Pittwater Life July 2022 Issue
DEBATING DOGS ON BEACHES 'NOT TRUE’: MAYOR REJECTS COUNCIL PARKWAY FLOOD ‘INACTION’ NEWPORT RUGBY ‘BREAKETTES’ / ANITA JACOBY’S LIFE STORY THE WAY WE WERE / ARTISTS TRAIL / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD...
DEBATING DOGS ON BEACHES
'NOT TRUE’: MAYOR REJECTS COUNCIL PARKWAY FLOOD ‘INACTION’
NEWPORT RUGBY ‘BREAKETTES’ / ANITA JACOBY’S LIFE STORY
THE WAY WE WERE / ARTISTS TRAIL / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD...
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The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
FREE<br />
pittwaterlife<br />
DEBATING DOGS ON BEACHES<br />
‘NOT TRUE’: MAYOR REJECTS COUNCIL PARKWAY FLOOD ‘INACTION’<br />
NEWPORT RUGBY ‘BREAKETTES’ / ANITA JACOBY’S LIFE STORY<br />
THE WAY WE WERE / ARTISTS TRAIL / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD...
Editorial<br />
Mayor hits back over Parkway<br />
Last month’s Letters page,<br />
featuring reader response to<br />
our coverage of steps taken (or<br />
not) by Council on Wakehurst<br />
Parkway flood mitigation<br />
measures, annoyed folk at<br />
Council HQ.<br />
Mayor Michael Regan<br />
expressed his disappointment<br />
at the inference that Council<br />
was sitting on its hands rather<br />
than acting prudently to<br />
deliver maximum mitigation,<br />
which this magazine had<br />
interpreted was the preferred<br />
outcome based on community<br />
consultation feedback.<br />
Cr Regan told us<br />
environmental concerns are<br />
still at the forefront of any<br />
decision-making, hence the call<br />
for further investigations.<br />
Also, he said he was<br />
frustrated at Council being<br />
singled out instead of the<br />
State Government, who he<br />
says could have worked to fix<br />
flooding on the Parkway at any<br />
time over past decades.<br />
That may be the case, but it<br />
would be remiss of us to not<br />
note that it was the current<br />
State Government, via three<br />
MPs whose territories overlap<br />
the Parkway, that initiated talks<br />
with the new amalgamated<br />
Council to try to find a way to<br />
reduce the frequency of road<br />
closures due to flooding.<br />
Council embraced those<br />
talks; it also accepted the<br />
$18 million the Government<br />
stumped up based on the<br />
findings of the Councilmanaged<br />
feasibility study.<br />
Read the Mayor’s response to<br />
readers’ letters – see page 10.<br />
* * *<br />
This month our community<br />
says farewell to Avalon<br />
Family Medical Practice GP,<br />
Dr Jeff Cavanough, who is<br />
hanging up his stethoscope<br />
when he turns 65 on June 30.<br />
We wish Jeff a wonderful<br />
retirement; we will recount<br />
some great stories from his<br />
working life next month! – NW<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 3
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The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
FREE<br />
pittwaterlife<br />
DEBATING DOGS ON BEACHES<br />
‘NOT TRUE’: MAYOR REJECTS COUNCIL PARKWAY FLOOD ‘INACTION’<br />
NEWPORT RUGBY ‘BREAKETTES’ / ANITA JACOBY’S LIFE STORY<br />
THE WAY WE WERE / ARTISTS TRAIL / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD...<br />
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thislife<br />
INSIDE: Mayor Michael Regan has responded to community<br />
anger over perceived Council ‘inaction’ on Wakehurst<br />
Parkway flood mitigation (p10); meet Newport’s first female<br />
rugby union team the ‘Breakettes’ (p14); residents groups<br />
react to the scrapping of Ingleside as a targeted growth area<br />
for residential development (p21); we hear from those ‘for’<br />
and also those ‘against’ Council’s proposed offleash dog<br />
walking trial at two local beaches (p24); and local media<br />
identity Anita Jacoby shares her life story (p34).<br />
COVER: Midnight blue / Sharon Green<br />
XXXXX <strong>2022</strong><br />
also this month<br />
Editorial 3<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Local News 8-33<br />
The Way We Were 26<br />
Briefs & Community News 28-33<br />
<strong>Life</strong> Story: Anita Jacoby 34-37<br />
Hot Property 38-45<br />
Art 46<br />
Surfing 48-49<br />
Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 50-57<br />
Money; Law 58-61<br />
Trades & Services 62-64<br />
Crossword 65<br />
Food & Tasty Morsels 66-69<br />
Seen... Heard... Absurd... 74<br />
the goodlife<br />
Returning soon! Showtime, Pubs & Clubs and gigs!<br />
Inside this month: our regular features on food, gardening,<br />
beauty, health, surfing, art, local history, money, plus our<br />
guide to trades and services... and our essential maps.<br />
ATTENTION ADVERTISERS!<br />
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* The complete <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
<strong>Life</strong> archive can be found at<br />
6<br />
the State Library of NSW.<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
Robotham’s thrilling next chapter<br />
You’ll know Michael Robotham as<br />
one of Australia’s most prolific and<br />
profitable novelists.<br />
Since he and his wife Vivien moved back<br />
here from the UK in 1997 he’s written 16<br />
critically acclaimed crime novels, translated<br />
into 25 languages and having sold<br />
more than six million copies.<br />
The most recent have been conceived<br />
in the poolside wooden writing studio in<br />
Avalon his three children have nicknamed<br />
“the cabana of cruelty” for the dark,<br />
twisted tales that emerge from his imagination<br />
before he returns across the patio<br />
for a cheerful family greeting.<br />
He’s currently on the inevitable international<br />
publicity tour to launch his latest<br />
thriller, ‘Lying Beside You’, about a woman<br />
with ‘the gift’ of knowing whenever she’s<br />
being deceived.<br />
It’s the third in his bestselling Cyrus<br />
Haven/Evie Cormac series.<br />
The original – ‘Good Girl, Bad Girl’, made<br />
him the first Australian to twice win the<br />
UK’s prestigious Gold Dagger Award for<br />
crime fiction (after ‘<strong>Life</strong> or Death’, his only<br />
novel so far set in the US).<br />
‘When She Was Good’ – the second in the<br />
series – won the international Ian Fleming<br />
SEEING STARS: Author Michael<br />
Robotham on the set of<br />
Network 10’s ‘The Secrets She<br />
Keeps’ with actors Jessica De<br />
Gouw and Laura Carmichael.<br />
Steel Dagger Award.<br />
“So no pressure then!” he laughs.<br />
What is adding to the pressure, Michael<br />
concedes, is how many of his past novels<br />
are being made into English language TV<br />
series – at the same time.<br />
He’s no stranger to TV adaptions, he<br />
points out: “Seven of my novels have been<br />
dramatised on German TV.”<br />
Yes, but none of those star Aidan<br />
Turner, “the handsome hunk who got his<br />
kit off in the remake of Poldark”.<br />
Eighteen years after Michael introduced<br />
the characters of Joseph O’Loughlin (a<br />
clinical psychologist suffering the twin<br />
surges of Parkinson’s and marital separation)<br />
– and Vincent Ruiz (a hard-drinking<br />
homicide detective) in his first novel, ‘The<br />
Suspect’, it’s being filmed for international<br />
audiences by World Productions.<br />
“They made Line of Duty and Bodyguard’,”<br />
he explains. “So again, no pressure!”<br />
Meanwhile here in Australia, Network<br />
10 is deciding when to schedule the<br />
follow-up series to The Secrets She Keeps.<br />
“But it will be screened this year, I<br />
think,” he says, unable to reveal more<br />
because of contracts.<br />
Filmed in Sydney, “Secrets 2” is propelled<br />
by the extraordinary viewing figures<br />
The Secrets She Keeps earned when<br />
it was shown by the BBC in prime time<br />
– features most of the original characters<br />
and Australian cast.<br />
Michael’s problem was that he wrote<br />
The Secrets She Keeps as a “stand-alone”<br />
about two pregnant women whose babies<br />
are due at the same time and whose lives<br />
collide in the most dangerous of ways.<br />
Fortunately, Michael left the novel with<br />
some unresolved loose ends. So he was<br />
able to help shape the follow-up – along<br />
with the creative team at Lingo Pictures<br />
who helped fashion the story and write<br />
the scripts doing justice to the characters<br />
he created on page.<br />
In doing so, at 61, he’s had to learn new<br />
skills. “Storyboarding”, for example.<br />
Amazingly, he’s never plotted any of his<br />
novels.<br />
He starts – in “the cabana of cruelty”<br />
– with characters, often prompted by snippets<br />
of intrigue he’s spotted in the wide<br />
selection of newspapers he reads. Then he<br />
sees where it leads.<br />
TV crime series work differently:<br />
everything must be planned to an infinite<br />
degree before cast and crew are engaged.<br />
“It was a completely new process for<br />
me,” he admits. “Each episode has to be<br />
(written) with cliffhangers for every commercial<br />
break. So people can go off, make<br />
their cup of tea, and come back eager to<br />
watch the next part.”<br />
As befits a master crime writer, Michael<br />
leaves the most exciting news until the end.<br />
For some months he lived in the southern<br />
states of the US while he wrote <strong>Life</strong><br />
or Death, about a convicted criminal who<br />
escapes prison the day before he was due<br />
to be release from a 10-year sentence.<br />
Why would anyone do such a thing?<br />
It’s a gripping yarn, one of his best –<br />
and his only novel set outside the UK.<br />
South Korean director Park Chan-wook<br />
– whose films include The Handmaiden<br />
along with his TV series of John Le Carré’s<br />
novel ‘The Little Drummer Girl’ – is planning<br />
a movie of <strong>Life</strong> or Death.<br />
– Steve Meacham<br />
*More info michaelrobotham.com<br />
Locals honored<br />
by the Queen<br />
Former <strong>Pittwater</strong> Woman of the<br />
Year Lynleigh Greig is among six<br />
members of the community who<br />
received Queen’s Birthday Honours<br />
last month.<br />
Elanora Heights resident Lynleigh<br />
was a awarded the Medal of the<br />
Order of Australia (OAM) for her<br />
dedicated and exceptional service to<br />
wildlife conservation.<br />
Other OAM recipients included<br />
Avalon Beach’s Dr Jonathan King<br />
(for service to community history);<br />
Narrabeen’s Dr Daniel White (for<br />
services to education); Narrabeen’s<br />
Dr Janet Judd for service to<br />
conservation and the environment);<br />
Judith Malcolm (for service to sport<br />
in a range of roles); and Terrey Hills’<br />
Alan Brinkworth (for service to<br />
emergency organisations).<br />
Avalon Beach’s John McConaghy<br />
was made a Member of the Order<br />
of Australia (OM) for his significant<br />
service to the yacht manufacturing<br />
industry.<br />
This year a total 45.9% of awards<br />
in the General Division went to<br />
women.<br />
News<br />
8 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 9
Mayor<br />
deflects<br />
Parkway<br />
backlash<br />
FLOODING:<br />
No easy fix for the<br />
Wakehurst Parkway.<br />
News<br />
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael<br />
Regan has written to <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
<strong>Life</strong> to clarify “misconceptions”<br />
about flood mitigation on Wakehurst<br />
Parkway.<br />
It follows reader backlash published<br />
in last month’s magazine.<br />
On why Council is managing the<br />
project, Cr Regan said:<br />
“Council completely<br />
understands the community<br />
frustration that such a major<br />
arterial road is closed by<br />
flooding so often.<br />
“As the road was built on<br />
a floodplain, it has been an<br />
issue for decades but only<br />
in the past few years has the<br />
NSW Government who own<br />
and maintain the road turned<br />
their attention to it.<br />
“They have not however,<br />
committed to the major works to<br />
raise and floodproof the road, and<br />
the hundreds of millions of dollars<br />
required to do so, and instead have<br />
given the problem to Council via grant<br />
funding and asked us to find other<br />
solutions on their behalf.”<br />
On alleged Council inaction, he said:<br />
“We’ve done the feasibility studies on<br />
behalf of the State Government. And there<br />
are some options which will reduce the<br />
Mayor Michael Regan<br />
number of times the road will be closed.<br />
“Claims of inaction are just not true.<br />
“Council is progressing concept<br />
and detailed designs (suitable<br />
for construction tender) of the<br />
culvert upgrades at Oxford Falls/<br />
Wakehurst Parkway and the Review of<br />
Environmental Factors required for the<br />
work to proceed. To be clear,<br />
the works are being managed<br />
by Council but funded by the<br />
State Government.<br />
“But we are right to be<br />
cautious about the potential<br />
for environmental impacts<br />
from other options.<br />
“That’s why we are<br />
undertaking additional<br />
investigations at the Bends<br />
site, which has the greatest<br />
flood impact, to see if there<br />
is anything further that<br />
can be done to reduce the potential<br />
for environmental impact. We’ve lost<br />
so much vegetation from the State<br />
Government works in Frenchs Forest<br />
and Mona Vale Road widening, we<br />
want to make sure we’re reducing any<br />
more loss from this project as much as<br />
humanly possible.”<br />
Cr Regan said Council had taken the<br />
works options to the community and<br />
had heard that most people wanted<br />
action to reduce flooding.<br />
“But there is no consensus on how,”<br />
he said. “Some want the full flood proof<br />
option, which the State Government<br />
have not put on the table – so that will<br />
not be considered – while others are<br />
very concerned about the potential for<br />
environmental impacts.”<br />
He said Council was “listening” to the<br />
community.<br />
“That’s why we are progressing some<br />
works and doing more investigations on<br />
others.<br />
“I get it’s frustrating for the community<br />
to be waiting, but there is no quick fix. If<br />
there was, the State Government would<br />
have done it years ago.”<br />
He conceded “it is great” that the<br />
government asked Council to manage it<br />
on their behalf and granted money to do<br />
some works to reduce some of the flood<br />
impact.<br />
“I’m proud of the fact that we’re<br />
taking some leadership on this issue<br />
and working on solutions for the State<br />
Government to see what can be done<br />
with the least environmental impact to<br />
alleviate the ongoing frustrations for<br />
motorists.<br />
“But please – if you want a permanent<br />
fix, focus your attention to Transport<br />
for NSW; it’s ultimately their road and<br />
their responsibility.” – Nigel Wall<br />
10 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
Breakettes tackle preconceptions<br />
SMASHING THE GRASS CEILING: The Breakettes with manager Emma (third from right) before her injury.<br />
Newport Rugby’s breakthrough<br />
female team – the<br />
Breakettes – are smashing perceptions<br />
of them, converting<br />
ladies from other sports… and<br />
just having fun along the way.<br />
“The girls actually go harder<br />
than the men,” says Breakettes<br />
coach Joey Osborne. “I think<br />
because of their lack of experience,<br />
they just go all out. It’s<br />
pretty scary!”<br />
Team manager Emma<br />
Matthews is certainly a good<br />
example of that.<br />
“I was one of the first to sign<br />
up for the Breakettes, but was<br />
absolutely smoked in a tackle,”<br />
Emma explains. “I snapped my<br />
ACL and MCL, and had a fractured<br />
and dislocated knee.<br />
“I’m hoping to play again<br />
next season – it’s just what happens<br />
in rugby sometimes,” she<br />
says matter of factly. “In the<br />
meantime, I’m making sure the<br />
girls are supported properly,<br />
organising tournaments, sorting<br />
training and dinners, and<br />
promoting the team.”<br />
Now in their second season,<br />
the Breakettes were formed<br />
in January 2021, after founding<br />
manager Lupe Tali Lomu<br />
badgered the Club for a year or<br />
so before that.<br />
President Jake Osborne<br />
agreed it would be a great<br />
addition for the club and the<br />
Breakettes were formed, mainly<br />
from women playing in other<br />
sports such as soccer.<br />
“We had 18 girls at one<br />
point,” says Emma. “But because<br />
of COVID, other sport the<br />
players have, and games being<br />
cancelled due to the ongoing<br />
wet weather, it’s been hard to<br />
always get a team together.”<br />
Games are played on Saturdays<br />
and Sundays against<br />
teams such as Barker College,<br />
Hunters Hill and UNSW, with<br />
teams of either seven or 10<br />
players playing games of 20 or<br />
30 minutes respectively.<br />
“It can be hard, but it’s great<br />
fun and the Newport Rugby<br />
Club is a great community,”<br />
says Emma. “And this season<br />
we’re getting a lot of support<br />
from the men’s teams.”<br />
“Last season a lot of the boys<br />
were probably a bit standoffish,”<br />
Emma continues. “It’s a<br />
male-dominated sport and they<br />
were a little hesitant that we<br />
were on their turf. I don’t think<br />
they thought we were up to it.”<br />
“We’ve kept coming back<br />
though and had our first<br />
home win recently. They’ve<br />
been including us in far more,<br />
we’ve been hanging out at the<br />
clubhouse and went on a tour<br />
of Wollongong with the boys,<br />
which was great.<br />
“We’ve stuck around and<br />
proved them wrong.”<br />
The girls train once a week<br />
under the watchful eye of Joey,<br />
and he’s certainly one of the<br />
men who have been impressed.<br />
“They’re tough girls and<br />
their defence is really good.<br />
Many of them have come from<br />
other sports such as soccer and<br />
rugby league, so there’s been a<br />
learning curve.”<br />
In fact, two of the girls come<br />
from Gridiron, with Christiana<br />
Osbourne and Kiera Boots soon<br />
to represent Australia at the<br />
World Gridiron Championships<br />
in Finland.<br />
“They have a great team<br />
spirit though,” Joey continues.<br />
“They’re growing together,<br />
getting wins and building confidence.<br />
They just need a few<br />
more players and I think they<br />
could win a tournament.”<br />
Emma can’t recommend it<br />
enough – despite her injury.<br />
“Just give it a chance – it’s a<br />
fun game that keeps you fit and<br />
might be different to how many<br />
women imagine,” Emma says.<br />
– Rob Pegley<br />
*More info newportrugby.<br />
Return of service for<br />
Elanora squash centre<br />
Business owner Tim Wyres is rallying<br />
hard to keep squash alive on the<br />
Northern Beaches. After struggling<br />
through the challenges of COVID he is<br />
hoping for a bright future for the sport,<br />
hopefully with the help of local funding.<br />
“It was so hard during COVID, I<br />
wanted to walk away,” says Tim, Director<br />
of Elanora Squash & Fitness centre,<br />
“but then where would squash be on<br />
the Northern Beaches? There would be<br />
nowhere to play.”<br />
There’s no doubt that COVID has hit<br />
businesses hard over the past two years;<br />
and Tim as much as anyone. Helped by<br />
business mentors, in recent years he<br />
diversified his squash centre to include<br />
a gym, a bar and a function room – but<br />
all of those businesses were locked down<br />
three times, putting him under severe<br />
personal financial strain.<br />
“I had to meet costs while the business<br />
was closed and had no money left,” Tim<br />
explains. “I’ve had to take a full-time job<br />
from 7am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, and<br />
then run the centre in the evenings after<br />
that.”<br />
“I had a meeting with (former Mackellar<br />
MP) Jason Falinski and he seemed<br />
interested in helping with funding. I’ll<br />
hopefully talk to Sophie Scamps, and I<br />
have a meeting lined up with Rob Stokes.<br />
We need help with funding to keep<br />
squash alive on the Northern Beaches.<br />
“Because of cost pressures and the<br />
price of real estate, there are just nine<br />
courts on the Beaches – for 250,000<br />
people.”<br />
Tim’s passion for the sport has not<br />
diminished though, and the sport that<br />
was huge in the 1970s and ’80s has a<br />
dedicated younger following under Tim’s<br />
guidance.<br />
“There have been around 300 kids<br />
come through the junior program in my<br />
12 years at the centre. One of those kids<br />
was recently number two in Australia in<br />
the under-15s. Many of the juniors then<br />
keep playing as adults when they turn<br />
18, although some move on.”<br />
It’s not only the elite that Tim helps<br />
though, but also the young members<br />
of society who need sport more than<br />
anyone.<br />
“One of the young juniors here has<br />
ADHD and squash has been a massive<br />
help to him. It’s a sport that helps with<br />
depression and all sorts of mental conditions,<br />
with the positive endorphins it<br />
creates.”<br />
“And it’s a sport where you personally<br />
reap the rewards of what you put in. You<br />
play squash to get fit, you don’t get fit to<br />
play squash. You get a feeling that you’re<br />
really worth something and that’s something<br />
we really encourage.”<br />
Passionate pleas to private sponsors<br />
have helped Tim to keep his head above<br />
water so far, but funding is really needed<br />
to help achieve his aims for the centre.<br />
“We have great facilities here – there’s<br />
even a view of the ocean from Court<br />
2. You don’t even need a mate to play<br />
against – I match people up with the<br />
right opponent. You can just come along<br />
and have a hit with someone at a similar<br />
level.”<br />
– Rob Pegley<br />
*More info elanorasquash.com.au<br />
HOPEFUL:<br />
Tim Wyres doesn’t<br />
want the future of<br />
local squash to be<br />
up in the air.<br />
News<br />
14 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 15
News<br />
Vale Wal Williams<br />
World War II veteran and<br />
Japanese prisoner of war<br />
survivor Wal Williams, whose<br />
incredible life story was<br />
captured by writer Michelle<br />
Fraser in the April issue of<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong>, died on June 4;<br />
he was 99.<br />
Mr Williams was awarded<br />
the Order of Australia (OAM)<br />
in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday<br />
Honours list for services to<br />
veterans and their families.<br />
His war decorations included<br />
the 1939-1945 Star; The<br />
Pacific Star; 1939-1945 War<br />
Medal; Australian Service<br />
Medal 1939-1945; Australian<br />
Service Medal 1945-1975 S.W;<br />
and Pacific Clasp.<br />
He joined the Australian<br />
Imperial Force (AIF) in<br />
November 1941 and by his<br />
own recollection served 118<br />
days in Australia and 1370<br />
days overseas, most of these<br />
as a POW.<br />
Mr Williams recounted his<br />
Battalion fought in the defence<br />
of Singapore from 8-15<br />
February 1942.<br />
After the fall of Singapore<br />
he was interned and held in<br />
Changi Prison, before being<br />
transported to Burma in May<br />
1942 to work on the infamous<br />
Burma-Thai railway.<br />
Mr Williams was among<br />
1300 POWs selected for trans-<br />
SERVICE: Wal Williams.<br />
fer to work in Japan in 1944;<br />
however, the Japanese ship<br />
they were in was torpedoed<br />
and sunk by a US Submarine,<br />
unaware that POWs were<br />
onboard.<br />
Collectively, he was a POW<br />
at the hands of the Japanese<br />
for three and a half years. In<br />
1945, he returned to Australia<br />
on his 23rd birthday.<br />
Mr Williams would have<br />
turned 100 on October 10.<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
*Read Wal Williams’ amazing<br />
story (April issue): pittwaterlife.com.au/digital<br />
Beaches mental health<br />
services $11.4m boost<br />
Children and young people across the Northern Beaches<br />
will benefit from significantly enhanced mental health<br />
services following a $11.4 million investment under the<br />
<strong>2022</strong>-23 NSW Budget.<br />
The funding will be used to expand hospital and community<br />
services, including establishing acute paediatric<br />
specialist mental health beds at Northern Beaches Hospital<br />
and supporting local community mental health and drug<br />
and alcohol treatment services.<br />
It will significantly increase capacity and reduce wait<br />
times by enabling a comprehensive child and youth mental<br />
health service to operate seven days a week.<br />
The allocation will include:<br />
l $7.5 million to establish four dedicated acute paediatric<br />
specialist mental health beds at Northern Beaches Hospital.<br />
