Pittwater Life December 2022 Issue

The Local Voice Since 1991 

DECEMBER 2022 

FREE 

pittwaterlife 

A MERRY PITTWATER XMAS! 

MAYOR: WHY GOVT SHOULD RETHINK LIZARD ROCK HOUSING 

100 YEARS OF MONA VALE SLSC / BUSHFIRE COMPLACENCY FEAR 

SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD... / OCEAN SWIMS / THE WAY WE WERE

Editorial 

Federal Govt punching bag? 

Northern Beaches 

councillors and local State 

MP Rob Stokes have reacted 

angrily to the Albanese Labor 

Government withdrawing $75 

million of legislated federal 

funding towards upgrades of 

the Wakehurst Parkway. 

The Federal Government 

has defended its Grinch-style 

move; it said the funding was 

contingent on the progression 

of the Beaches Link Tunnel, 

which it claimed the NSW 

Government had cancelled. 

But MP Stokes maintains the 

tunnel project has not been 

scrapped. Rather he said it had 

been put on pause after the 

Perrottet Government received 

advice from Infrastructure 

Australia warning that 

entering into a contract in “an 

overheated market was not a 

sensible approach”. 

At its November meeting, 

Councillors condemned the 

Federal Government’s decision 

to pocket and reallocate the 

$75 million earmarked for our 

Wakehurst Parkway. 

Also, it requested the Federal 

Government provide Council 

with copies of documents 

evidencing that the $75 million 

was directly linked to the 

immediate progression of the 

Beaches Link Tunnel. 

Councillors further 

requested the Albanese 

Government provide Council 

with copies of documents 

evidencing the assertion that 

the Beaches Link Tunnel had in 

fact been “cancelled”. 

Meanwhile Mr Stokes says the 

NSW Government will honour 

its own $75 pledge for works to 

improve safety and black spots 

on the Parkway. 

* * * 

Thanks to all readers 

and advertisers for your 

support in 2022! Wishing 

everyone a safe and happy 

Christmas and Festive Season! 

See you in 2023! 

– Nigel Wall & Lisa Offord 


DECEMBER 2022 3

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pittwaterlife.com.au 

Publisher: Nigel Wall 

Managing Editor: Lisa Offord 

Graphic Design: 

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Photography: Adobe / Staff 

Contributors: Rob Pegley, 

Steve Meacham, Rosamund 

Burton, Gabrielle Bryant, 

Beverley Hudec, Brian Hrnjak, 

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Vol 32 No 5 

Celebrating 32 years 

51 


DECEMBER 2022 

FREE 

pittwaterlife 

A MERRY PITTWATER XMAS! 

M AYO R: WH Y G OV T S H O U L D R E THINK L IZ A R D RO CK H O U S IN G 

100 YEARS OF MONA VALE SLSC / BUSHFIRE COMPLACENCY FEAR 

SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD... / OCEAN SWIMS / THE WAY WE WERE 

PWL_DEC22_p001.indd 1 28/11/2022 2:48 pm 

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thislife 

INSIDE: The construction of 450 dwellings at Lizard Rock, 

Belrose is a step closer to being rubber-stamped... Mayor 

Michael Regan tells why it makes no sense (p9); the local 

RFS has issued a warning about bushfire complacency 

(p12); readers have panned the new works at Avalon’s 

main intersection (p18); MP Rob Stokes has signed off from 

parliament with a message for opponents of reform (p26); 

Mona Vale SLSC celebrates 100 years (p38); and Nick Carroll 

files his last Surf column for Pittwater Life (p54). 

COVER: Bushwalk / pamelapauline.com 

XXXXX 2022 

also this month 

Editorial 3 

Pittwater Local News & Features 8-37 

The Way We Were 28 

Seen... Heard... Absurd... 30 

Briefs & Community News 32-37 

Life Story 38-40 

Hot Property 42-50 

Christmas Gift Guide 51-53 

Surfing 54-55 

Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 56-63 

Money; Law 64-66 

Crossword 72 

Food & Tasty Morsels 74-76 

Gardening 78-80 

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Finished art & editorial submissions deadline: 

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The JANUARY 2023 issue will be published 

on FRIDAY 30 DECEMBER 

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

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DECEMBER 2022 The Local Voice Since 1991

News 

Brave Kay’s storm recovery 

December 19 marks one year since 

the sudden, violent storm on the 

Northern Beaches that claimed the 

life of grandmother and yoga teacher Sue 

Cobham and injured several others. 

Former Pittwater Councillor Kay Millar 

was one of three women struck down 

that afternoon, when winds ripped a 

large pine tree from the ground and 

flung it onto powerlines at the car park 

outside Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club. 

Approaching the anniversary of the 

devastating incident Kay, 71, reached out 

to Pittwater Life hoping to thank those 

who scrambled to help – the volunteer 

lifesavers and council lifeguards who 

administered first aid and comfort until 

paramedics and police arrived. 

Kay, who suffered multiple fractures 

and internal injuries, has spent the 

past 12 months learning to walk again, 

regaining her speech, piecing together 

what happened and dealing with the 

trauma. 

She says she remembers gathering 

with her neighbours at the beach on that 

Sunday afternoon for a pre-Christmas 

get-together. 

“It was going to be a lovely occasion 

just to get to know each other a bit better,” 

she said. 

“When the storm hit some of us took 

shelter at the Surf Life Saving Club 

before I decided to make a dash for home 

– Sue must have had the same idea, never 

realising that the storm was cyclonic.” 

Kay recalls holding her fold-up chair 

in front of her face to stop pine needles 

whipping into her; the next thing she 

remembers was “an enormous bang” and 

being stuck down. 

“I don’t remember much after that and 

there are so many differing stories about 

what happened,” she said. 

THANKFUL: 

Kay Millar. 

“I’d like to learn more. . . I’d like to 

know how the others affected are getting 

on and I especially want to acknowledge 

the extraordinary efforts by so many 

people on the day. 

“I do remember a young man, I think 

he was from surf patrol, he was wearing 

red and yellow, holding my hand and I 

particularly want to let him know how 

connected that made me feel and motivated 

to stay calm while waiting for the 

ambos… I squeezed his hand so tight.” 

Kay, who was pivotal to the establishment 

of the 10-bed inhouse palliative 

care unit at Mona Vale Hospital, spent 

two weeks in Royal North Shore Hospital 

Intensive Care Unit, two weeks on a ward 

followed by one month in Mona Vale 

Hospital Rehabilitation Unit. She then 

received home care for three months. 

It’s taken some time, but Kay revealed 

she walks past the scene of the incident 

– which is just moments from her home – 

nearly every day. 

“It was five months before I worked 

up the courage to first go there but by 

that time there was nothing to see, you’d 

never know anything happened, even the 

tree stump has gone,” she said. 

“I was walking with my neighbour 

Chris recently, who was keeping me reassured, 

and when he pointed out where 

I was when it happened, it’s not where I 

thought I was at all.” 

Kay says while there have been dark 

days over the past year there have also 

been some extraordinary moments. 

Like when a nurse brought her a tiny 

earring which matched the earring sitting 

in a specimen jar with the watch Kay 

was wearing when she was brought into 

emergency. 

“The earring was passed on to the 

nurse by her partner, who was one of the 

paramedics who helped me that day, I 

think.” 

Kay has returned to work for three 

days a week with the education department, 

working from home, and intends 

on increasing her work commitments in 

the new year. 

“Everyone has been so wonderful,” Kay 

said. 

“The well wishes I have received from 

all quarters, from neighbours, colleagues, 

people I have known for years 

and many I have never met, have been 

a great blessing and have helped me 

beyond words. 

“And my amazing kids – they have 

been an incredible support, I’m just so 

proud of them,” she said. – Lisa Offord 

8 DECEMBER 2022 

The Local Voice Since 1991

Why we’re between 

a Rock and a hard place 

At Council’s November 

meeting, councillors 

passed an urgent motion 

attacking the Albanese 

Labor Government for taking 

away the promised $75 million 

for the Wakehurst Parkway 

because the State Govt 

has delayed progressing the 

Beaches Link tunnel. 

At the same meeting we 

endorsed the staff recommendation 

on Lizard Rock 

at Belrose – opposing the 

current planning proposal 

for its complete destruction 

of natural bushland to make way for 

more than 400 homes and putting them in 

direct threat of bushfires. 

We should be attacking the Liberal State 

Minister for Planning for his fast-tracking 

of this proposal and sneaking it in before 

Christmas – giving Council and the community 

just 28 days to comment. The process 

also bypasses Council and can be approved 

by the State. 

It should be 

noted that none 

of the local MPs, 

including Rob 

Stokes in Pittwater, 

supports 

the Lizard Rock 

proposal either. 

This is 400-plus 

homes in the middle 

of the bush, 

not connected to 

any services, surplus 

to any housing 

targets set by 

the State, with no 

basic infrastructure, 

and destroys 

around 45-plus 

football size fields of virgin bushland. Not 

to mention it puts future inhabitants in an 

extreme bushfire risk. What is going on 

here? 

We have heard NSW Opposition Leader 

Chris Minns say that western Sydney has 

taken enough housing, and that the North 

Shore and suburbs need to take their fair 

share. This is a warning of sorts. 

Meanwhile, this single decision by a State 

Government minister to fast track this planning 

proposal and bypass Council, undoes 

all the work of this Council to demonstrate 

that we can accommodate our state housing 

targets in appropriate infill urban development 

without putting lives and property 

at risk, nor destroying virgin bushland 

– which we know is wrong and has other 


COMMENT 

By Northern Beaches 

Mayor Michael Regan 

SCRAP IT: There’s no merit to the MLALC’s Lizard Rock 

housing development proposal. 

massive domino impacts. 

It also gives NSW Labor, in 

the run up to the State election 

in March, the chance to 

say “I told you so” – ie, that 

the Northern Beaches can in 

fact take more housing. 

It completely undermines 

our independent studies and 

own government policy of 

resilience, in that you avoid 

building in bushfire- and 

flood-prone lands. The 

bushfires of 2019, I thought, 

were still clear in all our 

minds. Guess not. 

Another thing it does is make the Metropolitan 

Local Aboriginal Land Council 

(MLALC) spend more money on reports 

to gain approval to build this unwanted 

housing on their land that won’t even be 

affordable for most. And again... at what 

cost to the taxpayer? 

Northern Beaches Council rejected Ingleside 

and the State Government’s proposal 

to rezone for 

developers, for 

similar reasons. 

And this is no 

different, albeit 

more dangerous 

potentially: an 

isolated pocket 

of bushland with 

zero infrastructure. 

What is the 

State Government 

thinking? 

And sneaking it 

in before Christmas 

and going 

into caretaker 

mode speaks 

volumes. Less 

than 28 days to 

comment. And no justification as to why 

this housing is required over and above 

our targets. It’s just poor planning, at best. 

The State Government should get on 

with purchasing the land and placing it 

into something like a National Park, a State 

Park or even an aboriginal national park. 

Stop promising false hope to the MLALC 

that they can build in these bush areas 

and start coming up with a plan of how 

to compensate them fairly and without 

them having to go down the path of these 

expensive planning proposals. 

Step up. Read the room. Find a better 

model to help the MLALC achieve their 

goals. Don’t undermine your Council’s 

proactive work in this space. And don’t 

take advantage of the voters in this area. 

Council warning 

on Lizard Rock 

Northern Beaches Council 

is opposing the planning 

proposal to develop land at 

‘Lizard Rock’ along Morgan 

Road in Belrose, for its complete 

destruction of natural bushland 

for over 400 homes. 

The proposal was lodged with 

the NSW Department of Planning 

and Environment last month, on 

behalf of the Metropolitan Local 

Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC). 

The Department said the 

proposal included responses to 

issues raised by the community 

during public exhibition of the 

Northern Beaches Aboriginal Land 

Development Delivery Plan (DDP). 

The department is preparing 

a report for independent review 

by the North District Strategic 

Planning Panel in December. 

The panel will then make a 

recommendation to the Minister 

for Planning on whether the 

proposal should be submitted for 

Gateway determination. 

But Council says the proposal 

should be rejected. 

Council said its concerns 

included: inconsistency with 

strategy; a non-compliant process 

(no formal pre-lodgement process); 

short consultation timeframe; 

enormous loss of high biodiversity 

habitat; plus a bushfire risk. 

There were also “significant 

inconsistencies” within the 

planning proposal documentation 

itself, including variously referring 

to 450 ‘dwellings’ and 450 ‘lots’ 

which had the potential to create 

double or triple that number of 

dwellings if seniors housing and 

dual occupancy were permitted. 

“Council one hundred per 

cent supports the intent of the 

Aboriginal Land Rights Act 

and appreciates the importance 

of enabling Aboriginal people 

to achieve economic selfdetermination 

through developing 

land,” Mayor Regan said. 

“But we are required to consider 

all proposals on their merits, 

regardless of the landowner, and 

this proposal does not stack up.” 

– NW 

DECEMBER 2022 9 

News

News 

Careel Bay pollution shock 

You may be surprised to learn Careel 

Bay and the creek which feeds it is 

a habitat for over 100 documented 

bird species, from Sea Eagles to the endangered 

Bush Stone curlew and the Mangrove 

Gerygone. 

Or that the seagrass in the bay – not far 

off from Careel Bay Marina, where the Pittwater 

ferries come in to fuel every day – is 

a precious and protected resource, a nursery 

for kindergarten fish and sea horses 

too young to venture out from their hiding 

place to deeper waters. 

Blissful, then? 

Except the opening months of a new 

scientific project – the Careel Multi- 

Layered Coastal Assessment (CMCA) – has 

shown the bay is far more polluted than 

originally thought. 

Naturally, given the floods this year, the 

bay has suffered from the traumas of the 

upper Hawkesbury. 

However, a lot of it is “our fault”, specifically 

those who live in the Careel Creek 

catchment area. (The same is true for anyone 

in the Northern Beaches whose homes 

CALL FOR HELP: Living Ocean needs funds for screen floatation nets (like the ones used in Indonesia – 

below) to trap the huge amount of eclectic pollution that continues to make its way into Pittwater. 

weep rubbish via once pristine streams to 

the ocean.) 

The small team of Living Ocean volunteers 

(many more citizen scientists, however 

young, are needed over these summer 

months) were expecting to find a mass of 

micro-plastic seeping into the bay. 

So they did. 

But to their surprise, the volunteers also 

found a plethora of other debris including 

old shoes, plastic bottles and other 

detritus that should have been disposed of 

legitimately. 

The answer? 

Living Ocean, backed by its scientific 

advisors, is looking for a sponsor to erect 

“a screen flotation net” – similar to those 

used in Indonesia – on Careel Creek to trap 

larger objects flowing out into the bay. 

For most of its journey, from Bilgola Plateau 

via the Angophora Reserve and other 

sources close to Avalon Public School, the 

creek is invisible, underground. 

Its most public incarnation is the 

unlovely section that runs north of the 

Avalon Surf Life Saving Club, emerging 

through the mangroves at the southernmost 

point of the bay. 

“It’s actually very important to know 

what is entering the creek,” says Robbi Luscombe 

Newman, co-founder and president 

of Living Ocean. “Whatever goes into the 

creek ends up in the mangroves or the bay. 

“We have the volunteers and software to 

monitor what rubbish is trapped, as well as 

when and in which weather conditions the 

rubbish was deposited. 

“We pitched this to Northern Beaches 

Council, but they weren’t interested. So now 

we’re looking for a commercial sponsor.” 

In the meantime, there’s plenty of cleanup 

work to be done before the various 

scientific programs can progress much 

further. 

The ‘Litter Trail’ allows anyone – including 

school kids – to log any waste along 

the creek and where it was found before 

depositing it in designated bins. 

The charity’s bird identification app can 

help you identify most of the bird species 

you spot on a walk to the dog park or the 

football grounds. 

As for the seagrass? 

Clayton Mead, from UNSW’s Centre for 

Marine Science and Innovation, says the research 

into “the mooring-impacted Posidonia” 

at Careel Bay is “essential before any 

replanting can take place… in Pittwater”. 

– Steve Meacham 

*More info livingocean.org.au 



News 

Bushfire ‘complacency’ warning 

Fire Danger Ratings across 

NSW have changed for 

summer, but despite a 

rainy year the bushfire threat 

remains as great as ever – especially 

in Pittwater. 

You’d be forgiven for thinking 

that the heaviest year of 

rainfall on record in Australia 

would be enough to dampen 

the threat of summer bushfires. 

But Australia’s sun 

means vegetation can dry out 

very quickly – with Peter Duff, 

Captain of the Terrey Hills RFS 

Brigade, noting that a small 

fire had already broken out in 

the Hills District in November. 

If anything, Peter says that 

La Nina has simply hampered 

the ability to prepare for the 

fire season, with long periods of rain making back burning 

near impossible. 

“The combination of COVID and wet weather over the past 

two years has made hazard reduction very difficult and there 

is a lot of growth that has built up in that time,” he said. 

It’s a sentiment that is backed up by Angela Burford, spokesperson 

for the Royal Fire Service. 

“Grass fires are one of the biggest dangers this summer, 

as we’ve seen so much growth state-wide, with wet weather 

preventing us from doing as much preparation as we’d like,” 

she said. 

“Naturally La Nina has made the general public a little 

complacent and that wet weather is expected to carry into next 

year, but people should treat this summer like any other summer. 

“The risk is still there with strong winds and sun. I’d advise 

people to take the time on a nice day and take simple actions 

around the home to prepare.” 

The lack of preparation is something that worries Ingleside 

residents such as Steve Smith. 

“I tend to think it’s out of sight out of mind when it comes to 

Ingleside,” says Steve. “As far as I’m aware nobody from the fire 

brigade has had a wander round this year and there’s certainly 

BE ALERT: Bushfires remain a threat locally despite record rainfall in 2022. 

been no back-burning. Obviously 

it’s been very wet, but 

it’s starting to dry out. 

“We did have someone 

from the National Parks come 

round as they are thinking 

about doing a burn-off and 

we needed to sign a form to 

say we agreed,” Steve reveals. 

“Subject to COVID and wet 

weather they said that would 

be next May!” 

One thing that has changed 

prior to summer is the Fire 

Danger Ratings – like those 

seen on signs on Wakehurst 

Parkway. 

The RFS describe it as the 

“most significant change 

to fire danger ratings in 50 

years”, with the intention being 

to make things simpler and clearer for the public. 

On days of minimal risk, such as when it is raining, there 

will be a ‘No Rating’ shown. There are then four levels of escalation: 

Moderate: Meaning plan and prepare – stay up to date and be 

ready to act if there is a fire. 

High: Be ready to act – there’s a heightened risk. Be alert for 

fires in your area. 

Extreme: Take action now to protect your life and property – 

these are dangerous conditions. 

Catastrophic: For your survival leave bushfire risk areas – 

these are the most dangerous conditions. Your life may depend 

on the decisions you make. 

As a backdrop to the threat of fire on Pittwater, Ingleside 

residents continue to be frustrated in their bid to take matters 

into their own hands. Rezoning of the area as part of a Local 

Environmental Policy is being mooted in a bid to turn RU2 

areas into C4 conservation areas. 

“Basically, anyone who planted trees to help save the planet 

10 years ago, now can’t remove them,” says Steve Smith. 

