Pittwater LIfe August 2019 Issue
The Changing Face of Mona Vale. Larrikin Spirit. Monika's Doggie Rescue. John Stone Recalls Woodstock 1969. Local Help for Parenting Teens. Early Warning on Ticks.
The Changing Face of Mona Vale. Larrikin Spirit. Monika's Doggie Rescue. John Stone Recalls Woodstock 1969. Local Help for Parenting Teens. Early Warning on Ticks.
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The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
FREE<br />
pittwaterlife<br />
THE CHANGING FACE OF MONA VALE<br />
LARRIKIN SPIRIT – SINGER DAMIEN LOVELOCK SHOOTS FROM THE HIP<br />
MONIKA’S DOGGIE RESCUE / JOHN STONE RECALLS WOODSTOCK 1969<br />
PLUS: LOCAL HELP FOR PARENTING TEENS / EARLY WARNING ON TICKS
Editorial<br />
The month to celebrate youth<br />
<strong>August</strong> 12 is International<br />
Youth Day; to coincide,<br />
NB Council is running its 24/7<br />
Youth Film Festival this month.<br />
There are great prizes (up to<br />
$5000) to be won, so if you are<br />
under 25 or if your kids are,<br />
encourage them to participate<br />
(see page 18).<br />
Also, there’s a new youth<br />
charity on the beaches – SPARK<br />
– helping young people make<br />
life-affirming choices. They<br />
are hosting a big business<br />
pitch event, similar to TV’s<br />
‘Shark Tank’, on R U OK day<br />
(September 12) in Newport<br />
that is open to young people<br />
between the ages of 8-23.<br />
They have a crack panel of<br />
entrepreneurs and business<br />
coaches who will award<br />
hundreds to thousands of<br />
dollars and 10 weeks of startup<br />
coaching to the winning<br />
team. Submissions by <strong>August</strong><br />
15 though, so get cracking!<br />
More info sharethespark.<br />
org.au<br />
* * *<br />
I<br />
t only takes one... the ‘fun<br />
police’ have been out in force,<br />
intent on causing a stir locally.<br />
Avalon Bulldogs have been<br />
the target of noise complaints<br />
during games at Hitchcock Park<br />
this season; apparently their<br />
PA system, used intermittently<br />
for ground announcements, is<br />
too loud for some residents; it<br />
resulted in a Ranger attending<br />
a game back in April to broker<br />
a compromise.<br />
When approached, the Club<br />
didn’t want to make a big deal<br />
about it and accepted they<br />
needed to work with residents.<br />
But I mean, really?<br />
Even Council carefully<br />
worded its response. CEO Ray<br />
Brownlee told us: “Council is<br />
mindful of striking a balance<br />
between reducing excessive<br />
noise, but at the same time<br />
allowing crowds to enjoy the<br />
atmosphere at sportsgrounds<br />
in residential neighbourhoods.”<br />
In conclusion, Catch 22.<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 3
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Publisher: Nigel Wall<br />
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Contributors: Rosamund Burton,<br />
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Vol 29 No 1<br />
Celebrating 28 years<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
FREE<br />
pittwaterlife<br />
THE CHANGING FACE OF MONA VALE<br />
LARRIKIN SPIRIT – SINGER DAMIEN LOVELOCK SHOOTS FROM THE HIP<br />
MONIKA’S DOGGIE RESCUE / JOHN STONE RECALLS WOODSTOCK 1969<br />
PLUS: LOCAL HELP FOR PARENTING TEENS / EARLY WARNING ON TICKS<br />
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thislife<br />
COVER: Council is about to splash millions of dollars across<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> – find out where (p6); Monika’s Doggie Rescue at<br />
Ingleside is busier than ever (p8); we look at the changing<br />
face of Mona Vale, from the Hospital to the Mona Vale Road<br />
upgrade and more (p16); the 24/7 Youth Film Festival is on<br />
again (p18); readers give their feedback on local issues (p20);<br />
with top police concerned about the behaviour of some of<br />
our youth, a new seminar has been arranged to help with the<br />
parenting of teens (p22); and rocker Damien Lovelock talks<br />
about his career that started with the Celibate Rifles and has<br />
spanned almost 40 years (p34). COVER IMAGE: Sam Baker<br />
also this month<br />
Editorial 3<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Local News 6-33<br />
Life Stories: Damien Lovelock 34-37<br />
Art Life 38-39<br />
Surfing Life 40-41<br />
Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 42-49<br />
Money 50-51<br />
Law 52-53<br />
Trades & Services Guide 54-57<br />
Showtime; Clubs & Pubs 58-61<br />
Tasty Morsels; Food & Recipes 62-66<br />
Crossword 67<br />
Gardening 68-70<br />
Travel 73-74<br />
the goodlife<br />
Restaurants, food, gigs, travel and gardening.<br />
Also find our regular features on beauty, health, surfing,<br />
art, local history, our guide to trades and services, money,<br />
law and our essential maps.<br />
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on WEDNESDAY 28 AUGUST<br />
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4 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Home improvements: Pit<br />
News<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> residents and families<br />
are set to enjoy cleaner<br />
outdoor areas and better access<br />
to local childcare following<br />
a commitment by Northern<br />
Beaches Council to invest<br />
more than 75 per cent of its<br />
2020 Delivery Program Budget<br />
into community projects.<br />
Mayor Michael Regan said<br />
Council would invest $453.5<br />
million back into the community<br />
across the next 12<br />
months, offering a balance<br />
of high-quality services, key<br />
projects and infrastructure<br />
– with local surf clubs also<br />
among the big winners.<br />
He said $343 million would<br />
be allocated to deliver community<br />
services including<br />
libraries, childcare, street<br />
sweeping, mowing and<br />
maintenance of reserves<br />
and parks, domestic garbage<br />
collection and managing the<br />
natural environment.<br />
“I’m proud to say that we<br />
have listened to the community<br />
and are prioritising the<br />
areas of need that our community<br />
has asked for,’’ Mayor<br />
Regan said.<br />
“This includes increasing<br />
our cleaning services in public<br />
areas and providing more<br />
childcare places for children<br />
under three years of age.”<br />
More than $110 million<br />
will be invested in new and<br />
renewed assets across the<br />
Northern Beaches area including<br />
surf clubs, town centres,<br />
playgrounds, sporting facilities<br />
and sports fields.<br />
In <strong>Pittwater</strong> this included<br />
$7.7 million towards mitigating<br />
floods on Wakehurst Parkway,<br />
and coastal erosion at<br />
Collaroy-Narrabeen; $3.7 million<br />
to complete the boardwalk<br />
and start work on the<br />
new pedestrian cyclist bridge<br />
over Narrabeen Lagoon;<br />
and another $3.7 million to<br />
upgrade wharves at Church<br />
Point and Scotland Island.<br />
A whopping $5 million will<br />
be injected into club upgrades<br />
and improvements – including<br />
$2.4 million on upgrading<br />
Mona Vale Surf Club, $1.1 million<br />
to upgrade Long Reef Surf<br />
Club, and an additional $1.5<br />
million towards improvements<br />
at other peninsula clubs.<br />
“Our commitment to improving<br />
roads and footpaths<br />
will also continue, with over<br />
$11 million in upgrades to<br />
roads, footpaths and kerb and<br />
gutter and new footpaths,”<br />
Mayor Regan said.<br />
“As completion of our<br />
incredible 36km Coast Walk<br />
from Manly to Palm Beach<br />
gets closer, we will invest $3.7<br />
million to finish the section between<br />
Newport and Avalon and<br />
will also be integrating public<br />
artworks along the path.<br />
“We’re also very pleased to<br />
be reinvesting an estimated<br />
$29.5 million in efficiency<br />
savings back to our ratepayers<br />
with new priority<br />
infrastructure, improved<br />
service levels and lower waste<br />
charges for ratepayers.’’<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
Garbage trucks as art<br />
Council’s new fleet of garbage<br />
trucks have been impossible<br />
to miss after officially hitting<br />
the streets in July.<br />
Carrying important messages<br />
in support of White<br />
Ribbon and reducing single<br />
use plastics, they also come in<br />
a rainbow of colours – purple,<br />
magenta, red, yellow, green,<br />
teal, cyan, blue and black.<br />
6 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
twater 2020 pledge<br />
And in an Australia-first,<br />
the entire domestic waste fleet<br />
boasts fully enclosed hoppers<br />
to reduce odour and litter.<br />
All the trucks have on-board<br />
GPS technology and video/<br />
camera systems, which make it<br />
easy to locate and track collection<br />
vehicles in real time.<br />
“Ultimately the aim is to<br />
reduce what we dispose to<br />
landfill,” said Mayor Michael<br />
Regan.<br />
Our $110 million cash splash<br />
Council’s $110 million<br />
infrastructure splurge will<br />
feature a raft of local project<br />
upgrades and investment<br />
including:<br />
n Upgrading Mona Vale Surf<br />
Lifesaving Clubs and repairs to<br />
other clubs – $5.2 million<br />
n New creative art spaces in<br />
Mona Vale and Avalon – $1<br />
million<br />
n New netball courts and open<br />
space at Warriewood, and<br />
basketball courts at Newport –<br />
$1.7 million<br />
n Improvements to the<br />
playground and showground<br />
at Glen Street Belrose,<br />
complementing the synthetic<br />
playing fields – $2.3 million<br />
n Works to mitigate floods on<br />
Wakehurst Parkway, and coastal<br />
erosion at Collaroy-Narrabeen –<br />
$7.7 million<br />
n 25km roads resurfaced,<br />
8.4km new footpaths and 7.2km<br />
of existing footpaths renewed –<br />
$11.1 million<br />
n Coast Walk art trail and 2km<br />
new shared paths – $3.7 million<br />
n Boardwalk complete and<br />
work underway on a new<br />
pedestrian cyclist bridge<br />
over Narrabeen Lagoon – $3.7<br />
million<br />
n Upgrades to wharves at<br />
Church Point and Scotland<br />
Island – $3.7 million<br />
n Improvement to traffic<br />
and active travel facilities<br />
in Warriewood Valley – $1.2<br />
million<br />
n Purchase of environmentally<br />
sensitive land at Newport to<br />
protect our biodiversity – $2.5<br />
million<br />
n Energy and water savings<br />
works, e.g. at our buildings,<br />
fields and street lights – $3.4<br />
million<br />
n Works to improve library<br />
technology, collection and<br />
sites including Mona Vale –<br />
$2.2 million<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 7
Monika’s rescue remedy<br />
News<br />
Monika’s Doggie Rescue has been saving and<br />
adopting out dogs at Ingleside for over a decade,<br />
and with the NSW Government’s ongoing<br />
reduction in licence fees for rescue dogs, they<br />
are busier than ever. Story by Rob Pegley<br />
With a chorus of<br />
dogs barking in the<br />
background, I do<br />
the math in my head, as I<br />
sit in the morning sun with<br />
Monika Biernacki: By my<br />
reckoning she’s probably<br />
saved over 10,000 dogs. Each<br />
year at her Ingleside Doggie<br />
Rescue shelter some 350<br />
dogs are found new homes<br />
(there are cats, too). It’s been<br />
as high as 1000 in a year,<br />
but these days she often<br />
deals with bigger and more<br />
difficult dogs. It’s almost<br />
like a Doggie Rehab. But it’s<br />
been a long journey from her<br />
first dog rescue experience.<br />
“It started over 20 years<br />
ago. A colleague had a<br />
dog that she couldn’t cope<br />
with and I took it on at my<br />
home in Turramurra. Then<br />
I took on another, but I was<br />
reported by neighbours<br />
because these dogs were<br />
really difficult, and the<br />
Rangers came to visit.”<br />
And this is where Monika’s<br />
story really started.<br />
“The Ranger that visited<br />
had a real empathy for<br />
abandoned dogs,” Monika<br />
explains. “He made my dog<br />
Pet of the Week in a column<br />
he regularly wrote in a local<br />
paper and introduced me to<br />
the dog pound, and I started<br />
taking on more dogs.”<br />
This was pre-Internet and<br />
so Monika took cheap ads<br />
in the local press trying to<br />
foster out more and more<br />
dogs. She put signs on<br />
telegraph poles, kept the<br />
dogs at home, paid vets bills<br />
out of her own pocket…<br />
and kept dealing with<br />
neighbours’ complaints.<br />
In 2001 Monika became a<br />
registered charity and gave up<br />
her job to follow her passion.<br />
A Current Affair ran a<br />
story on her and a viewer<br />
called in to offer space at<br />
Duffy’s Forest where 20 or<br />
30 dogs could sleep. When<br />
the place was bought for<br />
development she moved<br />
around – mostly out West<br />
– like a nomad. It’s not too<br />
dramatic to say it was a life<br />
or death situation.<br />
“Back then dogs were<br />
dumped at the pound<br />
and killed quickly if they<br />
weren’t claimed. Big dogs in<br />
particular had no chance.”<br />
Then 12 years ago after<br />
a long process, Monika<br />
won the tender to take<br />
over <strong>Pittwater</strong> Pound at<br />
the current Ingleside site.<br />
It needed a lot of work: “It<br />
hadn’t been used for a year<br />
and was in a terrible state.<br />
And there were no outside<br />
areas, it was like a prison for<br />
dogs. We had a huge band of<br />
volunteers who helped deal<br />
with the garbage, clean the<br />
place, build outside kennels<br />
and put up fencing.”<br />
These days there are<br />
around 20 paid casual<br />
kennel hands and hundreds<br />
of regular volunteers who<br />
help. Not to mention vast<br />
members of the public<br />
who turn up every day to<br />
walk the dogs. But there<br />
is still always the vague<br />
threat of Monika becoming<br />
a nomad again if property<br />
development creeps its way<br />
out to Ingleside.<br />
“We look after the place<br />
well and are good caretakers,<br />
and the site is still primitive<br />
in many ways; we have<br />
power, but have put in<br />
our own water tanks and<br />
sewerage system. But we’re<br />
8 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
TO THE RESCUE: Monika Biernacki registered her charity 18 years ago.<br />
only on a month’s notice still<br />
after 12 years here.”<br />
With 8000 Instagram<br />
followers and 25,000 on<br />
Facebook, the army of<br />
helpers is easily mobilised<br />
these days. One lady is<br />
driving to Queanbeyan as we<br />
speak to rescue a small dog<br />
who is due to be put down.<br />
Monika has eight dogs<br />
of her own – “the really<br />
difficult ones that are hard<br />
to be taken on by other<br />
handlers”, she explains.<br />
In 2016, the NSW<br />
Government introduced<br />
half-price pet registration<br />
fees for animals adopted<br />
from pounds and shelters<br />
to encourage would-be<br />
pet owners to consider<br />
adopting homeless pets.<br />
Last year the discount was<br />
extended to include animals<br />
purchased from 95 rehoming<br />
organisations – to date, more<br />
than 40,000 owners have<br />
benefitted from $1 million<br />
dollars’ worth of discounted<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
pet registration fees.<br />
It is now also policy<br />
that advertisements for<br />
dogs require a licence and<br />
microchip number.<br />
Monika believes both are<br />
great moves to cut down<br />
on maverick dog breeders;<br />
especially the bigger dogs<br />
which have become more<br />
common at rescue places<br />
– purchased as a symbol<br />
of macho image and often<br />
quickly abandoned.<br />
Monika herself shows<br />
no signs of slowing down<br />
and can’t imagine not<br />
continuing her loving work.<br />
“I’ll continue as long as I<br />
can. Hopefully another 10<br />
years at least,” she says. “I<br />
never get tired of seeing dogs<br />
adopted by a loving family –<br />
especially the medically and<br />
behaviourally challenged<br />
dogs that we’ve helped get<br />
used to humans again.”<br />
By my maths, that figure<br />
of 10,000 could easily double<br />
before Monika is finished.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 9
Woodstock legacy lives on<br />
News<br />
It’s 50 years since the iconic<br />
Woodstock music festival<br />
in upstate New York<br />
defined not just the sense of<br />
hope of the late 1960s, but<br />
also became the blueprint for<br />
music festivals, including in<br />
Australia.<br />
Billed as “3 Days Of Peace<br />
& Music”, Woodstock saw<br />
around 400,000 people flock<br />
to a 600-acre dairy farm from<br />
<strong>August</strong> 15-17, 1969 to hear<br />
32 incredible popular and<br />
emerging music acts, including<br />
The Who, Creedence<br />
Clearwater Revival, Crosby<br />
Stills Nash & Young, Janis<br />
Joplin, Joe Cocker and Jimi<br />
Hendrix.<br />
Woodstock’s effect on<br />
youth and popular culture<br />
was immense; Rolling Stone<br />
magazine ranked it number<br />
19 of the ‘50 Moments That<br />
Changed the History of Rock<br />
and Roll’.<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> musical figurehead<br />
John Stone said Woodstock,<br />
which was staged less<br />
than a month after the moon<br />
landing and first moon walk,<br />
had a profound effect on him.<br />
“I’d just finished school<br />
and started a University<br />
Arts Degree. I had also just<br />
begun my life-long journey<br />
with music and Woodstock<br />
featured some of the most influential<br />
bands on my music<br />
career, including The Band,<br />
Hendrix, Creedence, Crosby<br />
Stills Nash and Young, and<br />
Santana.”<br />
Other powerful effects were<br />
political and lifestyle alternatives.<br />
“I remember the Vietnam<br />
war was politicised,”<br />
John said. “I was due for<br />
the conscription ballot and<br />
registered as a CO (conscientious<br />
objector) and became<br />
engaged with moratoriums<br />
and numerous other political<br />
movements which looked at<br />
THE TIMES, THEY WERE A CHANGING: John Stone (with Backbeat, second<br />
from left) remembers Woodstock helped politicise the Vietnam War and<br />
also laid the foundation for future music festivals including in Australia.<br />
alternative ways of being.<br />
“Woodstock projected<br />
peace, love and harmony. It<br />
presented alternative ways<br />
of living and the strength<br />
of people power – Hendrix’s<br />
version of the ‘Star Spangled<br />
Banner’ was a powerful voice<br />
to oppose US military/ economic<br />
and social norms.”<br />
John recalls reports highlighting<br />
the prevalence of<br />
drugs at Woodstock.<br />
“This set a future path for<br />
the drug culture, with the<br />
use of numerous drugs for<br />
recreational, spiritual, sexual<br />
and reality-escape purposes,”<br />
he said.<br />
“The ‘hippie umbrella’ that<br />
was Woodstock also had<br />
many ramifications into the<br />
future. It laid the foundations<br />
for Narara, Sunbury, Mulwala<br />
10 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
and many other Aussie music<br />
festivals to the current day<br />
– such as Bluesfest, Falls, the<br />
Big Day Out, Homebake and<br />
Splendor in the Grass, which<br />
flourish to this day.”<br />
John said he had reflected<br />
on Woodstock with good<br />
friend Milton Brown, who<br />
came to teach at Barrenjoey<br />
HS in the ‘70s; he too observed<br />
many impacts, including the<br />
long hair, free surfing, music<br />
tastes and general attitudes re<br />
the alternatives for a different<br />
lifestyle.<br />
“Also, Woodstock was followed<br />
by an explosion of great<br />
Australian music. My own<br />
band, Barnaby Rudge, heavily<br />
influenced by The Band and<br />
Bob Dylan, played every Friday<br />
night at Palm Beach RSL,<br />
Saturday at the Chatswood<br />
Charles and Wednesdays at<br />
Drummoyne Rowing Club<br />
throughout the mid-70s. The<br />
music of Woodstock was pivotal<br />
in our performance and<br />
composition.”<br />
He said the Hendrix sound<br />
became “the sound of rock<br />
guitar”.<br />
“All Along the Watchtower<br />
gave lyrical legitimacy to<br />
heavy rock guitar,” he said.<br />
“Also, The Band, with songs<br />
and stories of culture and<br />
home, set the tone in Australia<br />
for bands like The Dingoes<br />
and Greg Quills Country<br />
Radio.<br />
“It was truly a memorable<br />
festival that laid strong foundations<br />
for many experiences<br />
over the past 50 years, probably<br />
captured best and beautifully<br />
by Joni Mitchell’s song<br />
‘Woodstock’.” – Nigel Wall<br />
* John Stone’s band Backbeat<br />
are playing loclly in September;<br />
on the 13th at the Kave<br />
Bar in Newport and 22nd at<br />
the Avalon Bowling Club.<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
Urgent call for Telstra suburb upgrade<br />
demand has been made for Telstra to<br />
A immediately upgrade phone reception at<br />
Cottage Point following the tragic death of a<br />
local resident.<br />
Mackellar MP Jason Falinski said the local<br />
suffered a heart attack and his wife had to alert<br />
neighbours to call for help before returning to<br />
her husband to perform CPR; however, sadly<br />
the man died before the ambulance arrived.<br />
“This is the last straw – a man has died, and<br />
his wife was unable to call for an ambulance<br />
as there was no mobile phone reception,” Mr<br />
Falinski said. “Telstra need to stop stuffing<br />
the people of Cottage Point around. It doesn’t<br />
matter that they may be a small community;<br />
they are worth just as much as people living in<br />
the CBD.Andrew Penn [Telstra CEO] needs to<br />
respond immediately and provide them with<br />
phone reception.”<br />
Cottage Point is home to over 100 residents<br />
as well as a Rural Fire Brigade, Marine Rescue<br />
Station and the Kuring-Gai Motor Yacht Club.<br />
Mr Falinski said he had made numerous<br />
requests to Telstra over many years to have<br />
the landline switchboard equipment upgraded<br />
from an out-of-date 4 E1 Microwave Radio<br />
transmission system.<br />
“The current infrastructure in Cottage Point<br />
is old and in extremely poor condition. Every<br />
time there is a storm, it requires specialists to<br />
repair it. This often takes days, leaving residents<br />
not only without mobile phone reception<br />
but also their landlines. This is unacceptable.”<br />
Mr Falinski has made representations to the<br />
Minister of Communications, Paul Fletcher, as<br />
well as the CEO of Telstra Andrew Penn. Mr Falinski<br />
has also set up a petition on his website<br />
to gain community support for Cottage Point’s<br />
desperate need for phone reception.<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 11<br />
News
News<br />
148 new beds for local aged care<br />
Aged care accommodation and services<br />
on the upper Northern Beaches will be<br />
boosted by 148 new beds within the new Opal<br />
Seaside retirement village in Warriewood.<br />
Mackellar MP Jason Falinski and Northern<br />
Beaches Mayor Michael Regan recently turned<br />
the first sods on the development, which is<br />
the 6th Opal care home in the Sydney North<br />
region.<br />
Mr Falinski said the provision of aged care<br />
had come a long way and improved immeasurably<br />
over the past two decades.<br />
“When I first started working in aged care<br />
some 20 years ago, I remember walking into a<br />
retirement home and the first thing I noticed<br />
was the strong smell of ammonia and how<br />
unhomely these places used to be,” he said.<br />
“Today, retirement homes resemble a 6-star<br />
resort more than they do a hospital and we<br />
have come a long way.”<br />
Upon completion Opal Seaside will be a<br />
148-bed aged care home with a total investment<br />
of $48 million. The home will include<br />
a dedicated memory support unit providing<br />
dementia care as well as exercise areas and a<br />
‘reablement’ clinic.<br />
“It’s fantastic to see such excellent investments<br />
into aged care facilities,” Mr Falinsi<br />
said.<br />
“Our seniors deserve to enjoy their retirement<br />
and as Northern Beaches residents move<br />
into their next stage of life, it is nice to know<br />
they can be well looked after here on the<br />
beaches and not have to move to the North<br />
Shore or other parts of Sydney.”<br />
The Opal Seaside facility will also include<br />
a coffee shop and an al fresco dining area,<br />
an entertainment lounge, hairdressing and<br />
beauty salon as well as gardens and general<br />
courtyard areas.<br />
The facility will follow the 24-hour, 7-days-aweek,<br />
nurse-led care model.<br />
– NW<br />
6THINGS<br />
THIS MONTH<br />
Avalon Craft Cottage.<br />
Beautiful hand-crafted items<br />
including warm woollen scarves,<br />
socks, hot water bottle covers,<br />
items for babies, woodwork,<br />
greeting cards, patchwork<br />
quilts, jewellery & collectables<br />
and succulent gardens made<br />
with love by 18 talented locals<br />
will be available for sale at<br />
Warriewood Square for one week<br />
until Sun 4. Every customer will<br />
receive a colourful bookmark in<br />
celebration of the ACC group’s<br />
50th birthday.<br />
Car boot sale. Grab a bargain,<br />
some yummy food and be<br />
entertained at the car boot sale<br />
in the grounds of <strong>Pittwater</strong> High<br />
School on Sun 4 from 7.30am-<br />
1.30pm and help raise funds<br />
to send the schools talented<br />
musicians on an instrumental tour<br />
of America in 2020.<br />
Kierans Creek care. Enjoy the<br />
great outdoors and help restore<br />
an important waterway and<br />
wildlife corridor by joining Kierans<br />
Creek Landcare group on Sat 10<br />
(and every second Saturday of<br />
each month) from 9am-12pm at<br />
the rear of St Anthony in the Fields<br />
Church, 46 Myoora Rd Terry Hills.<br />
Contact annelanyon@gmail.com<br />
Author talk. Barry Eaton, TV<br />
and Radio presenter, qualified<br />
astrologer, psychic and medium<br />
with discuss his new book Past<br />
Lives Unveiled at the Avalon<br />
Library on Sun 18 at 3pm. Book<br />
now at the library or call 9918<br />
3013. Tickets $7.<br />
Rock platform tour. Sea<br />
stars, sea hares, elephant snails,<br />
limpet and crabs are some of the<br />
creatures that call rock platforms<br />
home – pay them a visit on a<br />
guided tour hosted by experts<br />
on Sat 31 from 1.30pm-3.30pm.<br />
Bookings essential through the<br />
Coastal Environment Centre.<br />
Save the date. Social<br />
commentator Jane Caro AM will<br />
be guest speaker at the Zonta<br />
Club Northern Beaches October<br />
dinner celebrating 100 years of<br />
advocacy on Monday Oct 21 at<br />
Dee Why RSL. Look for details<br />
this month including bookings<br />
(this will sell out quickly) on<br />
Zonta Northern Beaches website<br />
or Facebook.<br />
14 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
View the changing<br />
Hospital transformation continues<br />
News<br />
Demolition of Mona Vale<br />
Hospital’s main building<br />
has commenced, as part of<br />
the NSW Government’s $600<br />
million investment to transform<br />
the delivery of health services<br />
on the Northern Beaches.<br />
The demolition of the building,<br />
which was built in the early<br />
1960s, and the former nurses’<br />
accommodation, started in mid-<br />
July with an expected completion<br />
date of the end of 2020.<br />
NSW Health Minister Brad<br />
Hazzard reaffirmed the Government’s<br />
decision to demolish<br />
the hospital’s main tower rather<br />
than retain and renovate due to<br />
safety concerns over asbestos.<br />
Health Infrastructure<br />
investigations into Asbestos<br />
Containing Material (ACM) have<br />
informed the decision to remove<br />
the buildings, given they<br />
no longer comply with current<br />
Australian Standards and the<br />
Building Code of Australia.<br />
This remains at odds with<br />
the views of community groups<br />
including Save Mona Vale Hospital<br />
who say their independent<br />
advice was the asbestos would<br />
be manageable during any<br />
refurbishment.<br />
However, Mr Hazzard told<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Life that was not an<br />
option.<br />
8 YEARS ON: Aerial views of the Mona Vale Hospital campus in 2011 (left) and <strong>2019</strong> (right) show the change of the<br />
health services footprint, including the Community Health Centre and Rehabilitation Unit.<br />
“Minister Stokes and I have<br />
walked through the main tower<br />
with management and seen the<br />
exposed asbestos... if something<br />
could be done to manage<br />
and maintain the building we<br />
would but our advice is it can’t,<br />
