free 

July, Pittwater Life met 

residents who are focused 

on being part of the 

solution rather than the 

problem. Special report + 

pics by Rosamund Burton

Helga Pike 

’ve always been very 

“I aware of not using 

unnecessary plastic, but 

particularly lately,” says 

79-year-old Helga Pike. As 

the oldest active member of 

the Bayview Bei Loon Dragon 

Boating team at Bayview, and 

a daily swimmer in the Avalon 

ocean pool, she is only too 

conscious of the detrimental 

effect plastics are having on 

our oceans and sea life. 

Helga buys very little 

plastic, because she buys 

predominantly fresh food, 

shopping at the Friday 

Beaches Markets at Rat Park, 

and Avalon Organics, where 

she buys unpackaged dried 

fruit and nuts. She doesn’t 

buy meat in plastic trays from 

the supermarket, choosing 

instead to shop from the 

butcher, because the meat is 

only in a very thin plastic bag 

and wrapped in paper. 

“I do like carbonated 

water, so I used to buy 

bottles of that, but now 

I’ve got a SodaStream,” 

she says. She rushes over 

to the kitchen to make 

me a carbonated water, 

dropping in slices of 

lime from the garden, 

and it tastes delicious. 

Her other new purchase 

is a silicone lid as an 

alternative to cling film 

for sealing food (right). 

She admits she buys 

her milk in a plastic 

bottle and doesn’t want 

to go back to the days 

when she first came with her 

parents from Amsterdam as 

a 10-year-old to the Northern 

Beaches, and the milkman put 

milk in a billycan. 

“Birds often flipped off the 

lid, or there was debris in it,” 

she recalls. 

Helga loves blueberries 

and raspberries and is 

frustrated she can only 

buy them in plastic 

containers. 

“In my lifetime, I 

would love to see them 

presented in more 

eco-friendly packaging, 

like cardboard, but I’m 

not going to stop eating 

them.” 

But whenever possible 

Helga makes the choice 

to avoid or reduce the 

use of plastic, and 

her Avalon Heights 

neighbour, Kim Swaby, 

says she has the least 

rubbish of anyone she 

knows. 

“On weekly red bin nights, 

she has one little bag at the 

bottom of her rubbish bin.” 

Celebrate 

plastic-free 

There’s little doubt 

the vibrant and 

environmentally conscious 

groups on the northern 

beaches are leading the way 

towards a single-use-plasticsfree 

community. 

For the first time ocean 

conservation charity Living 

Ocean will host a huge day 

of beach cleans, great food, 

live music, workshops, face 

painting, films and so much 

more to showcase all the great 

work our community is doing 

in order to live a Plastic Free 

Life. 

Everyone is invited to 

Barrenjoey High School, off 

Tasman Road in Avalon, from 

10am-4pm on Saturday 28 July 

for a day of love for our planet. 

Hear from the discussion 

panel of community and 

environmental leaders as they 

get stuck into the plastics 

situation. 

Take part in the hands-on 

Bees Wax Wraps workshop 

and make your own nonplastic 

food wraps or make 

Boomerang Bags, or learn how 

to recycle efficiently. 

Walk through the Avalon 

Community Garden and visit 

the chooks. 

There will be educational 

demonstrations and ecofriendly 

stalls selling things 

such as sustainable t-shirts or 

zero-waste reusable wooden 

cutlery sets. 

Meet the dedicated folks 

from Living Ocean, Wander 

Lightly, Sea Shepherd, 

Surfrider, Green Team, Take 3, 

Kimbriki, Wander Lightly and 

more. – Lisa Offord 

Cover Feature 

Café culture has an appetite for change 

When Surfrider Foundation 

Australia’s Ocean Friendly 

program rep Rowan Hanley took on the 

gig of encouraging businesses to take 

action to reduce single-use plastics she 

knew cafes, food providers and bars 

up our way would be quick to get on 

board. 

Since April, Rowan has been able 

to certify more than 22 northern 

beaches businesses that have set 

high standards of environmental 

accountability and sustainability to 

protect the planet. 

To be accredited as Ocean Friendly, 

businesses must not use polystyrene, 

plastic take-away packaging or 

containers, plastic bags, plastic cutlery, 

plastic straws, plastic water bottles; 

and they must also adhere to the 

proper recycling practices appropriate 

to their local areas. 

Other sustainable practices are also 

encouraged but are not mandatory 

such as discounts for customers who 

bring their own keep cups, water 

conservation efforts, energy efficient 

appliances and sustainable food 

procurement. 

Rowan says it seems that customers 

appreciate businesses that not only 

do things well but have “soul and 

purpose” and they respond in kind 

with patronage. 

Businesses interested in becoming 

Ocean Friendly are encouraged 

to send an email to operations@ 

surfrider.com.au or rhanley@ 

surfrider.org.au. 

– LO 



Kane, Mavournee, Ivy & Beau Georgeson 

The Georgeson family, Kane 

and Mavournee, and their 

daughter, Ivy, and son, Beau, 

live in Avalon. At first glance 

their spacious family home 

seems no different to any 

other. However, four-year-old 

Ivy doesn’t show me a range 

of plastic toys, but instead a 

basket of ceramic shapes she 

made with her grandmother, 

and a large white wooden 

doll’s house (bottom left) 

containing only wooden 

furniture. In two-year-old 

Beau’s room is a big basket 

full of wooden building 

blocks, with ‘Beau’ and ‘Ivy’ 

carved on them, which Kane 

made. 

“The kids do have some 

plastic toys, but they have 

mostly been given to us,” 

Kane explains, “or are 

second hand from Vinnies.” 

The Georgesons have a 

box of organic fruit and veg 

delivered weekly from The 

Organic Scarecrow. 

“Blueberries are a great 

treat, because we only get 

them in our produce box 

when they’re in season, or 

we go fruit picking,” says 

Mavournee. 

Their large pantry 

cupboard is filled with glass 

jars (below right). 

“We try to use all glass 

jars, but when we run out 

I use Tupperware,” says 

Mavournee. “We’ve been 

given a lot of Tupperware, as 

I’m a big accepter of things.” 

Mavournee is doing a 

Bachelor of Sustainability 

through the University of 

New England, and admits 

that she has been inspired 

by Bea Johnson’s book, Zero 

Waste Home. The decisions 

she makes are based not 

only on not using plastic, 

but also using items which 

would otherwise go to 

waste. 

They buy their dried 

foods, such as rice, flour, 

sugar, salt and pulses, and 

also herbs and spices, at 

either Scoop at Mona Vale 

or The Source Bulk Foods 

in Warriewood. When 

they buy meat, they take 

a Pyrex container for it 

to the butcher. As a cake 

decorator by profession, 

Mavournee enjoys cooking 

and happily makes all 

their food from scratch. 

When it comes to nappies 

they’ve used a combination 

environmentally friendly 

disposals and cloth ones. 

Kane admits that he isn’t 

someone who likes change 

but is pleasantly surprised 

to find reducing their use of 

plastic requires very little 

extra effort. 

“Lining the bin with 

newspaper is no harder than 

putting a plastic bag in.” 

With their two young 

children, they are 

determined to make 

conscious choices, and this 

extends to Kane’s irrigation 

business for residential 

gardens. The cylinders for 

his wire he returns to the 

supplier and are reused, 

and he’s found an outlet 

which recycles old poly pipe. 

However, he’s still searching 

for a company that can 

recycle hard plastic taps 

and materials which are a 

combination of metal and 

plastic. 

“Those are under the 

house in five big cardboard 

boxes, until I can figure out 

what to do with them.” 

Cover Feature 

Be consistent in your focus on the Big Four 

There are plenty of ways to reduce 

waste and its impact on the 

environment – the best part is you don’t 

have to make a drastic change to make an 

impact… you just have to be consistent. 

If you haven’t already, start by 

reducing the use of the ‘Big Four’ we 

can’t ignore – plastic bags, plastic bottles, 

takeaway coffee cups and plastic straws. 

Need a plan? 

Take your own shopping bags – keep 

them by the front door, in the car or 

folded up in your handbag so you 

don’t forget them. If you find yourself 

at the register without a bag and you 

buy too many goods to carry, ask the 

store for a box rather than fall into the 

habit of buying those heavier reusable 

plastic bags, which will eventually end 

up in landfill. 

Carry a reusable coffee cup – many 

cafes will reward your effort by giving 

you a discount on their brew. 

Use a reusable water bottle – there 

are plenty of cold-water re-fill stations 

to utilise while you are out and 

about. Say no to plastic straws and 

cutlery – BYO stainless steel reusable 

straws and eco-friendly utensils. 

– LO 



Cover Feature 

Sarah Tait 

My final visit is to 41-yearold 

New Zealand-born Sarah 

Tait in Newport. In October 

2014, she went on a yoga retreat 

to a small Tongan island with 

Avalon-based yoga teacher, 

Denby Sheather. Finding a large 

sheet of polystyrene floating 

in the ocean, while on a boat 

whale watching, promoted a 

group conversation about the 

Great Pacific Garbage Patch and 

marine pollution. Sarah woke 

at 4am the following morning 

resolving to stop using plastic 

for a year and write a blog 

about it (wanderinglightly.com). 

“On 1 January 2015, I went 

plastic-free, and my rule was, if 

I did get any, I had to keep it.” 

In her kitchen cupboard, she 

had 182 food items packaged 

in single-use plastic, so bought 

bundles of glass jars from op 

shops, and transferred all the 

food items into those. She didn’t 

use teabags, explaining that 

most teabags, although they 

look like paper, are woven with 

a fine plastic, or the edges are 

sealed with a layer of plastic. 

When I mention that sometimes 

I baulk at the cost of 

an item in a bulk food store, 

because I know I can buy it in 

a plastic bottle in the supermarket 

for a sixth of the price, 

Sarah replies: 

“I’ve found reducing plastic 

you’re more mindful about 

what you buy. That first year I 

was a real purist, and I saved 

so much money. Partly because 

I wasn’t buying packaged food 

and instead making my own.” 

Sarah has continued to be 

a minimal user of plastic, but 

admits that sometimes her 

partner Dwane and she buy potato 

chips or corn thins, which 

come in a plastic wrapper. However, 

they both keep containers 

in their cars, so if they decide 

to get takeaway they ask for the 

meal to be put in those. Also, 

Sarah takes her own containers 

to delicatessens. 

In her bathroom, she shows 

me their bamboo-handled 

toothbrushes, and a shampoo 

soap bar. 

“I rinse my hair with cider 

vinegar, and if it feels a bit dry 

I rub some coconut oil on the 

ends,” she explains. 

Then she holds up her metal 

razor, and says the packet of 

blades cost $5 and lasts her a 

year. 

She used to make her own 

toothpaste, but now buys it, 

and recycles the tubes through 

TerraCycle, which offers free 

recycling of dental products, as 

well as hair and beauty products 

and coffee capsules. 

However, she does make, and 

sell, her own her natural deodorant. 

She also sells reusable 

metal straws which come with 

a cleaner, plus chopsticks and 

wooden cutlery sets made from 

recycled wood by local communities 

in Indonesia (above). 

For anyone trying to use less 

plastic Mavournee suggests 

starting with the big four – 

plastic bags, straws, coffee 

cups and plastic bottles. 

“My partner has a reusable 

coffee cup, and gets a coffee 

every day, so that’s 300-odd 

takeaway cups a year saved. I 

think it’s about doing what you 

can and what works for your 

lifestyle,” says Sarah. 

Boomerang Bags’ new direction 

After two years of creating 

thousands of re-useable 

Boomerang Bags for local 

shoppers in Avalon to borrow 

and share and finding many 

don’t make it back, volunteers 

are now making more bags for 

supporters to call their own. 

Carrying the logo “bought to 

support” an increasing number 

of bags are now made for sale 

at markets and community 

stalls. Boomerang Bags 

always welcomes volunteers 

to ‘sew’ the seeds of change 

by providing a sustainable 

alternative to plastic bags. 

If you can’t sew there are 

other ways to get involved and 

if you want to learn how to 

sew there are plenty of patient 

people willing to teach you. 

Volunteers meet at the Avalon 

Community Centre on Tuesdays 

from 11am-3pm – if you can’t 

attend during the day there are 

kits available to take away and 

do in your own time. 

For further info contact 

boomerangbagsavalon@ 

hotmail.com or phone Laurel 

0410 608 315. – LO 



What a difference 

a year makes... 

Over the past 12 months Northern 

Beaches Council has adopted policies to 

reduce single-use plastics and reduce waste 

within the organisation and the wider 

community. 

Currently Council’s Coastal Environment 

Centre is driving an innovative program 

to eliminate single-use plastic in school 

canteens and significantly cut the amount 

of waste schools produce across the 

northern beaches. 

Major supermarkets have now stopped 

offering single use plastic bags to shoppers 

and pledged to reduce plastic wrap on fruit 

and vegies, meat and poultry and replace 

packaging with recycled and renewable 

materials. 

Customers can now drop soft plastics 

at supermarket ‘REDcycle’ bins so the 

material can be converted into products 

including outdoor furniture and road base. 

To reduce litter from drink containers, 

return and earn Reverse Vending Machines 

have popped up at Warriewood near the 

indoor sports centre and at Pittwater RSL 

Club, Mona Vale where people can receive 

a 10-cent refund for each empty glass, cans 

and plastic container deposited. – LO 

Cover Feature 



Beaches Living 

Warm up to winter 

When winter bites we 

naturally spend more 

time inside, rearranging 

interiors to add warmth to 

our home, planning improvements 

and tackling those 

necessary jobs that are often 

put off when sunny days and 

blue skies demand we enjoy 

the great outdoors 

To help take the chill off 

the season we’ve brought together 

some tips and a directory 

of local experts who can 

help you create a home that’s 

functional, warm and bright. 

Compiled by Lisa Offord 

Focus on 

what works 

Is your home working for you? 

The specialists at Sydney Design 

School suggest you start by asking 

some tough questions about 

whether your home fits your 

current lifestyle such as; 

Can people move around 

your living spaces easily? 

Do you need more seating 

and is it comfortable? 

Are all areas of your home 

well used? 

And if not, can they take on 

a new life? 

Be productive and sort 

through cupboards, shelves 

and storage areas and declutter 

– sell or donate furniture 

and objects you don’t use or 

love and in return allow your 

most beautiful possessions 

the space to shine. 

Think carefully before you 

bring new pieces into your 

home – do they bring you joy 

and enhance the space? Do 

they work with your home’s 

colour palette? 

Speak to an interior designer 

or book yourself into a 

course so you can achieve the 

look and feel you want without 

making mistakes along 

the way. 

Comfort rules 

Take stock of how you heat 

your home and how your 

home retains the heat. 

Use passive design principles 

to increase comfort and 

reduce energy use. 

Assess insulation in the 

roof, walls and floor and take 

steps to stop draughts breezing 

through – check around 

doors, windows, in between 

floorboards, chimneys and 

around exhaust fans and seal 

up. 

To save energy, zone your 

home and only heat the rooms 

you are using, closing doors 

to prevent heat escaping into 

unused spaces. 

It also pays to keep your 

blinds open during the day 

to allow sunshine to warm up 

your rooms before the temperature 

drops at night. 

At night, use heavy curtains 

to block draughts and insulate 

your windows from the cold. 