The bottom line is rain or not, be prepared for a summer of 

bushfire threats. 

– Rob Pegley 

*More info rfs.nsw.gov.au 




CONTENTION: 

Scenic Foreshore 

Protection areas. 

Council questions 

rezoning directive 

NewsNorthern Beaches Council is pushing 

back against a “contradictory” 

directive from the NSW Government 

regarding the framework for its 

review of land zoning across Pittwater. 

As reported last month, a consolidated 

band of local residents groups confronted 

Council over the rezoning review, 

with a raft of requests including creating 

‘Scenic Foreshore Protection’ areas from 

shorelines to ridge lines along Pittwater. 

In response, Council maintained the 

Department of Planning and Environment 

had specifically advised its 

planners that “scenic values/protection 

should not be used as a criteria to establish 

conservation zones”. 

However, Council says it will now go 

into bat for residents. 

“Council is in talks with the Department 

to clarify its position and advocate 

that scenic values be included as a 

consideration in conservation zones,” a 

spokesperson said. 

“Their directive (to not use as criteria)… 

is contrary to the relevant Departmental 

circular for Conservation Zones 

which dates back to 2009 and has not 

been updated.” 

Council’s review is investigating which 

land areas should be included in Conservation 

Zones – applied to land with 

environmental values or where there are 

significant hazards such as bushfire – 

and what development should be permitted 

in these areas. 

The new zoning will help form a unified 

LEP for the Northern Beaches. 

Meanwhile it has been revealed the 

local Oatley MP in southern Sydney 

liaised with the Government to ensure 

Georges River Council retained foreshore 

protection controls in its new draft LEP, 

completed two years ago. 

A review of the Georges River LEP 2021 

appears to show that Foreshore Scenic 

Protection Areas have not been used to 

establish Conservation. 

Northern Beaches Council said that 

similar to the current Manly LEP 2013, 

they identified areas in which certain 

additional matters must be considered in 

the assessment of any development application 

submitted within those areas – 

such as avoiding clearing of steep slopes. 

Council noted clauses in the Georges 

River LEP established different controls 

for landscaped areas, design excellence, 

and minimum allotment sizes for the 

erection and subdivision of dual occupancies 

in Foreshore Scenic Protection 

Areas. 

It conceded Northern Beaches Council 

would not be prevented from considering 

similar clauses in its LEP, however it was 

“not the same as identifying these areas 

as Conservation Zones within which only 

certain uses were permitted”. 

Council’s community consultation 

period on its rezoning review closes on 

December 2. 

Almost 400 submissions were lodged 

on Council’s website by the end of November. 

– Nigel Wall 


News 

Mona Vale Road 

upgrade milestone 

PLANNING: The upgrade incorporates the biggest fauna overpass in Greater Sydney (impression). 

The upgrade of Mona Vale Road East 

is 70 per cent complete and on track 

to be completed by the end of 2023 – 

and within budget. 

Member for Pittwater Rob Stokes MP said 

the Government’s landmark local infrastructure 

investment will provide a safer, 

more reliable and faster travel experience 

for commuters. 

Originally budgeted at $250 million, 

Transport for NSW has revised its spend 

down to a forecast $228 million. 

“This is one of Pittwater’s most important 

infrastructure projects and when 

complete, it will cut commute times, reduce 

congestion and improve the lives of thousands 

on the Northern Beaches,” Mr Stokes 

said. 

The Mona Vale Road East upgrade – 

originally involves increasing the 3.2km 

two-lane stretch to a four-lane divided 

carriageway between Manor Road, Ingleside 

and Foley Street, Mona Vale, improving 

safety and traffic efficiency. 

“The project includes the biggest fauna 

overpass in the Greater Sydney area, which 

will allow the safe crossing of native 

animals including wallabies, echidnas, 

wombats and possums.” 

Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie 

Ward said this major milestone was part 

of the NSW Government’s commitment 

to upgrading major infrastructure on the 

Northern Beaches. 

“Mona Vale Road is transforming from a 

pinch point to a smooth and safe roadway 

that will save commuters valuable time into 

the future,” Mrs Ward said. 

“We are now more than 65 per cent complete 

in total works required for the Mona 

Vale Road East upgrade. 

“Around 168,000 cubic metres of material 

has been excavated – the equivalent of 

67 Olympic swimming pools – and more 

than four football fields of asphalt has 

been laid.” 

The NSW Government has also invested 

$340 million in the 2022-23 State Budget 

to upgrade Mona Vale Road West between 

McCarrs Creek Road, Terrey Hills and Powderworks 

Road, Ingleside, from two to four 

lanes to improve safety and traffic. 

Avalon 

intersection 

timeline 

Northern Beaches Council 

says asphalt is scheduled to 

be poured for the trial section 

of the new Shared Pedestrian 

Zone on Old Barrenjoey Road 

on 30 November. 

The majority of works will 

take place at night between 

8pm and 5am, with the exception 

of the kerb and gutter at 

the intersection, which will be 

undertaken during the day due 

to the noise impacts and safety 

issues from this activity. 

Council estimates all work, 

excluding the installation of 

shade structures, is expected 

to be completed by 9 December 

(weather permitting). 

New shade structures in 

Old Barrenjoey Road will be 

installed in mid-January, across 

two nights. 

However, Council warned 

there would be several full 

closures in the program to 

complete certain activities 

that required large machinery 

access or pavement treatment 

to be undertaken. These will 

generally be undertaken as 

night works to limit the impact 

on the community. 

The relocated Loading Zone 

(northern end of Old Barrenjoey 

Road, in front of the Recreation 

Centre) is in place with signage 

in place informing drivers 

where to park. 

There are also two 10-minute 

parking spaces in the area to 

facilitate pick up and drop offs. 

*Updates on Council website 

(project page) and also through 

the electronic site signage 

onsite; Readers Say – page 18. 



A Very Pittwater Christmas… 

TIME FOR GIVING 

The wonderful LJ Hooker team are collecting gifts on behalf of 

Link Community Care for families in need. If you can donate, 

please drop off a wrapped gift labelled with the contents to any 

of the offices at Avalon, Palm Beach or Newport by Monday 5. 

Pop into Mona Vale Library, collect a tag and buy a gift to match. 

Return the unwrapped gift to staff by Friday 16. Gifts will be 

distributed by Community Northern Beaches to local families. 

Remove a card/label from the Tree of Joy at Warriewood 

Square, purchase the gift and leave it under 

the tree by Monday 12, where it will be 

collected by volunteers from Rotary Club of 

Upper Northern Beaches and distributed to 

participating charities. 

If you can spare some time on Sunday 11 

Acts of Kindness would welcome your help at 

Bilarong Community Hall from 10am putting 

together 400 hampers for the homeless. RSVP 

by Dec 7 via Facebook or 0416086801. 

KIDS CHRISTMAS MOVIES 

Drop in for a classic Christmas movie at 

Mona Vale Library on Saturday 3, 10 and 17 

from 1.30pm-3pm to get you in the festive 

spirit. Enjoy the family friendly movie on the big screen and 

colouring in activities. Free. 

SANTA PHOTOS 

You will find the big man in red and his photographer helpers 

at Warriewood Square and Westfield Warringah Mall right up 

until Christmas Eve. Contact centre management for info about 

special sessions including Pet Photography, Sensitive Santa and 

Auslan Santa. 

CHRISTMAS CAROLS 

By The Beach 

Avalon Sat 10 from 4pm-9pm 

Enjoy the choir, food trucks and stalls, face painting, a visit 

from Santa and spectacular fireworks over beautiful Avalon 

Beach to end the festivities. Info 9918 3298. 

In The Park 

Mona Vale Sat 17 from 6.30pm-9pm 

Take the family to the 19th annual Mona Vale 

Carols hosted by the Rotary Club of Upper 

Northern Beaches in Village Park. Info 8005 

0711. 

By The Lake 

Narrabeen Sat 17 from 4pm-9.15pm 

Head to Lakeside Park North Narrabeen for 

pre-entertainment by local artists followed by 

traditional Christmas carols, a visit by Santa 

and fireworks over the Lake. Info 9999 0475. 

NEW YEAR’S EVE 

The Bayview fireworks (9pm and midnight sessions) are 

presented by local businesses with support from Council. 

To ensure compliance with fireworks exclusion zone 

requirements, Rowland Reserve will be closed. Families can 

enjoy the fireworks from multiple vantage points around the 

area. 

News 



Letters 

Avalon ‘trial’ an error 

Readers respond to Council’s new Shared Pedestrian Zone in the heart of Avalon… 

News 

What stupidity! 

Re the trial of traffic changes 

to Old Barrenjoey Rd in Avalon. 

This is council stupidity 

at its finest; all this work for a 

six-month trial! I don’t believe 

for a minute that this change 

will not be permanent. 

The solution to the issues 

with Avalon Parade are pure 

and simple: traffic lights – 

which happen to be a proven 

form of traffic flow control. 

We already have nice wide 

footpaths in Avalon for pedestrians, 

so this entire plan is 

ill conceived. 

Cameron Jurd 

Avalon 

SLAMMED: The 

intersection 

overhaul. 

What access? 

This is supposedly for the 

“safety and convenience of 

pedestrians”, although I am at 

a loss to see the justification. 

Most delivery trucks will 

have problems parking anywhere 

near shops. 

How will residents driving 

east from Hudson Parade 

and Avalon Parade access 

the car park outside Woollies? 

Through two sets of 

pedestrian crossings? There 

will be chaos, as there is now, 

especially at the Old Barrenjoey 

Road and Avalon Parade 

intersection, and at the lights. 

Gloria Looby 

Avalon 

Style over 

substance 

What a waste of money! It’s 

a massive inconvenience to 

business and shoppers and 

the result will be of no useful 

utility whatsoever. 

I have not noticed any burning 

desire of pedestrians to 

want to play in the traffic or 

sit on benches on the road in 

the sun. 

Then there’s the loss of 

already overworked loading 

zones and parking spots. 

To build it in the busy 

summer month before Xmas 

is either lunacy or bastardry – 

take your pick. 

A growing, bustling community 

needs functionality – 

not style over substance. 

Name withheld 

Palm Beach 

Beware ‘rat runs’ 

The pedestrian crossings 

in Avalon are definitely 

dangerous, the approach to 

the crossings are hidden by 

foliage and at night are in 

darkness… many pedestrians 

these days are preoccupied 

and don’t look. 

As much as I would hate to 

see a traffic light installed, 

the intersection is a basket 

case, especially around school 

start and finish times. The 

traffic backs up along Avalon 

Parade, leading to many 

making ‘rat runs’ up our side 

streets – the current “solution” 

seems to have made it 

worse. 

The one-way trial is the 

wrong direction, and I think 

moving the pedestrian crossings 

three car lengths from 

the intersection will give 

vehicles an opportunity to 

clear the intersection without 

the additional complication 

of the ‘conga line’ of pedestrians. 

Either way, please illuminate 

the crossings and 

remove the foliage. 

Brad Stephenson 

Avalon 

Bypassing Avalon 

What a joke! It is a complete 

mess… hate to think what 

tourists will think. They will 

probably give Avalon shops 

a miss. 

We shall go to Mona Vale – 

they have plenty of good coffee 

shops. Whoever came up 

with this should be looking 

for another job. 

Joyce Parker 

Avalon 

No obstructions 

If the point of this whole 

exercise is to make the 

village centre more pedestrian 

friendly, why was the 

pedestrian crossing at Old 

Barrenjoey Rd (north) and 

Avalon Parade eliminated? 

Since there’s now only oneway 

traffic here, people 

continue to walk across the 

road all the time. 

And our sidewalks do not 

need more obstructions – 

please, do not concrete up 

our village with the hideous 

planters near the shops on 

Park Street in Mona Vale. 

More benches are needed 

in the park next to the 

recreation centre and not on 

sidewalks. 

We are a beachside village, 

not an inner-city suburb. 

Brig Donnan 

Avalon 



PHOTO: Steve Meacham

News 

Opinions differ on 

cashless gaming 

ClubsNSW says it is opposed to the introduction 

of cashless gaming cards as a means 

of minimising money laundering through 

poker machines. 

CEO Josh Landis said the recommendation 

by the NSW Crime Commission would make 

everyday punters “feel like criminals”. 

Mr Landis said that for more than a year 

the industry had been accused of allowing 

criminal gangs to launder substantial sums of 

‘dirty’ cash through poker machines. 

“The NSW Crime Commission has revealed 

that those allegations were – and are – completely 

baseless,” he said. 

“The NSW Crime Commission found that using 

gaming machines to clean large quantities of 

dirty money is ‘high risk and inefficient’ and that 

the practice is not widespread. This is the finding 

that our not-for-profit member clubs expected. 

“This report vindicates clubs and their 53,000- 

plus employees across the state. It confirms 

clubs do not aid or abet money laundering.” 

He added ClubsNSW was committed to 

working with the NSW Government to implement 

practical, proportionate and affordable 

responses to the Crime Commission’s findings 

to further tighten money laundering controls. 

Meanwhile Pittwater MP Rob Stokes said that 

if a cashless gaming card could “help liberate 

a few people from their enslavement to poker 

machines”, then it was the least the Government 

could do. 

“Our registered clubs do good work in the 

community, whether it is supporting veterans, 

sports clubs or community groups,” he told 

NSW Parliament in November. 

“Registered clubs are a unique part of 

Australian life – Pittwater included. No other 

country has the local club as an integral part 

of every town and every suburb. 

“However, we cannot hide from the uncomfortable 

truth that human misery is the financial 

lifeblood for many New South Wales clubs. 

“Gambling generates demonstrable social 

harm but ephemeral community benefit. The 

social contract justifying the capacity of clubs 

to offer harmful services is broken. The community 

has had a gutful. 

“We need to renegotiate the social contract 

with clubs to ensure the equation adds up to 

hope, not harm.” 

Latest figures showed there were 86,840 

poker machines in New South Wales, with Liquor 

& Gaming NSW revealing that profits from 

poker machines hit a record $3.8 billion in the 

first half of 2022. 

– NW 

6THINGS 

THIS MONTH 

Post deadlines. Get cracking if 

you are planning sending presents 

to arrive in time for Christmas 

within Australia via Parcel Post! 

Parcels should be sent by Mon 

12, or if sending via Express Post 

by Mon 19. People sending to or 

from WA and NT should allow a 

few extra days. auspost.com.au/ 

Christmas 

Music festival. Thousands are 

expected to gather at Rat Park 

Warriewood on Sat 3 to enjoy live 

music from more than 40 local 

bands and international artists 

performing on three stages 

from 11am-9pm. More info at 

sunsetsfestival.com.au 

Art market. Head to Eramboo 

artist environment at 304 McCarrs 

Creek Road Terrey Hills on Sun 4 

from 10am-3pm to find handmade 

treasures and unique Christmas 

gifts at a variety of stalls in this 

beautiful bushland setting. 

Giant Book Fair. More than 

60,000 books in over 50 

categories, DVDs, CDs, vinyls, 

puzzles and games for sale 

over four days at St Augustine’s 

Brookvale from Thurs 8 with all 

funds raised supporting Lifeline’s 

local crisis support and suicide 

prevention services. 

Ferry exhibition. Back by 

popular demand Manly by Ferry: 

Treasures from the Vault, at Manly 

Art Gallery & Museum celebrates 

a quintessential Sydney icon and 

reveals insights into its evolution 

across the decades. Re-opening 

night on Fri 9 from 6pm-8pm RSVP 

to MAG&M Eventbrite. Exhibition 

open until Feb 26. 

Careel Bay walk. Learn about 

the ecology of Careel Bay 

Mangroves and the impact that 

plastic has on these important 

ecosystems, walk through this 

valuable habitat and discover its 

role in maintaining water quality. 

There will be a short microplastic 

survey and discussion about how 

we can help keep plastics out of 

the ocean on Sat 10 from 10am- 

12pm. Cost $10; bookings through 

the Coastal Environment Centre 

1300 000 232. 



Stokes takes aim at reform opponents 

Outgoing Pittwater MP Rob 

Stokes has attacked inaction 

and opponents of reform 

in his farewell speech to NSW 

Parliament. 

First elected in March 2007, 

Mr Stokes will have served 16 

years as Member for Pittwater 

when he stands down at the 

NSW election in March. 

His final ‘valedictory’ 

speech, delivered on November 

17, book-ended his inaugural 

speech given in 2007, 

when he identified a number 

of issues which have since 

become Pittwater achievements 

– including saving and 

restoring Currawong Beach, 

preventing overdevelopment 

that has impacted other parts 

of Sydney, improving public 

transport (the B-Line) and 

upgrading Mona Vale Road. 

Having reaffirmed the NSW 

Government’s $75 million 

commitment to Wakehurst 

Parkway upgrades last month, 

Mr Stokes’ speech took aim at 

the tendency for government 

and bureaucracy to fail to act 

on important issues. 

“I value action. It amazes 

me when members of Parliament 

oppose reform and offer 

no alternative. Parliament 

must be a place of action, not 

inertia,” he said. “One of the 

most exhausting 

elements of my 

political career 

has been fighting 

rear-guard actions 

against inaction. 

“It is like punching 

a sponge. 

You just end up 

tuckered out, while 

the sponge simply 

resumes its former 

renowned for a philosophical 

approach to issues; his final 

speech laid out an argument 

for freedom as a central value 

for society. 

“My time in Parliament has 

taught me a great deal about 

freedom – that 

it is ephemeral, 

fragile and threatened. 

Yet, freedom 

is the value that 

empowers each 

of us to make the 

biggest contribution 

to the lives of 

others. 

“Freedom is 

an impossible 

shape. Yet I have DIG: Mr Stokes. 

paradox. The 

learnt not to give up and not 

to make the perfect enemy of 

the good. [US poet and polymath] 

Oliver Wendell Holmes 

Snr said: ‘To reach port we 

must sail, sometimes with the 

wind, and sometimes against 

it. But we must not drift or lie 

at anchor’,” Mr Stokes said. 

With a doctorate in philosophy, 

Minister Stokes is 

more we seek to enforce it or 

legislate it, the more enslaved 

we become. Tyranny might 

be the antonym of freedom, 

but bureaucracy is tyranny’s 

expression. 

“All too often our response 

to probity concerns is to 

invent regulatory algorithms 

and machines to replace 

human discretion, on the mistaken 

assumption that human 

agency is always corrupt. 

“We should not be surprised 

when inhuman regulatory 

machines produce inhuman 

regulatory outcomes. We 

are too eager to train our civil 

service to become timid and 

helpless. Replacing rigid and 

complex rules with flexible 

and simple principles is the 

best way to empower wise decisions 

for uncertain times,” 

he argued. 

Mr Stokes, who joins 

other Northern Beaches MPs 

standing down at the next 

election including Member 

for Davidson and Speaker of 

the NSW Legislative Assembly 

Jonathan O’Dea, along 

with Minister for Health and 

Member for Wakehurst Brad 

Hazzard, received a standing 

ovation at the conclusion of 

his farewell address. 

– Northern Beaches Advocate 

(with Nigel Wall) 

*Watch the speech on You- 

Tube (search Rob Stokes 

Valedictory) 

News 



Couple 

making 

a crust 

at Elanora 

FAVOURITES 

WITH KIDS: 

Josie and Heath. 