l $1.4 million to employ additional staff, including senior<br />
multi-disciplinary clinicians, to support Northern Beaches<br />
Child Youth Mental Health Service in the Brookvale Community<br />
Health Centre.<br />
l $1.1 million to recruit additional staff, including peer<br />
workers and clinicians, to support and operate the Northern<br />
Beaches Youth Response Team service out of Mona Vale<br />
Community Health Centre seven days a week. – LO<br />
16 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
Celebrating sustained success<br />
Very few businesses make it past the<br />
says Beverley.<br />
10-year mark, so it is remarkable that<br />
“Every time you buy our product,<br />
Ecodownunder, founded by <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
locals Russell Lamb and Beverley Tilbury,<br />
is celebrating 25 years. In many ways<br />
ahead of its time, the company’s mission<br />
firmly plants sustainability at the heart<br />
of everything it does.<br />
“We believe we all have a responsibility<br />
to look after the natural environment<br />
for future generations,” says Russell.<br />
“Our goal is to make a real difference by<br />
you are helping keep harsh chemicals,<br />
synthetics and plastic out of the<br />
environment.”<br />
The couple are also hugely encouraged<br />
to see young people “get it” and those<br />
young converts are increasingly<br />
demanding that other businesses do<br />
better as well.<br />
Currently there are three stores on<br />
the Northern Beaches, in Avalon, Mona<br />
SILVER LININGS:<br />
making quality, eco-friendly products<br />
Vale and Freshwater, with another at<br />
Ecodownunder<br />
more affordable.”<br />
founders Russell<br />
Paddington. The focus is very much on<br />
In the 1990s Russell and Beverley<br />
observed a lot of cheap synthetic<br />
products coming from China: Harsh<br />
chemicals like cancer-causing Azo<br />
dyes and formaldehyde coated sheets;<br />
polyester or “micro fibre” (which are<br />
just plastic fibres); and single-use plastic<br />
packaging.<br />
They decided they had to do better,<br />
and so the idea for Ecodownunder was<br />
born in 1997.<br />
Back then, “eco” was not a commonly<br />
used term and to some extent production<br />
was scarce and expensive. Progress was<br />
needed rather than perfection in a quest<br />
to turn the tide – but some things were<br />
non-negotiable: no harsh chemicals; no<br />
and Beverley.<br />
synthetics; and no single-use plastic<br />
packaging<br />
Russell and Beverley used certified<br />
organic cotton and Australian-made<br />
products whenever possible, and to<br />
this day every ecodownunder product<br />
goes through rigorous quality control<br />
systems.<br />
By selling direct, they also avoid big<br />
mall rents and pass on those savings to<br />
the consumer.<br />
“We regularly check the big retail<br />
chains’ pricing and believe our everyday<br />
prices are generally 10-20% below their<br />
sale prices on comparable products,”<br />
flagship stores in the northern beaches<br />
and online.<br />
And when they get a spare moment<br />
away from the business, the pair<br />
are both active members of the<br />
local community; in particular, as<br />
members of local surf clubs Avalon and<br />
Warriewood. Bev competed in surf boat<br />
rowing, winning many national and<br />
international titles with her Avalon crew,<br />
and has been a volunteer bronze trainer<br />
at Warriewood for many years. Russell<br />
first as Patrol Captain and then Boat<br />
Captain at Warriewood, coaches surf<br />
boat rowing, encouraging others to<br />
participate in the sport.<br />
– Rob Pegley<br />
COVER<br />
STORY:<br />
Taylor with<br />
her quilt.<br />
Local design quilt-edged<br />
Ecodownunder’s latest collection is all about nature – and<br />
has its genesis on the Northern Beaches.<br />
Taylor Springthorpe is studying for her Masters in<br />
Architecture at Newcastle Uni, but has always had an<br />
interest in textile design. Her exclusive quilt cover<br />
collection for Ecodownunder was inspired by her time<br />
fossicking in local rockpools with her marine biologist<br />
father.<br />
Taylor’s intricate and beautiful drawings include her<br />
favourite shells and the much-loved seaweed Hormosira<br />
banksii (Neptune’s necklace), sea grapes and bubble weed.<br />
Growing up in <strong>Pittwater</strong>, in a home accessible only by<br />
boat, it’s no surprise that Taylor has a love of the ocean;<br />
her connection to the natural world, her artistic flair,<br />
and instinct for colour, made her a perfect partner for<br />
Ecodownunder.<br />
Taking the signature eco cotton, selecting shades of grey<br />
that complement all colour palettes and adding a splash<br />
of colour from the ocean, the quilt cover set is available in<br />
four ocean-inspired themes. – RP<br />
*More info ecodownunder.com.au<br />
News<br />
18 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 19
Council now Ingleside ‘guardian’<br />
News<br />
$400m to complete<br />
local infrastructure<br />
The NSW Government<br />
ing Arts Centre commenced<br />
has allocated <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
in late May.<br />
more than $400 million<br />
The facility is part of the<br />
to progress long-awaited and<br />
much-needed large infrastructure<br />
projects across the<br />
region.<br />
The bulk of funds are<br />
earmarked for <strong>Pittwater</strong>’s<br />
overburdened and under-themicroscope<br />
major roads, with<br />
$340 million over the next<br />
four years to upgrade Mona<br />
Vale West and $40 million for<br />
safety and capacity improvements<br />
on Wakehurst Parkway<br />
(which has a total project cost<br />
of $150 million over the next<br />
three years).<br />
Local Member Rob Stokes<br />
major upgrade, delivering<br />
state-of-the-art indoor and<br />
outdoor learning spaces, new<br />
school hall and canteen, and<br />
upgraded support facilities.<br />
“This is an exciting time for<br />
students and our wider community,”<br />
Mr Stokes said. “The<br />
works underway throughout<br />
the school campus are delivering<br />
generational improvements<br />
and are setting a new<br />
benchmark for our local<br />
education facilities.<br />
“The new Performing Arts<br />
Centre will become a focal<br />
point of the school and<br />
said the Government’s<br />
provide opportunities never<br />
UNDERWAY: The new Mona Vale Performing Arts Centre.<br />
<strong>2022</strong>/23 budget allocation<br />
before available to local students.<br />
represented a record investment<br />
in local education, road,<br />
transport and health initiatives.<br />
“This enables our community’s<br />
largest infrastructure<br />
projects to be completed,” Mr<br />
Stokes said.<br />
“We’ve had great momentum<br />
over recent years and it’s<br />
exciting to build upon the major<br />
works already underway<br />
throughout our community.”<br />
Mr Stokes noted the Mona<br />
Vale Road upgrade was the<br />
investment in <strong>Pittwater</strong>,<br />
adding the budget allocation<br />
confirmed the project would<br />
be completed in its entirety.<br />
“By supporting key infrastructure<br />
projects and local<br />
services we can grow our<br />
economy, create jobs and help<br />
boost our local businesses.<br />
“This is a great budget for<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> and ensures the<br />
major funding that’s been<br />
flowing towards our community<br />
will continue.”<br />
Other highlights included<br />
upgrading Mona Vale Public<br />
School (total project cost<br />
$52.8 million); $15.5 million<br />
to commence the upgrade<br />
of the Narrabeen Education<br />
Campus (total cost subject<br />
to tender); $2.4 million for<br />
the construction of a dedicated<br />
pedestrian/cycling link<br />
between Newport Beach and<br />
Bilgola Beach; and $1.09<br />
million for ongoing campus<br />
configuration improvements<br />
at Mona Vale Hospital.<br />
Construction on Mona Vale<br />
“Through innovative<br />
shared-use arrangements, the<br />
wider community will also be<br />
able to benefit from this dedicated<br />
performance facility.”<br />
He said the NSW Government<br />
was investing $7.9 billion<br />
over the next four years,<br />
continuing its program to<br />
deliver 215 new and upgraded<br />
schools to support communities<br />
across NSW –the largest<br />
investment in public education<br />
infrastructure in the history<br />
largest ever infrastructure $11 million to continue Public School’s new Perform-<br />
of NSW. – Nigel Wall<br />
The responsibility for the future of Northern Beaches<br />
“problem-child” suburb Ingleside, including any new development,<br />
has been transferred to Northern Beaches Council.<br />
The NSW Department of Planning announced last month that<br />
it would not be proceeding with the Ingleside Place Strategy, a<br />
revised version of which attracted resident backlash following<br />
the end of its public exhibition period on 23 <strong>July</strong> last year.<br />
In a statement, the Department acknowledged the cost of<br />
providing infrastructure and acquiring land for water management,<br />
flooding and riparian corridor protection affected the<br />
viability of delivering homes<br />
in Ingleside.<br />
A Land Use and Infrastructure<br />
Implementation Plan<br />
for Ingleside was exhibited<br />
in late 2016 which proposed<br />
3400 dwellings but that was<br />
scaled back last year to 980<br />
dwellings (to be built south<br />
of Mona Vale Road) following<br />
the risks highlighted in a<br />
subsequent bushfire study.<br />
Northern Beaches Mayor<br />
Michael Regan and Residents<br />
Against Inappropriate Development<br />
(RAID) Chair Jackie<br />
Jarvis welcomed the decision to abandon Ingleside as a “growth<br />
area”.<br />
Cr Regan thanked the government for listening to Council and<br />
the community.<br />
“This news will be very welcome by many in our community<br />
and it’s great to have more certainty now for the future of this<br />
area,” he said.<br />
Council had questioned the viability of the revised plan,<br />
raising concerns of continued bushfire risk, lack of traffic and<br />
transport planning, the significant cost to ratepayers to provide<br />
the most basic infrastructure, significant impacts on biodiversity<br />
and the ability to deliver any affordable housing in line with<br />
Council’s adopted policy.<br />
Cr Regan said planning for Ingleside would be handed back<br />
to Council which would consider it as part of the development<br />
of the new Local Environmental Plan for the whole Northern<br />
Beaches area.<br />
“However, we will not be considering any new housing development<br />
of the scale proposed by the government, given we now<br />
have all the studies to demonstrate the significant bushfire risk,<br />
the environmental and Aboriginal heritage impacts and the need<br />
for costly infrastructure in order to make such a development<br />
feasible.”<br />
Cr Regan said Council would continue to advocate for the<br />
NSW Government to transfer into Council ownership, at no cost,<br />
the NSW Government land on which planning infrastructure is<br />
sited and ask the government to transfer surplus NSW government<br />
land for other public purposes such as sports fields, passive<br />
recreational spaces<br />
‘PROBLEM CHILD’: and biodiversity offsets.<br />
Ingleside is no “We now have an op-<br />
longer considered a<br />
“growth” area. portunity to repurpose<br />
some of this less environmentally<br />
sensitive land for<br />
broad community use.”<br />
Jackie Jarvis said RAID<br />
welcomed the news but<br />
added it was done with<br />
“cautious relief”.<br />
“RAID would like to<br />
thank everyone – individuals<br />
and community<br />
groups alike – who<br />
made the time and effort,<br />
and in some cases expended considerable sums of money, to<br />
register their opposition to this Government proposal, which was<br />
inappropriate on so very many levels,” she said.<br />
“I probably speak for many when I say that we are cautiously<br />
relieved at this decision – over 900 submissions were received,<br />
predominantly and unsurprisingly from 2101 residents, and the<br />
majority opposed the Ingleside Place Strategy outright.<br />
“We hope that this will now be the last attempt by any State<br />
Government to develop this semi-rural enclave.<br />
“Now that planning for Ingleside has been passed to the Council,<br />
we look forward to learning more, and the community being<br />
properly consulted and heard on its proposal for Ingleside as<br />
part of its LEP.<br />
“However, the nature and scale of any future proposal for<br />
Ingleside, whatever it is, must take into account the broad range<br />
of serious community concerns, which have been expressed in<br />
opposition to this Strategy; just because the current Strategy has<br />
been abandoned, they don’t go away.”<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
News<br />
20 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 21
News<br />
Easing trauma<br />
on the water<br />
It’s a spectacular winter’s<br />
morning at the Royal Prince<br />
Alfred Yacht Club and a<br />
flotilla of boats is about to<br />
embark for a sailing lesson on<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>.<br />
There’s a motley crew on<br />
board – a mixture of seasoned<br />
male and female yachties,<br />
gnarled novices and (literally) a<br />
couple of “sea” dogs not wishing<br />
to miss a bow “wow”.<br />
At first glance there’s nothing<br />
to link such an idyllic<br />
scene with the war zones of<br />
Afghanistan, the catastrophic<br />
bush fires of 2020-21 or the<br />
equally calamitous floods<br />
which drowned so much of<br />
northern NSW and southern<br />
Queensland last summer.<br />
So what’s the connection?<br />
Most of us know what it<br />
means “to soldier on” (continuing<br />
with a battle plan no matter<br />
how weary it makes you or<br />
how hopeless it seems). Well,<br />
this morning’s excursion could<br />
be called Operation Sailor<br />
On. For the men and women<br />
taking instruction from some<br />
of the club’s senior volunteers<br />
have all suffered trauma on<br />
the frontline, whether in military<br />
uniform or in civilian life.<br />
Brendan Rourke, the club’s<br />
sailing and communications<br />
manager, explains ‘The Alfreds’<br />
community sailing (ACS)<br />
program began in 2013 to provide<br />
on-water experiences to<br />
not-for-profit groups including<br />
those with disabilities, both<br />
physical and mental.<br />
Its ACS program is designed<br />
to integrate sailors into regular,<br />
inclusive-for-all, club racing<br />
events, support veterans,<br />
people with disabilities and<br />
community organisations.<br />
“We normally meet around<br />
9am for coffee and a chat at<br />
Halyards (the club’s bistro),<br />
are on the water by 10am and<br />
are back for lunch around<br />
12.30pm,” Brendan said.<br />
James Milliss, one of those<br />
ready to set sail, admits these<br />
days afloat have been a godsend<br />
to himself and his family.<br />
The father of three enlisted<br />
HEALING PROCESS:<br />
James Milliss (third<br />
from left) on the water.<br />
and served in East Timor as a<br />
medic with the Commandos<br />
(4RAR) before returning to<br />
civilian life as a paramedic in<br />
2004.<br />
However, James remained<br />
an active reservist and was<br />
deployed to Afghanistan in<br />
2008-09. That was very rare.<br />
“There were only a few of us<br />
reservists who were with the<br />
1st Commando regiment.<br />
“When I came back from<br />
Afghanistan I went straight<br />
back to work as a paramedic.<br />
I thought I was just having<br />
‘adjustment issues’ returning<br />
from a war zone to civilian life.<br />
“It was my wife Emma who<br />
told me, around two years<br />
later, that I was struggling and<br />
needed help.”<br />
Emma had read a story<br />
about a fellow soldier James<br />
had served with who had<br />
confessed the anguish he was<br />
going through to Soldier On<br />
Australia, the charity established<br />
to help all veterans<br />
suffering from Post Stress<br />
Disorder Syndrome (PSDS).<br />
“He was blown up in a blast<br />
which killed one of our mates,”<br />
James explains. “I thought,<br />
God, he was an amazing soldier.<br />
If it happened to him, it<br />
could happen to any of us.”<br />
Prompted by Emma, James<br />
contacted Soldier On Australia.<br />
Their three children – Johnny<br />
(12), Sienna (10) and Charlie<br />
(5) – “all know about my PSDS.<br />
There are ongoing issues<br />
but I’m nowhere near as low<br />
as I was”.<br />
Today James works as a<br />
spokesman for both Soldier On<br />
Australia and Fortem Australia<br />
(established to provide the<br />
same kind of mental health<br />
care for first responders like<br />
paramedics, firefighters and<br />
the state emergency service<br />
volunteers).<br />
Is he a competent sailor<br />
now?<br />
“No, but it has been very<br />
good for me,” James says.<br />
“The Royal Prince Alfred is an<br />
amazing organisation. You’re<br />
really welcomed into the club<br />
and placed with senior sailors<br />
who know what they’re doing,<br />
even when you don’t.”<br />
His praise for the club’s volunteers<br />
– many of them retired<br />
– knows no boundaries.<br />
“Sailing allows you that social<br />
growth you need if you’re<br />
suffering as a first responder<br />
or veteran,” he continues. “It<br />
could be anything – surfing…<br />
or throwing darts.<br />
“It’s all part of the healing<br />
process to have a good time<br />
while you’re socially connecting.”<br />
Not that his children always<br />
understand as they go off to<br />
school.<br />
“They think I’m crazy when<br />
I tell them I’m going off for a<br />
sail on <strong>Pittwater</strong> and a good<br />
hamburger as part of my healing<br />
process!” – Steve Meacham<br />
More info: rpayc.com.au;<br />
soldieron.org.au;<br />
fortemaustralia.org.au<br />
8THINGS<br />
THIS MONTH<br />
Winter warmers. Head to<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Place on Sat 2 from<br />
9am-3pm to buy knitted-with-love<br />
beanies, scarves, bed socks,<br />
booties plus jams and craft at the<br />
Mona Vale Hospital Auxiliary stall,<br />
raising funds for the rehabilitation<br />
and palliative care units.<br />
NAIDOC Week. Participate<br />
in a range of cultural activities<br />
including music, dance and bush<br />
tucker workshops at Dunbar Park<br />
Avalon on Sat 9 from 10am-12pm;<br />
it’s free and everyone is welcome.<br />
Reduce plastic. Join council’s<br />
Reducing Plastic on a Budget<br />
webinair to learn budget-savvy<br />
options to avoid single-use<br />
packaging and waste reduction<br />
tips on Wed 6 from 6.30pm-8pm.<br />
Free; register via NB Council<br />
website.<br />
Wuthering Heights Day. Pop<br />
on some red, flowing clothes and<br />
join others at Village Park Mona<br />
Vale on Sat 16 from 11.30am to<br />
recreate the iconic Kate Bush<br />
video, raising awareness of the<br />
Women’s Resilience Centre.<br />
Donate blood. A mobile blood<br />
donor centre will be set up at<br />
Surfview Road Mona Vale from<br />
Mon 11 – Sun 17; book at lifeblood.<br />
com.au or call 13 14 95.<br />
Comedy Festival. Six amazing<br />
world-class comedians will take to<br />
the stage at Avalon Beach RSL on<br />
Sat 16 from 8.30pm; tickets cost<br />
$30 – book via avalonrsl.com.au<br />
Choir is back. Rejoice! The<br />
Manly-Warringah Choir and<br />
orchestra led by Musical Director<br />
Dr Carlos Alvarado, will celebrate<br />
the return to public performances<br />
by presenting a program of<br />
uplifting music with selections<br />
from Handel’s Messiah (including<br />
the Hallelujah Chorus) and his<br />
stunning Coronation Anthems<br />
on Sun 17 from 3pm. Tickets $35<br />
manlywarringahchoir.org.au.<br />
Tree Day. Plant, protect nature<br />
and engage in organised activities<br />
celebrating Schools Tree Day on<br />
Fri 29 and National Tree Day on<br />
in the Australian Army in 1996<br />
Sun 31; treeday.planetark.org.<br />
22 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
What’s next in the<br />
great offleash dogs<br />
on beaches debate?<br />
Both Michele and Don (not<br />
his real name) love dogs,<br />
but they’re on either side<br />
of the great Northern Beaches<br />
dog debate on whether to<br />
allow more off-leash walking<br />
areas for our four-legged best<br />
friends.<br />
Should dogs be allowed, unleashed,<br />
on specially selected<br />
Council-approved beaches at<br />
certain times of the day?<br />
Northern Beaches Council is<br />
due to decide soon on whether<br />
12-month trials should proceed<br />
at two stretches of sand –<br />
north Palm Beach and south<br />
Mona Vale beach (each with<br />
strictly limited hours of 5.30-<br />
10am and 5-9pm in winter,<br />
6-10am and 4-7pm during<br />
daylight saving).<br />
Next steps will depend on<br />
the outcome of discussions on<br />
the Environmental Assessment<br />
that was tabled at Council’s<br />
meeting on June 28 (after <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
<strong>Life</strong> went to print).<br />
In recent months Council’s<br />
legal department has been<br />
studying the environmental<br />
report it commissioned in<br />
2021; clearly it is anxious to<br />
avoid a repeat of the embarrassment<br />
it suffered when the<br />
Land and Environment Court<br />
of NSW ruled against its previous<br />
proposal to permit Station<br />
Beach (on the <strong>Pittwater</strong> side of<br />
Barrenjoey peninsula) to become<br />
the site of an unleashed<br />
dog trial in 2020.<br />
That ruling was largely due<br />
to the opposition of legal action<br />
by the Palm Beach Protection<br />
Group. (The group also opposes<br />
the two current proposals<br />
– though south Mona Vale<br />
beach is at least 22 kilometres<br />
if you walk the coastal route,<br />
and several million dollars in<br />
property prices, away from<br />
north Palm Beach).<br />
Prior to the LEC’s ruling,<br />
community support was<br />
overwhelming – with 88% of<br />
almost 3000 Northern Beaches<br />
residents who responded during<br />
a three-month consultation<br />
period to February 2019 (there<br />
were 7683 submissions overall)<br />
supporting new local off-lead<br />
walking venue options.<br />
Countering that, Council<br />
noted some opposition based<br />
on potential environmental<br />
and local community impacts.<br />
Then came the COVID<br />
pandemic, which placed added<br />
pressure on public spaces as<br />
more residents added a dog, or<br />
two, to their families.<br />
Council records obtained by<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> show significant<br />
year-on-year increases in local<br />
dog registrations from 2019 to<br />
2021: In 2019, a total of 1,922<br />
new dogs were registered,<br />
which rose to 2,243 in 2020.<br />
In 2021, there were 2,767.<br />
Through the first four months<br />
of <strong>2022</strong>, Council stamped 758<br />
new dog registrations.<br />
Despite statistical support,<br />
any proposal to allow dogs to<br />
walk off-leash, even at trial<br />
venues during trial times, is<br />
guaranteed to polarise opinion.<br />
“I’ve had dogs all my life,”<br />
says Don, who doesn’t want his<br />
‘Lots of people who own and love dogs<br />
don’t support them being on beaches. Many<br />
of the people who voted for me don’t.’<br />
– <strong>Pittwater</strong> Ward Councillor Miranda Korzy<br />
name used because he says he<br />
has suffered abuse in the past<br />
from dog owners who oppose<br />
his views that dogs shouldn’t<br />
be allowed on local beaches.<br />
“Our last dog died six years<br />
ago – and had a happy life<br />
without ever being let loose on<br />
a beach.”<br />
He says his opposition to offleash<br />
dogs on beaches is based<br />
on two factors: “One social, the<br />
other environmental.”<br />
“When my kids were little, I<br />
was worried about taking them<br />
to the ocean beaches because<br />
little kids are scared by dogs,<br />
especially when they’re off<br />
leash,” he says.<br />
“Beaches are public spaces<br />
for everyone, including<br />
families with little kids and<br />
unsteady oldies.<br />
“Dogs don’t respect the<br />
space of other beach users.<br />
Either they’re too friendly or<br />
too riotous.<br />
“I also have a problem with<br />
dogs being let loose in environmentally<br />
sensitive areas.<br />
“There are all sorts of creatures<br />
living in the water and the<br />
sand dunes, like ghost crabs,<br />
that are disturbed by dogs.<br />
“The dog lobby argues some<br />
beaches like north Palm Beach<br />
and south Mona Vale are<br />
empty of people.<br />
“That means the beach is<br />