And check your ventilation 

is up to scratch; the last thing 

you want in winter is constant 

condensation on your windows 

and damp and mould on 

your walls and ceilings. 

You can instantly add 

warmth to a room by introducing 

layers of plush textiles in 

fluffy faux fur, luxe velvets 

and wool. 

Things like cushions, 

throws, sheepskins, floor rugs 

and heavy curtains in a blend 

of different materials will 

instantly add an element of 

cosiness to a home. 

Simply overlapping rugs on 

floors and adding cushions 

and chunky knit throws on 

sofas, chairs and beds are 

not only bang on trend but 

can also prevent heat from 

escaping. 

Take the coldness off bare 

walls with framed photographs 

and artwork you love. 

Light candles, switch to 

low-wattage bulbs in side and 

floor lamps and string up interesting 

lights to provide yet 

another layer of warmth and 

ambiance in your home. 

It’s cool to 

work now 

Maintaining your home and 

contents by protecting surfaces, 

replacing and repairing 

worn fixtures and furnishings 

and fixing leaks and cracks 

when they first appear can 

prevent the need for much 

bigger and more expensive 

jobs. 



Don’t wait for spring! Even 

the simple act of keeping 

furniture, floors and fixtures 

clean and not letting dust and 

dirt build up will help keep 

your home in tip-top shape. 

Regular TLC – yes even 

outside in the colder months – 

will pay off in the long run. 

Check your roof, skylights, 

windows and keep gutters 

free and clear as neglect can 

lead to leaks, flooding and 

major internal damage. 

Make sure you get advice 

from a builder before conducting 

any major work. 

Having the exterior of your 

house professionally washed 

HEATING 

yourhome.gov.au/energy/ 

heating-and-cooling 

INTERIORS 

Sydney Design School 

sydneydesignschool.com.au 

9437 1902 

Antique General Store 

antiquegeneralstore.com.au 

9913 7636 

Peninsula Reflections 

Custom framing and gallery 

4 Daydream St Warriewood 

peninsulareflections.com.au 

9979 4488 

AWNINGS, BLINDS 

AND CURTAINS 

SunSpec 

Opening roofs and awnings 

sunspec.com.au 

0413 737 934 

Shades of Pittwater 

1731 Pittwater Rd Mona Vale 

shadesofpittwater.luxaflex. 

will remove mould as well as 

grime and significantly extend 

the life of its paint job. 

And if your home is on the 

‘dark side’ simply cleaning 

windows, skylights, louvered 

roofs or replacing old ones can 

instantly brighten things up. 

A good-quality louvered 

roof can give you the flexibility 

to control the light, provide 

ventilation and view the sky 

when you want to. 

Bring new life to furniture 

by having leather furniture 

and fabric covers professionally 

cleaned and replacing 

uncomfortable cushion inserts 

with new supportive ones. 

com.au 

9999 6001 

HOUSEWASHING 

The Aqua Clean Team 

Call Mark 0449 049 101 

Martin Earl House Wash 

Call Martin 0405 583 305 

UPHOLSTERY 

Leather Hero 

0490 796 012 

Luxafoam North 

luxafoamnorth.com.au 

9999 5567 

Essyou Design 

0422 466 880 

Avalon Marine Upholstery 

9918 9803 

FLOOR COVERINGS 

Blue Tongue Carpets 

Showroom – 1 Polo Ave 

Mona Vale 

9979 7292 

Rug Revival 

Heating can dry out leather 

and cause cracks – a thorough 

clean and condition can address 

this issue. 

Thinking of the bigger 

picture? Winter is a great time 

to plan major renovations 

and updates to kitchens and 

bathrooms – flick through 

magazines and websites and 

visit showrooms for inspiration. 

And if you want your home 

in the best shape it can be for 

spring and summer beat the 

rush and line up your tradies 

now. 

For more info and local services 

contact… 

aglcarpetservices.com.au 

9997 8888 

Karavan 

373 Barrenjoey Rd Newport 

0412 259 268 

KITCHENS 

Collaroy Kitchen Centre 

Showroom - 1000 Pittwater 

Rd Collaroy 

collaroykitchen.com.au 

9972 9300 

Northern Suburbs 

Water Filters 

Showroom – 6/20 Bungan St 

Mona Vale 

9979 5855 

BUILDER 

Renovations and repairs/all 

carpentry needs 

Rob Burgers 9973 1455 or 

0416 066 159 

Eco Corner 

How 

refreshing 

to walk into a 

major super 

market in 

late June 

to discover 

their singleuse 

plastic 

bags have 

with 

Jono Burke 

disappeared! If the biggest 

businesses in Australia can 

help make a difference to our 

environment then we should 

all follow their leads. 

The consumption of nonrenewable 

sources like oil, 

gas and coal is increasing at 

an alarming rate. The time 

has come to look at other 

renewable sources of energy 

i.e. solar, wind and geothermal 

energy. 

The main benefit of solar 

energy is that it does not 

produce any pollutants and 

is one of the cleanest sources 

of energy. It requires low 

maintenance and the systems 

are easy to install. The only 

limitation is that it cannot be 

used at night and the amount 

of sunlight that is received on 

earth depends on location, 

time of day, time of year, and 

weather conditions. Australia is 

the sunburnt country so there’s 

plenty of sun to go around! 

The main components of 

a solar system are the solar 

panels, used to capture the 

energy and the solar inverter, 

which in turn is used to convert 

the energy from DC (Direct 

Current) to AC (Alternating 

Current) in your property. 

Inverters now have the 

ability to convert the energy 

ready for storage, most 

commonly into Lithium 

batteries that have become 

cost-effective. This allows the 

solar energy you are producing 

to power your property 

through the night time hours 

when there is no sunlight. 

The technology is as good 

as it has ever been and the 

payback periods have reduced 

dramatically (some cases 

down to two years) to make 

going solar a cost-effective 

investment for your family or 

business. So start saving the 

planet, one roof at a time… 

* Jono is a Partner with Solar 

Energy Enterprises 

Beaches Living 



Art Life 


Curate escape 

Mona Vale photographer 

Pamela Pauline says 

curating the northern 

beaches’ new private hospital 

Arcadia Pittwater with 70 pieces 

of her artwork was one of the 

most challenging yet rewarding 

experiences of her career. 

Pamela’s works cover the 

rooms and corridors of three 

floors at the hospital which 

opened in February. They 

include scenes of water, birds, 

trees and other flora and fauna. 

Pamela approached the 

directors of the hospital with 

a proposal after hearing they 

were looking to install artworks. 

They approved, and she then 

met with the hospital’s Interior 

Design Team at Billard Leece. 

“We worked closely to select 

the photos and it helped me understand 

their colour scheme, 

so that I could ensure that my 

works were coordinated and 

enhanced their design,” she 

said. “Thereafter the selection 

was curated with the purpose of 

illuminating the extraordinary 

beauty of Pittwater’s natural 

environment.” 

The word ‘Arcadia’ played a 

role in the curation. 

“Arcadia in old Greek means 

‘a vision of pastoralism and harmony 

with nature’,” Pamela said. 

“As such, the artworks selected 

for this facility were congruent 

with this vision, offering patients 

a sense of connectivity to 

nature, facilitating 

a reprieve from 

their discomfort 

and a sense of 

wellness and 

hope.” 

She purposefully 

veered away 

from images of negativity, or 

those with too much energy 

such as powerful storm fronts 

or crashing waves. 

“The works are 100 per cent 

photographic, but myriad 

processing techniques are used 

to create the final piece,” she 

said. “Of course, there are also 

images that just capture an 

incredible moment in time.” 

The lobby, banquette and 

meeting rooms showcase large 

Arcadia in old 

Greek means 

‘a vision of 

pastoralism’ 

works printed onto metal and 

encased in an artbox frame. 

The lobby features a smooth, 

long-exposure wave in a triptych 

comprised of three 1.5m x 

1m prints on metal. 

“For the banquette artwork, 

we used a triptych again, with 

three 1m x 1m prints on metal 

of the beautiful rocks down at 

Flint and Steel 

Beach at West 

Head,” said 

Pamela. 

The other 

works in the 

hospital have 

been printed 

onto canvas. They are generally 

grouped in themes along 

corridors – ocean pools as you 

walk towards the pool and gym; 

birds in trees in another corridor; 

sailboats and ocean scenes 

in another. 

“The feedback received 

suggests that using one artist 

throughout provides a sense of 

continuity, calm and cohesion,” 

said Pamela. 

“I have been thrilled to receive 

several emails from patients 

and visitors to the hospital commenting 

about their pleasure in 

viewing the artworks. During 

my visits, I have enjoyed engaging 

with patients – their curiosity 

and affinity with the images 

has been heartwarming.” 

Arcadia Pittwater Director 

Dr Harry Pannu said Pamela’s 

artworks were chosen because 

they wanted bespoke photos 

of local landscape, fauna and 

flora to suit the hospital and its 

northern beaches location. 

“We reviewed Pamela’s previous 

work and found that her 

artistic touch created a sense of 

serenity and calmness to the patients 

of the hospital,” Dr Pannu 

said. “It is also fantastic to be 

able to showcase the talents of 

a local northern beaches artist.” 

* You can view Pamela’s other 

works in her new home studio/ 

gallery on Mona Vale headland 

(by appointment only); she is 

also offering creative workshops 

in the studio. More info 

0412 234 675. 

– Nigel Wall 



Arts and crafts on show 

Members of the Artists and Craftsmen of 

Pittwater are hunkered in their studios 

painting and creating new work for their next 

exhibition and sale at Mona Vale Memorial Hall 

on July 19-21. 

Two new artists who have joined their number 

will exhibit – Patricio Polanski will take the 

art viewer on a colourful storytelling journey 

with his vibrant acrylic paintings, while Carol 

Altman who has won awards at the St Ives 

Show will be exhibiting oil paintings depicting 

beach and landscapes. 

Popular artist Linda Joyce, who was a finalist 

in the Hunters Hill Art Show this year, will be 

bringing her amazingly 

detailed work 

to the winter exhibition. 

Linda has 

also won many of 

the ACOP ‘People’s 

Choice’ art awards. 

Organisers 

promise a diverse 

collection from 

their other team 

of artists, with oil 

paintings, acrylic 

art, water colour 

and mixed media all at affordable prices. 

Meanwhile, crafters will display patchwork, 

jewellery, porcelain, wooden burls, handpainted 

art cards and wooden gifts, quilling, 

knitted baby wear and toys, felted toys and 

play mats, silk scarves, paper tole, children’s 

clothing (including new designs by Ruth), 

cushions, folk art, silver wire jewellery, glass, 

felt mermaids and creatures for children, 

embroidery plus a few Christmas-themed 

items for sale. (Great to send overseas or to 

celebrate ‘Christmas in July’). 

The exhibition and sale is open each day 

(Thursday through Saturday) from 9am-4pm. 

More info on Facebook or www.acop.com.au 






Coco warms 

to career 

Coco Tully was still studying at 

Sydney Design School when she 

decided to launch her own business 

Cote Interiors in Manly. 

A former fashion buyer and merchandiser, 

Coco graduated with a 

Diploma in Interior Design and Decoration 

from SDS in December 2017. 

“When I decided to change 

careers and study interior design, I 

just assumed I would work for someone else for a few years to 

learn the ropes,” Coco said. 

But towards the end of her course at SDS she had what she 

described as a “bit of an Aha! moment”. 

“I asked myself why I was putting off my ultimate goal when 

I was already armed with a comprehensive design education 

and business knowledge from my previous career,” she said. 

Coco was amazed at how much she has learnt in the past 18 

months about design, about business and about herself. 

“When I enrolled, I didn’t know how to read a technical 

drawing and now I can whip one up in AutoCAD. 

“I can also tell you about Australian Trademark laws, 

accounting platforms, and tile slip ratings – things I knew 

absolutely zero about before,” she said. 

Sydney Design School is currently taking enrolments for its 

next major intake starting July 23 (see ad p41). – LO 

Towering presence 

series of assemblages 

A expressing fascination with 

the architecture of religious 

worship is the focus of inventive 

Sydney sculptor Geoff Harvey’s 

latest exhibition at the 

Manly Art Gallery & Museum. 

Opening on July 13, Harvey’s 

works – all made from 

recycled materials – reference 

distinctive Christian domes 

and columns of Western sacred 

architecture, with others 

evocative of Eastern philosophy 

with slender minarets and 

finely proportioned towers. 

MAG&M senior curator Katherine 

Roberts said all conveyed 

a dignity and clarity 

of proportion that 

transcended 

the materials’ 

humble 

origins. 

“Together 

in this 

installation 

they speak 

of an overriding humanity,” she 

said. 

Much of what Geoff makes 

comes from the streets and 

beaches of the Manly area, 

courtesy of his long-time friend 

and local resident Rudi Wolf. 

“Like Geoff, Rudi has a passion 

for recycling materials and 

during his daily walks he often 

picks up unusual things he 

knows Geoff may use in his art 

practice,” said Ms Roberts. 

“They are both pleased that 

instead of becoming landfill 

these objects have been reinvented 

as art.” 

Geoff Harvey has appeared 

in numerous group exhibitions 

in Australia, 

England and 

USA including 

Sculpture by the 

Sea, Sydney. 

More info on 

the Council 

website or 

9976 1421. 



It’s ‘still’ 

rock ’n’ roll 

Artist Phil Meatchem 

is looking forward to 

“rocking” the local community 

with his innovative solo 

exhibition ‘

Surfing Life 


Make a critical incident 

safety net your priority 

The Indo surfari follow-up: here’s what to do to protect yourself on a trip... 

Last month’s piece on 

the perils of travelling 

to remote Indonesian 

surf zones drew a lot of 

responses. Like, a LOT. 

Many people recounted their 

experiences and those of 

others, either stuff they’d 

witnessed or just heard about 

through the coconut wireless. 

One of the issues with 

assessing surf travel risk in 

this part of the world is the 

lack of statistical evidence; 

not even travel insurance 

companies keep detailed tabs 

on such things. We tallied the 

responses, matched them up 

with our own research, and 

came up with five deaths in 

the past six years, two being 

surf guides who drowned on 

duty. Also a very broad and 

rather magnificent collection 

of injuries/illnesses, 

including loss of eyes, neardisembowellings, 

severe head 

injuries, heart attacks, broken 

bones (compounded and 

otherwise), dislocations, and 

the classic dengue fevers and 

malarias. 

Talking with resort owners 

and operators revealed a 

different picture: one in which 

some boats and camps are 

well-resourced in safety and 

care, but are relied upon in 

emergencies by other, less- 

organised operators, who run 

on luck and the good graces 

of their betters. As Gavan 

Clark, a former paramedic 

and long-time surfer who 

now runs a first aid training 

program for Indo surf guides, 

says: “The cowboys end up 

relying on the established 

operators to get them out of 

trouble.” 

Some resorts hire specialist 

trainers like Clark and his 

team to coach their guides in 

lifeguard skills and help them 

stock up on gear like oxygen 

and defibrillators; others even 

provide free accommodation 

for doctors or paramedics 

who want a surf holiday. And 

some third parties are trying 

to make a difference. Surfing 

Doctors, an organisation of 

around 40 docs worldwide, 

have set up an infirmary at 

the renowned Grajagan surf 

camp in eastern Java – but it’s 

at the surfing docs’ expense. 