News 

Still in their 20s, entrepreneurial 

couple Josie 

and Heath have quickly 

established themselves on the 

Northern Beaches pizza scene. 

Perhaps a good indicator of 

just how young these owners 

of Barbert Pizza Co are is that 

co-Director Heath sold his 

Lego as part of raising funds 

to take over Toro Nero at 

Elanora Heights. 

At only 21, Heath and his 

partner Josie, 27, have now 

run their pizza restaurant for 

nine months, finally rebranding 

two months ago with an 

updated name, menu and 

interior revamp. After rejecting 

‘Glutinous Maximus’ as a 

suggestion, The Barbert Pizza 

Co is a combination of their 

middle names Barbara and 

Albert – an example of how 

their lives are entwined. 

“We love working together,” 

says Josie. “Even on our day 

off we go out together and 

usually end up eating pizza 

somewhere. 

“It often feels like we’re in 

one long meeting,” laughs 

Heath. “But we were already 

both working 70 hours a week 

when we met, so although 

this is long hours it’s far more 

flexible.” 

Both Heath and Josie were 

Pittwater-born and have extensive 

experience despite their 

age. Josie has run her own PT 

business and worked in real 

estate, but always had a second 

job making pizzas. Heath has 

worked in the food industry 

for seven years, and the couple 

met when they were working at 

Riccardo’s in Narrabeen. 

Despite that long apprenticeship, 

the chance to buy in 

to Toro Nero came in a flash. 

“My Dad knew the owners 

Silvio and Marcello, who had 

decided to sell; they bumped 

into him in Coles and asked 

if he knew anyone who would 

be interested,” explains Josie. 

“Within the week we’d put 

down a deposit.” 

Josie’s Dad’s involvement 

didn’t end there, and it’s very 

much a family business. 

“My Dad used to be a 

plumber,” says Josie, “and he’s 

been our go-to handyman – he 

even fixed our dough-maker.” 

“My grandad delivers our 

supplies,” adds Heath. “But 

we’ve fallen in love with the 

Elanora area and it’s very 

much a community of families 

and locals.” 

Those families and locals are 

now lining up to learn about 

making pizza – thanks to an 

innovation that continues to 

put their eatery on the map. 

“There was a kids party 

here and I helped with a pizza 

class and really enjoyed it,” 

explains Heath. “I really enjoy 

teaching and training. 

“Parents at the party asked 

about more classes,” says 

Josie,” and our first two sold 

out within 24 hours.” 

In the classes, kids are 

taught how to make garlic and 

herb pizza, how to top pizzas 

and cook them in the woodfire 

oven, how to fold boxes 

for take-away – and of course, 

how to throw a pizza base 

in the air… using a silicone 

practice base. 

“We then give them an 

activity to write their own 

menu,” says Josie. “It’s been 

so successful we’ve opened 

a waiting list for next school 

holidays and are also planning 

to open an adult ‘makeand-sip’ 

private event lesson.” 

Along with the pizza 

classes, local musicians Mia 

and Ava – both 16 – play in 

the courtyard on the last 

Sunday of every month, as an 

afternoon session. 

Now making their own Italian 

sausage on-site, both Josie 

and Heath are fairly traditional 

in their love of pizza, 

with Friarielli quoted as 

their favourite. Surprisingly 

though, they have no problem 

with the controversial use of 

pineapple on a pizza. 

“When you eat as much 

pizza as we do, why not try 

everything?” laughs Heath. 

“When I worked at Plateau 

Pizza, we did a pizza that had 

corn chips and sour cream 

on it, with jalapeños, beef 

and salsa,” recalls Josie. “It 

was nachos on a pizza – and I 

loved it!” – Rob Pegley 



Confidence through Aikido 

Paul Coonan is part accountant, 

part father and part lethal weapon 

– although his journey with the 

martial art of Aikido is very much about 

avoiding a fight. 

“Aikido is the only martial art where 

there are no competitions,” Paul explains. 

“It’s purely about self-defence. 

There are no attacking moves. 

“It’s more of a set of ideas and moves 

that help you in real life, when someone 

wants to fight you and you don’t want 

to fight them back. It’s always best if 

you can talk your way out of a fight, but 

Aikido is the martial art for if you have 

to deal with an attacker.” 

On Paul’s website there is a Karate 

Kid-style story of how he got involved 

with martial arts, as an attempt to deal 

with surfing bullies, and while Paul 

acknowledges it kickstarted his interest 

in martial arts, he feels a long way from 

that person now. 

“I might think about taking that 

story down – I wrote it 15 years ago and 

I’m such a different person, now. I see 

Aikido more as a tool kit of ideas for 

dealing with all sorts of situations in 

life – not just fights. What happens on 

the mats helps you to deal with so many 

things in life. 

“For example, I’ve avoided two close 

car collisions and I believe that was due 

to Aikido – the spatial awareness I’ve 

learnt and having a real understanding 

of how momentum and movement work.” 

For anyone looking to get involved 

with the Japan-origin Aikido, it’s also a 

self-defence against your own stresses 

and a great way to change the way you 

feel – although ‘relax’ and ‘switch-off’ 

are perhaps not the best way to describe 

that. 

“When you’re training, you forget 

about everything else,” explains Paul. 

“It’s so immediate and you have to be so 

present when you’re doing it. I wouldn’t 

say it’s like meditation as you have to 

focus and concentrate, but that pushes 

all other thoughts out, and your body 

can start to revive as a result.” 

An instructor for 25 years, Paul mostly 

TEACHER: 

Paul Coonan. 

teaches children, although he does take 

some adult classes. 

He says he often sees instant results in 

some of his young pupils. 

“I had a kid come in recently and he 

had no confidence, his chin was on his 

chest,” says Paul. “But simply because 

of the centred stance you have to take 

to throw people and spin people, I had 

to get him standing straighter with his 

chest out – he looked a foot taller and 

you could see his confidence improve 

straight away. 

“I also had a young girl who defended 

her and her friend recently against a 

guy. He tried to slam her against some 

lockers and she did a duck-under move, 

got him in a lock and pushed him to the 

ground. She’s only 10 or 11.” 

While Paul has done MMA, BJJ, Karate, 

Kickboxing and Freestyle wrestling, 

Aikido is really his passion. He likes the 

instant nature of it and the way it replicates 

real life situations. 

“It’s not a martial art where you spar 

for long, because you want to disarm an 

attacker and move onto the second or 

third attackers if you have to. And sometimes 

I use things I’ve heard on the news 

to set up what we do in training. 

“I’ve been in a nightclub situation 

before where someone has tried to shoulder 

me and I’ve just moved and swapped 

places with them before they’ve made 

contact. 

“It’s all about avoiding the fight. Imagine 

you’re a nurse at a psychiatric hospital 

– you don’t want to kick and punch a 

patient if they go for you. You want to get 

out of the way and hold them in a way 

that doesn’t hurt them, by using their 

energy and momentum.” – Rob Pegley 

*More info aikidonorthernbeaches.com 

News 



News 

Art that’s good 

enough to wear 

From an Elizabethan-style neck 

ruffle made of discarded face 

masks to beautiful jewellery 

made of used coffee pods, Ruth 

Downes has perfected the craft of 

wearable art. 

Opening on the 9 December at 

Manly Art Gallery & Museum, her 

latest touring exhibition, Barely 

Wearable, explores body adornment 

for the age of overconsumption. 

The 30 wearable artworks were 

crafted from computer keyboard 

parts and adaptors, airplane 

headsets, discarded razor blades, 

used coffee capsules, disposable 

face masks (pictured), bra 

underwires, wire springs, beer 

bottle caps, single use toiletries, 

cosmetics, pens, garden hose, 

coat hangers, disposable spoons, 

lightbulbs, rubber bands and many 

other everyday items. 

Natural items have also 

been salvaged and crafted into 

fashionable works including 

Norfolk Island pine needles, 

jacaranda needles and eucalyptus 

pods. 

The artist said the exhibition is 

more than a simple ‘up-cycling’ 

exercise. 

“Each of these items has an 

intrinsic beauty that is often taken 

for granted. By reappropriating 

these materials, I am celebrating 

that beauty, while questioning our 

accepted values,” Ms Downes said. 

Downes work was featured in the 

2021 Environmental Art & Design 

Prize with Masking the problem – 

an Elizabethan neck ruffle made 

of disposable face masks, which 

highlighted the amount of waste 

created from discarded everyday 

items. 

Also, ‘Fair Play’ brings sport into 

the gallery from 9 December to 26 

February. 

The exhibition includes artists 

working across painting, video, 

printmaking, ceramics, installation, 

and performance. 

Exhibition curator Ben Rak 

said: “It’s an insightful show that 

demonstrates how art and sport 

both empower us to express 

ourselves physically, emotionally, 

and intellectually.” 

Each artist chosen uses sport as 

a motif or a metaphor to inspire 

the viewer to reflect on broad 

social issues facing contemporary 

society such as post-colonialism, 

environmentalism, belonging, 

masculinity, and mental health. – NW 

*More info MAG&M website 

Celebration 

of the bush 

‘R 

ewilding’ is an exhibition at the Creative 

Space Curl Curl from 7-18 December. 

Michelle Ball and Lisa Atkins, the artists and 

fellow keen bush regenerators behind the exhibition, 

met 

while living on 

the Pittwater. 

Their 

paintings and 

sculptures 

explore the 

meaning of 

Rewilding 

and share the 

beauty of a 

disappearing 

environment. 

Although 

the exhibition 

is centred around a dark subject, the destruction 

of native flora and fauna, it still manages to share 

their hope and joy for the future of the bush. 

“Rewilding is what bush regeneration is all 

about,” said Michelle. “We spent hours removing 

the weeds that are overtaking the beautiful 

bush surrounding us around Pittwater. As 

we worked, we both thought about our artistic 

practice and the idea for Rewilding, the exhibition, 

was born.” 

Mona pop-up art 

Park Street, Mona Vale plays host to two popart 

exhibitions in December. 

‘Touch of the Sea’ runs at 1 Park Street until 

Friday 2 December (10am to 4pm); it’s followed 

by ‘For the Love of Wood’, between Monday 5 

and Sunday 11 December (8am to 4pm). 

Peter Blanchard’s exhibition of crafted, salvaged, 

Australian timber pieces is a solid and 

tactile experience; his pieces range from beautifully 

crafted functional items to stylised and 

sculptural abstract forms. 

Visitors are encouraged to handle any of the 

pieces they are attracted to as a big to connect 

with nature and history. 



Local MPs in war of words 

News 

Pittwater MP Rob Stokes 

has expressed his disappointment 

over a personal 

attack levelled by Federal Mackellar 

MP Dr Sophie Scamps in 

the wake of the Albanese Labor 

Government leaving the local 

federal electorate with a “minus 

balance sheet” following its 

first Federal Budget. 

Mr Stokes was offended Dr 

Scamps’ post-budget commentary 

contained inaccurate information 

and unfairly targeted 

him and the NSW Government 

for Labor’s scrapping of $75 

million funding for works on 

the Wakehurst Parkway. 

“The Independent Member 

for Mackellar Sophie Scamps’ 

claim that the NSW Government 

is to blame for Labor’s 

decision to withdraw funding 

for the Parkway is farcical,” Mr 

Stokes said. 

“I’m disappointed that Dr 

Scamps has gone personal. For 

my part I think she’s a lovely 

person. Ultimately, my experience 

is that the community 

will judge you not on who you 

blame or what you say, but on 

what you deliver for them.” 

The war of words ignited 

after the budget was delivered 

on October 25, when in her 

response, Dr Scamps expressed 

disappointment that Labor had 

withdrawn the money, which 

had been secured by former MP 

Jason Falinski in April. 

“However, it is important the 

people of Mackellar know the 

facts,” she continued. 

“The $75 million in funding 

was originally allocated by the 

Pittwater MP Rob Stokes says the State 

Government’s $75m funding for works on 

the Wakehurst Parkway will include localised 

widening and additional turning lanes to 

reduce crashes and improve the efficiency of 

the 9.5km road corridor from Narrabeen to 

Frenchs Forest. 

“Sections of Wakehurst Parkway are some 

of the most dangerous black spots on the 

Northern Beaches, which is why we’re pressing 

ahead with our $75 million funding commitment,” 

Mr Stokes said. 

“These works will help reduce crashes, 

improve access to Northern Beaches Hospital, 

and save commuters time by improving the 

overall efficiency of the wider road network.” 

Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie 

Morrison Government in their 

pre-election budget on the basis 

that the Northern Beaches Tunnel 

was going ahead. However 

the NSW Government broke 

their promise to the people 

of the Northern Beaches and 

cancelled the project. 

“This broken promise by the 

NSW Liberal State Government 

has led directly to the withdrawal 

of this funding. 

“After decades of inaction 

from state and federal 

governments, I will continue to 

pressure both the Perrottet and 

Albanese Governments to fix 

the Wakehurst Parkway.” 

Dr Scamps further told the 

Northern Beaches Advocate: 

“As a state issue, if there was 

anyone who could’ve done 

anything to fix the Wakehurst 

Parkway – it was the NSW Liberal 

State Government. In particular, 

Rob Stokes himself had 

responsibility for the project 

under a number of different 

portfolios during his 14 years 

as the Member for Pittwater. 

“With a state election around 

the corner, any attempt to shift 

blame by the NSW Liberal Government 

smells like damage 

control over their abject failure 

to deliver on the Parkway. 

“In addition, it is now clear 

the Commonwealth money was 

not originally allocated to flood 

mitigation works but for work 

on the Northern Beaches Tunnel,” 

Dr Scamps said. 

The NSW Government has 

worked with Northern Beaches 

Council on the potential for 

flood mitigation on Wakehurst 

Parkway for the past four 

years, allocating $18.1 million 

towards works. 

Following extensive community 

consultation in 2021, 

Council has flagged Stage 1 

works at Oxford Falls and has 

not ruled out other locations. 

Where Wakehurst $75 million will go 

Ward said the upgrades would have positive 

flow-on effects for the adjoining road 

network. 

“The works will improve traffic signals at 

the Dreadnought Road intersection, upgrade 

the Oxford Falls Road West intersection, improve 

southbound lane capacity on approach 

to Frenchs Forest, and improve safety at 

Elanora Road,” Mrs Ward said. 

Federal Mackellar MP Dr Sophie Scamps 

commented: “I welcome the NSW Government’s 

announcement that state funding 

previously allocated to prepare the Wakehurst 

Parkway for the Beaches Link tunnel project 

will instead be used to ease congestion and 

address black spots where deadly accidents 

frequently occur.” 

– NW 

‘PERSONAL’: Rob Stokes pictured 

at the Wakehurst Parkway last 

year after the NSW Government 

allocated Council $18.1 million 

to mitigate flooding along the 

corridor; Dr Sophie Scamps (inset). 

Mr Stokes maintained the deferral 

of the Beaches Link had 

nothing to do with the upgrade 

of the Wakehurst Parkway and 

that they were two separate 

roads and separate projects. 

“We never cancelled the tunnel, 

we delayed it on the advice 

of Infrastructure NSW and 

Infrastructure Australia, who 

said entering into a contract in 

an overheated market was not a 

sensible approach,” he said. 

“We really need Dr Scamps 

to hold her Federal Parliamentary 

colleagues to account and 

contribute to the upgrade of 

the Parkway, rather than make 

excuses for them,” he said. 

In November, Mr Stokes 

confirmed the NSW Government 

would still inject $75 million 

into Wakehurst Parkway 

improvements (see left) – a sum 

it pledged in April to match the 

former Coalition Government’s 

allocation. 

He added the funding was 

in addition to $18.1 already 

provided to Council by the State 

Government. 

In an e-letter in November 

Dr Scamps told recipients: “The 

NSW Government has allocated 

money to the Council to start 

flood mitigation works for the 

Wakehurst Parkway. This will 

go a long way to dramatically 

cutting the number of days the 

road is closed. 

“I will continue to work with 

the Council, and the NSW and 

Federal Governments to push 

for the best outcomes for our 

road and transport needs.” 

When approached by Pittwater 

Life Dr Scamps declined 

further comment. – Nigel Wall 



TRAINING: The 2023 

Ocean Swim Series. 

Swimmers to make a splash 

It’s on again – the 2023 Pittwater Ocean 

Swim Series will feature ocean swims 

every Sunday in January, showcasing 

some of Australia’s most picturesque locations 

on our upper Northern Beaches. 

And entrants will once again have the 

opportunity to win a Whitsundays trip! 

Swimmers are expected to gleefully 

hit the waves in the post-COVID era, 

commencing with the Newport Pool to 

Peak swims that kick off the Series on 

Sunday 8 January. 

Eagerly anticipated swims will follow 

at Bilgola on Sunday 15 January, Mona 

Vale on the 22nd, and the Big Swim on 

29 January. Avalon Beach swim will follow 

on Sunday 12 March. 

“After the last couple of years with 

lockdowns and the like, we are all wanting 

to get back into it and ocean swimming 

is a popular way to reconnect with 

nature,” said Swim Series communications 

spokesman John Guthrie. 

“The Pittwater Series was created by 

the clubs involved as we were already 

cooperating with water safety and other 

organisational issues. 

“It has become very popular because it 

offers ocean swimmers, from Australia 

and around the world, a smorgasbord of 

well-organised shorter and traditional 

swim courses in a great environment.” 

He explained swimmers and their 

teams could enjoy the local cafes and 

restaurants as well as boutique shopping. 

Series co-organiser David Madew, 

from the Bilgola club, said the swims 

were an important fundraiser, for essential 

safety equipment and maintenance, 

benefitting the whole community. 

“There is a terrific atmosphere at each 

swim and there is a lot of camaraderie 

between the experienced swimmers,” 

David said. 

“The shorter swims also offer an 

opportunity for those who would like 

to try ocean swimming in a wellsupervised 

environment. It’s a great 

challenge, while we all know the health 

benefits of aerobics in the ocean.” 

David said the Series was very appreciative 

of a grant from Northern Beaches 

Council, which recognised the importance 

of the events to the local business 

communities and tourism. 

“And thanks to Oceanfit, the centre 

for ocean swimming in Australia, 

entrants to the Pittwater Ocean Swim Series 

will go into the draw for an Oceanfit 

‘Swim The Whitsundays Tour’, valued 

at $1,995 for one, if they enter at least 

three of the swims.” 

(Entrants must be over 18 years and 

accommodation is in a single-share 

cabin.) 

“It’s a draw of all swim entrants 

regardless of their swim time, which 

means even a dog paddler could win it!” 

David said. 


*For information and to enter, visit 

oceanswims.com; enquiries John 

Guthrie 0408 247 986. 

New Narrabeen 

bridge open 

The sleek new shared-zone pedestrian 

and cycle bridge at Narrabeen has been 

opened to a minimum of fanfare, following 

several months of construction delays due 

to weather and material supply shortages. 

The long-awaited new three-metre-wide 

bridge, which sits parallel to the road bridge 

on Pittwater Road, now allows cyclists to 

complete a circuit of the 8.4km Narrabeen 

Lagoon Trail 

without having to 

dismount at the 

bridge. 

The section of 

path at the road 

bridge had been 

identified as a 

pinch point and 

safety hazard for 

cyclist and pedestrian 

using the 

bridge, with its 

narrow footpaths OPEN: The new Narrabeen 

pedestrian and cycle bridge. 

causing frequent 

congestion and flare-ups between users. 