it’s dangerous and it has to<br />
come down,” he said.<br />
“But it presents the local community<br />
with an opportunity –<br />
it’s an investment in the future<br />
of the area.”<br />
He said that following the<br />
opening of the Northern<br />
Beaches Hospital and the progression<br />
of the transformation<br />
of Mona Vale Hospital campus,<br />
with the construction of various<br />
new services, planning had now<br />
reached a stage where further<br />
services could be considered.<br />
Importantly, the hospital and<br />
land remained in government<br />
ownership for complementary<br />
health and medical services<br />
which were being sought via the<br />
Expressions of Interest.<br />
A Health Infrastructure<br />
spokesperson said construction<br />
was now complete on the Urgent<br />
Care Centre, Support Services<br />
Building and the drug and alcohol<br />
rehabilitation service.<br />
Construction had commenced<br />
on the specialist geriatric<br />
evaluation and managment<br />
unit and dedicated palliative<br />
care unit with work scheduled<br />
to commence on the new ambulance<br />
station.<br />
“Construction of the new<br />
NSW Ambulance station will be<br />
completed in 2021,” the spokesperson<br />
said. “The Ambulance<br />
station will include parking<br />
bays for up to eight ambulance<br />
vehicles, administration, office<br />
areas and amenities, on-site<br />
staff parking, a logistics and<br />
storage area and a dedicated,<br />
fit-for-purpose medication room<br />
to store and access restricted<br />
medications.”<br />
16 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
face of Mona Vale<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> MP Rob Stokes said the<br />
transformation of Mona Vale Hospital<br />
would ensure high-quality,<br />
integrated healthcare services were<br />
delivered within contemporary,<br />
purpose-built facilities.<br />
Upon completion of the Expressions<br />
of Interest process the existing<br />
masterplans for the campus<br />
would be revised.<br />
“Over recent years we’ve seen<br />
millions of dollars flowing towards<br />
infrastructure improvements at<br />
Mona Vale Hospital and this process<br />
is ongoing,” Mr Stokes said.<br />
“Almost 400 NSW Health staff<br />
are employed at Mona Vale Hospital<br />
and it continues to provide dozens<br />
of essential medical services to<br />
our community.<br />
“As announced in late 2016,<br />
the next phase of the hospital’s<br />
redevelopment includes introducing<br />
an even broader range of health<br />
and medical services by partnering<br />
with private and community health<br />
service providers.”<br />
He said this type of partnership<br />
arrangement was quite common in<br />
the NSW public hospital system.<br />
“Respected not-for-profit operator<br />
HammondCare has partnered<br />
with the NSW Government to<br />
provide outpatient palliative care<br />
services at Mona Vale Hospital for<br />
the past 12 years,” he noted.<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
Roadside asbestos dumping revealed<br />
Decades of illegal dumping of dangerous<br />
asbestos and other building and<br />
construction materials have been uncovered<br />
over the past six months by crews working<br />
on the Mona Vale Road East upgrade.<br />
Work started in January to remove<br />
vegetation and rubbish from the project<br />
alignment ahead of the start of major work<br />
upgrading 3.2km from two lanes to four lanes<br />
between Manor Road and Foley Street.<br />
However, a Roads and Maritime<br />
spokesperson told <strong>Pittwater</strong> Life that a<br />
substantial amount of unexpected asbestos<br />
containing soils, building debris and other<br />
general rubbish had been identified and<br />
cleared.<br />
All work involving the removal of the<br />
asbestos had been carried out in strict<br />
compliance with Safe Work NSW guidelines;<br />
it was not known how the investigation and<br />
clearing was likely to impact the project<br />
budget.<br />
“Asbestos was widely used in a range of<br />
building and construction materials up<br />
until 1987 and had been found on work<br />
sites throughout NSW due to widespread<br />
poor disposal practices in past decades,” the<br />
spokesperson said.<br />
“While the discovery of asbestos has slightly<br />
impacted the project schedule, the upgrade is<br />
still on track to be completed in 2022.”<br />
The spokesperson said vegetation and<br />
rubbish clearing would be complete in the<br />
coming months before major work began.<br />
“The community will continue to be<br />
kept informed as work on the upgrade<br />
progresses.”<br />
– NW<br />
Art Space start still 18 months away<br />
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan<br />
has told <strong>Pittwater</strong> Life that a timeline for<br />
the redevelopment of the Mona Vale Civic<br />
Centre site to accommodate the new Creative<br />
Space North has yet to be developed in detail;<br />
however, it was envisaged that it would not<br />
commence construction until late 2020.<br />
“Council is working to the timetable for<br />
the creation of the Mona Vale Creative Arts<br />
Space, as outlined at Council’s meeting in<br />
February,” Mayor Regan said.<br />
He added the internal refurbishment<br />
at the Art Space’s supplementary site,<br />
the Avalon Golf Club House, was likely to<br />
commence within the next 12 months.<br />
“This would be subject to planning<br />
requirements as this is a heritage-listed<br />
building,” he noted.<br />
“Council continues to engage with the<br />
Creative Arts Space North Advisory Group<br />
to ensure the local artist community<br />
and key stakeholders are involved in the<br />
development of these exciting new arts and<br />
creative spaces.”<br />
More at yoursay.northernbeaches.nsw.<br />
gov.au/culturalspace<br />
– NW<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 17
News<br />
Young f ilm-makers<br />
‘shoot for the moon’<br />
The 24/7 Youth Film Festival<br />
is on again in <strong>August</strong>,<br />
with budding young filmmakers<br />
encouraged to put their<br />
creative talents on the line and<br />
shoot and edit seven-minute<br />
film entries that win or not<br />
will end up on the Big Screen at<br />
Hoyts Cinemas.<br />
This year is the 18th running<br />
of the 24/7 Film Festival,<br />
co-ordinated by Northern<br />
Beaches Council and open to<br />
12- to 24-year-olds; the project<br />
includes the competition<br />
launch, a technical workshop,<br />
the competition weekend, two<br />
screening nights at Hoyts, plus<br />
the all-important finals night.<br />
There are two categories:<br />
Under-18s and Open.<br />
Youth Development Officer<br />
Alexandra Tierney said the<br />
technical workshop at Council’s<br />
Dee Why Civic Centre on<br />
Wednesday <strong>August</strong> 14 would<br />
help entrants refine their film-<br />
making skills in preparation for<br />
the competition weekend on the<br />
weekend of Saturday/Sunday<br />
23-24 <strong>August</strong>.<br />
“The film-making workshop<br />
is designed for all levels – you<br />
can bring along your camera or<br />
even your phone if that’s what<br />
you’re going to use.”<br />
Alexandra said the only<br />
rigid entry requirement was<br />
that films needed to include<br />
elements as set by Council<br />
staff – including phrases, items,<br />
a location and a secret rule –<br />
which would be revealed on<br />
the first day of the competition<br />
weekend.<br />
“Then the challenge is on!<br />
Entrants will find out the secret<br />
18 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
FUN WITH FILM: Stills from Charles<br />
Dejean’s award-winning 24/7 Youth<br />
Film Festival works, shot on the<br />
Northern Beaches.<br />
rules they must use in their<br />
seven-minute films, and submit<br />
their films by Sunday 10am.<br />
Teams must register ($50<br />
per team) and complete<br />
indemnity forms for each<br />
member to confirm entry into<br />
the festival – which offers a<br />
range of products and cash<br />
prizes up to $5000.<br />
All film entries that meet<br />
the criteria are screened at<br />
Hoyts over two nights, with<br />
the top 10 films that are up for<br />
a prize shown at Hoyts for the<br />
Finals Night.<br />
Charles Dejean, whose films<br />
have won the past two Open<br />
categories, advises anyone<br />
contemplating entering this<br />
year’s competition to “find your<br />
voice, know what story you<br />
want to tell, and be extremely<br />
organised.”<br />
The 22-year-old from Frenchs<br />
Forest won’t be attempting<br />
a ‘three-peat’ in <strong>2019</strong> as he’s<br />
currently travelling overseas<br />
but told <strong>Pittwater</strong> Life he was<br />
looking forward to congratulating<br />
finalists and winners on<br />
Finals night.<br />
“In filmmaking it is common<br />
knowledge that whatever can<br />
go wrong, will go wrong, so<br />
prepare for it!” he said.<br />
“But at the same time, be flexible.<br />
Allow for objects, phrases<br />
and secret rules given by the<br />
festival’s organisers to be incorporated<br />
in your script.<br />
“Allow the story to breathe<br />
and evolve during the 24 hours<br />
– I can guarantee that your final<br />
product will look nothing like<br />
what you had planned in your<br />
head.<br />
“But most importantly, have<br />
fun with it. It’s one of those<br />
things that judges can smell<br />
on your film, whether it be a<br />
labour of love, or a labour of…<br />
labour.”<br />
Charles said the challenge of<br />
making a film in under 24 hours<br />
was obviously restrictive and as<br />
a result somewhat daunting.<br />
“However, that very time limit<br />
made me feel like I didn’t have<br />
to step too far out of my comfort<br />
zone to produce a film,” he said.<br />
“Those limitations meant that<br />
I needed to use what I already<br />
have at the reach of my fingertips,<br />
literally, in the space of 24<br />
hours.<br />
“I have always been passionate<br />
about films… the way<br />
they are constructed to create<br />
a common feeling (or division)<br />
for the audience… how light,<br />
lenses and camera angles, setting,<br />
performance, and sound<br />
influence certain emotions and<br />
evoke calculated responses in<br />
viewers.”<br />
He said it was important for<br />
entrants to surround themselves<br />
with committed team<br />
members.<br />
“Often opting to be an army<br />
of one in my earlier days of<br />
filmmaking, I kept my teams<br />
to a minimal, only bringing on<br />
the best actors I could find,”<br />
Charles said.<br />
Ambitious by nature, he said<br />
the 24/7 Youth Film Festival<br />
had taught him that everything<br />
he needed to tell a story was<br />
within arm’s reach.<br />
“Whilst I am not producing<br />
CGI-heavy sci-fi in such a short<br />
amount of time, I’ve found the<br />
joy in telling larger stories in<br />
a smaller world, like a microcosm,”<br />
he said.<br />
“I would encourage anyone,<br />
whether they be keen on filmmaking,<br />
just interested in film,<br />
or even looking to have some<br />
fun with your friends over the<br />
weekend and find an excuse to<br />
stay up all night, to sign up to<br />
this year’s film festival.”<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 19
News<br />
Locals have a say…<br />
Here’s some reader feedback on current issues<br />
across the Northern Beaches Council region…<br />
Rate hikes ‘dubious’<br />
I thought I would share this<br />
with you as an example of a<br />
ratepayer who was agreeable<br />
to the idea of the amalgamation,<br />
has never agitated<br />
against the amalgamation, is<br />
still supportive of the amalgamation,<br />
but whose confidence<br />
in the model is on the wane –<br />
if we have staff and Councillors<br />
who are not striving to<br />
have amalgamation benefits<br />
translate into efficiencies that<br />
can be measured by way of at<br />
least modest rate reductions.<br />
Council’s case for its $4.5m<br />
rate rise was unclear and<br />
unconvincing. Over 10 years,<br />
amalgamation savings are<br />
said to be $160m. Intuitively,<br />
it seems wrong to be reaping<br />
the benefit of the recent<br />
structural savings, yet at<br />
same time hitting up ratepayers<br />
for more rates.<br />
The benefits of amalgamation<br />
should be returned<br />
to the community by lower<br />
rates. Revenue pressure is a<br />
good thing that should not<br />
be feared. It drives efficiency<br />
and requires talented staff to<br />
perform to the best of their<br />
abilities. Printing more money<br />
is never a good look, and always<br />
smacks of desperation.<br />
Are we in a desperate state in<br />
NBC? It doesn’t seem like we<br />
are. We employ a workforce<br />
of something like 1,800. This<br />
massive human resource<br />
should mean we have the<br />
flexibility to do everything<br />
we could want to do.<br />
Let’s set an example for<br />
other Council areas to follow<br />
– let’s show them that the<br />
upheaval of amalgamation is<br />
translating into rate reductions,<br />
rather than the easy<br />
way out of dubious rate hikes.<br />
[Name withheld]<br />
Palm Beach<br />
Mona makes sense<br />
As an interested party who<br />
attended all the workshops<br />
and Council forums for the<br />
proposed North Arts space,<br />
let me applaud the decision to<br />
re-purpose the existing Council<br />
offices in Mona Vale to a<br />
much-needed and necessary<br />
exhibition and creative centre<br />
to cater for the Northern peninsular<br />
community.<br />
Mona Vale village was<br />
always a leading contender<br />
in the preferred shortlisted<br />
sites along with other sites in<br />
Avalon, namely the Annexe in<br />
Dunbar Park whose current<br />
users mounted a loud and effective<br />
protest to the Council,<br />
which may or may not have<br />
influenced their final decision.<br />
As far as the Avalon Golf<br />
club site was concerned it<br />
failed to meet some of the key<br />
requirements for a successful<br />
ongoing Exhibition Art Centre<br />
POLARISING: the Station<br />
Beach offleash dog trial.<br />
that was visible and accessible<br />
for the whole community<br />
including children. However<br />
I am pleased that this site is<br />
now being considered for Artist’s<br />
residencies, workshops<br />
etc, which in my opinion is a<br />
good example of better use<br />
of the space beneath the golf<br />
club providing facilities for<br />
workshops and teaching areas.<br />
I wish to commend the<br />
Council’s process of consultation<br />
and involvement with the<br />
artists community with this<br />
process and now look forward<br />
to a fantastic Art Centre in the<br />
Mona Vale village centre, which<br />
can showcase some of the most<br />
20 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
talented and under-represented<br />
artists in our area.<br />
Wayne Howard<br />
Newport<br />
Bring it on!<br />
Originating from Avalon now<br />
residing in Mona Vale, I do feel<br />
for the Avalon art community<br />
and Avalon Preservation Association;<br />
however Mona Vale<br />
council chambers is the most<br />
opportunistic location for the<br />
Art Space for all the reasons<br />
identified in your article in<br />
April: location, people traffic,<br />
public service amenities,<br />
transport, shops etc.<br />
I do trust that the arts community<br />
in Avalon come to realise<br />
the benefits of exhibiting<br />
in Mona Vale. Their shift is minor<br />
compared to the benefits<br />
in store for them. I wish them<br />
well during any transition.<br />
The sooner the better please<br />
Northern Beaches Council!<br />
Angela Goodwin<br />
Mona Vale<br />
Offleash concerns<br />
Responding to the article on<br />
the “dog buffer zone” in July:<br />
I have concerns about mixing<br />
unleashed dogs and children<br />
in a well-used recreational<br />
beach. There were 800 dog<br />
attacks in NSW last year, which<br />
is quite substantial. I have<br />
enjoyed taking my family to<br />
Station Beach for 50 years but<br />
my two-year-old granddaughter<br />
was menaced by three<br />
unleashed dogs recently while<br />
swimming with me at Station<br />
Beach as various owners called<br />
out “don’t worry, they won’t<br />
bite”. Regardless, she is now<br />
very fearful of dogs and we<br />
don’t go there anymore. But<br />
others do, including tourists<br />
with children. I wonder why<br />
relatively isolated North Palm<br />
Beach was not considered for<br />
this trial? It is primarily used<br />
by adult surfers, there’s plenty<br />
of parking and there is a natural<br />
sand dunes buffer.<br />
Cherie Cherchod<br />
Palm Beach<br />
‘Buffer’ laughable<br />
Your article on the Station<br />
Beach offleash trial in the<br />
July issue sounds like a skit<br />
from Monty Python directed<br />
by ‘Yes Minister’. They can’t<br />
be serious, expecting dogs<br />
or humans measuring “three<br />
metres landward” or a “50<br />
metres on-leash buffer zone”.<br />
This is absolutely crazy!<br />
What has happened to<br />
sensible majority views and<br />
decisions? How have wellorganised<br />
minority protest<br />
groups (usually with too<br />
much time on their hands) got<br />
so much power?<br />
How come Americans can<br />
take their dogs into National<br />
Parks, pubs and even pharmacies<br />
and still have time<br />
to build some of the world’s<br />
biggest and most innovative<br />
businesses which barely<br />
existed 10-20 years ago?<br />
Richard Mason<br />
Mona Vale<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 21
Experts unite to assist w<br />
News<br />
A<br />
top police officer’s plea<br />
to parents earlier this<br />
year about the deterioration<br />
of behaviour of teenagers<br />
on the northern beaches<br />
triggered a wider discussion<br />
in many circles about the<br />
challenges facing local families<br />
with tweens and teens.<br />
So, armed with the firsthand<br />
knowledge that more<br />
parents than not strived to<br />
be the best they could be and<br />
were open to learning more,<br />
Church Point mum-of-two<br />
Liesel Edis founded Parenting<br />
Teens to connect relevant<br />
professionals with parents.<br />
Liesel was moved to use her<br />
professional skills to organise<br />
a seminar for parents after<br />
Northern Beaches Commander<br />
Dave Darcy penned a powerful<br />
letter about the rising<br />
tide of violence and drug use<br />
among a core group of local<br />
teenagers.<br />
It also follows heightened<br />
concerns by bus drivers<br />
about occassional attacks and<br />
drunken and unruly behaviour<br />
by some teens, resulting<br />
in some drivers refusing to<br />
pick up large groups late at<br />
night.<br />
“It’s easy to feel completely<br />
overwhelmed as the parent of<br />
a teenager and it’s important<br />
to know you are not alone,”<br />
Liesel said.<br />
“Many parents are concerned<br />
– and they want guidance<br />
and support in raising<br />
their teenagers to become<br />
confident, resilient people.<br />
“Many parents I talk to<br />
however don’t actually know<br />
So many questions!<br />
How often do you ask yourself…<br />
n Where did my gorgeous young child go?<br />
n And who has taken up residence in my child’s body?<br />
n What are they doing on social media?<br />
n How do I know if they’re being bullied at school?<br />
n Should I help them more with their schoolwork?<br />
n When should they get their first job?<br />
n How do I talk to them about sex and relationships?<br />
n What do I do if they seem depressed or start talking about<br />
suicide?<br />
n A kid showed them what on the bus?!<br />
n Would I know if they were taking drugs?<br />
n Should I let them drink at their friend’s party?<br />
You are not alone; and you may find the answers you are<br />
looking for at the Parenting Teens guest speaker event.<br />
where to go, or who to speak<br />
too,” she said.<br />
A recent Parenting Teens<br />
survey found the primary<br />
concern for Northern Beaches<br />
parents with teenagers was<br />
their kids’ mental and physical<br />
wellbeing, followed closely<br />
by resilience.<br />
Of the 75 responses<br />
through the online survey,<br />
third on the list of concerns<br />
was social media and gaming,<br />
followed by drugs and<br />
alcohol, then cyber safety and<br />
pornography.<br />
Coping with stress at school<br />
and in the home came in at<br />
number six.<br />
“We were all teenagers<br />
once, but in a very different<br />
world,” Liesel said. “Some of<br />
the most challenging influences<br />
facing young people<br />
today include anxiety, cyber<br />
safety, self-harm, and the<br />
stresses of a teenager are<br />
escalating, even here on the<br />
beautiful Northern Beaches.”<br />
22 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
ith parenting teens<br />
MAKE A DIFFERENCE:<br />
Liesel Edis started Parenting<br />
Teens to connect relevant professionals<br />
with parents.<br />
This September, Parenting<br />
Teens will host a one-day<br />
event where parents and carers<br />
will hear from mentors,<br />
practitioners and community<br />
leaders about the issues facing<br />
our local teens.<br />
Speakers include:<br />
Best-selling author, Mental<br />
Health and Wellbeing advocate<br />
Matthew Johnstone;<br />
Dr Kristy Goodwin, who<br />
will help take the guess work<br />
out of raising kids in the<br />
digital age;<br />
Child Self-Esteem Coach<br />
Pauline Pollard, who incorporates<br />
simple effective techniques<br />
that bring you and<br />
your child back into alignment<br />
with feeling confident,<br />
self-assured and passionate.<br />
The “Cyber Safety Lady”<br />
Leonie Smith, who will talk<br />
about New Apps/Games to<br />
be aware of, Social Media/<br />
Messaging safety and privacy;<br />
also what others see about<br />
you and your family online,<br />
plus Cyber bullying, Avoiding<br />
online scams and more;<br />
Child and adolescent<br />
psychotherapist Dianne<br />
Lavender, who enjoys working<br />
closely with parents in helping<br />
to shape resilient, caring<br />
and self-aware teens;<br />
Psychologist Gabriela<br />
Bilibio, who specialises in<br />
treating adults and adolescents<br />
with mood disorders,<br />
anxiety, trauma, bereavement<br />
and eating disorders;<br />
and a special guest from the<br />
Northern Beaches Police Department<br />
will also attend.<br />
“Our hope is parents will<br />
leave the event uplifted and<br />
confident about the road<br />
ahead,” Liesel said.<br />
Parenting Teens <strong>2019</strong> will be<br />
held on Saturday September 7<br />
from 10am - 4pm at Manly Golf<br />
Club, 40 Balgowlah Rd, Manly.<br />
Seats are limited and tickets<br />
(Cost $120) are available now<br />
at parentingteens.com.au<br />
– Lisa Offord<br />
Determining<br />
your child’s<br />
readiness to<br />
start at school<br />
Starting school is a big<br />
milestone both for children<br />
and their parents and there<br />
are many factors to consider<br />
when deciding whether your<br />
child is ready to embark on<br />
this exciting journey.<br />
Many parents focus on<br />
school readiness factors such<br />
as the ability to write, say<br />
the alphabet or rote count.<br />
However, these skills are<br />
just part of the picture, says<br />
Oxford Falls Grammar School<br />
Principal Dr Peter Downey.<br />
“When deciding if your<br />
child is ready to start school,<br />
it is really important to consider<br />
a much broader suite<br />
of skills and behaviours,” Dr<br />
Downey said. “These include<br />
your child’s social skills,<br />
emotional maturity, language<br />
and vocabulary, cognitive<br />
ability, physical health and<br />
coordination, independence<br />
and self-help skills.”<br />
This was because children<br />
needed to be able to cope with<br />
far less adult contact and<br />
guidance than in a pre-Kindergarten<br />
setting, particularly<br />
in the playground.<br />
Mr Dickinson said Oxford<br />
Falls GS operated a Kindergarten<br />
program that aimed to<br />
make a child’s start to schooling<br />
a seamless, successful<br />
and happy one. Their teaching<br />
and learning programs<br />
were research-based with a<br />
strong emphasis on inquiry,<br />
play and age-appropriate<br />
learning. Also, outdoor<br />
spaces with specially designated<br />
Kindy – Year 2 play<br />
areas allowed for the fostering<br />
of friendship, play and<br />
exploration.<br />
* Experience OFGS on a<br />
school tour www.ofgs.nsw.<br />
edu.au/enrol or email Karen<br />
Rose (Head of Kindy – Year 3)<br />
karenr@ofgs.nsw.edu.au.<br />
* Also, in <strong>August</strong>, St Luke’s<br />
Grammar School is staging<br />
a series of ‘School Readiness’<br />
Discovery mornings<br />
for 3- and 4-year-olds at their<br />
Bayview (2nd, 14th & 26th)<br />
and Dee Why (9th & 15th)<br />
campuses. More info stlukes.<br />
nsw.edu.au<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 23
Comment<br />
News<br />
‘Break it down’: together<br />
we can make difference<br />
In a world plagued by distressing<br />
news, consistent environmental<br />
disasters and precarious<br />
world politics, experiencing life<br />
as a teenager is definitely hard<br />
work. Today, just by the touch<br />
of our fingertips, we can access<br />
the largest library of human<br />
thought on almost any question<br />
in the world – yet it can still<br />
be difficult to find the right<br />
answers. As a young person<br />
living on the Northern Beaches,<br />
I wanted to share my thoughts<br />
on how to navigate this new-age<br />
world and how young people<br />
are making change on our very<br />
own doorsteps.<br />
On May 3, I was honoured to<br />
MC and perform at the School<br />
Strike 4 Climate demonstration<br />
whose platform was to vote<br />
Tony Abbott out of the federal<br />
seat of Warringah. Young kids<br />
to older-aged supporters all<br />
came down to stand up for<br />
their futures and to call on politicians<br />
to take action to reduce<br />
climate change. People from<br />
the Beaches turned out in huge<br />
numbers and it filled me with<br />
hope, as it’s the passion and<br />
drive of our youth that keep our<br />
community stronger than ever.<br />
It’s the actions of these people,<br />
who manage to persevere<br />
through the negative comments<br />
and naysayers, that give our<br />
Northern Beaches its spirit and<br />
who shine a light when things<br />
seem a little dark.<br />
It can be hard to digest all<br />
that’s going on and know what<br />
kind of actions you can take<br />
when everything seems so<br />
overwhelming. How can I walk<br />
along Narrabeen beach without<br />
thinking about the pollution<br />
in the oceans? What good is<br />
homework when so many kids<br />
are without an education? I hear<br />
this kind of mentality often<br />
echoing through the halls of<br />
high schools, but my biggest<br />
advice to people my age is:<br />
you must break it down. There<br />
is much opportunity to do<br />
your bit, to find like-minded<br />
people, from Operation Straw<br />
to Council’s ‘Keep A Look Out<br />
For’ (KALOF) events, to advisory<br />
groups and marches. Your age<br />
shouldn’t hinder your ability<br />
to make change; it gives you an<br />
edge. It sets you apart for your<br />
ability to see things with new<br />
and fresh perspective, to look<br />
for solutions to problems created<br />
generations before.<br />
By Eliza Lo Russo<br />
Young people are an often<br />
untapped reservoir of talent,<br />
ideas, consultations and innovation,<br />
and with their input,<br />
our community benefits as<br />
a whole. With International<br />
Youth Day on <strong>August</strong> 12, it’s<br />
an important time to reflect on<br />
the contributions young people<br />
make to enhance global society<br />
and particularly, in your lives.<br />
Take these next couple of weeks<br />
to say thanks to the young<br />
people in your community who<br />
care about making a difference.<br />
After all, it takes hard work to<br />
save the world when you’ve got<br />
a curfew!<br />
* Eliza Lo Russo, 15, is co-chair<br />
of the Northern Beaches Youth<br />
Advisory Group, a United Nations<br />
Youth advocate, climate<br />
activist and public speaker.<br />
24 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
SEEN…<br />
Reader Caren Young was excited to hear Council’s statement<br />
that it was phasing out using glyphosate-based weedkiller<br />
spray; when she saw a Council contractor spraying last month<br />
she commended them on the new common sense approach.<br />
However, she reports she was told by the worker that his<br />