probably pristine enough to<br />
allow the ecosystem to thrive<br />
in something like its natural<br />
state.<br />
“We have a duty to protect<br />
that, I reckon.”<br />
Michele Robertson is the<br />
founder and president of<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Unleashed, the dog<br />
owners group pressing for<br />
more off-leash dog parks and<br />
areas within the Northern<br />
Beaches Council LGA – both on<br />
the beaches and on dry land.<br />
Founded in 2014, the group<br />
says it has 10,000 supporters,<br />
mostly Facebook subscribers.<br />
Avalon resident Michele<br />
couldn’t be more diametrically<br />
opposed to ‘Don’, though like<br />
him she no longer owns a dog.<br />
“I’ve had Cocker Spaniels all<br />
my life,” she explains. “They<br />
were bred as sporting dogs,<br />
and I walked Minty, my last<br />
dog, on the 20km of beaches<br />
from Warriewood to Barrenjoey<br />
Head until he died in 2020.<br />
“But we were always looking<br />
over our shoulders, struggling<br />
to outrun the council rangers.<br />
“I won’t get another Cocker<br />
Spaniel until I have a beach I<br />
can legally let he or she off the<br />
leash.<br />
“Minty was two years short<br />
of ‘the promised land’ when he<br />
died. “If he couldn’t get to the<br />
beach in his older years, he’d<br />
just put his paws into his water<br />
bowl.”<br />
What is being proposed for<br />
north Palm Beach and south<br />
Mona Vale are merely trials,<br />
she points out.<br />
On the new dog registrations<br />
spike, <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Unleashed says there are<br />
now more than 63,000 dogs<br />
registered within the Council<br />
borders living in 101,000<br />
homes. “That means 56 per<br />
cent of households in the<br />
Northern Beaches have one or<br />
more dogs,” Michele says.<br />
HOPEFUL: <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Unleashed members<br />
Michele Robertson,<br />
Mitch Geddes, Graeme<br />
Wood and Jools Farrell.<br />
Our elected Council is also<br />
on opposite sides of the dog<br />
debate.<br />
Michael Gencher, successful<br />
on Mayor Michael Reagan’s<br />
Independent ticket for <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Ward at the last election, describes<br />
himself as a “long-time<br />
animal lover”, whose young<br />
daughters adopted Bailey, a<br />
Pomeranian Chihuahua, five<br />
years ago from Monika’s Doggy<br />
Rescue at Ingleside.<br />
“I like the idea of dogs being<br />
allowed to be unleashed on<br />
selected beaches,” he says,<br />
adding that he will support<br />
the trials if the environmental<br />
report is favourable.<br />
However, he wants the trials<br />
to be supervised, to ensure<br />
dog owners clean up after their<br />
pets and also keep them wellbehaved.<br />
Greens councillor Miranda<br />
Korzy is more conflicted, admitting<br />
she changed her mind<br />
mid-speech during the Council<br />
debate on whether to instigate<br />
the environmental report.<br />
She too has a dog – an ageing<br />
Border Collie/Kelpie cross,<br />
who she says she has let off<br />
the leash at Rowland Reserve<br />
at Bayview, the only beach<br />
north of Narrabeen where<br />
canines are currently allowed<br />
to run on the sand and into<br />
the water.<br />
“The Bayview beach is<br />
overcrowded at weekends,” she<br />
says – before further claiming<br />
it has become a venue for dog<br />
owners who live “way outside”<br />
Council borders.<br />
Cr Korzy says she fears<br />
the same thing will happen<br />
if the two proposed new dog<br />
beaches are approved.<br />
Of the two, she’s most<br />
against north Palm Beach. “It’s<br />
too close to Barrenjoey Head<br />
National Park. There’s a seal<br />
colony on the other side of the<br />
headland, so if a seal comes up<br />
onto the beach, an unleashed<br />
dog could attack it.”<br />
Even if the environmental<br />
report decides in favour of<br />
the trials, Cr Korzy says she is<br />
unlikely to vote ‘yes’ .<br />
“Lots of people who own and<br />
love dogs don’t support them<br />
being on beaches. Many of the<br />
people who voted for me don’t.”<br />
* What do you think? Email<br />
readers@pittwaterlife.com.<br />
au; want more info? Visit<br />
pittwaterunleashed.com.au;<br />
also northernbeaches.nsw.gov.<br />
au (search ‘proposed dog offleash<br />
areas’).<br />
News<br />
24 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 25
The Way We Were<br />
Every month we continue to pore over three decades of <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong>, providing a snapshot<br />
of the area’s recent history – and confirming that quite often the more things change, the more<br />
they stay the same! Compiled by Lisa Offord<br />
25 Years Ago…<br />
The Way We Were<br />
The proposed flight path for incoming jet aircraft over<br />
residential areas of <strong>Pittwater</strong> was abandoned after pressure<br />
from the community. The “Battle of the towers continues” at<br />
Bilgola, with the school wanting the three communication<br />
towers removed from its vicinity “…<br />
because of perceived health problems and<br />
because they are ugly” and residents<br />
opposed to Telstra’s, Optus’ and<br />
Vodafone’s solution of building “one<br />
huge tower in the middle of the park, and<br />
closer to homes” fearing they “will be<br />
subjected to radiation every day of the<br />
year.” The RTA’s focus on Barrenjoey<br />
Road and the intersections of Kevin<br />
Avenue, Central Avenue and the turn<br />
to Old Barrenjoey Road copped some<br />
flack “… for years the right-hand turn<br />
here has worked efficiently and without<br />
accident but now? Well, the RTA decided<br />
to redesign it all, making it compulsory<br />
to turn right at each intersection and<br />
to stop traffic getting into the lane for<br />
perhaps the next turn to the right. They<br />
painted lines on the road, arrows and<br />
other visual pollution and it did not work.<br />
So they painted some of the lines out.<br />
15 Years Ago…<br />
At only a few hours’ notice “Avalon author Robotham comes to our rescue”<br />
when he stepped in to speak to 130 guests gathered for the <strong>Pittwater</strong> Literary<br />
Dinner, sponsored by <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong>. The audience was expecting David Hill,<br />
who had fallen ill. Robotham received an “enthusiastic reception” as he “spoke<br />
about his writing career and latest novel The Night Ferry… his third successful<br />
thriller after The Suspect and Lost.” In news, “plans for Newport’s main street<br />
include an avenue of Norfolk pines down the centre strip of the six-lane road…<br />
while the idea was criticised no suitable alternative was offered and so the<br />
proposal, first mooted seven years ago, looks like going ahead… The Council<br />
is moving closer to a final plan… various<br />
plans have been put forward for at least 20<br />
years as shopkeepers have tried to prevent a<br />
downturn in business on the shopping strip.”<br />
Also a limit of two dogs per household on<br />
the Western foreshores was among the<br />
changes proposed to “<strong>Pittwater</strong> 21, the<br />
planning bible for <strong>Pittwater</strong>’s future”. And<br />
the mag featured a picture spread of “Wild<br />
storms and waterfalls” captured when the<br />
NSW Coast was “lashed by strong winds and<br />
driving rains causing widespread damage<br />
to hundreds of properties throughout<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>.” Surfers of course were “ecstatic”,<br />
with columnist Nick Carroll writing about<br />
“June Madness” when from “the 9 th to the<br />
21 st there’d been action almost unheard<br />
of since the 1970s: three swells over three<br />
metres, and plenty in between.”<br />
Then they came back and put a huge white blob in the road<br />
but no-one is quite sure what it means. Is it working? No. In fact<br />
the accident rate in this area has already begun to increase…<br />
so they are going to throw more money at it all and now start<br />
putting in extra lights and other signals to try to make it work…<br />
where is all the money coming from,<br />
why not put it into Mona Vale Road<br />
where it is needed?” In news, for the<br />
22 nd time in 24 years the Avalon Branch<br />
of the Red Cross won the Patterson<br />
Cup for raising the most money in<br />
NSW in a year; Jonah’s Restaurant at<br />
Whale Beach took out a major NSW<br />
Award for Excellence in Tourism (FYI a<br />
two-bedroom fibro cottage at 82 Bynya<br />
Rd sold for $412,500); Bruce Mackay<br />
of LJ Hooker Avalon presented the<br />
Avalon Sailing Club with a new rescue<br />
boat called Bosun; Elanora Players “the<br />
longest running community theatre on<br />
the Northern Beaches” were presenting<br />
The Day They Kidnapped The Pope; and<br />
work had begun on “the seven-cinema<br />
centre at Warriewood” with owner Ray<br />
Mustaca expecting it would be ready by<br />
Christmas.<br />
5 Years Ago…<br />
Residents groups<br />
were up in<br />
arms about the<br />
announcement that<br />
Newport had been<br />
selected as the<br />
terminus point for<br />
the new B-Line rapid<br />
bus service “despite<br />
assurances to the<br />
contrary from the<br />
government they<br />
fear the streetscape<br />
at Newport would<br />
be ripped up”<br />
and “Newport<br />
Surf <strong>Life</strong> Saving Club don’t want it on their<br />
doorstep or in their carpark.” Meanwhile, the<br />
“much-needed Mona Vale Road overhaul was<br />
no longer a pipe dream” with an upgrade<br />
to the east section scheduled in 2020<br />
following the State Government’s budget<br />
confirmation of full funding for the project;<br />
Bookoccino celebrated its 25 th birthday.<br />
And we ran a Plastic Free <strong>July</strong> feature about<br />
the locals making a difference, with NB<br />
Council lobbying to ban plastic bags and<br />
implementing its single-use plastics policy.<br />
26 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> News<br />
Heart defibs close<br />
for the community<br />
LJ Hooker Newport, Avalon<br />
Beach and Palm Beach have<br />
each invested in Heart180<br />
defibs to assist in Heart180’s<br />
mission of having a defibrillator<br />
within 180 seconds of every<br />
Australian. “Please spread<br />
the word to the community<br />
that these are available in our<br />
three offices,” said LJH’s Peter<br />
It’s been 40 years since 43 locals formed a<br />
local tennis club in Bayview – now the Club<br />
boasts a membership of almost 140, including<br />
10 life members.<br />
The Club, nestled along the foreshore of<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>, is proud to continue to introduce<br />
new folk to the game, with 10 juniors in its<br />
ranks.<br />
When first serves were sent down in 1982 its<br />
courts were clay, with large protruding rocks;<br />
they were upgraded to synthetic turf within a<br />
decade. In 2010, lights were installed.<br />
To celebrate its 40-years milestone, more<br />
than 70 people, including founding, past and<br />
Robinson. “We hope they don’t<br />
need to be used, but they are<br />
here to help our communities<br />
should they be required.”<br />
Heart180 is a nationalbased<br />
defibrillator company<br />
founded by Guy Leech in 2016.<br />
Heart180 distributes the two<br />
leading brands – LIFEPAK &<br />
HeartSine and provides a total<br />
solution for its customers,<br />
including free online CPR &<br />
Defib training courses as well<br />
as professional counselling<br />
support for anyone associated<br />
in the management of an<br />
event. “We want to stop so<br />
many Australians dying from<br />
cardiac arrests; to drastically<br />
reduce the 30,000 lives lost<br />
from Sudden Cardiac Arrests<br />
every year,” Guy said. “We’re<br />
here to educate and inspire<br />
Australians to act, and together<br />
give defibrillators to the people<br />
who can’t afford them.”<br />
40 ‘love’ for Bayview Tennis Club<br />
present members, gathered on 19 June for a<br />
cocktail party.<br />
Reflecting on its anniversary, Club President<br />
Karen Stapleton said: “We are incredibly<br />
excited – I would like to thank the Northern<br />
Beaches Council and importantly, our<br />
members, who have helped to turn the club<br />
into the important community organisation<br />
that it is today.”<br />
Pictured are life members (l-r) Keith Smith,<br />
Rob Boon, Janina Clack, David Niven, Karen<br />
Stapleton, James Etherington, Mark Salvaterra.<br />
Info and membership enquiries: tennis.com.<br />
au/bayview<br />
Gotcha4<strong>Life</strong> gets<br />
$25,000 boost<br />
Local mental health<br />
and suicide prevention<br />
charity Gotcha4<strong>Life</strong> has<br />
received a $25,000 donation<br />
from the Sunbites Good Fuel<br />
Fund. The donation will fund<br />
its education provider Man<br />
Anchor, that works with<br />
schools, businesses and other<br />
local groups to get people<br />
talking about their mental<br />
health. Man Anchor’s founder<br />
Steven Gamble said following<br />
the pandemic conversations<br />
around mental and physical<br />
health grew rapidly both<br />
online and offline. As a<br />
result, Man Anchor has seen<br />
an increase in locals seeking<br />
mental health services. “The<br />
donation enables Man Anchor<br />
to provide resources and<br />
support to over 3,000 local<br />
Sydney residents through<br />
Gotcha4<strong>Life</strong>, helping to make<br />
a massive impact on the local<br />
community,” he said. The<br />
Sunbites Good Fuel Fund is an<br />
initiative designed to support<br />
local charities by donating<br />
$25,000 each month until<br />
November and shine a light<br />
on the ‘heroes’ that fuel the<br />
good work. Nominations at<br />
sunbites.com.au.<br />
<strong>July</strong> Probus<br />
meetings update<br />
Garden lovers will be keen<br />
to attend the next meeting<br />
of the Palm Beach and<br />
Peninsula Probus Club on<br />
Wednesday 20 <strong>July</strong> when<br />
Elizabeth Swane will present<br />
her talk on ‘Country Gardens’.<br />
Elizabeth is a member of one<br />
of Australia’s best-known<br />
nursery and rose-growing<br />
families and an experienced<br />
horticulturist, garden<br />
writer, broadcaster and<br />
garden tour guide. Club<br />
membership is open to<br />
retired men and women.<br />
Meeting starts 9.30am at Club<br />
Palm Beach; visitors welcome.<br />
More info call Carmel (0414<br />
978 465). Meanwhile, having<br />
now moved into their new<br />
home at Mona Vale Surf Club,<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Men’s Probus’ <strong>July</strong><br />
meeting (on Tuesday 12th)<br />
will be devoted to a ‘Members<br />
Say’ session to reflect on how<br />
the club is currently run and<br />
what improvements might be<br />
made. Meeting commences<br />
10am; visitors welcome. More<br />
info Terry Larke (0412 220<br />
820).<br />
Have your say to<br />
‘protect <strong>Pittwater</strong>’<br />
A forum supported by<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Ward Greens<br />
councillor Miranda Korzy<br />
calling for the protection<br />
Continued on page 30<br />
Keep cats home to protect wildlife<br />
Native wildlife in NSW will be better<br />
protected thanks to an innovative<br />
partnership program between the NSW<br />
Government, RSPCA<br />
NSW and Northern<br />
Beaches Council to<br />
encourage cat owners<br />
to keep their pets<br />
safe at home.<br />
Environment<br />
Minister James<br />
Griffin said<br />
nationally, domestic<br />
cats killed around<br />
390 million animals<br />
every year in<br />
Australia – including<br />
mammals, reptiles<br />
and birds.<br />
“We know that<br />
on average, each<br />
roaming pet cat kills<br />
an average of 186<br />
reptiles, birds and<br />
mammals per year<br />
in Australia,” Mr<br />
Griffin said. “The majority of animals killed<br />
by pet cats are native Australian species. Cats<br />
roaming away from home is disastrous for<br />
our native species and the ecosystems that<br />
rely on each species’ existence.”<br />
Under the program, Council is receiving a<br />
tailored program to address specific needs<br />
and challenges it<br />
encounters in its LGA.<br />
CEO Ray Brownlee<br />
said: “Cats make<br />
cute and cuddly pets,<br />
but they can also<br />
be a big problem<br />
for our precious<br />
native wildlife on the<br />
Northern Beaches,<br />
if allowed to roam<br />
unchecked. This<br />
is a very worthy<br />
initiative to provide<br />
education and advice<br />
to communities on<br />
the importance of<br />
containing their<br />
cats safely at home.<br />
Council will work with<br />
local veterinarians,<br />
companion animal<br />
groups, cat owners,<br />
and wildlife groups to change attitudes<br />
and behaviours in the community towards<br />
responsible cat ownership.”<br />
More info rspcansw.org.au/safecats<br />
News<br />
28 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 29
News<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> News<br />
Continued from page 29<br />
of <strong>Pittwater</strong>’s heritage and<br />
values will be held at the<br />
Mona Vale Memorial Hall<br />
on Sunday <strong>July</strong> 24. The free<br />
forum is being held to discuss<br />
a position that the <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Environmental Heritage<br />
Group might take to Council<br />
as it develops its new Local<br />
Environment Plan for the<br />
Northern Beaches. Organiser<br />
Anna Maria Monticelli said<br />
speakers at the forum would<br />
include landscape architect<br />
Craig Burton and young<br />
architect Sacha Lesiuk, with<br />
others to be confirmed. “We’re<br />
losing <strong>Pittwater</strong> on our watch.<br />
The current avalanche of<br />
development is destroying the<br />
character and environment<br />
in our area forever,” Ms<br />
Monticelli said. “<strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
needs urgent protection – so<br />
we encourage residents to<br />
come to this forum to hear<br />
how we can do this. There<br />
needs to be a rules-based<br />
LEP/DCP approved by the<br />
community that is not up for<br />
interpretation or compromise<br />
– this includes incorporating<br />
heritage elements throughout<br />
the area, to preserve our<br />
natural habitat and lifestyle.”<br />
The forum runs 3pm-5.30pm;<br />
more info email pittwaterenvironmentalheritage@<br />
gmail.com<br />
Newport fundraiser<br />
Nina Imani boost<br />
The local community dug<br />
deep last month, raising<br />
nearly $10,000 for the<br />
Nina Imani Foundation at<br />
a fun trivia night at the<br />
Newport Surf Club. Nina<br />
Imani supports young and<br />
impoverished women in<br />
Tanzania to learn trades<br />
and become self-sufficient.<br />
Organiser and Newport<br />
resident Kathy Hofmann<br />
said: “I am so happy with<br />
the outcome and want to<br />
thank all our generous<br />
sponsors; I was overwhelmed<br />
by the support of the local<br />
business community –<br />
almost every business we<br />
approached contributed to<br />
the cause.” Kathy said food<br />
for the fundraiser on June 25,<br />
featuring a silent auction, a<br />
raffle, a variety of games and<br />
trivia, was donated by local<br />
restaurants and delicatessens,<br />
with donated vouchers for<br />
restaurants, shops and other<br />
businesses in high demand,<br />
as well as local artworks.<br />
More info ninaimani.org<br />
Locals ‘satisfied’ with<br />
Council performance<br />
Council says results from<br />
the latest independently<br />
conducted Community<br />
Satisfaction Research Survey<br />
show that overall, 88% of<br />
residents had been satisfied<br />
with its performance over<br />
the past year. The telephone<br />
survey of 600 randomly<br />
selected residents across all<br />
wards was undertaken by<br />
market research consultants<br />
Micomex Research. The<br />
survey looked at longterm<br />
trends in community<br />
satisfaction and priorities<br />
across a broad range of<br />
Council services and facilities.<br />
Mayor Michael Regan said<br />
the results were reflective<br />
of the organisation’s vision<br />
and values. “It has been a<br />
challenging 12 months with<br />
COVID… We can always strive<br />
to do better but it’s pleasing<br />
to receive results which<br />
recognise the dedication and<br />
commitment of our hardworking<br />
staff.” Cr Regan<br />
said the survey established<br />
a consolidated baseline for<br />
Council’s services and would<br />
be considered as part of its<br />
ongoing strategic planning.<br />
Other highlights included:<br />
81% of residents who had<br />
contact with a Council<br />
staff member in the past<br />
12 months said they were<br />
‘somewhat satisfied’ to ‘very<br />
satisfied’; the community<br />
rated their highest<br />
satisfaction with lifeguards,<br />
libraries, food safety and the<br />
Warringah and Manly Aquatic<br />
Centres; quality of life on<br />
Continued on page 32<br />
Get your ice skates on<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> RSL is revisiting the ice skating spectacular it<br />
had planned for last year before the COVID lockdown<br />
hit the Northern Beaches.<br />
From <strong>July</strong> 9-17, you can book a 45-minute ice-skating<br />
session at their specially installed rink located within<br />
their undercover car park. Tickets are from $15 (and<br />
Service NSW Vouchers will be accepted up to June 30 when<br />
purchasing tickets in person at the Club).<br />
The Club is also running over-18s only ’90s ‘Disco<br />
Parties’ from 6pm on the weekend of 15-16 <strong>July</strong>; the<br />
45-minute Adult sessions cost $20 per person – plus halfprice<br />
frozen cocktails will be available.<br />
More info pittwaterrsl.com.au<br />
News<br />
30 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 31
News<br />
Pittwate<br />
Continued from page 31<br />
the Northern Beaches rated<br />
extremely high, with 99% of<br />
residents reporting it to be<br />
good or better (than 2021).<br />
Findings on Council’s website.<br />
Scan&Go at new<br />
Narrabeen Woolies<br />
Woolworths has relaunched<br />
its Narrabeen store with<br />
an expanded fresh food<br />
experience including an<br />
additional 300 new grocery<br />
products, ranging from<br />
chilled dairy goods to<br />
ready-made meals. The store<br />
will offer convenient and<br />
innovative shopping options<br />
including Scan&Go, which<br />
allows customers to scan<br />
products on their smartphone<br />
as they shop, securely pay in<br />
the app and skip check-out<br />
queues. Also on offer will be<br />
freshly baked, artisan-style<br />
breads; 100% Australian beef<br />
from Aussie farmers and an<br />
array of fresh, local seafood<br />
from the fish market. Other<br />
features include the Direct to<br />
Boot service, where customers<br />
place their orders online,<br />
then confirm when they’ve<br />
arrived in one of two marked<br />
bays via the Woolworths<br />
app or SMS link to notify the<br />
store team, who then pack<br />
the order in the boot with no<br />
additional charge. Narrabeen<br />
Woolworths says it’s<br />
dedicated to supporting the<br />
local community and proudly<br />
partners with OzHarvest,<br />
where their driver collects<br />
surplus fruit and vegetables<br />
to help provide meals to<br />
locals in need.<br />
Back To School<br />
payment boost<br />
Parents will receive help<br />
to pay for school supplies<br />
thanks to a new $193 million<br />
program in the <strong>2022</strong>-23 NSW<br />
Budget. The Premier’s ‘Back to<br />
School’ program will provide<br />
families with a $150 subsidy<br />
for each child who attends a<br />
primary or secondary school<br />
in NSW in 2023. Premier<br />
Dominic Perrottet said the<br />
program would help boost<br />
the family budget while<br />
ensuring kids have what they<br />
need when they head back<br />
into the classroom. The $150<br />
32 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
r News<br />
can go towards the cost of<br />
school uniforms, shoes, bags,<br />
textbooks or stationery; it<br />
will be made available via the<br />
Service NSW app from early<br />
2023 and must be drawn<br />
down by June 30, 2023.<br />
Bayview, Church<br />
Point foreshore<br />
getting upgraded<br />
Bayview and Church Point<br />
residents will benefit from<br />
upgrades along the <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
foreshore. A new sandstone<br />
seawall will be constructed<br />
at Bayview to ensure the<br />
ongoing structural integrity<br />
of <strong>Pittwater</strong> Road and the<br />
foreshore pathway will<br />
be widened to increase<br />
pedestrian safety. The<br />
works, funded by the NSW<br />
Government’s Metropolitan<br />
Greenspace program and<br />