Given the bank-up of delays, it’s understood 

the NSW Government, which funded 

the project, made the decision to open the 

bridge to pedestrians and cyclists immediately 

after construction was completed 

in mid-November, rather than wait for an 

official ceremonial opening. 

Member for Pittwater and Minister for 

Active Transport, Infrastructure and Cities 

Rob Stokes said the bridge was another 

exciting addition to Pittwater’s active 

transport network. 

“Just in time for summer, this project 

makes it much safer and easier for people to 

jog, walk and ride along this key area of the 

Narrabeen Lagoon Trail,” Mr Stokes said. 

“We’ve seen brilliant cooperation between 

the NSW Government and Northern 

Beaches Council as the Lagoon Trail has 

been formalised, and this is another important 

example.” 

This $3.6 million project was made possible 

thanks to funding from Transport for 

NSW. 


News 



The Way We Were 

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

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

more they stay the same! Compiled by Lisa Offord 

25 Years Ago… 

The Way We Were 

Santa had arrived at Warriewood Square, 

local businesses were advertising Christmas 

specials and Herforts Chemist at Avalon 

was selling its freshly made two-and-aquarter-litre 

Christmas Ice Cream Puddings 

for $25. In news, issues raised at the first 

Pittwater Business Forum included “A more 

positive attitude to solving youth problems 

with a focus on creating events like beach 

concerts.” According to the story, speakers 

highlighted “… problems for youth in the 

area… But David Watson from Beach Without 

Sand in North Avalon, representing the 

Avalon Chamber, said it was important that 

the community as a whole should be taking a 

new approach. ‘This is the time when they like 

to rebel, we should try to make sure they have 

nothing to rebel about.’ He cited the planned 

Avalon skateboard and BMX Bike plan as an example of 

where the community and [Pittwater] Council should keep 

up the momentum. “We have to show youth that we care.” 

Other topics discussed included encouraging tourism, use 

of footpaths for dining, better signage and improvements in 


the shopping centres. In other news there 

were concerns about crime “… now the 

police presence has been reduced”; there 

were strong objections from high-profile 

landowners including “ex-TV boss Sam 

Chisholm and media magnate Kerry Packer 

and investor Ian Joye” about Council’s 

recommendation to list all the private 

properties and all the trees on Ocean Road 

to the Hordern and Wiltshire Parks Palm 

Beach, as a Heritage Conservation Area, 

and work on the Barrenjoey Boatshed 

wharf at the northern end of Governor 

Phillip Park “which was being replaced due 

to rotting piles, is expected to be complete 

by Christmas”. There was good news for 

people at Bungan Beach with Sydney Water 

indicating their homes would be attached 

to the sewer in the new year at no cost; the draft Careel 

Bay Plan of Management contained a suggestion that the 

dog exercise area should be relocated to reduce the impact 

of dogs on birds; and the Avalon Beach TAB closed (with a 

facility opened in the RSL). 


A new smokefree 

health problems found We toured the new-look Maccas in 

policy for 

renting or buying a Warriewood and featured a story about 

Pittwater was to 

home on the Northern Pittwater Day Surgery’s expansion and 

be introduced, 

Beaches even more rebuild in Bungan Street. In other news 

banning smoking 

difficult’. Woolworths Northern Beaches Councillor Rory Amon 

on all beaches, 

announced it was 

was leading opposition to a “push by Council 

in covered bus 

temporarily closing staff for a mandatory registration system for 

shelters, in al 

its Avalon Beach 

Airbnb and Short-Term Holiday letting, as 

fresco dining 

Food for Less store well as what he describes as staff’s agenda 

areas on public 

at the end of the 

to allow owners corporations to implement 

land and on all 

January school 

strict by-laws including possible Airbnb 

sporting grounds 

holidays for a major bans.” We quizzed readers about their new 

and around 

renovation and was commuting experiences as the B-Line and 

swimming pools 

having “preliminary “its associated 

and outdoor sports 

discussions with the on-demand 

centres. “At this 

Council about a site transport 

stage only unleashed 

between Barrenjoey trial hit the 

dog exercise 

Road and Foamcrest streets” plus 

areas have been 

Avenue in Newport we stepped 

spared.” Mayor David James sought for a new supermarket”. An 

back in time to 

support for an investigation into agreement was expected before the when double 

affordable housing following a 

end of the year over a site on private decker buses 

conference which highlighted that land for an Olympic swimming 

“were all the 

850,000 households nationwide were pool in Pittwater; and as expected 

norm, not the 

experiencing mortgage stress – and Bronwyn Bishop retained the seat 

new thing!”. 

more than 12,500 of these were on of Mackellar with 56.7% of the first And, as you 

the Northern Beaches. The forum preference vote. Surfing writer Nick would expect, 

heard that ‘key workers – teachers, Carroll scored an exclusive interview the December 

police and nurses – were being shut with the new world champion Mick mag was 

out of the local housing market and Fanning (cover subject) who “opened packed with 

how young people, single parents, up about the tragedy in his life and all things 

people with disabilities and mental how he finally came through it”. 

Christmas. 



News 

PHOTO: Northern Beaches Advocate 

SEEN… 

The days of incumbent Liberal members for Mackellar spending 

next to nothing to get re-elected are a thing of the past, 

judging by the disclosure of the cash spent on the campaigns 

of former MP Jason Falinski and newly elected Independent 

Member Dr Sophie Scamps. Speaking to Jim Wilson on Radio 

2GB last month, Mr Falinski said: “We spent around half a million 

dollars at the last election; putting that in context, in 2019 

I spent $34,000 and in 2016 my first election I spent $48,000.” 

Meanwhile Dr Scamps’ federal election campaign expenditure 

hit $1,542,030, according to the Candidate Return she lodged 

with the Australian Electoral Commission Transparency Register 

last month. Dr Scamps’ funds comprised 828 individual 

donations, with 15 donations – totalling $993,924 – exceeding 

the disclosure threshold of $14,500 per donation. Dr Scamps’ 

biggest donor was Climate 200, which contributed $779,624 via 

nine transactions banked between December 1, 2021 and May 

20, 2022. Meanwhile the Liberal Party is yet to lodge a breakdown 

of its candidates’ election spending, including that of Mr 

Falinski’s election spending. For the moment we can only take 

Mr Falinski at his word – but for transparency we will report 

his major donors when they are documented… Finally, the 

public road reserve adjoining 32 Watkins Rd Avalon (above) 

will remain in public ownership after Councillors decided not 

to accept a staff-negotiated compromise that would have seen 

the owner of 32 Watkins Rd purchase the reserve for driveway 

access to the rear of his block while incorporating a footpath 

easement for public use. While it’s a win for locals who opposed 

to the sale, Council staff and the property owner must be feeling 

frustrated – after being encouraged by councillors to come 

with a solution, those same Councillors buried their heads in 

the sand when it came to them for further consideration. 

ABSURD… 

HEARD… 

Protracted discussions between Council and 

the owners/operators of Barrenjoey Swim 

School at Avalon over amendments to its 

operating plan to improve amenity for residents 

continue to tread water. Senior staff 

from Council met with the swim school 

operators in October. At the meeting, the 

operators were advised that there were still 

acoustic and traffic/parking concerns in 

the documentation they had submitted to 

Council. The operators have committed 

to exploring ways to address these issues. 

We’re told a further meeting with the operators 

has been arranged prior to Christmas… 

Last month we reported on Northern 

Beaches Council being acknowledged 

with the prestigious AR Bluett Memorial 

Award from Local Government NSW. So 

we were surprised to note our Council was 

not listed among 15 Councils each handed $1 million by the 

State Government to run Multicultural events and Festivals over 

the next two years. A Council spokesperson confirmed Council 

applied for a multi-cultural event grant to run PLAY MANLY, a 

10-day festival in Manly during July school holidays. Council 

sought funding to build upon last year’s successful event and to 

work closely with a diverse range of local community groups to 

bring stronger cultural components into the festival. This would 

have included representatives from multi-cultural sectors of the 

community. CEO Ray Brownlee added: “The Northern Beaches 

is made up of people from a diverse range of backgrounds – it’s 

one of the many things which makes this place great to live. We 

actively work with community groups to showcase and learn 

more about their culture.” 

Well, absurd… in the nicest possible way: writer Steve Meacham 

reports: “Sometimes we should just be grateful for where we 

choose to live. Last month I went for a bike ride, planning to 

do some shopping so stuck my wallet in my lycra shorts. Bad 

choice (and not just the lycra shorts). By the time I got to the 

supermarket, my wallet – with all my credit cards and $100 

in cash – had disappeared. I returned the route, desperately 

hoping to find it. Not just once, but twice. No luck. Prepared to 

spend the day cancelling all my credit cards, I thought: ‘I don’t 

suppose anyone would be honest enough to find my wallet, 

spot my address from my driving licence and put it in my letterbox?’ 

Could the extremely honest man/woman/child who 

returned the wallet, the driving licence, my credit cards and all 

the cash, please let me know how I can repay you for Christmas?” 

Nice one, whoever you are! 



News 

Pittwater News 

Last chance to look 

into Avalon Beach 

If you’re a local, or an 

occasional visitor to 

Avalon, you’ve probably 

noticed red frames 

dotted around town. 

In case you haven’t 

taken a closer look, 

these frames form the 

Framing Avalon Beach 

(FAB) trail, part of the 

centenary celebrations 

for the naming of Avalon 

Beach which have run 

throughout 2022. 

These glimpses at 

Avalon past and present 

stretch from Avalon 

Beach headland, through 

the village and down Avalon Parade to Gunjula Place. 

The community has embraced this exhibition – so much 

so that the original one-month season has been extended 

to the end of December. 

Tick off the 14 frames – you’ll be amazed at what you’ll 

learn about Avalon THEN and Avalon NOW. 

*More info and trail map: 

avalonbeachculturecollectiveinc.com 

Indie candidate 

December reveal 

The news from the 

Independent Pittwater group 

is that they’ll be ready to 

announce their community 

independent candidate for 

the March State election 

in December. “We’ve had 

an incredible community 

response in our search for 

a candidate,” said campaign 

spokesperson, Rebecca Clarke. 

“We are focusing all our 

efforts on finding the very 

best person to champion our 

unique community, integrity 

and the environment. We 

are feeling confident and 

excited and will be making 

our formal announcement 

as soon as possible.” Rebecca 

said the group wanted to 

thank everyone who had 

come forward as a potential 

candidate, nominated 

someone or offered to help 

with the campaign. “We 

couldn’t do this without the 

support of our community.” 

If you’d like to be involved in 

the campaign as a supporter 

or volunteer, or keep up 

to date with news go to 

independentpittwater.com.au 

Loosely Woven 

Xmas concert 

Local music group Loosely 

Woven will present a concert 

at Avalon Baptist Church 

from 4pm on Sunday 

December 11. The concert 

is suitable for all ages and 

will have a Christmassy 

theme, with carols, lots of 

well-known seasonal songs 

(plus a few obscure ones). 

There will be 20 singers and 

acoustic instrumentalists. 

Audience participation 

will be encouraged. Entry 

is free but a donation to 

Amnesty International will be 

appreciated. Tea, coffee and 

light snacks will be served. 

Pittwater Probus 

Pittwater Probus is 

celebrating its 40th year on 

Tuesday 13 December at Mona 

Vale Surf Club, commencing 

Newport Red Cross show 

a super fashionable hit 

The Newport and Avalon Red Cross shops’ sold-out fashion 

show at the Newport Bowling Club on 17 November was a 

huge success, contributing almost $10,000 to their fundraising 

kitty. With more than 200 women in attendance, enthusiastic 

Red Cross volunteers hit the catwalk to model clothing – 

featuring both designer and high street brands alike – which 

went on sale afterwards. Newport shop manager Gisele 

Hindhaugh thanked volunteers who worked hard curating the 

best of the best donated and new donated ladies fashion for 

the show. “This was the first time we’ve done an event like this 

and we were surprised how quickly the event sold out and how 

supportive our community has been,” she said. 



at 6pm (no December meeting 

or speaker). Invitation is 

limited to members and 

partners; enquiries contact 

Terry Larke on (0412 220 820). 

ClubGRANTS 

total $234K 

Pittwater has been a 

champion and supporter 

of the Northern Beaches 

community for over 60 

years. The Club’s dedication 

to its local community was 

demonstrated once again 

last month with Pittwater 

announcing support of 

$234,160 for the year via 

the ClubGRANTS program 

to local community 

groups, sporting groups, 

organisations and charities. 

Projects that were successful 

in receiving funding this 

year from Pittwater as part 

of the ClubGRANTS program 

included: Learning Links 

to support the rollout of 

in-school mental health, 

resilience and wellbeing; 

Continued on page 34 

Rotary making a difference 

Rotary Upper Northern Beaches (RUNB) have been 

actively supporting local causes and community 

events throughout 2022. Beach2Beach Fun Run – RUNB 

were involved in organising and volunteering in this great 

community event, which raised funds to support local Surf 

Life Saving Clubs, Rural Fire Services, SES, Scouts, sports 

clubs, Sanfilippo Foundation, 

Stewart House and One Eighty. 

Bobbo Cycle Classic – An annual 

cycling event, with a circuit 

running from Turramurra, 

through Bobbin Head, West 

Head and back to Turramurra. 

RUNB volunteered as helpers, 

with funds raised supporting 

Lifeline and many other local 

causes. New Members – seven 

new members have joined since 

1 July; the club has a diverse 

member base, with youngest 

member Jared (24) saying: “I like 

how open and easy everyone is 

to interact with. Never a frown on a face on a Wednesday 

night”. Coming Events – Christmas Tree Sales (supporting 

Terrey Hills Scouts) Sat 10 Dec. Online sales also. Carols 

In The Park – Sat 17 Dec, Village Park Mona Vale. The Tree 

Of Joy – Warriewood Square. Get involved in Rotary: phone 

8005 0711; rotaryuppernorthernbeaches.org 

News 



News 


Continued from page 33 

One Meal, with funding to 

go toward an additional cool 

room to increase food storage 

capacity to meet the need 

in the local community; the 

Raise Foundation received 

funding for their ‘Raise 

Foundation Youth Mentoring 

Program’ which provides 

early-intervention youth 

mentoring programs for 

at-risk students at Pittwater 

High School; Community 

Northern Beaches Inc received 

a contribution towards their 

emergency support fund 

catering to homeless, and 

domestic and family violence 

clients; and Rainbow Club 

Australia for their project 

‘Warriewood Rainbow 

Club’, providing swimming 

lessons for children living 

with a disability. There 

were 26 applications that 

were successful in receiving 

cash and in-kind donations 

from Pittwater this year. 

“Pittwater is proud to be able 

to support so many worthy 

causes each year through 

the ClubGRANTS program,” 

said Pittwater CEO Jason 

Manning. For more info visit 

pittwaterrsl.com.au 

Quarry works 

at The Studio 

The coastal beauty 

synonymous with Avalon has 

inspired the next exhibition 

at hybrid art space The Studio 

at Careel Bay, featuring local 

artist Nikki Quarry. 

‘Art from the Beach’ 

features coastal paintings 

purposefully restrained 

to draw attention to the 

meticulous fine details. In 

minimalist style, these quaint 

seaside images are both 

sophisticated and elegant. 

National Art Schooltrained, 

with surrealist 

influences, a specialty in 

realism and an enjoyment for 

the freedom of abstract, Nikki 

draws on her rustic exposure 

of remote lands to create 

pieces which deepen the 

connection between people 

and the natural world. 



The exhibition at The 

Studio (by Laing+Simmons 

Young Property) runs 

until the end of January; a 

percentage of sales will be 

donated to Living Ocean. 

Elanora public 

toilets study 

Council staff will investigate 

the possibility of installing 

public toilets at the playground 

at Anana Reserve, Elanora 

Heights, following a resolution 

focused on the draft precinct 

plan for the suburb. At its 

November meeting Council 

noted construction of a 

storage facility had been 

completed in order to 

accommodate furniture to 

allow better use by hirers of 

the Community Centre. It 

also noted consultation had 

commenced for the upgrade 

of the playground at Anana 

Reserve. Councillors requested 

options for the inclusion, 

within the draft 2023/24 

budget, of a replacement of 

the playground equipment 

at Allington Reserve within 

the same footprint of the 

current equipment. A report is 

expected by end June. 


Nick Carroll’s December surf forecast 

My forecaster mates tell me the La Niña 

event is on the way out, but they also 

tell me it may have a sting in its tail. I’m not 

so sure of that – just a gut feeling about how 

the past two months have evolved – but if it 

does try to sting us, we’ll know this month. 

Watch for possible off-season East Coast 

Lows and other tropical-sourced energy 

drifting in from the SW Pacific and colliding 

with cooler air masses from down south. 

You’ll know it when you see it. Lots of 

rain, wind, and big surf from the east, and 

probably the occasional million-strong 

swarm of bluebottles. 

If it goes the way I’m suspecting, we’ll see 

a gradual slowing of the south swell energy 

of late November, slowly warming waters, 

small north-east swells from tropical wind 

bands out off the NSW north coast, a fair 

few wind swings from NE seabreezes to 

lame southerlies, and a pretty quiet surfing 

month all round. Still heaps of fun though! 

Merry Christmas! Hope someone buys you 

a board! – Nick Carroll (see Surfing p54) 

News 



News 



Help shape future of 

North Narra Reserve 

The sport and recreation 

facilities at North Narrabeen 

Reserve, including ‘Rat Park’, 

are set to get an upgrade 

and Council wants input 

from locals. Visit the Council 

website and let them know 

what you love about the 

reserve, how you use the 

reserve, plus your ideas for 

improving the site and its 

facilities. North Narrabeen 

Reserve includes Pittwater 

Rugby Park, the playing 

fields, Pittwater Golf Centre, 

the commuter car park 

and recreation parking. It’s 

also the site of the Farmers 

Beaches Market (every Friday). 

“Your input will help us 

draft a new Masterplan and 

update the existing Plan of 

Management for the reserve,” 

said CEO Ray Brownlee. 

“The plans will consider 

and balance the current and 

future needs of all reserve 

users.” Comments close on 

Monday 5 December. 

EV transit lane 

access continues 

The NSW Government 

continues to provide incentives 

for take-up of electric vehicles 

(EVs), announcing transit lane 

concessions will continue for 

another 12 months (through 

October 2023). “Allowing EVs 

to drive in transit lanes builds 

on other State Government 

initiatives to incentivise 

uptake, including rebates, 

phasing out stamp duty 

and building a world-class 

Nomads’ golf fundraiser 

Nomads Sydney North raised almost $60,000 for the 

McGrath Foundation and $15,000 for Jack Newton Junior 

Golf at their annual golf day at Long Reef in November. 

More than 130 players took to the course wearing pink 

caps on a mission to help the McGrath Foundation reach their 

goal of 250 breast care nurses by 2025 so that nobody in 

Australian suffering from breast cancer goes without care. 

The club has raised more than $636,000 since 2005; 

collectively the Nomads Australian Clubs have raised in 

excess of $1.2 million. 