company had been contracted to use, and were still using,<br />
‘Round-up’. Hmm. Let’s look again at what Council told us last<br />
month: “We have recently successfully trialled an alternative<br />
organic product for weed control and are currently substituting<br />
it for the glyphosate-based product.” So, what does Council say<br />
this month about Caren’s revelation? “Council is continuing to<br />
review alternatives to glyphosate-based products. This includes<br />
notifying our contractors of our concerns and discussing a<br />
wide range of options to be able to effectively control weeds.<br />
This process will be ongoing as we move toward phasing<br />
out glyphosate-based products.” Sounds to us like stocks of<br />
glyphosate will be used until they run out...<br />
they preferred a more casual experience than the ticketed<br />
marquees. “Businesses failed to embrace what was handed<br />
to them on a platter – premium community-benefit events<br />
such as ‘Polo by the Sea’ cannot survive on ticket sales alone,”<br />
he said. “Unless high-end local businesses seize the day and<br />
utilise such events for client entertainment, brand promotion<br />
or as a sales platform, events like these have a bleak future on<br />
the Northern Beaches.” Gazecki said he hoped his comments<br />
would not be perceived as “sour grapes”. “However, I would<br />
be doing the local community a disservice if I failed to frankly<br />
disclose the reasons for having to relocate, after the event was<br />
unable to break even over the past five years.”<br />
ABSURD..?<br />
HEARD…<br />
Glamourous social event ‘Polo by the Sea’ will not be returning<br />
to Palm Beach in January. Founder Janek Gazecki told<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Life he had pulled the pin on the shindig after just<br />
four years, relocating to the Eastern Suburbs due to a lack of<br />
support from local<br />
prestige businesses.<br />
“Inasmuch as<br />
local support with<br />
ticket sales was<br />
strong, and despite<br />
significant financial<br />
sponsorship pledges<br />
from Audi Mosman<br />
for the event to<br />
return next year,<br />
we have made the<br />
difficult decision to<br />
relocate,” Gazecki<br />
said. He said the<br />
licence fees ‘Polo<br />
by the Sea’ paid<br />
to Council were a<br />
much-needed cash<br />
injection towards<br />
field maintenance<br />
for Hitchcock Park,<br />
while locals could<br />
watch the polo<br />
action for free, if<br />
We agree this looks pretty silly – it’s the Palm<br />
Beach Protection Group’s mock-up of how Station Beach might<br />
look given recommendations in the independent Review of<br />
Environmental Factors (REF) being considered by Council in the<br />
lead-up to this month’s decision on the proposed offleash dog<br />
trial at Palm Beach. PBPG wants the trial abandoned because it<br />
says it will require these unsightly offshore markers, which will<br />
deface the whole beach. (Surely it won’t come to that?) The group<br />
has lodged a 24-page response to the REF, including 34 questions<br />
it says “need to be asked”. Read it at protectpalmbeach.com.au.<br />
Meanwhile the pro-trial group <strong>Pittwater</strong> Unleashed says it has no<br />
concerns about recent delays in assessing the trial. “Although this<br />
is a matter that has dragged on for over a decade, we applaud<br />
the fact that Council is now being thorough with its assessment,”<br />
a spokesman said. “An additional month to help bed down the<br />
best management approach is something we can live with. We<br />
appreciate that Council has to balance many factors, and we are<br />
big fans of balance.”<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 25
<strong>Pittwater</strong> News<br />
Pampas Grass<br />
dangers highlighted<br />
NB Council is on a mission<br />
– to stamp out Pampas<br />
Grass, an invasive weed<br />
species from South America.<br />
Facebook and Gumtree are<br />
heaving with listings for sale;<br />
the species is currently on<br />
trend in floral arrangements,<br />
particularly for weddings,<br />
but purchasers don’t know<br />
it can have a huge negative<br />
impact on our natural<br />
environment. This fastgrowing<br />
grass can grow<br />
to six metres tall when in<br />
flower and outcompetes our<br />
native vegetation. A single<br />
seed head can contain up<br />
100,000 seeds, which are<br />
spread by the wind or people<br />
dumping the flower head.<br />
Council’s Invasive Species<br />
Team has been working<br />
to control the weed at a<br />
number of sites across the<br />
Northern Beaches and intend<br />
educating land owners on<br />
their requirements to control<br />
the issue in the latter half<br />
of <strong>2019</strong>. Buying or selling<br />
Pampas Grass is a fineable<br />
offence under the NSW<br />
Biosecurity Act 2015.<br />
Vietnam Veterans<br />
service in Manly<br />
The National Servicemen’s<br />
Association & Affiliates<br />
Inc and the Sydney Northern<br />
Beaches Sub-Branch, in<br />
conjunction with Northern<br />
Beaches Council, will be<br />
holding a service on Friday<br />
<strong>August</strong> 19 (the day after<br />
Vietnam Veterans Day) to<br />
News<br />
Organic Market gets a new home<br />
It’s been a long process, but locals Elizabeth Taylor and Stephen Choularton,<br />
who started the Frenchs Forest Organic market 26 years ago, say they are<br />
delighted to be bringing the revamped market to Mona Vale from next month.<br />
Elizabeth said the new Mona Vale Market, grown from the seeds of the original<br />
and first Organic Food Market in Australia, will open at 8am on Sunday<br />
September 1 at its new site within the <strong>Pittwater</strong> RSL car park. (A development<br />
application for the use of part of the car parking area was approved, for an<br />
18-month trial period, by Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel on June 19.)<br />
Elizabeth said: “We are so happy that after 26 years in the Forest, we have<br />
finally found a friendly, long-term home for this iconic Sunday market, which<br />
has become so much more than just a fresh shopping experience – it is a<br />
family community centre, just like the village green of days gone by, where<br />
new friends are made and old friends re-engaged and recipes are swapped! We<br />
are really looking forward to seeing all our market regulars and meeting the<br />
local foodies at <strong>Pittwater</strong> RSL for the #MonaValeMarket!”<br />
26 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
commemorate those who<br />
served our country during<br />
the conflict in Vietnam<br />
and associated theatres,<br />
especially the men and<br />
women who paid the ultimate<br />
sacrifice. Guests are asked<br />
to be seated by 10.45am.<br />
Parade form-up at 10.50am;<br />
services commences at<br />
11am. In the event of wet<br />
weather, the service will be<br />
held at St Matthew’s Church,<br />
The Corso. More info Barry<br />
Andrews 0412 668 589.<br />
<strong>August</strong> Probus news<br />
Andrew Rogers, who went<br />
to the bottom of the ocean<br />
to see the remains of the<br />
Titanic, is <strong>Pittwater</strong> Probus<br />
Club’s speaker for <strong>August</strong>.<br />
Back in Sydney, he traced the<br />
only Australian to survive the<br />
shipwreck, Evelyn Marsden,<br />
and provided a headstone<br />
for her unmarked grave. He<br />
also researched Evelyn’s life<br />
and how she came to be on<br />
board the Titanic. At their<br />
next meeting on Tuesday<br />
<strong>August</strong> 13 at Mona Vale Golf<br />
Club, Andrew will describe<br />
the descent to the ocean floor<br />
in a submersible pod and<br />
his five hours touring the<br />
wreck. Starts 10am; visitors<br />
welcome. More info Geoff<br />
Sheppard 0437 274 074.<br />
Meanwhile the guest speaker<br />
for Palm Beach Probus<br />
Club’s next meeting is Marie<br />
Palmer, who will detail former<br />
military, colonial and convict<br />
sites that are looked after by<br />
the Sydney Harbour Trust.<br />
These harbour gems are<br />
of great historic value and<br />
include Cockatoo Island,<br />
North Head Sanctuary and<br />
Middle Head. The meeting<br />
is on Wednesday 21st from<br />
9.30am to noon at Club Palm<br />
Beach. Visitors welcome;<br />
enquiries 9973 1247.<br />
ADHD support talk<br />
Psychologist Louise Remond<br />
will deliver a talk at the<br />
ADHD Support Australia<br />
meeting at <strong>Pittwater</strong> RSL<br />
Continued on page 28<br />
Book Review<br />
Snake Island<br />
Ben Hobson,<br />
Allen & Unwin $29.99<br />
A few months ago I shared<br />
an early photo and review of<br />
Snake Island on the shop’s<br />
Instagram account and was<br />
overwhelmed with requests<br />
for copies. Whoops... too<br />
early. But the wait is over on<br />
<strong>August</strong> 5, and Ben Hobson<br />
is going to soon join the<br />
ranks of Jane Harper (The<br />
Lost Man), Chris Hammer (Scrublands) and Garry Disher<br />
(Under the Cold Bright Lights) as a standout Australian literary<br />
crime read.<br />
Vernon and Penelope Moore estrange themselves from<br />
their son, Caleb, after he is imprisoned for savagely beating<br />
his wife. Two years into his term, Caleb is attacked by one of<br />
the town’s nefarious characters and self-appointed vigilante.<br />
Vernon is compelled to act by his best friend, and local pastor,<br />
and sets off a chain of events that sees increasingly more<br />
exotic problems created.<br />
Hobson’s writing is fresh and talented, the style you<br />
immediately embrace as a refreshing change from formulaic<br />
offerings. Seek out his debut novel, To Become a Whale (2017)<br />
for it’s early Tim Winton feels. Snake Island is completely<br />
different in an equally exciting way. We wish this author<br />
much critical acclaim and commercial success so he keeps<br />
producing great stories. – Libby Armstrong<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 27
News<br />
Old timbers bring new life<br />
to Church Point cemetery<br />
Weathered timbers<br />
from the recent<br />
upgrade of the<br />
Church Point Cargo<br />
Wharf have been<br />
re-purposed and put<br />
to good use in the<br />
nearby historical<br />
cemetery. Northern<br />
Beaches Council<br />
staff teamed with<br />
volunteers from<br />
local monumental<br />
masons firm<br />
Northern Memorials<br />
to use the timber to mount plaques displaying a<br />
transcription of information on the eroding headstones.<br />
Headstone names, dates and epitaphs appear on each plaque<br />
mounted on its own solid wooden block sitting discreetly at<br />
the foot of every grave. The rustic timbers from the wharf<br />
are in perfect keeping with the age, character and tone<br />
of the pioneer cemetery, helping keep alive the stories of<br />
our forebears. The plaques honour the memories of nine<br />
long-ago pioneers whose humble village chapel gave Church<br />
Point its name. Funding for new the grave markers was<br />
provided to Northern Beaches Council as part of the NSW<br />
Government’s ‘Heritage Near Me’ grant program. Council<br />
acknowledged the members of the Church Point Friends<br />
group, especially local architect Peter Altona.<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> News<br />
Continued from page 27<br />
on <strong>August</strong> 27. The<br />
talk will discuss<br />
the Collaborative &<br />
Proactive Solutions<br />
(CPS) model, an<br />
innovative treatment<br />
developed by Dr Ross<br />
Greene from Harvard<br />
Medical School,<br />
designed for families<br />
and those working<br />
with behaviourally<br />
challenging kids and<br />
teenagers to find<br />
durable solutions.<br />
Her presentation<br />
will be followed by a free<br />
screening of ‘The Kids We<br />
Lose’ – this hard-hitting<br />
documentary expose<br />
produced by Dr Greene<br />
portrays the journey of kids<br />
with social, emotional and<br />
behavioural challenges,<br />
their caregivers and their<br />
collective struggles. It<br />
highlights the kids who don’t<br />
understand why they’re being<br />
mistreated; the desperate and<br />
discouraged parents looking<br />
for help; and the classroom<br />
teachers who feel ill-equipped<br />
to help. NB: Teachers<br />
attending all talks at ADHD<br />
Support Australia receive 90<br />
minutes of NESA PD. Watching<br />
the film qualifies for an<br />
extra 90 minutes PD. Meeting<br />
starts 6.30pm. More info<br />
adhdsupportaustralia.com.<br />
au/events/<br />
Clareville / Avalon<br />
footpath link<br />
Council has completed the<br />
construction of an 800-metre<br />
footpath extension along<br />
the northern side of Hudson<br />
Parade in Clareville. The new<br />
path from Delecta Avenue to<br />
Taylors Point Road links the<br />
residents of Taylors Point,<br />
Refuge Cove and Bilgola with<br />
existing footpaths to Avalon.<br />
The footpath extension will<br />
encourage ‘active transport’<br />
in Clareville as well as<br />
make it easier and safer<br />
for pedestrians to reach<br />
Clareville Beach and Avalon<br />
Shops. The total estimated<br />
28 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
cost of the footpath extension<br />
and associated works is<br />
approximately $550,000.<br />
Funding for<br />
Mackellar schools<br />
Local MP Jason Falinski<br />
has shone the light on<br />
funding available for local<br />
schools to fund projects<br />
that benefit students and<br />
the school community, with<br />
up to $200,000 available<br />
to schools in Mackellar<br />
(individual allocations<br />
$1000 to $20,000) through<br />
the Federal Government’s<br />
$30.2 million Local Schools<br />
Community Fund. “Funding<br />
for small-scale extensions or<br />
classroom refurbishments,<br />
new computer facilities,<br />
mental health and counselling<br />
services, playground<br />
equipment, library resources,<br />
or sports facilities are all<br />
covered through this Fund,”<br />
he said. The Government<br />
intends to increase funding<br />
for all primary and secondary<br />
schools across all sectors by<br />
an average of 62 per cent per<br />
student. Schools can lodge one<br />
application for each of their<br />
campuses at www.schools.<br />
education.gov.au/. Applications<br />
close September 30.<br />
Retaining wall work<br />
Work has been completed<br />
on the second section of<br />
a retaining wall at The<br />
Esplanade in Narrabeen,<br />
which will to improve<br />
safety for road users and<br />
residents. The wall was built<br />
to stabilise the adjacent<br />
slope and reduce the risk of<br />
possible slippage and rockfalls<br />
onto The Esplanade<br />
roadway. The works included<br />
the construction of a<br />
36-metre-long concrete postand-panel<br />
retaining wall, up<br />
to five-metres high, situated<br />
alongside The Esplanade.<br />
Council extended the wall<br />
in work recently completed,<br />
after tension-cracks were<br />
detected at the top of the<br />
roadside embankment.<br />
Continued on page 30<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 29
<strong>Pittwater</strong> News<br />
News<br />
Continued from page 29<br />
One Eighty fundraiser<br />
Streamline Promotions and<br />
the Avalon Beach Bowling<br />
Club are holding a ‘Family<br />
Fun Day’ on Sunday <strong>August</strong> 18<br />
to raise funds for One Eighty,<br />
whose primary activity is to<br />
fund, develop and implement<br />
local projects that equip<br />
young adults with skills<br />
in mental health care. One<br />
Eighty also works to support<br />
youth culture, to celebrate<br />
creativity and differences,<br />
and to encourage community<br />
participation on the Northern<br />
Beaches. Tickets ($20 adults,<br />
$15 kids, children under five<br />
free) include access to all<br />
activities including Barefoot<br />
Bowls, Sausage Sizzle,<br />
Kids Karaoke & Disco, Face<br />
Painting and Jumping Castle.<br />
Great prizes available through<br />
auctions and raffles, with all<br />
proceeds directly donated to<br />
One Eighty – plus there’s a<br />
secret celebrity guest! Tickets<br />
on the day, or pre-purchase<br />
for a discount by calling<br />
Avalon Beach Bowling Club on<br />
9918 3231.<br />
RSPCA Cupcake Day<br />
Don your aprons, whip out<br />
5G roll-out<br />
fears aired<br />
Members of the 1700-strong<br />
‘Stop 5G Northern Beaches’<br />
Facebook group attended<br />
Northern Beaches Council’s<br />
July meeting, airing their<br />
concerns about possible<br />
health risks posed by<br />
the introduction of the<br />
technology, and calling on<br />
Council to object to the<br />
planned 5G roll-out. Council<br />
agreed to further inform<br />
themselves on the topic.<br />
your wooden spoons and<br />
preheat your ovens – it’s<br />
time to bake a change for the<br />
RSPCA’s annual Cupcake Day<br />
on <strong>August</strong> 19. The RSPCA<br />
wants supporters to get<br />
together to bake up a storm<br />
in the fight against animal<br />
cruelty. The money raised<br />
will keep shelters open<br />
and inspectors on the road<br />
investigating allegations<br />
of cruelty as well as fund<br />
prosecutions against cruelty<br />
offenders. It will provide<br />
education programs to<br />
schools, and take officers to<br />
remote communities with<br />
de-sexing, microchipping<br />
and vaccination programs.<br />
It will also give the chance<br />
to take in, rehabilitate,<br />
and rehome animals.<br />
Celebrity chefs have donated<br />
mouthwatering recipes to the<br />
cause, including Maggie Beer<br />
(Blueberry, buttermilk and<br />
lemon cupcakes) and Donna<br />
Hay (Chocolate caramel<br />
thumbprint cookies). Register<br />
at rspcacupcakeday.com.au<br />
30 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
NAIDOC Week <strong>2019</strong> celebrated the theme ‘Voice, treaty,<br />
truth’. Avalon Community Library organised several<br />
author talks; Julie Janson, a local Durag woman who has<br />
published several novels and plays and also won the Judith<br />
Wright poetry award this year, opened the event with a<br />
smoking ceremony, following a welcome to country by<br />
local elder Neil Evers. Julie spoke about her 2018 novel The<br />
Light Horse Ghost, and told of her early career teaching<br />
in the Northern Territory, which is the basis for her<br />
novel Crocodile Hotel. Sally Mayman and Dale Kentwell<br />
spoke of their experiences in the Kimberley region<br />
producing a book, Saltwater Country, focusing on the<br />
lives of the local Aboriginal people and their fight against<br />
mining interests in the area.<br />
$250,000 community<br />
grants recipients<br />
More than $250,000 will<br />
be awarded in Community,<br />
Arts & Culture and Events<br />
Grants for 34 projects in<br />
<strong>2019</strong>/20, the second year of<br />
Northern Beaches Council’s<br />
community grants programs.<br />
Mayor Michael Regan said<br />
the grants were aimed<br />
at promoting enhanced<br />
economic, social, community<br />
and environmental benefits<br />
for the Northern Beaches<br />
community. Successful<br />
applicants included<br />
Community Northern<br />
Beaches, Lifeline Northern<br />
Beaches, the Burdekin<br />
Association (Avalon Youth<br />
Hub), La Crème Creative Inc.<br />
and the Forest Men’s Kitchen<br />
Association. Events grants<br />
were awarded to Narrabeen<br />
Lakes Festival Inc for the<br />
Narrabeen Lakes Summerfest,<br />
the Manly Warringah BMX<br />
Club for a new BMX and<br />
Mountain Bike festival and<br />
Share the Spark for a youthfocussed<br />
event, Spark Tank.<br />
Continued on page 32<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 31
News<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> News<br />
Continued from page 31<br />
“The focus is on new and<br />
innovative events and other<br />
activities that add value and<br />
benefits to our local villages<br />
and town centres across the<br />
Northern Beaches,” Mayor<br />
Regan said. “Of course, we<br />
continue to support longstanding<br />
events that continue<br />
to be very popular and valued<br />
by our local community”.<br />
Christmas in <strong>August</strong><br />
The pop-up German<br />
Christmas Market is set to<br />
return on <strong>August</strong> 16 (5-9pm)<br />
and 17 (4-9pm) at the German<br />
International School at Terrey<br />
Hills. The market will include<br />
market stalls featuring<br />
handmade arts and crafts,<br />
customary German festivities,<br />
eats and drinks, plus a variety<br />
of entertainment, amusement<br />
rides and novelty events.<br />
Under a backdrop of fairy<br />
lights, a dedicated children’s<br />
space will keep young visitors<br />
entertained with Magic and<br />
Puppet Shows, games galore,<br />
balloon art and face painting.<br />
Little market goers can also<br />
join the spectacular lights<br />
and songs of the traditional<br />
German Lantern Walk – after<br />
dark, hundreds of children<br />
will be guided by their<br />
colourful and luminous<br />
lanterns as they parade<br />
through the school grounds<br />
singing lantern songs in<br />
English and German.<br />
Boomerang bags<br />
not coming back<br />
Community bag-share<br />
initiative Avalon Boomerang<br />
Bags has been a huge success<br />
since its launch in 2016,<br />
providing people who have<br />
forgotten their shopping<br />
bags with handmade and<br />
donated cloth bags. There’s<br />
just one problem: instead<br />
of sharing the bags and<br />
returning them to the boxes<br />
in the village when they have<br />
finished, people seem to be<br />
keeping them! Created to<br />
spread awareness around<br />
ocean plastic pollution,<br />
waste reduction and to<br />
connect community, the<br />
It’s that time of the year for<br />
lovers of bookshops to show<br />
their love by visiting their local<br />
to check out a range of activities<br />
and offers for ‘Love Your<br />
Bookshop Day’ on <strong>August</strong> 10.<br />
Avalon independents, Beachside<br />
Bookshop and Bookoccino, will<br />
mark the occasion with offers<br />
and events. Beachside Bookshop<br />
is offering a 10% discount off<br />
all Young Adult titles. They’ll<br />
also welcome author, Wai<br />
Chim, to not only launch her<br />
latest teen book The Surprising<br />
Power of a Good Dumpling, but<br />
to act as guest teen bookseller<br />
for the day. Wai has written<br />
several junior fiction books,<br />
including Children›s Book Council of Australia (CBCA)<br />
2017 notable, Freedom Swimmer. Meanwhile, Bookoccino<br />
has 10% off books, live music – and free coffee. Support<br />
your local bookstore!<br />
32 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Calling <strong>Pittwater</strong> High School’s Class of 1969...<br />
Can it really be 50 years? <strong>Pittwater</strong> High School’s ‘Class of ’69’ are having a Golden<br />
Anniversary school reunion for students who started ‘First Form’ in 1964 – including any<br />
ex-students who may have left before graduation in 1969. If that sounds like you, or if you<br />
recognize yourself here (you’ll need your glasses!), organisers would love to hear from<br />
you. The reunion will be held at a dedicated space within Park House (formerly the Mona<br />
Vale Pub), 2 Park Street, Mona Vale on the afternoon of Saturday October 26. Facebook –<br />
‘<strong>Pittwater</strong> High School 69ers 50th Anniversary’; book online through Eventbrite; more info<br />
Lynne Hosking (nee Archbold) 0418 838 871 or email pittwaterhigh1969@bigpond.com<br />
volunteers who gather on<br />
Tuesdays to sew at the<br />
Recreational Centre have<br />
so far provided over 15,000<br />
bags. “Perhaps it’s because<br />
they are so pretty and made<br />
with kindness, but it also<br />
means the boxes run out<br />
as the sewing volunteers<br />
simply can’t keep up with the<br />
demand,” says spokeswoman<br />
Laurel Wood. The volunteers<br />
ask that the bags be returned<br />
so that they can be kept in<br />
circulation.<br />
Lagoon planning<br />
towards 2040<br />
Friends of Narrabeen Lagoon<br />
Catchment is keen to learn<br />
how its environment will<br />
be protected and, where<br />
necessary, enhanced to<br />
safeguard the important<br />
biodiversity on which locals<br />
depend. Find out how you<br />
can be involved now and<br />
in the future. Council is<br />
creating a roadmap for<br />
managing the way our area<br />
evolves, in a consistent,<br />
sustainable and coordinated<br />
way, over the next 20 years<br />
and beyond. On Monday<br />
<strong>August</strong> 26, Council’s Andrew<br />
Pigott and team will outline<br />
the current processes and<br />
those that will follow the<br />
initial Planning Instrument<br />
stage.<br />
Commences 7pm at<br />
Coastal Environment<br />
Centre; free event but<br />
bookings essential. More<br />
info Judith Bennett email@<br />
narrabeenlagoon.org.au<br />
Loosely Woven’s<br />
new concert<br />
Tireless Amnesty<br />
International advocate<br />
group Loosely Woven will<br />
present their latest musical<br />
production ‘Lullaby’ at the<br />
Avalon Baptist Peace Memorial<br />
Church, George Street,<br />
Avalon on Sunday <strong>August</strong><br />
25 commencing 4pm. It will<br />
comprise a selection of 21<br />
mainly acoustic songs, folksy,<br />
gentle, stirring, moving or<br />
whimsical. The music is<br />
performed by experienced,<br />
talented and engaging singers<br />
and musicians with a range<br />
of instruments. Free supper<br />
provided; all donations go<br />
to a great cause, working for<br />
human rights around the<br />
globe.<br />
Vet<br />
on<br />
call<br />
with<br />
Dr Ben Brown<br />
One of the common reasons<br />
owners seek vet attention<br />
is when a pet is limping. Dogs<br />
and cats will limp due to pain<br />
in one or more of their legs.<br />
One of the most common<br />
causes of lameness in the<br />
hind limbs of dogs is cruciate<br />
ligament disease.<br />
Cruciate ligament disease<br />
is due to an injury to the<br />
anterior cruciate ligament of<br />
the knee joint of the hind limb.<br />
It is responsible for stabilising<br />
the knee joint by holding<br />
the femur (thighbone) to the<br />
tibia (lower leg bone). In most<br />
middle-age to older the dogs<br />
the ligament is damaged after<br />
degenerative changes and<br />
mineralisation have occurred.<br />
In humans, the anterior<br />
cruciate ligament is usually<br />
torn after sudden trauma<br />
during high-energy activities.<br />
In most dogs the ligament<br />
is often torn during normal<br />
play activity after it has been<br />
weakened over time.<br />
The easiest way to diagnose<br />
injury to the anterior cruciate<br />
ligament is via examination by<br />
an experienced vet to check<br />
for instability in the joint<br />
combined with x-rays to check<br />
for swelling which is called<br />
a joint effusion. The torn<br />
ligament can also be visualised<br />
with arthroscopy or at the time<br />
of surgery.<br />
There are many surgical<br />
techniques used to repair a<br />
damaged cruciate ligament.<br />
Our vets tailor the best<br />
procedure for the age, size<br />
and level of activity of the dog<br />
along with consideration of<br />
budget. The best prevention<br />
for cruciate ligament disease<br />
is ensuring your dog is not<br />
overweight. Obesity places<br />
extra strain on the joints and<br />
ligaments and can lead to<br />
chronic injuries over time.<br />
If your pet is limping or you<br />
need help to encourage them<br />
to lose weight, drop in to see<br />
one of our vets for a thorough<br />
orthopaedic examination,<br />
nutritional and treatment<br />
advice.<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 33
Life Stories<br />
You’ve<br />
gotta<br />
love<br />
the<br />
‘Lock’<br />
Celibate Rifles<br />
frontman Damien<br />
Lovelock chats about<br />
music, football, yoga<br />
and his upcoming<br />
Woodstock tribute gigs.<br />
Story by Rob Pegley<br />
He may be 65, but Damien<br />
Lovelock is still as passionate<br />
and opinionated as he was back<br />
in 1980 when he auditioned for the<br />
Celibate Rifles at a Brookvale recording<br />
studio; which provides the first of<br />
many anecdotes that he shares during<br />
a funny and interesting hour chatting.<br />
You can be sure he would have been<br />
great company on a tour bus back in<br />
the day.<br />
“When I met the Rifles it turned<br />
out that nobody had remembered to<br />
book the rehearsal studio, so we found<br />
a ladder and broke in through an<br />
upstairs window.” The rest is history,<br />
with nine albums and countless tours<br />
under their belts. Two moments stick<br />
out more than any others from his time<br />
in the band though, and they happened<br />
on different sides of the world.<br />