Council, will also provide<br />
greater connectivity for<br />
residents and environmental<br />
benefits. Council is working<br />
closely with Bayview and<br />
Church Point Residents<br />
Association. Local MP Rob<br />
Stokes said; “There’s been<br />
fantastic collaboration<br />
between the community,<br />
Council and State Government<br />
and it’s great we’ve now<br />
secured the funds to progress<br />
the works.”<br />
Mackellar Voices<br />
says thank you<br />
Community group Voices<br />
of Mackellar (VOM) has<br />
congratulated Dr Sophie<br />
Scamps on her federal<br />
election win and says it is<br />
proud that her six-months<br />
tenure as a founding<br />
committee member gave Dr<br />
Scamps direct experience<br />
consulting with the<br />
community via early ‘Kitchen<br />
Table Conversations’. The<br />
committee said it appreciated<br />
her early role to establish VOM<br />
as an important contributor<br />
to community. “We look<br />
forward to the role we<br />
endeavour to play ensuring<br />
community voices continue<br />
to be heard and counted.”<br />
The committee also thanked<br />
outgoing MP Jason Falinski for<br />
his service for the past two<br />
terms and acknowledged the<br />
heavy workload undertaken<br />
and the personal sacrifices<br />
that Mr Falinski and all<br />
parliamentarians made on a<br />
daily basis.<br />
Curtain up for Players<br />
Elanora Players are back<br />
treading the boards with<br />
their first performance since<br />
January 2020!<br />
Mr Bennet’s Bride, written<br />
by Australian playwright<br />
Emma Wood and directed<br />
by Vicki Castorina, will run<br />
at their new home – North<br />
Narrabeen Community<br />
Centre in Woorarra Avenue –<br />
from <strong>July</strong> 8-16.<br />
COVID was not the only<br />
obstacle to its return.<br />
Said director Vicki: “After<br />
two years of waiting, the<br />
patient cast were in place – with the exception of a young<br />
man to play James Bennet.<br />
“This role was proving impossible to cast,” she<br />
explained. “On May 3, the cast and I assembled to discuss<br />
doing another play when… (with apologies to Casablanca)<br />
of all the community halls, in all the towns, he walked into<br />
ours!<br />
“We had our James (Patrick Richardson), and the play<br />
could go on.”<br />
Tickets ($35, $28 concession) selling fast; bookings<br />
ticketebo.com.au<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
Vet on call<br />
with Dr Brown<br />
Does your dog have bad breath, discoloured teeth or difficulty<br />
eating? Dogs can’t brush their teeth, but just like people, they<br />
are at risk of developing dental problems because bacteria and<br />
plaque accumulate on their teeth contributing to gum disease or<br />
gingivitis –which can be painful and also lead to bacteria entering<br />
the bloodstream and circulating to affect other body organs.<br />
Over 80% of dogs develop dental disease by the age of three.<br />
Dental disease can often be hidden from sight, with unhealthy<br />
teeth contributing to pain and other diseases. During <strong>July</strong> and<br />
August, Sydney Animal Hospitals are offering free dental checks<br />
by our veterinary nurses, along with reduced price dental<br />
procedures and discounts on dental pet foods.<br />
Regular health checks with our veterinary team are so<br />
important, so that we can examine your pet and discuss any<br />
dental treatment or preventative management that may be<br />
required to help keep your dog’s teeth healthy.<br />
Some tell-tale signs that your dog may require a dental<br />
treatment include if they have bad breath or if they have<br />
yellow or brown tartar deposits on their teeth – as normal<br />
healthy teeth should always be white. If there is a red line<br />
along the gum margins around the teeth, this usually indicates<br />
gingivitis – or inflammation and infection of the gums.<br />
Our veterinary team will discuss with you the appropriate<br />
treatment options available to manage your dog’s dental<br />
health. This may include a dental scale and polish procedure<br />
performed under a general anaesthetic to clean and protect<br />
the teeth. Using dog dental chews can also be helpful, as these<br />
products help to draw plaque and tartar off the teeth helping<br />
to keep the teeth clean. Special dental foods are also available<br />
to help reduce the risk of dental disease in your dog.<br />
Much like people brushing their teeth to keep them clean,<br />
you can also brush your dog’s teeth using a dog toothbrush and<br />
special dog toothpaste. This mechanical brushing action against<br />
the teeth surface will help slow the build-up of plaque and tartar.<br />
Recognising when your dog’s teeth require veterinary<br />
attention, seeking advice from our veterinary team and<br />
implementing the appropriate treatment will ensure that your<br />
dog remains happy and healthy into their older years.<br />
During <strong>July</strong> and August the team at Sydney Animal Hospitals<br />
are providing free vet nurse dental checks to examine your<br />
dog for signs of dental disease, along with reduced price<br />
dental treatments and discounted Hill’s dental food. This offer<br />
is valid until the 31st August <strong>2022</strong> (Ts&Cs apply).<br />
For more information contact our team at Avalon<br />
(9918 0833) or Newport (9997 4609) or book online<br />
sydneyanimalhospitals.com.au<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 33<br />
News
<strong>Life</strong> Stories<br />
Secrets<br />
agent<br />
Anita Jacoby spent 35<br />
years telling other people’s<br />
stories all over the world –<br />
before she used her<br />
investigative journalist<br />
skills to uncover the many<br />
long-held secrets buried deeply<br />
within her own family.<br />
and the two of them spent hours most<br />
weekends in his study.<br />
“He would challenge my opinions and<br />
stimulate my intellect and encourage me<br />
to believe that anything in life was possible.”<br />
He encouraged her to question the<br />
status quo, and instilled in her the belief<br />
that as a young woman she could do anything<br />
she dreamt of.<br />
Anita’s first job was for Paul Hamlyn<br />
publishers before she moved to The Australian<br />
Women’s Weekly (working under<br />
editor Ita Buttrose), before she landed her<br />
first role in television as a researcher on<br />
Simon Townsend’s Wonder World!<br />
Aged 19, Anita moved into the holiday<br />
house at Paradise Beach, and Avalon has<br />
been her home ever since.<br />
In the mid-’80s she bought a captain’s<br />
cottage where she lived for more than 30<br />
years, until four years ago when she and<br />
husband John moved into their current<br />
home overlooking <strong>Pittwater</strong>.<br />
“I’ve travelled all over the world and<br />
made multiple trips every year for work,<br />
and every time I return and go around<br />
Bilgola Bends I feel a sense of calm. I have<br />
never found anywhere as beautiful as<br />
this area,” she says, “and there is such a<br />
strong community here.”<br />
This vivacious woman has had a stellar<br />
career in television. In 1987 Anita was<br />
headhunted from TEN’s Good Morning<br />
Australia to work on the Today Show,<br />
Nine’s breakfast program. At the time the<br />
station was very much a ‘boys club’. She<br />
worked on Today for nearly three years as<br />
the 2IC and to her frustration three times<br />
had been passed over for the top role of<br />
executive producer, despite essentially<br />
doing that job.<br />
Her father mentored her through her<br />
disappointment, advising her not to put<br />
up with the entrenched misogyny she<br />
was encountering, or be afraid of taking<br />
a risk, so she resigned. Two days later she<br />
was offered a position as associate producer<br />
on 60 Minutes, which in the late ’80s<br />
was Australia’s highest-rating television<br />
show. It was an opportunity she could not<br />
turn down.<br />
In 1990, a horrific motorbike accident<br />
almost ended Anita’s career.<br />
Riding as a pillion passenger on the<br />
family farm in Boggabri in north-western<br />
NSW, Anita lost her balance while travelling<br />
over an uneven cattle grid. Her right<br />
leg became entangled in the back wheel,<br />
causing traumatic life-threatening injuries<br />
and a critical loss of blood.<br />
At Tamworth Hospital, doctors had to<br />
amputate her leg below the knee.<br />
Now this fit young woman faced the reality<br />
that for the rest of her life she would<br />
not only be in constant pain, but forced to<br />
live with a prosthetic leg.<br />
Her father was devastated.<br />
Anita was determined that her life<br />
and all that she would achieve was not<br />
going to be defined by her disability.<br />
She has seldom shared the story of what<br />
happened to her, and only included it in<br />
the book because she believes it was a<br />
contributor to her father’s Alzheimer’s<br />
disease.<br />
“To write about it I had to re-live what<br />
happened, which I had never done. I<br />
found that very confronting.”<br />
After the accident she had to learn to<br />
walk again… and much more.<br />
Avalon locals Mike and Nola Kadwell<br />
owned the old squash courts close to the<br />
Fire Station and encouraged her to get<br />
back on the court.<br />
“Nola, who had both her knees reconstructed,<br />
taught me how to stand in the<br />
Continued on page 36<br />
<strong>Life</strong> Stories<br />
Story by Rosamund Burton<br />
One morning in 2013, award-winning<br />
television producer Anita<br />
Jacoby got out of Bilgola Beach<br />
ocean pool after her morning swim to<br />
find a gilt-edge notebook and a handwritten<br />
note from a local resident, Alf<br />
Lindberg, on her beach towel.<br />
“In this book you can jot down your<br />
thoughts and observations on Places,<br />
People, Happenings and Adventures. I feel<br />
one day you will write a book about it all.”<br />
It had never crossed Anita’s mind to<br />
write a book, but several months later,<br />
her husband John Cary and she were at a<br />
family dinner party. Anita had just been<br />
appointed managing director of the Australian<br />
operations of Britain’s ITV Studios,<br />
one of few women to be appointed to such<br />
a senior role in media.<br />
“I so wish Dad was still around to see<br />
me in charge of a company as big as ITV.<br />
He would have been so proud,” Anita said.<br />
She had been very close to her father,<br />
Phillip Jacoby, and had an unshakeable<br />
bond with him. The table fell silent and<br />
then someone asked Anita if she knew<br />
about the infamous court case in the<br />
early 1950s involving her father.<br />
Anita knew nothing about it, and the<br />
question was a turning point for her. She<br />
had been a producer on many popular programs<br />
including 60 Minutes, Sunday and<br />
Today. More recently she had worked with<br />
Andrew Denton as executive producer on<br />
Enough Rope and The Gruen Transfer. She<br />
had told stories about Sir David Attenborough,<br />
Bill Clinton, Jane Fonda and Princess<br />
Mary, to name a few. But now, having spent<br />
35 years telling other people’s stories, she<br />
used her investigative journalist skills to<br />
find out about her own family history. It<br />
was the start of a nine-year project and<br />
the publication of her page-turning book,<br />
‘Secrets Beyond the Screen’.<br />
She knew her father was a German<br />
political refugee, and because of his<br />
part-Jewish ancestry, he was forced to flee<br />
Nazi Germany in the mid-1930s. He had<br />
arrived alone and penniless in Australia,<br />
before becoming a pioneer in Australia’s<br />
communications industry and an extremely<br />
successful businessman.<br />
Anita’s mother Josephine Horak was<br />
a Russian-Czech born in Manchuria and<br />
also a political refugee. They married in<br />
1954; Anita and her younger brother Karl<br />
were brought up by parents who focused<br />
on looking forward and seizing opportunities,<br />
rather than dwelling on their turbulent<br />
pasts. The family lived at Killara<br />
on Sydney’s North Shore, but always had<br />
strong ties to <strong>Pittwater</strong>.<br />
Anita was only 18 months old when<br />
the Jacoby’s first stayed in prominent<br />
artist Sali Herman’s son Ted’s home on<br />
three acres in Chisholm Avenue at Avalon<br />
Beach. Phillip and Josephine Jacoby<br />
were enchanted by <strong>Pittwater</strong> and in 1964<br />
they bought an old cottage overlooking<br />
Paradise Beach. From then on, the family<br />
spent their holidays and most weekends<br />
there. At every opportunity, Anita was in<br />
the ocean either swimming, bodysurfing<br />
or riding a surfboard.<br />
She was the apple of her father’s eye,<br />
34 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT: Anita’s new book; with Mum Josephine and<br />
brother Karl at Killara; Carla Zampatti with Anita’s Dad Phillip; on location<br />
in London with John Laws; one of Anita’s last visits to the family farm near<br />
Boggabri; with husband John; with 60 Minutes colleague Jennifer Byrne (pic<br />
courtesy Foxtel); a precious moment with Phillip during his struggle with<br />
Alzheimer’s disease; Anita in surfie mode with her much-loved kneeboard.<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 35
<strong>Life</strong> Stories<br />
Continued from page 35<br />
T and dominate the squash<br />
court, forcing the other player<br />
do the running.” Anita went<br />
on to play competition squash.<br />
She is also a keen skier, a<br />
SCUBA diver, and swims every<br />
day.<br />
Alzheimer’s disease saw<br />
Phillip’s health and wellbeing<br />
go downhill over a six-year<br />
period. He died in 1996 aged<br />
85. Seventeen years after<br />
his death, Anita’s research<br />
revealed far more about the<br />
father she adored and thought<br />
she knew so well.<br />
She learned about Phillip’s<br />
matrimonial relationships…<br />
a complicated and astonishing<br />
history involving several<br />
women before her mother<br />
Josephine, two tragedies and<br />
even suicides.<br />
“I’d always considered Dad<br />
to be steadfast and loyal,”<br />
writes Anita, and it was a<br />
great shock to discover that<br />
her father had fallen in and<br />
out of love with disastrous<br />
consequences.<br />
With the outbreak of World<br />
War II Phillip was considered<br />
an “enemy alien” and interned,<br />
despite having fled persecution<br />
in Nazi Germany. But after convincing<br />
authorities he was not<br />
a danger to national security,<br />
in 1947 he was recruited by<br />
Britain, at the recommendation<br />
of the Australian Government,<br />
to conduct an industrial espionage<br />
mission in Germany. His<br />
mission was for a month, but<br />
he was away six months. Anita<br />
surmises he was establishing<br />
work contacts, but reflects:<br />
“Half a year was a long time<br />
to be away from his young<br />
family.”<br />
Less than two months after<br />
his return, Phillip went to<br />
work as usual one day; that<br />
afternoon his then wife was<br />
found dead in their kitchen,<br />
having taken her own life.<br />
Anita finds it difficult to<br />
reconcile that her father, who<br />
was so aware of her feelings,<br />
had been unaware of the inner<br />
turmoil of the women in his<br />
life. “It’s hard,” she writes,<br />
“but I have to accept there was<br />
another side to Dad.”<br />
A further surprise was her<br />
father’s brief third marriage<br />
to Bonnie Snellgrove, a sexy,<br />
heavy-drinking brunette…<br />
a relationship that ended in<br />
tears and a messy divorce. It<br />
was learning about this court<br />
case at the family dinner party<br />
in 2013 which first led Anita to<br />
start researching her father’s<br />
life.<br />
“I never anticipated all the<br />
extraordinary things I would<br />
find out about my father,” says<br />
Anita. Although much of what<br />
she discovered has been confronting<br />
it has also given her a<br />
greater understanding of this<br />
man, who had been a friend<br />
and mentor to fashion icon<br />
Carla Zampatti, given 22-yearold<br />
Dick Smith his first sales<br />
job, and had John Howard as<br />
his commercial lawyer before<br />
he went into federal politics.<br />
Anita says she feels a profound<br />
sadness she’ll never be<br />
able to talk to her father about<br />
her findings. She hopes that<br />
‘Secrets Beyond the Screen’<br />
will provoke readers to think<br />
about talking to their parents<br />
and loved ones about their<br />
lives whilst they can.<br />
“Writing this book is the<br />
hardest thing I’ve ever done,”<br />
says Anita. “As a journalist,<br />
it’s all about telling other people’s<br />
stories, never your own.<br />
I stubbornly danced around<br />
‘finding my voice’, remaining<br />
fixated on telling Dad’s<br />
story with no intention of ever<br />
revealing anything of a deeply<br />
personal nature. Yet here we<br />
are nine years later… and of<br />
course I did.”<br />
For the past eight years<br />
Anita has been an Associate<br />
Member of the Australian<br />
Communications and Media<br />
Authority; she is on the boards<br />
of Chief Executive Women,<br />
Documentary Australia and<br />
Women in Media; and recently<br />
she was appointed Chair of<br />
the ABC’s Advisory Council. In<br />
2019 she was awarded a Member<br />
of the Order of Australia<br />
(AM) for significant services to<br />
broadcasting and print media<br />
and to community mental<br />
health groups.<br />
Her next project is to track<br />
down other relatives who were<br />
in Germany before WWII, and<br />
their descendants, who are<br />
now probably scattered all<br />
over the world, and to learn<br />
about their stories.<br />
But first, with the world<br />
opening again after COVID<br />
lockdowns, she is keen to<br />
travel again.<br />
*‘Secrets Beyond the Screen’ is<br />
published by Ventura Press.<br />
<strong>Life</strong> Stories<br />
36 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 37
Hot Property<br />
Northern Beaches homes<br />
tick all boxes on searches<br />
Hot Property<br />
There’s been significant<br />
change in what people<br />
want in a property since<br />
the global pandemic.<br />
And the good news for local<br />
property owners is many of<br />
the features that home hunters<br />
have been searching for can<br />
be found in our neck of the<br />
woods, according to data gathered<br />
by the online property<br />
site Domain.<br />
Australian homebuyers are<br />
largely driven by lifestyle and<br />
nothing showcases this more<br />
than keyword searches, said<br />
the author of the Domain Spotlight<br />
Report – NSW, Dr Nicola<br />
Powell.<br />
“NSW buyers are wanting so<br />
much more from their homes<br />
– waterfront suburbs and the<br />
added lifestyle luxury of a<br />
swimming pool,” she said.<br />
“Housing preferences initially<br />
triggered through pandemic<br />
lockdowns remain a firm<br />
favourite also – outdoor space,<br />
lifestyle additions and, of<br />
course, a study.”<br />
A home office remained a<br />
priority for Sydney buyers as<br />
many employees continued to<br />
work from home or opt for a<br />
hybrid approach.<br />
Rising through the “keyword<br />
ranks” was the added extra of<br />
a granny flat.<br />
“There is a plethora of<br />
benefits from this extra space,<br />
providing the ability to convert<br />
to a dedicated working space<br />
KEYS TO SUCCESS: Swimming pool, oceanfront, outdoor space, selfcontained<br />
studio plus a home office at 18-20 Rayner Road Whale Beach.<br />
separated from the home, the<br />
option to have an older generation<br />
stay long term, or the<br />
potential for extra income,” Dr<br />
Powell said.<br />
“It’s understandable why<br />
searching for a ‘granny flat’<br />
has become more common<br />
across NSW.”<br />
Location is top of mind – as<br />
“waterfront”, “view”, “river”<br />
and “beach” all rank in the top<br />
keyword searches on Domain<br />
in NSW.<br />
Outdoor areas continued<br />
to be desirable with “garden”,<br />
“courtyard” and “balcony” high<br />
on a Sydney buyer’s wish list.<br />
“The importance of a dedicated<br />
workspace is a priority,<br />
with the search for “study” the<br />
second most used keyword in<br />
Sydney,” Dr Powell said.<br />
“In Sydney, the top 10 are a<br />
combination of location, outdoor<br />
space, lifestyle features,<br />
the type of home and affordability.”<br />
Other snippets of interest<br />
from the report confirmed<br />
all suburbs in the Northern<br />
Beaches area have a median<br />
house price of over $1million,<br />
with the area also boasting<br />
the most million-dollar unit<br />
suburbs in Sydney.<br />
Palm Beach saw house prices<br />
rise by a whopping 50.2 per<br />
cent over the past 12 months<br />
alone and Whale Beach was<br />
one of the top 10 Sydney<br />
suburbs with the most views<br />
per listing – all the most desirable<br />
suburbs were in coastal<br />
pockets bar one, the inner-city<br />
suburb of Darlington.<br />
While Sydney house prices<br />
are dropping for the first<br />
time in nearly two years, local<br />
Cunninghams agent Jonathan<br />
Fletcher says activity and<br />
transactions were remaining<br />
consistent in the Northern<br />
Beaches real estate market.<br />
“We have an unrivalled<br />
nature-rich, beachside lifestyle<br />
and the demand for that never<br />
waivers,” Mr Fletcher reports in<br />
his market update.<br />
“Both new buyers and<br />
new listings are entering the<br />
marketplace which is bringing<br />
equilibrium to the playing field<br />
and a price alignment.<br />
“Generally, we are seeing<br />
buyers being more considered<br />
and in some cases holding<br />
back as they assess the market<br />
conditions and their increase<br />
in choice.<br />
“Strong results are still<br />
occurring on the Northern<br />
Beaches, especially with properties<br />
that tick buyers’ criteria<br />
boxes and offer a compelling<br />
emotional appeal,” he said.<br />
Locals in NSW<br />
Architecture Awards<br />
Several local projects, designs<br />
and architects are among the<br />
100-plus entries shortlisted<br />
in the <strong>2022</strong> NSW Architecture<br />
Awards which are announced<br />
this month.<br />
This year, the Australian<br />
Institute of Architects sought<br />
Continued on page 40<br />
38 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Hot Property<br />
Relaxed coastal living<br />
Avalon Beach<br />
152 Cabarita Road<br />
4 beds / 2.5 baths / For Lease<br />
With intimate, uninterrupted views of Careel Bay and beyond,<br />
this property is the perfect sanctuary for coastal living.<br />
North-facing, its high, cathedral ceilings and open-plan design<br />
create an abundance of natural light throughout.<br />
Property features include: Modern open-plan kitchen with<br />
gas cooktop and Miele dishwasher overlooking incredible water<br />
views; 4 bedrooms (all with built-in wardrobes); spacious master<br />
bedroom and ensuite with separate bathtub; second living area/<br />
rumpus room downstairs; open rustic copper fireplace; and plenty<br />
of street parking for guests<br />
Six-month lease – $1850 per week.<br />
* Contact the leasing agents @ LJ Hooker Avalon Beach:<br />
Sian Uther (0439 844 743) or Lauren Fisher (0499 154 655).<br />
Private touch of paradise<br />
Avalon Beach<br />
51 Therry Street<br />
6 Bed / 3 Bath / 3 car<br />
Enjoy tranquil vistas and privacy from this flexible tri-level home,<br />
with outdoor spaces in which to relax and entertain.<br />
Its sun-dappled interiors offer seamless transition to a resortstyle<br />
rear yard, crowned by a top-floor parents retreat and a<br />
lower-level two-bedroom self-contained flat ideal for multigeneration<br />
living or potential income (STCA).<br />
Set in a peaceful cul-de-sac just moments to Careel Bay Marina,<br />
transport, schools, village shops, and Avalon Beach, its features<br />
include a stone-crafted kitchen with stainless steel appliances overlooking<br />
the heated pool; separate dining area with timber floors<br />
flowing directly to outdoor living; alfresco entertaining deck.<br />
* Contact the listing agents @ LJ Hooker Avalon Beach: Peter<br />
Robinson (0401 219 077) or Rebecca Hammond (0488 004 052).<br />
Continued from page 38<br />
entries across 11 categories<br />
covering all architectural angles<br />
such as commercial, residential,<br />
interior, sustainability, educational,<br />
urban design and heritage<br />
etc – with some shortlisted<br />
across multiple categories.<br />
Cadence & Co’s Charlotte<br />
Park at Terrey Hills, Matt Elkan’s<br />
Tsubo Niwa, Richard Smith’s<br />
Chisholm House (shortlisted<br />
in the Residential Architecture<br />
Houses (New) category, picture<br />
by Michael Nicholson right),<br />