Further north, at Lagundri 

Bay on the island of Nias, 

Australian ophthalmology 

specialist Dr Raf Ghabrial 

is helping drive the set-up 

of a not-for-profit medical 

clinic to service locals and 

travelling surfers alike. (You 

can help by donating funds to 

friendsofnias.org). 

This is all great stuff; 

WIPEOUT WOES: Don’t get caught out when surfing overseas. 

Lagundri and Grajagan have 

seen some horrendous 

injuries and deaths over the 

years. But it’s far from the 

norm, and no rules, either 

within the travel industry or 

local governments, govern 

the supply of such training or 

expertise. 

Here are a few tips for you 

or any of yours who might 

be planning such a trip: 

with Nick Carroll 

Get good travel insurance. 

This is a must. It should 

cover medical evacuation 

from remote places (many 

insurance policies only work 

within 25 kilometres of a 

significant town) and should 

have no cap on medical 

expenses. Pay the extra. 

Do your homework. Make 

sure you know how prepared 

(or not) your resort or boat 



PL’s JULY SURF CALENDAR 

July 2-13: Corona Open J-Bay, Jeffreys Bay, South Africa 

Last year this was the best event on the WSL Championship Tour. 

Best surf, best single wave ridden, best win from Brazil’s Filipe 

Toledo. When it’s on fire, Jeffreys Bay is an overwhelming surf 

experience: big, broad, fast, hollow, technically challenging, and 

not without consequences, as even Kelly Slater can attest. (Another 

feature of last year was Kelly breaking his foot in a wipeout, an 

injury from which he is yet to fully recover.) This year it’s a double 

header, with a long overdue women’s CT added to the program; 

it’s also the tour’s hinge event, being sixth out of 11 stops on the 

CT. Super critical in other words. But there’s two big risks at J-Bay. 

One – sharks – we all know about courtesy of Mick Fanning’s 2015 

moment. The other is inconsistency. The joint pumped last year 

for 11 days straight, but its coastal angle and shadowing behind 

Cape St Francis further west means it’s just as likely to be flat. 

Here’s hoping it isn’t. 

NICK’S JULY SURF FORECAST 

The Bureau of Meteorology thinks this will be a dry winter. Me, I think 

the end of June may mean the onset of a colossal and frightening 

flat spell. Sydney has not had a real winter flat spell for many, many 

years, not since the winter of 1979, in fact. Back then it went flat at 

the start of June and nothing happened until the end of July. I mean, 

it literally was flat for almost two months. This may well occur again 

from the beginning of July through to the end of August, when it 

looks as if a succession of long-range westerly wind fronts will pass 

across south-eastern Australia, bringing cool dry winds, relatively 

warm conditions, and very little opportunity in the way of swell. 

Truly, truly I hope this does not happen and instead we experience a 

continuation of June, an energetic and explosive month during which 

all kinds of weather nonsense happened and several big swells 

landed on our doorstep. But I can’t see June turning into July. Get 

ready for a very boring surf month. 

Nick Carroll 


operator is in case of an 

emergency, or just a small 

injury for that matter. Can 

they pull off a medical 

evacuation in a crisis? The 

way things are at present, 

your research and your 

choice will come back to you, 

not to them. 

Take your own stuff. A 

simple but useful first aid 

kit can be found at many 

pharmacies or online. Surf 

travel agents often stock kits; 

they’ll happily point you to 

one of the numerous surf first 

aid kits available from various 

websites. Expect to pay $60 to 

$80 for a good one. 

Stay hydrated. This is a big 

one for surfers coming from 

a cool Aussie winter straight 

into equatorial climes. Beer 

won’t do it. Drink a lot of 

water, especially early in the 

day before you do too much 

surfing, and when you’re not in 

the water, stay out of the sun. 


Listen to the guides. A lot 

of injuries happen when 

surfers overstep their limits 

in unfamiliar surfing territory. 

A good guide knows when 

to encourage a client and 

when to advise discretion. 

Don’t do something you know 

you can’t do just because 

someone else on your trip can 

do it – or worse, because your 

mates egg you on. 

Most of all: make it an issue. 

Let booking agents, resorts, 

charters, owners and guides 

know that a critical incident 

safety net is part of your trip 

decision and really matters to 

you. Every person we’d talked 

with by Pittwater Life’s press 

time told us they thought 

the main factor in change 

will prove to be customer 

pressure. The more surfers 

demand better crisis care on 

trips, the more resorts and 

charters will feel encouraged 

to provide it. 


Health & Wellbeing 


Dragon boaters fire 

up for good cause 

Angie O’Reilly, a member 

of Bei Loon Dragon 

Boat Club and Pittwater 

Pinks, was diagnosed with 

high-grade breast cancer in 

2002 and given a 65 per cent 

chance of not making five 

years. 

Angie, whose 

treatment over a 

12-month period included 

two surgeries, 

seven months 

of chemotherapy 

and seven weeks of 

radiotherapy, said 

she was determined 

to beat the odds 

and to be around 

“way longer” than 

five years. 

“So here I am 

nearly 16 years 

later, stronger than 

ever.” 

She credits Dragons Abreast 

Australia and dragon boating 

for “giving me my life back – 

and I am fitter than I have ever 

been, both in mind and body.” 

Angie explained she was introduced 

to dragon boating in 

2004 by her Breast 

Care Nurse. 

“A study undertaken 

in Canada in 

1996 determined 

that upper body 

exercise and, in 

particular, dragon 

boating was not 

only safe but 

beneficial to breast 

cancer survivors 

both physically 

and, equally as 

important, psychologically,” 

Angie 

said. 

She said Dragon 

Boating for breast cancer survivors 

began in Australia with the 

organisation Dragons Abreast 

Australia (DAA) in 1998. 

Angie has been paddling for 

13 years and will be competing 

in two International events 

this month. The first is an International 

Breast Cancer Paddlers 

Commission Festival in 

Florence, Italy with 24 of her 

breast cancer survivor teammates 

which will see some 

200 crews (4,000+) individuals 

from all over the World. 

Then she’s off to the Club 

Crew World Championships in 

Szeged, Hungary, where the 

Bei Loon over-40s Women’s 

crew qualified alongside only 

two other Australian crews to 

join a total 500 crews from 

across the world. The team of 

23 paddlers will be competing 

against 14 other international 

crews over race distances of 

200m, 500m and 2000m. 

In preparation, the Bei Loon 

Ladies have undertaken a gruelling 

program which includes 

four ‘on water’ training session 

per week. 

Steve McKeogh, Bei Loon’s 

Head Coach, said: “This team 

has made a huge commitment, 

right from the start of 

the season. It has been an 

inspirational journey already, 

before we even leave home. 

“The competition overseas 

is going to be tough, we’re 

up against teams with a huge 

membership base and a 



history of being very strong 

at this level of competition. 

Having earned the honour of 

representing Australian clubs 

and racing alongside them 

means there are no losers 

at this World event and the 

chance of a huge achievement 

if we can beat them!” 

When she’s not training 

and competing, Angie works 

to spread the word about 

the Dragons Abreast Festival 

which will be held on Saturday 

October 20 at Darling 

Harbour. 

The festival’s Corporate and 

Community Challenge, involving 

hundreds of passionate 

people of all ages, gender and 

fitness levels racing 12-metre 

dragon boats, is the major 

fundraiser for DAA which helps 

thousands thrive in their lives 

after breast cancer treatment. 

Businesses and community 

groups are encouraged to 

get together a group of 16-24 

people, enter a team and get 

training – if you have never 

paddled there’s plenty of support 

to show you how. 

For more information go 

to dragonsabreastfestival. 

com.au 

– Lisa Offord 






Next Gen contact lenses: 

seeing without specs 

Patients over 40 love contact 

lenses, but losing flexibility 

in reading vision presents some 

challenges. 

The latest technology in 

multifocal contact lens designs 

can keep those needing reading 

glasses free from specs for most 

daily activities. Imagine driving 

to a restaurant and then reading 

a menu in dim lighting without 

the need to pull out readers and 

show your age. 

People love contact lenses for 

convenience, lifestyle and providing 

excellent vision. For some 

the advantage of visual clarity 

becomes a challenge when they 

reach their 40s and experience 

the onset of presbyopia (problems 

focussing at near). Suddenly 

their spectacle-free world 

is invaded by reading glasses. 

For many of my patients, multifocal 

contact lenses provide 

a solution that allows them to 

continue to enjoy freedom from 

everyday spectacle wear. 

But not all multifocal contact 

lenses are equal… 

Just like spectacles, multifocal 

contact lenses come in a variety 

of designs and technologies 

that can suit each individual 

patient differently. Each design 

may interact differently with the 

brain and eyes, and the material 

may interact differently with the 

ocular surface. 

Each patient’s visual processing, 

ergonomics and lifestyle 

is different. Certain designs 

work better for certain patients. 

Sometimes it’s trial and error. I 

use simple language to illustrate 

the difference between multifocal 

spectacle lenses: “Not every 

shoe or pair of pants fits the 

same. They may all be the same 

size, but some will feel more 

comfortable than others. Our 

job is to find the right fit.” It’s 

similar with multifocal contacts; 

we can find the right lenses for 

individuals with great vision and 

comfort all day. 

The lifestyle questionnaire we 

use for all patients is particularly 

helpful in perfecting multifocal 

prescriptions. The questionnaire 

asks about work and hobbies, 

so we know how reliant an individual 

is on detailed, up-close 

vision versus the need for sharp 

distance vision. For example, 

one patient may love to do embroidery 

as a hobby and use a 

computer all day at work, therefore 

having high near demands, 

while another patient may be on 

the road driving a lot for work 

with Rowena Beckenham 

requiring superb distance vision. 

I ask progressive spectacle 

wearers if they have heard of 

multifocal contact lenses, pointing 

out from their lifestyle form 

where in their lives I think they 

could benefit from contacts that 

allow them to see both near and 

far. On the Northern Beaches 

this often relates to sporting 

and outdoor pursuits, such as 

reading on the beach, the computer, 

on a bike and the need 

to see clearly into the distance, 

or when out walking and being 

able to read a menu or Sunday 

paper in a coffee shop without 

the need to carry reading specs 

with them. 

Thinking about what you do 

in your activities for work and 

leisure enables optometrists to 

customise a solution and provide 

a whole new way of solving 

vision concerns. 

Comment supplied by Rowena Beckenham, of 

Beckenham Optometrist in Avalon (9918 0616). Rowena 

has been involved in all facets of independent private 

practice optometry in Avalon for 16 years, in addition 

to working as a consultant to the optometric and 

pharmaceutical industry, and regularly volunteering in 

Aboriginal eyecare programs in regional NSW. 








Help needed 

to pack Kits 

Zonta Club of Northern 

Beaches and Barrenjoey 

High School are organising 

a day to pack Birthing Kits for 

women in developing countries. 

Volunteers plan to pack 2000 

kits made up of six simple items 

assembled into a small bag, explained 

Zonta Northern Beaches 

Club President Margaret White. 

And members of the community 

are invited to help. 

“With an estimated 385,000 

women dying annually in 

childbirth, many from infections 

acquired during childbirth, there 

is a great need for these birthing 

kits,” Margaret said. 

By providing a clean birthing 

kit and training in how to use 

it, these mothers will have the 

resources to reduce infection. 

Birthing Kits are assembled 

under the auspices of the Birthing 

Kit Foundation (Australia) 

– the not-for-profit, non-government 

organisation that provides 

birthing kits and education in 

clean birthing practices. 

Margaret said BKFA originated 

from the Zonta Clubs of 

Adelaide Hills and had grown 

to be supported by Zonta Clubs 

across Australia. 

Well over 100,000 kits are 

assembled and distributed each 

year. 

Each kit contains six disposable 

components: 

n Soap to wash the birth attendant’s 

hands and the 

mother’s perineum; 

n Plastic Sheet to prevent the 

mother and newborn coming 

into contact with the ground 

or an unhygienic surface; 

n Gloves to cover the birth attendants’ 

hands and provide 

protection from infections 

such as HIV for carers and 

care recipients; 

n Gauze to wipe clear the newborn 

baby’s eyes, and to clean 

the mother’s perineum prior 

to giving birth; 

n Cord ties to cleanly tie the 

umbilical cord; and 

n Sterile blade to cut the umbilical 

cord and reduce risk of 

newborn tetanus and sepsis. 

A donation of $3 buys the 

materials for one kit and the 

training program for its delivery. 

You can help by making a donation 

on the day. 

For full details of the Birthing 

Kit Program see the BKFA website 

at.bkfa.org.au 

The Packing Day will run on 

Saturday August 5 from 1-4pm 

at Barrenjoey High School. 

* Contact Margaret on 0416 

182 393 or email marg.white@ 

me.com if you are able to 

assist or you would like more 

information. 



Hair & Beauty 

Cooler months best time 

to rejuvenate your skin 

with Sue Carroll 


After the summer sun’s 

destruction of our skin, 

the tell-tale signs of 

brown hyperpigmentation and a 

red capillary blush are scattered 

all over our facial and body skin. 

Take heart – the cooler months 

are the best time to refresh and 

rejuvenate your skin using IPL 

(Intense Pulsed Light) Photofacial. 

This treatment is also 

known as Photorejuvenation. 

IPL, which uses light photons 

to rejuvenate skin, is the world’s 

most popular skin rejuvenation 

treatment. In contrast to 

laser resurfacing, IPL does not 

injure the skin’s surface and 

has a much shorter recovery 

time. IPL primarily addresses the 

skin’s tone, texture and reduces 

the brown pigmentation and 

redness that create a dull, aged 

complexion. IPL is a treatment 

that delivers pulses of light to 

the targeted areas, such as 

brown pigment and red cells in 

the skin. The light is converted 

to heat energy, which fades 

those specific targets resulting 

in a more even, brighter complexion 

with less discolouration. 

People who have had IPL treatments 

once or twice a year over 

a decade have healthier, more 

radiant skin with often less skin 

cancer than those who do not 

have treatments. 

IPL is used on sun-damaged 

skin to even out a range of skin 

issues, such as skin discolouration, 

texture, pigmentation, distended 

capillaries, facial rosacea 

or redness and poikiloderma 

of Civatte. IPL will also complement 

other rejuvenation skin 

procedures such as laser resurfacing, 

skin needling, microdermabrasion 

and dermal fillers. 

Most clients who have IPL 

tolerate the treatment with minimal 

discomfort. The sensation 

of the treatment can be likened 

to the snapping of a few rubber 

bands at the one time. For those 

who are sensitive, a numbing 

cream mat be applied about 30 

minutes prior to the treatment. 

This will reduce the discomfort 

by about 60-70%. The treatments 

are designed to work 

over multiple visits, which may 

be from 1 -3 treatments over a 

couple of months. Most people 

will see improvement in the removal 

of capillaries and freckles 

within two weeks of their first 

treatment. Deeper redness and 

brown discolouration will take 

2-3 treatments to see significant 

improvement. 

For some people the side 

effects of the IPL treatment may 

include swelling and redness of 

the treated area. This may last 

for a few days and up to a week 

in some cases. When darker 

brown pigmentation is treated, 

scattered brown crusts resembling 

dark coffee granules may 

occur and will take 7-12 days 

to slough off. A very important 

point to remember is that IPL 

treats what it sees at the time of 

treatment and does not prevent 

new discolouration from forming. 