“I remember driving down Spit Hill<br />
to the bridge – I was on the way to a<br />
lecture at college – and I heard our<br />
single on the radio. The elation and<br />
emotion was massive and I nearly<br />
crashed the car,” he laughs.<br />
The second was just as emotional and<br />
even more poignant, when the band<br />
played New York for the first time.<br />
“Back then the standard route for<br />
aspiring Australian acts was to play<br />
in London and then on to New York. In<br />
that order. If you did that then you’d<br />
made it. My mum was a singer and she<br />
made it in London on a slightly smaller<br />
scale, but she never made it to New<br />
York. She was deceased by the time I<br />
played there, but when we got on stage<br />
it really meant a lot.”<br />
There were plenty of good times<br />
all over the world for the boys from<br />
Frenchs Forest, Terrey Hills and<br />
Davidson.<br />
In fact, Damien was the only one<br />
in the band who was a blow-in to the<br />
Northern Beaches: He grew up in the<br />
Eastern Suburbs, hanging out mostly in<br />
Elizabeth Bay, Darlinghurst, Bondi and<br />
Kings Cross. He came to live with his<br />
Dad in Manly in the early ’80s, and then<br />
in 1985 he moved to Newport – despite<br />
knowing nothing about the place.<br />
“My girlfriend at the time was a<br />
professional surfer and she wanted to<br />
move somewhere quieter than Manly<br />
for catching waves,” he explained. “A<br />
close mate of mine married a Newport<br />
girl and moved there, and I’d never<br />
heard of it. We got a place up there and<br />
34 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
I expected to stay maybe three or four<br />
years. That was almost 35 years ago…”<br />
Damien has walked and swam<br />
at his beloved Newport Beach just<br />
about every day that he hasn’t been<br />
overseas in those 35 years. His love<br />
for yoga has also developed on the<br />
Northern Beaches and he still teaches<br />
at Narrabeen, Mona Vale and Newport.<br />
The love affair started by chance at, of<br />
all places, Manly League’s Club.<br />
“I’d injured my back playing park<br />
football and Western medicine couldn’t<br />
seem to offer relief. I was sitting in<br />
the steam room at Manly League’s<br />
club and this knowledgeable guy I<br />
knew recommended it. I’d always had<br />
a respect for yoga,” Damien continues,<br />
“but I’d never known a guy to do it.<br />
Anyway, it turned out that a class was<br />
starting in just 20 minutes at that gym.<br />
It was a really rare form of yoga that is<br />
hardly taught anywhere in Australia.<br />
I had tears in my eyes as I was doing<br />
it. The pain was massive, but I knew it<br />
was going to fix me. As John Cougar<br />
Mellencamp sings, I thought ‘it hurts so<br />
good’.”<br />
Music is a thread throughout the<br />
conversation, and next month Damien<br />
is on tour again with a great bunch of<br />
musicians to commemorate the 50th<br />
anniversary of the famed Woodstock<br />
Festival. Damien will front the ‘Super<br />
Group’ that includes Floyd Vincent and<br />
Sarina Jennings, and Steve Bull from<br />
Icehouse, among others. They’ll play<br />
tracks from Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin,<br />
Joni Mitchell, Jefferson Airplane, Joe<br />
Cocker and more. (The group play Dee<br />
Why RSL on Friday 16 <strong>August</strong>.)<br />
Damien explains that Woodstock had<br />
a huge influence on him as a 15-yearold<br />
back in 1969; and on Australia as a<br />
whole.<br />
“It was an amazing time of change.<br />
Up until then it was Bob Menzies and<br />
the Liberal Party and supporting the<br />
[Vietnam] war. Then this alternate<br />
culture came along based around<br />
music and movies. It was authentic; art<br />
for art’s sake. The ‘Summer of Love’<br />
happened and people protested against<br />
the war. People started rejecting the<br />
conservatism of America and Australia,<br />
and wanted to start again. Even mums<br />
and dads were part of the anti-Vietnam<br />
protests in Sydney. It was an amazing<br />
time.”<br />
A young Damien carried on listening<br />
to music and embracing its trends<br />
throughout the ’70s. He was never<br />
interested in pop or the mainstream.<br />
High school bands came and went.<br />
Almost 10 years on from Woodstock<br />
the punk movement would also help<br />
shape Damien’s tastes, although more<br />
so the ethic of punk than the actual<br />
music.<br />
“I loved the Sex Pistols – they were<br />
Continued on page 36<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE: Originally from<br />
the Eastern Suburbs, Damien Lovelock had never<br />
heard of Newport Beach until he moved there in<br />
1985; Damien and his bandmates in the Celibate<br />
Rifles made nine albums together; Damien has<br />
always carried himself as the quintessential rock<br />
‘n’ roll frontman; “The beautuful game” has almost<br />
been as much a part of his life as music – he spent<br />
nine years at SBS and his opinions were also<br />
widely heard on radio; at SBS he became great<br />
friends with Les Murray and was a speaker at his<br />
funeral in 2017.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 35<br />
Life Stories
Life Stories<br />
Continued from page 35<br />
amazing – but I found lots of the music<br />
and lyrics dumb and for pissheads. I<br />
was a bit more intelligent than that. I<br />
liked The Saints and Radio Birdman<br />
– bands with something to say. But<br />
I mostly liked the fact that bands<br />
made their own posters and didn’t get<br />
signed to labels, they just got on with<br />
it themselves.”<br />
Damien rejects that the Rifles were a<br />
punk band themselves, “We were just<br />
a really tight rock band that played<br />
fast.”<br />
Damien’s other love alongside music<br />
and yoga is football (soccer, to many).<br />
He spent nine years with SBS and was<br />
great friends with the late Les Murray.<br />
“I miss him terribly” he says sadly. “I<br />
still get texts from Fozz (Craig Foster)<br />
and others when big matches are on.”<br />
His last football gig was the last<br />
Men’s World Cup where he was a<br />
pundit on Radio 702; Tracey Holmes<br />
is another who will drop him<br />
texts during games. He becomes<br />
passionate as we talk about his<br />
beloved Southampton (he supported<br />
them because of the genius of Matt<br />
Le Tissier) and Caligiari (he started<br />
following them after falling in love<br />
with Sardinia on tour with the Rifles).<br />
And he becomes even more animated<br />
when talking about the Women’s<br />
World Cup: “I’m with Craig Foster,<br />
there needs to be an enquiry into<br />
why Alen Stajcic was sacked. The<br />
most successful coach in Australian<br />
soccer history and we still don’t know<br />
why they got rid of him. And then we<br />
go into the World Cup as one of the<br />
favourites and we were absolutely<br />
terrible.”<br />
As Damien talks, you can’t help<br />
thinking that one of the channels<br />
is missing a trick if he doesn’t<br />
get a football gig again soon. Or<br />
indeed a music show. Or indeed any<br />
program that needs an intelligent<br />
and opinionated view on just about<br />
anything, invariably with an anecdote<br />
attached.<br />
In the meantime, he’s happy<br />
teaching yoga and walking the beaches<br />
on the Peninsula, and visiting some<br />
of his favourite haunts. These days<br />
Damien sticks to clean and healthy<br />
food due to some digestive problems<br />
over the years. And he recommends<br />
Deli on Waterloo Street in Narrabeen,<br />
where he has been going for years.<br />
There you can order a Pasta Damiano,<br />
named after the man himself. We don’t<br />
manage to get a description, but after<br />
talking to him for an hour, you can<br />
assume that it’s a spicy and interesting<br />
dish full of character and flavour!<br />
36 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Damien<br />
can be seen fronting a collection<br />
of local musicians including the<br />
Classic Kings; he had a modest<br />
solo career too, releasing two<br />
solo albums in the 1980s;<br />
Damien has mixed with the best<br />
in Australian music too, here he<br />
plays up for the camera with Reg<br />
Mombassa.<br />
Life Stories<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 37
Art Life<br />
Art Life<br />
Cool snaps heading<br />
for Manly Art Gallery<br />
Manly Art Gallery and<br />
Museum is launching<br />
two new exhibitions<br />
this month featuring<br />
the diverse works of exciting<br />
Sydney photographic artists,<br />
Stu Spence and Louise Whelan.<br />
Sydney photographer Stu<br />
Spence’s ambiguous and<br />
evocative images (top left)<br />
have been interpreted in<br />
songs, poems, soundscapes<br />
and stories, which are included<br />
in the exhibition itself.<br />
‘Unclear, becoming clearer’<br />
presents a unique series of<br />
Spence’s photographs as well<br />
as the musical responses and<br />
other creative interpretations<br />
of the images by songwriters,<br />
filmmakers and writers.<br />
Artists who have interpreted<br />
Stu’s images include<br />
Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil), Kate<br />
Lucas (Coda Chroma), Christa<br />
Hughes, Mick Thomas (Wedding,<br />
Parties, Anything), Mark<br />
Seymour (Hunters & Collectors),<br />
Dave Faulkner (Hoodoo<br />
Gurus), as well as filmmaker<br />
Wayne Chick and painter Michelle<br />
Dawson.<br />
Louise Whelan is known<br />
for her honest portrayal of<br />
outsider communities and<br />
cultures. Her exhibition – ‘A<br />
Portal in Transition, The Accidental<br />
Archive’ – presents her<br />
powerful images documenting<br />
the Portside DIY Skate Space<br />
at Newport (top right) through<br />
photographs, sound and bio<br />
art installations.<br />
MAGAM senior curator<br />
Katherine Roberts said both<br />
artists used photography as a<br />
medium to stimulate thought<br />
and discussion of the human<br />
condition.<br />
“Stu Spence’s ‘Unclear,<br />
becoming clearer’ exhibition<br />
illustrates the narrativegenerating<br />
possibilities of<br />
photography with original<br />
responses and interpretations<br />
from writers, poets and some<br />
of Australia’s most celebrated<br />
songwriters, all inspired by a<br />
Stu Spence image.”<br />
Spence’s exhibition runs<br />
until October 20; the public<br />
can join the photographer<br />
in conversation with musicians<br />
and writers who have<br />
responded to his images with<br />
original interpretive works on<br />
September 21.<br />
“In ‘A Portal in Transition’,<br />
Louise’s intrigue with the<br />
continual transformation of<br />
the Portside site in Newport<br />
is sure to get people thinking<br />
about its inhabitants and the<br />
idea that place and identity<br />
are inextricably bound to one<br />
another,” Ms Roberts said.<br />
Join Louise Whelan in a<br />
discussion about the evolution<br />
of this project and her work in<br />
the exhibition from 3-4pm on<br />
Sunday <strong>August</strong> 25. – NW<br />
Abstract<br />
painters’<br />
workshop<br />
Abstract painter Charlie<br />
Sheard’s works are<br />
at odds with the current<br />
trend focusing on smallcanvassed<br />
artworks.<br />
Sheard’s upcoming<br />
exhibition at the Manly Art<br />
Gallery & Museum, ‘Absolute<br />
Distraction’, features<br />
large works and a practice<br />
deeply concerned with<br />
the history and development<br />
of techniques and<br />
materials.<br />
Sheard has spent the<br />
past 40 years developing<br />
a ‘language’ of pure<br />
abstract forms.<br />
His large paintings<br />
deliver visual impact,<br />
while reflecting upon his<br />
wide-ranging interests in<br />
European, Chinese and<br />
Australian cultural history.<br />
‘Absolute Distraction’<br />
runs until September 1;<br />
you can join the artist in<br />
conversation from 3-4pm<br />
on Sunday <strong>August</strong> 11.<br />
There’s also a fourhour<br />
workshop for artists<br />
on Monday <strong>August</strong> 19,<br />
where Charlie Sheard will<br />
focus on the relationship<br />
between technique and<br />
abstraction.<br />
Participants will produce<br />
several studies that can be<br />
used as the basis for further<br />
development, or more<br />
elaborate paintings.<br />
Workshop cost is $60;<br />
bookings via Eventbrite.<br />
Art Prize winners to be named<br />
Judging of the Northern Beaches Art Prize is entering the home<br />
straight – almost 900 entries were received across the four categories:<br />
General, Small Sculpture, Waste-to-Art, and Youth.<br />
Awards for the General and Small Sculpture categories will be held<br />
on Thursday <strong>August</strong> 8 at Creative Space, North Curl Curl from 6pm.<br />
A public exhibition of the winning and finalists’ entries begins on<br />
Friday <strong>August</strong> 9 and runs until Sunday <strong>August</strong> 18, when the People’s<br />
Choice awards will be made (3-5pm).<br />
Awards for the Waste-to-Art and Youth categories will take place<br />
at the same venue on Thursday <strong>August</strong> 29 (from 6pm). A public exhibition<br />
of the winning and finalists’ entries begins on Friday <strong>August</strong><br />
30 and runs until Sunday September 8, when the People’s Choice<br />
awards will be made (3-5pm). *2018 General winner Jacquie Maynard (right).<br />
38 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
THINGS OF BEAUTY: An example of Peter Eastway’s stunning nature<br />
photography (above) and Pamela Pauline’s illustrative works (below).<br />
Acclaim for local<br />
photographers<br />
Two local photographers<br />
snapped up top prizes at<br />
this year’s Australian Institute<br />
of Professional Photography<br />
Awards (State level).<br />
Collaroy’s Peter Eastway was<br />
awarded the major gong and<br />
named NSW Photographer of the<br />
Year for his compelling and stunning<br />
portfolio of nature images.<br />
And Mona Vale’s Pamela<br />
Pauline was named <strong>2019</strong> NSW<br />
Illustrative Photographer of<br />
the Year; her portfolio was<br />
all based on Australian native<br />
flora and fauna and was illustrative<br />
in nature, but 100 per<br />
cent photographic.<br />
The Australia Institute of<br />
Professional Photography run<br />
professional photography<br />
awards in all Australian states<br />
and territories, attracting over<br />
three thousand entries from<br />
professional photographers.<br />
Photographers can enter up<br />
to four prints in a category<br />
and each print is presented<br />
anonymously to a panel of<br />
five judges who give scores.<br />
An aggregate of 80+ is a Silver<br />
while 90+ earns a Gold award<br />
The highest three portfolios<br />
of four prints are then<br />
re-assessed to determine the<br />
category winner.<br />
Art Life<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 39
Surfing Life<br />
Surfing Life<br />
Price you might just pay<br />
for pushing the envelope<br />
From world champs to people at your home break, we’re all gonna get hurt sometime.<br />
with Nick Carroll<br />
Ever been hurt surfing? You<br />
will. John Florence has. As<br />
you’ll probably know, Johnny<br />
was world champ in 2016<br />
and ’17. A year and a bit ago,<br />
trying an air move, he tore the<br />
anterior cruciate ligament in<br />
his left knee.<br />
Not being a fan of surgery,<br />
or of publicity, John kept the<br />
injury quiet, and took the rest<br />
of 2018 off to rehabilitate.<br />
Re-entering the tour this year,<br />
he rapidly surfed his way to<br />
a commanding lead in the<br />
title race. Then a month ago,<br />
he popped off the top of a<br />
no-account wave at Barrinha,<br />
Brazil, and did it again.<br />
Now he’s hobbling<br />
around after a full knee<br />
reconstruction, privately<br />
wishing he’d done the surgery<br />
last year, while his third world<br />
title wings off in another<br />
direction altogether. Ouch!<br />
Sounds like an NRL story,<br />
not a surfing one. But fact is,<br />
injuries of one kind or another<br />
are becoming a kind of meme<br />
in surfing these days, and not<br />
just at the pro level.<br />
It hasn’t always been that<br />
way. A famous sports study in<br />
the very early 1980s, based on<br />
surveys in hospital outpatient UNDER PRESSURE: John Florence’s left knee that is... not his ability to perform.<br />
stats, showed recreational<br />
surfing was one of Australia’s<br />
That stuff often doesn’t make knee injuries, thanks to the airs. Innis’ study showed<br />
safest sports, with an injury<br />
it on the record.<br />
increased pressure in turns injury types changing in<br />
rate of 2.7 per 100,000 –<br />
But in the ’80s, surfing occasionally buckling the tandem. The knee receded,<br />
mostly minor fin cuts and the boards and styles changed. joint. Knees, and soft tissue and ankles, backs and necks<br />
occasional head knock from a Three fins arrived, and with lacerations from contact with sprang forth. The load was<br />
loose board. Tiny on the scale them more speed and power your board, were all the rage spread, you might say. Kelly<br />
of things. Club rugby was up in turns, and a surge in<br />
in the 1980s.<br />
Slater, the young superstar of<br />
around 18 per 100,000. Even professional surfing drove a In the 1990s and early the day and the style, carried<br />
cricket was sketchier.<br />
new muscle and aggression 2000s, boards and styles an on-and-off mid-back injury<br />
Maybe the study wasn’t into performance. The pros, changed again, and so did for more than a decade.<br />
catching some of our<br />
and their mates at home, were the injury types. Surfboards Nowadays there’s all kinds<br />
behaviour. Not every surfer I in their teens and early 20s, lost weight and developed of carnage. Big wave riders<br />
knew at the time would have frothing with testosterone, more curve; New School are at the top of the list:<br />
bothered going to hospital doing all they could to smash aerial styles came into play. dislocated shoulders, broken<br />
for anything much short of each other. Sure enough – Surfing was less about weight bones, serious neck injuries,<br />
decapitation. Maybe, like more injuries. Chiropractor and muscle, and more about and knees not just tweaked<br />
today, some of the nastier Dean Innis, who spent many sudden changes of pace, the but utterly mangled. Next<br />
stuff was happening to<br />
years on site at major pro body held loose and light might be the many everyday<br />
surfers on the road, riding events, did his own long-term between acute moments of surfers taking trips to surf<br />
remote reefs in Indonesia. study showing a spike in pressure upon landing those resorts in Indo and the<br />
40 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
PL’s AUGUST SURF CALENDAR<br />
21-31/8: TAHITI PRO, TEAHUPOO, FP<br />
Shaping up to be the Championship Tour’s crucial event in <strong>2019</strong>. At<br />
least six surfers are in the world title race, including current defending<br />
world champ Gabriel Medina, who seized the opportunity presented<br />
by John Florence’s injury pull-out to charge in and win the recent CT<br />
at Jeffreys Bay. Gabriel is a two-time winner in Tahiti and will now be<br />
the insider’s favourite for the overall crown – but he needs a big result<br />
in order to cement that. Teahupoo has had a great year of surf so far<br />
and if it turns on the way it’s been turning on lately, the surf world is in<br />
for a hell of a show.<br />
NICK’S AUGUST SURF FORECAST<br />
Well, speaking of grommets, I don’t reckon I’ve seen as good a<br />
school holidays for surf as that last one. July didn’t bomb, but it<br />
surely kept ticking. Lots of clean days, lots of overhead surf. Yeeha!<br />
Longer-term indicators don’t give us much of a hint about the<br />
spring and summer ahead – the ENSO cycle is flatlining, and the<br />
Indian Ocean version, the wittily named Dipole, is just in positive<br />
territory, so it doesn’t seem as if there’s any big shifts coming down<br />
the track. I would reckon this means <strong>August</strong> will be a lot like July,<br />
but maybe without the freak week-long easterly swell that really<br />
set up the school holidays. Instead, a few days here and there of<br />
unusual warmth, some cold westerlies, and small to medium pulses<br />
of southerly groundswell filtering up through the Tasman. Standard<br />
Sydney winter fare.<br />
Maldives, where if you don’t<br />
get cut on the reef, you’re just<br />
not surfing.<br />
At pro level, World Surf<br />
League medical director<br />
Chris Prosser says he is<br />
seeing a new increase in knee<br />
problems, not necessarily<br />
John Florence ones, but<br />
strains and tearing of the<br />
medial collateral ligament,<br />
which supports the inside of<br />
the knee joint. The MCL takes<br />
a lot of heat from the modern<br />
power move du jour – a highangled<br />
carve done at speed<br />
on a beyond-steep wave face,<br />
when the knee flexes inward<br />
to control the turn.<br />
For many long-term<br />
surfers, this is a time for<br />
repair and rehab. An ageing<br />
surf population means a lot<br />
more chronic stuff: hips need<br />
replacing, shoulder tendons<br />
are withering, hearts must be<br />
monitored.<br />
My little brother, Tom, was<br />
the poster boy for 1980s-style<br />
injuries. At 16 he ruptured<br />
his right ACL – same as John,<br />
other leg – but didn’t find out<br />
till he was 19. He underwent<br />
reconstructive surgery (pretty<br />
tough going in 1981), but<br />
somehow went on to win a<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
Nick Carroll<br />
couple of world titles, which<br />
will give Johnny some heart.<br />
But since then... heck, you<br />
name it. That knee is now<br />
all titanium. One shoulder’s<br />
been pulled back and stapled<br />
in. A fin in a Japanese<br />
beachbreak almost performed<br />
direct rectal surgery on him.<br />
He’s now a poster boy for<br />
orthopaedic surgery. Who<br />
knows what lies in wait.<br />
Another mate of mine in<br />
his later 50s recently went<br />
to have a scan done on his<br />
right hip, not feeling there<br />
was much of an issue. The<br />
nurse looked a bit shocked by<br />
the result. “I don’t know how<br />
you’re even walking around,”<br />
she told him. The hip was<br />
loaded with osteo-arthritis,<br />
but my mate had almost no<br />
pain. His doctor thought both<br />
things – the arthritis and the<br />
lack of pain – were due to his<br />
constant surfing habit.<br />
About the only ones<br />
avoiding this carnage, by<br />
the way, are the grommets.<br />
There’s been a big influx<br />
along <strong>Pittwater</strong>’s beaches in<br />
the past year. They’re 15 and<br />
under, catching 100 waves a<br />
day, and flailing away without<br />
a care.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 41<br />
Surfing Life
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Freeze, don’t squeeze: world to<br />
adopt our tick removal method<br />
With the warmer<br />
weather approaching<br />
it’s vital to be prepared<br />
for tick season<br />
and brush up on the<br />
best way to reduce<br />
your risk of tick bites.<br />
By Lisa Offord<br />
Although social media channels<br />
are awash with comments<br />
suggesting more ticks<br />
are around than usual, local<br />
medicos report no noticeable<br />
increase in tick bite presentations…<br />
so far this year.<br />
What is of concern however<br />
is the proliferation of misinformation<br />
on the best way to<br />
remove ticks – with potentially<br />
dangerous methods being<br />
widely shared.<br />
Local emergency doctor<br />
Andy Ratchford is at the forefront<br />
of tick removal research<br />
and a key player in a groundbreaking<br />
study carried out on<br />
the Northern Beaches which<br />
is set to change the way the<br />
world manages tick bites.<br />
He said health authorities<br />
world-wide generally advised<br />
against using household<br />
tweezers and various folklore<br />
methods such as burning ticks<br />
with a hot match, covering ticks<br />
with petroleum jelly, nail polish<br />
or other suffocating agents.<br />
“All these methods will<br />
disturb the tick and should be<br />
avoided,” Dr Ratchford said.<br />
He explained all care should<br />
be taken to avoid disturbing or<br />
squeezing the tick to prevent<br />
it injecting its allergen-containing<br />
saliva and potentially<br />
infectious contents.<br />
In the first study in humans<br />
on the value of killing a tick<br />
where it is to prevent allergic<br />
reactions, Dr Ratchford, Dr<br />
Benjamin Taylor and colleagues<br />
demonstrated the success of<br />
the approach used for over a<br />
decade at the former Mona<br />
Vale and Manly Hospitals.<br />
Now the Director of Emergency<br />
Medicine at Northern<br />
Beaches Hospital, Dr Ratchford<br />
said the research published<br />
in the respected journal<br />
Asia Pacific Allergy in May this<br />
year would help change clinical<br />
practice worldwide.<br />
The study documented and<br />
analysed the tick removal<br />
methods and allergic response<br />
of 121 patients presenting to<br />
Mona Vale Hospital during the<br />
peak tick season of 2016.<br />
The study found applying<br />
permethrin cream on small<br />
ticks and ether-containing<br />
spray on adult ticks, waiting<br />
for them to drop off or seeking<br />
medical assistance for removal,<br />
were the best options<br />
for avoiding a potentially fatal<br />
allergic reaction, or minimising<br />
harmful toxins being transferred<br />
from tick to humans.<br />
These methods are also<br />
in keeping with the advice<br />
from the peak professional<br />
body, the Australasian Society<br />
of Clinical Immunology and<br />
Allergy (ASCIA), the Emergency<br />
Care Institute (which<br />
provides online information<br />
to Emergency Departments<br />
throughout Australia) and the<br />
peak support body for those<br />
living with allergies, Allergy<br />
& Anaphylaxis Australia and<br />
TiARA.<br />
The Department of Health<br />
is updating its educational<br />
material about ticks and tickassociated<br />
illness to reflect<br />
the latest evidence.<br />
Meanwhile Dr Ratchford<br />
and colleagues at Northern<br />
Beaches Hospital will play a<br />
pivotal role in a major national<br />
research project launched this<br />
year aimed at reducing the debilitating<br />
symptoms attributed<br />
to tick bites, including fatigue,<br />
arthritis, chronic pain, neurological<br />
and cardiac problems,<br />
and psychological illness.<br />
The local team will collect<br />
blood samples and skin<br />
biopsies from people presenting<br />
to the hospital with tick<br />
bite – and the ticks themselves<br />
– for researchers at Murdoch<br />
University, WA, to analyse with<br />
the aim of identifying organisms<br />
in ticks that may cause<br />
tick borne disease in Australia.<br />
One of best sources of information<br />
about ticks is the Tick<br />
Induced Allergies Research &<br />
Awareness TiARA site www.<br />
tiara.org.au.<br />
Managing tick bites<br />
Adult ticks<br />
Kill the tick where it is using<br />
an ether-containing spray.<br />
(Ask your pharmacist for<br />
suitable products.)<br />
Then, either wait for it<br />
to drop off or seek medical<br />
attention for it to be<br />
removed, taking care to not<br />
squeeze the tick. So:<br />
If you have been<br />
outdoors, don’t scratch<br />
anything that itches until<br />
you have a look at it.<br />
Don’t try “picking” a<br />
tick out of your skin with<br />
tweezers or other gadgets.<br />
Nymph and larval ticks<br />
Apply permethrin cream as<br />
directed to kill these ticks.<br />
Avoidance is best<br />
- Wear long-sleeved shirts<br />
and long pants that can<br />
be tucked into socks and<br />
a wide-brimmed hat when<br />
walking or working in areas<br />
where ticks occur;<br />
- Use insect repellent,<br />
paticularly ones containing<br />
DEET;<br />
- Use permethrin-treated<br />
clothing when exposed to<br />
ticks; and<br />
- Check for ticks daily.<br />
42 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Know your medicines<br />
Medicines are part of most older folk’s lives – having access<br />
to and understanding important information and<br />
asking the right questions is the key to getting the most out<br />
of medicines and using them safely.<br />
Be Medicinewise Week is an annual campaign to encourage<br />
Australians to find out more about medicines.<br />
This year’s campaign from <strong>August</strong> 19-25 will focus on the<br />
language of medicines.<br />
How can you learn the language of medicines?<br />
n Know all the medicines you take and why you take them.<br />