Peter Stutchbury Architecture<br />
and Oscar Martin’s Dimensions<br />
X OM1, Ava Shirley with Noah<br />
Shirley’s Kin House and the<br />
refurbishment of the Palm Beach<br />
Surf Club by Allen Jack + Cottier<br />
(AJ+C) are just a few of the<br />
projects with links to our area<br />
that are in contention for these<br />
prestigious awards.<br />
The winners from each state<br />
and territory will progress to<br />
be considered for the National<br />
Awards which will be announced<br />
in November.<br />
SHORTLISTED: Richard Smith’s Chisholm House.<br />
40 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Art <strong>Life</strong><br />
Art <strong>Life</strong><br />
Artists’ studios are open<br />
Ever wanted to get inside the<br />
head of a creative person – a<br />
writer, a painter, a dancer – to<br />
experience the world as they see<br />
it? The members of the <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Artists Trail can offer you just<br />
such a glimpse. Over the weekend<br />
of <strong>July</strong> 23-24, you are invited to<br />
step inside their workspaces, see<br />
their tools, preparatory sketches,<br />
and more importantly watch<br />
them work on new pieces.<br />
See pen put to paper, brush to<br />
canvas, hammer to metal. Watch<br />
as the artists attempt to distil the<br />
breadth of the ocean, capture the<br />
moment of a smile, or celebrate<br />
Nada’s art by the Bay<br />
Avalon Beach artist Nada Herman’s new exhibition<br />
‘Uplifting’ will help raise much-needed funds for<br />
local youth mental health charity One Eighty.<br />
Uplifting will be launched at The Studio at Careel<br />
Bay Marina on <strong>July</strong> 7 at 5pm and run for the whole<br />
month; a percentage of sales will be donated.<br />
The Studio at Careel Bay Marina is an initiative<br />
of Amy and Matthew Young (pictured, with Nada)<br />
of Laing+Simmons Young Property, to support local<br />
artists and causes through exhibitions each month.<br />
“<strong>July</strong>’s exhibition will resonate with everyone –<br />
this locally inspired collection depicts the beauty of<br />
nature in an evocative and meaningful way, capturing<br />
the essence of <strong>Pittwater</strong> to lift spirits and raise<br />
the simple beauty of a flower.<br />
There are 11 different studios<br />
to visit (pictured: Stef Tarasov);<br />
details can be found on the website<br />
or pick up a trail brochure<br />
which has been distributed widely<br />
in shops and council buildings<br />
across <strong>Pittwater</strong>. Have fun planning<br />
your route through the regions<br />
– moving from Palm Beach<br />
down through Avalon, Clareville<br />
and Newport; on to Mona Vale<br />
and Church Point; then head up<br />
Mona Vale Road to take in the<br />
bush settings in Ingleside and<br />
Terrey Hills.<br />
With more than 25 artisans<br />
participating across the weekend,<br />
you would be hard pressed to not<br />
find something which speaks to<br />
you. – Susan Peacock<br />
*Studios open 10am-5pm; more<br />
info pittwaterartiststrail.com<br />
money for an important cause at the same time,”<br />
Amy said.<br />
Uplifting is open 8am-4pm Monday to Saturday,<br />
and Sundays from 8am to 12pm.<br />
*More info 0422 225 227<br />
Women are in focus during NAIDOC Week<br />
chre Woman’ is an exhibi-<br />
of 10 First Nations ‘Otion<br />
women, living or culturally associated<br />
with Gai-mariagal Country,<br />
Northern Beaches.<br />
The exhibition by Heidi Lee<br />
Warta during NAIDOC Week (<strong>July</strong><br />
1-10) will feature weaving workshops<br />
and guest speakers from<br />
some of the women in focus.<br />
Using charcoal, pastel and<br />
ochre, portrait drawings by Heidi<br />
Lee have been applied to large<br />
eco-dye fabrics, which is an<br />
expression of the artists’ love and<br />
connection to the original culture<br />
of the land.<br />
*Free exhibition; The Creative<br />
Space, North Curl Curl. Tickets<br />
trybooking.com (ochre woman).<br />
Other<br />
shows this<br />
month…<br />
Eye Doctors Mona<br />
Vale are seeking<br />
new artists for their<br />
seasonal exhibitions;<br />
email enquiries@<br />
eyedoctorsmonavale.<br />
com.au. Meanwhile<br />
self-taught local outdoors<br />
artist Stephen<br />
Mann’s exhibition<br />
continues in Winter;<br />
his work specialises in<br />
capturing moments of<br />
tranquility along the<br />
coastline from Palm<br />
Beach to Manly.<br />
Melbourne’s Heide<br />
Museum of Modern<br />
Art is exhibiting<br />
‘Bruce Munro:<br />
From Sunrise Road’<br />
until October 16. The<br />
celebrated artist,<br />
responsible for the<br />
iconic Field of Light<br />
at Uluru, lived at Palm<br />
Beach in the 1980s<br />
and the exhibition<br />
features work inspired<br />
by the area. More info<br />
Heide.com.au<br />
Head to Glen Street<br />
Theatre on Saturday<br />
<strong>July</strong> 9 for ‘30 Something’<br />
– a comedy/<br />
cabaret performance<br />
taking audiences back<br />
to 1939, looking at the<br />
speak-easy days via<br />
a 21st Century lens.<br />
Supported by a live<br />
band with music from<br />
artists Cab Calloway<br />
to Lady Gaga, Prince<br />
and more. Glenstreet.<br />
com.au<br />
46 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Surfing <strong>Life</strong><br />
with Nick Carroll<br />
NICK’S JULY SURF FORECAST<br />
That was June – wow, what<br />
a swell time was had by all<br />
The month the outer reefs began to break and people travelled to Sydney to surf<br />
June can be topped, I know it. I just don’t know if <strong>July</strong>’s the<br />
month to do it. La Niña is more or less gone for now, but her<br />
Indian Ocean cousin, the IOD or Indian Ocean Dipole, has gone<br />
negative, which means warm waters pooling near NW Australia.<br />
That warmth will trigger something down the track for sure, but<br />
possibly not through <strong>July</strong> which looks as if it may be dominated<br />
by a series of huge Southern Ocean storms building right now<br />
between South Africa and WA. Watch for a steady series of south<br />
swells through the first half of the month, then watch for a change<br />
in the second half to something potentially a bit sketchier.<br />
Surfing <strong>Life</strong><br />
In case you were wondering<br />
why I missed last month’s<br />
column, I went to California<br />
in May. What an interesting<br />
place it is at present! California<br />
is not representative of<br />
all the US; indeed the more<br />
time you spend anywhere in<br />
the US, the more you realise<br />
it is not easily represented by<br />
anything or anyone. But while<br />
I was in California, everything<br />
and everyone seemed vaguely<br />
subdued. The huge cars and<br />
loud voices I could recall from<br />
the past have gone, replaced<br />
by a populace that seems a bit<br />
stunned following the events of<br />
the past six years. You can see<br />
it on people’s faces: Did all that<br />
really happen? Was he really the<br />
President? Is China bigger than<br />
us yet?<br />
Oh, and a lot of electric vehicles.<br />
You couldn’t throw a stone<br />
without hitting a Tesla.<br />
Anyway, the surf was not<br />
very good at all, so I came back<br />
here. And wandered into the<br />
finest surfing month of the<br />
year.<br />
June often lights up in La<br />
Niña years, and this has been a<br />
La Niña year of terrific proportions.<br />
It began on January 1<br />
with a good, solid cyclone swell<br />
from TC Seth, and it almost<br />
never stopped, not until the<br />
rains came and chased us all<br />
WATCH THE DROP: Chris McKellen riding the inside bombie at Long Reef<br />
out of the suddenly sewageladen<br />
water. By the time that<br />
cleared, I was in California.<br />
Then June began, and threw<br />
the switch straight to winter.<br />
A south-west change blew<br />
across the corner of Australia,<br />
pulling a bouncy and slightly<br />
ominous pulse of southerly<br />
swell behind it. The change<br />
brought early snow to the<br />
mountains and an early move<br />
to full wetsuits for the NSW<br />
surfing population.<br />
On Friday, June 3, more<br />
energy came in behind that<br />
first surge. Winter swells are<br />
so distinct. They come up from<br />
real cold-water places far to<br />
our south and drive up through<br />
the Tasman Sea, missing some<br />
parts of the coast and really<br />
connecting with others, rising<br />
so quickly that when it happens<br />
during daylight hours, you can<br />
drive away from near-flatness<br />
at 10am and return to a rapidly<br />
eroding sand line by lunch.<br />
June 3’s surge came in just like<br />
that: not there at breakfast<br />
PHOTO: Fabio Silvestre<br />
time, staying half-visible in<br />
some places, and bombing in<br />
others. If you were at Collaroy<br />
that afternoon and hoping to<br />
surf, you’d have shrugged and<br />
gone home – but on the other<br />
side of Long Reef, the bombies<br />
were triple overhead.<br />
The wind turned slowly<br />
through the day, bending from<br />
flat south-west through to a<br />
strange, near-northerly angle.<br />
Icy cloud layers built high in the<br />
atmosphere, dulling the late<br />
afternoon sun. Another cold<br />
front was on the way.<br />
Behind that approaching cold<br />
front, the best week of surf this<br />
year awaited.<br />
We were heading toward<br />
the Queen’s Birthday long<br />
weekend. Slowly, it unfolded:<br />
Tuesday a small to moderate<br />
swell building; Wednesday bigger<br />
and straighter, long swell<br />
lines arriving in many-wave sets<br />
at near clockwork intervals.<br />
This had nothing to do with<br />
La Niña, and everything to do<br />
with a huge expanse of south<br />
winds blowing off the Antarctic<br />
rim at 30-40 knots over<br />
maybe 1000 nautical miles of<br />
Southern Ocean, for days on<br />
end. The swell source was so<br />
far away it bore no relation to<br />
our local weather conditions,<br />
which stayed icy-dry and clear,<br />
the water now like glass – you<br />
could see the bottom in 10 metres<br />
of it. It felt like we were in<br />
Indonesia, or Hawaii, but chilly.<br />
And it kept pushing. By now<br />
the swell forecast was as clear<br />
as the water: that wind band<br />
was migrating north. Over the<br />
Queen’s Birthday weekend, it<br />
would lock in near Tasmania<br />
and blow 10 knots stronger for<br />
about a day, then blow up and<br />
dissipate into the Tasman.<br />
Saturday was perfect and bigger<br />
again. Outer reefs began to<br />
break: German Bank off Longy,<br />
Avericks off Avalon, Voodoo<br />
Reef off Cronulla. People began<br />
travelling to Sydney. To surf!<br />
The great big-wave rider Ross<br />
Clarke-Jones loaded up his<br />
jetski and favourite boards and<br />
did a 12-hour drive from his<br />
home in Victoria.<br />
Ross spent all of Sunday on<br />
the road, so he missed what<br />
happened late that afternoon.<br />
I have some guru mates in<br />
the forecasting business; they<br />
watched that wind near Tassie<br />
and told me: Sunday afternoon,<br />
3.30pm. OK, I thought, and<br />
headed down to the beach at<br />
4pm, and watched the surf<br />
literally double in size in 20<br />
minutes.<br />
I couldn’t think of anything<br />
other than: get out there.<br />
Nick Carroll<br />
The tide was coming toward<br />
a full moon mega high, and this<br />
new swell was overwhelming<br />
everything. I clambered around<br />
the back of Newport pool,<br />
dodging huge wash-throughs<br />
as they tore away at the soil at<br />
the cliff base. Rocks four times<br />
my size were being thrown<br />
around like kiddies’ bath toys.<br />
Outside, this swell was pushing<br />
waves of four metres and bigger<br />
up on the rock platform.<br />
Every now and then a bigger set<br />
would break all the way across<br />
from south Newport to Bilgola.<br />
I got wave after wave, dodging<br />
a few situations, and when it<br />
got a bit too dark, rode one in<br />
almost in front of the surf club,<br />
thinking, Hmm, I am definitely<br />
not in California any more.<br />
Everyone had high hopes<br />
for Monday, but it was kind of<br />
lame. The swell had peaked<br />
overnight, washing sand into<br />
the surf club and ripping<br />
away a bunch of fencing some<br />
optimistic landowners had used<br />
to beachfront their properties.<br />
But then it’d dropped back, and<br />
by morning the ocean had a<br />
wobble in it that spoke of spent<br />
energies.<br />
But heck! We’re barely past<br />
the Solstice. This winter’s got<br />
some legs, gang.<br />
Surfing <strong>Life</strong><br />
48 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 49
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Funds boost<br />
for menopause<br />
Women struggling with menopause<br />
symptoms will get access to specialist<br />
health services following a $40.3 million<br />
budget boost to help break down the<br />
stigma surrounding this stage of life.<br />
The NSW Government will establish 16<br />
‘holistic menopause services’ and four<br />
health hubs to provide expert advice for<br />
women experiencing severe menopausal<br />
symptoms and address the associated<br />
health risks such as fractures, risk of<br />
stroke and heart disease.<br />
A state-wide education and awareness<br />
campaign will mean we will all hear a lot<br />
more about the “taboo topic”.<br />
Menopause is a natural occurrence at<br />
the end of a woman’s reproductive years,<br />
when the production of the ‘female’ hormones<br />
oestrogen and progesterone slows,<br />
and menstruation stops.<br />
President of the Australasian Menopause<br />
Society Dr Karen Magraith said at least<br />
75 per cent of women would experience<br />
symptoms of menopause – for some, the<br />
symptoms will affect their ability to work<br />
and function.<br />
Some of the symptoms women may<br />
have included hot flushes and night<br />
sweats, problems sleeping, headaches,<br />
mood changes, forgetfulness, tiredness,<br />
aches and pains and reduced sex drive.<br />
Menopause can also trigger serious health<br />
risks for many women.<br />
“One of the consequences of the drop of<br />
oestrogen levels which comes with menopause<br />
was the increased risk of osteoporosis,”<br />
Dr Magraith said.<br />
“It’s not often realised at the time of<br />
menopause and may not be diagnosed<br />
until a woman has a fracture.<br />
“If this can be prevented via the creation<br />
of these new services, then that’s the<br />
goal.”<br />
Dr Magraith welcomed the education<br />
campaign to raise awareness of perimenopause<br />
and menopause, its impact on<br />
women and the supports available to help<br />
women manage before, during and after<br />
menopause.<br />
“Knowledge of, and education about,<br />
menopause is still quite limited given it<br />
has traditionally been a taboo topic,” she<br />
said.<br />
“In previous generations, women were<br />
expected to deal with it quietly, but<br />
today’s women expect information and<br />
treatment options.<br />
“Many of them are busy working and<br />
raising adolescent kids and caring for ageing<br />
parents and are expected to function<br />
at a very high level, despite debilitating<br />
symptoms.<br />
“They also need preventative and treatment<br />
options for the long-term effects<br />
which include not only osteoporosis but<br />
also heart disease.” – Lisa Offord<br />
Asthma alert<br />
Winter is a key time for mould and<br />
dust mites to multiply, releasing<br />
tiny spores into the air which can<br />
trigger asthma and allergy symptoms.<br />
National Asthma Council’s Sensitive<br />
Choice Program Manager Adele<br />
Taylor said for the 2.7 million Australians<br />
living with asthma, that can<br />
lead to serious flare-ups.<br />
“It is important to take control now<br />
to ensure you have a healthy home<br />
as higher indoor humidity levels<br />
make it easier for mould and dust<br />
mites to multiply,” Ms Taylor said.<br />
“The symptoms can include nose,<br />
eye, and skin irritation, sneezing or<br />
wheezing, and severe breathing difficulties<br />
in some people.”<br />
Ms Taylor said mould thrived in<br />
warm, damp environments and can<br />
make itself at home anywhere there<br />
is low air flow or excess moisture,<br />
such as built-in wardrobes and in<br />
bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms.<br />
“Be aware of signs such as condensation<br />
on your windows due to<br />
lack of air circulation, or a crack in a<br />
bathroom tile or pipe,” she said.<br />
“To help keep this space healthy,<br />
focus on good natural air circulation<br />
and use extractor fans,” she said.<br />
Another common asthma trigger<br />
during winter can be dust mites.<br />
“These microscopic creatures<br />
feed off skin cells and grow well in<br />
humidity in bedding, blankets and<br />
winter clothing that has been left in<br />
cupboards all year,” Ms Taylor said.<br />
She added it was important for<br />
people with asthma to be aware of<br />
their asthma triggers and see their<br />
GP for regular check-ups. – LO<br />
50 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Are you looking stressed or<br />
tired? Keep a ‘lid’ on things<br />
A<br />
common request for<br />
upper eyelid surgery<br />
follows patients being<br />
told they look tired, angry<br />
or stressed. Puffiness and<br />
swelling of the lower lids can<br />
be corrected surgically.<br />
Upper lids – Skin and muscle<br />
excess contribute to fullness,<br />
folding and hooding. Medial<br />
fat pocket excess, adjacent to<br />
the nose, results in bagginess<br />
in this area. Lateral fullness<br />
may be due to tear gland<br />
droop. Skin thickness is<br />
important, with thin skin<br />
correcting easily. Thick skin<br />
may look a little undercorrected.<br />
Surgery addresses<br />
all these layers, namely skin,<br />
muscle and fat. Tear glands<br />
may need to be repositioned.<br />
The incisions run hidden in the<br />
fold lines and usually extend<br />
out into the crow’s feet – this<br />
corrects the lateral hooding.<br />
Frown lines can be softened<br />
through these incisions.<br />
Eyebrow position – Is very<br />
important, as drooping<br />
eyebrows contribute to upper<br />
eyelid skin. Brows may need<br />
to be independently corrected<br />
to optimise outcomes. There<br />
are a range of procedures<br />
to accomplish this, from<br />
minimally invasive direct<br />
browlifts to endoscopic,<br />
camera-assisted procedures.<br />
Droop of the upper eyelid<br />
– Can also be corrected.<br />
This is usually the result of<br />
the elevating muscle being<br />
stretched or disconnecting<br />
from the insertion. This is<br />
done at the same time. The<br />
eyelid is repositioned with<br />
respect to the pupil.<br />
If the upper eyelids touch<br />
the lash line, or obstruct<br />
vision, there is a Medicare item<br />
number – which means there<br />
may be a rebate for part of<br />
the fee.<br />
Where appropriate,<br />
upper eyelid surgery can<br />
be performed under local<br />
anaesthetic in the rooms<br />
or in a day surgery. Lower<br />
eyelid surgery is usually<br />
performed in a day surgery or<br />
hospital; sedation or general<br />
anaesthetic may also be<br />
used. Surgery takes between<br />
30 and 90 minutes. Stitches<br />
with Dr John Kippen<br />
are removed between 4 and<br />
7 days. Internal stitches<br />
dissolve.<br />
Depending on the bruising<br />
and type of occupation,<br />
people can be back at work as<br />
early as three days, or a little<br />
longer with more-invasive<br />
procedures. Vision may be a<br />
little blurred and eyes a little<br />
dry. A full explanation will be<br />
given at consultation.<br />
Two consultations are<br />
usually required to fully<br />
explain and understand the<br />
procedure, recovery and<br />
return to activities of daily<br />
living. Careful assessment<br />
and planning is needed and<br />
photographs are often used<br />
for this. Written information,<br />
brochures and before and<br />
after photographs are useful<br />
to fully explain the techniques,<br />
outcomes and risks.<br />
This is usually a welltolerated<br />
procedure, with<br />
favourable outcomes.<br />
Our columnist<br />
Dr John Kippen is a<br />
qualified, fully certified<br />
consultant specialist in<br />
Cosmetic, Plastic and<br />
Reconstructive surgery.<br />
Australian trained, he<br />
also has additional<br />
Australian and<br />
International Fellowships.<br />
He welcomes enquiries;<br />
email<br />
doctor@johnkippen.com.au<br />
Be smart about your heart<br />
Barely a day goes by without<br />
When left untreated, heart failure<br />
hearing about an important<br />
progressively worsens; but with early<br />
health issue.<br />
This month, another health promotion<br />
was added to the calendar –<br />
Heart Failure Awareness Week.<br />
Launched by charity hearts4heart,<br />
the campaign has been developed to<br />
raise awareness about the prevalence<br />
of heart failure and to educate<br />
people about symptoms, especially<br />
those aged 65 and older, caregivers<br />
and healthcare professionals.<br />
Now affecting 1 in 50 Australians,<br />
heart failure is becoming increasingly<br />
common and is expected to<br />
rise, as more people survive heart<br />
attacks, live longer, and experience<br />
heart issues that lead to this potentially<br />
debilitating condition, said<br />
diagnosis, treatment and lifestyle<br />
changes, a person with heart failure<br />
can reduce their risk of hospitalisation<br />
and improve their quality of life.<br />
Common heart failure symptoms<br />
can often be dismissed as<br />
other health issues or even old age.<br />
Recognising symptoms is key to<br />
early diagnosis and the best health<br />
outcomes.<br />
Symptoms can include any of the<br />
following:<br />
n Shortness of breath during minimal<br />
exercise or exertion;<br />
n Needing to use extra pillows<br />
when lying down to breathe<br />
easier;<br />
n Irregular heartbeat or palpitations;<br />
hearts4heart CEO Tanya Hall.<br />
n Swelling of legs, feet, or stomach;<br />
AWARENESS: Know the signs of heart problems.<br />
Heart failure claims the lives of<br />
n Coughing/wheezing;<br />
61,000 people every year, and it’s<br />
the number one cause of hospitalisation<br />
in people over the age of 65.<br />
“Unfortunately, dangerously low levels<br />
of awareness about heart failure are<br />
leaving Australians vulnerable to this<br />
heart has stopped, but it is ‘failing’ to<br />
keep up with your body’s demands.<br />
The heart is unable to pump enough<br />
blood through the body to meet its<br />
nutritional needs, either because the<br />
heart is unable to fill with enough blood,<br />
n Weight gain over a short period<br />
of time (eg, >2kg over 2 days);<br />
n Extreme tiredness, low energy, or no<br />
energy; and<br />
n Loss of appetite.<br />
If you experience any of these symptoms<br />
long-term condition,” Ms Hall said. its pumping action isn’t strong enough,<br />
talk to your GP. – Lisa Offord<br />
Heart failure doesn’t mean that your or both.<br />
More info hearts4heart.org.au<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
52 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 53
Health & Wellbeing<br />
with Bec Johnson, B.Pharm<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Different types of pain and<br />
their specific management<br />
Pain is an unpleasant sensation<br />
caused by stimulation<br />
of specific pain receptors,<br />
which transmit information to<br />
the brain. Pain can be:<br />
Nociceptive – where pain is<br />
detected by pain receptors in<br />
response to specific stimuli,<br />
such as tissue damage, heat, or<br />
inflammation.<br />
Neuropathic – where there is<br />
damage or irritation to nerve<br />
pathways which transmit pain<br />
signals, resulting in either a<br />
burning/shooting type of pain,<br />
or numbness/tingling.<br />
You can experience a mix of<br />
nociceptive/neuropathic pain,<br />
for example cancer-related<br />
pain. The type of pain will<br />
determine the appropriateness<br />
of certain treatments. If you<br />
are being treated for pain, it<br />
is important to develop a pain<br />
management plan with your GP<br />
or pain specialist.<br />
Acute pain<br />
Acute pain is felt as a result<br />
of a specific disease state or<br />
injury, is sudden in onset, and<br />
only lasts a short period of time<br />
(days to weeks). Causes of acute<br />
pain include traumatic injuries,<br />
surgery, and other medical procedures;<br />
however some forms,<br />
such as headache, may have no<br />
identifiable cause. Acute pain<br />
needs to be managed with immediate,<br />
short-term pain relief,<br />
along with any treatments.<br />
It is important to start acute<br />
pain management as early as<br />
possible, to minimise the risk of<br />