*More info nomadssydneynorth.com 

charging network to support 

these vehicles,” Minister for 

Energy Matt Kean said. The 

Government’s EV Strategy 

is backed by a $633 million 

investment to accelerate 

the uptake of EVs and decarbonise 

the state-owned 

vehicle fleet. 

Harmony Dinner 

tickets now on sale 

Tickets are now on sale 

for the popular Premier’s 

Harmony Dinner at the 

International Convention 

Centre on February 23 – the 

gala evening event recognising 

and celebrating the cultural 

diversity of NSW. The winners 

of the Premier’s Multicultural 

Community Medals and 

inductees to the Multicultural 

Honour Roll are announced 

on the night. There are 12 

categories for the community 

medals, including a new one 

celebrating the inspirational 

work of a community 

languages teacher. Tickets 

multicultural.nsw.gov.au 



Vet 

on call 

with Dr Brown 

W 

e all know how important 

tick prevention is for our 

dogs but what about heartworm 

disease? Is your dog 

adequately protected? 

Heartworm in dogs is a 

potentially fatal disease that is 

transmitted from infected to 

uninfected dogs by mosquitoes. 

These mosquitoes inject tiny 

worms (microfilaria) into the 

dog’s body which then mature 

into adult heartworm over 

about six months. Adult worms 

settle inside the chambers of 

the heart and interfere with 

blood flow. Adult heartworm 

infection causes heart failure 

which can result in serious 

illness and death. Heartworm 

disease is very difficult and 

expensive to treat so prevention 

is much better than cure! 

According to the Australian 

Heartworm Advisory Panel, 

year-round heartworm protection 

is recommended for every 

dog Australia wide. Therefore, 

just as we vaccinate pets 

against deadly viral diseases, 

heartworm prophylaxis is an 

important cornerstone of preventative 

care. Whilst monthly 

heartworm preventatives have 

been demonstrated to be effective 

(when given every month) 

any lapse in treatment puts 

patients at higher risk of heartworm 

disease. Recent research 

showed that complacency 

around heartworm prevention 

has resulted in dogs testing 

positive to heartworm, in fact 

around 40% of dogs diagnosed 

with heartworm disease are on 

owner-given monthly heartworm 

preventatives. 

The easiest way to avoid 

forgetting heartworm medication 

is to use annual heartworm 

prevention given by injection 

at the time of vaccination, this 

medication lasts for 12 months. 

Sydney Animal Hospitals are 

offering a free heartworm test 

with year-round heartworm prevention 

injection in December. 

Call Avalon (9918 0833) or 

Newport (9997 4609) to discuss 

your dog’s heartworm prevention 

to make sure they are 

adequately protected leading 

into the warmer months. 

sydneyanimalhospitals.com.au 

News 



Safety in 

numbers 

Life Stories 

Life members 

Lindsay Paton and 

Chris Boss have seen 

and experienced much 

during their time at 

Mona Vale Surf Life 

Saving Club, which 

celebrates its Centenary 

this season. 

Story by Steve Meacham 

In 1949, fearless beach patrol members 

of Mona Vale Surf Life Saving Club 

posed for a photo with a 3.7 metre 

shark, its mouth wide open and ferocious 

teeth to the fore. Club legend Lindsay 

Paton OAM (awarded for services to 

surf life saving) helped haul the shark 

ashore. At 91, Lindsay is almost as old as 

the surf life saving club celebrating its 

centenary this season. 

However, you won’t find him in any 

of the press photographs. For two 

reasons: 

“I always tried to remain anonymous 

as far as the surf club was concerned,” 

says the man who served two years as 

club president, eight as club treasurer, 

two as secretary for the Northern 

Beaches Branch and a period on the NSW 

SLSC body. 

“Anyway, the shark was dead long 

before we found it.” 

But the shark tale doesn’t end there. 

News of the shark “attack” got out 

and the Mona Vale mob were instructed 

to take the corpse to Manly SLSC as a 

fundraising exhibit, with beachgoers 

tossing coins into a bucket. The Mona 

Vale and Manly clubs shared 50 pounds 

courtesy of that dead shark. 

So, what happened to the shark once 

all the beachgoers went home? 

Lindsay collapses into tears of 

laughter. 

“We left it on Manly Corso, hoping 

it would scare council workers in the 

morning!” 

Even nonagenarians were young once. 

Indeed, Lindsay was only 17 when he 

completed his bronze medallion in the 

1947/48 season – the year before the 

shark incident. 

To do so, the teenager had to defy his 

father. “He wouldn’t let me join before 

then because he thought the surf life 

saving club was full of drunks.” 

Lindsay is a reluctant interviewee. 

He never liked the limelight and 

can’t understand why, as Mona Vale 

SLSC’s oldest member, locals might be 

interested in the changes the Mona Vale 

club – and its neighbours, north and 

south – have gone through in the past 

century. 

He helped write a history of the club in 

1997, prompted by an instruction from 

Surf Life Saving Australia’s head office 

which wanted to produce a record of its 

own proud contribution to Australian 

culture. 

However, he didn’t mention himself – 

apart from the inclusion of LS Paton in 

the roll call of honours, a caption and an 

item, sneaked in by other club members, 

which described his appointment as 

Manly Warringah Life Saver of the Year 

in 1981/82. 

The snippet continues: “Lindsay is also 

a Life Member of Mona Vale SLSC, Manly 

Warringah Branch SLSA, the NSW State 

Centre, National Council and the world 

body. (His) dedication to surf life saving 

is unsurpassed in our club’s history.” 

Lindsay has only agreed to this 

interview on the condition it’s about the 

surf club, not him. 

At 78, Chris Boss is another Life 

Member, having joined in 1958/9. 

Whereas Lindsay strolls along the hard 

sand at Dee Why beach several times a 

week (he’s lived in Cromer since he and 

his late wife Joan married, having met as 

pupils of Mona Vale Primary), Chris still 

swims at Mona Vale most mornings. 

The biggest changes Chris has seen 

in his 63 years as a member of the club 

are the improvements in technology and 

resuscitation methods. 

“When I joined we still used the old 

reel and line for rescues,” Chris explains. 

“Now we have IRBs (Inflatable Rubber 

Boats) and rescue boards. 

“As for resuscitation, we used the old 

Holger Nielsen method which replaced 

the previous Schäfer method in 1952. 

This involved lying the patient on his 



front and alternatively pushing down on 

his back and lifting his arms. 

“We used to put people on a stretcher 

mounted on a tripod before rocking 

them. It was all very antiquated. 

“Later we used mouth-to-mouth, which 

in turn was replaced by CPR. 

“Of course, the main function of 

beach patrols has always been to prevent 

rescues being necessary in the first 

place. That has never changed.” 

Chris acknowledges the biggest social 

change came in 1980 when women were 

permitted to become active members 

and patrol NSW beaches for the first 

time, once they had passed their bronze 

medallion training. 

“That was very much a change for the 

better. Until then Mona Vale was a boy’s 

club,” Chris says. “Girls weren’t allowed 

to do anything more than be members of 

‘the Ladies Auxiliary’.” 

Neither Rhonda (Chris’s wife) nor 

Joan (Lindsay’s late wife) were strong 

swimmers. But both supported the club 

through Mona Vale’s Ladies Auxiliary, 

which essentially meant helping with the 

secretarial duties or social fundraisers. 

Lindsay was a big supporter of 

doubling the surf life saving movement’s 

talent pool by throwing open the allimportant 

bronze medallion to women. 

“Women are just as good swimmers as 

men, and it really brought the Mona Vale 

club together,” he says. 

While Lindsay was a competitive 

surf carnival swimmer, Chris forged a 

passion for surf boats. 

“I probably rowed for 15 or 20 years,” 

he says. “Then I started sweeping. I only 

gave up in my 60s.” 

Now the club’s Rower of the Year 

award is named after him. 

A third Life Member is Alan Mason, 

who – like many parents – came to the 

club through his three kids joining 

Nippers. After gaining his bronze, Alan 

spent several years in charge of Nippers 

before becoming President of the senior 

club. 

Today he’s the club’s media officer, 

awaiting his updated club history – One 

hundred years of saving lives, and much 

more – to return from the printers in 

time for Christmas. 

Alan points out 1980 was also the 

year the club elected its first female 

committee member, Simmone Harris 

(Kusturin), who had declined the offer of 

manning the radio room to join an allfemale 

group training for their bronzes 

(one of the first three such groups to 

qualify in Australia). 

Today – led by Paula Tocquer (the 

club’s first female president), Heidi 

Caryle as secretary, Sandra Avedission 

as treasurer and Sophie Stokes in charge 

of surf sports – the 2021/22 committee 



CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE: Lindsay Paton reflects on 100 years of 

Mona Vale SLSC; State Championships 1983; La Corniche in the 1930s; 

2018 Masters Ski Relay team: Paula Tocquer, Kris Monnock and Sophie 

Stokes; Reel Line and Belt Patrol, 1932; Mona Vale Beach Girl Quest, 

1960s; Lindsay when President, 1969; Manly Daily coverage 1990s; the 

shark that earned the Club some cash; Chris Boss (Stroke) in surfboat 

race in 1965; the female IRB team at 1990 Branch Championships. 




features 14 women and 10 men. 

The latest in a long line of Mona Vale 

clubhouses opened last year, part funded 

by Northern Beaches Council. 

“We’re very lucky to have what we have 

now,” Chris says, of the bar and cafe that 

will generate a profit for the club. 

“So we won’t have to walk around the 

streets with a bucket as we used to.” 

Those days are recorded in a couple 

of cartoons Lindsay shows me from his 

1997 history. 

Lindsay is able to remember five of 

Mona Vale’s surf club premises. 

The first he recalls was a guest house 

called La Corniche, on the cliff above 

the polo fields on the flat (the members 

were eventually turfed out for riotous 

behaviour, so Lindsay’s dad might have 

been right). 

Then came the timberboard shed on 

the beach which was moved by horse 

and dray to become the centrepiece for 

Bayview tennis club. 

In its place, the council built a twostorey 

brick building, further south than 

the two most recent incarnations. 

What many people don’t know, as the 

club celebrates its centenary, is that it 

existed (under different names) before 

1922. 

“The Mona Vale surf club started in 

1912/13, but it folded during World War 

I,” Lindsay explains. “It reformed in 

1922, with Freddie Lane, the Olympian 

swimmer as our first President.” 

During World War II, the surf club 

went into hibernation again. 

“All the beaches were closed with 

barbed wire entanglements,” Lindsay 

says. “Everyone was worried at that time 

the Japanese navy was going to come 

down and invade. 

“They sent three midget submarines 

into Sydney Harbour in 1942, and it 

wasn’t until the Battle of the Coral Sea 

that year it was turned around.” 

Even before he joined the Mona Vale 

club, Lindsay recalls climbing through 

the barbed wire defences to go fishing on 

the rocks to catch something for dinner. 

So during his time on beach patrol 

Lindsay must have been involved in a few 

rescues? 

“Many,” he says before reverting to 

customary modesty. 

Finally he relents and recalls a time 

when he and fellow patrol members 

spotted a person in difficulty at ‘the 

basin’. 

That’s the name club members give 

to the deceptively tranquil beach north 

of Mona Vale ocean pool, where lots of 

parents let their toddlers wade into the 

water. 

“It’s not a safe beach,” Lindsay 

emphasises. “There’s a reef to the north 

which breaks the surf. But the water then 

swirls round and out to the south. In big 

seas, the surf comes in one way and goes 

out all ways.” 

*One hundred years of saving lives, and 

much more: by Alan Mason, published 

before Christmas, monavaleslsc.org.au. 




Hot Property 

Hot Property 

Stunning Avalon Beach house 

with Jackpot Powerball price tag 

TAKE THE TOUR: The 

deep waterfront at 6 

Cabarita Road Avalon. 

Claiming a glittering 

position at the tip 

of Stokes Point, 

showstopping property 

‘Celeste’ has hit the market 

with price expectations of 

around $50 million. 

Although there is no formal 

price guide, the eye-watering 

figure – which would almost 

double the current Northern 

Beaches record of $27.5 

million (set in June this year 

for 167 Pacific Road Palm 

Beach) – is based on the cost 

of a lavish re-build and the 

land value. 

The estate is owned by 

property developer Robert 

Yazbek and wife Annette 

who purchased it in 2017 

for just under $13 million 

and transformed it over four 

years under the guidance of 

architect Robert Burton. 

Burton said the Yazbeks 

enlisted Sydney’s best 

subcontractors and sourced 

premium materials. 

“The level of detail in 

this house is pretty much 

unrivalled in anything I’ve 

worked on,” he said. 

Prestige property expert 

David Edwards of LJ Hooker 

Palm Beach said 6 Cabarita 

Road Avalon Beach was 

the finest property he has 

marketed in his four decades 

of selling real estate. 

“It is one of Australia’s most 

magnificent deep waterfront 

properties and the ultimate 

expression of world-class 

architectural design.” 

You can take a virtual tour 

of this impeccable property at 

palmbeach.ljhooker.com.au. 

Garden gongs 

A ‘labour of love’ garden in 

Clareville is being recognised 

as one of Australia’s best with 

a growing list of awards. 

Created by Fifth Season 

Landscapes, the outdoor 

haven recently received 

multiple industry gongs 

including the Landscape 

Design Institute’s 2022 

Landscape Designer of 

the Year and three TLA 

Landscape Excellence 

Awards, including Gold plus 

Best-in-Category. 

The owners of the 

beachfront property had 

relocated from the upper 

North Shore with a vision of 

settling into a relaxed space 

that melded beautifully with 

the environment, said Director 

of Design Phil Antcliff. 

“With its breathtaking 

location and wonderful 

garden-loving clients, this 

landscaping project was a 

labour of love.” 

The result is a garden 

that is relaxed yet robust, 

showcasing what can be 

achieved with a largely native 

palette, with each species 

handpicked to thrive in harsh 

conditions. 

To create a harmonious 

look, wide burnished 

concrete steppingstones 

and low, recycled hardwood 

fencing were chosen for 

beachfront, street-front and 

side gardens. 

The native plantings 

including Banksia integrifolia, 

Helichrysum petiolare 

(also called licorice plant), 

Carpobrotus glaucescens 

(also known as pigface) next 

to the fence, and the soft 

and lush Zoysia tenuifolia, an 

undulating ornament grass 

has been planted around the 

steppers to soften their lines 

(left). 

– Lisa Offord 



Haskells farewell Lodge life 

Twenty years ago, when Rosemary 

and Colin Haskell opened Scotland 

Island’s only boutique guest house, 

friends and relatives thought it an absurd 

idea. 

“People said, ‘Scotland Island? Where is 

it? And why would anyone want to spend 

a weekend there?” Colin recalls. 

“My brother, who lives in Bayview, told 

my mother, ‘They won’t last a year’,” 

Rosemary adds. 

Now – with Colin having celebrated his 

80th birthday in August “and Rosemary 

getting older every minute” (as her husband 

delicately puts it) – their immaculate 

conception, Scotland Island Lodge, is up 

for sale. 

In the two decades they’ve operated 

the lodge – five minutes’ walk from the 

Church Point ferry stop at Tennis Court 

Wharf and with views over Pittwater 

through filtered bush – it has become 

one of the iconic spots to relax on the 

Northern Beaches, famed not only for 

its stylish suites but Rosemary’s superb 

“home cooking”. 

Now the five-bedroom, four-bathroom 

house with super-fast NBN connection is 

being sold through agents SHORES Avalon 

– either as a continuing business or a 

private home. 

The Haskells arrived at Scotland Island 

in 2002 having run an award-winning 

‘B&B’ (bed and breakfast) near Lake 

Windermere in England’s hallowed Lake 

District. Both their children, Simon and 

Felicity, had remained in Sydney when 

Colin’s career took him back to the UK. 

“The children said it’s time you came 

back,” Rosemary remembers. “What about 

opening a B&B in Pittwater?” 

“Then we found this little gem,” Colin 

chimes in. “The bush, the water and the 

atmosphere reminded us of the Lake 

District.” 

It took them around six months, several 

inspections plus health and safety 

courses to win the DA from the then Pittwater 

Council. 

MOVING ON: Colin and Rosemary Haskell at 

their Scotland Island Lodge. 

Today that existing DA and 20 years of 

unblemished avoidance of neighbours’ 

complaints has a premium. 

“Under the proposed (Northern Beaches 

Council) rezoning regulations, it probably 

wouldn’t be approved now,” Colin admits. 

What the Haskells hope is that the new 

buyers have the same passion, eye for 

potential and ability to stamp their personality 

on the lodge as they did. 

“They just need to be 20 years younger 

than us,” laughs Rosemary, serving 

freshly brewed coffee and home-baked 

biscuits. 

When The Sydney Morning Herald’s 

Traveller section printed their first review, 

Colin was so excited he ran down to 

where Rosemary was taking her morning 

swim, beckoning her out of the water 

insisting she read it immediately. 

The phone rang hot that day, so much 

so Rosemary eventually took it off the 

hook (younger readers won’t understand). 

Not all of their initial guests understood 

the concept of a break on an island 

with dirt roads but no car ferry. 

“We had women coming up from the 

PHOTO: Steve Meacham 

ferry in stiletto heels,” Colin recalls. “The 

men would tell us where they’d parked 

‘the Jaguar’ at Church Point, and others 

said, ‘Of course, we usually stay at the 

Hilton’.” 

Big British breakfasts have always been 

part of the lodge’s vibe. But though Rosemary 

loves cooking she needed persuasion 

before the evening meals – a huge 

part of the lodge’s success – were added 

to the menu. 

“Rosemary was concerned her cooking 

wasn’t up to restaurant standard,” Colin 

explains. “She’s a great cook but was nervous 

about serving it to paying guests. 

“I told her lots of people prefer home 

cooking. And the more Rosemary cooked, 

and the more compliments she got, the 

more confident she became.” 

So much so, she helped publish two 

fund-raising cookbooks with recipes 

gathered from fellow amateur cooks 

on the island and the surrounding bays 

– with proceeds going to the island’s 

kindergarten (sadly, now closed). 

Colin has also been a committed 

islander, currently serving his last year as 

President of the Scotland Island Residents 

Association. 

So what have been the biggest changes 

since 2002? 

“The island was more bohemian in 

those days,” Colin says. “It’s more gentrified 

now. 

“The biggest change was during COVID 

when professionals with young families 

sold expensive homes in Mosman and 

moved here to experience the Pittwater 

lifestyle, have a home you could keep unlocked, 

allow kids to be kids - and work 

from home.” 

So what of their future once Scotland 

Island Lodge is sold? 

“Our options are open,” Rosemary says. 

“It may be our last big adventure.” 

– Steve Meacham 

*Rate $250 per night includes breakfast. 

More info scotlandislandlodge. 

com.au; sale details shores.com.au 

Hot Property 



Hot Property 

Hot Property 

One for the family 

Avalon Beach 

158 Central Road 

5 Beds / 2 Baths / 4 Cars 

This impeccably designed family home (for rent) is set over two 

levels to comfortably accommodate the family offering luxurious 

versatility and privacy. 

Lower entry level has a living area, media room, guest room 

and a large bedroom with walk-in robe and ensuite. 

Upstairs you will enjoy a spacious open-plan living area with 

modern gourmet kitchen opening to an expansive outdoor living 

and entertaining area, overlooking a magnificent sparkling pool, 

fenced level lawn and established tropical gardens. 