Keeping an up-to-date medicines list is a great way to keep<br />
track of your medicines.<br />
n Understand the instructions for taking your medicines.<br />
Medicines only work if you are taking them properly and<br />
you can only take them properly if you understand the<br />
instructions.<br />
n Check with your health professional before starting any<br />
new medicine. A health professional can help you balance<br />
the benefits of a medicine with any potential risks.<br />
n Ask questions if there is anything you don’t understand about<br />
your medicines. Seeking information from a trusted source<br />
can help you get the most out of your medicines, safely.<br />
For independent evidence-based information about medicines,<br />
medical tests and other health technologies visit NPS<br />
Medicinewise at nps.org.au or call the Medicines Line on<br />
1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424).<br />
If you have any concerns about your medicines, speak to<br />
your doctor or pharmacist.<br />
– LO<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 43
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Various procedures to<br />
correct or lift breasts<br />
Breasts may become ptotic<br />
(abnormal drooping)<br />
for many reasons,<br />
including age, through the<br />
gain of weight, loss of weight<br />
and after pregnancy or<br />
breastfeeding.<br />
There are many procedures<br />
to correct or lift breasts. The<br />
procedure depends on the<br />
underlying breast size. In<br />
breasts of appropriate size,<br />
the breasts can simply be<br />
lifted. In smaller breasts the<br />
lift may be combined with<br />
an implant to increase the<br />
size. In larger breasts, the<br />
lift can be combined with<br />
a reduction. And smaller<br />
breasts with only a slight<br />
droop can be corrected by<br />
implants only.<br />
The position of the<br />
nipple is estimated by three<br />
parameters: the position<br />
of the infra mammary fold<br />
(where the chest meets<br />
the chest wall) projected<br />
forwards; a set distance<br />
from the base of the neck<br />
or midpoint of the collar<br />
bone; and approximately the<br />
midpoint of the arm bone or<br />
humerus. Once this position<br />
is set, then the nipple is lifted<br />
to this point.<br />
A common misconception<br />
is that the nipples are<br />
removed and then replaced<br />
– but this is only very rarely<br />
done. In most cases the<br />
nipples are left on a<br />
pedicle of tissue and<br />
moved. This pedicle<br />
contains the blood<br />
vessels to keep the<br />
nipple and breast viable<br />
along with the nerves<br />
to keep the nipple with<br />
sensation.<br />
With a lift-only<br />
procedure, some skin<br />
is removed and the<br />
remaining breast tissue<br />
is arranged to recreate<br />
a breast cone. With a<br />
reduction and a lift, both<br />
skin and breast tissue is<br />
removed, the remaining<br />
breast tissue again is<br />
moved to create a cone shape<br />
before the skin is stitched.<br />
The amount of lift and<br />
procedure determines the<br />
amount of scarring that is left.<br />
Most techniques try to minimise<br />
the amount of scarring. In<br />
general, there is scarring<br />
around the areolar. This may<br />
extend down as a ‘lollipop’ scar<br />
or may also extend horizontally<br />
in the chest/breast crease as<br />
an ‘anchor’ scar. Scar quality<br />
is variable. (These will be<br />
carefully explained before<br />
your procedure.) In general,<br />
the more complicated the<br />
procedure, the more scarring<br />
that is left.<br />
Surgery is generally<br />
performed with a<br />
combination of local and<br />
general anaesthesia. At most<br />
an overnight stay may be<br />
required. Drains or plastic/<br />
silicone tubes are rarely used<br />
to remove any ooze or blood.<br />
The pre-operative course,<br />
intra-operative course,<br />
hospital stay and recovery will<br />
be carefully discussed with<br />
you. A full understanding of<br />
the procedure is important.<br />
A return to work and<br />
subsequent exercise will also<br />
be outlined.<br />
Breast lift surgery is<br />
well tolerated, with very<br />
favourable results. It often<br />
allows increased activity and<br />
a reduction in skin crease<br />
irritation or infections.<br />
A full and detailed<br />
description will be given<br />
at the time of your<br />
with Dr John Kippen<br />
consultation. A<br />
thorough examination<br />
and assessment will<br />
determine the best<br />
procedure for you.<br />
Careful measurements<br />
and clinical<br />
photographs aid this<br />
planning.<br />
You should choose<br />
your surgeon carefully<br />
and take note: not all<br />
surgeons performing<br />
breast surgery have<br />
surgical qualifications<br />
or are Plastic Surgeons.<br />
Check they have the<br />
letters FRACS (Fellow of<br />
the Royal Australasian<br />
College of Surgeons) after<br />
their names and are a member<br />
of ASPS (Australian Society of<br />
Plastic Surgeons).<br />
Our columnist Dr John<br />
Kippen is a qualified, fully<br />
certified consultant specialist<br />
in Cosmetic, Plastic and<br />
Reconstructive surgery.<br />
Australian trained, he also<br />
has additional Australian and<br />
International Fellowships.<br />
Dr Kippen works from custom-built<br />
premises in Mona<br />
Vale. He welcomes enquiries<br />
and questions. Please<br />
contact him via johnkippen.<br />
com.au or by email: doctor@<br />
johnkippen.com.au<br />
44 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Let’s talk about sex… after kids<br />
If you’re a new mum, have you<br />
ever wondered if sex will ever be<br />
the same now that you’ve had your<br />
baby?<br />
If you’ve recently birthed a baby,<br />
there may be hormonal and physical<br />
changes leading to discomfort,<br />
reduced libido and low self-esteem;<br />
not to mention a never-ending list<br />
of chores, sleep deprivation and<br />
an identity shift from ‘Sexy Wife’<br />
to ‘Milk-bar Mum’, says sexologist<br />
Monica Cook.<br />
The highly qualified professional<br />
who has recently joined ‘themindspace’<br />
psychologists team in Mona<br />
Vale, said for partners there may be new<br />
routines, a role of provision and support,<br />
sleep deprivation and ‘Eros redirected’*<br />
to contend with.<br />
“This is where the mother shifts her<br />
attention from her spouse to her child<br />
who now becomes the centrepiece of her<br />
emotional satisfaction,” she said.<br />
“These elements combined can put a<br />
lot of pressure on relationships and in<br />
particular the sexual interaction.”<br />
THREE IN<br />
THE BED: Life<br />
changes after<br />
you have a<br />
baby.<br />
Monica said that unlike other aspects<br />
of a relationship, people tended to shy<br />
away from talking about sex with their<br />
partners, for fear of hurting them or being<br />
rejected or embarrassed.<br />
“There are also many unhelpful myths<br />
out there such as ‘if sex is natural, it<br />
should just work and your partner should<br />
just know what feels good’.<br />
“However, like any aspect of healthy<br />
living, fostering sexual wellness requires<br />
effort, good communication, courage to<br />
face the issues and access to trustworthy<br />
information that provides<br />
new insights and inspires change,”<br />
she said.<br />
As a sexologist, Monica’s job is to<br />
facilitate this process.<br />
“I not only provide a safe space<br />
for people to share their concerns<br />
with one another, but I have also<br />
gathered information, resources,<br />
strategies, approaches and techniques<br />
from a broad range of scientific<br />
disciplines to allow couples to<br />
explore their sexuality.”<br />
Her approach considers the<br />
physical, psychological and spiritual<br />
influences that shape a person’s understanding<br />
of sex and their expectations<br />
around it.<br />
“The truth is sexual preferences, positions,<br />
bodies and contexts change from<br />
season to season… so no, sex will never<br />
be the same after kids – but nothing is<br />
to say that it can’t be better than it ever<br />
was,” she said.<br />
– L0<br />
* (A term coined by Esther Perel,<br />
renowned relationship therapist)<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 45
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Coffee &<br />
compassion<br />
On the second Thursday<br />
of each month NB<br />
Compassionate Community<br />
host a get-together at<br />
H20 Café in Narrabeen<br />
to acknowledge the roles<br />
of caring for people<br />
experiencing death, loss or<br />
for those who would just<br />
like a chat.<br />
Compassionate<br />
Communities is an initiative<br />
of CCNB, in partnership<br />
with the Groundswell<br />
Project. By working<br />
together and supporting<br />
those who are in need of<br />
support during the isolating<br />
period that comes with<br />
dying and grieving, our<br />
Compassionate Community<br />
hopes to build a stronger<br />
community.<br />
All welcome on Aug 8,<br />
Sept 12, Oct 10, Nov 14 and<br />
Dec 12.<br />
Info ccnb@ccnb.com.au<br />
Mary recognised for<br />
prostate cancer work<br />
Newport couple Mary and Ron Jones have<br />
worked through later life with prostate<br />
cancer together, taking each day as it<br />
comes since Ron was diagnosed in 2004.<br />
They have also supported others – and now<br />
Mary has been recognised for her outstanding<br />
contribution to reducing<br />
the impact of prostate<br />
cancer on men, their<br />
partners and families<br />
with a prestigious award.<br />
Mary will receive the<br />
Max Gardner Award for<br />
her vital volunteering role<br />
assisting hundreds of<br />
people who are part of the<br />
Northern Beaches Prostate<br />
Cancer Support Group.<br />
The marriage<br />
celebrant, mother of four<br />
and grandmother of six<br />
explained she and Ron<br />
joined the local support<br />
group shortly after they<br />
learned Ron’s diagnosis.<br />
“He was 71 and it was a<br />
real shock… when anyone<br />
mentions the word cancer<br />
it is devastating,” Mary<br />
said.<br />
“Ron still has prostate<br />
cancer and he has<br />
survived for all this time<br />
and he is doing really well,” she added.<br />
Mary assisted in leading the Northern<br />
Beaches Prostate Cancer Support Group in<br />
2007 and ensures members are kept up to<br />
date with the latest information through a<br />
monthly newsletter.<br />
Prostate cancer is the most commonly<br />
diagnosed cancer in Australian men, with<br />
approximately 20,000 diagnosed each year.<br />
STAYING POSITIVE: Mary and Ron Jones.<br />
More than 200,000 Australian men are living<br />
after a diagnosis with prostate cancer.<br />
Educating the general public about prostate<br />
cancer and fundraising is high on Mary’s<br />
agenda and she is proud to have organised<br />
the popular Big Aussie Barbie days at Rat Park<br />
and raised more than<br />
$15,000 for research.<br />
Mary and Ron believe<br />
it is important for men<br />
diagnosed with prostate<br />
cancer to be proactive<br />
and learn all they can<br />
about the disease and<br />
their options.<br />
“And to stay positive,”<br />
Mary adds.<br />
“Because prostate<br />
cancer is not always a<br />
death sentence – quite<br />
a lot of men live with<br />
prostate cancer and die<br />
of something else.<br />
“That’s what is really<br />
important, to stay<br />
positive, I think.”<br />
Northern Beaches<br />
Prostate Cancer Support<br />
Group meetings are held<br />
at 6.30pm on the first<br />
Tuesday of each month<br />
(excluding January).<br />
Held in the Palliative<br />
Care Cottage at Mona Vale Hospital and<br />
typically attracting around 30 people, men<br />
with prostate cancer, their carers and anyone<br />
else who is interested, are welcome to attend.<br />
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia CEO<br />
Professor Jeff Dunn AO will present Mary with<br />
the Max Gardner Award at the next meeting<br />
on <strong>August</strong> 6.<br />
– Lisa Offord<br />
46 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Health & Wellbeing<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 47
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Alert for dementia symptoms<br />
peaking in winter and spring<br />
It’s been proven there is a<br />
big difference in how people<br />
think from season to season;<br />
now new research suggests<br />
dementia care and awareness<br />
are more critical during colder<br />
months.<br />
A recent study published<br />
in the journal PLOS Medicine,<br />
which looked at how cognitive<br />
function, thinking and memory<br />
changes throughout the year in<br />
older adults both with and without<br />
Alzheimer’s disease, found<br />
that the ability to think and concentrate<br />
varies as the weather<br />
and temperature fluctuates.<br />
The result of more than 10<br />
years of research led by Dr Andrew<br />
Lim at Alzheimer’s centres<br />
in Canada, the United States<br />
and France, the authors found<br />
people’s cognition worsened in<br />
the winter and spring.<br />
“There may be value in<br />
increasing dementia-related<br />
clinical resources in the<br />
winter and early spring, when<br />
symptoms are likely to be<br />
most pronounced,” the authors<br />
concluded.<br />
Commenting on the study,<br />
Tamar Krebs, Founder and Co-<br />
CEO of Group Homes Australia<br />
(GHA) said it was vital staff and<br />
family members were aware of<br />
current research and how the<br />
seasons could affect people<br />
with dementia.<br />
Ms Krebs explained that in<br />
winter, residents with dementia<br />
were often resistant to get<br />
out of bed, were temperaturesensitive,<br />
often didn’t want to<br />
shower and were less engaged<br />
outdoors, preferring to stay<br />
indoors.<br />
“Generally residents are more<br />
agitated during winter and<br />
staff need to know that these<br />
changes are brought upon by<br />
the seasons and they need to<br />
learn to adapt their approach to<br />
care depending on the season.”<br />
Ms Krebs added continuing<br />
education and a small-scale<br />
environment ensured GHA staff<br />
were well-placed to cater to the<br />
individual needs of a maximum<br />
10 residents, who were cared<br />
for within the comfort of the<br />
traditional homes that were key<br />
to the innovative dementia care<br />
model she launched in Australia<br />
almost four years ago.<br />
The GHA home in Warriewood<br />
(where Ms Krebs is<br />
pictured above) boasts a high<br />
carer-to-resident ratio delivering<br />
specialised care and activities<br />
that have meaning and<br />
purpose for its residents aged<br />
from mid-40s to late-90s.<br />
“The home is a beautiful,<br />
vibrant place and residents do<br />
not follow strict routines like in<br />
aged and dementia care institutions<br />
– residents wake up when<br />
they prefer, eat what and when<br />
they want to and can choose to<br />
shower in the evening or morning,”<br />
Ms Krebs said.<br />
“Carers focus on abilities,<br />
not disabilities, with residents<br />
involved in activities that reflect<br />
their interests such as cooking,<br />
gardening, swimming in the<br />
pool, walking the dog that lives<br />
at the house and participating<br />
in pursuits such as the local<br />
choir to continue their connection<br />
with the community,” she<br />
said.<br />
Learn more about dementia<br />
on the Dementia Australia<br />
website dementia.org.au or call<br />
the National Dementia Helpline<br />
for information, support and<br />
referral on 1800 100 500 during<br />
business hours.<br />
– Lisa Offord<br />
Dementia friendship group<br />
On the first Tuesday of each month CCNB holds a Chatter<br />
‘Cino Dementia Café Friendship Group for people with dementia<br />
their family and friends.<br />
Held from 10am-12pm at the Vines in Terrey Hills, Chatter<br />
‘Cino is hosted by CCNB’s dementia consultant Michele Ferris<br />
and is an opportunity for people in similar circumstances to<br />
talk, laugh and share.<br />
For more information and to RSVP call 1300 002 262 or<br />
email ccnb@ccnb.com.au<br />
Plans for new<br />
palliative care<br />
unit revealed<br />
F<br />
loor plans of Mona Vale<br />
Hospital campus’ new 10-<br />
bed Palliative Care Unit and<br />
10-bed Geriatric Evaluation<br />
Management Unit have been<br />
unveiled.<br />
The hospital’s General<br />
Manager Jacqui Edgley<br />
presented the revised plans,<br />
which had been updated<br />
following input from the<br />
Friends of Northern Beaches<br />
Palliative Care, the Inpatient<br />
Facility Working Group and<br />
the members of Hospital’s<br />
Auxiliary, at a recent<br />
meeting.<br />
“Engaging with community<br />
groups such as these on the<br />
design of the building is so<br />
important and the feedback<br />
on the floor plans from<br />
members the Friends of<br />
Northern Palliative Care and<br />
the Inpatient Facility Working<br />
Group has been invaluable<br />
and greatly appreciated,” Ms<br />
Edgley said.<br />
“They have been<br />
campaigning for this<br />
important service for many<br />
years and like myself they<br />
are keen to ensure the new<br />
facility is the very best it can<br />
be for our patients, carers<br />
and visitors and built to<br />
the highest contemporary<br />
standards.”<br />
Kay Millar, Chair of the<br />
Northern Beaches Palliative<br />
Care Inpatient Facility<br />
Working Group, said it was<br />
pleasing to see progress<br />
on the building and that<br />
their recommendations on<br />
the floor plans had been<br />
incorporated, where possible.<br />
“This service is something<br />
the community has been<br />
wanting for a long time so it<br />
is great to see the progress<br />
being made,” she said.<br />
“We look forward to<br />
continuing to work with the<br />
hospital over the coming<br />
months as the building takes<br />
shape.”<br />
Construction is expected to<br />
be completed by the middle<br />
of 2020.<br />
48 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Hair & Beauty<br />
Hydrate and heal our<br />
skin is the Winter focus with Sue Carroll<br />
Harsh, cold winter weather<br />
maintain a healthy lipid barrier,<br />
and everyday stress<br />
good internal and external<br />
can play havoc with our<br />
hydration and a healthy<br />
skin. Our once plump, radiant<br />
circulatory system. In the cold,<br />
and hydrated skin takes on<br />
dry months, we can achieve<br />
a dull, crepe-like and often<br />
this and you will not only feel<br />
compromised appearance. The<br />
better on the inside but your<br />
focus for skin in the winter<br />
largest organ – our skin on<br />
is to hydrate and heal, both<br />
the outside – will take on the<br />
internally and externally.<br />
appearance of health and<br />
At any time of the year, a<br />
vitality.<br />
compromised lipid barrier can<br />
create dry, irritated skin. When<br />
the cool, dry weather arrives, dry Other factors may be using high anti-inflammatory and<br />
Sue Carroll of Skin<br />
skin becomes far more irritated, the incorrect homecare, overexfoliation<br />
antioxidant content), bergamot Inspiration has been a quali-<br />
of the face and body (is a balancing oil providing fied Aesthetician for 33 years.<br />
red, rough and dry. Those people<br />
with naturally dry skin lack a skin, dietary changes (such as toning properties), white ginger<br />
Sue has owned and<br />
strong lipid barrier, which leads reducing the fat content in our (stimulates the circulation<br />
operated successful beauty<br />
to dehydration and water loss. diet), ageing and hormonal and aids in combatting skin<br />
clinics and day spas on<br />
This means these people do not changes, UV exposure, stress disease) and black spruce<br />
have enough lipids to maintain<br />
the Northern Beaches.<br />
and some diseases.<br />
(provides purifying and<br />
optimal skin health.<br />
To build up our natural cleansing properties).<br />
info@skininspiration.com.au<br />
To understand treatment lipid barrier internally, we can In the depths of this winter, www.skininspiration.com.au<br />
options, it is important to address dietary requirements. make it one of your goals to<br />
understand what the lipids This may include the addition<br />
do within the skin. Lipids can of avocado, wild salmon,<br />
be compared to the “mortar” more water (when the heat<br />
between the skin’s “bricks”, or dissipates so does our water<br />
corneocytes. Our outermost consumption), fruit (such<br />
layer of skin, the stratum as berries, grapefruit and<br />
corneum, is where the lipid bananas) and vegetables (such<br />
barrier is found. It is the skin’s as cucumber and squash which<br />
first line of defence against is an excellent source of beta<br />
external and internal factors carotene).<br />
that can affect skin dryness. This winter, we can build<br />
To help prevent excess water a healthy, glowing skin with<br />
loss and to protect against the the external application of<br />
assault of UV radiation, heat, products rich in plant oils,<br />
cold and environmental irritants, ceramides and essential fatty<br />
a very strong lipid barrier is acids. We can also look to<br />
paramount.<br />
orange peel oil (a natural<br />
Visually, a compromised source of Vitamin C and<br />
lipid barrier will result in the is helpful for sensitive or<br />
skin appearing flaky, dry, dull, irritated skin), clove (used<br />
and having fine dehydration for detoxification and to<br />
lines. This then means the stimulate the circulatory<br />
skin is more susceptible to system), turmeric (one of the<br />
environmental assault and most powerful antioxidants<br />
signs of premature ageing. from nature and protects<br />
Besides a low natural oil from environmental damaging<br />
balance in the skin, creating elements), cinnamon<br />
a compromised lipid barrier, (stimulates, is antibacterial,<br />
there are other factors affecting antifungal and is a powerful<br />
this. One of the main causes antioxidant), paprika<br />
is environmental winter<br />
(revitalises and oxygenates),<br />
conditions with low humidity arctic cranberry (contains<br />
and temperatures – we then tend phytochemicals such as<br />
to turn up the heating inside vitamin B6, benzoic acid, lutein<br />
and have our showers hotter, and proanthocyanidins, which<br />
which will increase dryness. are responsible for the fruit’s<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 49<br />
Health Hair & Wellbeing Beauty
Business Life: Money<br />
Business Life<br />
‘Check’ please: make a<br />
note on super changes<br />
This month we catch up<br />
with three superannuation<br />
changes, two that<br />
came in this financial year<br />
from July 1 and one not very<br />
well known that came in this<br />
time last year.<br />
These are not the only<br />
changes to superannuation<br />
to commence this financial<br />
year, the Government rolled<br />
out a number of reforms<br />
that deal with protecting low<br />
balances and the treatment<br />
of insurance inside super, but<br />
I’ll focus on these few here as<br />
they deal with the ability to<br />
get money into the system.<br />
Work Test Exemption<br />
Under the current rules a<br />
person aged between 65 and<br />
74 can only make a voluntary<br />
(e.g. not an employer-mandated)<br />
superannuation contribution<br />
if they have satisfied<br />
a work test of 40 hours over<br />
30 consecutive days during<br />
the financial year that the<br />
contribution is made.<br />
From July 1 this year a<br />
person aged between 65<br />
and 74 can make a voluntary<br />
contribution to super without<br />
passing the work test if:<br />
n They met the work test in<br />
a previous financial year;<br />
and<br />
n Their total super balance<br />
across all sources is less<br />
than $300,000; and<br />
n They haven’t accessed the<br />
exemption in a previous<br />
financial year.<br />
So while a useful strategy<br />
with Brian Hrnjak<br />
for, say, organising the sale<br />
of a property or shares after<br />
retiring from full-time work<br />
the provisions are limited in<br />
that they only extend for an<br />
additional 12 months and<br />
they are a once-in-a-lifetime<br />
concession that only apply<br />
in the case of someone<br />
with a super balance below<br />
$300,000. It may, however,<br />
be a useful mechanism to<br />
top up holdings or balance<br />
out super between spouses if<br />
one has a lower balance.<br />
The voluntary contributions<br />
mentioned above go<br />
further than the obvious<br />
$100,000 non-concessional<br />
cap and may allow for up to<br />
$300,000 to be contributed<br />
under the bring forward<br />
provisions if all of the appropriate<br />
conditions are satisfied.<br />
You may also be able<br />
to make voluntary contributions<br />
such as tax-deductible<br />
concessional contributions,<br />
or, contributions that qualify<br />
under the small business CGT<br />
concessions if the situation<br />
applies.<br />
Anyone contemplating using<br />
these provisions combined<br />
with an asset sale and<br />
access to the $300,000 bring<br />
forward provisions should<br />
seek advice well in advance<br />
to ensure they can achieve<br />
the timings and hurdles<br />
involved.<br />
Catch-up Concessional<br />
Contributions<br />
From July 1, <strong>2019</strong> you will be<br />
able to carry forward concessional<br />
(tax deductible) super<br />
contributions that were not<br />
made from July 1, 2018 onward<br />
for up to five years on<br />
a rolling basis. Under current<br />
rules the cap for deductible<br />
superannuation contributions<br />
is $25,000 per annum.<br />
50 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
For example, if last year<br />
you made a $10,000 contribution<br />
you can carry forward<br />
$15,000 into this year or for<br />
up to five years before it<br />
expires. If you made no contribution<br />
at all last year you<br />
could potentially contribute<br />
$50,000 this financial year.<br />
If you store up your entitlement<br />
over the entire period,<br />
you could potentially make<br />
one single contribution of<br />
$125,000 but to access any<br />
of these catch up provisions<br />
your total superannuation<br />
balance must be less than<br />
$500,000 when measured at<br />
June 30 in the financial year<br />
prior.<br />
For planning purposes this<br />
catch-up feature is beneficial<br />
to anyone who may have<br />
been out of the workforce for<br />
a period of time or someone<br />
who may be planning<br />
to offset a capital gains tax<br />
liability in the future.<br />
Note that these catch-up<br />
provisions may be used in<br />
concert with the work test<br />
exemption mentioned earlier.<br />
Downsizer<br />
Contributions<br />
This change came in last year<br />
on July 1, 2018 and is not<br />
well understood. The aim of<br />
the policy was to allow older<br />
Australian’s seeking to downsize<br />
their principal place of<br />
residence to top up their superannuation<br />
accounts – up<br />
to $300,000 each, however, it<br />
comes with a few hurdles:<br />
n You must be over 65 years<br />
of age to meet the eligibility<br />
criteria;<br />
n You can only make down-<br />
sizer contributions for the<br />
sale of one home;<br />
n The home must have been<br />
your principal place of<br />
residence at some point<br />
and owned by you or your<br />
spouse for 10 years or<br />
more prior to sale;<br />
n You home is not a caravan,<br />
houseboat or mobile home;<br />
n The contract of sale must<br />
be dated after 1 July 2018;<br />
n The downsizer contribution<br />
must be made within<br />
90 days of the receipt of<br />
proceeds and you have<br />
provided your super fund<br />
with a downsizer contribution<br />
into super form either<br />
before or at the time of<br />
making the contribution.<br />
A couple selling a home in<br />
Sydney to move to, say, the<br />
south coast could bank up<br />
to $600,000 in super if they<br />
meet all the rules; there is<br />
however, no requirement for<br />
them to purchase another<br />
dwelling.<br />
This is a very flexible and<br />
generous piece of policy, the<br />
ability to access the benefit<br />
is not affected by what is<br />
currently held in Super – if<br />
a person is over the $1.6<br />
million individual threshold<br />
they can still make the contribution<br />
and the funds will<br />
continue to be held in the<br />
accumulation part of super. If<br />
the family home was held in<br />
the name of only one spouse,<br />
the spouse that did not have<br />
an ownership interest may<br />
still make the contribution,<br />