the acute pain transitioning to<br />
chronic pain.<br />
Chronic pain<br />
Chronic pain is defined as pain<br />
experienced for a duration<br />
of over three months. While<br />
chronic pain can be a result of<br />
an ongoing medical condition<br />
or poor healing following a<br />
traumatic injury, the source and<br />
cause may not be identifiable.<br />
Long-term pain puts cumulative<br />
stress on the brain, and can<br />
cause psychological changes<br />
over time. This can include the<br />
development of anxiety and<br />
depression, and changes in<br />
sleep patterns.<br />
Non-pharmacological<br />
management<br />
Managing pain requires a holistic<br />
approach and addressing<br />
lifestyle factors is a key aspect.<br />
For sufferers of chronic pain,<br />
cognitive behavioural therapy<br />
(CBT) can be helpful in addressing<br />
patterns of thinking and<br />
behaviour. CBT focuses on the<br />
patient’s understanding of pain,<br />
and the relationship between<br />
pain and physiology (such<br />
as pain and muscle tension,<br />
thoughts, emotions, and behaviours).<br />
This can be accessed<br />
through referral from your GP.<br />
Staying as active as possible<br />
and regularly exercising within<br />
your capacity has been shown<br />
to greatly benefit general<br />
wellbeing. Working with a local<br />
physiotherapist, exercise<br />
physiologist, or occupational<br />
therapist on motion therapy,<br />
muscle strengthening, and<br />
postural training can help support<br />
this.<br />
The use of hot packs or cold<br />
packs can provide relief. It is<br />
important to never apply ice or<br />
extreme heat directly onto the<br />
skin – create a barrier with a<br />
small towel.<br />
Pharmacological<br />
management<br />
Pain-relieving medications do<br />
not necessarily stop the pain<br />
but they can reduce the pain to<br />
a level which lessens the impact<br />
on everyday life. Mild to moderate<br />
pain can often be managed<br />
using over-the-counter options<br />
from your local pharmacy,<br />
such as paracetamol or ibuprofen<br />
tablets or capsules,<br />
or anti-inflammatory/anaesthetic<br />
creams. It is important<br />
to discuss this with your local<br />
pharmacist or doctor.<br />
For more severe pain,<br />
your doctor may choose to<br />
prescribe stronger medications<br />
like opioids. Opioids are<br />
not appropriate for everyone,<br />
and can have undesirable side<br />
effects such as constipation<br />
and sedation. Opioids are<br />
highly addictive if not used appropriately.<br />
Tolerance to and<br />
dependence on opioid therapy<br />
can occur even after a few<br />
days. Consequently, opioid<br />
therapy needs to be withdrawn<br />
slowly to avoid developing<br />
withdrawal symptoms<br />
(sweating, anxiety, muscle<br />
aches, and nausea).<br />
Having a good support<br />
network can help make living<br />
with pain more bearable. While<br />
support from family or friends<br />
helps to maintain quality of life<br />
and general wellbeing, reaching<br />
out to pain support groups<br />
(such as the Australian Pain<br />
Management Association) can<br />
help you connect with people<br />
who understand what it is like<br />
to live with pain.<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Pharmacy &<br />
Compounding Chemist<br />
at Mona Vale has operated<br />
as a family-run business<br />
since 1977. Open seven<br />
days; drop in and meet<br />
the highly qualified and<br />
experienced team of Len,<br />
Sam and Amy Papandrea<br />
and Andrew Snow. Find<br />
them at 1771 <strong>Pittwater</strong> Rd;<br />
call 9999 3398.<br />
54 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 55
Health & Wellbeing<br />
with Matilda Brown<br />
Hair & Beauty<br />
with Sue Carroll<br />
Shut out distraction & find<br />
the magic in everyday life<br />
Importance of hydrating to<br />
defend your skin in Winter<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
There’s so much<br />
information out there<br />
about what we’re<br />
supposed to be doing for our<br />
minds and bodies to live a<br />
healthy, happy life. Every day<br />
on my news feeds I see a new<br />
headline from a new guru<br />
with a new study and new<br />
findings that promise new<br />
results. Sure, these headlines<br />
can be informative and<br />
motivational, but they can also<br />
be overwhelming, and with all<br />
these things we feel we should<br />
be doing, it’s easy to miss the<br />
point of life entirely.<br />
So, instead of attempting to<br />
The Good Farm<br />
Shakshuka Eggs<br />
(Serves 2)<br />
1 diced brown onion<br />
4 chopped garlic cloves<br />
2 tbs olive oil<br />
½ tsp sumac<br />
1 tsp cumin<br />
1 tsp smoked paprika<br />
¼ tsp cayenne pepper<br />
6 tomatoes – cored and<br />
roughly chopped<br />
1 tin tomatoes<br />
Sea salt<br />
4 free range eggs<br />
Sprig of fresh thyme<br />
1. Pre-heat the oven to 160C.<br />
In a medium saucepan heat<br />
the olive oil on medium<br />
heat, before adding the<br />
onions and garlic and sauté<br />
for 5-6 minutes.<br />
2. Add all the spices and<br />
reduce heat; cook for 8-10<br />
minutes.<br />
3. Add the fresh tomatoes and<br />
cook for further 10 minutes<br />
with the lid on.<br />
4. Finally add the tinned tomatoes;<br />
season, and continue<br />
to cook for further 5 minutes<br />
keeping the lid on.<br />
5. Remove from the heat and<br />
blitz with a bar mix or in a<br />
be another guru, let me share<br />
with you the beautiful things<br />
that happened last month,<br />
that kept me waking up feeling<br />
positive about the world.<br />
Because sometimes life can feel<br />
monotonous and repetitive but<br />
if we look, we can always find<br />
the magic. Magic makes itself<br />
known only to those who are<br />
open to it. To access the true<br />
power of magic, you have to<br />
acknowledge it. So here are my<br />
moments of magic in May...<br />
My son Zan turned 3. Magic<br />
in unwrapping presents, magic<br />
in his face when everyone sung<br />
him happy birthday, magic in<br />
Scott’s Comfort Corner<br />
blender until smooth (some<br />
chunky bits are totally ok).<br />
6. Return to an oven-proof<br />
frypan. Make 4 depressions<br />
in the tomato sauce and<br />
crack the eggs in.<br />
7. Place in the oven for 12<br />
minutes or until eggs are<br />
confetti, magic in the joy I felt<br />
lighting the candles on his<br />
Bluey birthday cake.<br />
Magic in the sun. When<br />
it arrived after having been<br />
gone so long. The way it feels<br />
on my face, the way it makes<br />
everyone happy in the street.<br />
Magic in the way it dances<br />
on leaves and on the walls.<br />
Magic in its warmth. Magic in<br />
my daughter Anouk trying to<br />
understand her magic shadow.<br />
Magic when my parents<br />
or friends visit. Magic in the<br />
preparation, making the<br />
house tidy and cosy for them,<br />
magic in the poppies on the<br />
cooked to your liking.<br />
8. Sprinkle with fresh thyme,<br />
season and enjoy! Serve<br />
with some delicious bread<br />
and butter – our fave is the<br />
48-hour sourdough from<br />
Bonfire Organic Bakery in<br />
Avalon.<br />
table, slowly wilting but still<br />
so beautiful. Magic. Even<br />
with half-finished sentences<br />
and screaming kids and sand<br />
all through the house and<br />
exhaustion in our bodies.<br />
Magic in my friend’s tears<br />
last week, as she tells me<br />
about her drug use and<br />
regrets. How lovely she still<br />
looks after 10 years of grief,<br />
abuse and depression. Magic<br />
in the people who want her<br />
to thrive. Magic that she’s still<br />
alive.<br />
Magic in our collective<br />
failures as humans as we all<br />
muddle through. Together. Not<br />
knowing if we’re doing good<br />
or bad. With nothing really<br />
to compare it to and no real<br />
handbook. Just guess-work.<br />
And dedication.<br />
Magic in the dedication.<br />
For whatever reason we have.<br />
Magic in the drive to keep<br />
going. Despite finding it hard,<br />
despite being knocked back.<br />
Magic in our common goal to<br />
try, and to survive.<br />
Magic in one person saying<br />
thank you. One smile. One<br />
hug.<br />
Magic that my heart beats<br />
every second of every day.<br />
That my children were born.<br />
That they are happy and<br />
healthy. Magic that I have<br />
someone to do life with. Magic<br />
that I know love and that they<br />
know love.<br />
Last month was full of<br />
magic.<br />
Okay, your turn. Please<br />
report back!<br />
*Email readers@pittwaterlife.<br />
com.au<br />
Matilda Brown is<br />
an actress, writer and<br />
business owner. Her<br />
husband Scott Gooding<br />
is a holistic performance<br />
& nutrition coach, sports<br />
nutritionist and chef.<br />
Together they founded and<br />
run The Good Farm Shop.<br />
www.thegoodfarm.shop<br />
56 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
Winter is here,<br />
the season that<br />
brings cold,<br />
chilly temperatures,<br />
snow and frost to a lot<br />
of the country. Winter<br />
can affect the skin<br />
in many ways. From<br />
the distress of indoor<br />
temperatures to the<br />
harsh cold weather<br />
outside, it is essential to<br />
take time to hydrate and<br />
heal the skin.<br />
The frigid<br />
temperatures tend to<br />
zap skin of its moisture<br />
barrier, leaving it dry, flaky,<br />
irritated and red. Couple that<br />
with a cold, flu or runny nose,<br />
and you’ve got a lot working<br />
against the health of your skin.<br />
A few tweaks to your daily<br />
regimen will alleviate winter<br />
irritation leaving your skin<br />
healthy.<br />
Dry, dehydrated skin is<br />
common, especially in areas<br />
that may be more exposed to<br />
the elements like the cheeks,<br />
lips and hands. If not addressed<br />
quickly, we begin seeing<br />
flaky, irritated and itchy skin<br />
that leads to a compromised<br />
barrier. A compromised barrier<br />
creates vulnerability in the<br />
skin, allowing toxins, harmful<br />
pathogens, and UV radiation to<br />
penetrate the body more easily.<br />
Start with the factors you<br />
can control easily this time of<br />
year. It is easy to indulge in a<br />
poor diet, increased alcohol<br />
consumption, indoor heating<br />
and hot showers, but these all<br />
work against your skin’s best<br />
hydration defences. Instead,<br />
consider limiting alcohol<br />
consumption; or for every<br />
alcoholic beverage, consider<br />
drinking a minimum of eight<br />
ounces of water with a few<br />
slices of lemon, which will<br />
improve the body’s ability to<br />
absorb the water and rehydrate.<br />
To bring some hydration<br />
to those dry, heated rooms,<br />
consider running humidifiers<br />
throughout the office and<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
home. As inviting as hot<br />
showers are, try to stick to<br />
lukewarm temperatures. Hot<br />
water is one of the quickest<br />
ways to reduce your skin’s<br />
hydration level. If you can’t get<br />
away from hot showers, ensure<br />
your body wash is pH-balanced<br />
so it will not exacerbate the<br />
dryness of the skin. In addition,<br />
apply moisturiser to the body<br />
when dry to add a layer of<br />
nourishment to the skin. Also,<br />
balance sleep, exercise, and<br />
antioxidant-rich foods are<br />
essential to a healthy skin<br />
barrier.<br />
Now, let’s hone in on what<br />
you’re applying or not applying<br />
to your skin. This time of year,<br />
it is essential to cleanse your<br />
skin morning and night, which<br />
helps regulate its oil production.<br />
It’s also crucial to load up on<br />
nourishing hydration topicals<br />
but doing that without cleansing<br />
will actually slow down your<br />
skin’s oil production decreasing<br />
your natural hydration level.<br />
Try these suggestions for a<br />
cold-weather regimen to keep<br />
your skin hydrated and healthy:<br />
First, switch to a gentle cleanser<br />
that helps retain moisture,<br />
with soothing ingredients like<br />
lavender and organic grapeseed<br />
oil. Removing makeup and the<br />
build-up of dry skin without<br />
depleting the skin’s protective<br />
barrier will assist in keeping the<br />
skin healthy.<br />
Rebuild and strengthen the<br />
skin by delivering a healthy<br />
dose of antioxidants and<br />
nutrients to the skin.<br />
Grapeseed oil and EFAS<br />
are soothing and protect<br />
against cellular damage.<br />
Hydrate and moisturise<br />
by infusing the skin<br />
with restoring lipids to<br />
prevent transepidermal<br />
water loss (TEWL) and<br />
reduce inflammation<br />
and dry irritations. Spritz<br />
with heavy water such as<br />
hydra soothe spritz, and<br />
incorporate hyaluronic<br />
acid into your evening<br />
winter regimen to help<br />
the skin retain moisture and<br />
stimulate collagen for a more<br />
buoyant skin.<br />
Be mindful of your daily<br />
skin routine this season and<br />
what you might be doing to<br />
contribute to the dry conditions.<br />
Remember, your skin is your<br />
largest living organ; don’t let<br />
this winter season take a toll<br />
on it. The cold weather may be<br />
unavoidable, but with the right<br />
mix of ingredients and healthy<br />
skin care habits, you can<br />
help stave off uncomfortable<br />
irritated skin.<br />
Sue Carroll is at the forefront<br />
of the beauty, wellness<br />
and para-medical profession<br />
with 35 years’ experience on<br />
Sydney’s Northern Beaches.<br />
She leads a dedicated team<br />
of professionals who are<br />
passionate about results for<br />
men and women.<br />
info@skininspiration.com.au<br />
www.skininspiration.com.au<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 57<br />
Hair & Beauty
Business <strong>Life</strong><br />
Business <strong>Life</strong>: Money<br />
A new financial year – but<br />
‘lettuce’ pray for better days<br />
This month being the start<br />
of a new financial year<br />
I’d like to start with a bit<br />
of a stocktake… Pandemic?<br />
Tick, that’s still here, but now<br />
there’s something new to worry<br />
about that can turn you into a<br />
monkey.<br />
Geopolitical crisis? Tick, we<br />
have a few of those – Ukraine,<br />
Russia, China. It does make you<br />
wonder what’s been happening<br />
with the perma-crisis in the<br />
Middle East, or Africa, or South<br />
America for that matter, while<br />
we’ve been busy with this latest<br />
issue.<br />
Inflation? Tick, that’s come<br />
back and it’s here in spades.<br />
Can anyone recall only a few<br />
years ago that the world was<br />
on the cusp of de-inflation?<br />
Interest rates? Tick, they’re<br />
back and more to come. Pretty<br />
much only the grey beards with<br />
no mortgages are celebrating.<br />
Market meltdown? Tick, why<br />
not? In fact why not have a<br />
meltdown of both equity and<br />
bond markets at the same<br />
time?<br />
The order of the items in our<br />
stocktake list is deliberate; the<br />
first two items are causative<br />
factors of the other three. If<br />
you have been searching for<br />
a single word to describe the<br />
essence of the problem we<br />
currently face I’d suggest that<br />
‘scarcity’ is a good one.<br />
The pandemic created<br />
Looking To Swap For:<br />
3-bedroom house in Harbour area<br />
and/or Brand new Range Rover<br />
Message if interested<br />
scarcity across a wide range<br />
of everyday items and<br />
services; the war in Ukraine<br />
further compounded these<br />
issues. During the pandemic,<br />
governments around the world<br />
pumped money into their<br />
economies to support demand;<br />
prices have risen; interest<br />
rates respond to inflationary<br />
pressure; share and bond<br />
markets adjust to the new<br />
paradigm.<br />
*Outer leaves<br />
have been<br />
removed.<br />
Desperate Times: The economy’s ‘salad days’ are well and truly gone.<br />
In Australia we have also<br />
experienced compounding<br />
issues due to a string of natural<br />
disasters that top, tailed and<br />
intertwined with the pandemic:<br />
namely drought, fires and<br />
floods. This has given rise to a<br />
poster vegetable for the times –<br />
the humble iceberg lettuce.<br />
The media have really<br />
jumped onto this ‘lettuce<br />
index’ to illustrate price<br />
changes and by doing so they<br />
with Brian Hrnjak<br />
imply through the economic<br />
principle of the zero-sum<br />
game – for every winner there’s<br />
a loser – that a new breed<br />
of ‘lettuce baron’ has been<br />
created. Nothing could be<br />
further from the case, as Eli<br />
Greenblat recently reported in<br />
The Australian on 17 June.<br />
In his article, Greenblat<br />
introduced us to Jeremy Haw,<br />
a farmer in the Gippsland<br />
region of Victoria and one of<br />
our country’s largest lettuce<br />
producers. The reality of the<br />
$12 lettuce reads more like this:<br />
‘Poor weather has ruined<br />
crops, and what lettuce is<br />
growing is weeks behind<br />
schedule – if he can find the<br />
labourers to pick the crop.’<br />
‘His supply lines are in chaos;<br />
new tractors he has ordered<br />
now won’t arrive until 2024. His<br />
own bills are soaring and there<br />
are delays in getting key winter<br />
seeds for planting. And when<br />
they do arrive, floods and rains<br />
could ruin the crop anyway.’<br />
The farmer says: “It’s<br />
ridiculous. You can’t get<br />
equipment, you can’t get<br />
chemicals, all these different<br />
things. You’ve got fuel prices<br />
that are obviously killing<br />
everybody, plastics have gone<br />
up and it just goes on and on.<br />
All these things are driving the<br />
cost… it will push prices up<br />
everywhere which will become<br />
inflationary.”<br />
The journo continues: ‘Haw<br />
stresses that despite $12 a<br />
head for lettuce, farmers are<br />
not making “super profits”<br />
like those seen in the mining<br />
industry as coal and iron ore<br />
prices soar.’<br />
“No- one is really making<br />
those super-profits. Normally<br />
you might have 100 per cent of<br />
your crop to sell, but then you<br />
have a bad weather event and<br />
you lose half your crop, and<br />
you only have 50 per cent you<br />
can sell and then cover all your<br />
costs.<br />
“There is very little profit or<br />
no profit at all, as the costs<br />
have driven so high that we are<br />
actually paying people to take a<br />
box of lettuce, so losing money<br />
on the sale.”<br />
In Australia we seem to have<br />
an unusual habit of assigning<br />
a fruit or vegetable as some<br />
form of financial indicator –<br />
think back to when bananas<br />
were nearly $15 per kilo after<br />
Cyclone Yasi, or smashed<br />
avocado was the reason behind<br />
the inability of millennials to<br />
afford buying property.<br />
If you read Greenblat’s<br />
article, the humble lettuce is<br />
being unfairly slandered in<br />
sections of the media while<br />
scarcity, as I pointed out<br />
earlier, is the true culprit. The<br />
economy won’t be released<br />
from the grip of inflation until<br />
there is some relaxation in<br />
the scarcity of key inputs such<br />
as oil and energy and labour,<br />
factors that feed into the costs<br />
of production. This is likely to<br />
take some time to work itself<br />
out unlike the poor old lettuce<br />
which we can simply substitute<br />
with cabbage.<br />
Meanwhile, investors this<br />
year are staring at negative<br />
superannuation returns,<br />
something that doesn’t happen<br />
often, as markets experience<br />
turbulence adjusting to more<br />
normal settings for inflation<br />
and interest rates. The key<br />
word here is normal; what<br />
we’ve been experiencing over<br />
the past decade or so with<br />
negative real interest rates was<br />
not normal.<br />
After a long time in the<br />
freezer, cash is starting to<br />
show a return with rates on<br />
deposits ticking up in line with<br />
RBA rate movements, although<br />
buying into long-dated term<br />
deposits as rates are rising<br />
might not be the best strategy.<br />
The Australian equity<br />
market has been remarkably<br />
resilient compared to the US<br />
over this turbulent period,<br />
with the US off about 22 per<br />
cent and the local market<br />
down approximately by half<br />
that amount. Most people<br />
will naturally stay invested<br />
regardless of market conditions<br />
and the key to weathering this<br />
period in good shape is to stick<br />
with quality shares. Quality in<br />
this case being defined as large<br />
companies that are dominant<br />
in their markets, highly<br />
liquid, make profits and pay<br />
dividends.<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 />
Business <strong>Life</strong><br />
58 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 59
Business <strong>Life</strong>: Money<br />
with Robert Greig<br />
Business <strong>Life</strong>: Law<br />
with Jennifer Harris<br />
Business <strong>Life</strong><br />
Retirement ‘number’ planning<br />
It’s a question we are often<br />
asked: “How much will I need<br />
to retire?” The answer is<br />
different for everyone, as it<br />
depends on your retirement<br />
goals and lifestyle – but there<br />
are some simple guidelines you<br />
can use to start calculating.<br />
The ASFA Retirement<br />
Standard publishes what it<br />
terms “comfortable retirement”<br />
figures quarterly. Based on<br />
owning your home, according<br />
to recent figures*, singles need<br />
$46,494 and couples $65,445pa.<br />
This calculation includes daily<br />
essentials, primary health and<br />
medical needs, technology costs<br />
and some social spending.<br />
The ASFA Retirement Standard<br />
suggests a single person needs<br />
a superannuation balance at<br />
retirement of $545,000 and a<br />
couple $640,000 to achieve a<br />
“comfortable” lifestyle. However,<br />
these forecasts are based on<br />
using all your capital over your<br />
life expectancy and receiving a<br />
part Age Pension, so they don’t<br />
leave much room for error.<br />
And, what’s considered<br />
“comfortable” by ASFA is<br />
unlikely to deliver the retirement<br />
you want.<br />
These numbers don’t include<br />
many ‘big-ticket’ items. When<br />
it comes to travel, they include<br />
one domestic flight each year<br />
and an international flight every<br />
seven. They also don’t cover<br />
those expensive hobbies you<br />
want to enjoy in your golden<br />
years, from golf to boating.<br />
There is no allocation<br />
for helping children get a<br />
foot on the property ladder,<br />
contributing to grandchildren’s<br />
education, or leaving a legacy<br />
– whether a financial gift to<br />
family, a bequest to charity, or a<br />
combination. So, let’s rephrase<br />
the question: “How much to live<br />
the retirement I deserve?”<br />
The amount you need is as<br />
unique as you are; it’s essential<br />
to understand this during your<br />
pre-retirement years, to build<br />
the right income sources.<br />
Mapping lifestyle expenses<br />
with investment cash flow can<br />
be complex, even for those<br />
with significant assets. In<br />
addition, selling assets to build<br />
future income streams involves<br />
understanding and carefully<br />
navigating the tax implications.<br />
There are many ways to build<br />
retirement income streams,<br />
but it’s key to match these with<br />
your retirement goals so you<br />
can live your best life today and<br />
in retirement.<br />
At Apt Wealth Partners, we<br />
help thousands of Australians.<br />
We’re a national firm with a<br />
rich 30-year history and offices<br />
in Sydney, Melbourne, Geelong<br />
and now, the Northern<br />
Beaches. We’re looking forward<br />
to being part of this great<br />
community and helping many<br />
of you to live your dream<br />
retirement.<br />
* Robert Greig is Senior<br />
Financial Adviser, APT Wealth<br />
Partners.<br />
*Source: superannuation.asn.au/<br />
resources/retirement-standard<br />
Note: This information is of a<br />
general nature only and does not<br />
take into account your individual<br />
objectives, financial situation or<br />
needs. It should not be used, relied<br />
upon, or treated as a substitute<br />
for specific professional advice.<br />
Apt Wealth Partners (AFSL and<br />
ACL 436121 ABN 49 159 583 847)<br />
and Apt Wealth Home Loans<br />
(powered by Smartline ACL<br />
385325) recommends that you<br />
obtain professional advice before<br />
making any decision in relation to<br />
your particular requirements or<br />
circumstances.<br />
60 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
Understanding guarantees<br />
and issues of enforceability<br />
A<br />
not uncommon<br />
observation made by<br />
friends when discussing<br />
their adult children is: “Have<br />
you noticed that the older they<br />