On this level there are three other spacious bedrooms, master 

with built-in robes and modern bathrooms. 

*Contact the leasing agents @ LJ Hooker Avalon Beach: 

Sian Uther (0439 844 743) and Lauren Fisher (0499 154 655). 

Glorious Clareville beachfront 

Clareville 

310 Hudson Parade 

5 Beds / 5 Cars / 5 Baths 

Spanning a 1,043sqm parcel in a waterfront reserve setting, this 

contemporary, dual-level residence basks in all-day sun and 

panoramic Pittwater views from nearly every room. 

Exceptionally private and offering the ease of level access, the 

double brick home has generous, open-plan living zones on both 

floors extending to wide decks, sandstone terraces and pool. 

Features also include: CaesarStone/gas kitchen, walk-in pantry; 

two home offices and a free-standing 1-bedroom suite for guests. 

Its double bedrooms include built-in robes, master suite with 

terrace, plus there’s ducted/zoned climate control, and ample 

storage. 

*Contact the listing agent at LJ Hooker Avalon Beach: Angus 

Abrahams (0488 007 236) and Jono Gosselin (0488 011 870). 



Pittwater is full of 

local businesses and 

creatives with gift 

ideas and experiences 

that are good for 

the body, mind and 

soul and kind to 

the environment. 

Xmas Gift Guide 

Northern Suburbs 

Water Filters 

In this long-standing boutique outlet 

on Bungan Street, Mona Vale you’ll 

find gifts that are good for the 

environment, healthy for you, reusable 

– and budget-friendly! Their stainless 

steel bottles, picnic cups, water jugs 

and soda siphons are great stockingfillers. 

There’s something different 

for everyone! Their water filters make 

wonderful, healthy gifts for your family 

that give great-tasting, purified water 

year-round. They range from beautiful 

and decorative pottery filters, portable 

bench top filters, under-sink triple 

filters to the top-of-the-line reverse 

osmosis purifiers for those who want 

the best. All quality filters at discounted 

prices. Owner Jenny says she lives by 

the wisdom of Mahatma Gandhi: “It is 

health that is real wealth and not pieces 

of gold and silver.” She and her team 

wish all customers and readers a Merry 

Christmas. Find them at 6/20 Bungan 

Street, Mona Vale. P: 9979 5855 


Ecotopia 

At Ecotopia, Tracy and her team are inspired by the ongoing 

process of finding a vibrant balance in the daily and seasonal 

cycles of life. They believe that an equilibrium between our inner 

and environmental wellbeing can genuinely uplift every aspect of 

our day-to-day experiences. The Ecotopia range spans through 

Australian skincare such as Edible Beauty, Alcapoc and Emu Oil, to 

precious aromatics that include frankincense, myrrh, sage and palo 

santo. Their ‘sleep savior’ collection includes mulberry silk pillow 

slips and eye masks for those who need a proper send-off into and 

back from our resting hours. Additionally, they carry SerenaScent®, 

a combination of the most effective plant-derived aromas 

developed by Dr Nick Lavidis, reducing the impact of chronic 

stress on the body and mind. “We believe that life is art and carry a 

diverse yet bespoke collection to reflect this sentiment,” said Tracy. 

Find them at 4/3 Vuko Place, Warriewood. P: 9999 0351 

Ecodownunder 

You’ll find something for everyone at Ecodownunder – they have gifts you’ll feel good 

about giving because you know they’ll be loved and will last. Iconic to summertime, 

check out their beach towels in a choice of styles, only $19 and 100% organic cotton. Bath 

time feels more like spa time with luxuriously plush towels and a new robe. Gatherings 

with friends become special occasions with linen tableware (pure linen tablecloths from 

only $79). Or treat them to beautiful new sheets. Signature cotton is buttery soft and 

smooth; or gift much-loved European flax linen 

sets. The absolute ultimate in luxury must be 

Ecodownunder’s latest blend of cotton 

cashmere sheets (pictured). Alpaca wool 

throws are a gift that will make them 

feel spoiled; and a silk pillowcase in a 

choice of colours is a sleep time treat 

that will make your giftee feel truly 

pampered. Gifts that don’t cost the earth 

and will be enjoyed for years to come. 

Ecodownunder.com.au 


Local Gift Guide

Eyachts - Axopar boats 

Here’s the ultimate gift to bring the family 

together for fun on the water this summer – 

a sleek and stylish Axopar adventure boat. 

Exclusive distributor Eyachts at Church Point rate 

the Axopar as the ultimate performance dayboat, 

with 22-, 25-, 28-, 37- and 45-foot models in open, 

t-top and cabin versions. No matter whether you 

prefer sun or shade, accommodation or not – 

you’ll find the Axopar model to suit your needs. 

Imagine gliding across the water to a secluded 

bay down the Hawkesbury with the kids in tow, 

or inviting friends and relatives for a day of 

swimming, wakeboarding, or just relaxing. To 

celebrate the release of Axopar’s latest models, 

Eyachts are offering one of two Jobe adventure 

packages, plus a ski pole and audio upgrade with 

every Axopar 22 and Axopar 25 sold this summer 

(offer value $6250 - $8102). The Family Package 

includes a one-person donut, multi-position 

board (the beginners knee board and wakeboard 

combined) and tow rope. Or the ‘adults 

adventure’ Wakeboard Package includes the prolix 

wakeboard, bindings and elite wake combo rope. 

Call the team for more info. P: 9979 2443 

Local Gift Guide 

Three Peaks Photography 

Professional landscape photographer Peter 

Sedgwick is back with great gift ideas at 

Warriewood Square until Christmas Eve. 

On display are more than 500 unique and 

beautiful images, with a full portfolio of 

work featuring all the Northern Beaches. 

Another portfolio showcases hidden bays 

and beaches of Pittwater, plus there’s 

imagery from the north coast, Central 

Coast, south coast, the Blue Mountains 

and a whole new section featuring the 

Kimberleys. Purchase a framed print at 

one of the three standard sizes and the 

framing can be done while you wait! 

Images can be purchased to suit – simply 

take a photo of your wall space, email it 

to peter@threepeaksphotography.com. 

au and the image that you like can be 

digitally ‘hung’ on your wall! Peter also 

offers one-on-one photography tuition, 

comprising a full day of learning (based 

on your needs) at Narrabeen. Plus he 

runs two-day workshops held locally or 

in the Blue Mountains. Gift Cards and 

Christmas Cards also available. Gift 

Vouchers for all products. Find Peter in 

front of Lowe’s from December 5; visit 

threepeaksphotography.com.au. 

P: 0409 049 745 

Gold ‘n’ Things 

Gold ‘n’ Things Jewellery at Mona Vale 

has been owned and operated by two 

generations of the Bradbury family – 

Keith, his wife Vicki and their son Sam 

– since March 1984. They specialise 

in anything to do with jewellery, 

whether it be designing, repairing or 

sales. “We owe our success to the loyal 

customers we have acquired over the 

past 38 years,” said Sam. “We have 

a workshop on the premises and we 

understand the sentimental value 

jewellery can hold and can assure any 

customer that their loved items will be 

safe in our hands.” They now have the 

only Laser Welding machine in Mona 

Vale, meaning they can repair the 

most intricate and complex of work 

on site. Talk to the Gold ‘n’ Things 

jewellers about their knowledge of 

diamonds, gemstones and pearls. 

Find them at shop 3/9 Bungan St. 

P: 9999 4991 

Discover Pittwater 

Give your friends an insight into where you 

live – one of the most picturesque places 

on the planet. Produced by three local 

media professionals, Discover Pittwater 

is a celebration of the magical appeal of 

our unique part of Sydney. The glossy 

192-page book encapsulates in words and 

photos the beauty of the area and the 

lifestyles of some of the people who live 

here. A great gift for family and friends, 

you will find Discover Pittwater (published 

by Straight Arrow Communications) at local 

bookstores (RRP $39.95); or order online at discoverpittwater.com 

52 DECEMBER 2021 


Peninsula Music Club 

Membership to the Peninsula Music 

Club is a great gift idea – they’ll host 

four fabulous concerts in 2023 featuring 

professional Australian and International 

artists close to home. In March, 

Canadian violinist Alexander Da Costa 

will perform on a 1701 Stradivarius 

violin (with piano accompaniment) 

many Baroque and well-known classical 

works reimagined with some jazz and 

pop influences. In June, International 

Australian pianist Andrea Lam will 

perform favourite classical works as 

well as works by Australian composer 

Matthew Hindson. In September, one 

of Australia’s best-loved classical pianists Simon Tedeschi will team up with jazz 

vocalist and violinist George Washingmachine to perform Gershwin favourites and 

classic jazz standards; and in November, duo flute Sally Walker and harpist Emily 

Granger will present a concert sure to delight. A special feature of PMC concerts are 

the sparkling wine suppers served after each performance. All concerts are at St Luke’s 

Grammar Bayview campus. Four Concert Series is only $90. Enquiries and tickets 

peninsulamusicclub.com.au or 0407 441 213 or 0413 077 749. 

The Art Shop 

Sydney Design School 

The Art Shop at Mona Vale is an 

independent art and design store 

where you will find everything 

you need for drawing, sketching, 

journalling, doodling, and painting 

with watercolours, acrylics or oils, 

along with lots of materials to inspire 

young budding artists. The Art Shop 

is packed with creative and hard-tofind 

gift ideas for Christmas and the 

holidays. Beautiful books will inspire 

and fire the imagination. Paints, 

pencils, pens, brushes, easels, papers, 

journals, canvases and clay will 

bring ideas to life. A range of art and 

creative activity kits make for holiday 

fun. Beautifully designed jigsaws make 

for relaxing days over the Christmas 

break. As well as art and craft supplies, 

they are known for their beautiful 

papers, from stunning A4 Japanese 

Washi papers to large sheets of Italian 

letterpress designs and handmade 

papers. Gift vouchers available; shop 

online, too – with free delivery locally 

(over $99 purchase). Find them at 

54 Darley St. P: 9979 6559 

Mona Vale Xmas Market 

The Mona Vale Xmas Market is back – 

and it’s celebrating its 15th year! Head to 

Village Park on Sunday 11 December for 

a day of shopping, music, fun and food 

from 9am-4pm. Wander the huge array 

of carefully curated stalls, with goods 

including fashion, jewellery, homewares 

and lifestyle products, to toys and 

games, not to mention a cornucopia of 

food options – straight from the kitchen 

of Ryan Gozleme, to delicious Natural 

Dutch Pancakes and Bar Coco serving 

up ice cream, gelatos, coffees and more. 

The market has your Christmas shopping 

sorted. Feature stalls include Pollen 

Sisters who focus on raw, natural, organic 

and sustainable products with a little 

help from bees; and Palm Art Boutique 

selling rustic home décor creatively 

designed using palm fronds. Pudding 

Lane will be there with their international 

award-winning Christmas puddings. Plus, 

enjoy music from amazingly talented 

local artists Jamieson, Ella Couston, 

Chantal & Cesar and more, playing live 

blues, soul, folk and rock all day. 

If you have someone creative to buy 

for you’ll know how tricky it can be to 

choose the right gift. Sydney Design 

School’s creative workshops are a great 

option. The Summer School menu has 

been developed for design lovers to 

indulge their passion – and no experience 

is necessary. They’re opening their St 

Leonards studios in January, so anyone 

can attend the award-winning design 

interior school, roll up their sleeves and 

get creative. Summer School workshops 

will be led by educators who are all 

professional Interior Designers. There’s 

a two-day Colour Workshop (17-18 Jan); 

Designing Children’s Bedrooms (18-19 

Jan); Interior Decoration (18-19 Jan); 

Interior and Property Styling (18-20 Jan); 

and ‘Designer for a Day’ (19 Jan – for 

high school students in Years 10, 11 

and 12). Gift cards are available for all 

workshops – valid for three years. The 

School hosts workshops every January 

and July so there’s plenty of opportunities 

to redeem your gift. Unsure which course 

is the right fit? Contact them: info@ 

sydneydesignschool.com. P: 9437 1902 

Local Gift Guide 



Surfing Life 

with Nick Carroll 

Surfing Life 

Coastal cleanse: road trip 

washes away past two years 

Looking for the signs of surfing life from Noosa to Pittwater... 

A 

few weeks ago, the 

middle of last month, 

my buddy Hannah and 

I drove down the coast from 

Noosa. 

The idea was to say a kind of 

farewell to the past two years 

– one of the strangest times 

in modern history, and even 

stranger if you were a surfer. 

Not just because of the 

pandemic, though lord knows 

that was strange enough for 

anyone. But because of a 

climate event. 

Remember the drought 

of 2019, and the impossible 

fires? They were ended at 

the same time the pandemic 

began, in late February 2020, 

by a colossal coastal storm. 

The rains from this storm 

were intense enough to fill 

Warragamba Dam almost 

overnight. As it turned out, they 

were a precursor to La Niña. 

It was madness, really. Just 

as hundreds of thousands 

of people, left at a loose 

end and funded by good ol’ 

JobKeeper, decided to take 

up surfing, the biggest and 

most dramatic surf in years 

began smashing the entire 

east coast of Australia. You 

couldn’t travel anywhere, but 

you didn’t really need to. All 

the surf anyone could handle 

was right here. 

The pandemic went through 

its weirdly predictable leaps 

and bounds. Meanwhile 

La Niña came and went, and 

came back again, and blew up 

2021 pretty much the same 

way it’d bombed 2020. 

Double La Niña events are 

not super rare. Triples are less 

common. The last significant 

triple-up for surfers on the 

east coast was 1973-75, and 

they did pretty much what this 

triple has just done: dramatic 

coastal erosion, crazy floods 

in the northern rivers and SE 

Queensland, drought busted, 

and epic, life-changing surf. 

Today we are in the decline 

of the pattern. La Niña number 

three is wilting away. By 

January, the mighty Pacific is 

forecast to be back to normal. 

Things may take a while to 

settle – La Niña’s cousin, the 

Indian Ocean Dipole, is still 

at work sending cascades of 

tropical moisture into inland 

NSW, and flaring up some 

Tasman Sea storms in the 

process. But settle they will. 

This is why Hannah and I 

decided to hit the road. We’d 

been hard at work for 18 

months, laying down record 

after record of this insane 

time on our pet project supersite, 

Surfline Australia, and felt 

like the decline was worth at 

RE-INVENTION: A former backwater, 

Crescent Head is now a getaway for 

wealthy surf culture influencers. 

least as much attention as the 

boom. After all… where next? 

So we surfed small Tea-Tree 

at Noosa one afternoon, shot 

some film of November’s 

blood moon over Sunshine 

Beach that night, and set off 

next morning. 

Noosa’s surf population has 

prospered, by the way. Over 

17,000 people are members 

of a Facebook page devoted 

to Sunshine Coast surfing, 

and that feels like the tip of 

the iceberg. Yet the feeling 

in the water has somehow 

remained amazingly relaxed. 

This turned out to be true 

everywhere we surfed, from 

Tea-Tree all the way back 

to Curl Curl. Maybe it has 

something to do with the fact 

that around 68% of the people 

who’ve begun surfing in the 

past three years have been 

girls and women. In any case, 

the macho meritocracy of 

bygone days just doesn’t work 

the way it once did. 

On the Gold Coast, we 

found some hilarious stuff. A 

small new swell was filtering 

in to Snapper Rocks, and it 

was being totally dominated 



y a pack of grommets. 

Seriously! Maybe 20 kids 

under 14, fresh out of school 

for the day, and clambering all 

over this famous wave like it 

was a Lego castle. 

We spent some time talking 

with three of them, all girls. 

“We surf out here every 

afternoon,” they told us. This 

is a busy lineup, we suggested, 

do people give them waves? 

One of the three, a stronglooking 

12-year-old, looked 

almost amused at the 

question. “I live just up there,” 

she said, tilting her head at the 

hill behind the point. In other 

words: nobody needs to give 

me waves. 

Next morning we went 

around the corner from 

Snapper, to Duranbah beach. 

Separated from the Tweed 

River by a 200-metre breakwall, 

Duranbah is technically in 

NSW, but no surfer thinks like 

that. Duranbah is southern 

Queensland’s most reliable surf 

spot, and is thus a magnet for 

the spectacular talent levels of 

Australia’s best professional 

surfers, most of whom now live 

on the Gold Coast. 

Well, it’s warm! And there’s 

a semi-international airport 

across the road. What more do 

you want? 

Duranbah was pretty fun: 

windy waves a bit bigger than 

head-high. An array of the pros 

were out: Australia’s top-ranked 

male and female pros, Ethan 

Ewing and Steph Gilmore, along 

with six or seven other supergifted 

surfers. 

Even a decade ago, this would 

have been cause of some awe 

among the rest of the surfing 

population. But today? Ethan, 

Steph and the rest just sat 

among 60 or 70 other surfers, 

catching waves like the rest of 

’em. Nobody paid them undue 

attention, and they didn’t seem 

to mind. I can’t think of another 

sport where such casual 

democracy exists. 

We drove south past Byron 

Bay, to one of Australia’s great 

surfing touchstones: Angourie 

Point south of Yamba. It was 

kind of epic. We’d timed our 

arrival to match the annual 

hot-rod festival, and Yamba 

was hopping! 

Angourie wasn’t hopping. 

That’s not Angourie. It’s a bit 

sacred. Anyone can surf there, 

but somehow, it never seems 

too busy. 


On the surf-check bench 

above the break, we ran 

into 69-year-old Paul Nicol. 

Originally from Wollongong, 

Paul got himself hopelessly 

committed to surfing a 

long time ago, back in the 

1960s. He learned to shape 

surfboards, and became one 

of the nation’s most respected 

board designers. 

Now he wanders the 

north coast of NSW, surfing, 

watching and listening. 

Paul had heard a significant 

statistic: according to the 

Australian Sports Commission, 

nearly 200,000 Australians 

began surfing during the 

pandemic/La Niña double-up, 

and nearly 70% of them are 

women. 

This might once have sent 

a surfer of his generation into 

absolute raving conniptions: 

All these people taking my 

waves! Today Paul sounds like 

a kind of surfing Dalai Lama: 

calm, considered, and kind of 

joyful. He’s torn up over what’s 

happened to people during 

the 2022 North Coast floods, 

but aside from that, happiness 

seems to flow from him. “I 

enjoy my surfing now more 

than ever,” he told me. “I feel so 

lucky to have had the surfing 

life I’ve been able to live.” 

He had just one piece of 

advice to everyone who’s 

diving into surfing now, postpandemic: 

don’t get carried 

away. “Try to come in (from 

the surf) happy.” 

We took off and drove to 

Crescent Head. This former 

backwater is undergoing 

a steady re-invention as a 

getaway for wealthy surf 

culture influencers. A newly 

paved road running south 

of Crescent down the coast 

past Point Plomer is assisting 

this re-invention. People are 

buying up acreages along 

this road, and setting up 

personalised little gigs, like 

Bush Pizza – which is exactly 

what it sounds. A backyard 

pizza place in the middle of 

the bush. 

We had dinner there, 

drove the 10 minutes back 

into Crescent, and next day 

went a bit further down the 

paved road to Queens Head, 

a perfectly normal surf spot 

in the middle of nowhere. 

At least 60 surfers were out 

there. It was more crowded 

than Avalon on a busy day. 