providing all the other conditions<br />
are met.<br />
Business Life<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
Brian Hrnjak B Bus CPA (FPS) is<br />
a Director of GHR Accounting<br />
Group Pty Ltd, Certified<br />
Practising Accountants. Offices<br />
at: Suite 12, Ground Floor,<br />
20 Bungan Street Mona Vale<br />
NSW 2103 and Shop 8, 9 – 15<br />
Central Ave Manly NSW 2095,<br />
Telephone: 02 9979-4300,<br />
Webs: www.ghr.com.au and<br />
www.altre.com.au Email:<br />
brian@ghr.com.au<br />
These comments are of a<br />
general nature only and are<br />
not intended as a substitute<br />
for professional advice.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 51
Business Life: Law<br />
Business Life<br />
Consider this if you’ve<br />
been left out of a will...<br />
Last month, three months<br />
after the death of former<br />
Prime Minister Bob<br />
Hawke and his farewell at a<br />
State memorial service at the<br />
Sydney Opera House, one of<br />
his three children announced<br />
that she has engaged lawyers<br />
to contest his Will.<br />
The former Labor<br />
figurehead is reported to<br />
have left a ‘multi-million<br />
dollar fortune’ which, after<br />
provision for his three<br />
children of $750,000 each,<br />
has been left to his widow<br />
Blanche d’Alpuget. The action<br />
seeks a greater share of<br />
the estate and if the matter<br />
proceeds it will be heard by<br />
the Supreme Court of New<br />
South Wales.<br />
Engaging in litigation is<br />
usually considered to be<br />
stressful for a member of<br />
the public. The preparation<br />
of documents, the endless<br />
conferences with solicitor<br />
and counsel, the anticipation<br />
of giving evidence and being<br />
cross examined in what is<br />
an adversarial procedure is<br />
challenging – and not to say<br />
expensive.<br />
Contesting a Will is<br />
sensitive and personal by<br />
nature. The case can venture<br />
into relationships and the<br />
lives of family both past and<br />
present and can rupture<br />
relationships forever.<br />
So, what does contesting a<br />
Will mean?<br />
To contest a Will you must<br />
mount a ‘challenge’. This<br />
means you may feel you<br />
have received an inadequate<br />
provision, as appears likely<br />
in the Hawke example.<br />
If the Court finds in the<br />
challenger’s favour it can<br />
either vary the provisions<br />
or order the redistribution<br />
of the Estate. You can<br />
also challenge the estate<br />
of a person who has died<br />
intestate (that means the<br />
person has died without<br />
making a Will). Similarly a<br />
person may challenge the<br />
validity of a Will.<br />
One often sees<br />
advertisments which pose<br />
the question, “... have you<br />
been left out of a Will?” with<br />
suggestions as to how to<br />
challenge.<br />
The first issue to be<br />
decided is your eligibility to<br />
mount a case. The categories<br />
may seem obvious; for<br />
example, if you are the<br />
surviving wife or husband<br />
at the time of their death,<br />
or if you are a former wife<br />
or husband of the deceased.<br />
If you are a child of the<br />
deceased you are eligible.<br />
The term ‘child’ includes<br />
adult children, children under<br />
18 years, as well as adopted<br />
children. Stepchildren are<br />
not automatically eligible<br />
to contest. However, if you<br />
have been dependent on the<br />
deceased, you might be able<br />
to contest. Grandchildren<br />
who have been wholly or<br />
partly dependent upon the<br />
deceased at any time are<br />
eligible.<br />
If you have been wholly or<br />
partly dependent upon the<br />
deceased at any time and<br />
you were a member of their<br />
household at any time you<br />
are eligible to contest.<br />
with Jennifer Harris<br />
If there is doubt about your<br />
eligibility you should seek<br />
legal advice on the precise<br />
facts and circumstances<br />
which give rise to your view<br />
that you should challenge.<br />
In NSW, if the deceased<br />
died after 1 March 2009 you<br />
have 12 months from the<br />
date of death to mount a<br />
challenge to a Will. The time<br />
limit for challenge varies<br />
from state to state.<br />
52 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
If the time limit to<br />
challenge has passed you<br />
may be able, in special<br />
circumstances, to obtain<br />
an extension of time to<br />
contest the Will. Examples<br />
may include that you did not<br />
know the deceased had died,<br />
and you were unaware of the<br />
relevant time limits.<br />
Having established you are<br />
eligible to contest the Will,<br />
what factors does a court<br />
consider? Generally, the<br />
following matters are taken<br />
into consideration:<br />
n Whether any provision you<br />
have already received is<br />
adequate for your proper<br />
maintenance, education<br />
and advancement in life;<br />
n Competing claims of<br />
other eligible persons or<br />
beneficiaries;<br />
n Where relevant, Aboriginal<br />
or Torres Strait Islander<br />
customary law;<br />
n The nature and duration of<br />
your relationship with the<br />
deceased;<br />
n Your financial resources<br />
and earning capacity;<br />
n The financial<br />
circumstances of people<br />
with whom you cohabit;<br />
n The size of the estate. For<br />
example you may have a<br />
very strong claim on the<br />
grounds of relationship<br />
and need, but if there is<br />
only $20,000 in the estate,<br />
then there is very little<br />
scope for a Court to order<br />
provision;<br />
n Contributions you made,<br />
both financial and nonfinancial,<br />
to the deceased;<br />
n Any provision the deceased<br />
made for you during their<br />
lifetime; and<br />
n Certain categories of<br />
eligible persons must<br />
establish that their<br />
relationship with the<br />
deceased was such that<br />
they ought naturally to<br />
have been a beneficiary.<br />
There is no way of knowing<br />
from the outset what you<br />
could receive when you<br />
dispute a Will. If you are<br />
an eligible person, among<br />
other matters the court<br />
will look to make sure you<br />
received adequate provision,<br />
it will have regard to the<br />
money you need for proper<br />
maintenance, support,<br />
education and advancement<br />
in your life.<br />
It might be possible to<br />
claim upon assets which<br />
do not strictly fall into the<br />
deceased person’s estate.<br />
These assets are known as<br />
‘notional estate’.<br />
The following are examples<br />
of ‘notional estate’:<br />
n The deceased made a loan<br />
to someone and forgave<br />
the loan on their death, or<br />
within three years of their<br />
death;<br />
n The deceased had<br />
superannuation of life<br />
insurance;<br />
n The deceased gave an<br />
asset away, or sold it to<br />
someone for less than its<br />
value;<br />
n The deceased held an<br />
asset, such as a house or<br />
bank account jointly with<br />
another person.<br />
One of the major factors<br />
that the Court will use to<br />
determine whether, as an<br />
eligible person, you should<br />
be entitled to receive<br />
provision from the Will is<br />
whether you have ‘need’. To<br />
determine need the Court<br />
initially will consider the test<br />
noted above as to whether<br />
your day-to-day maintenance,<br />
education and advancement<br />
in life have been provided for<br />
adequately under the terms<br />
of the will of the deceased.<br />
This will be done by an<br />
examination of your current<br />
situation by reviewing your<br />
finances, debt, mortgage<br />
repayments, medical<br />
expenses including projected<br />
future medical expenses,<br />
rental situation and place<br />
of employment which will<br />
include consideration of<br />
your salary and length of<br />
employment. Your situation<br />
as a whole will be reviewed<br />
and on that basis the court<br />
will make a decision on<br />
whether the deceased’s Will<br />
should be altered to make<br />
further provision for you.<br />
These matters are quite<br />
complex and establishing<br />
‘need’ is far from straight<br />
forward and depends on<br />
many factors. It is wise,<br />
particularly when the issues<br />
are emotional and very<br />
uncertain, to seek legal<br />
advice to discuss your<br />
situation as no two situations<br />
are the same. It is essential<br />
before making a decision to<br />
challenge, to obtain advice<br />
as to whether you have an<br />
adequate level of ‘need’<br />
to mount a challenge to<br />
successfully contest the Will.<br />
* Should readers wish<br />
to contact the writer<br />
concerning matters raised<br />
in this column or any other<br />
issue our hours of business<br />
are 9am-5.30pm Monday to<br />
Friday. Call 9973 2011.<br />
Comment supplied by<br />
Jennifer Harris, of Jennifer<br />
Harris & Associates, Solicitors,<br />
4/57 Avalon Parade,<br />
Avalon Beach.<br />
T: 9973 2011. F: 9918 3290.<br />
E: jennifer@jenniferharris.com.au<br />
W: www.jenniferharris.com.au<br />
Business Life<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 53
Trades & Services<br />
Trades & Services<br />
AUTO REPAIRS<br />
British & Swedish Motors<br />
Call 9970 6654<br />
Services Range Rover, Land Rover,<br />
Saab and Volvo with the latest in<br />
diagnostic equipment.<br />
Narrabeen Tyrepower<br />
Call 9970 6670<br />
Stocks all popular brands including<br />
Cooper 4WD. Plus they’ll do all mechanical<br />
repairs and rego inspections.<br />
Barrenjoey Smash Repairs<br />
Call 9970 8207<br />
barrenjoeysmashrepairs.com.au<br />
Re-sprays a specialty, plus<br />
restoration of your favourite vehicle.<br />
Commercial specialist.<br />
BATTERIES<br />
Battery Business<br />
Call 9970 6999<br />
Batteries for all applications. Won’t be<br />
beaten on price or service. Free testing,<br />
7 days.<br />
BOAT SERVICES<br />
Avalon Marine Upholstery<br />
Call Simon 9918 9803<br />
Makes cushions for boats, patio and<br />
pool furniture, window seats.<br />
BUILDING SERVICES<br />
Calyx Construction<br />
Call Mat 0416 105 032<br />
Northern Beaches-based; small team,<br />
top attention to detail. Specialists<br />
in quality house renovations, major<br />
alterations and additions.<br />
Rob Burgers<br />
Call 0416 066 159<br />
Qualified builder provides all carpentry<br />
needs; decks, pergolas, carports,<br />
renos & repairs.<br />
B & RD Williams<br />
Call Brian 0416 182 774<br />
Kitchen renovations, decks, pergolas.<br />
Small extensions specialist.<br />
CLEANING<br />
The Aqua Clean Team<br />
Call Mark 0449 049 101<br />
Quality window washing, pressure cleaning,<br />
carpet washing, building soft wash.<br />
Martin Earl House Wash<br />
Call 0405 583 305<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>-based owner on site at all<br />
times. No travellers or uninsured<br />
casuals on your property.<br />
CONCRETING<br />
Pavecrete – All Concrete<br />
Services<br />
Call Phil 0418 772 799<br />
pavecrete@iinet.net.au<br />
Established locally 1995. Driveways plus<br />
– Council Accredited. Excavation service.<br />
ELECTRICAL<br />
Eamon Dowling Electrical<br />
Call 0410 457 373<br />
For all electrical, phone, TV and data<br />
needs. Local business. Quality service<br />
guaranteed.<br />
FLOOR COVERINGS<br />
Blue Tongue Carpets<br />
Call Stephan 9979 7292<br />
Family owned and run. Carpet, rugs,<br />
runners, timber, bamboo, vinyl, tiles<br />
& laminates. Open 6 days.<br />
FLOOR SANDING<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Eco Floor Sanding<br />
Call 0425 376986<br />
Floor sanding & polishing; staining &<br />
lime washing; installation & repairs;<br />
rejuvenation; decking and outdoor<br />
timber. Call now to arrange your free<br />
quote.<br />
54 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
GARDENS<br />
Graham Brooks<br />
Call 0412 281 580<br />
Tree pruning and removals. Reports<br />
regarding DA tree management,<br />
arborist reports.<br />
Precision Tree Services<br />
Call Adam 0410 736 105<br />
Adam Bridger; professional tree<br />
care by qualified arborists and tree<br />
surgeons.<br />
Special Branch Tree Services<br />
Call Jason 0439 964 538<br />
Qualified arborist; 20 years’ experience<br />
all aspects of tree work Avalon<br />
and surrounds. Fully insured. Call to<br />
arrange quote.<br />
Trades & Services<br />
Advertise your<br />
Business in<br />
Trades<br />
& Services<br />
section<br />
Phone<br />
0438 123 096<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 55
Trades & Services<br />
Trades & Services<br />
GUTTERS & ROOFING<br />
ABC Seamless<br />
Call 9748 3022<br />
Local roofing & guttering experts.<br />
Free quotes. 40 years’ industry<br />
experience. Fully licensed, insured &<br />
extensive warranties.<br />
Aussie Gutter Services<br />
Call Henry 0409 130808<br />
Local, reliable and punctual service<br />
7 days a week; fully insured.<br />
Cloud9 G&R<br />
Call Tommy 0447 999 929<br />
Prompt and reliable service; gutter<br />
cleaning and installation, leak<br />
detection, roof installation and painting.<br />
Also roof repairs specialist.<br />
KITCHENS<br />
Seabreeze Kitchens<br />
Call 9938 5477<br />
Specialists in all kitchen needs; design,<br />
fitting, consultation. Excellent trades.<br />
MASSAGE & FITNESS<br />
Francois Naef/Osteopath<br />
Call Francois 9918 2288<br />
Diagnosis, treatment and prevention<br />
for back pain and sciatica, sports<br />
injuries, muscle soreness, pregnancyrelated<br />
pain, imbalance.<br />
Avalon Physiotherapy<br />
Call 9918 3373<br />
Provide specialist treatment for neck &<br />
back pain, sports injuries, orthopaedic<br />
problems.<br />
Fix + Flex Pilates & Physio<br />
Call Jen 0404 804 441<br />
Private & Group Equipment Pilates &<br />
Physio sessions (max 3 per class).<br />
PAINTING<br />
Contrast Colour<br />
Call 0431 004 421<br />
Locals Josef and Richard offer a quality<br />
service; tidy and reliable, they’ll<br />
help you choose the best type of paint<br />
for the job.<br />
Modern Colour<br />
Call 0406 150 555<br />
Simon Bergin offers painting and<br />
decorating; clean, tidy, quality detail<br />
you will notice. Dependable and on<br />
time.<br />
AJJ Painting & Decorating<br />
Call 0418 116 700<br />
Andrew is a master painter with 30<br />
years’ experience. Domestic and commercial;<br />
reasonable rates, free quotes.<br />
PEST CONTROL<br />
Predator Pest Control<br />
Call 0417 276 962<br />
predatorpestcontrol.com.au<br />
Environmental services at their best. Comprehensive<br />
control. Eliminate all manner of<br />
pests. They provide a 24-hour service.<br />
PLUMBING<br />
Nick Anderson Plumbing<br />
Call Nick 0411 251 256<br />
Specialist in gasfitting, drainage<br />
and plumbing. Complete service,<br />
competitive rates. Local and reliable<br />
– free quotes.<br />
Pure Plumbing Professionals<br />
Call 9056 8166<br />
Zero dollars call-out – and you approve<br />
the price before they begin. 24/7 Emergency<br />
Service. 10% pensioner discount.<br />
RUBBISH REMOVAL<br />
One 2 Dump<br />
Call Josh 0450 712 779<br />
Seven-days-a-week pick-up service<br />
includes general household rubbish,<br />
construction, commercial plus<br />
vegetation. Also car removals.<br />
UPHOLSTERY<br />
Luxafoam North<br />
Call 9999 5567<br />
Local specialists in all aspects of<br />
outdoor & indoor seating.<br />
Custom service, expert advice.<br />
Essyou Design<br />
Call Susan 0422 466 880<br />
Specialist in day bed and outdoor<br />
areas. Reliable local service. Offering<br />
domestic & commercial.<br />
WELLNESS<br />
Piria Coleman<br />
Call Piria 0490 499 963<br />
Learn Tai Chi and Qigong, gentle forms<br />
of exercise that are both relaxing and<br />
energizing. Group classes; private<br />
training by request. Piriacoleman.com<br />
DISCLAIMER: The editorial and advertising content in<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Life has been provided by a number of sources.<br />
Any opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the<br />
Editor or Publisher of <strong>Pittwater</strong> Life and no responsibility<br />
is taken for the accuracy of the information contained<br />
within. Readers should make their own enquiries directly<br />
to any organisations or businesses prior to making any<br />
plans or taking any action.<br />
56 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Advertise your<br />
Business in<br />
Trades<br />
& Services<br />
section<br />
Phone<br />
0438 123 096<br />
Trades & Services<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 57
the<br />
good<br />
life<br />
Showtime<br />
Showtime<br />
clubs & pubs 60<br />
food<br />
crossword<br />
gardening<br />
travel<br />
64<br />
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73<br />
DIVERSE RANGE OF ACTS: The inaugural Sydney Folk Festival will feature the likes of (l-r) The Button Collective,<br />
Sirocco, Traditional Graffiti (featuring Avalon’s Ian Macintosh) and Warren Fahey (below).<br />
ʻNext Gen of Folk’ theme<br />
for first Sydney Festival<br />
Fifty years on from the muddy images associated<br />
with the iconic Woodstock Festival in the<br />
US, Sydney will host its first dedicated folk<br />
music festival in <strong>August</strong> – and no-one’s feet will<br />
get wet!<br />
At four great venues in Pitt Street over two<br />
days and three nights (<strong>August</strong> 16-18), the heart<br />
of Sydney will see more than 60 acts comprising<br />
225 talented performers in a massive celebration<br />
of the best and most adventurous in today’s new<br />
generation of folk.<br />
Timed to coincide with the<br />
50th anniversary of Woodstock,<br />
organisers say topnotch<br />
musicians aged from<br />
9 to 90 will thrill audiences<br />
with a wild rainbow of sounds.<br />
You’ll hear fresh young world<br />
beats and original voices,<br />
traditional music (ballads,<br />
shanties, blues, bush music,<br />
bluegrass and newgrass) and<br />
way beyond to Afro funk,<br />
Celtic punk and more.<br />
Artistic director, well-known<br />
Aussie cultural historian and performer Warren<br />
Fahey says this festival will “totally blow away”<br />
any outdated stereotypes of ‘old school’ folk.<br />
“We’ve prepared a joyous celebration of all the<br />
musical genres that sit under the big umbrella<br />
of ‘folk’,” Warren said. “Storytelling – colonial,<br />
indigenous, multicultural – is central… but so is<br />
participation.<br />
“There’s dance, poetry, theatre, food and<br />
drink… and much more. The entire line-up is<br />
‘Aussie’ and being in the heart of the city – every<br />
venue is within five minutes’ walk of Sydney<br />
Town Hall.”<br />
The festival theme is ‘The Next Generation Of<br />
Folk’. With an emphasis on youth, the performers<br />
will range from extraordinary talent, 10-year<br />
old Allegra Dunning and <strong>2019</strong> Young Folk Award<br />
winner Cowra’s Josh Maynard, to legends like<br />
internationally-acclaimed singer-songwriter Eric<br />
Bogle – who will sing his much-loved hits and<br />
submit to a BBQ ‘grilling’ by No.1 fan and legendary<br />
Northern Beaches author Tom Keneally.<br />
The festival will even go a little ‘mellow’ with a<br />
musical hippy tribute in honour of the Woodstock<br />
anniversary.<br />
One of the most exciting aspects of the festival<br />
will be its use of creative venues. Its main hubs<br />
will be the City Tattersall’s Club; the historic<br />
750-seat Pitt Street Uniting Church (a John Bibbdesigned<br />
‘fire and brimstone’ church built in<br />
1841); the Edinburgh Castle<br />
Hotel (1885) and venues within<br />
the Sydney Mechanics School<br />
of Arts (established 1833).<br />
President of organisers Folk<br />
Federation NSW, Brian Jonathon,<br />
said a truly urban folk<br />
festival was long overdue.<br />
“There are scores of<br />
regional folk festivals across<br />
the country, where artists and<br />
audiences have to ‘go bush’<br />
for a rough (and often soggy)<br />
experience. But we thought<br />
it was time to bring the rich<br />
diversity of contemporary folk to town.”<br />
“A unique musical adventure for every taste,<br />
weekend or day ticket holders will be able to<br />
explore the musical offerings with several performances<br />
programmed concurrently,” Brian said.<br />
In addition to headliner Bogle, major names<br />
include Traditional Graffiti (featuring Avalon’s<br />
Ian ‘The Pump’ Macintosh), Mara!, Chaika, Shelley’s<br />
Murder Boys, Eric Avery, the Willing Ponies,<br />
the Bottlers, the Last Aurochs, Kejafi, Firrin, 40<br />
Degrees South, the Shanty Club, Señor Cabales,<br />
Wang Yue Chinese Ensemble, Riley Lee & Cliona<br />
Molins, the Mutual Acquaintances, the Button<br />
Collective, Moussa Diakite & Wassado, Keith Potger,<br />
Dead Men Talking, Sirocco and the Roweth<br />
Band.<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
For tickets, more info including artist<br />
details and the full program visit sydneyfolkfestival.com.au<br />
58 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> The Local Voice Since 1991
Puppy-etry tells<br />
tale of Picasso and<br />
his ‘naughty’ dog<br />
A<br />
wild and adventurous<br />
story about iconic 20th<br />
century artist Pablo<br />
Picasso and his naughty<br />
sausage dog, Picasso and His<br />
Dog, is coming to Belrose’s<br />
Glen Street Theatre for three<br />
days only in <strong>August</strong>.<br />
Ideal for children aged<br />
4-plus and their families, this<br />
delightful show is inspired by<br />
a true story – it celebrates the<br />
special friendship between<br />
the great artist and his dog.<br />
In 1957, an elongated sausage<br />
dog called Lump arrived<br />
at Picasso’s villa; he looked<br />
into the deep brown eyes of<br />
Picasso and decided he was<br />
Performing together throughout<br />
Australia for over a decade<br />
to great acclaim, international<br />
and Australian classical concert<br />
pianist Simon Tedeschi and<br />
renowned Australian jazz pianist<br />
Kevin Hunt will present a new<br />
program of irresistible works at<br />
Bayview early next month.<br />
This two-piano treat when “classical and jazz<br />
duck and weave in a way that feels just right”<br />
will be centred around Hunt’s Painted Piano<br />
suite, a moving work celebrating connections<br />
between indigenous youth and their country<br />
and the joy and the gift of creating music within<br />
Former Avalon resident Shauna<br />
Jensen has teamed with<br />
Newport producer Craig Bodinnar<br />
to stage a unique concert<br />
in honour of the late soul icon<br />
Aretha Franklin this month.<br />
Vocalist Jensen will deliver<br />
‘The Aretha Franklin Songbook’<br />
plus a collection of hits commemorating<br />
the best of 60 years<br />
of Motown at the Sydney Opera<br />
House on Friday <strong>August</strong> 30.<br />
Bodinnar said Shauna will<br />
be accompanied by an all-star<br />
10-piece band comprising<br />
a collection of long-term<br />
beaches residents.<br />
“We’ll be rediscovering<br />
Aretha Franklin’s legendary<br />
songbook from the early jazz<br />
days with ‘Misty’ and ‘What<br />
A Difference A Day Makes’ to<br />
the Grammy Award-winning<br />
‘Respect’, ‘Think’, and ’I Say A<br />
Little Prayer’,” he said.<br />
The concert will then move<br />
through the decades, encompassing<br />
Franklin’s iconic<br />
duets with George Michael (‘I<br />
Knew You Were Waiting’) and<br />
Annie Lennox (‘Sisters Are Doing<br />
It For Themselves’) before<br />
finishing the journey with<br />
‘Freeway Of Love’, ‘Deeper<br />
home. And so began a great<br />
love between a man and<br />
his dog – a friendship that<br />
spanned 17 years.<br />
But this was more than<br />
a friendship, as Lump also<br />
became an artistic muse for<br />
Picasso, appearing in more<br />
than 50 of his artworks.<br />
This work is a unique<br />
children’s puppet play that<br />
combines the art and story<br />
of Picasso with the extraordinary<br />
poems of Chilean poet<br />
Pablo Neruda and the text of<br />
Picasso’s contemporary and<br />
lifelong friend, Gertrude Stein.<br />
It is a refreshingly original<br />
work, wild and adventurous.<br />
Initially set in Picasso’s<br />
studio in the South of France,<br />
the story travels across time<br />
and space in a series of imaginative<br />
leaps.<br />
It uses puppetry to transform<br />
the detailed set design<br />
as the performers play with<br />
scale, shadow puppetry,<br />
visual illusions, painting and<br />
sculpting on stage.<br />
Using puppetry, set transformations<br />
and the making<br />
Renowned pianists returning to Bayview<br />
Tribute to Aretha Franklin<br />
DELIGHTFUL:<br />
Picasso and His Dog.<br />
our communities.<br />
It will be performed alongside<br />
music from Bach and<br />
Debussy to Ellington, Monk,<br />
Oscar Peterson and Gershwin.<br />
Amazingly priced tickets<br />
(only $25, students under 18,<br />
$10 or free when accompanied<br />
by an adult) are selling fast<br />
for this concert at St Luke’s Grammar Bayview<br />
Campus, on Friday September 6 at 8pm.<br />
Bookings and further information peninsulamusicclub.com.au<br />
or 0413 077 749.<br />
A sparkling wine supper will be served after<br />
the performance.<br />
Love’ and ‘Natural Woman’.<br />
Opening the night and<br />
celebrating the 60th anniversary<br />
of Motown, the band will<br />
work through hits including<br />
‘My Girl’, ‘Heatwave’, ‘Signed<br />
Sealed Delivered’, ‘Dancing In<br />
The Street’.<br />
of live-art onstage, Picasso<br />
and His Dog is a visually<br />
stunning and delightfully fun<br />
work for all ages.<br />
There will be two matinee<br />
performances daily (10.30am<br />
and 1.30pm) on Thursday<br />
29th, Friday 30th and Sunday<br />
31st; tickets $23 each, $95<br />
family-of-five, kids under 2<br />
free (seated on parent’s lap).<br />
Bookings glenstreet.com.au<br />
or 9975 1455.<br />
Best of<br />
Baroque<br />
‘B<br />
est of Baroque’, featuring<br />
the music of Vivaldi,<br />
Pergolisi and CPE Bach, is<br />
the theme of the Manly<br />
Warringah Choir’s winter<br />
concert in Manly on Sunday<br />
<strong>August</strong> 11.<br />
Renowned local flautist<br />
Bridget Bolliger will astound<br />
the audience with her brilliant<br />
performance in CPE<br />
Bach’s Flute Concerto.<br />
Vivaldi’s Gloria score is always<br />
a great favourite, with<br />
the popularized opening full<br />
of infectious enthusiasm.<br />
Although a lesser-known<br />
composer from the Baroque<br />
period, Pergolesi’s featured<br />
work (Magnificat) will still<br />
be recalled by the audience,<br />
having been used widely in<br />
films and documentaries.<br />
The choir will be accompanied<br />
by an orchestra<br />
and soloists, conducted by<br />
Carlos Alvarados.<br />
Concert starts 2.30pm at<br />
Cardinal Cerretti Chapel,<br />
Darley Rd, Manly; tickets<br />
$20-$45 (add $5 for<br />
premium seats). Bookings<br />
manywarringahchoir.org.au<br />
or 0411 777 738.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 59<br />
Showtime
Dining Clubs & Guide Pubs<br />
Clubs & Pubs<br />
<strong>August</strong>'s best functions, music gigs, events and dining news...<br />
40 YEARS OF<br />
HITS: Jacob<br />
Cook, Peter<br />
Gray, Greedy<br />
Smith, Martin<br />
Cilia and<br />
Craig Gordon.<br />
Make a Mental note<br />
to catch Greedy & co<br />
Frontman and last performing<br />
original member of ’70s,<br />
’80s and ’90s hitmakers Mental<br />
As Anything, Greedy Smith, is a<br />
man on a mission: to reconnect<br />
people with their youth.<br />
Which isn’t too hard when<br />
you’re responsible for the<br />
soundtrack of the lives of generations<br />
of locals, thanks to 25<br />
top-40 hits spanning more than<br />
40 years of radio airplay.<br />
Greedy and current band<br />
members, drummer Jacob<br />
Cook (nine years), guitarists<br />
Martin Cilia (five years) and<br />
Craig Gordon (three years) plus<br />
bass guitarist Peter Gray (18<br />
months) bring their infectious<br />
power-pop/rock to <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
RSL on Saturday <strong>August</strong> 10.<br />
Greedy explained co-founder<br />
Martin Plaza, although not part<br />
of the “on the road” Mentals<br />
line-up, was still an integral<br />
part of the band – he contributed<br />
to their latest 5-track EP<br />
and still competed with Greedy<br />
to come up with new material.<br />
“Just as it’s always been,”<br />
Greedy said. “Martin has been<br />
fighting cancer for six years;<br />
he played his last show with us<br />
two-and-a-half years ago but<br />
he’s doing well.”<br />
Greedy, who has supplied vocals,<br />
keyboard and harmonica<br />
to shape the Mentals’ sound for<br />
43 years, always looks forward<br />
to playing on the Northern<br />