get the more expensive they<br />
become.”<br />
It is the comment of<br />
caring parents everywhere<br />
who endeavour to help their<br />
children pay HECS or obtain<br />
the deposit for their first<br />
home or help them in business<br />
or pay the grandchildren’s<br />
school fees.<br />
The help can take many<br />
forms: a gift of funds, the<br />
establishment of a trust fund,<br />
or a third party guarantee<br />
where parents provide a<br />
person Deed of Guarantee<br />
and Indemnity for a specified<br />
amount and often add the<br />
mortgage over their family<br />
home.<br />
More often than not,<br />
clients call and make an<br />
appointment, saying they have<br />
some papers from a bank<br />
or lending institution which<br />
requires their signature to be<br />
witnessed by a solicitor.<br />
It is rare that a full<br />
explanation is given as to<br />
what the documents to be<br />
witnessed are for and it<br />
requires a few questions<br />
to understand what the<br />
documents represent.<br />
If the documents are a Third<br />
Party Guarantee, requiring the<br />
provision of independent legal<br />
advice, this practice asks that<br />
the documents are submitted<br />
prior to the conference,<br />
where they are to be signed<br />
so that they can be read and<br />
understood.<br />
Unfortunately, far too many<br />
loving and well-disposed<br />
parents caught up in the spirit<br />
and emotion of helping their<br />
family do not understand<br />
the possible consequences<br />
of signing a Third Party<br />
Guarantee.<br />
They’re presented the<br />
documents often in triplicate,<br />
heavily flagged with ‘Sign<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
Here’ tabs and assume that<br />
the tabbed pages are all they<br />
have to read.<br />
When providing an<br />
Independent Advice Certificate<br />
it is the duty of the solicitor<br />
to act as a “competent,<br />
independent and disinterested<br />
stranger”, to explain the<br />
import of the documents to<br />
be signed by the clients and to<br />
determine as to whether in his<br />
or her opinion those signing<br />
adequately understand<br />
the possible consequences<br />
to themselves should the<br />
primary borrower default.<br />
An interesting case occurred<br />
in which the NSW Supreme<br />
Court deliberated in what<br />
is a good illustration of the<br />
difficulties which can arise<br />
from Third Party Guarantees<br />
and those who advise them.<br />
A lender agreed to lend<br />
$23 million to a property<br />
development company, which<br />
was in desperate need of<br />
funds to pay creditors and to<br />
ensure completion of a large<br />
residential strata title property<br />
in Perth.<br />
As the lender assessed the<br />
loan as being at a high level<br />
of risk, it sought to mitigate<br />
by requiring security including<br />
Personal Deeds of Guarantee<br />
and Mortgage from third<br />
parties.<br />
The businessman and<br />
Company Director of the<br />
company raising the loan<br />
turned to his elderly parents<br />
to provide the Guarantees,<br />
Indemnities and Mortgages<br />
for $2 million. The father<br />
had worked as a builder and<br />
had an understanding of<br />
the construction side of the<br />
project and business involved,<br />
but the mother had no<br />
involvement in the Company<br />
or its activities.<br />
The Company defaulted<br />
on the Loan and the lender<br />
sought to enforce the Personal<br />
Guarantees of the parents and<br />
its rights under the mortgage,<br />
over the family home at<br />
Clontarf in Sydney.<br />
The parents sought to resist<br />
the lender’s Application for<br />
Orders on various grounds<br />
but the mother claimed<br />
that the transaction was<br />
not adequately explained<br />
to her and to enforce the<br />
transaction against her would<br />
be unconscionable.<br />
The mother, and<br />
not the husband, was<br />
successful in their claim of<br />
unconscionability.<br />
The court found the mother:<br />
n Was not wholly aware of<br />
what she was signing and<br />
relied totally on her<br />
husband;<br />
n The requirement by the<br />
lender that the mother and<br />
father receive legal advice<br />
was more to protect itself<br />
rather than to protect the<br />
mother and father;<br />
n There was a conflict of<br />
interest and the solicitor<br />
providing the advice did not<br />
act as an independent solicitor<br />
and the advice given was<br />
wholly inadequate – only<br />
by telephone;<br />
n The lender was aware of the<br />
inadequate advice being given<br />
and the conflict of<br />
interest the solicitor had with<br />
the borrowing entity; and<br />
n The lender was found to<br />
not have taken enough steps<br />
to ensure that the Third<br />
Party Guarantor was given<br />
competent, independent or<br />
objective advice to ensure that<br />
she was wholly aware of the<br />
extent of the agreement.<br />
Applying an earlier decision<br />
of the High Court in 1998, the<br />
Supreme Court held that it<br />
would be unconscionable to<br />
enforce the Guarantee against<br />
the mother.<br />
This case carries a<br />
message to lenders and<br />
solicitors advising Third Party<br />
Guarantors to be aware that it<br />
is not enough that legal advice<br />
has been obtained but that<br />
the advice should be objective<br />
and adequate.<br />
It should also provide a<br />
message to those who are<br />
asked to provide Third Party<br />
Guarantees and Indemnities.<br />
No matter how much one<br />
may wish to help children<br />
and families, it is prudent to<br />
carefully consider the import<br />
of the Guarantees, Indemnities<br />
and/or Mortgages or other<br />
Security which you may be<br />
asked to provide and to be<br />
aware of the consequences; ie,<br />
that you may lose the Security<br />
should the primary borrower<br />
(your children or family)<br />
default.<br />
Comment supplied by<br />
Jennifer Harris, of Jennifer<br />
Harris & Associates,<br />
Solicitors, 4/57 Avalon<br />
Parade, Avalon Beach.<br />
T: 9973 2011. F: 9918 3290.<br />
E: jennifer@jenniferharris.com.au<br />
W: www.jenniferharris.com.au<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 61<br />
Business <strong>Life</strong>
Trades & Services<br />
Trades & Services<br />
AIR CONDITIONING<br />
Alliance Climate Control<br />
Call 02 9186 4179<br />
Air Conditioning & Electrical Professionals.<br />
Specialists in Air Conditioning Installation,<br />
Service, Repair & Replacement.<br />
NORTH EAST AIR<br />
Call Tim 0400 364 913<br />
We will deliver all your heating and cooling<br />
options; prompt, courteous service.<br />
AUTO REPAIRS<br />
British & Swedish Motors<br />
Call 9970 6654<br />
Services Range Rover, Land Rover, Saab<br />
and Volvo with the latest in diagnostic<br />
equipment.<br />
Narrabeen Tyrepower<br />
Call 9970 6670<br />
Stocks all popular brands including Cooper<br />
4WD. Plus they’ll do all mechanical repairs<br />
and rego inspections.<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 />
BUILDING<br />
Southern Stairs<br />
Call 9542 1344<br />
Specialists in high-quality staircase for 35<br />
years; new Northern Beaches showroom.<br />
CLEANING<br />
Amazing Clean<br />
Call Andrew 0412 475 2871<br />
Specialists in blinds, curtains and awnings.<br />
Clean, repair, supply new.<br />
Aussie Clean Team<br />
Call John 0478 799 680<br />
For a sparkling finish, inside and out.<br />
Also light maintenance/repairs. Free<br />
quotes; fully insured.<br />
The Aqua Clean Team<br />
Call Mark 0449 049 101<br />
Quality window washing, pressure cleaning,<br />
carpet washing, building soft wash.<br />
ELECTRICAL<br />
Alliance Service Group<br />
Call Adrian 9063 4658<br />
All services & repairs, 24hr. Lighting<br />
installation, switchboard upgrade. Seniors<br />
discount 5%.<br />
Eamon Dowling Electrical<br />
Call Eamon 0410 457 373<br />
For all electrical needs including phone, TV<br />
and data. <strong>Pittwater</strong>-based. Reliable; quality<br />
service guaranteed.<br />
FLOOR COVERINGS<br />
Blue Tongue Carpets<br />
Call Stephan or Roslyn 9979 7292<br />
Northern Beaches Flooring Centre has<br />
been family owned & run for over 20 years.<br />
Carpets, Tiles, Timber, Laminates, Hybrids<br />
& Vinyls. Open 6 days.<br />
GARDENS<br />
!Abloom Ace Gardening<br />
Call 0415 817 880<br />
Full range of gardening services including<br />
landscaping, maintenance and rubbish<br />
removal.<br />
Living Gardens Landscape<br />
Call Richy 0475 148417<br />
Lawn & garden maintenance, garden<br />
regeneration, stone work, residential &<br />
commercial.<br />
Melaleuca Landscapes<br />
Call Sandy 0416 276 066<br />
Professional design and construction<br />
for every garden situation. Sustainable<br />
vegetable gardens and waterfront<br />
specialist.<br />
Precision Tree Services<br />
Call Adam 0410 736 105<br />
Adam Bridger; professional tree care by<br />
qualified arborists and tree surgeons.<br />
GUTTERS & ROOFING<br />
Cloud9 R&G<br />
Call Tommy 0447 999 929<br />
Prompt and reliable service; gutter cleaning<br />
and installation, leak detection, roof<br />
installation and painting. Also roof repairs<br />
specialist.<br />
Ken Wilson Roofing<br />
Call 0419 466 783<br />
Leaking roofs, tile repairs, tiles replaced,<br />
metal roof repairs, gutter cleaning, valley irons<br />
replaced.<br />
HANDYMEN<br />
Hire A Hubby<br />
Call 1800 803 339<br />
Extensive services including carpentry,<br />
outdoor maintenance, painting and plastering<br />
and more.<br />
Local Handyman<br />
Call Jono 0413 313299<br />
Small and medium-sized building jobs, also<br />
welding & metalwork; licensed.<br />
HOT WATER<br />
Hot Water Maintenance NB<br />
Call 9982 1265<br />
Local emergency specialists, 7 days. Sales,<br />
service, installation. Warranty agents, fully<br />
accredited.<br />
KITCHENS<br />
Collaroy Kitchen Centre<br />
Call 9972 9300<br />
Danish design excellence. Local beaches<br />
specialists in kitchens, bathrooms and joinery.<br />
Visit the showroom in Collaroy.<br />
Trades & Services<br />
Advertise<br />
your<br />
Business in<br />
Trades &<br />
Services<br />
section<br />
Ph: 0438 123 096<br />
62 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 63
Trades & Services<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Puzzler<br />
Compiled by David Stickley<br />
Trades & Services<br />
Seabreeze Kitchens<br />
Call 9938 5477<br />
Specialists in all kitchen needs; design,<br />
fitting, consultation. Excellent trades.<br />
LOCKSMITHS<br />
Mosman Locksmiths<br />
Call 9969 6333<br />
40 years servicing the Beaches; specialists<br />
in lock-outs including automotive, rekeying,<br />
smart lock security; also door hardware and<br />
safe sales & installation.<br />
MASSAGE & FITNESS<br />
Avalon Physiotherapy<br />
Call 9918 3373<br />
Provide specialist treatment for neck &<br />
back pain, sports injuries, orthopaedic<br />
problems.<br />
PAINTING<br />
Cloud9 Painting<br />
Call 0447 999 929<br />
Your one-stop shop for home or office<br />
painting; interiors, exteriors and also roof<br />
painting. Call for a quote.<br />
PEST CONTROL<br />
Predator Pest Control<br />
Call 0417 276 962<br />
predatorpestcontrol.com.au<br />
Environmental services at their best.<br />
Comprehensive control. Eliminate all manner<br />
of pests.<br />
DISCLAIMER: The editorial and advertising content in<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> has been provided by a number of sources. Any<br />
opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor or<br />
Publisher of <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> and no responsibility is taken for<br />
the accuracy of the information contained within. Readers<br />
should make their own enquiries directly to any organisations<br />
or businesses prior to making any plans or taking any action.<br />
PLUMBING<br />
Mark Ellison Plumbing<br />
Call 0431 000 400<br />
Advanced solutions for sewer & stormwater<br />
pipe relining: Upfront price, 25-year warranty.<br />
RUBBISH REMOVAL<br />
Brown Bros Skip Bins<br />
Call 1300 879 688<br />
Local waste management & environmental<br />
services experts. Bins to suit, delivered<br />
between 2 & 24 hours. Green footprint.<br />
Jack’s Rubbish Removals<br />
Call Jack 0403 385 312<br />
Up to 45% cheaper than skips. Latest<br />
health regulations. Old-fashioned honesty &<br />
reliability. Free quotes.<br />
One 2 Dump<br />
Call Josh 0450 712 779<br />
Seven-days-a-week pick-up service<br />
includes general household rubbish,<br />
construction, commercial plus vegetation.<br />
Also car removals.<br />
SLIDING DOOR REPAIRS<br />
Serenity Now<br />
Call Cam 0452 336 677<br />
Local specialists in sliding door repairs and<br />
track service, including new rollers; 5-year<br />
guarantee.<br />
UPHOLSTERY<br />
Luxafoam North<br />
Call 0414 468 434<br />
Local specialists in all aspects of outdoor &<br />
indoor seating. Custom service, expert advice.<br />
ACROSS<br />
1 Petrol pump (6)<br />
5 Anita Jacoby’s book, _______<br />
Beyond the Screen (7)<br />
9 High-pitched signal (5)<br />
10 Dog owners action group led<br />
by Michele Robertson, <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
_________ (9)<br />
11 These may be seen flying along<br />
the coastal areas of <strong>Pittwater</strong> (8)<br />
12 Small bite from a fish, possibly<br />
(6)<br />
13 School year section (4)<br />
14 Newport Rugby’s first female<br />
team (10)<br />
18 Cindy Gardiner, Geoff<br />
Lancaster and Heidi Currie for<br />
example (10)<br />
20 A festive or special occasion (4)<br />
23 A list or plan showing turns<br />
of duty or leave for individuals or<br />
groups in an organisation (6)<br />
24 And others; and so forth; and<br />
so on (2,6)<br />
26 The NSW Government will<br />
no longer be pursuing the<br />
development of this Northern<br />
Beaches suburb as a growth area<br />
(9)<br />
27 Tentative or experimental<br />
action in order to ascertain results<br />
(5)<br />
28 Someone skilled in an<br />
industrial or applied art; a<br />
craftsperson (7)<br />
29 Mosaic artists (6)<br />
DOWN<br />
2 Out of doors (4-3)<br />
3 Recently elected Member for<br />
Mackellar, ______ Scamps (6)<br />
4 Sort of journey undertaken<br />
by Palm Beach Ferries within<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>, say (5,4)<br />
5 Substance that gives sea water<br />
its characteristic taste (4)<br />
6 A woodwind instrument with a<br />
single-reed mouthpiece (8)<br />
7 An object or collection on<br />
display to the public (7)<br />
8 Marsh plant (5)<br />
9 What can be found at the corner<br />
of <strong>Pittwater</strong> Rd and Coronation<br />
St (3,4)<br />
15 An area of community space<br />
like that used by Newport<br />
Community Garden, perhaps (9)<br />
16 Concrete barrier designed<br />
to protect coastal property in<br />
Collaroy (7)<br />
17 Those with a plan of action (8)<br />
19 The power of discerning and<br />
understanding things (7)<br />
21 28-across’s workroom (7)<br />
22 Money received for letting out<br />
a house, say (6)<br />
23 Yoghurt side dish available<br />
from Northern Beaches Tadka in<br />
North Narrabeen (5)<br />
25 A publicly displayed board<br />
giving information (4)<br />
[Solution page 72]<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Puzzler<br />
64 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 65
Food <strong>Life</strong><br />
with Janelle Bloom<br />
For more recipes go to janellebloom.com.au<br />
When it comes to the crunch,<br />
think apples for versatility<br />
Food <strong>Life</strong><br />
Recipes: janellebloom.com.au; facebook.com/culinaryinbloom; instagram.com/janellegbloom/ Photos: Adobe Stock<br />
It’s apple season right now – and this year’s is<br />
expected to be a bumper one! Food experts<br />
calculate that in <strong>2022</strong> we will enjoy a staggering<br />
200 million kilos of apples. There are many<br />
varieties on offer, my favourite at the moment<br />
being the dark purple-skinned Bravo! They are so<br />
Apple and cinnamon<br />
jam with croissant<br />
Makes 6-7 cups<br />
1.5kg apples (1kg granny<br />
smith, 500g Braeburn or Pink<br />
lady)<br />
3 lemons, rind finely grated,<br />
juiced<br />
2 cups (500ml) apple juice<br />
6 cups (1.35kg) white sugar<br />
2 cinnamon sticks, broken in<br />
half<br />
1. Peel and core the apples,<br />
reserve the cores and seeds<br />
(as these contain pectin<br />
which help set the jam).<br />
Place the core and seeds in<br />
a piece of muslin or un-used<br />
Chux cloth, and secure with<br />
a piece string. Slice or dice<br />
the apples into 3cm pieces.<br />
Place the apples and bag with<br />
cores and seeds in a large<br />
heavy-based saucepan over<br />
low heat with the lemon rind,<br />
lemon juice and apple juice.<br />
Cook, stirring occasionally<br />
for 15-20 minutes until apples<br />
are just tender when tested<br />
with a skewer.<br />
2. Add the sugar and<br />
cinnamon, stir until the<br />
sugar has dissolved.<br />
Increase the heat to high<br />
and bring to the boil. Boil<br />
gently, stirring occasionally<br />
for 20 minutes, using a large<br />
spoon to remove any scum<br />
from the surface every 10<br />
minutes, or until setting<br />
point is reached (see tips).<br />
3. Remove the bag with the<br />
cores and seeds, ladle hot<br />
jam into hot sterilised jars.<br />
Seal, turn the jam upside<br />
down for 2 minutes, then<br />
turn upright. This jam is<br />
delicious served warm<br />
or cold on a croissant for<br />
breakfast or brunch.<br />
TIP: Test your jam is at<br />
setting point<br />
Remove the pan from the<br />
heat, place a small plate in the<br />
freezer for 15 minutes. Drop a<br />
teaspoon of the jam onto the<br />
plate and return to the freezer<br />
for 1 minute. Push your finger<br />
through the jam on the plate;<br />
the jam should wrinkle and<br />
stay separated on the plate. If<br />
it’s not ready, continue cooking<br />
the jam and test again.<br />
TIP: To sterilise jars<br />
Preheat the oven to 130°C. Do<br />
not be tempted to heat the<br />
oven any higher, or you may<br />
risk the glass breaking. Place<br />
a tea towel on a baking tray.<br />
Wash the jars and lids (metal<br />
and glass lids only). Place<br />
upright on the tray, making<br />
sure the jars are not touching<br />
each other. Heat for 20<br />
minutes.<br />
Pork, apple<br />
and onion jam<br />
sausage rolls<br />
Makes 12<br />
1 tbs olive oil<br />
2 apples (Granny Smith, Royal<br />
versatile, with wonderful natural sweetness – they<br />
are great to eat, juice and cook with, like many<br />
other apple varieties, so grab a kilo or two and<br />
support our farmers; these country folk sure had<br />
a tough few years before the rains blessed them<br />
with this new bounty! Enjoy…<br />
Gala) quartered, cored, thinly<br />
sliced<br />
1 tsp fennel seeds<br />
½ cup onion jam (see tip)<br />
600g pork mince<br />
3/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs<br />
1 tbs Dijon mustard<br />
2 eggs<br />
2 sheet frozen puff pastry,<br />
partially thawed<br />
1 tbs sesame seeds<br />
1. Preheat oven to 200°C fanforced.<br />
Line a large baking<br />
tray with baking paper.<br />
2. Heat a large non-stick frying<br />
pan over medium heat.<br />
Add the oil, apples and<br />
fennel seeds, cook, stirring<br />
occasionally for 6 minutes or<br />
until the apples are tender.<br />
Transfer to a large bowl, stir<br />
in the jam. Set aside to cool.<br />
3. Add the mince,<br />
breadcrumbs, mustard<br />
and 1 egg; mix until well<br />
combined. Season well.<br />
4. Cut the pastry sheets in half.<br />
Shape one-quarter of mince<br />
mixture into a log the same<br />
length as the pastry. Place<br />
onto pastry and roll over to<br />
enclose the filling. Repeat<br />
with remaining mixture. Cut<br />
each roll into 3 pieces.<br />
5. Beat the remaining egg and<br />
brush the top of the sausage<br />
rolls with egg, sprinkle with<br />
sesame seeds. Place on the<br />
tray, seam side down and<br />
bake for 30 minutes or until<br />
puffed and golden.<br />
Janelle’s Tip: Onion jam is<br />
available in supermarkets;<br />
alternatively, sauté 2 large<br />
onions in olive oil with a little<br />
brown sugar until soft and<br />
golden.<br />
Apple, beetroot<br />
and roasted maple<br />
walnut salad<br />
Serves 4-6 (as a side)<br />
It’s delicious served on burgers<br />
or with chicken, sausages or<br />
pan-seared salmon.<br />
1 tbs olive oil<br />
1 tbs maple syrup<br />
½ tsp chilli flakes, optional<br />
½ cup walnuts<br />
500g packet precooked<br />
beetroot (see tip)<br />
4 Jazz, Fuji, Kanzi or Pink lady<br />
apples<br />
1 cup firmly packed picked<br />
coriander or flat leaf parsley<br />
leaves<br />
Horseradish dressing<br />
¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive<br />
oil<br />
1 tbs sherry vinegar<br />
1 tbs horseradish cream<br />
½ small garlic clove, crushed<br />
½ tsp maple syrup<br />
1. Preheat oven 180°C fan-<br />
66 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
forced. Combine the oil and<br />
maple in a bowl, season<br />
with salt and chilli flakes.<br />
Add walnuts and stir to coat.<br />
Spoon onto a baking tray.<br />
Bake for 10 minutes until<br />
toasted. Set aside to cool,<br />
roughly chop.<br />
2. Whisk all the dressing<br />
ingredients together in a<br />
large bowl, season with salt<br />
and pepper. Cut the beetroot<br />
and apple into matchsticks<br />
and add to the dressing, stir<br />
gently to combine. Add the<br />
coriander and walnuts, stir<br />
gently and serve.<br />
Janelle’s Tip: Precooked<br />
beetroot is available in the fruit<br />
and vegetable section of the<br />
supermarket.<br />
Seared pork chops<br />
with apple and<br />
mustard sauce<br />
Serves 4<br />
4 loin steaks<br />
1 tbs thyme leaves<br />
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil<br />
3 apples (like Jazz, Kanzi, Pink<br />
lady or Royal Gala or Bravo),<br />
quartered, cored, thickly sliced<br />
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced<br />
¼ cup dry white wine<br />
1 tbs Dijon mustard<br />
1 cup chicken stock<br />
½ cup thickened cream, plus<br />
extra to drizzle<br />
Mashed potato or cooked pasta,<br />
to serve<br />
1. Season both sides of the pork<br />
and sprinkle with thyme. Heat<br />
oil in a large frying pan over<br />
high heat. Add the pork, cook<br />
for 1 minutes each side until<br />
golden. Remove to a plate.<br />
2. Reduce heat to medium, add<br />
the remaining oil with the<br />
apples and garlic to pan.<br />
Cook for 30 seconds. Add the<br />
wine and bring to the boil.<br />
3. Meanwhile, whisk the<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
mustard and stock together<br />
until smooth. Pour into the<br />
pan and bring to the boil,<br />
boil gently 4-6 minutes until<br />
the apples are almost tender<br />
and sauce thickened slightly.<br />
Stir in the cream then return<br />
the pork to the pan, simmer<br />
5 minutes until the pork is<br />
cooked and apples tender.<br />
Serve over mash potato or<br />
pasta.<br />
Apple strudel<br />
Serves 6<br />
25g unsalted butter<br />
1kg apples (mix of Granny<br />
Smith and Pink Lady or Kanzi),<br />
peeled, cored, quartered, thinly<br />
sliced<br />
½ cup white sugar, plus extra<br />
to sprinkle<br />
1 tbs lemon juice<br />
1 tsp ground cinnamon<br />
¼ cup raisins<br />
375g roll frozen all butter puff<br />
pastry (see tip), thawed<br />
2-3 tbs panko crumbs<br />
2 tbs brown sugar<br />
Icing sugar, to serve<br />
Double cream (optional), to<br />
serve<br />
1. Melt the butter in a large<br />
frying pan over medium<br />
heat. Add the apples, sugar<br />
and lemon juice. Cook<br />
for 6-8 minutes or until<br />
the apple starts to soften,<br />
but still hold their shape.<br />
Transfer to a colander to<br />
drain. Set aside to cool<br />
completely. Spoon the<br />
apple into a bowl. Stir in the<br />
cinnamon and raisins.<br />
2. Place a large oven tray into<br />
the oven. Preheat oven and<br />
tray to 180°C fan-forced.<br />
3. Unroll the puff pastry and<br />
lay it vertically in front of<br />
you on a sheet of baking<br />
paper. Combine the panko<br />
crumbs and brown sugar,<br />
sprinkle evenly over the<br />
pastry. Spoon the apple<br />
mixture along the long<br />
side closest to you, leaving<br />
a 3cm at both short ends<br />
free. Fold in the ends. Roll<br />
up firmly to enclose the<br />
filling.<br />
4. Brush the top lightly with<br />
water and sprinkle with white<br />
sugar. Score the top of the<br />
pastry at 2cm intervals. Lift<br />
the strudel, still on the paper<br />
onto the hot tray in the oven.<br />
Bake for 30 minutes or until<br />
golden. Dust with icing sugar<br />
and serve with cream or ice<br />
cream.<br />
Janelle’s Tip: Carême butter<br />
puff is worth looking for;<br />
you will find it at Harris Farm<br />
and other good-quality food<br />