Following an IPL treatment, 

sunscreen is a must in order 

to reduce the occurrence of 

pigmentation and distended 

capillaries. Ten to fourteen days 

post-treatment it is advisable 

to attend the clinic for a deep 

exfoliation treatment such as a 

microdermabrasion or Jet Peel. 

This is then followed with a 

hydrating infusion with either 

oxygen therapy or a relaxing 

facial treatment. These posttreatments 

ensure the optimum 

result for the skin and any 

follow-up treatments can then 

be customised for individual 

needs. 

Intense Pulsed Light is a 

procedure rather than a relaxing 

treatment. The results of the IPL 

treatment will reveal a brighter, 

healthier complexion. When the 

prescribed home care products 

are used diligently morning 

and night, this will enhance the 

results of the IPL treatment to 

reveal a healthy and definitely 

rejuvenated complexion. 

Sue Carroll of Skin 

Inspiration has been a qualified 

Aesthetician for 33 years. 

Sue has owned and 

operated successful beauty 

clinics and day spas on 

the Northern Beaches. 

info@skininspiration.com.au 

www.skininspiration.com.au 

JULY 2018 51 

Hair & Beauty

Business Life: Money 

Business Life 

Good Tax Dept reason does for laundry going 

‘nuts’ on simply this festive massive season scale 

When This month writing marks about the start 

of financial the 2018 tax innovation season one 

and of with the the perspectives media I 

can reaching share saturation with you point is from about the 

inside the problem of a fintech of overclaiming company 

which expenses in my we case revisit has a few been of the 

rolling fundamentals out the about fast-growing including 

Acorns clothing app. expenses Since on launching tax returns. 

in According Australia in to early data 2016 from the 

app ATO, now work-related resides on clothing the smart and 

phones laundry claims of around have 350,000 risen 20% 

Australians, over the past that’s five years, roughly with 1.5% 

of something the population. like six million people 

claiming If you’re nearly in the $1.8 dark billion about in 

what expenses I’m talking last year about, – that’s Acorns about 

is $300 a micro per head investment per year. platform What 

or sticks what’s in the sometimes Commissioner’s called a 

‘round-up’ craw is the fact app, that the those first one 

of numbers its kind represent in Australia. around Our half 

firm the workforce along with apparently our partners having 

brought to wear a it uniform, out from protective the US 

clothing 2015 where or occupation-specific 

it had been 

established clothing. for a few years. 

The Commissioner app works in a may couple very 

of well ways: be onto by taking something a data here 

feed because from from your where spending I sit in Mona 

accounts Vale it doesn’t and rounding really feel up to me the 

purchases like half the you workforce make to is the getting 

nearest about in dollar uniforms, and hi-vis investing or steel 

these caps and accumulated we’ve had construction 

balances 

into going a on mix for of months exchange in the traded 

funds building. listed I suspect on the the ASX, problem or, 

by has you its roots debiting in two an main amount places or – 

regular the first payment being the from ever-expanding your 

bank compliance account industry to your and Acorns the 

account. second being Most a long-standing users enjoy the tax 

round up feature of Acorns as 

it allows them to save while 

they spend. As a parent of 

teenagers I think I’ve come 

to the conclusion that apps 

such as Acorns using a blend 

of psychology and technology 

may be the only effective way 

to get modern kids to save 

because they sure do know 

how to spend. 

Acorns works because the 

principles underlying its design 

myth about what you can claim. 

Anyone who’s ever had 

anything to do with the 

compliance industry, and I’m 

talking work health and safety 

here, knows that you can never 

have enough hi-vis vests, eye 

protection, hearing protection 

are 

or sun 

firmly 

protection, 

rooted in 

etc. 

behavioural 

Sun 

finance: 

protection 

investing 

is now almost 

small 

a 

amounts on a regular basis that 

universal claimable for anyone 

won’t be missed combined with 

who on a sustained basis is 

investing over an extended 

required to be in the sun for all 

period of time to average 

or part of the day (ATO words) 

into the markets smoothing 

and this item alone could easily 

out peaks and troughs. Of 

course 

impact the 

it doesn’t 

returns 

hurt 

of millions 

that it 

of 

does 

workers. 

all of 

The 

these 

growth 

things 

in claims 

within 

the driven framework by this avenue of a highly is therefore 

attractive and functional user 

interface – fancy words for the 

app looks and feels very cool. 

While these principles have 

proven to be sound over time 

Acorns goes on to provide an 

indirect benefit to its users 

in the form of education and 

improved financial literacy. 

Get two or more people in the 

room who have an account and 

you’ll find out what I mean – 

when did you start? What are 

hardly surprising… just look at 

a the ATO’s occupation-specific 

guides and many of them will 

refer to protective clothing and/ 

or sun protection so for the 

Commissioner to be upset about 

growth in claims in this regard 

might well be considered an own 

you goal. saving for? What returns 

have The you second had? issue, It’s inherently the tax 

competitive myth factor, is but really when the it’s problem 

combined child. Tax like with any the other tools business and 

information has a mythological that the element app – 

provides every industry it’s also does. extremely Compare 

informative it to that classic – as medical a regular myth: user 

you “… no can’t worries, help that but become mole will be 

more fine it informed has a hair about growing the out of 

behaviour it”, the tax equivalent of markets is: whether “… no 

you worries, are looking anyone can to or claim not for – the 

with Brian Hrnjak 

balance laundry of work your clothes Acorns just account keep 

rises it under and $150.” falls No, in line you with can’t; the it’s 

movements a myth. The other in markets myth that during goes 

the hand course in glove of with the trading the laundry day. 

claim One is of the the $300 challenges substantiation 

any threshold finance for app work-related would have 

encouraging expenses. young people to 

save To and give invest you some is to examples: remain 

relevant my oldest in son their is an eyes. apprentice, Over 

the wears past year an employer-supplied 

a number of 

enhancements uniquely branded have uniform taken (shirt, place 

following trousers) to user work feedback, each day. the He 

headline keeps steel ones capped being: boots at 

Found the workshop. Money Each partners day his – users 

can uniform shop needs online to with be laundered brands 

such in a separate as Bonds, wash Dan because Murphy’s, of 

BCF, the grease Uber etc. and and oil. He these can claim 

partners the actual usually cost of deposit laundry bonus in his 

amounts return based or extra on expense round receipts, ups 

into or he the can users elect account; to claim the $150 

My reasonable Finance basis feature amount. – uses He can 

artificial also claim intelligence the cost of his to track boots 

and as protective categorise clothing spending (assuming and 

calculate he could ever free find cash the flow; receipt in 

Super his car). fund linkages – allows 

users On the to make other deposits hand, I work to a in 

range office and industry get about and public in RM 

offer Williams superannuation boots and what funds; some 

Emerald have kindly Portfolio described – a as socially smart 

responsible casual clothing. portfolio Occasionally option I will 

introduced put on a suit. following Because member what I wear 

feedback; to work is regular clothing and 

Little neither Acorns protective – sub nor accounts uniform, 

designed I don’t get to to allow claim investment for either its 

on purchase behalf cost of children or laundry. or other 

dependants An architect under who the undertakes age of 18. 

56 52 DECEMBER JULY 2018 2017 


egular site visits is not be able to 

claim the cost or laundry of his or 

her everyday clothing but is able 

to offset the cost of steel capped 

boots, hard hat and hi-vis vest 

that live in the back of the car for 

such eventualities. 

A hairdresser required by her 

employer to wear plain black 

pants and a black t-shirt to work 

each day cannot claim the cost 

of purchase, laundry or if the 

clothing becomes damaged in 

any way. Yes, it does seem harsh 

but it’s the way the ATO interpret 

the legislation and I grabbed 

this example directly from the 

occupation guide. 

The ATO released their own 

examples in the lead up to 

tax time to showcase types of 

incorrect claims including: 

An advertising manager who 

claimed $1,854 for clothing 

purchased at popular fashion 

retail stores to wear at company 

work functions and awards 

nights. Her claim was disallowed 

in full and a penalty issued for 

failing to take reasonable care; 

A car detailer who claimed 

over $20,000 of work-related 

laundry expenses over two 

years calculating the expenses 

at the rate of $227 per hour 

because he valued his personal 

time. His deductions were 

disallowed with no penalties 

applied because of a voluntary 

disclosure made before the 

ATO’s audits progressed, and; 

A lab technician who claimed 

$2,500 for the cost of purchasing 

protective boots and laundering 

his work uniform but failed to 

keep any receipts to verify his 

claim, resulting in a reduction to 

$144, using the ATO’s reasonable 

basis. 


The ATO have a problem and 

it’s one they cannot simply audit 

their way out of. With six million 

taxpayers making clothing 

specific claims the only way to 

attack the problem is going to be 

via education, press releases and 

the occasional flaming of a tax 

payer and/or their tax agent if 

they facilitated an incorrect claim. 

So last words to the ATO… 

the following three ‘golden 

rules’ are from their press 

release and should be your safe 

harbour if followed but you are 

unlucky enough to be audited: 

The best way to get your 

clothing and laundry claims right 

is to follow the three golden rules. 

Only claim if: 

n You paid for it yourself and you 

weren’t reimbursed; 

n You were required to wear 

a uniform that’s unique and 

distinct to your employer, 

protective or occupation 

specific clothing; and 

n You’ve got a record that 

demonstrates how you 

calculated your claim. 

You cannot claim a deduction 

for normal clothes, even if your 

boss told you to wear them or 

you only wear them to work. 

And there’s no such thing as a 

standard deduction or a safe 

amount – if it doesn’t meet the 

three golden rules, then don’t 

claim it. 

And I include this final line 

from their press release as 

a stern warning (but mainly 

because it is the most Australian 

thing ever written about 

taxation): 

Telling us you thought it was ok 

because your mate makes those 

claims or the shop assistant told 

you it’s deductible won’t help you 

in the case of an audit. 

Brian Hrnjak B Bus CPA (FPS) is 

a Director of GHR Accounting 

Group Pty Ltd, Certified 

Practising Accountants. Offices 

at: Suite 12, Ground Floor, 

20 Bungan Street Mona Vale 

NSW 2103 and Shop 8, 9 – 15 

Central Ave Manly NSW 2095, 

Telephone: 02 9979-4300, 

Webs: www.ghr.com.au and 

www.altre.com.au Email: 

brian@ghr.com.au 

These comments are of a 

general nature only and are 

not intended as a substitute 

for professional advice. 


Business Life

Business Life: Law 

Business Life 

History & workings of 

Australian Class Actions 

Radio recently carried 

a report that a 

prominent legal firm 

was investigating whether to 

commence a class action. It 

is not uncommon to hear and 

read such reports. So, what is 

a class action? 

Generally it is defined as a 

court proceeding where the 

claims of a large group – or 

‘class’ – of people are brought 

by one or a small number of 

named class representatives 

against the same respondents. 

These actions were 

introduced in Australia in 

1992 and have developed 

since that time due mainly to 

the availability of litigation 

funding. Readers who 

currently listen to 2GB may 

have heard advertisments on 

behalf of a named litigation 

funder and a law firm directed 

to investors in ANZ shares 

between certain dates, and 

an invitation to contact the 

law firm and funder to join 

an action about to be taken 

against ANZ. 

In 1992 class actions were 

mainly concerned with product 

liability and consumer issues 

or migration claims. 

In Australia there are 

regimes for representative 

proceedings in both the 

Federal courts and the 

State Supreme Courts. New 

South Wales, Victoria and 

Queensland have regimes 

which copy that of the Federal 

Court. Other states have 

different models. 

The requirements for a class 

action to be commenced are 

generally stated: 

n 7 or more people must 

have claims against the same 

person/s; 

n The claims should be, or be 

in respect of, or arise out of, 

the same or similar or related 

circumstances; and 

n The claims should give rise 

to at least one substantial 

common issue of law or fact. 

In 2014 the Full Federal 

Court held that when 

commencing a class action 

against multiple respondents 

there is no requirement for 

every group member to 

have a claim against every 

respondent. All that is 

required is that seven or more 

persons as well as the class 

representatives have a claim 

against the same respondent. 

Actions may be 

characterised as ‘opt in’ or 

‘opt out’. The ‘opt in’ model 

requires potential class 

members to indicate positively 

that they want to be part of 

the group on whose behalf 

the claim is being made – ie, 

if they do not opt in, they will 

with Jennifer Harris 

not become members of the 

class and will not be bound by 

the final judgment or approved 

settlement. 

The opt-out model, which is 

generally the Australian regime 

model, means that all potential 

claimants who fall within the 

definition of the class become 

members of the class on the 

filing of the claim whether they 

are aware of it or not. It follows 

that they will all be bound by 

the judgment of the Court 

or any approved settlement 

unless they opt out of the 

proceedings before a date 

which is fixed by the Court. All 

class members will be notified 

of the action and their right to 

opt out. 

Of course, before 

commencing a class action one 

must consider how Australian 

Courts consider a class to be 

defined. It is viewed that only 

those claimants who have 

retained a legal firm and/or 

entered into an arrangement 

with a litigation funder are able 

to be members of the class. 

These classes are described 

as ‘closed’ as all members 

are identified to the legal firm 

and/or the litigation funder. 

The effect of a ‘closed class’ is 

to change the opt-out system 

into an opt-in system for class 

actions. 

It is argued that closed 

classes are attractive to 

third party litigation funders 



ecause they provide greater 

certainty as to risk and the 

number of claimants in the 

class and the returns the 

funder if successful will likely 

achieve. It is also suggested 

that closed classes encourage 

settlement. 

When settlement is 

reached between the class 

representative on behalf 

of the class it requires 

approval by the Court. The 

Court considers whether the 

proposed settlement is fair 

and reasonable compromise 

of the overall claims. In 2013 

the Court held that a proposed 

settlement sum between group 

members was not fair and 

reasonable. 

A distinction between 

the situation in America 

and Australia is that here 

lawyers and the profession 

cannot enter into contingency 

fee arrangements – i.e. an 

arrangement whereby in 

America lawyers can charge 

fees based on a percentage 

of their client’s recovery from 

the litigation is not available to 

Australian lawyers. 

There is a gap which 

is filled by non-legal 

entities and commercial 

organisations known as 

third party litigation funders, 

established to fund class 

actions. These organisations 

have been involved in 

funding cases such as: 

n Product liability – claims, 

drug liability, dangerous 

drugs; 

n Defective Medical devices 

– hip implants, stents, 

defibrillators; 

n Toxic chemicals – asbestos, 

lead in toys, oil spills; 

n Vehicle recalls and Defects – 

basic injury, car defect injuries, 

motor cycle defects; 

n Dangerous foods – food 

poisoning, food recalls; 

n Dangerous baby and 

children’s products – lead in 

toys, drop-side cribs, airsoft 

guns; 

n Dangerous consumer 

products, tobacco smoking 

injury dangers. 

The categories of claims 

seem to be growing and in 

future it is suggested that 

potential claims will arise in 

the following: 


n Claims by residents and 

businesses following disasters 

such as bushfires and 

floods – see the $700 million 

distributed in December 2016 

and 2017 to the Black Sunday 

Bushfire class action; 

n Claims by creditors against 

directors/advisors of failed 

companies; 

n Franchisee claims; 

n Claims by investors in 

Managed Investment Schemes; 

Claims against trustees of 

Superannuation Funds and; 

n Cartel claims. 