Beaches.<br />
He doesn’t have an in-depth<br />
connection with <strong>Pittwater</strong>, but<br />
quips: “I painted the men’s toilets<br />
at the Florida Guest House<br />
in Palm Beach during school<br />
holidays in 1972!”<br />
Greedy said the Mentals’ set<br />
list didn’t change much from<br />
gig to gig.<br />
“We have a large core of<br />
songs that must be played.<br />
These were all hits on radio at<br />
the time of their release,” he<br />
said (referring to the likes of<br />
‘The Nips Are Getting Bigger’,<br />
‘Come Around’, ‘If You Leave<br />
Me Can I Come Too’ and ‘Live<br />
It Up’.<br />
“Apart from that we rotate<br />
some of our more recent<br />
songs. We find the new ones<br />
very useful in highlighting the<br />
effect of familiarity on people’s<br />
immediate response.<br />
“At <strong>Pittwater</strong> RSL we’ll try to<br />
include most of our 25 top-40<br />
tunes, a couple of covers and a<br />
couple of new ones. All of these<br />
are available on AT PLAY, our<br />
live album released this year.”<br />
He added the Mentals would<br />
continue touring for the rest<br />
of the year and would release<br />
their 40th anniversary Classic<br />
Recordings collection on a vinyl<br />
double album, with more original<br />
songs on the agenda too.<br />
When asked, Greedy noted<br />
the band’s ‘ryder’ (request list)<br />
at concerts had never really<br />
echoed hard-core rock ’n’ roll.<br />
“We never went too hard,<br />
except for whisky... and that<br />
has since been knocked off the<br />
list,” he said.<br />
“Nowadays it’s a tray of sandwiches,<br />
six beers, a wine, soft<br />
drink and water – and I’ll be on<br />
the tea as usual!” – Nigel Wall<br />
* Tickets available at pittwaterrsl.com.au<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> RSL<br />
Assorted eateries<br />
82 Mona Vale Rd Mona Vale<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> RSL has<br />
introduced a new $10<br />
Member Menu, available<br />
for lunch from Monday to<br />
Friday. Did you know the<br />
Club’s Glasshouse Eatery<br />
is a finalist in the NSW<br />
Awards for Excellence<br />
AGAIN for the second year<br />
running? Book your table<br />
now to find out what all<br />
the buzz is about! <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
RSL is the community<br />
Club, with great beer –<br />
offering members $4 Great<br />
Northern Schooners all<br />
day, every day!<br />
And they love their<br />
Seniors! Once a month,<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> RSL presents a<br />
FREE ‘Love your Seniors’<br />
Show. Come and Join in<br />
the fun on Monday 26th<br />
<strong>August</strong> from 11am-12:30pm.<br />
They even provide a<br />
complimentary morning tea<br />
for everyone. Call the Club<br />
today to RSVP!<br />
Are you a footy fan?<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> RSL will be<br />
showing the Bledisloe<br />
Cup ‘Loud and Live’ in<br />
the Distillery Bar on the<br />
10th and 17th of <strong>August</strong>.<br />
Bring your jerseys to watch<br />
Australia and New Zealand<br />
go head to head.<br />
Families are loving<br />
the indoor playground in<br />
Potter’s Café. Relax with<br />
great cup of coffee and<br />
chat with friends while the<br />
kids play. If you’re looking<br />
for something to do on a<br />
Tuesday, join in for ‘Toddler<br />
Tuesday’ from 10.30am;<br />
it’s a fun day for the little<br />
ones with face painting,<br />
interactive story time,<br />
balloon fun plus more – and<br />
it’s FREE!<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> RSL is the upper<br />
Northern Beaches’ premier<br />
entertainment venue. They<br />
have live music every Friday<br />
and Saturday evening as well<br />
as ticketed shows. Mental As<br />
Anything will be performing<br />
live on <strong>August</strong> 10 – but<br />
hurry, tickets are selling fast.<br />
pittwaterrsl.com.au<br />
Avalon<br />
Beach RSL<br />
Bistro 61<br />
1 Bowling Green Lane<br />
Avalon Beach<br />
Avalon Beach RSL’s Bistro 61<br />
is a great place to head for<br />
a local meal, offering tasty<br />
modern Australian dishes at<br />
affordable prices.<br />
Take advantage of their<br />
new #AVRSL MEMBER MON-<br />
DAY. This brand new weekly<br />
promotion includes $5 drinks<br />
all day for members, plus a<br />
$15 Roast Meal special (lunch<br />
and dinner) and $10 chicken<br />
wings available to all!<br />
There are great music acts<br />
in <strong>August</strong>, kicking off with<br />
longtime local favourites<br />
Nothing Too Serious on Friday<br />
<strong>August</strong> 2 and Nativosoul on<br />
Friday <strong>August</strong> 16.<br />
That Old Chestnut return<br />
for a free gig on Saturday<br />
<strong>August</strong> 24. They're sculpting<br />
a new musical genre with<br />
their quirky reworkings of the<br />
music of Guns and Roses, Soft<br />
Cell... even ACDC!<br />
Then there's the Monthly<br />
Karaoke Party on Friday <strong>August</strong><br />
30 with free entry from<br />
9pm<br />
And now available for free<br />
download – the new Avalon<br />
Beach RSL Club App. Earn<br />
rewards, prizes and member<br />
points by logging in daily.<br />
See what's on, check out<br />
events, view menus and more!<br />
Don't miss the Super Sunday<br />
raffle on the first Sunday<br />
of the month – there's more<br />
than $1500 in prizes.<br />
Bistro 61 is open for breakfast<br />
from 9am to 11.30am.<br />
Open for lunch and dinner<br />
seven days, with extensive<br />
outdoor dining areas, Bistro<br />
61 offers a variety of specials<br />
(lunch and dinner) during the<br />
week, including $12 tacos<br />
(Tues), $15 Chicken Schnitzels<br />
(Wed), 2-4-1 pizzas (Thurs),<br />
and a $20 burger + beer (Fri).<br />
Seniors are well catered<br />
for – there are daily Seniors<br />
specials, including beer-battered<br />
flathead – plus they do<br />
a $5 kids meals on Sundays!<br />
(There’s a playground, too.)<br />
avalonbeachrsl.com.au<br />
60 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Royal Motor<br />
Yacht Club<br />
Salt Cove on <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
46 Prince Alfred<br />
Parade, Newport<br />
The Royal Motor Yacht Club,<br />
Broken Bay was officially<br />
opened in 1928. Over the<br />
past 91 years, RMYC has<br />
grown from a modest twostorey<br />
establishment into<br />
a magnificent clubhouse<br />
sitting proudly on the<br />
shores of Sydney’s beautiful<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>. Become a member<br />
today and start enjoying all<br />
the RMYC has to offer.<br />
RMYC’s restaurant Salt<br />
Cove on <strong>Pittwater</strong> is under<br />
Executive Head Chef Jeff<br />
Turnbull. It offers affordable<br />
meals and generous servings<br />
including a variety of starters,<br />
seafood, burgers, grills,<br />
salads and woodfired pizzas.<br />
Friday night music kicks<br />
off in the Lounge Bar (level<br />
1) from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.<br />
There are some great acts<br />
during <strong>August</strong> including<br />
Krishna (Aug 2); Bel Woods<br />
(Aug 9); Phil Simmons (Aug<br />
16); Jack Evans (Aug 23); and<br />
Jack Derwin (Aug 30).<br />
Waterfront Weddings<br />
Located on the shores<br />
of <strong>Pittwater</strong> on Sydney’s<br />
Northern Beaches, the Royal<br />
Motor Yacht Club offers a<br />
spectacular setting for both<br />
your wedding ceremony and<br />
wedding reception. Contact<br />
Michelle on (02) 9997 5511 or<br />
email michelleb@royalmotor.<br />
com.au<br />
There are so many reasons to<br />
drop into RMYC and experience<br />
the most idyllic location<br />
on <strong>Pittwater</strong>!<br />
Become a member<br />
Social members – just $180<br />
Boat Owner membership –<br />
$620 (initial joining fee $500)<br />
royalmotor.com.au<br />
Club Palm Beach<br />
Barrenjoey Bistro<br />
1087 Barrenjoey Road,<br />
Palm Beach<br />
In <strong>August</strong>, make your<br />
way to Club Palm Beach,<br />
located a short stroll from<br />
Palm Beach Wharf, for great<br />
dining for the whole family.<br />
Head down on Thursdays<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
for a lobster mornay feast<br />
(plus chips and salad) for just<br />
$29.50pp ($39.50 non-members).<br />
Also, enjoy a Works<br />
Burger and schooner for just<br />
$15 every Friday.<br />
Every Wednesday there's<br />
family trivia from 7pm, with<br />
great prizes!<br />
Grab some friends and<br />
enjoy their Christmas In July<br />
Cruise & Lunch, with a cruise<br />
on <strong>Pittwater</strong> plus traditional<br />
Christmas roast and vegetable<br />
for $33pp. Book now!<br />
Barrenjoey Bistro is<br />
open for lunch (11.30am to<br />
2.30pm) and dinner (6pm<br />
to 9pm) seven days. The<br />
Bistro serves top-value a la<br />
carte meals plus daily $13.50<br />
specials of roasts (Mondays),<br />
rump steak with chips and<br />
salad (Tuesdays), chicken<br />
schnitzel with chips and salad<br />
(Wednesdays), homemade<br />
gourmet pies with chips and<br />
salad (Thursdays) and tempura<br />
fish and chips with salad<br />
(Fridays), except public hols.<br />
The Members’ lucky badge<br />
draw is held Wednesday and<br />
Friday night (every 30 mins<br />
between 5pm to 7pm), and<br />
jackpots by $100 each week.<br />
Enjoy Trivia Night from<br />
5.30pm on Wednesdays, plus<br />
Bingo 10am on Fridays.<br />
The club has a courtesy<br />
bus that makes regular runs<br />
Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays<br />
from 4.30pm to 9pm.<br />
Ring to book a pick-up.<br />
clubpalmbeach.com.au<br />
Dee Why<br />
RSL Club<br />
932 <strong>Pittwater</strong> Rd, Dee Why<br />
Located in the heart of the<br />
Northern Beaches, this club<br />
boasts contemporary surroundings<br />
and an expansive<br />
menu offering across its<br />
bars, restaurants and function<br />
spaces.<br />
Every Saturday in <strong>August</strong>,<br />
the Showroom is transforming<br />
into a Sensational Seafood<br />
Buffet which includes oysters,<br />
prawns, half lobster, green<br />
lip mussels, baby octopus an<br />
assortment of hot and cold<br />
dishes and dessert, from only<br />
$75 per person.<br />
The club also presents<br />
terrific entertainment acts. In<br />
<strong>August</strong>, catch: 1979, The Hits<br />
(9th, $35); and A Tribute to<br />
Woodstock (16th, $29).<br />
The Bistro on Level 2 is<br />
a great place for an enjoyable<br />
and affordable lunch or<br />
dinner with classic café and<br />
pub-style food.<br />
At ‘The Asian’, you can<br />
choose from a menu showcasing<br />
a variety of wok dishes<br />
from Hong Kong, Malaysia,<br />
Singapore and Japan.<br />
Enjoy the heart of Italian<br />
culture with antipasto, pizza,<br />
pasta and contemporary<br />
cuisine Italian at Aqua Bar &<br />
Dining.<br />
(Flame Lounge & Dining<br />
is currently closed and will<br />
relaunch in late 2020 as part<br />
of the club’s current redevelopment.)<br />
Dee Why RSL offers a twoyear<br />
membership for $5.<br />
Check out their website for<br />
the latest menus and specials.<br />
deewhyrsl.com.au<br />
Park House<br />
Food Merchants<br />
2 Park St, Mona Vale<br />
Park House continues to<br />
build a name for its great<br />
food offerings, with a<br />
variety of experiences and<br />
spaces in <strong>August</strong>.<br />
Every day their Restaurant<br />
menu offers mouthwatering<br />
dishes such as Californian-inspired<br />
Guacamole,<br />
Burrata that bursts with flavour<br />
and Snapper Ceviche<br />
drizzled with jalapeño oil.<br />
From local waters, favourites<br />
include Spaghetti<br />
Prawns with mint, parsley,<br />
chilli, butter and lemon; and<br />
Whole Snapper with asparagus<br />
and white miso hollandaise<br />
sauce.<br />
If you are someone who<br />
loves steak, you will be impressed<br />
with their selection<br />
from the grill, sourced from<br />
areas including Armidale and<br />
the Riverina.<br />
For dessert, their lime tart<br />
brûlée is served with in-house<br />
sour cream Chantilly and pistachio<br />
praline. It’s a perfect<br />
balance of flavours to top off<br />
a memorable evening in Food<br />
Merchants Restaurant.<br />
parkhousefoodandliquor.<br />
com.au<br />
This Month...<br />
Talent unearthed<br />
Local singers, musicians,<br />
dancers, duos, comedians will<br />
vie for cash prizes early this<br />
month at Kave Bar Barrenjoey<br />
Rd Newport. Details Facebook.<br />
One for the lads<br />
Sydney Darts World Champion<br />
Challenge featuring the<br />
UKs Scotty ‘Dog’ Mitchell and<br />
other top darters on stage at<br />
Narrabeen RSL on Friday 16<br />
from 7pm.<br />
Kate Lush Band<br />
Catch some fresh modern<br />
blues, R&B, soul and funk with<br />
attitude when Kate Lush Band<br />
hits the Co-op Club Church<br />
Point on Sunday 18 from 3.30-<br />
6.30pm.<br />
Back to the ’80s<br />
Dance and sing to the big hits<br />
from the decade of big hair<br />
with the Never Ending ’80s<br />
Band at Dee Why RSL on Friday<br />
23 at 8.30pm. Tickets $35.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 61<br />
Dining Clubs & Guide Pubs
Tasty Morsels<br />
Tasty Morsels<br />
Racer’s new home<br />
Local foodie Jeremy Drayton<br />
is reflecting on 13 satisfying<br />
years in Mona Vale – first with<br />
The Inch café which morphed<br />
into Café Racer Co a few years<br />
ago.<br />
But it’s not all over; while<br />
no longer on site at Village<br />
Green (above), he will remain an<br />
integral part of the local coffee<br />
scene, having moved his shingle<br />
to Park Street and launched<br />
a new espresso bar serving<br />
the same creamy Campos<br />
coffee that Café Racer Co was<br />
renowned for.<br />
Jeremy recalls The Inch started<br />
as a Council lease of a small box<br />
on top of the Village Green, in a<br />
space between the two sides of<br />
Mona Vale.<br />
“To make it commercially<br />
viable we added a sailcloth roof<br />
structure, new service windows,<br />
a liquor licence and a long-term<br />
community hub approach,” he<br />
said.<br />
Additional seating and sevenday<br />
trading soon followed.<br />
“We were looking to activate<br />
the streetscape, help restart the<br />
chamber of commerce, add live<br />
music, art and markets to the<br />
town centre,” Jeremy said. “We<br />
were there to assist local groups<br />
and were heavily involved in<br />
fundraisers, both locally and<br />
abroad.<br />
“We always considered<br />
ourselves to be a strong<br />
stakeholder for the Town<br />
Centre and place planning<br />
considerations for a unique site<br />
that in a sense was the bridge<br />
between two sides of the village.<br />
“Finding out we haven’t been<br />
successful in renewing our lease<br />
means big changes and new<br />
adventures... and we’ve always<br />
loved that.<br />
“We’ve been a part of so many<br />
lives over 13 years... it’s been a<br />
privilege and we’re excited about<br />
the next step – our espresso bar<br />
just around the corner in Park<br />
St (next to Mona Vale Medical<br />
Centre, right) then perhaps a<br />
catered boat on <strong>Pittwater</strong>, or<br />
maybe even a wine bar.<br />
“A huge thank-you to everyone<br />
who has supported us along the<br />
way.”<br />
* Follow on Instagram @<br />
caferacerco<br />
Need a hand?<br />
With his business downsized<br />
Jeremy is hoping to find team<br />
member Ross a position with another<br />
local daytime operator.<br />
“Ross spent time with Coffee Club<br />
before us and is assisted by Job Support,”<br />
he said. “He is an amazing guy,<br />
typically working four days a week in<br />
daytime shifts assisting the kitchen<br />
in washing up and helping the chefs.<br />
He’s a great team player – any local<br />
food operator that would like a huge<br />
uplift in team culture and who has<br />
room for a wage-assisted employee<br />
please email jeremy@caferacer.co or<br />
contact www.jobsupport.com.au.”<br />
62 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Discover it,<br />
eat it, Lovat!<br />
Newport has a new modern Australian Brasserie,<br />
with the original owners of Barbuto at<br />
Narrabeen, Doug and Kylie, opening Restaurant<br />
Lovat in the former Sotto Sopra space on the<br />
southern tip of the village strip.<br />
Doug’s carefully curated menu will focus serving<br />
great steaks and fresh local seafood, taking flavours<br />
and techniques from Europe but also with a nod to his<br />
Japanese heritage.<br />
Their menu reveals treats including fried zucchini<br />
flowers stuffed with jalapeno cream cheese & aioli;<br />
locally smoked chorizo with house-made pickles &<br />
chimichurri; barramundi with peas, spinach & Kombu<br />
bisque; salmon, roast brocolini, mint, lentil dressing<br />
& smoked eggplant; beef tenderloin with mushroom<br />
butter, fries & jus; and mango sorbet with yogurt<br />
mousse, crumbled meringue and raspberry.<br />
Kylie said the pair aimed to deliver the feel of “a<br />
neighbourhood restaurant, with crowd-pleasing food at<br />
affordable prices”.<br />
Kylie’s drinks list will feature lesser-known<br />
favourites with some big-name wines, with a<br />
cocktail list curated by Nathan Cannon (ex-Alpha<br />
and Manly Pavilion).<br />
* Reservations lovat.com.au or call 9997 7009.<br />
Tasty Dining Morsels Guide<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 63
Food Life<br />
The menu is set for a<br />
3-course winter feast!<br />
We’re smack bang in the middle of the cooler months –<br />
isn’t it nice to stay in on the weekends, invite a few good<br />
friends over for a delicious home-cooked meal with a<br />
few bottles of good wine? If that’s your idea of easy entertaining,<br />
I have put together a menu that will warm all… from the inside<br />
out. (All invitations care of <strong>Pittwater</strong> Life please!)<br />
Janelle’s Tip: You can<br />
replace Step 1 with 6<br />
cups cooked quality fish<br />
stock, available from<br />
seafood shops.<br />
with Janelle Bloom<br />
Food Life<br />
Pancetta arancini<br />
Makes 24<br />
1L (4 cups) salt-reduced chicken<br />
stock<br />
60g butter<br />
1 leek, finely chopped<br />
2 garlic cloves, crushed<br />
150g sliced pancetta, finely<br />
chopped<br />
1½ cups arborio rice<br />
125ml (½ cup) dry white wine<br />
1/3 cup frozen peas<br />
50g parmesan, grated<br />
50g provolone, grated<br />
¼ cup chopped basil<br />
3/4 cup plain flour<br />
2 cups dried (packaged)<br />
breadcrumbs<br />
3 eggs, lightly whisked<br />
Vegetable oil, to deep fry<br />
spicy tomato sauce, to serve<br />
1. Bring the stock to the boil<br />
in a medium saucepan over<br />
high heat. Reduce heat to<br />
Janelle’s Tip: You can<br />
cook the arancini ahead<br />
and warm on a wire rack<br />
in a 180C fan-forced oven<br />
for 10-15 minutes.<br />
low and all stock to simmer.<br />
2.Melt butter in a saucepan over<br />
medium heat. Add leek, garlic<br />
and pancetta, stirring, for 5<br />
minutes until soft. Stir in the<br />
rice. Cook stirring 3 minutes.<br />
Add the wine and stir until the<br />
liquid is absorbed.<br />
3.Add 1 ladleful (about ½ cup)<br />
of simmering stock, stir<br />
until the liquid is absorbed.<br />
Continue, adding stock, 1<br />
ladleful at a time, for 20<br />
minutes until rice is tender<br />
yet firm. Remove from heat.<br />
Stir in peas, parmesan,<br />
provolone and basil. Season.<br />
Spread the risotto onto a<br />
tray lined with baking paper.<br />
Cover and refrigerate until<br />
cold.<br />
4. Place the flour, eggs and<br />
breadcrumbs into shallow<br />
bowls. Roll tablespoons<br />
of rice mixture into balls,<br />
using damp hands. Roll one<br />
at a time in flour, dip in<br />
egg, then in breadcrumbs,<br />
pressing to coat. Place on a<br />
baking tray in the fridge for<br />
30 minutes to chill.<br />
5.Heat oil to 170°C in a<br />
saucepan or wok over<br />
medium-high heat. Cook<br />
arancini, in batches, turning,<br />
for 6-8 minutes or until<br />
golden. Drain on wire rack.<br />
Serve with spicy tomato<br />
sauce.<br />
Cajun seafood<br />
gumbo with<br />
garlic bread<br />
Serves 6<br />
800g green prawns<br />
5 tbs vegetable oil<br />
1.5 litres water<br />
2/3 cup plain flour<br />
2 brown onions, finely diced<br />
3 stalks celery, diced<br />
1 green capsicum, diced<br />
800g can diced tomatoes<br />
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce<br />
1 tbs Cajun spice<br />
400g blue eye cod, chopped<br />
12 scallops<br />
chopped parsley, garlic bread &<br />
tabasco, to serve<br />
1.Peel and devein prawns,<br />
reserving the heads and<br />
shells. Heat 2 tablespoons<br />
oil in a large saucepan, add<br />
prawn shells and heads. Cook<br />
stirring for 5 minutes until<br />
coloured. Add water and<br />
bring to the boil. Reduce heat<br />
and simmer for 30 minutes,<br />
crushing regularly with a<br />
wooden spoon or potato<br />
masher to extract as much<br />
flavour as possible. Strain,<br />
discarding solids.<br />
2.Meanwhile, heat remaining<br />
3 tablespoons oil in another<br />
64 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
For more recipes go to www.janellebloom.com.au<br />
large saucepan over medium<br />
heat. Add flour, stir often<br />
with a wooden spoon for 20<br />
minutes, until it’s the colour<br />
of dark chocolate, watching it<br />
closely as it can burn quickly.<br />
3.Add onion, cook stirring 3<br />
minutes until soft. Add celery,<br />
capsicum and 1 cup of the<br />
reserved stock. Cover and<br />
cook for 10 minutes, stirring<br />
occasionally, until vegetables<br />
start to soften.<br />
4.Add the remaining stock<br />
and tomatoes, increase heat<br />
to high, bring to the boil,<br />
stirring constantly. Add<br />
Worcestershire sauce and<br />
spice. Simmer 5 minutes.<br />
5.Stir in prawns and fish,<br />
simmer 3 minutes. Remove<br />
from heat, add scallops, cover<br />
and stand 10 minutes. Taste,<br />
season then stir through<br />
parsley. Serve with garlic<br />
bread and tabasco sauce.<br />
Green bean with<br />
sherry vinegar &<br />
sesame<br />
Serves 6<br />
750 green beans, trimmed<br />
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil<br />
2 tbs sherry vinegar<br />
½ tsp caster sugar<br />
3 tsp toasted sesame seeds<br />
1. Bring a large saucepan of<br />
salted water to the boil.<br />
Add green beans. Cover<br />
and cook 1-2 minutes<br />
until bright green and<br />
tender crisp. Drain and<br />
return to the saucepan.<br />
2.Whisk the oil, vinegar<br />
and sugar together until<br />
well combined. Pour over<br />
the beans. Toss gently<br />
until well coated. Remove<br />
to a serving platter,<br />
sprinkle with sesame<br />
seeds. Serve.<br />
Apple & blueberry<br />
coconut crumble<br />
Serves 6<br />
600g (about 3) Granny Smith apples,<br />
peeled, cored<br />
600g (about 3) Pink Lady apples,<br />
peeled, cored<br />
1/3 cup raw sugar<br />
2 cups frozen blueberries<br />
Whipped cream, custard or icecream,<br />
to serve<br />
Crumble topping<br />
1 cup plain flour<br />
½ cup self raising flour<br />
150g butter, chilled, chopped<br />
½ cup brown sugar<br />
½ cup coconut<br />
1 tsp ground cinnamon<br />
Food Life<br />
Janelle’s Tip: If you<br />
don’t have an ovenproof<br />
frying pan, complete<br />
Step 1 then transfer<br />
fruit to a 20cm x 30cm<br />
baking dish. Spoon over<br />
the crumble and bake<br />
20-30 minutes.<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
1.Preheat oven to 180°C. Cut apples<br />
into 2cm cubes. Place into a deep<br />
ovenproof frying pan. Add sugar,<br />
toss to coat. Place over medium<br />
heat. Cover and cook 3-5 minutes<br />
until just start to soften, shaking<br />
pan every minute. Add berries, cook<br />
1 minute. Remove from the heat.<br />
2.To make crumble topping, combine<br />
flours in a large bowl. Add butter,<br />
rub together with fingers until it<br />
resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add<br />
remaining topping ingredients and<br />
rub together until crumble starts to<br />
clump. Sprinkle over the fruit.<br />
3.Transfer to the oven and bake 20<br />
minutes or until topping is golden.<br />
Cool for 5 minutes. Serve warm with<br />
cream, custard or ice-cream.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 65
Food Life<br />
In Season<br />
Leeks<br />
Food Life<br />
Leeks are an edible member<br />
of the lily family. They<br />
have a mild, onion taste<br />
and when cooked slowly<br />
become nice and sweet. In<br />
its raw state, the vegetable<br />
is crunchy and firm. The<br />
edible portions of the leek<br />
are the white base of the<br />
leaves (above the roots and<br />
stem base), the light green<br />
parts, and to a lesser extent<br />
the dark green parts of<br />
the leaves. The dark green<br />
portion is usually discarded<br />
because it has a tough<br />
texture, but it can be sautéed,<br />
or more commonly added to<br />
stock for flavor.<br />
Buying<br />
Look for slender, straight,<br />
firm leeks that have a shiny<br />
outer layer and feel heavy.<br />
The top green leaves should<br />
look fresh, avoid leeks with<br />
a wilted or yellowing top.<br />
Preparation<br />
Cut the dark top off, using only<br />
the white and light green part<br />
of leek. Cut lengthwise and<br />
rinse in a bowl of cold water<br />
to remove the dirt trapped<br />
between the layers. If cooking<br />
leeks whole, trim off dark<br />
green leaves and root end.<br />
Storage<br />
Do not trim or wash before<br />
storing. Wrap leaks in damp<br />
paper towel and place in a<br />
snap lock bag. Seal and store<br />
in the crisper section of the<br />
fridge for up to 5 days.<br />
Also In Season<br />
<strong>August</strong><br />
Apples; Bananas; Custard<br />
apples; Grapefruit; Lemons;<br />
Mandarins, Kiwi fruit;<br />
Australian Navel, Blood<br />
and Cara Cara Oranges;<br />
Tangelos; Pears; Quince,<br />
Rhubarb and winter<br />
Strawberries. Also Avocados;<br />
Beetroot; Broccolini and<br />
Broccoli; Brussels sprouts;<br />
Cauliflower; Celery &<br />
Celeriac; Fennel; Jerusalem<br />
artichokes; Onions (brown &<br />
red); Pumpkin; Sweet Potato;<br />
Spinach & Silverbeet; Kale<br />
and Turnips.<br />
Leek and zucchini tarts<br />
Makes 6<br />
1 tbs olive oil<br />
1 tbs butter<br />
1 leek, finely chopped<br />
3 rashers bacon, rind<br />
removed, chopped<br />
2 tsp fresh thyme leaves<br />
3 sheets ready-rolled puff<br />
pastry<br />
100g feta, crumbled<br />
2 zucchini, cut into thin<br />
rounds<br />
2 eggs<br />
1 cup pouring cream<br />
1. Place a baking tray into<br />
oven. Preheat oven to 200°C<br />
fan forced.<br />
2. Heat oil and butter in a<br />
frying pan over medium<br />
heat. Add leek, cook 3<br />
minutes until softens.<br />
Add the bacon, cook for 3<br />
minutes. Remove from the<br />
heat, stir in thyme. Cook for<br />
3 minutes. Season. Cool.<br />
3. Cut 2 x 14cm circles from<br />
each pastry sheet. Ease<br />
circles into 6 x 12cm (base)<br />
loose-base tart pans. Spoon<br />
leek mixture over pasty.<br />
Top with feta then rounds<br />
of zucchini.<br />
4. Whisk eggs, cream together.<br />
Season with pepper. Pour<br />
over leek mixture. Place<br />
onto the hot tray in the<br />
oven. Bake for 30 minutes<br />
or until puffed and golden.<br />
Serve warm or at room<br />
temperature.<br />
66 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Puzzler<br />
Compiled by David Stickley<br />
6 DOWN<br />
ACROSS<br />
1 Small prawn; student<br />
celebrating finishing year 12 (8)<br />
5 8-down resident and former<br />
The Celibate Rifles frontman,<br />
______ Lovelock (6)<br />
10 New modern Australian<br />
brasserie in 8-down (5)<br />
11 A possible visual<br />
accompaniment of a<br />
performance by a live band<br />
(5,4)<br />
12 Local foodie Jeremy<br />
Drayton’s establishment<br />
serving creamy Campos coffee<br />
(4,5,2)<br />
13 Popular card game (3)<br />
14 Jewellery for the leg (6)<br />
16 Major undertaking by<br />
Northern Beaches Council,<br />
perhaps, such as completing<br />
the Northern Beaches Coast<br />
Walk (7)<br />
17 Sheltered side (3)<br />
18 A broad thoroughfare,<br />
often landscaped and planted<br />
with trees, or passing through<br />
attractive bushland (7)<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
20 Utter a denial or refusal (6)<br />
23 See 27-across<br />
24 Church and primary school<br />
in Avalon (5,6)<br />
27 & 23-across Club venue that<br />
has the Glasshouse Eatery and<br />
a monthly ‘Love your Seniors’<br />
show (9,1,1,1)<br />
28 <strong>Pittwater</strong> musical<br />
figurehead, John _____ (5)<br />
29 Church leaders (6)<br />
30 A person, business, firm etc.<br />
that hires workers (8)<br />
DOWN<br />
1 The part of the handle of a<br />
cricket bat, etc. that fits into the<br />
blade (6)<br />