retailers.<br />
Apple fritters<br />
Serves 4<br />
1 cup (150g) self-raising flour<br />
2 tbs icing sugar, plus extra to<br />
serve<br />
200ml chilled soda water<br />
4 apples (Royal Gala, Eve, Kanzi<br />
or Bravo), washed, dried<br />
Vegetable oil, for frying<br />
Icing sugar and ice cream, to<br />
serve<br />
1. Sift the flour and icing sugar<br />
into a bowl, make a well in the<br />
centre. Gently whisk in soda<br />
water.<br />
2. Trim the tops and bases the<br />
apples. Cut apples into 4-6<br />
rounds (this depends on the<br />
size of your apples), then use<br />
an apple corer to remove the<br />
core from each piece of apple.<br />
3. Half-fill a medium saucepan<br />
with oil and heat over medium<br />
heat. Dip 4 apple slices, one<br />
at a time into the batter, then<br />
carefully lower into the oil.<br />
Cook for 2 minutes then turn<br />
the fritters over and cook<br />
a further 1 minute or until<br />
golden. Remove to a wire rack<br />
over a tray to drain. Repeat<br />
with the remaining apples,<br />
reheating the oil as needed<br />
between batches.<br />
4. Dust with icing sugar, serve<br />
warm with ice cream.<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 67<br />
Food <strong>Life</strong>
Food <strong>Life</strong><br />
Tasty Morsels<br />
with Beverley Hudec<br />
Food <strong>Life</strong><br />
Pick of the Month:<br />
Potatoes<br />
Potatoes last longer on 1 green chilli, finely chopped over<br />
the kitchen bench than 500g floury potatoes (like medium<br />
most fruits and vegetables,<br />
but eventually, they start to<br />
sprout green shoots and lose<br />
some of their freshness. So<br />
here are a few storage tips.<br />
Remove potatoes from<br />
plastic bags and place a<br />
cardboard box, paper bag<br />
or basket to ensure good<br />
ventilation. Plastic bags won’t<br />
allow them to breathe and<br />
will shorten their shelf life<br />
considerably.<br />
Store your potatoes in a<br />
cool, humid, and dark place.<br />
Never store potatoes in the<br />
fridge; the cold temperature<br />
turns the potato starch into<br />
sugar.<br />
Check on your potatoes<br />
regularly and remove any that<br />
are soft or sprouted so they<br />
don’t spoil the other potatoes.<br />
Even if your potatoes have<br />
sprouted, they are still safe<br />
to eat, if the sprout is small,<br />
the potatoes are firm – but<br />
always remove and discard<br />
the sprouting piece.<br />
Sebago), peeled, chopped<br />
1 litre chicken or vegetable<br />
stock, plus extra as needed<br />
400g broccoli, cut into small<br />
florets<br />
2 tbs thickened cream,<br />
optional<br />
Micro herbs or mint, to serve,<br />
optional<br />
1. Place the oil, leek, garlic<br />
and chilli in a saucepan<br />
heat,<br />
cooking<br />
stirring for 3<br />
minutes or until<br />
soft. Add the potatoes,<br />
cook, stirring for 1 minute.<br />
Add the stock and bring to<br />
the boil. Simmer, covered,<br />
for 8 minutes or until the<br />
potatoes are tender when<br />
tested with a skewer.<br />
2. Add the broccoli; cook,<br />
Potato and<br />
broccoli soup<br />
Serves 4<br />
1 tbs extra virgin olive oil,<br />
plus extra to serve<br />
1 leek, thinly sliced<br />
2 garlic cloves, crushed<br />
uncovered,<br />
for 2<br />
minutes until<br />
the broccoli is<br />
bring green and tender.<br />
Remove from the heat. Cool<br />
slightly. Use a stick blender<br />
to blend until smooth.<br />
Taste and season. Stir<br />
through the cream if using,<br />
heat over medium-low<br />
heat until heated through,<br />
adjusting the consistency<br />
with extra stock as needed.<br />
3. Ladle the soup into bowls.<br />
Drizzle with extra virgin<br />
olive oil, sprinkle with<br />
micro herbs, season and<br />
serve.<br />
In Season<br />
<strong>July</strong><br />
Apples, bananas, Custard<br />
apples, dates, mandarins,<br />
Kiwi fruit – look out for new<br />
gold and pink variety; Nashi<br />
pears, Australian Navel<br />
and Cara Cara oranges,<br />
pears, quince, rhubarb and<br />
strawberries. Also avocados,<br />
beetroot, broccolini and<br />
broccoli, Brussels sprouts,<br />
cauliflower, leeks, fennel,<br />
Jerusalem artichokes,<br />
pumpkin, Sweet potato,<br />
potatoes, spinach and<br />
silverbeet, kale and turnips.<br />
Some Tiny Morsels to savour in <strong>July</strong><br />
Newport's Pivot<br />
currying f(l)avour<br />
Newport’s Pivot is making a name<br />
for itself with a selection of readymade<br />
meals on a rotating menu.<br />
Go-to dishes include fish curries<br />
and black pepper chicken. Book a<br />
table on Friday night for margaritas,<br />
nachos and burritos. Alternatively,<br />
drop in during the week for a<br />
caffeine hit from local roaster,<br />
Barrel One.<br />
Wurst still best<br />
for small goods<br />
Brot & Wurst has moved<br />
premises. It’s still in<br />
Narrabeen and it still stocks<br />
German small goods and<br />
provisions on its shelves,<br />
in the cooler cabinets and<br />
freezer. Check out the chilled<br />
deli section for comfort food<br />
like weisswurst, bockwurst<br />
and kransky. It’s a bakery too<br />
with German rye bread, rolls,<br />
pretzels and cherry strudel.<br />
Sa-Biang a stairway<br />
to delish Thai heaven<br />
If you’re taking the kids out for Thai,<br />
pad Thai is a noodle dish that always<br />
goes down a storm with all age groups.<br />
It balances the essential sweet, salty<br />
and sour elements of Thai cuisine<br />
without being spicy. Avalon’s Sa-<br />
Biang also showcases plenty of family<br />
favourites like fragrant massaman<br />
curry, oyster sauce stir fries, as well as<br />
fish cakes, dumplings and curry puffs.<br />
Seafood no surprise<br />
at new Mona dining<br />
Roll on Spring when restaurateur<br />
Doug Fraser opens The Basin Dining<br />
in the newly renovated Mona Vale<br />
Surf <strong>Life</strong> Saving Club. Given the<br />
location, expect to see plenty of<br />
seafood on the 85-seater lunch and<br />
dinner menu. Fraser says that several<br />
popular dishes from his nearby<br />
Newport eatery, Lovat, will migrate to<br />
the beachside venue.<br />
Tasty Dining Morsels Guide<br />
68 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
Three of a kind: Local Golf Clubs<br />
There’s an Asian twist to dining<br />
at Palm Beach Golf Club. Sashimi<br />
Kingfish tacos, Thai beef salad and<br />
spanner crab omelette with chilli<br />
lime dressing pep up Beach Road<br />
Dining’s menu. Fish and chip fans<br />
can go two ways. There’s either<br />
traditional beer battered ling or<br />
pan-roasted barramundi with<br />
Asian slaw and chilli jam (left).<br />
White Rock Cafe at Long Reef<br />
Golf Club is a hidden local gem.<br />
What could be nicer than a table<br />
with views over Fishermans Beach?<br />
Breakfast picks include scrambled<br />
chilli eggs and buttermilk<br />
pancakes. Bacon and egg rolls<br />
pop up at lunchtime, as do herbchicken<br />
schnitzels, crunchy salad<br />
bowls and chilli prawn pasta.<br />
Bookings are a must for the<br />
hugely popular Wednesday night<br />
steaks at Bayview Golf Club. The<br />
eight-hour confit beef rib eye is<br />
perfect with chips, salad and your<br />
choice of sauce – perfect on a cold<br />
winter night. On Friday night, it’s<br />
time for pizza and live music. The<br />
club’s restaurant is open to both<br />
members and non-members.<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 69
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
with Gabrielle Bryant<br />
A good year for the roses, with<br />
colour and fragrance aplenty<br />
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
There is a rose variety for every<br />
garden; with a little bit of research<br />
you’ll find there are roses for pots,<br />
in the ground, to climb up pillars, cover<br />
archways, to cover the ground or to<br />
ramble over banks, for full sun or semishade.<br />
Roses add colour and fragrance<br />
wherever they grow.<br />
As gardens grow smaller in urban<br />
areas and neighbouring buildings steal<br />
the sun, it’s becoming harder to find a<br />
spot that will be suitable year-round. The<br />
answer is to grow potted plants that can<br />
be moved around as the seasons change.<br />
Potted roses are easy to grow if you<br />
follow a few important steps.<br />
Roses are greedy: they love plenty<br />
of food, soil that is rich in compost, a<br />
regular watering and very good drainage.<br />
The roses that are most suited to pots<br />
are the single-stemmed formal hybrid tea<br />
roses; or the floribunda roses that have<br />
clusters of flowers on every stem.<br />
Use the largest pot available. A 30cm<br />
pot is the smallest that will be successful<br />
(right). If<br />
possible, choose<br />
a terracotta pot<br />
that will allow the<br />
roots to breathe<br />
(black plastic will<br />
heat up in the<br />
sun and the roots<br />
can burn).<br />
Choose a very<br />
good potting<br />
mix with plenty<br />
of organic<br />
matter. If<br />
possible, choose<br />
a mix without any pelleted fertiliser.<br />
These mixes are great in the ground but<br />
in pots the pellets release salts that build<br />
up over time as they break down. Feed<br />
roses with water-based fertilisers and<br />
liquid fish fertilisers.<br />
Never let the soil dry out. Pots<br />
should be watered at least<br />
every second day. Cover the<br />
surface of the soil with<br />
a mulch of compost or<br />
sugar cane mulch to<br />
hold the moisture.<br />
Chase the sun with<br />
the pot, to make<br />
sure that your rose<br />
gets at least half a<br />
day of sunlight.<br />
Remember to ‘dead<br />
head’ the flowers to<br />
keep some new buds forming.<br />
Most roses will flower throughout<br />
the summer months.<br />
Roses have very few problems. Aphids<br />
(below) can be hosed off. Try to avoid<br />
pesticides. Aphids are a food for beneficial<br />
hover flies, birds<br />
and lady birds<br />
in the garden.<br />
If they get out<br />
of control spray<br />
with Eco Oil.<br />
Powdery mildew<br />
and Back spot<br />
are fungal<br />
disease caused<br />
by humidity.<br />
Control these<br />
with a spray of 1<br />
part milk to 10<br />
parts water.<br />
70 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
Fill spaces with fruiting shrubs and trees<br />
Gardens get smaller and<br />
smaller, but it is still nice<br />
to fill the space with trees.<br />
Most trees grow too large –<br />
but choose carefully and you<br />
can find a wide selection to<br />
choose from.<br />
If you are a home produce<br />
addict, take a look at the<br />
variety of dwarf and smallgrowing<br />
fruits that will grow in<br />
pots or in the ground.<br />
Most raspberries need a<br />
cooler climate, but Raspberry<br />
Bliss (top left) grows in warmer<br />
climates. It is a smallergrowing<br />
shrub, perfect for<br />
large pots, full sunshine and<br />
For many years rose growers have supported charities by<br />
donating royalties and profits. If you are undecided about<br />
which to buy, why not buy online a rose that supports a charity<br />
that is close to your heart?<br />
Knights Roses in South Australia sells online as postal orders.<br />
They have charity roses of every colour. Support the Leukaemia<br />
Foundation by<br />
growing the rich<br />
golden yellow<br />
fragrant flowers of<br />
Always Remember<br />
(right). The soft loose<br />
pearly pink blooms<br />
of Butterfly Kisses<br />
will send funds to the<br />
Variety Club to help<br />
sick children and<br />
their families.<br />
If you want to<br />
support welfare for<br />
women and their<br />
children, the rich red<br />
hybrid tea rose SACWA will help the Country Women’s Association<br />
of South Australia raise the much-needed funds to help women in<br />
cities and country alike.<br />
We all remember the amazing dedication of the firefighters<br />
in the bushfires; Fire Star is a brilliant floribunda rose that has<br />
clusters of scarlet buds that turn brilliant orange and fade to soft<br />
pink with time.<br />
The rich marmalade orange tea rose We Will Remember Them<br />
is a much-loved rose that will help to maintain the war memorials<br />
in France.<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
plenty of nourishing soil. It will<br />
grow to just 1m tall and 1m<br />
wide.<br />
Blueberries are full of<br />
vitamins and perfect for<br />
muffins, smoothies or in fruit<br />
salad. Blueberry Burst is an<br />
awesome variety that always<br />
performs to perfection in a pot.<br />
If you love bananas, grow<br />
a dwarf banana Nathan in a<br />
large tub or in the ground.<br />
At two years old and 1.8m it<br />
will produce hands of small,<br />
delicious bananas, at the same<br />
time as being an attractive<br />
courtyard addition, or you can<br />
bring the pot inside for a very<br />
Roses boost for charity<br />
dramatic indoor plant.<br />
For something more<br />
traditional, look at the Trixzie<br />
fruit trees from Flemings<br />
Nursery in Victoria. There<br />
are miniature apples, pears,<br />
nectarine, peaches (right) or<br />
cherries. (It is a bit too warm<br />
for cherries, but the others will<br />
grow in peninsular gardens.)<br />
Every garden needs some<br />
shade from the hot summer<br />
sun. <strong>July</strong> is the month for a<br />
visit to the garden centre to<br />
find a tree that will give shade<br />
in summer and let the light<br />
shine in in winter.<br />
Magnolia trees are late-<br />
Spring flowering trees but with<br />
time they grow tall, look for<br />
a magnolia Stellata (centre)<br />
either with starry flowers of<br />
white or pink. These magnolias<br />
are small and compact, and a<br />
delight in any spring garden.<br />
For Autumn colour you can’t<br />
go past Cercis Forest Pansy.<br />
This small attractive 5m tree<br />
has heart-shaped, bright new<br />
green foliage that turns to dark<br />
red as it matures. The leaves<br />
continually change colour until<br />
they glow in the Autumn sun,<br />
giving a display of fiery red<br />
before losing their leaves for<br />
Winter.<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 71<br />
Garden <strong>Life</strong>
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
Jobs this Month<br />
<strong>July</strong><br />
Times Past<br />
RECORD: <strong>Pittwater</strong> on left<br />
and the main quarters show<br />
very clearly to the right, circa<br />
1880s; all that remained<br />
of the station in 1986 after<br />
the fire (below).<br />
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
After months of torrential<br />
rain the ground is<br />
starting to dry. It may<br />
seem crazy but it is time to<br />
water the garden. Through the<br />
wet weeks, plants will have<br />
sent roots to the surface to<br />
survive, now these new roots<br />
are in danger of burning. It<br />
will take time for plants to reestablish.<br />
Seedling colour<br />
If your garden is looking drab<br />
after a very cold Winter, fill<br />
empty spots with seedlings<br />
or potted colour. Primulas<br />
(below) are cheerful fillers<br />
that will flower for the weeks<br />
ahead; keep picking the<br />
flowers and bring them inside<br />
to prolong the flowering time.<br />
Lollypop primulas are mixed<br />
colours of red, pink and white,<br />
or if you have a colour scheme<br />
you can buy punnets of<br />
individual colours.<br />
Prune & tidy<br />
Time now to prune and tidy<br />
the garden. Prune back roses,<br />
cut back any weak or twiggy<br />
growth. Always prune back to<br />
an outward pointing shoot,<br />
keeping the centre of the bush<br />
open. Spray the bush with a<br />
copper spray. This will clean<br />
up any fungal spores from the<br />
last season and strengthen<br />
the new growth against any<br />
sudden drop in temperature.<br />
Pest watch<br />
Cymbidium orchids are coming<br />
into flower. Protect the flower<br />
spikes from marauding snails<br />
that can destroy the buds<br />
overnight. Multiguard snail<br />
pellets are safe for animals<br />
and birds. Watch out for leaf<br />
miner on the new shoots<br />
on citrus trees. The curled<br />
Aerate lawns<br />
Lawns have suffered with heavy rain. Aerate the compacted<br />
turf with a spiked roller or a pair of spiked sandals before<br />
feeding with a slow-release lawn food to get your grass<br />
back to health in time for Spring.<br />
distorted leaves are a giveaway.<br />
Trim back affected<br />
leaves and spray with eco oil.<br />
Simple chores<br />
Lift and divide gingers,<br />
agapanthus, iris, Mondo grass,<br />
liriope, paint brush lilies,<br />
Autumn crocus or any other<br />
perennials, bulbs or ground<br />
covers that need splitting.<br />
Sow tomato seeds and other<br />
Summer veggies now and be<br />
ready to plant them out as<br />
soon as the weather warms<br />
up. Seeds are much cheaper<br />
than seedlings!<br />
Trim time<br />
Geraniums need a tidy up.<br />
Trim them up and take<br />
cuttings to replace any plants<br />
that are woody and old. Also,<br />
trim and train passionfruit<br />
vines. The fruit only produces<br />
on the new growth. Cut the<br />
vines back by 50% to form a<br />
solid framework.<br />
Move trees<br />
It may be cold outside, but it<br />
is time to rug up and move<br />
any trees and shrubs that<br />
have outgrown their space.<br />
Spray with Yates Drought<br />
Shield a week before moving<br />
as a precaution to reduce<br />
transplanting shock.<br />
Crossword solution from page 65<br />
Mystery location: PALM BEACH<br />
Early Customs Station at ‘Barranjoey’<br />
A<br />
Customs Station was<br />
established in the lee<br />
of Barranjoey Headland<br />
in 1843 in response to<br />
the frequency and persistent<br />
smuggling of spirits. Custom<br />
duties were seen as a way of<br />
‘self-funding’ colonisation<br />
and income tax wasn’t introduced<br />
until 1915.<br />
John B. Howard, former<br />
captain of the Revenue Cutter<br />
‘Prince George’ was selected<br />
as the first Coast Waiter of<br />
this new Customs Station.<br />
Initially three tents from<br />
the Colonial Stores were<br />
issued to seven men at the<br />
station on 19 April 1843. The<br />
coxswain was a free man but<br />
the carpenter, the boat builder<br />
and the three boatmen were<br />
convicts. With their assistance,<br />
Howard managed to<br />
construct a building for the<br />
boat crew, a jetty and “a very<br />
comfortable residence for<br />
himself” – all for 150 pounds<br />
($300) and from his own pocket<br />
(to be later reimbursed).<br />
Parliamentary reporter<br />
Charles de Boos, at the end of<br />
his extraordinary walk from<br />
Manly to Barranjoey in 1861,<br />
described the building as the<br />
“white cottage we could see<br />
glistening brightly against<br />
the dark background of the<br />
vast cliffs of the mountain”.<br />
However, upon closer inspection,<br />
Charles commented<br />
that the beauty “was all in<br />
appearance” and “the slabs<br />
and posts and weatherboards<br />
were now so far decayed as to<br />
make it doubtful on the occasion<br />
of every gale of wind,<br />
whether it would stand it out<br />
or succumb before the blast”.<br />
After only 18 years, and<br />
three successive coast waiters,<br />
the Colonial Architect,<br />
James Barnet reported that<br />
the buildings were “in a most<br />
dilapidated condition and<br />
unworthy of repair”.<br />
He promptly drew up plans<br />
for new cottages and boatsheds<br />
and by December 1862<br />
John Taylor had completed<br />
construction at the tendered<br />
price of 595 pounds.<br />
It was reported only six<br />
months later that a brief but<br />
heavy hailstorm broke all<br />
the glass in the 12-paned<br />
colonial windows and an<br />
urgent request for putty and<br />
86 squares of glass was sent<br />
to Stores.<br />
In 1867 the station was<br />
positively described as “… a<br />
pretty cottage of the Customs<br />
Officer, Mr Ross and the residences<br />
of those connected<br />
with the Customs Station.<br />
There is evidence of food in<br />
the gardens and the ground<br />
around the station and an<br />
air of peaceful comfort quite<br />
refreshing to those engaged<br />
in the turmoil of city life”.<br />
In December 1900, Broken<br />
Bay was no longer officially<br />
regarded as a port and the activities<br />
of the Custom Station<br />
ceased.<br />
After appraisal by architect<br />
David Sheedy in April 1976,<br />
the main building – the Cus-<br />
toms House – was accepted<br />
for classification by the<br />
National Trust the following<br />
month.<br />
Sadly, five months later (on<br />
9 October), the building was<br />
totally destroyed by fire.<br />
David had managed to<br />
complete measured sketches<br />
of plans and elevations<br />
before the tragedy, so along<br />
with contemporary photographs,<br />
at least a very accurate<br />
history of the complex<br />
remains.<br />
* With respect to the late<br />
Jervis Sparks (and ‘keeper’<br />
of the headland for some<br />
30 years), the spelling of<br />
Barranjoey is maintained in<br />
this article.<br />
TIMES PAST is supplied by<br />
local historian and President<br />
of the Avalon Beach<br />
Historical Society GEOFF<br />
SEARL. Visit the Society’s<br />
showroom in Bowling Green<br />
Lane, Avalon Beach.<br />
Times Past<br />
72 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2022</strong> 73
CREDIT: Giant Design Consultants<br />
News<br />
SEEN…<br />
We’ve been given a glimpse of the stylish fit-out of the new<br />
Basin restaurant at Mona Vale SLSC (above left)… and photographer<br />
Fabio Silvestre was on hand to capture some of the huge<br />
shore break swell at Narrabeen last month (above right).<br />
HEARD #1…<br />
Dr Sophie Scamps (below with husband Adam Magro) was<br />
declared winner of the seat of Mackellar on June 10; Dr Scamps<br />
will head to Canberra for the opening of the 47th Australian<br />
Parliament on <strong>July</strong> 26. We wonder whether the kerfuffle over<br />
the Albanese Government cutting the advisors headcount of<br />
crossbench representatives will have been sorted by then.<br />
The dispute between Trippas White<br />
Group and Council that’s seen the<br />
hospitality space at Avalon Beach<br />
Surf <strong>Life</strong>saving Club deserted over<br />
the past year has been resolved.<br />
Council tells us: “Council and<br />
Avalon Beach SLSC have reached<br />
agreement with the operator<br />
to end the restaurant and café<br />
arrangements.” In <strong>July</strong>, Council<br />
plans to release a tender for a new<br />
operator; however, in the interim<br />
the function space is available to<br />
the community, with bookings<br />
through the Club… Council says<br />
the most recent complaint it has<br />
received about the Barrenjoey<br />
Swim School, which continues to<br />
operate after its closure was revoked in April, was on 1 May.<br />
Council says complainants have been informed that the matter<br />
is on hold while Council reviews the school’s revised operating<br />
model… Mayor Michael Regan has again cautioned his fellow<br />
councillors about raising community expectations on projects<br />
post-COVID. It comes as Councillors push to revitalise small<br />
village centres such as Elanora Heights. Cr Regan said: “I am<br />
pleased to see our smaller centres get some focus; councillors<br />
now need to work up a budget to deliver on all these promises.<br />
We are still paying off debt and it’s important we prioritise the<br />
maintenance of our existing assets.”<br />
ABSURD...<br />
HEARD #2…<br />
It’s four months since thousands of potholes started appearing<br />
on roads across the northern beaches due to torrential rain –<br />
now it seems both the State Government and our Council are<br />
fed up with the repair contractor’s tardy response. Government<br />
sources confirmed there is growing frustration and impatience<br />
internally at the delay in repairs and other broader network<br />
issues. And Mayor Michael Regan wants Council to step in and<br />
do the Government’s job for them – at their expense. He told<br />
us: “I’m fielding a lot of complaints about potholes on State<br />
Government-managed roads, especially on Bilgola Bends and<br />
Wakehurst Parkway. I agree that it’s frustrating how long it’s<br />
taking to get these seen to. I have offered the government for<br />
Council to assist, at State expense, to make sure they get done<br />
in a timely way.” As for Council’s roads, he says: “Our crews<br />
have been working hard to get on top of every pothole reported.<br />
Since February we’ve had over 3,622 potholes reported on<br />
Council-managed roads across the Northern Beaches and we’ve<br />
fixed 3,277 of them – and we’re working methodically through<br />
the remaining.” You can report potholes on Council’s website.<br />
74 JULY <strong>2022</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991