Most cartel actions are now 

funded by third parties and the 

trend is continuing. However, 

the market is becoming 

crowded. And with specialist 

law firms the threat of multiple 

competing class actions in 

respect of the same issues 

are an ever-increasing risk, 

problem for both insurers and 

insureds alike. 

In a recent Federal Court 

case this year the Court had to 

consider whether more than 

two open class actions would 

be allowed to proceed. It was 

decided only one class action 

would proceed and the other 

two permanently stayed. The 

decision being based on the 

group members making up 

the class and the allegations 

of the competing proceedings 

both being ‘substantially the 

same’ – such that each class 

action could be compared with 

each other. 

Finally, if a claim is 

successful, the third party 

litigation funder receives 

its money back, together 

with a share of the amount 

awarded which is normally 

between 20 per cent and 40 

per cent depending on the 

size of the case, the timing of 

the settlement and the costs 

incurred. 

Class actions are becoming 

a major action before the 

courts. It is to be hoped that 

those who sign up to be part 

of a case are well rewarded. 

Comment supplied by 

Jennifer Harris, of Jennifer 

Harris & Associates, Solicitors, 

4/57 Avalon Parade, 

Avalon Beach. 

T: 9973 2011. F: 9918 3290. 

E: jennifer@jenniferharris.com.au 

W: www.jenniferharris.com.au 


Business Life

Trades & Services 


AUTO REPAIRS 

British & Swedish Motors 

Call 9970 6654 

Services Range Rover, Land Rover, 

Saab and Volvo with the latest in 

diagnostic equipment. 

Narrabeen Tyrepower 

Call 9970 6670 

Stocks all popular brands including 

Cooper 4WD. Plus they’ll do all 

mechanical repairs and rego 

inspections. 

Barrenjoey Smash Repairs 

Call 9970 8207 

barrenjoeysmashrepairs.com.au 

Re-sprays a specialty, plus 

restoration of your favourite vehicle. 

Commercial specialist. 

BOAT SERVICES 

Avalon Marine Upholstery 

Call Simon 9918 9803 

Makes cushions for boats, patio and 

pool furniture, window seats. 

ELECTRICAL 

Eamon Dowling Electrical 

Call 0410 457 373 

For all electrical, phone, TV, data and 

security needs. 

FLOOR COVERINGS 

Blue Tongue Carpets 

Call Stephan 9979 7292 

Family owned and run. Carpet, rugs, 

runners, timber, bamboo, vinyl, tiles & 

laminates. Open 6 days. 

GARDENS 

Graham Brooks 

Call 0412 281 580 

Tree pruning and removals. Reports 

regarding DA tree management, 

arborist reports. 

Precision Tree Services 

Call Adam 0410 736 105 

Adam Bridger; professional tree 

care by qualified arborists and tree 

surgeons. 

CLEANING 

The Aqua Clean Team 

Call Mark 0449 049 101 

Quality window washing, 

pressure cleaning, carpet 

washing, building soft wash. 

Martin Earl House Wash 

Call 0405 583 305 

Pittwater-based owner on site at all 

times. No travellers or uninsured casuals 

on your property. 

Housewashing 


Call Ben 0408 682 525 

Pressure cleaning and soft wash; window 

& gutter cleaning. Used by local 

real estate agencies. 

MASSAGE & FITNESS 

Avalon Physiotherapy 

Call 9918 3373 

Provide specialist treatment for neck & 

back pain, sports injuries, orthopaedic 

problems. 

Avalon Physiotherapy 

& Clinical Pilates 

Call 9918 0230 

Dry needling and acupuncture, falls 

prevention and balance 

enhancement programs. 

Avalon Beach Chiropractic 

Call Sam 9918 0070 

Professional care for all ages. Treatment 

for chronic and acute pain, 

sports injuries. 

Francois Naef/Osteopath 

Call Francois 9918 2288 

Diagnosis, treatment and prevention 

for back pain and sciatica, sports 

injuries, muscle soreness and strain, 

pregnancy-related pain, postural 

imbalance. 

PAINTING 

Modern Colour 

Call 0406 150 555 

Simon Bergin offers painting and 

decorating; clean, tidy, quality detail 

you will notice. Dependable and on 

time. 

AJJ Painting & Decorating 

Call 0418 116 700 

Andrew is a master painter with 30 

years’ experience. Domestic and commercial; 

reasonable rates, free quotes. 

Interior & Exterior Colour 

Call 0417 236 577 

Deborah is a local colour and interior 

design/decorating consultant with over 

30 years’ experience. One-hour colour 

consultation with spec and samples. 

UPHOLSTERY 

All Foam 

Call 9973 1731 

Cut to measure quality foam for day 

beds, boats, caravans and more. Discounted 

prices, reliable local service. 

Free measure / quote. 

Luxafoam North 

Call 9999 5567 

Local specialists in all aspects of 

outdoor & indoor seating. 

Custom service, expert advice. 

Essyou Design 

Call Susan 0422 466 880 

Specialist in day bed and outdoor 

areas. Reliable local service. Offering 

domestic & commercial. 

Leather Hero 

Call Leanne 0490 796 012 

Specialists in leather cleaning, 

revamps, repairs and colour restoration 

for lounges, cars and boats. 

TUITION 

Northern Beaches Home Tu toring 

Call John 9972 1469 

1-ON-1 individual tutoring in your home. All ages and subjects K-Uni. 

Qualified tutors. WWC child protection checked. Since 2009. 







TUITION 


Home Tutoring 

Call John 9972 1469 

1-ON-1 individual tutoring in your 

home. All ages and subjects K-Uni. 

Qualified tutors. WWC child protection 

checked. Since 2009. 

PEST CONTROL 

Predator Pest Control 

Call 0417 276 962 

predatorpestcontrol.com.au 

Environmental services at their best. 

Comprehensive control. Eliminate all 

manner of pests. They provide a 24- 

hour service. 

PUMPS & TANKS 

Water Warehouse 

Call 9913 7988 

waterwarehouse.com.au 

Rainwater tanks & pumps. Irrigation & 

filter supply specialists. 

RENOVATIONS 

Rob Burgers 

Call 0416 066 159 

Qualified builder provides all carpentry 

needs; decks, pergolas, carports, 

renos & repairs. 

BlindLight 

Call Dave 0403 466 350 

Specialists is window tinting and glass 

coatings. Act now for summer. 

TILING 

WM Tiling Services 

Call Wally 0452 449 449 

wmtiling.com.au 

Bathroom renovations, supply and 

install. Quality, guaranteed work. Call 

to arrange quote. 


DISCLAIMER: The editorial and advertising content in Pittwater 

Life has been provided by a number of sources. Any opinions 

expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor or Publisher of 

Pittwater Life and no responsibility is taken for the accuracy of 

the information contained within. Readers should make their 

own enquiries directly to any organisations or businesses prior to 

making any plans or taking any action. 



the 

good 

life 

dining 

food 

crossword 

gardening 

travel 

60 

64 

67 

68 

73 

Showtime 

‘Accused’ puts verdict 

in hands of audience 

Elanora Players’ latest 

production The Accused 

is a murder mystery 

with an intriguing twist – the 

courtroom drama, written by 

Lord Jeffrey Archer, ends with 

the audience acting as jury to 

deliver the verdict, whereupon 

one of two specially written 

end scenes is triggered before 

the final curtain falls. 

“Audience members sit as if 

they were in attendance at a 

hearing in London’s Old Bailey 

court and their verdict decides 

which way the play ends,” said 

director Kerrie King. 

‘The Accused’ unfolds with 

eminent surgeon Dr Patrick 

Sherwood charged with 

murdering his wife with drugs 

obtained by his ‘supposed’ 

mistress, Jennifer Mitchell. 

Dr Sherwood’s fate is left 

in the hands of the audience: 

Did Dr Sherwood murder his 

wife? Was Jennifer Mitchell his 

mistress? Which of his alibis 

should the audience believe? 

Is the accused a victim or 

a murderer? Was it a heart 

attack, or a crime of passion? 

POINTS OF LAW: Susan Boyd, Jan Adamson and Bill Akhurst in character. 

And ultimately, is the accused 

a victim… or a murderer? 

“The choice will keep you 

on the edge of your seats and 

at the end of the ‘trial’ you 

will be asked to deliver your 

verdict of guilty or not guilty,” 

said Kerrie. 

“Once the majority votes 

are counted and the verdict 

delivered, the play will 

continue with one of two 

different endings – only then 

will you discover the truth.” 

The production will 

be performed at Elanora 

Community Centre from July 

13 to 21 – 8pm on July 13; 3pm 

and 8pm July 14; 11am and 3pm 

July 15; 8pm July 16 and 17; and 

3pm and 8pm on July 18. 

Complimentary wine and 

cheese will be served on 

opening night. 

* Early bookings are urged; 

more info 9979 9694 

or boxoffice.elanora@ 

bigpond.com – Lisa Offord 

Beaches return for Wendy Matthews 

There are few recording artists 

Wendy is looking forward to 

in Australia who come close to 

engaging with the audience at 

Wendy Matthews and her stunning 

Pittwater RSL. 

credentials: seven ARIAs, 19 hit 

“Yes of course, it’d be so rude 

singles, and seven gold or multiplatinum 

not to! We do songs that I hope 

selling albums that see 

people know and remember, as 

her music in more than 1 million 

well as a few new ones and some 

Australian homes. 

of the songs have little stories 

And lucky us – Wendy is 

as to how they came about,” she 

returning to the northern beaches 

said. 

after many years, performing all 

“The more you live the actual 

her hits and more at Pittwater RSL 

words, the more a song becomes 

on Saturday July 28. 

part of the fabric that makes 

“When I go to a concert, I go to 

you. When you record a song 

mainly hear the songs I love, so I 

that means something to you, 

don’t bombard the audience with 

it has no choice but to stay that 

a whole lot of new material – although we do a way and grow with you. That’s the great thing 

few pieces from the last few albums that people about songs, they can transport you to a 

may not have heard,” she told Pittwater Life. specific moment in time. 

Wendy takes songs from every genre and “Living in Sydney for 20 years, then moving 

makes them her own; from jazz to blues, from to the country, I have lovely memories of 

rock to gospel, from soul to outright infectious friends and adventures on the Northern 

pop (‘Let’s Kiss’) and then, of course, there Beaches, so I’m looking forward to getting 

are the beautiful ballads such as ‘The Day You back there.” 

Went Away’. 

More info pittwaterrsl.com.au – Nigel Wall 


Showtime

Dining Guide 

Dining Guide 

July's best restaurants, functions, events and reader deals... 

Bistro 61 

Avalon Beach RSL 

1 Bowling Green Lane 

Avalon Beach 

OPENING HOURS 

Open 7 days 

Lunch 12pm-2:30pm 

Dinner 5:30-8:30pm 

CUISINE 

Modern Aust / pub food 

PRICE RANGE 

Meals $8-$30 

Specials $12-$15 

BOOKINGS 9918 2201 

Avalon Beach RSL’s Bistro 61 

is a great place to head for 

a local meal, offering tasty 

modern Australian dishes at 

affordable prices. 

This month, catch State 

of Origin Game III on the big 

screen on Wednesday July 11; 

it will be live and loud – with 

$5 schooners between 7.30- 

9.30pm. Plus there's a 2018 

Blues jersey raffle – and $10 

'Blues Burgers' from Bistro 61. 

And now available for free 

download – the brand new 

Avalon Beach RSL Club App. 

Earn rewards, prizes and 

member points by logging in 

daily. 

See what's on, check out 

events, view menus and more! 

Bistro 61 is open for 

breakfast from 9am to 

11.30am. Open for lunch 

and dinner seven days, with 

extensive outdoor dining 

areas, Bistro 61 offers a variety 

of specials (lunch and dinner) 

during the week, including 

$12 tacos (Tues), $15 Chicken 

Schnitzels (Wed), 2-4-1 pizzas 

(Thurs), and a $20 burger + 

beer (Fri). 

Seniors are well catered 

for – there are daily Seniors 

specials, including beerbattered 

flathead – plus they 

do a $5 kids meals on Sundays! 

(There’s a playground, too.) 

From the menu, chef 

Mitch recommends his twist 

on nachos – pulled beef and 

blackbeans with chipotle, corn 

chips, guacamole, Danish fetta 

and coriander. 

Members get discounts on 

meals purchased. Membership 

starts from $5.50. 

The club is licensed, with 

no BYO. Bookings online or 

call 9918 2201 – large groups 

welcome. 

Barrenjoey 

Bistro 

Club Palm Beach 

1087 Barrenjoey Rd, 

Palm Beach 

BISTRO OPENING HOURS 

Lunch 11:30am-2.30pm 

Dinner 6pm-8.30pm 

PRICE RANGE 

Lunch and dinner 

specials $13.50 


$4 schooners during Happy 

Hour (from kick-off)! 

And don't miss Christmas in 

July (see ad opposite). 

Barrenjoey Bistro is open 

for lunch (11.30am to 2.30pm) 

and dinner (6pm to 9pm) seven 

days, plus there's a Snack Menu 

available 2.30pm-6pm. 

The Bistro serves top-value a 

la carte meals plus daily $13.50 

specials of roasts (Mondays), 

rump steak with chips and 

salad (Tuesdays), chicken 

schnitzel with chips and salad 

(Wednesdays), homemade 

gourmet pies with chips and 

salad (Thursdays) and tempura 

fish and chips with salad 

(Fridays), except public hols. 

The Members’ lucky badge 

draw is held Wednesday and 

Friday night (every 30 mins 

between 5pm-7pm), and 

jackpots by $100 each week. 

Enjoy Trivia Night from 

5.30pm on Wednesdays, plus 

Bingo 10am on Fridays. 

The club has a courtesy 

bus that makes regular runs 

Wednesdays, Fridays and 

Saturdays from 4.30pm to 9pm. 

Ring to book a pick-up. 

The Mirage 

Restaurant 

at Metro Mirage 

Hotel Newport 

2 Queens Parade West, 

Newport 

CUISINE 

Modern Australian 

PRICE RANGE 

Breakfast – $25 adults, 

$12.50 kids (5-12) 

Dinner – entrees 

from $7-$17, 

Mains from $21-$30, 

Desserts from $13-$25 


Local residents are finding 

the peaceful ambience 

of The Mirage restaurant 

overlooking spectacular 

Pittwater, the perfect 

waterfront venue to enjoy 

breakfast or dinner. 

Located in boutique Metro 

Hotel Mirage Newport, The 

Mirage restaurant is a popular 

7-10am seven days a week, 

offering a fixed-price full hot 

and cold buffet, including a 

selection of cereals, seasonal 

fruit and freshly made juice, 

toast and pastries and 

sausages, eggs, has browns, 

bacon and tomato served with 

the Chef’s Special of the day. 

The Mirage restaurant is 

also open for dinner from 

Monday to Saturday from 

5.30pm – 8.30pm and can 

be hired, along with all the 

hotel’s function rooms, for 

private and corporate events 

of between 60-110 guests. 