The spot nestles in the lee 

of its headland. Just behind 

that is a small, well-tended 

parking area. Here we found 

Sarah Harris and Naomi Blaze, 

both from Old Bar, maybe 90 

minutes’ drive south. 

At 29 and 35, partnered up 

with young kids, Sarah and 

Naomi have both been surfing 

for about 15 years. This 

morning they had a leave pass 

– husbands were back at camp 

with the kids – and seemed 

quietly stoked about it. 

“We come up here to camp 

all the time,” Sarah told us. 

“It’s our happy place.” 

They’d both noticed a lot 

of change during La Niña. 

Water quality, for one. “In my 

memory it was always crystal 

clear, you know that north 

coast blue,” said Naomi. “Now, 

not so much. It’s always a bit 

murky.” 

Their three-year-old kids, 

on the other hand, had known 

nothing but rain. One of them 

hops up each morning and 

puts on galoshes as a matter 

of course: “They can’t believe 

it when the sun comes out.” 

Old Bar has suffered 

enormous erosion through 

the period. As we headed 

further down the coast, 

we saw more and more 

evidence of the crazy surf 

intensity of 2020 onward. 

At Lighthouse Beach near 

Seal Rocks, the foredune 

has been re-shaped into a 

kind of cliff, pushed right 

back to the heavily scrubbed 

back dune. Treachery, its 

southern neighbour beach, 

is a tangle of tree-trunks 

along its northern edge – a 

scene repeated on hundreds 

of beaches between Port 

Macquarie and Sydney. 

La Niña is a cycle, but 

seeing this erosion and redistribution, 

it suddenly struck 

us that it’s also a re-cycle. An 

event bound to repeat and 

repeat, a constant process 

of shaping and re-shaping 

the margins of this huge 

continent. 

Fire, flood, pestilence! 

Surfing! And a beautiful 

summer to come. 

*This is my last column 

for Pittwater Life for the 

time being. Thanks so much 

to everyone who’s read and 

commented over the years. 

See you out there! 


Surfing Life

Health & Wellbeing 

Shannan’s running tips 

for following the ‘Sun’ 


Self-confessed ‘charity 

hussy’ – celebrity fitness 

guru Shannan Ponton – is 

dishing out helpful training tips 

ahead of Sydney’s first fun run 

of the new year. 

Northern Beaches-based Ponton 

is the ambassador of the Sun 

Run, a much-loved event that 

follows a scenic course stretching 

from Dee Why to Manly. 

With a choice of a 7km or 

10km course, the Sun Run, 

which will be held on Saturday 

Feb 4, will appeal to locals and 

visitors, as well as seasoned 

runners, walkers and experienced 

athletes of all ages, who 

will take in views of Curl Curl, 

Freshwater and Queenscliff 

while raising much needed 

funds for charity. 

Ponton participated in his 

first Sun Run around 10 years 

ago and has joined the community 

on half a dozen occasions 

running competitively, supporting 

mates, or with kids in the 

pram but always raising money 

for charity. 

“Running in a fun run and 

raising money for charity is 

the best possible equation for 

me – it’s the best of mind, body 

and soul,” the married father of 

three told Pittwater Life. 

“You have a finite goal, you 

train, get fitter and healthier. 

“With your newfound fitness 

and health you begin to feel 

happier and more satisfied. 

“Add the dynamic of raising 

funds for total strangers in 

need, you’ll nourish your soul.” 

Ponton decided long ago 

to dedicate as much time and 

PUMPED: Sun 

Run ambassador 

Shannan Ponton. 

effort into charities as he could 

and is an ambassador for many. 

“I’m a bit of a charity hussy,” 

he said. “Cancer is the thing that 

scares me most and the cause I 

am most passionate about. 

“Cure Cancer Australia, 

CANTEEN, Melanoma Institute, 

MacGrath Foundation, Bear 

Cottage, Muscular Dystrophy 

Australia and Fred Hollows Foundation 

are charities I support.” 

Ponton said his entire clan 

would be involved in Sun Run 

2023 and he encourages other 

families to give it a go. 

“I’m not sure yet if I’ll be running 

the event with my oldest 

son Max (aged 10) or having 

one last chance to push my 

youngest (Bronx aged 5) in a 

pram… next year he’ll be too 

heavy!” 

Asked for some fun run 

training tips, Ponton offered the 

following: 

“No matter your age, preparation 

is paramount,” he said. 

“If you are running with 

your kids, make sure you start 

training together 6-8 weeks 

out from race day, so you can 

gradually increase your training 

distance. 

“Reasonably add 250 to 500 

metres every second training 

run you complete. 

“Try to run two to three times 

every week. Not on alternate 

days. Listen to your child’s 

opinion and feelings and don’t 

push them too hard. If you are 

running yourself, same goes! 

“Either way you will be a great 

role model for your kids to look 

up to.” 

Ponton said the local event 

was a great motivator for all 

ages and fitness levels. 

“It’s an opportunity to train 

hard and experience the excitement 

and satisfaction of achieving 

a fitness goal. There’s nothing 

quite like it,” Ponton said. 

“I like to train the way I live 

my life – with respect, integrity, 

physical and mental discipline. 

“Building strength in mind 

and body is a great way to 

increase your fitness level and 

gain confidence. 

“Sun Run, is the perfect excuse 

to train with your buddies over 

summer and really challenge 

yourself, whether you choose 

the 7km or 10km run, both are a 

wonderful achievement.” 

Ponton added that if you can’t 

compete in the Sun Run you can 

still get involved by sponsoring 

a team or individual and “live 

your fitness journey vicariously 

through them”. 

– Lisa Offord 

*More info and register for 

Sun Run 2023 at sunrun.com. 

au. Discounted early bird entries 

offer participants a $20 

saving on their entry fee up 

until 8 December. 



Mosquito numbers on rise 

Locals are being warned to brace for a bumper mosquito season 

with large amounts of rainfall and water in the environment 

creating the perfect breeding conditions. 

For the fourth consecutive season, mosquito numbers will 

be monitored at Warriewood Wetlands and Deep Creek to track 

these pesky insects, and their activity, to help keep our community 

safe. 

Northern Beaches Council CEO Ray Brownlee explained 

the annual campaign included an education program to raise 

awareness of the risk mosquitoes pose and how to minimise 

getting bitten. 

“They’re a nuisance that can adversely impact our quality 

of life and enjoyment of recreational activities, but they are a 

natural part of our wetland and bushland habitats, so we have 

to learn to live safely with them,” Mr Brownlee said. 

“We know they can become abundant when the conditions 

are suitable, especially with increased rainfall making optimal 

breeding grounds for them to multiply. 

“Thankfully, with fluctuating climatic and environmental conditions, 

the surveillance program over the past few years has 

mostly identified nuisance biters with low detections of species 

of concern.” 

Mosquito numbers over the trapping season ranged from 

low (


with Rowena Beckenham 


Enjoy good vision knowing 

environment is a key focus 

Summer is finally here! The 

sun is out and it’s time 

to make up for the damp 

days of 2022. Thinking about 

relaxing in our gorgeous coastal 

community unencumbered by 

blurry text, glary reflections, 

unintelligible menus or sore 

eyes? 

We want our patients to have 

a relaxing and joyful summer, 

with ethically made, environmentally 

friendly prescription 

sunglasses and sustainably 

produced contact lenses. We 

know that getting the most of 

out of our local environment 

while looking after your health 

and wellbeing is key to happy 

holidays: taking time to read 

the novel that’s been sitting on 

your dresser all year long, sip 

cocktails by the pool, surf at the 

beach, and dance the evenings 

away enabled by comfortable 

clear flexible vision is our goal. 

Australia is the skin cancer 

capital of the world. We know 

UV rays are a major health 

concern, but did you know 

they can also damage your 

eyes; in the short term your 

eyes can themselves become 

sunburnt, leading to sore, dry 

and itchy eyes; in the long term 

UV exposure actually ages your 

eyes, and can lead to corneal 

damage, cataracts, and macular 

degeneration. Luckily, good 

quality sunglasses with a lens 

rating of 3 or 4 protect your 

eyes into the future. 

Providing the community with 

slow fashion, produced ethically 

and sustainably is important to 

us. Sunglass brands that understand 

the ethos of our practice, 

and have sustainable credentials, 

include Otis, Zeal, and Garrett 

Leight. These companies have 

an active focus on decreasing 

their CO2 emissions and carbon 

footprints while producing ethical 

plant-based products. Otis 

creates sunglass lenses from 

naturally sourced mineral glass, 

that are non-toxic, and recyclable; 

Zeal’s frames and lenses 

(pictured) are made from Z-resin 

derived from the castor plant; 

Garret Leight’s frames are made 

from sustainable eco-acetate 

M49 which is compostable and 

bio-based. 

Whilst prescription sunglasses 

can be invaluable, sometimes it’s 

not appropriate to wear them. 

Contact lenses are now available 

in a vast range of powers including 

multifocals that provide the 

flexibility to meet almost every 

visual and lifestyle need. 

Wearing contact lenses to the 

beach enables you to swim, surf, 

and read comfortably. Just don’t 

forget to shut your eyes when 

you dive underwater or wear 

goggles when swimming in chlo- 

rine. For those that haven’t had 

enough winter in Australia and 

you’re heading off overseas this 

holiday season, contact lenses 

provide the perfect solution to 

wear under your ski goggles 

for seeing clearly on the slopes 

removing the risk of damaging 

yourself or your specs in a stack. 

We are proud that our contact 

lens suppliers Cooper Vision 

share our businesses ethos, 

with the environment front and 

centre in production. With a 

focus on water recycling and 

rainwater collecting efforts, the 

use of wind-based renewable 

energy and with 95% of materials 

in their production process 

recycled, enjoy the freedom 

of contact lenses this summer 

knowing the environment is being 

looked after! 

Comment supplied by 

Rowena Beckenham, of 

Beckenham Optometrist 

in Avalon (9918 0616). 

Rowena has been 

involved in all facets 

of independent private 

practice optometry in 

Avalon for more than 

20 years, in addition to 

working as a consultant to 

the optometric and 

pharmaceutical industry, 

and regularly volunteering 

in Aboriginal eyecare 

programs in regional NSW. 



Open up to your dentist 

Dentists are urging patients to be more open about what 

medications and supplements they are taking. 

Certain supplements and herbal remedies including turmeric, 

ginger, garlic, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, glucosamine, evening 

primrose oil and fish oil have been identified as having the 

potential to increase the risk of bleeding. 

There were also increased bleeding risks for some prescription 

medications such as anti-depressants, non-steroidal 

anti-inflammatory drugs and blood thinners as well as when 

anti-clotting medications interact with other medications. 

President of the Australian Dental Association Dr Stephen 

Liew said dentists sometimes treated people without knowing 

the full range of prescription, complementary or over-the-counter 

medications they were taking. 

“Many Australians aren’t aware of the importance of sharing 

this vital information with their clinician,” Dr Liew said. 

“This can be problematic when we perform a procedure where 

bleeding needs to be controlled, such as a tooth extraction.” 

Most dentists take a full medical history during the patient’s 

first visit including family history, past operations and procedures, 

illnesses and current and previous medications. 

“These all play a vital role in allowing your dentist to provide 

safe and personalised care. 

“We’re asking people to come to their dental appointments 

armed with as much information as they can, it will help with 

their overall experience.” 

ADA members can access a consultant pharmacist who can 

provide advice about individual cases. 

“That may mean advising the patient to come off a certain 

medication for a period – in consultation with their doctor – in 

the run up to a dental procedure which could result in bleeding,” 

Dr Liew said. 

– LO 





with Matilda Brown 


Frankly family: the lessons 

you learn and take forward 

There have been 

chapters throughout 

my time on this earth 

that have really shaped the 

way I walk through life. Work, 

psychedelics, heartbreak, and 

my kids, have all played a 

big part. But I have to say my 

upbringing probably shaped 

me the most. 

When I was younger, 

people would often ask what 

it was like to grow up with 

famous parents. I guess 

they’re curious to know how 

it’s different to their lives, or 

what perks it might entail. 

I never really knew how to 

answer that question since I 

never had any other parents 

to compare it to. To me it 

was just normal. As I grew 

older, however, I learned that 

fame and success afforded 

our family certain privileges. 

When dad or mum worked in 

different countries, we got to 

go with them. We stayed in 

beautiful hotels in incredible 

places. I may not have 

understood the concept of 

fame until later, but I became 

Scott’s Comfort Corner 

8-Hour Slow Cooked 

Pork Ribs 

Ingredients: 

1.5kg – 2kg Pork Ribs (room temp) 

3 tbs olive oil 

2 tsp Cumin 

1 tsp smoked paprika 

1 tsp sweet paprika 

1 tsp Chilli powder 

2 tbs honey 

Sea salt 

4 garlic cloves – minced 

500ml beef broth 

Method 

1. Pre-heat the oven to 120 

degrees. 

2. In the mixing bowl combine 

the olive oil, honey, spices and 

garlic and rub into the ribs – 

allow to marinate for minimum 

30 mins (longer is better… 

transfer to the fridge if doing 

longer). 

3. Transfer the ribs in a crock pot 

or ceramic dish. 

4. Pour the broth into the dish 

5. Place the ribs into the oven. 

6. Slow cook for 4-5 hours 

approximately – or until pork 

fat has softened and rendered 

7. For the last 5 minutes turn the 

grill on to crisp up the pork 

(delish). Watch it like a hawk 

though so to avoid it burning. 

8. Serve with a side of mash. 

aware at a very young age the 

dichotomies that life had on 

offer. I remember spending 

three weeks in Nairobi with 

a bunch of Kenyan kids my 

age while dad was filming a 

Citroen commercial. Playing 

with them and seeing the way 

they lived, I thought: holy 

crap, life sure is different 

here. Despite that, and the 

fact that we couldn’t speak 

the same language, we had 

an absolute ball together. 

One of the biggest lessons 

for me from that trip was: you 

don’t need much to be happy. 

They had love and their 

imaginations and the biggest 

smiles I’d ever seen. 

There’s no doubt, my 

siblings and I had an amazing 

upbringing, and it’s important 

for me to acknowledge the 

privilege I’ve had in my life. I 

don’t live with my head buried 

under a rock so I know life 

could potentially have been 

very different. I got lucky. 

But it’s not the fame or the 

privilege that has given my 

life substance. My parents 

brought us up to appreciate 

the simple things. They were 

conscious not to spoil us, we 

were given boundaries, and 

we were made to contribute 

to the household from a 

young age. Dad was a pillar 

of strength and the one who 

enforced the boundaries, and 

mum was the fun, creative 

one. Together they made us 

feel loved, secure, and safe. 

They asked us questions at 

the dinner table, listened to 

our school dramas, helped 

us with our homework and 

encouraged us to follow 

through on commitment. 

Do I think they did it 

all perfect? No. Dad was 

sometimes too hard on us, 

his boundaries too strict, 

and mum’s truth bombs and 

expectations, particularly 

around our physical 

appearance, could deliver 

an almighty blow. But I don’t 

think any parent ever gets it 

all right. And I understand 

those mistakes so much more 

now as a mother myself. 

Matilda Brown is 

an actress, writer and 

business owner. Her 

husband Scott Gooding 

is a holistic performance 

& nutrition coach, sports 

nutritionist and chef. 

Together they founded and 

run The Good Farm Shop. 

www.thegoodfarm.shop 







with Bec Johnson, M.Pharm 


Community pharmacies can 

now administer vaccinations 

As of 11 November, pharmacists 

in NSW who have 

completed the required 

accredited vaccination training 

are now able to provide a wider 

range of vaccines to a variety 

of eligible age groups. The aim 

of the changes implemented is 

to reduce the burden on GPs 

and allow greater accessibility 

to vaccines for patients within 

NSW to stay up to date and 

protected. 

It is important to note that 

not all pharmacists are able 

to offer vaccinations, as extra 

training is required to become 

an accredited immunising 

pharmacist. Any vaccines you 

receive at a pharmacy will be 

uploaded to your Australian 

Immunisation Register, and 

pharmacists will conduct the 

vaccinations under the standards 

approved by the Health 

Secretary. 

Prior to vaccination, you 

will be required to complete 

a screening questionnaire to 

ensure that the vaccination 

is appropriate for you. In the 

event there are any precautions 

or contraindications, you will 

be referred to a medical practitioner 

for further investigation. 

Pharmacists can 

vaccinate who? 

Pharmacists are legally able 

to vaccinate patients from 5 

years and up; however not all 

pharmacies provide vaccination 

appointments for children. For 

parents, please call your designated 

vaccinating pharmacy 

to make an appointment and 

confirm they will be able to 

vaccinate your child. 

Depending on eligibility, 

pharmacists can offer certain 

vaccines covered under 

the National Immunisation 

Program – the NIP aims to 

increase national immunisation 

coverage to vaccine-preventable 

diseases by providing free 

essential vaccines for a range 

of diseases at certain ages. If 

not eligible, it will be a private 

charge for the vaccination and 

vaccine inclusively. 

Which vaccinations? 

The vaccinations available 

through community pharmacies 

are: 

n COVID-19 primary and 

booster doses 

n Diphtheria, tetanus and 

acellular pertussis (whooping 

cough) [dTpa] 

n Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B 

n Human papillomavirus vaccine 

( HPV) 

n Influenza vaccine 

n Japanese encephalitis vaccine 

n Measles-mumps-rubella combination 

vaccine (MMR) 

n Meningococcal vaccine 

(ACWY only) (quadrivalent) 

conjugate vaccine 

n Poliomyelitis vaccine 

n IM typhoid vaccine 

n Zoster vaccine (Shingrix 

brand only) 

Considerations 

Live attenuated vaccines are 

generally contraindicated for 

most people who are immunocompromised, 

due to the increased 

risk of adverse events 

or vaccine-related disease. 

Other considerations to take 

note of when planning vaccinations 

are: 

n travellers 

n a history of anaphylaxis to a 

vaccine or its components 

n an adverse event following 

immunisation 

n recent receipt of normal 

human immunoglobulin and 

other blood products 

n bleeding disorders 

n recent or upcoming anaesthesia 

or surgery 

n planning pregnancy, current 

pregnancy, or breastfeeding 

COVID-19 update 

Moderna have recently brought 

out a new bivalent vaccine for 

booster vaccines only, which 

targets the original 2020 strain 

and the Omicron variant BA.1. 

Pfizer have followed suit 

and announced their bivalent 

vaccine will be available later 

this year. 

Compared to the original 

vaccines, ATAGI has found that 

the bivalent form triggers a 

modest improvement in the 

immune response against both 

strains. However, both the 

bivalent and original vaccines 

provide significant protection 

from severe disease against 

Omicron subvariant infections. 

At this time ATAGI has only 

recommended a total of four 

COVID-19 vaccine doses, 

comprising the two original 

doses and two booster doses. 

If immunocompromised, you 

are eligible for a total of five 

COVID-19 vaccine doses. 

Speak with your local pharmacy 

or GP for more information 

if you are unsure of your 

eligibility. 

Pittwater Pharmacy & 

Compounding Chemist 

at Mona Vale has operated 

as a family-run business 

since 1977. Open seven days; 

drop in & meet the highly 

qualified and experienced 

team of Len, Sam and Amy 

Papandrea, Andrew Snow 

and Bec Johnson. Find them 

at 1771 Pittwater Rd; 

call 9999 3398. 