2 Enjoy oneself (4,3)<br />
3 An uncovered area for nonmembers<br />
at a racecourse or<br />
sportsground (5)<br />
4 Contrary to the law (9)<br />
6 Study of celestial objects (9)<br />
7 Not contracted out (2-5)<br />
8 Suburban home of Bungan<br />
Castle (7)<br />
9 A gelatinous substanc e<br />
obtained from any of various<br />
kinds of red seaweed and<br />
used in food, microbiological<br />
media, etc. (4)<br />
15 No doubt at least one is<br />
owned by CC&M Landscapes on<br />
the Northern Beaches (9)<br />
16 A five-pointed star formed<br />
by extending the sides of a<br />
pentagon both ways until they<br />
intersect, used as a mystic<br />
symbol (9)<br />
18 Crusty savoury delight<br />
traditionally eaten cold (4,3)<br />
19 Connected by kinship,<br />
common origin, or marriage (7)<br />
21 Court-ordered support (7)<br />
22 A profession or occupation,<br />
especially as offering<br />
advancement (6)<br />
25 Wholemeal bread that’s<br />
available from The Cheer<br />
Factory in Newport (4)<br />
26 Supporting frame used by an<br />
artist (5)<br />
[Solution page 70]<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 67<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Puzzler
Garden Life<br />
Garden Life<br />
Delight Summer in choice: the amazing plants<br />
colours that thrive of hydrangeas<br />
on neglect<br />
With Always a a favourite hot summer for forecast,<br />
it’s colour, time to hy-<br />
plan<br />
Christmas<br />
drangeas new are planting; flowering look their for<br />
heads varieties off! of They plants look that wonderful<br />
a minimal the garden, amount brightening<br />
of water.<br />
require<br />
the Nothing semi-shaded is more distressing areas and<br />
glowing than to see in the much-loved full, protected plants<br />
sunlight. struggling Once to survive. the older<br />
varieties Aloes come were in either all sizes, pink or<br />
blue from depending the smallest on aloe the descoingsii<br />
whose lime tiny, will deepen spotted<br />
soil,<br />
additional<br />
the rosettes pinks grow and just blueing 75-100mm, tonic<br />
(sulphate to the tall-growing of aluminium) candelabra will<br />
heighten Aloe that the grows blues, in excess but the of<br />
new 2.5m named tall and varieties wide. will<br />
maintain There are their smooth colour. aloes, White<br />
never spikey changes. aloes… green, There grey, are<br />
hydrangeas red and spotted of every aloes. size Some from<br />
the grow tiny into dwarf wide Piamina rosettes, to others<br />
clump traditional into multiple Mop Heads. heads,<br />
the<br />
tall<br />
With some so grow many tall to and choose climb from<br />
it while is almost others too grow difficult flat in to a fan<br />
decide. shape. The There most are common the delicate of<br />
lace all must caps, be the aloe huge vera, blooms a medicinal<br />
plant that should be in<br />
every home for sunburn.<br />
All aloes are easy to grow.<br />
Their fleshy leaves hold<br />
enough water to last for many<br />
weeks after rain. They are<br />
greedy plants and if there is<br />
too much rain they can swell<br />
extensively, causing rot.<br />
Taller-growing aloes may<br />
need staking after rain if they<br />
are too greedy and become top<br />
heavy. After a dry spell they will<br />
flourish when the rain comes,<br />
producing tall spikes of yellow,<br />
orange or red poker shaped<br />
flowers that last for many days.<br />
They will grow well in poor dry<br />
of the traditional mop heads,<br />
the cone-shaped flowers of<br />
hydrangea paniculata bushes<br />
soil but like any plant, the flowers<br />
improve with the addition of<br />
organic fertiliser.<br />
Chinese jade is another<br />
plant that thrives with neglect.<br />
It grows in full sun, loves open<br />
harsh conditions, and is oblivi-<br />
that can be two metres tall.<br />
The recently introduced<br />
smaller growing Picotee<br />
varieties with two-tone flower<br />
heads are hard to leave behind<br />
and if you have a semishaded<br />
wall, the climbing<br />
hydrangea petiolaris is just<br />
beautiful.<br />
Hydrangeas are forgiving<br />
plants that are easy to grow.<br />
They like regular water and<br />
any good garden soil. Mulch<br />
the roots with compost to<br />
ous of salt winds; it will grow<br />
keep them cool and feed<br />
in the ground or in large pots<br />
them in early spring to get<br />
or window boxes. The white<br />
them going. Grow them in<br />
flowers appear in winter, covering<br />
the round fleshy leaves<br />
pots, or in the garden; bring<br />
them inside when in flower<br />
like snow.<br />
or cut the blooms – they last<br />
Strelitzias have been a<br />
well in water.<br />
with Gabrielle Bryant<br />
Cherry Guava a<br />
sweet surprise<br />
In full flower in my veggie<br />
garden is my Cherry Guava,<br />
sometimes known as a Strawberry<br />
Guava. This delightful<br />
evergreen shrub never fails to<br />
produce a heavy crop of cherry<br />
guavas in early autumn.<br />
It is a small, pretty tree with<br />
rounded, glossy green leaves<br />
that only grows to about<br />
three metres in height. Keep it<br />
trimmed into shape after fruiting.<br />
The delicate fluffy flowers<br />
are creamy white, growing close<br />
to the branches. They are fol-<br />
long-time<br />
lowed by the<br />
favourite.<br />
tangy flavoured,<br />
Their tall,<br />
magically<br />
sweet, berry-sized,<br />
wonderful<br />
cherry<br />
bird-like<br />
red<br />
flower fruit that spikes are high of orange, in vitamin violet C.<br />
and Unlike indigo the taller-growing have given them deciduous<br />
yellow of Bird guava Of Paradise that needs plants.<br />
the<br />
name<br />
cooking, There are the two fruit sizes can be of eaten the<br />
Bird raw straight of paradise from plants: the tree Strelitzia<br />
used Reginae, cooking, with jellies, wide drinks, grey<br />
or<br />
leaves, sauces or and jams. the narrow-leaved<br />
Strelitzia You should Parvifolia, protect are the the fruit<br />
most from fruit usual, fly growing with a fruit into fly large bait.<br />
clumps one metre tall.<br />
Get into the<br />
‘swing’ of Xmas<br />
It is time to relax and enjoy<br />
your garden. Look at your<br />
outdoor seating requirements<br />
– the shops are full of<br />
amazing chairs and tables.<br />
Hanging cane egg chairs have<br />
been trendy for the past few<br />
years and now the ‘Swing<br />
Seat’ is back. Nothing is more<br />
peaceful than swinging in a<br />
seat for two, sheltered from<br />
the weather with a roof to<br />
shade from the sun – makes a<br />
great Christmas present too!<br />
72 68 DECEMBER AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 2017<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
The cream-flowering Strelitzia<br />
Nichollii is the big brother<br />
– this will grow 6 metres tall<br />
in time. Both are hardy, strong<br />
plants but I often see the<br />
wrong variety in the wrong<br />
place. Easily confused as<br />
young plants, check the label<br />
carefully before planting. All<br />
strelitzias have very strong<br />
root systems, and once established<br />
they are a mattock and<br />
crowbar job to remove!<br />
For a more unusual,<br />
drought-tolerant plant, look<br />
for the fiery orange Euphobia<br />
tirucalli ‘Fire Sticks’ or the<br />
yellow ‘Ice Sticks’. It is well<br />
worth the hunt. These strange<br />
succulents grow new, colourful<br />
branches that glow in the<br />
cold winter months.<br />
They look best in large tubs,<br />
starkly highlighted against<br />
brick walls or in open pebble<br />
gardens. In time they can grow<br />
several metres tall but are<br />
best trimmed back to promote<br />
new colourful bushy growth.<br />
Otherwise known as the ‘Pencil<br />
Cactus’ this succulent tolerates<br />
salt winds, heat and full sun.<br />
However, a word of warning:<br />
the milky sap of these<br />
succulents is poisonous. Wear<br />
gloves and sleeve protection<br />
when handling to prevent skin<br />
irritation and protect your<br />
eyes from the sap.<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
Great<br />
uses for<br />
coconut<br />
f ibre<br />
Gone are<br />
the days<br />
of bark<br />
totems, peat<br />
moss and<br />
paperbark<br />
rolls. It is<br />
great to see<br />
that there<br />
is a new,<br />
renewable product that is<br />
replacing all the old and<br />
diminishing supplies of<br />
materials for gardeners.<br />
Coconut fibre has been<br />
available for many years in<br />
bags or as basket liners,<br />
but only recently has it<br />
been fully appreciated as<br />
a material of many uses.<br />
Fibre totems have replaced<br />
bark, basket liners are no<br />
longer restricted to size…<br />
now rolls of matting can be<br />
cut to any size or shape.<br />
This fibre matting can<br />
also be used to cover<br />
banks and prevent soil<br />
erosion and it can replace<br />
the plastic weed mat that<br />
never breaks down. The<br />
use of natural peat moss<br />
has been replaced with<br />
coco peat that is sold in<br />
bricks that can be reconstituted<br />
in water. Macrame<br />
hangers hold coconut fibre<br />
balls made and tied with<br />
string replacing hanging<br />
plastic pots.<br />
White Out a blizzard of beauty<br />
White Out is a hardy, fastgrowing<br />
native evergreen<br />
climber. It is a pure, whiteflowering<br />
form of the muchloved<br />
violet hardenbergia<br />
that lights up the bush in late<br />
winter and early spring.<br />
The long sprays of delicate<br />
white flowers stand out in<br />
contrast to the bright lime<br />
green leaves.<br />
White Out loves full sun and<br />
once established requires little<br />
maintenance.<br />
Trimmed regularly after<br />
flowering, it will soon bush<br />
out, climbing and scrambling<br />
up fences, over archways and<br />
pergolas, covering trellises<br />
or cascading over rock walls<br />
and steep banks. It will reach<br />
a height of two metres and<br />
spread about the same. Grown<br />
intertwined with the violet<br />
hardenbergia the effect is<br />
stunningly beautiful; it’s the<br />
perfect plant for lovers of Aussie<br />
native plants.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 69<br />
Garden Life
Garden Life<br />
Jobs this Month<br />
Garden Life<br />
<strong>August</strong><br />
After only a moderately<br />
wet winter the gardens<br />
are dry and temperatures<br />
remain cold; and now<br />
we have water rationing to<br />
contend with too! <strong>August</strong> is<br />
a busy month, there is a lot<br />
to do and it is time for some<br />
TLC in the garden…<br />
Caterpillar<br />
caution<br />
Butterflies are beautiful,<br />
fluttering in the sunlight, but<br />
they mean danger to your<br />
plants. Butterfly eggs turn into<br />
caterpillars that can decimate<br />
your plants and veggies overnight.<br />
Some caterpillars cause<br />
no harm, but protect your<br />
veggies and other vulnerable<br />
plants from the white cabbage<br />
moth with Yates Success<br />
Ultra. It will kill the grubs but<br />
it won’t hurt birds or other<br />
animals.<br />
Clivea watch<br />
Collect clivea seeds that are<br />
ripe. Red seeds are red flowers<br />
while yellow ones will yield<br />
cream flowers. They are easy<br />
to germinate but slow. Open<br />
the pods and scatter the white<br />
fleshy seeds into the top of a<br />
pot or tub; put the container<br />
under a shrub in the garden<br />
and forget it. By Christmas<br />
you will have seedlings ready<br />
to plant out.<br />
Give it a spray<br />
This is your last chance before<br />
new spring leaves appear to<br />
spray roses, deciduous fruit<br />
trees and frangipani with lime<br />
sulphur to kill any remaining<br />
fungal spore from last year.<br />
Lime sulphur will clean up<br />
black spot rust and other fungal<br />
problems. Remember to<br />
spray the soil that surrounds<br />
the trees at the same time.<br />
Summer veggies<br />
Get summer veggies growing.<br />
Early tomato, zucchini,<br />
capsicum, silver beet, lettuce,<br />
eggplant, bean and cucumber<br />
seeds can all be sown now,<br />
ready to plant out next month<br />
when the weather warms up.<br />
Wonderful worms<br />
If you live in a unit or a town<br />
house with no use for a compost<br />
heap, start a worm farm<br />
today. The worms will eat all<br />
your kitchen waste. The worm<br />
‘wee’ liquid that you can drain<br />
from the bottom is the most<br />
amazing liquid fertiliser that<br />
can be diluted to feed all your<br />
indoor and patio pot plants.<br />
Worm farms don’t take much<br />
space and they don’t smell.<br />
Bulb care<br />
Feed your spring bulbs as they<br />
die down. Resist the temptation<br />
to remove the shrivelling<br />
leaves until they are dead. The<br />
bulbs will reuse the nourishment<br />
and store additional<br />
food to make the flowers for<br />
next year. It is more important<br />
to feed bulbs after they flower<br />
now than next Autumn when<br />
they grow again.<br />
Encourage kids<br />
Junior gardeners love a project<br />
that shows great results.<br />
Mushroom kits have been a<br />
favourite for many years, and<br />
now you can buy carrot kits,<br />
ready-seeded flower mats,<br />
vegetable seed tapes and even<br />
cucumber kits. Take the kids<br />
to browse in the seed isle of<br />
your local garden centre.<br />
Gild the lily<br />
Plant Christmas-flowering lilies<br />
this month… and there is even<br />
still time to plant Novemberflowering<br />
hippeastrums. If you<br />
can’t find them easily, look<br />
online at the Victorian bulb<br />
suppliers; there are some very<br />
good specials available.<br />
Summer seedlings<br />
Replant pots and baskets<br />
with summer seedlings. As<br />
Rhubarb tips<br />
Plant some rhubarb in the<br />
garden. The huge, dark<br />
green leaves and the scarlet<br />
stems add drama and<br />
colour to a vegetable patch.<br />
Rhubarb needs full sun<br />
and well-drained rich soil.<br />
Use the stems for cooking<br />
– but remember the leaves<br />
are poisonous. However,<br />
the leaves can be used for<br />
homemade insecticide; boil<br />
1kg of leaves in 3 litres of<br />
water for 30 minutes, then<br />
strain the cooled liquid and<br />
mix in 30gm of soap flakes<br />
dissolved in 1 litre of boiling<br />
water. Cool and use to<br />
spray for caterpillars, white<br />
fly and aphids.<br />
soon as the weather turns,<br />
plant petunias, dianthus, snap<br />
dragons, pansies, alyssum,<br />
marigolds and violas. If you<br />
plant seedlings now into small<br />
pots they will be ready to plant<br />
out in a few weeks. It is much<br />
cheaper than buying seedlings<br />
in full flower.<br />
And another thing…<br />
If the rain returns, watch out<br />
for petal blight that will turn<br />
the flowers to slime! Spray<br />
with Zayleton before the buds<br />
show colour. Last, spray lawns<br />
now for bindii. Don’t wait until<br />
the burrs are in your feet!<br />
Crossword solution from page 67<br />
Mystery location: SHARK POINT<br />
70 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Times Past<br />
CHANGED OVER TIME: The original building<br />
housed the Church and the Catholic School<br />
(on the ground floor) – sadly the whereabouts<br />
of the ‘MR’ cornerstone remain a mystery;<br />
the Maria Regina school today (inset).<br />
Avalon’s Catholicism rebirth<br />
Times Past<br />
After the death of Father<br />
Therry and the later<br />
relocation of St Joseph’s<br />
weatherboard church from<br />
Careel Bay to the Narrabeen<br />
Parish, the local Catholics were<br />
left without a priest or a place<br />
of worship.<br />
In July 1939, Father Farrell of<br />
the Dee Why Parish considered<br />
an offer of three blocks of<br />
land in Tasman Road at North<br />
Avalon for 10 pounds ($20).<br />
Early subdivision plans<br />
showed Central Road (east)<br />
joining onto Tasman Road<br />
via a road bridge. Of course,<br />
that never eventuated and<br />
that’s pleased many North<br />
Avalonians (especially the local<br />
surfers) because it helps to<br />
keep the visitor numbers and<br />
road users down.<br />
In these early days, Catholics<br />
from the far northern<br />
peninsula had to travel south<br />
to the Sacred Heart Church on<br />
the corner of Golf Avenue and<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
Barrenjoey Road at Mona Vale<br />
for Mass. It is also recorded<br />
that in 1940 a Father Haseler<br />
conducted Mass at North<br />
Palm Beach Surf Club and in<br />
a private residence in Central<br />
Road owned by the Busbys.<br />
In 1950 Father Roche, the<br />
Administrator at the Narrabeen<br />
Parish, recommended the<br />
purchase of three adjacent<br />
sites (48-52) on the high<br />
(northern) side of Central Road,<br />
Avalon Beach.<br />
With the increased<br />
population after World War II,<br />
it was anticipated that the site<br />
would need to provide for a<br />
school as well as a church.<br />
A two-storey building<br />
seemed like a good solution<br />
so Father Amiel Sobb soon<br />
had plans drawn up. The top<br />
storey would give outstanding<br />
views over Avalon Beach and<br />
would become the church,<br />
with several classrooms on the<br />
ground floor for the school.<br />
The Church was opened<br />
in January 1956 in the top<br />
storey, with Father Sobb as<br />
the officiating priest. Three<br />
years later Father Boland was<br />
appointed the Parish Priest and<br />
Maria Regina Public School<br />
opened on 20 February 1959.<br />
It accommodated 65 students<br />
in the ground floor and was<br />
run by the Sisters of the Good<br />
Samaritan.<br />
The present Maria Regina<br />
Church at 7 Central Road was<br />
designed by architect John<br />
Bignall, who won the approval<br />
of the Monsignor due to ‘…<br />
its simply sweeping lines of<br />
cream brick, standing like<br />
a cliff sentinel overlooking<br />
the village of Avalon’. By this<br />
time enrolments at the school<br />
had increased and the space<br />
previously occupied by the<br />
Church became classrooms. A<br />
new block of four classrooms<br />
was opened in 1978, along with<br />
several ancillary buildings<br />
– and this year the school<br />
proudly celebrates 60 years of<br />
education.<br />
The Holy Family Church was<br />
established in two aluminium<br />
double classrooms at Bilgola as<br />
a Mass Centre in 1966. It was<br />
blessed by Cardinal Gilroy in<br />
1970 and operated for around<br />
20 years. These days it operates<br />
under lease as a child care<br />
centre.<br />
* Reference was made to ‘<br />
The People of Avalon 25<br />
Years a Parish’ published in<br />
1984 by Vaile and Kinane.<br />
TIMES PAST is supplied<br />
by local historian<br />
and President of the<br />
Avalon Beach Historical<br />
Society GEOFF SEARL.<br />
Visit the Society’s<br />
showroom in Bowling<br />
Green Lane, Avalon<br />
Beach.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2019</strong> 71
Local Call<br />
Local Call<br />
Better internet...<br />
'broadly' speaking<br />
The <strong>Pittwater</strong> region of the Northern<br />
Beaches has always offered its residents<br />
more than just a way of life. Those<br />
who have made the beaches their home<br />
consider themselves blessed to have a<br />
lifestyle and work balance second to none,<br />
with more and more families making the<br />
‘sea change’ each year.<br />
But being a resident does have its tradeoffs<br />
– one of which is fast and reliable<br />
Internet connectivity... or the lack thereof.<br />
Enter husband-and-wife team Simon<br />
and Karen Bond (pictured right), who<br />
launched their innovative Northern<br />
Beaches Broadband service in 2017 to<br />
address the issue of poor or unreliable<br />
connectivity.<br />
To date, they’ve helped scores of<br />
Newport Beach locals achieve better-performing<br />
internet speeds than previously<br />
experienced.<br />
“Not many people know that some<br />
residents of Newport Beach have connectivity<br />
to some of the fastest internet in<br />
Australia,” said Simon.<br />
“We saw the challenge of consistent and<br />
reliable high-speed Internet connectivity<br />
as one of the biggest problems facing<br />
the area and set about coming up with a<br />
solution.”<br />
Having invested heavily in installing<br />
significant fibre assets into a building<br />
to service their clients and tenants of<br />
their business, NewportNet Coworking, it<br />
became a logical decision to share some<br />
of their capacity with local businesses and<br />
residents.<br />
“With the <strong>Pittwater</strong> area having some of<br />
the highest work-from-home communities<br />
in Sydney, our mission took on additional<br />
urgency and commitment,” said Simon.<br />
Having raised a family of three boys,<br />
Karen said she knew the challenges<br />
that women who were returning to the<br />
workforce or dealing with the pressures of<br />
starting their own businesses faced while<br />
still looking after their families and striving<br />
for a balanced life.<br />
She said she began to study advances<br />
in Wireless technology – and hit upon a<br />
solution.<br />
“It became apparent that this could well<br />
be an alternative for residents and businesses<br />
that were ‘in the line of sight’ of<br />
our office on Barrenjoey Road in the heart<br />
of the Newport shopping strip,” she said.<br />
Currently providing over 100 customers<br />
in parts of Newport and surrounds with<br />
reliable premium grade Fixed Wireless<br />
connectivity, Northern Beaches Broadband<br />
continues to invest in building its capacity<br />
and operational efficiency so that they can<br />
serve their local community with highspeed<br />
internet connections into the future.<br />
Simon said the ongoing rollout of the<br />
NBN would continue to face challenges<br />
in many areas of the Northern Beaches,<br />
as older infrastructure already in place<br />
proved difficult to overcome due to varying<br />
legacy issues such as old wiring, ageing<br />
copper and challenging terrain.<br />
“That’s why Northern Beaches Broadband<br />
have partnered with award-winning<br />
Australian-owned and operated Super-<br />
Loop Home Broadband to offer you a business<br />
class NBN connection,” he said.<br />
* Through SuperLoop, Northern<br />
Beaches Broadband are offering $10 per<br />
month off any NBN plans for the first six<br />
months. Call 1300 622 007 or info@nbbn.<br />
com.au to find out how to get connected<br />
and receive your discount code.<br />
Flick Our Pages...<br />
Ever wondered why so many LOCAL<br />
businesses advertise in <strong>Pittwater</strong> Life?<br />
Our advertising rates are<br />
the most affordable of any<br />
local media – and with<br />
a bigger reach!<br />
90,000+ readers per month!<br />
Call NOW!<br />
0438 123 096<br />
72 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Travel Life<br />
Experience Alaska’s ethereal wonderland<br />
There’s a well-known opinion<br />
circulated by discerning<br />
travelers that runs along<br />
the lines that nobody should<br />
ever visit Alaska in their youth,<br />
as all subsequent destinations<br />
pale in comparison.<br />
Travel View’s Sharon Godden<br />
says: “No sights can ever<br />
come close to the ethereal<br />
wonderland that is this vast<br />
terrain and which is just<br />
perhaps, Mother Nature’s<br />
greatest achievement. One<br />
thing is certain: to the lover of<br />
wilderness, there is no better<br />
country in the world.”<br />
Sharon said there’s no better<br />
way to view Alaska than on<br />
a Silversea cruise.<br />
“Silversea’s Alaska cruises<br />
are simply phenomenal –<br />
these are journeys of breathtaking<br />
encounters with the<br />
natural world, and Alaska’s<br />
great spectacles need little<br />
introduction.”<br />
She said Silversea’s luxury<br />
cruise ships to Alaska provided<br />
a feast for the senses,<br />
both onboard and offshore.<br />
“You will experience a<br />
glacier calving with the roar<br />
of a thousand canons... a personal<br />
butler... diamond-blue<br />
icebergs floating on a glassy<br />
bay... superb service onboard<br />
an intimate ship... a humpback<br />
breaching in a spectacular<br />
display.”<br />
Silversea’s Alaskan cruises<br />
offer ‘open jaw” itineraries,<br />
allowing you to spend more<br />
time in each port. Or you may<br />
choose to<br />
explore<br />
a more<br />
remote,<br />
untouched<br />
Alaska on an expedition that<br />
takes you further inside the<br />
Inside Passage.<br />
“Renew your spirit in the<br />
timeless sensations of nature<br />
in Silversea’s Alaskan cruises –<br />
you will not be disappointed,”<br />
said Sharon.<br />
Silversea’s oceanview suites<br />
are some of the most spacious<br />
in luxury cruising. All include<br />
the services of a butler, thanks<br />
to the highest service ratio at<br />
sea, and almost all have a private<br />
teak veranda so that you<br />
can breathe in the fresh sea<br />
air by merely stepping outside<br />
your door.<br />
“Select your intended suite<br />
and request<br />
a quote –<br />
guests who<br />
book early are<br />
rewarded with<br />
the best fares<br />
and ability to<br />
select their<br />
desired suite.”<br />
* Book with<br />
Travel View today to experience<br />
savings of 10% off OR<br />
a trip of a lifetime is even<br />
better when you share it<br />
with your kids or grandchildren.<br />
Guests under the age<br />
of 18 will receive up to 50%<br />
savings when travelling with<br />
two full-paying guests. More<br />
info 9918 4444.<br />
Travel Life<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JUNE <strong>2019</strong> 73
Travel Life<br />
Travel Life<br />
Crystal has a clear<br />
vision on Asian ‘top 5’<br />
The award-winning ‘Crystal<br />
Experience’ offers the thrill<br />
of anticipation and excitement<br />
of surprising discovery, says<br />
Travel View’s Karen Robinson.<br />
“The mystique and splendour<br />
of Asia is an upcoming focus – it<br />
has non-stop activity mixed with<br />
serene spirituality of centuries<br />
past,” said Karen.<br />
She added Crystal’s ships<br />
welcomed far fewer guests than<br />
ships of similar size, with Crystal<br />
Serenity and Crystal Symphony<br />
each hosting an unmatched<br />
roster of inclusive amenities<br />
and services including Michelininspired<br />
cuisine in up to seven<br />
venues.<br />
The ‘top 5’ on Crystal’s Asian<br />
checklist – Hong Kong, Kagoshima,<br />
Koh Samui, Singapore and<br />
Shanghai – represent stunning<br />
contrasts.<br />
“Hong Kong’s mix of traditional<br />
influence and modern<br />
accents result in an eclectic<br />
experience,” Karen said.<br />
“Soaring skyscrapers rise<br />
from the hills and harbour,<br />
in a stunning contrast of<br />
manmade splendour and<br />
nature – traditional Chinese<br />
culture and Western style<br />
combine for perfect harmony.”<br />
She said Mount Sakurajima<br />
casts an imposing and impressive<br />
image on arrival to Kagoshima,<br />
voted Japan’s friendliest<br />
city. “With a climate to match<br />
the warmth of its residents, this<br />
tropical environment produces<br />
distinct cuisine and famously<br />
high-quality ingredients.”<br />
The emerald isle of Koh Samui<br />
off Thailand’s southeast coast<br />
embraces both the fun-loving<br />
nature of the Thai people, and<br />
the peaceful serenity of Bud-<br />
dhism. On optional excursions<br />
ashore, visit the beautiful waterfalls<br />
at Hin Lut and Na Muang,<br />
marvel at the enormous Buddha<br />
statue on Fan Isle, or just enjoy<br />
the awe-inspiring surrounds.<br />
“And Singapore’s history is<br />
one of riches and romance,<br />
spice trading and piracy, colonialism,<br />
and ultimately, growth<br />
into one of Asia’s greatest success<br />
stories,” Karen said. “Discover<br />
the mansions and polo<br />
greens of colonial Singapore,<br />
the mystique of Chinatown, and<br />
the heady aroma of spices along<br />
Arab Street.”<br />
Finally, Shanghai – the modern<br />
metropolis of dizzying scale<br />
and ancient influence; once a<br />
tiny fishing village, it is now<br />
the centre of China’s economic<br />
resurgence.<br />
Crystal Symphony and Crystal<br />
Serenity are sailing 13- to<br />
17-night itineraries in Asia-Pacific<br />
in 2020 (February through<br />
March and November through<br />
December).<br />
* Head to the Royal Motor<br />
Yacht Club on Wed 28 Aug for<br />
a lunch and fashion parade<br />
sponsored by Crystal Cruises.<br />
Bellagio fashion will be on<br />
show and the event will support<br />
the Humpty Dumpty foundation.<br />
Call Travel View (9918<br />
4444) to secure your spot.<br />
74 AUGUST <strong>2019</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991