Hong Kong 

Chinese Restaurant 

332 Barrenjoey Rd, 

Newport 

OPENING HOURS 

Dinner Tues-Sun 5pm 

CUISINE 

Chinese & Asian 

PRICE RANGE 

Entrees $5-20 

Mains $12.90-26.50 

*Deliver Whale Beach - Narrabeen 


Book a table at this popular 

Newport eatery in July and 

your family is guaranteed 

a great night out with a 

feast for the eyes and the 

tastebuds. 

Order ahead for their 

wonderful Peking Duck which 

is offered as a dine-in-only 

special Thursdays through 

Sundays in Winter. 

There are two traditional 

courses: Peking Duck 

pancakes & duck sang choy 

bow (bookings essential; 

mention the ad when you call). 

This long-established 

restaurant on the eastern 

side of Barrenjoey Rd has 

an extensive menu based 

on traditional flavoursome 

Cantonese with touches of 

spicy Szechuan and other 

Asian dishes and fresh 

seasonal vegetables. 

Entrees start at just $6 

while mains are great value 

too, starting at $16.80. 

Head to Club Palm Beach, 

located just a short stroll from 

Palm Beach Wharf, for a huge 

month of specials in July. 

Watch State of Origin III on 

the big screen on July 11 with choice for breakfast from 



LIC 

BYO 

All 

P

The menu ranges from 

adventurous, like a Sizzling 

Szechuan-style platter of 

king prawns and fillets of 

chicken, to contemporary, 

featuring spicy salt and 

pepper king prawns, to 

traditional, with favourites 

including Mongolian lamb, 

Honey king prawns and 

Honey chicken. 

New dishes are introduced 

regularly so check out the 

blackboard specials. 

The team are only too 

happy to home deliver your 

meal, with a range that takes 

in Narrabeen to the south to 

Palm Beach in the north. 

Fully licensed or BYO. 

Royal Motor 

Yacht Club 

Salt Cove on Pittwater 

46 Prince Alfred 

Parade, Newport 

OPENING HOURS 

Breakfast Lunch & Dinner 

Mon-Fri from 8.30am 

Weekends from 8am 

PRICE RANGE 

Breakfast from $8-$18 

Entrees from $9-$21 

Mains from $16-$26 


RMYC’s restaurant Salt Cove 

on Pittwater’s menu has been 

updated for winter – but it still 

offers affordable meals and 

generous servings including 

a variety of starters and share 

plates, seafood, burgers, 

grills, salads, desserts and 

woodfired pizza. 

You're invited to the RMYC's 

special 'The Flavours Of India' 

night on Thursday July 12. 

Discover India through food and 

wine at Salt Cove from 6pm; $55 

members, $60 non-members, 

$25 kids (12 and under). 

Friday night music kicks off 

in the Lounge Bar from 6.30pm. 

Great acts in July include Keith 

Armitage (6th); Geoff Kendall 

(13th); Antoine (20th); and Keff 

McCulloch (27th). 

Book now for the sensational 

Michael Jackson and Prince 

Show on Saturday 14th July 

featuring all the hits of the 

late, great singers of the 1980s 

and '90s; there's also a special 

guest tribute to the music of 

Cyndi Lauper, Madonna and 

Advertise 

in our 

Dining 

Guide! 

Phone 

0438 123 096 

Blondie – it'll be a great night 

of nostalgia and fun; tickets are 

$25 members and $30 nonmembers. 

And enquire about RMYC's 

special 'Priscilla – Queen Of The 

Desert' outing to catch the glam 

stage musical at the Capital 

Theatre on Tuesday July 17. 

Hurry – there's limited seating. 

Tickets $60, with bus seats $30 

(inc champagne and nibbles). 

Trivia is held every Tuesday 

night from 7.30pm (great prizes 

and vouchers). 

Club Boat and Social 

memberships are now available 

for just $160. 

Dining Guide 



Tasty Morsels 

Sophistic 

For a meal to warm the 

cockles this month, Mirage 

Restaurant in the boutique 

waterfront Metro Mirage Hotel 

Newport is offering Pittwater’s 

best-value dining experience – 

and a weather-protected water 

view. 

Open for dinner from 

Monday to Saturday from 

5.30pm, guests can enjoy 

the sophisticated new winter 

menu created by Head Chef 

Raul Farnea which combines 

his passion for modern 

Australian cuisine with a love 

of fresh seafood and local 

produce. 

“Entrees and mains 

options include a daily soup 

and hearty stew special; 

mushroom and speck tart on 

taleggio cheese fondue with 

Quick serve of Americana 

What do you get when you combine a 

classically trained chef who has worked 

in fine dining establishments in New York City, 

with a hospitality expert schooled in the world 

of convenience food? 

Welcome to Chriso’s at Narrabeen, an independent 

outlet “fast” making its name across the 

northern beaches for its mouth-watering and 

generous offerings of ribs, chicken wings, burgers 

and pizzas among other wicked food treats. 

Couple Erika Carballo and Chris Milloy (above) 

have built a steady clientele since opening their 

doors in August last year. They restyled the 

interior of the space on Pittwater Road to blend 

elements of Australiana with an American roadhouse 

or diner. Diners can eat in, take-away or 

have their orders home-delivered. 

“Chris and I have a love for all things old 

Sydney and NYC,” explained former New 

Yorker Erika, who was schooled at the former 

French Culinary Institute in New York. “We’ve 

got a few old school advertisements on our 

walls and some iconic pictures referencing 

NYC and Sydney. We’ve also some famous 

American licence plates and we play classic 

1980s early 1990s movies on our big screen – 

and of course, 1950s and Doo-wop music on 

our jukebox!” 

Chriso’s has several other points of difference 

that set it apart from the ‘usual suspects’ 

– namely a full range of tasty comfort food 

entrees, mains and even desserts. 

They serve a whopping New York-style pizza 

in 16- and 18-inch options – although it’s dinein 

only, until they manage to source boxes big 

enough for take-away! 

“Our supreme and meat lovers are the 

most-ordered pizzas,” said Erika. “And our 

slow-cooked hickory rib racks are consistently 

selling out, as we make a limited amount of 

those per day. 

“We’ve also introduced a Burger of the 

Month – this month it’s a Buttermilk fried 

chicken served with bacon, parmesan garlic 

aioli, shaved parmesan, lettuce and tomato 

(pictured top). 

“And our ‘Dirty Burger’ (doubly Wagyu beef 

patties, cheese, bacon, fried onion, BBQ sauce, 

mayo, lettuce and tomato) seems to be a challenge 

a lot of our customers enjoy taking on!” 

And if you still have room you might like to 

consider their ‘Sweet Tooth’ pizza comprising 

house-made custard, marshmallows, chocolate 

chips, Tim Tams, caramel and chocolate 

sauce – it’s a Kids Party favourite on weekends 

(bookings only). 

Chriso’s home deliver to Collaroy, Narrabeen, 

Elanora Heights, Warriewood and Mona 

Vale. Or call 9913 8045 to order; more info 

www.chrisos.com.au 

* Chriso’s have a special offer for July and 

August (see ad page 13). – Nigel Wall 



ated winter value 

walnuts; house-smoked duck 

breast, pickled grapes and 

crunchy kale; spicy glazed 

grilled chicken with pearl 

cous cous and burnt orange; 

sirloin steak with bush herbs; 

and an Indian curry board 

with vegetables, dhal, raita, 

basmati rice and pappadam,” 

said Raul. 

A tantalising choice 

of fresh seafood dishes 

includes herb-stuffed 

crumbed prawns, preserved 

lemon and witlof salad; blue 

swimmer crab ravioli in a 

bisque sauce; and market 

fish roasted on lemon 

myrtle leaves with pickled 

baby beetroot and roasted 

heirloom tomatoes. 

Mirage has also introduced 

a popular special from its 

sister venue, The Palace Hotel 

Sydney – lightly crumbed 

chicken breast fillet topped 

with ratatouille, crispy bacon, 

mozzarella and parmesan 

with garden salad and crispy 

golden fries. 

The delicious choice of 

desserts includes Mirage’s 

signature sticky date pudding 

with butterscotch sauce 

and vanilla ice cream; apple 

strudel with whipped cream; 

chocolate parfait with berry 

coulis: pavlova with rhubarb 

jam; and a cheese selection 

with dried fruits, lavosh and 

crackers. 

* Book your table now (and 

enquire about overnight 

accommodation); more info 

9997 7011 or metrohotels. 

com.au. 

Here’s to you, 

Mrs Robertson! 

New small bar ‘Mrs Robertson’ is a much-anticipated, welcome 

addition to the local hospitality scene. 

On the roundabout in Robertson Road at Newport, it’s 

the brainchild of locals Patrick Moroney and his wife Tanya 

(above), who tapped into the need for something other than 

a pub or club when considering gathering with friends. 

“The market has too many pubs and not enough quiet 

venues for the more discerning and [cough] mature among 

us!” said Patrick. 

“Mrs Robertson is the kind of place we think locals will 

want to come to again and again – it’s intimate, personable 

and welcoming, with just the right hint of funky and cool 

without being intimidating.” 

Patrick said Mrs Robertson, which seats up to 20 patrons, 

“makes you feel comfortable, is impeccably stylish, and has 

hospitality down to an a fine art.” 

Our recent visit revealed a truly relaxed vibe, in no small 

part to the eclectic, warm styling (courtesy of Tanya) and 

excellent acoustics that help divide the small space into 

individual sanctuaries that are still connected to the overall 

character of the bar. 

“We have an excellent, decently priced drinks list and delicious 

morsels of food so you can stretch that ‘little drink’ to 

an extended, delightful evening listening to an unobtrusive 

but groovy music playlist.” 

Wines are available by the glass or the bottle, with gourmet 

cheese and meat plates to complement. They also serve 

cocktails. 

Patrick said that as a bonus, Mrs Robertson would soon 

be offering ‘laneway learning’. 

“We’re aiming to deliver an innovative mix of talks, teachings 

and workshops on a range of topics including foraging, 

French wines, and the fine art of conversation,” he said. 

“The evenings will be full of good wine and laughter. 

“Plus, keep an eye out for Mrs Robertson’s ‘Flight Nights’ 

which will be departing soon to many of the world’s leading 

wine regions.” 

Mrs Robertson is open 4-8pm Wed-Thurs; 3.30-10.30pm 

Fri-Sat and 1-6pm Sun. 

– NW 



Food Life 

For more recipes go to www.janellebloom.com.au 


Recipes: Janelle Bloom Photos: Mark O’Meara; Benito Martin 

Cook up a French storm 

to celebrate Bastille Day 

July 14 is Bastille Day. The date marks the beginning of 

republican democracy and the end of tyrannical rule in 

France. A military parade takes place along Champs-Elysee 

avenue. It is the oldest military parade in the world, having 

first taken place on Bastille Day in 1880. Thereafter – as only 

the French know how to do – family and friends gather for a 

feast. While it’s summer in the northern hemisphere, some of 

the classic French recipes they serve up to mark the occasion 

are perfect for our southern hemisphere winter! Try these – 

and celebrate. Vive la difference! 

Beef bourguignon 

Serves 6 

8 small French shallots, peeled 

8 thyme sprigs 

4 fresh bay leaves (or 2 dried) 

250ml red wine 

1 cup beef stock 

20g butter 

300 g button mushrooms 

Paris mash & sourdough, to 

serve 

speck, cook 2-3 minutes until 

starts to colour. Remove 

to a plate. 

2. Add 1 tablespoon oil and 

one quarter of the beef. 

Cook 1-2 minutes until 

browned all over, remove 

to a plate. Repeat in three 

batches with oil and remaining 

beef. Add remaining oil, 

followed by carrot, celery, 

leek and shallots. Sauté for 

5 minutes. 

3. Return the speck and beef 

to pan. Add the thyme, bay 

leaves, wine and stock. 

Bring to the boil. Reduce 

the heat to very low, cover 

and cook for 1 hour. 

4. Melt butter in a frying pan 

over high heat. Add mushrooms, 

cook 2-3 minutes 

until light golden. Stir the 

mushrooms into the beef, 

cover and simmer a further 

45 minutes or until the beef 

is tender. Remove the bay 

leaves, taste and season. 

5. Serve with the Paris mash 

and sourdough. 

Roasted garlic 

Paris mash 

Serves 6 

1 head garlic 

1 tbs extra virgin olive oil 

1kg floury potatoes (like 

sebago or coliban), scrubbed, 

unpeeled 

½ cup full cream milk 

200ml pouring cream 

150g butter, at room temperature 

Sea salt and freshly ground 

white pepper 

with Janelle Bloom 

from the skin onto a board 

and mash with a fork. 

2. Place the potatoes in a large 

saucepan of salted water, 

bring to the boil and cook 

15 minutes or until tender; 

drain. While hot, hold 1 potato 

in a tea towel and peel 

with a knife. Repeat with 

remaining potatoes. Mash 

or pass through a mouli or 

potato ricer back into the 

warm pan over low heat. 

3. Heat the milk and cream 

together in a small saucepan 

until almost boiling. Pour 

over the potato beating 

with a wooden spoon until 

smooth. Add the butter in 

batches, stirring until fluffy. 

Stir in the garlic. Season to 

taste with salt and white 

pepper. 

4. Serve immediately or press 

a piece of baking paper onto 

the surface to prevent a skin 

from forming. 

1. Preheat oven to 180°C fanforced. 

1.5 kg braising beef (like 

Cut 1cm from the top 

chuck, rump or topside), cut 

of a garlic bulb to expose 

into large chunks 

the individual garlic cloves, 

5 tbs extra virgin olive oil 

place on a sheet foil. Discard 

250g speck, diced 

the top. Drizzle over the oil Janelle’s Tip: To reheat 

2 carrots, halved lengthwise, 

then wrap the garlic bulb in mash, add a little hot 

cut into 4cm pieces 

1. Season beef with salt and foil. Roast for 45-50 minutes. milk, beating constantly 

2 celery stalks, chopped 

pepper. Heat a large heavybased 

Discard foil. Set the garlic with a wooden spoon 

1 leek, halved lengthwise, 

pan over medium- 

aside for 5 minutes to cool. until heated through. 

thinly sliced 

high heat until hot. Add Squeeze the garlic flesh 



Cauliflower Gratin 

Serves 6 

1 large head cauliflower 

60g butter, chopped 

¼ cup plain flour 

1 litre full cream milk 

2 cups grated Gruyère cheese 

1. Break the cauliflower into 

medium-size florets. Drop 

them into a large saucepan 

of boiling salted water. Cook 

for 3 minutes (cauliflower 

should still be firm). Drain 

well; transfer to a lightly 

greased 6-cup capacity baking 

dish. 

2. Preheat the oven to 180°C 

fan-forced. 

3. Heat a saucepan over medium 

heat. Add the butter 

and stir until melted. Add 

the flour, cook stirring for 

3-4 minutes, making sure it 

doesn’t colour. Remove from 

the heat. Pour in the milk, 

whisking with a balloon 

whisk constantly. Return to 

the heat, stir until sauce just 

comes to the boil. Simmer, 

stirring often for about 6 

minutes. 

4. Add 1½ cups of the cheese, 

whisking until melted and 


smooth. If the sauce thickens 

too much, thin it out 

with a little more milk. Season. 

Pour the sauce evenly 

over the cauliflower. Sprinkle 

with remaining cheese. 

Bake for 15-20 minutes, or 

until the top is light golden. 

Stand a few minutes before 

serving. 

Madeleines 

(Makes 24) 


3/4 cup plain flour 

¼ teaspoon baking powder 

3 eggs, at room temperature 

2/3 cup caster sugar 

1 lemon, rind only, finely 

grated 

60g unsalted butter, melted 

and cooled 

icing sugar & hot chocolate, 

to serve 


Grease 2 x 12-hole 

madeleine pans. Sift the 

flour and baking powder 

together three times. 

2. Combine the eggs, sugar mixture into prepared holes. 

and lemon rind into bowl or Bake 8-10 minutes or until 

an electric mixer. Whisk 5-6 golden and cakes spring 

minutes on high until thick, back when pressed in the 

pale and doubled in volume. centre. Stand for 2 minutes 

Gently fold in the flour mixture 

in the pan before removing 

followed by the butter to a wire rack to cool. 

until just combined. 

4. Dust with icing sugar and 

3. Spoon tablespoons of 

serve with hot chocolate. 



In Season 

Lemons 


Although Australiangrown 

lemons are 

available all year round 

they are at their peak June 

through to the end of 

August. There are three main 

varieties: Lisbon, Eureka and 

Meyer. Lisbon are the most 

common. They have smooth, 

bright yellow skin and a tart 

flavour. Eureka lemons are 

larger than other varieties 

(usually found across our 

backyards); they have a thick, 

rough skin and are more 

acidic. And Meyer lemons 

are a natural hybrid (cross) 

between a lemon and orange, 

so they are sweeter with a 

slight orange skin colour. 

Buying 

Always choose lemons that 

have a brightly coloured 

skin and feel heavy for their 

size. Avoid any with wrinkled 

or soft, bruised skin. 

Storing 

Keep lemons for up to a 

week at room temperature. 

They will keep for 3-4 weeks 

loose in the crisper part of 

the fridge. 

Nutrition 

Lemons are a good source of 

vitamin C, contain vitamin 

B6 and dietary fibre. 

Also In Season 

July 

Apples, Bananas, Custard 

apples, Dates, Mandarins, 

Nashi, Australian Navel 

and Cara Cara Oranges, 

Pears, Quince, Rhubarb 

and winter Strawberries. 

Also Avocados, 

Beetroot, Broccolini 

and Broccoli, Brussels 

sprouts, Cauliflower, 

Leeks, Fennel, Jerusalem 

Artichokes, Kale, 

Butternut Pumpkin, Sweet 

Potato, Spinach and 

Silverbeet; and Turnips. 

Lemon delicious 

Makes 6 

80g butter, at room temperature 

1 cup caster sugar 

1 lemon, rind finely grated 

3 eggs, separated 

3/4 cup self-raising flour 

2 cups milk 

160ml freshly squeezed 

lemon juice (4-5 lemons) 

icing sugar 

thickened cream or ice 

cream, to serve 


Grease 6 x 1¼ cup 

capacity ovenproof ramekins 

or cups and place 

into a roasting pan. 

2. Beat sugar, butter and 

lemon rind with an electric 

mixer until pale and 

creamy. Add egg yolks 

one at a time, beating well 

after each addition. Add 

flour and milk alternately 

in batches and beat to a 

smooth batter. Stir in the 

lemon juice. 

3. In a separate bowl, whisk 

egg whites with a pinch 

of salt to stiff peaks. Stir 

in one third of the egg 

whites to lighten the 

batter, then gently fold in 

the remaining egg whites 

until just combined. 

Divide among ramekins 

or cups. 

4. Pour enough boiling water 

into the roasting pan to 

come halfway up the side 

of the ramekins or cups. 

Bake for 30-35 minutes 

or until light golden. Dust 

with icing sugar and serve 

with cream or ice cream. 



Pittwater Puzzler 

Compiled by David Stickley 

CLUE: 21 DOWN 

ACROSS 

1 A project that generates a continuous 

flow of money (4,3) 

5 Wave close to shore (7) 

9 Place in a grave at Mona Vale Cemetery, 

for example (5) 

10 Early PM (9) 

11 Types of snake, yes, or essentially ugly 

looking things? (8) 

12 Pickling solution (5) 

14 Break out suddenly or dramatically (5) 

16 A system for networking computers (8) 

18 A flat loaf of Italian bread made with 

olive oil and topped with salt, herbs etc (8) 

20 Sly looks (5) 

24 Firearm with long barrel (5) 

25 A very hot day (8) 

27 Criminals hopefully thwarted by 

groups of wooden posts painted white 

and red once located on Barrenjoey 

Headland (9) 

29 Russian spirit (5) 

30 Any of several varieties of Australian 

parakeet with brightly coloured 

plumage, first observed at Rose Hill near 

Sydney (7) 

31 In a state of rest or inactivity (7) 

DOWN 

1 Cuisine served by Hong Kong 

Restaurant in Newport (7) 

2 A complete meal with limited options 

offered by a restaurant at a fixed price 

(3,4) 

3 Community event held every three 

months in Avalon where unwanted items 

can be sold (3,4,4) 

4 Strip of coastline overlooked by Jonah’s 

restaurant (5,5) 

5 Tub for washing (4) 

6 Wax collector (3) 

7 A shared on-demand transport service 

on the Northern Beaches (7) 

8 One who holds a lease (6) 

12 Bilgola Plateau resident taking part 

in her 20th NSW Variety Bash in August 

(5,6) 

13 Elanora Players’ latest production (3,7) 

15 Sports official in short (3) 

17 Sailor; bitumen (3) 

19 Timber remnants (7) 

21 Australian animal that adorns the fivecent 

piece (7) 

22 Domestic helper (7) 

23 Australian sand island (6) 

26 Preliminary or testing stage of a 

software or hardware product (4) 

28 Cosmetic preparation (3) 

Pittwater Puzzler 



Garden Life 


Delight Freshen in up the homes amazing with 

colours glowing of indoor hydrangeas greenery with Gabrielle Bryant 

AAlthough lways a favourite 

it is a busy 

for 

time 

Christmas outside colour, in the garden, hydrangeas 

it is 

are 

still 

flowering 

cold. It is 

their 

fun 

heads 

to have 

off! 

a project 

They look 

that 

wonderful 

can be 

carried 

in the 

out 

garden, 

inside 

brightening 

where it is 

the 

warm. 

semi-shaded areas and 

glowing 

Indoor 

in 

plants 

the full, 

not 

protected 

only look 

sunlight. 

good, they 

Once 

have 

the 

also 

older 

been 

varieties 

proven that 

were 

they 

either 

clean 

pink 

the 

or 

air. 

blue 

This is 

depending 

why they 

on 

are 

the 

now 

soil, 

in 

additional 

every air-conditioned 

lime will deepen 

office 

the 

building 

pinks 

and 

and 

shopping 

blueing tonic 

centre. 

(sulphate 

Traditional 

of aluminium) 

flower pots 

will 

can 

heighten 

be expensive, 

the blues, 

so look 

but 

around 

the 

new 

your 

named 

house and 

varieties 

find some 

will 

maintain 

interesting 

their 

containers 

colour. White 

to pot 

never 

up. Old 

changes. 

tea cups, 

There 

tea pots 

are 

hydrangeas 

or desk organisers 

of every 

are 

size 

ideal; 

from 

the 

although 

tiny dwarf 

be very 

Piamina 

careful 

to 

not 

the 

to 

tall 

overwater 

traditional 

your 

Mop 

plants 

Heads. 

if there 

With 

is no 

so 

drainage 

many to 

hole 

choose 

in the 

from 

it 

bottom 

is almost 

of the 

too 

container. 

difficult to 

decide. 

Flowering 

There 

Peace 

are the 

lilies, 

delicate 

lace 

African 

caps, 

violets, 

the huge 

orchids 

blooms 

and 

anthuriums love good light. 

Hanging baskets of ferns or 

pots of maiden hair fern thrive 

in the bathroom. Potted herbs 

look good on the kitchen 

window sill. In a darker 

situation the Victorians knew 

what to plant: the Cast Iron 

Plant, aspidistra, Mother in 

Law’s tongue or Parlour palms 

were amongst the favourites. 

Still on indoors, Terrariums 

that were so popular in the 

’70s have made a spectacular 

comeback. They are very easy 

to make and once done take 

very little time to maintain. 

First, find a suitable glass 

of the traditional mop heads, 

the cone-shaped flowers of 

hydrangea paniculata bushes 

container. Tall vases, round 

fish bowls, fish tanks or glass 

domes will all work well. 

The most important factor 

is the potting medium. 

To start, add a layer sand, 

then a layer of fine gravel or 

decorative stones (if you have 

several colours you can layer 

them). Next comes a thin layer 

of crushed charcoal. This is 

important to filter the water 

and keep the roots free from 

that can be two metres tall. 

The recently introduced 

smaller growing Picotee 

varieties with two-tone flower 

heads are hard to leave behind 

and if you have a semishaded 

wall, the climbing 

hydrangea petiolaris is just 

fungus and mould. Finally, add 

beautiful. 

a thick layer of potting mix. (I 

Hydrangeas are forgiving 

use seed raising mix as it has 

plants that are easy to grow. 

a finer texture for a small pot.) 

They like regular water and 

Firm the soil by pressing it 

any good garden soil. Mulch 

well down before you begin to 

the roots with compost to 

plant your miniature garden. 

keep them cool and feed 

Now you are ready 

them in early spring to get 

to choose your plants! 

them going. Grow them in 

Remember that the tiny plants 

pots, or in the garden; bring 

will soon fill out, so don’t 

them inside when in flower 

over-plant. Ferns are ideal, 

or cut the blooms – they last 

miniature African violets do 

well in water. 

Cherry Guava a 

sweet surprise 

In full flower in my veggie 

garden is my Cherry Guava, 

sometimes known as a Strawberry 

Guava. This delightful 

evergreen shrub never fails to 

produce a heavy crop of cherry 

guavas in early autumn. 

It is a small, pretty tree with 

rounded, glossy green leaves 

that only grows to about 

three metres in height. Keep it 

trimmed into shape after fruiting. 

The delicate fluffy flowers 

are creamy white, growing close 

well, to the small branches. parlour They palms are followed 

for by the height tangy and flavoured, the tiny, 

are 

great 

creeping sweet, berry-sized, peperomias cherry will red soon 

act fruit as that a ground are high cove, in vitamin if you C. 

can Unlike find the them taller-growing small growing deciduous 

yellow orchids, guava moth that orchids needs 

native 

or cooking, oncidiums the fruit love can the be humid eaten 

conditions. 

raw straight from the tree or 

used Terrariums in cooking, create jellies, a very drinks, 

moist sauces environment or jams. so choose 

plants You should carefully, protect buy them fruit as 

tubes from fruit or take fly with cuttings a fruit and fly bait. 

wait for them to grow. 

Get into the 

‘swing’ of Xmas 

It is time to relax and enjoy 

your garden. Look at your 

outdoor seating requirements 

– the shops are full of 

amazing chairs and tables. 

Hanging cane egg chairs have 

been trendy for the past few 

years and now the ‘Swing 

Seat’ is back. Nothing is more 

peaceful than swinging in a 

seat for two, sheltered from 

the weather with a roof to 

shade from the sun – makes a 

great Christmas present too! 

72 68 DECEMBER JULY 2018 2017 


Time to 

go potty! 

I 

t is still cold outside but 

you get ahead with spring 

veggies if you start them off 

inside. Mr Fothergills’ seeds 

have made a range of veggies 

and herbs that are ready 

to go. Inside the pots are soil 

and seeds ready to plant. 

All you need is water! 

These plastic pots have 

clear plastic lids to make 

them into mini glass 

houses. Start your basil and 

tomatoes now and they will 

be ready to plant out next 

month. 

Bottlebrush bushes make 

great hedges but can get 

untidy if not looked after. 

They are great where there 

is space for them to spread 

out but not so good in narrow 

spaces. 

New from Ozbreed is 

the callistemon called 

Slim. True to its name, the 

scarlet-flowering shrub 

produces masses of huge 

red brushes on a tall 

narrow plant. It can grow 

to a height of 3m but is 

just 1.3m wide. 

It is the perfect native 

shrub for hedging or can 

be trimmed to a column 

shape as an accent plant 

or it can be grown in a 

large tub by the front door. 

Trimmed just a couple 

of times each year, it will 

flower from early spring 

into summer and autumn. 

The foliage naturally grows 

right to ground level and 

the old flowers are selfcleaning. 


As the days shorten the 

brightly coloured Kalanchoes 

explode into singing 

colours of scarlet, yellow, 

orange, pink, white or cerise. 

Through the cold winter days 

they give cheerful colour 

in the garden, but once the 

flowering finishes they need 

some attention to make them 

flower again next year. 

They are often thrown 

away, mistakenly, when the 

old flower stems brown off. 

Cut the old stems back to 

two or three leaves above the 

growing point to encourage 

new growth. The plant 

will thicken up with more 

flowering tips for next year. 

Kalanchoes have thick, fleshy 

leaves that store the water. 

They need water when they 

are growing but after cutting 

the plants back reduce the 

water until the weather warms 

up and new shoots appear. 

Too much water at this stage 

will kill the plants. 

Better than a ‘Slim’ 

chance of great hedge 

Exploding colours of Kalanchoe 

In spring you can take 

cuttings. Cut stems that have 

at least three pairs of leaves 

below the tip. Cut off the 

bottom two pairs. The new 

roots will appear from the 

node that is where the leaf 

was joined. Let the cuttings 

dry for 24 hours before 

planting. First dip the ends 

into rooting hormone powder 

then plant into seed raising 

mix. 

Don’t water for a couple 

of weeks, once the cutting 

appears to be firm in the soil 

then you can start to water it. 

Too much moisture will make 

the cutting rot. They root very 

easily if you keep them dry. 


Garden Life


Jobs this Month 

July 


We needed the rain in 

June – although maybe 

not quite so much. 

The heavy rain has compacted 

the soil. Aerate your lawn 

and beds with a garden fork, 

before adding new compost 

or mulch. 

Miner problem 

New growth on citrus trees is 

a target for leaf miner, so keep 

up the regular sprays routine 

of Eco oil. It is time to buy a 

new leaf miner lure to hang in 

the tree. 

Snail watch 

Cymbidium orchids are 

flowering now. Marauding 

snails can destroy the 

flower spikes overnight. Use 

Multiguard pellets to keep the 

snails under control. Bring the 

orchids inside while they are 

flowering to enjoy the display. 

Also, tiny snails are climbing 

up vegetables and hibiscus. 

Pick them off by hand or 

entice that back to ground 

level with a saucer of beer. 

Fruiting tip 

Train passionfruit this month. 

The fruit is only produced 

on new growth. Cut the 

vines back by 50 per cent to 

encourage new shoots. 

Transplant time 

It is cold outside but time 

to keep busy. This is the 

month to move any trees or 

shrubs that are in the wrong 

place. Spray the plants with 

Yates’ Drought Shield the 

week before you dig them 

up. This will help to prevent 

transplanting shock. 

Prune roses 

Time to prune your roses. 

Cut back any weak or twiggy 

growth and open up the 

middle of the bushes. Always 

prune back to an outward 

pointing shoot, so that the 

bush remains open. This will 

reduce the congestion of the 

leaves in summer and help 

to prevent black spot. After 

pruning spray your bushes 

with lime sulphur to clean up 

any fungal spores from the 

previous season. 

Buy bulbs 

It’s not too late to plant liliums 

and hippeastrum bulbs for 

Bronze Glow for Xmas 

It may be winter but you 

can get ready for Christmas 

now! Last year the 

West Australian Woolly 

Bush was sold as an indoor 

Christmas tree. It is a 

dense pale grey shrub that 

responds well to trimming 

into shape. 

Adenothus Silver Streak 

has soft, velvety grey leaves 

and the new Bronze Glow 

has the wonderful bronze 

tips on the new growth. 

The natural shape is like 

a Christmas tree and with 

summer flowers. If you buy 

them now make sure that the 

bulbs are still firm without any 

signs of new leaves. 

Lift & divide 

Lift and divide gingers, 

agapanthus, iris, mondo 

grass, liriope, gazanias and 

a little help to thicken the 

foliage it looks spectacular 

when it is decorated. 

Buy a plant now and start 

to shape it. Like all native 

shrubs it is fast-growing. 

Feed it with the slowrelease 

fertiliser called Bush 

Tucker. This is specially 

formulated food for native 

trees and shrubs. Woolly 

Bush won’t do well as an 

indoor plant, so make sure 

to put it back outside in the 

fresh air and sunlight after 

the 12 days of Christmas. 

any other garden perennials 

now. Also, Geranium plants 

need a tidy up. Take new 

cuttings to replace any plants 

that have become woody and 

old. 

Seeds & seedlings 

Tomato seeds are ready to be 

planted out next month. Also, 

make sure that your sweet pea 

seedlings have a strong frame 

to climb up. 

Crossword solution from page 67 

Mystery location: HEADLAND 



Times Past 

Sentry deception a 

smuggler deterrent 

Working day and night, 

seven days a week, 

outside and in all 

types of weather conditions 

certainly wouldn’t attract too 

many job applicants today! 

The ‘employee’ in this 

case was a wooden effigy 

of a military officer. He was 

dressed in an orthodox, 

scarlet swallow-tail coat, 

capped with a plumed 

infantry hat and drawn 

sword, “correctly dressed 

in the conspicuous uniform 

of the red coats”, so that he 

could be clearly seen from 

anywhere in Broken Bay. 

This fellow stood on 

Barrenjoey Headland during 

the latter half of the 19th 

century as a deterrent to 

smugglers (Smugglers Track, 

right). Goods, especially rum, 

were being landed in Broken 

Bay to avoid paying Customs 

duty in Sydney. Subsequently 

in 1843, a Customs Station 

was established in the lee of 

the headland on the Pittwater 

side of the isthmus. 

Alexander Ross became 

the fourth Coast Waiter in 

January 1854. It was he, 

according to Jervis Sparks, 

who had cleverly fashioned 


the soldier almost entirely 

from a single log which 

formed the head, body 

and legs. “The arms were 

made from thick branches 

inserted into augured holes. 

It was brightly painted with 

a red coat, white trousers, 

a fashionable full-black 

military moustache and an 

old black hat.” 

Ross stated that since an 

officer couldn’t remain on 

duty all the time, an effigy 

would provide him with 

some down-time. (Other more 

cynical observers stated that 

it also gave Ross time for 

cards and a tot of confiscated 

rum with his fellow officers.) 

Several reports claim that 

the effigy stood in front of a 

cave, erect and not far from 

the lighthouse. 

In his ‘A Century of Yachting’ 

R. H. Goddard wrote that 

“… before the fire of 1912, 

old groups of wooden posts 

painted white and red, as if 

to represent ‘red coats’, were 

dotted over the hillside of 

Barrenjoey. At a distance they 

certainly looked like military 

sentries (below).” 

They also looked like 

military sentries to some 

skippers of passing vessels. 

Apparently the drawn sword 

was an acknowledged sign 

of a signal of distress (see 

illustration) and on one 

occasion a captain tacked 

into Pittwater to offer 

assistance. After his crew 

stopped laughing when it 

was discovered the soldier 

was wooden, the captain 

complained bitterly to 

the authorities. Ross was 

cautioned, but laughing 

himself, “… continued to 

paint his soldiers, hoping 

to trap another gullible 

captain.” 

Although Jervis said he 

made a reproduction of 

the soldier for one of the 

Pittwater Festivals of the 

1990s, no photo exists of his 

creation. 

A report in ‘The Bulletin’ 

stated that the soldier 

remained on duty until the 

late 1800s when “… white 

ants ate his legs from under 

him and he collapsed.” 

TIMES PAST is supplied 

by local historian 

and President of the 

Avalon Beach Historical 

Society GEOFF SEARL. 

Visit the Society’s 

showroom in Bowling 

Green Lane, Avalon 

Beach. 


Times Past

Local Call 

Local Call 

We love the night 

(market) life! 

When Kiwis Sam Adams 

and Phaly My moved to 

Sydney three years ago 

they – quite literally – spotted 

a gap in the market, providing 

them with the opportunity to 

launch a new business. 

Newly arrived from Auckland, 

with two little kids in tow, 

the young family were keen to 

explore the local night market 

scene. 

“We loved going to night markets 

back home and would go 

to at least five or six a month,” 

Sam explained. “It was a great 

night out for our too little ones 

– we didn’t want to be stuck at 

home but having a young family 

also ruled out going to the pubs 

or clubs, so the night markets 

were a great fit for us. 

“When we started looking for 

night markets in Sydney we really 

struggled to find something 

similar… that’s when the wheels 

started turning and we thought 

that the Sydneysiders were really 

missing out on such a good 

family experience,” he said. 

After a year of research and 

planning and trying to get the 

concept off the ground, Sam 

and Phaly were given their ‘first 

shot’ just over 18 months ago. 

GOOD FOOD, GREAT FUN: Aussie NightMarkets are a 

great monthly addition to the Pittwater scene. 

There are 

now 10 Aussie 

NightMarkets 

boasting the best street food 

from around the globe, with 

kids’ entertainment and shopping, 

held in different locations 

across NSW on most nights 

of the week – with the latest 

launched in Mona Vale. 

“We have had many requests 

to come out this way (as well 

as a few other destinations) but 

thankfully the local Council 

was willing to work with us to 

get the concept off the ground 

in Mona Vale and we were able 

to make it work,” Sam said. 

The markets feature a 

wonderful mix of what Sam 

describes as the “hottest food 

vendors and food trucks on the 

scene”. 

With more than 30 food vendors 

on site, locals can sample 

a wide range of international 

food flavours, with dedicated 

dessert vendors dishing out 

sweet treats as well. 

These markets cater to all the 

family – there are amusement 

rides and games for the kids 

and a boutique retail section 

filled with quality goods and 

services. 

“We also bring in tables and 

chairs for a nice sit-down meal 

and a bit of music to create the 

atmosphere,” Sam said. 

“The park’s Amphitheatre 

provides a great natural seating 

area which overlooks the entire 

event – a great place to head 

if you miss out on grabbing a 

table on the night,” he said 

The Aussie NightMarkets 

are held in Mona Vale Village 

Park on the second Friday of 

every month from 5pm until 

10pm (weather dependent). 

Check out the Facebook page 

for announcements – kids’ rides 

sometimes can’t be operated in 

high winds and the food trucks 

and cars can’t get access to the 

grounds in damp conditions. 

Sam said they are always on 

the lookout for new stallholders 

– visit aussienightmarkets.com. 

au for more info. 

This month’s market is on 

Friday 13. – Lisa Offord 



Travel Life 

Educational tour of post-war Japan 

World War II was without 

doubt the defining 

event of the 20th century – 

it realigned the balance of 

power both in Europe and 

in Asia and established the 

United States as a global 

superpower. Indeed, the repercussions 

of the war and 

its aftermath still reverberate 

today. Which makes Ponant’s 

‘Legacy of World War 

II’ cruise – following in the 

wake of US General Douglas 

MacArthur who journeyed to accept the Japanese 

surrender in 1945, departing September 27, 2019 – a 

truly unique and educational getaway. 

“The ports of call on this intriguing 14 days/13 

nights voyage from China to Japan introduce passengers 

to the rich historical and cultural diversity of 

the western Pacific,” said Travel View’s Karen Robinson. 

“You’ll experience some 5,000 years of Chinese 

history collected in the National Palace Museum in 

Taipei; the unique crafts and music of the people 

of Ishigaki; the legacy of the Ryuku kingdom represented in the 

UNESCO World Heritage Shuri Castle on Okinawa; the samurai 

houses of Chiran; the Fujisan Sengen shrine in the foothills of 

Mt. Fuji; the Kumano Shinto shrines near Shingu – these are just 

some of the fascinating places you may visit along 

our way from Hong Kong to Osaka.” 

As cruise members explore the natural and 

cultural heritage of the distant past of islands 

visited, they will also attend to a more recent 

chapter in their history. 

“Special guest lecturers, James Bradley and 

Philip Hurst, will guide passengers in an exploration 

of the origins and conduct of the war and 

consider with them just how World War II shaped 

the world in which we live,” 

Karen said. 

On August 6, 1945, the US detonated 

an atomic bomb over the 

Japanese city of Hiroshima – one 

of the ports of call on this tour. 

Three days later they dropped 

a second atomic bomb on the 

Japanese city of Nagasaki. Japan 

surrendered to the Allied forces 

on August 15 and the surrender 

ceremony was held on September 

2, aboard the US Navy battleship 

USS Missouri, in Tokyo Bay. – NW 

* To learn more about this trip 

(departs September 27, 2019) attend an exclusive presentation 

at Long Reef GC from 4.30pm to 6pm on Wednesday 

25 July. Bookings essential; RSVP by 20 July on 9999 0444. 





Travel Life: The Insider 

Stuff you must do before 

heading to the airport... 

Visiting the USA is a 

GREAT idea! And there’s 

never been a better time 

to take off! 

We’re pleased to provide tips 

to help pave the way to the 

holiday of a lifetime in the USA. 

Move the ‘mouse’, before you 

leave the house – and remember 

to save this issue for future 

reference; you’ll thank us later. 

For starters, comprehensive 

travel insurance is a must! We 

suggest your buy travel insurance 

from your local agent, 

read the fine print and be sure 

the premiums you pay will deliver 

when needed in coverage. 

Getting good comprehensive 

travel insurance is possibly 

the most important part of 

packing for a holiday. Knowing 

you’re ‘covered’ for flight 

alterations, ‘deductibles’ for 

accidentally driving the hire 

car into the ‘drink,’ missing 

luggage, theft, and (on 

occasion) dropping that new 

camera into the Grand Canyon. 

An example? I chipped a tooth 

consuming a bowl of Bubba 

Gump Shrimp’s clam chowder. 

Ouch! If you do need to use 

any policy cover while away, 

call the provider first-up, and 

open a claim. While medical 

attention in the USA is arguably 

the best in the world the 

first question any practitioner 

is going to ask is “what’s your 

coverage, please?” 

Do homework online – but 

when it comes to making your 

purchases, march into your 

travel agent and take a seat. 

If you do need help later, your 

travel professional can assist. 

The best way to save money 

is to shop before you put the 

key card in the hotel door. 

Plan to shop around while 

still at home; short-list the 

‘must-do’ items on the holiday 

agenda and capture significant 

savings. When you’re ready, 

Did You Know!? 

Australians are among the most 

prolific and pleasantly resilient 

travellers in the world. No matter 

who is running the political 

show, or the ebb and flow of 

exchange rates, Australia continues its love affair 

with America, breaking all records for ‘vacation’ invasions. 

Over 1.4 million Australians lingered longer than any other 

long-haul visitors in the world last year. And visitors to the 

USA from ‘the lucky country’ return to the USA with incredible 

loyalty. About three trips on average in a lifetime. Remarkable. 

The traditional Australian’s trip to the US is, according to 

statistics, 22.9 days in duration and highlighted by access to 

incredible shopping opportunities. Shopping still puts Australians 

at the top of the class for purchases. Australians continue 

to rank shopping as the No.1 activity – 91% by last survey – and 

nowadays not just running shoes, linens, and blue jeans are going 

into the shopping trolley/cart. Australians are toting home 

lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, new luggage, golf 

clubs and vintage motorcycles and cars, to mention only a few. 

highlights in hand, head for a 

local travel guru and… ‘book 

’em, Danno!’. 

Pay the bulk of trip costs in 

Australian dollars instead of 

US Greenbacks when you ‘get 

there’. Leaving hotel bookings 

or car hire until the last minute 

is no longer a reliable path 

to savings. Planning can be 

almost as much fun as going 

along – enjoy the journey. 

Use your own funds in the 

USA with access to ATMs. Load 

your ATM account before you 

go, clear your credit cards. 

Don’t tote along any Aussie 

currency – unless you’re keen 

to show the locals how bills are 

a different size and colour. 

Some nuggets of gold: 

n Study pass options available 

before leaving. When you buy 

multi-attraction passes you’ll 

save both money and, tons of 

time! 

n In major cities, nail down a 

CityPass, which will include entries 

and admissions to all the 

key regional attractions. These 

fabulous passes also save 

huge chunks of time waiting 

in lines. Go right to the front 

and wave your VIP pass and 

you’re in! These pre-purchased 

passes will wind up saving the 

clever traveller at least 50% of 

the box office tariff. And you’ll 

spend more time in attractions, 

rather than waiting in 

queues. 

n Upgrade your current phone 

for ‘roaming’ or consider buying 

a new toss-away phone 

with Mark Sheehan 

while in the USA. Phone service 

providers in Australia will 

charge an international ‘roaming 

fee’ for overseas use of 

your own equipment. Ask your 

provider for their best shot at 

providing coverage. Crucially, 

confirm you’ve got a good bit 

of data to download so you 

can use the GPS and maps now 

available everywhere. 

n Contact your bank and let 

them know it’s you, using your 

credit cards overseas. It’s a 

sign of the times: your first 

credit card purchase in the USA 

goes as smooth as a baby’s 

posterior, only to be abruptly 

‘declined’ the next time you 

buy a second round at the 

bar. The message ‘contact 

your bank’ is almost always, 

guaranteed. Plan ahead – make 

a pre-departure call into your 

bank, or call the credit card 

company to alert them of your 

travel plans, and it should be 

smooth sailing when flashing 

the plastic. Without fear of 

rejection. 

n The Japanese business community 

has a saying, based 

on the iconic Samurai Battle 

Creed, called the ‘Five Ps’: 

Proper Planning Prevents Poor 

Performance! Start planning 

early, and you’ll be pleasantly 

pleased with the results when 

you finally do take off. Remember 

to drop us a postcard! 

Mark Sheehan is an 

entrepreneur and travel 

specialist who has helped 

build iconic brands such 

as TrekAmerica, Insight, 

Elite, F2T, Scenic, Trafalgar, 

and AmeriCan Adventures. 

Mark helped Sir Richard 

Branson launch V Australia 

(now Virgin Australia), while 

penning over 200 travel 

guides for onboard Tour 

Directors. His best-selling 

Know BEFORE You GO Guide 

– America Over Easy! Is in 

its fifth reprint. 



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Pittwater Life July 2018 Issue

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