Hair & Beauty 

with Sue Carroll 

So easy to let yourself ‘glow 

crazy’ over Christmas break 

This time of year tends 

to be a little chaotic 

with summer, Christmas 

festivities, holidays and 

everything in between. Here 

are some tips for your skin 

to keep the healthy radiance 

you have worked so hard to 

achieve throughout the year: 

There is a guide most 

clients are unsure about, 

which is what comes first with 

the product application. 

Quite simply, ‘thin to thick’ 

is the layering rule. Start 

with the thinnest textured 

product, your cleanser, which 

is removed with lukewarm 

water. The toning lotion used 

on a gauze square (not cotton 

pads) is next, followed by your 

serum, treatment cream and 

then sunscreen for the day. 

When this guide is followed 

you will achieve a better result 

for your skin and have a better 

‘bang for your buck’ as your 

products will actually be doing 

what they are meant to do. 

At least twice a year in 

Sydney, switch up your 

skincare routine. Here on 

the Northern Beaches, we 

have a cold, dry winter and 

a hot, humid summer. Most 

people will benefit from a 

lighter-textured skincare 

regime. Serums are a great 

way to deliver potent and 

hydrating benefits to restore 

the healthy appearance of 

the skin. Common goals for 

parched summer skin are to 

soften the texture, diminish 

fine lines and wrinkles, reduce 

bacteria or inflammation, and 

strengthen the complexion. 

Serums for the summer 

are highly concentrated, 

lightweight formulations with 

smaller molecules that enable 

them to penetrate deeper 

into the layers of the skin all 

without a greasy appearance. 

No matter what the season, 

a simple and clinical approach 

to supporting congested and/ 

or acne skin is imperative. The 

focus is always on reducing 


inflammation, supporting 

wound repair, and increasing 

cellular exfoliation. With 

summer heat, humidity, 

frequent swimming (often in 

chlorinated water), wearing 

hats, sunglasses and extra 

sweating, the skin is faced 

with extra challenges. It is 

imperative to cleanse the skin 

properly, following this with 

gauze and toning lotion and 

then the prescribed serums 

and of course a broad-based 

sunscreen for use throughout 

the day. 

Nutrition and fitness for 

our body and skin are equally 

as important as our physical 

workouts for the body. 

Exfoliation is imperative for 

the body’s skin, particularly 

when it has been cocooned 

during the winter months. We 

are now putting our arms, 

legs and decolletage on show 

with sleeveless and strappy 

fashion. Using a simple daily 

tool before the shower, like 

the body brush, is both easy 

and inexpensive. Going a step 

further is to use a liquid sea 

salt exfoliant which will leave 

the skin silky soft and without 

dehydration. The last daily 

step is to nourish the skin 

topically with a cream rich 

in AHAs, growth factors and 

essential fatty acids. You don’t 

need to tan your hide to have 

healthy glowing body skin so 

remember the sunscreen to 

help reduce UVA damage. 

It is hard to say no to 

a party drink, but where 

possible reduce consumption 

and both your skin and sleep 

routine will thank you for this. 

Alcohol decreases melatonin, 

aggravates sleep apnoea, 

disrupts the circadian rhythm, 

and increases night-time 

urination. When the body does 

not receive enough quality 

sleep, the hard work it does 

during its restoration time for 

the largest organ of the body, 

the skin, will mean we wake 

up looking less than dazzling. 

In-clinic treatments are a 

great way to receive an instant 

boost for special events and to 

recover from them. Lymphatic 

drainage body boosters 

with LED light therapy will 

treat both the face and the 

body, while a Jetpeel or Tixel 

infusion facial treatment will 

have you star-worthy for any 

red carpet event. 

A little self-love and 

nurturing each day and you 

will be well on the way to 

glowing crazy for Christmas! 

Sue Carroll is at the forefront 

of the beauty, wellness 

and para-medical profession 

with 35 years’ experience on 

Sydney’s Northern Beaches. 

She leads a dedicated team 

of professionals who are 

passionate about results for 

men and women. 

info@skininspiration.com.au 

www.skininspiration.com.au 


Hair & Beauty

Business Life: Money 

with Brian Hrnjak 

Business Life 

Money management: here’s 

three degrees of separation 

This month: a look at 

three examples of how 

professional money 

management can sometimes 

be compared to sending your 

money off to a day at the 

races… 

Now, this is not a new 

point of view, there has 

been a growing narrative 

for as long as index funds 

have been around (since the 

1970s) that professional fund 

managers are just sophisticated 

gamblers who, due 

to mean reversion, must fail 

at some point in the future. 

The following events were all 

reported coincidentally on 

or around the same day in 

November and they don’t do 

the pros any favours when 

arguing a case for superior 

investing skills: 

n The observations of MONA 

founder and professional 

gambler David Walsh addressing 

the Sohn Hearts 

and Minds Conference in 

Hobart; 

n The collapse of crypto currency 

exchange FTX; 

n The sentencing of Theranos 

founder Elizabeth Holmes 

to more than 11 years 

in jail for investor fraud and 

conspiracy. 

The Australian Financial 

Review reported on the annual 

Sohn Hearts and Minds 

Conference held in November: 

“Three hundred and fifty of 

Australia’s best and brightest 

money managers, bankers and 

entrepreneurs toasted the seventh 

Sohn Hearts and Minds 

conference at David Walsh’s 

Museum of Old and New Art, 

better known as MONA, in 

Hobart on Thursday night. 

Conference founders Matthew 

Grounds, Guy Fowler and Gary 

Weiss addressed major donors 

and business luminaries in the 

temple to sex, death and art 

built by David Walsh.” 

The AFR’s Chanticleer 

column then went on to report 

Walsh’s ‘show stopping’ comments 

in an event interview 

hosted by Andrew Denton: 

“The lesson equally applies to 

investors, Walsh argued – even 

the top ones assembled at the 

Sohn conference. ‘Finding a 

system that works and is stable 

and works for a long time is extremely 

difficult. If you’ve had a 

system that works for 20 years, 

it’s not as a result of skill. You 

acquire the system that worked 

by luck, then once it worked, 

it might keep working,’ Walsh 

explained. The cohort here is 

probably a cohort who were 

mostly successful. But there is 

another cohort [that] would fill 

a stadium of people, that had 

similarly realised appropriate 

strategies, that either overbet 

them or simply chose strategies 

that didn’t work in the long 

run or failed to maintain those 

strategies. But there’s no difference 

in the level of skill of those 

that failed and those that succeeded. 

This was a challenging 

message for the rapt audience 

of money managers to hear. 

The idea that experience, skills 

and a system can deliver solid 

returns over time is central to 

everything professional investors 

do. But Walsh’s underlying 

message was that hubris is a 

dangerous thing – your ‘edge’ 

over the market may well be an 

illusion.” 

And it’s hard to argue 

against this message particularly 

as the collapse of FTX 

was still playing out while the 

conference was on. 

FTX was (briefly) the world’s 

second-largest crypto currency 

exchange, valued at $US32 billion 

and headed by young rich 



lister Sam Bankman-Fried. 

On the same day as the 

Chanticleer column reported 

Walsh’s comments, Mark Di- 

Stefano in the AFR described 

the implosion of FTX as follows: 

“The 30-year-old co-founder, 

who had been feted among the 

media and commentators as the 

Millennial’s answer to Warren 

Buffett, resigned in disgrace. 

Regulators in the Bahamas 

and United States, along with 

investors, celebrity boosters and 

journalists, have begun surveying 

the wreckage wrought by 

FTX and Bankman-Fried. Questions 

are also being asked about 

whether the stunning collapse 

will be fatal for the risky world 

of crypto, and if Bankman- 

Fried was a classic fraudster, 

or simply out of his depth. John 

Ray, a corporate restructuring 

expert who oversaw Enron’s 

bankruptcy, has been appointed 

CEO of FTX. On Thursday, Ray 

was withering in his initial 

assessment in a filing to a US 

bankruptcy court. ‘Never in 

my career have I seen such a 

complete failure of corporate 

controls and such a complete 

absence of trustworthy financial 

information as occurred here’, 

Ray said.” 

But set aside the new age 

practices at FTX, such as management 

buying houses with 

company funds, or approving 

expense claims by emoji 

(even if that expense involved 

sponsoring a car race), the real 

question is how did the grownups 

responsible for investing 

other people’s money in this 

company allow the situation 

to happen at all – who invests 

millions without checking first? 

The list of investors was long 

and distinguished: Sequoia 

Capital, Blackrock, Ontario 

Teachers’ Pension Fund, plus 

celebrities including Tom 

Brady, Gisele Bundchen and 

Shaquille O’Neal. Sequoia and 

Ontario Teachers are reported 

to be writing off investments 

of $US213 and $US95 million, 

respectively. 

But if being classified as 

‘worse than Enron’ was not 

bad enough, Walsh’s words 

somehow managed to conjure 

the ghost of Elizabeth Holmes, 

former CEO of blood testing 

company Theranos who 

was coincidentally due to be 

sentenced for her role in a 

massive corporate fraud. 

Nine News reported the 


Holmes sentencing as follows: 

“A US federal judge has sentenced 

disgraced Theranos CEO 

Elizabeth Holmes to more than 

11 years in prison for duping 

investors in the failed startup 

that promised to revolutionise 

blood testing but instead made 

her a symbol of Silicon Valley’s 

culture of audacious selfpromotion. 

Prosecutors also 

wanted Holmes to pay $1.2 billion 

in restitution. The amount 

covers most of the nearly $1.5 

billion that Holmes raised from 

a list of sophisticated investors 

that included software magnate 

Larry Ellison, media mogul 

Rupert Murdoch and the Walton 

family behind Walmart. While 

wooing investors, Holmes leveraged 

a high-powered Theranos 

board that included former 

Defence Secretary James Mattis, 

who testified against her 

during her trial, and two former 

secretaries of state, Henry 

Kissinger and the late George 

Shultz, whose son submitted 

a statement blasting Holmes 

for concocting a scheme that 

played Shultz ‘for the fool’.” 

As investors, what are our 

takeaways from examples 

such as FTX, Theranos and 

the like? Firstly, charismatic 

young millennials leading 

start-ups that require the 

funding of people who have 

no real understanding of the 

underlying technology is an 

opportunity to practice prudent 

risk management rather 

than an excuse to whip out the 

cheque book. Secondly, using 

a manager is not necessarily 

a defence as managers also 

get it wrong. When investing 

in new tech choose a manager 

that accurately matches your 

risk profile and even then as 

investment amounts increase, 

diversify your managers. 

Brian Hrnjak B Bus CPA (FPS) is 

a Director of GHR Accounting 

Group Pty Ltd, Certified 

Practising Accountants. Offices 

at: Suite 12, Ground Floor, 

20 Bungan Street Mona Vale 

NSW 2103 and Shop 8, 9 – 15 

Central Ave Manly NSW 2095, 

Telephone: 02 9979-4300, 

Webs: www.ghr.com.au and 

www.altre.com.au Email: 

brian@ghr.com.au 

These comments are of a 

general nature only and are 

not intended as a substitute 

for professional advice. 


Business Life

Business Life: Law 

with Jennifer Harris 

Business Life 

‘Character’ rights explained 

Some months ago a 

nephew texted that he was 

sitting with his two small 

daughters watching ‘The Story 

of Ferdinand’ the bull, which his 

aunt gave him as a book when 

he was young. 

‘The Story of Ferdinand’ was 

first published in 1936; this 

literary non-human fictional 

character has now become 

immortalised in film. 

This is an example of 

‘character merchandising’, one 

of the most modern means 

of increasing the appeal of 

goods and services to potential 

customers. 

Generally the term ‘character’ 

covers fictional humans, for 

example James Bond, or nonhumans 

such as Ferdinand, 

Peter Rabbit and Mickey Mouse, 

and real personalities in film or 

music industry or sports stars. 

In the overall context of 

merchandising of characters, 

it is essential that the public 

at large will easily recognise 

personality features such as 

name, image, appearance or 

voice of a character or symbols 

recognising such characters. 

Fictional characters are 

derived from literary works, 

such as Pinocchio, or artistic 

works such as paintings (Mona 

Lisa) or cinematographic works 

(often originating in a literary 

work such as Oliver Twist), or 

Crocodile Dundee or Batman. 

In most cases fictional 

characters are regarded as 

entertainment. Some live 

beyond their creator and the 

heirs or the holders of the 

publishing rights may arrange 

contracts for the survival of the 

character in new stories. 

Other characters are 

sometimes referred to as 

promotional, advertising and 

recognition functions and 

feature characters associated 

with corporations such as 

Johnnie Walker and Scotch 

whisky, or the mascots created 

for events such as the Olympics. 

Character merchandising 

originated in the 1930s in 

the Walt Disney studios. A 

department was established 

to exploit the secondary 

commercialisation of cartoon 

characters including Mickey 

Mouse and Donald Duck. 

There are three types of 

character merchandising; 

the first is merchandising of 

Fictional Characters which 

involves the use of the 

essential personality features, 

name, and image of fictional 

characters in the marketing 

and/or advertising of goods and 

services. 

Secondly Personality 

Merchandising; this category 

involves the use of essential 

attributes of name, image, voice 

and other personality features 

of real people. 

The third is image 

merchandising, involving 

the use of fictional film or tv 

characters in marketing or 

advertising. For example, the 

actors Roger Moore and Sean 

Connery are widely known as 

James Bond 007. 

So what rights are attached to 

a character and who owns these 

rights? 

Briefly, the rights attached 

to a fictional character are 

referred to as ‘property rights’ 

which include economic and 

exploitation rights. 

Rights attached to real 

persons are referred to as 

‘personality rights’ or ‘publicity 

rights’ and they may derive 

the benefits resulting from 

the use. These rights may also 

attract trademark, copyright or 

industrial design protection. 

The rights attached to a 

fictional character or a fictional 

character portrayed by a real 

person in connection with 

image merchandising are in 

principle owned by the creator 

of the character unless the 

creator has transferred his 

rights, was commissioned to 

create, or created them in the 

course of his employment. 

The rights attached to a 

real person are owned by the 

individual person. 

*Wishing all readers every 

happiness for Christmas. 

NB: our office will close for 

the holidays from close of 

business, 22 December and 

will reopen 9 January 2023. 

Emails and phones will be 

monitored should readers 

require assistance during this 

period. 

Comment supplied by 

Jennifer Harris, of Jennifer 

Harris & Associates, 

Solicitors, 4/57 Avalon 

Parade, Avalon Beach. 

T: 9973 2011. F: 9918 3290. 

E: jennifer@jenniferharris.com.au 

W: www.jenniferharris.com.au 



Trades & Services 


AIR CONDITIONING 

Alliance Climate Control 

Call 02 9186 4179 

Air Conditioning & Electrical Professionals. Specialists in Air 

Conditioning Installation, Service, Repair & Replacement. 

BATTERIES 

Battery Business 

Call 9970 6999 

Batteries for all applications. Won’t be beaten on price or 

service. Free testing, 7 days. 

BUILDING 

Southern Stairs 

Call 9542 1344 

Specialists in high-quality staircase for 35 years; new 

Northern Beaches showroom. 

CARPENTRY 

Able Carpentry & Joinery 

Call Cameron 0418 608 398 

Doors & locks, timber gates & handrails; decking repairs + 

more; 25 years’ experience. 

CLEANING 

Amazing Clean 

Call Andrew 0412 475 2871 

Specialists in blinds, curtains and awnings. Clean, repair, 

supply new. 

Aussie Clean Team 

Call John 0478 799 680 

For a sparkling finish, inside and out. Also light maintenance/ 

repairs. Free quotes; fully insured. 

Housewashing - 

northernbeaches.com.au 

Call Ben 0408 682 525 

Established 1999 in Avalon & Collaroy. 

We specialise in soft and pressure washes, plus window and 

gutter cleaning, driveways and rooftops. 

CONCRETING 

Adrians Concrete 

Call Adrian 0404 172 435 

Driveways, paths, slabs… all your concreting needs; Northern 

Beaches-based. 

ELECTRICAL 

Alliance Service Group 

Call Adrian 9063 4658 

All services & repairs, 24hr. Lighting installation, switchboard 

upgrade. Seniors discount 5%. 

Eamon Dowling Electrical 

Call Eamon 0410 457 373 

For all electrical needs including phone, TV and data. 

Pittwater-based. Reliable; quality service guaranteed. 

Warrick Leggo 

Call Warrick 0403 981 941 

Specialising in domestic work; small jobs welcome. Seniors’ 

discount; Narrabeen-based. 

FLOOR COVERINGS 

Blue Tongue Carpets 

Call Stephan or Roslyn 9979 7292 

Northern Beaches Flooring Centre has been family owned 

& run for over 20 years. Carpets, Tiles, Timber, Laminates, 

Hybrids & Vinyls. Open 6 days. 

GARDENS 

!Abloom Ace Gardening 

Call 0415 817 880 

Full range of gardening services including landscaping, 

maintenance and rubbish removal. 

Conscious Gardener Avalon 

Call Matt 0411 750 791 

Professional local team offering quality garden maintenance, 

horticultural advice; also garden makeovers. 

Living Gardens Landscape 

Call Richy 0475 148417 

Lawn & garden maintenance, garden regeneration, stone 



work, residential & commercial. 

Melaleuca Landscapes 

Call Sandy 0416 276 066 

Professional design and construction for every garden 

situation. Sustainable vegetable gardens and waterfront 

specialist. 

Precision Tree Services 

Call Adam 0410 736 105 

Adam Bridger; professional tree care by qualified arborists 

and tree surgeons. 

GUTTERS & ROOFING 

Cloud9 R&G 

Call Tommy 0447 999 929 

Prompt and reliable service; gutter cleaning and installation, 

leak detection, roof installation and painting. Also roof repairs 

specialist. 

Ken Wilson Roofing 

Call 0419 466 783 

Leaking roofs, tile repairs, tiles replaced, metal roof repairs, 

gutter cleaning, valley irons replaced. 

HANDYMEN 

Hire A Hubby 

Call 1800 803 339 

Extensive services including carpentry, outdoor 

maintenance, painting and plastering and more. 

Local Handyman 

Call Jono 0413 313299 

Small and medium-sized building jobs, also welding & 

metalwork; licensed. 

HOT WATER 

Hot Water Maintenance NB 

Call 9982 1265 

Local emergency specialists, 7 days. Sales, service, 

installation. Warranty agents, fully accredited. 

KITCHENS 

Collaroy Kitchen Centre 

Call 9972 9300 

Danish design excellence. Local beaches specialists in 

kitchens, bathrooms and joinery. Visit the showroom in Collaroy. 

Seabreeze Kitchens 

Call 9938 5477 

Specialists in all kitchen needs; design, fitting, consultation. 

Excellent trades. 

LOCKSMITHS 

Mosman Locksmiths 

Call 9969 6333 

40 years servicing the Beaches; specialists in lock-outs 

including automotive, rekeying, smart lock security; also door 

hardware and safe sales & installation. 

MASSAGE & FITNESS 

Avalon Physiotherapy 

Call 9918 3373 

Provide specialist treatment for neck & back pain, sports 

injuries, orthopaedic problems. 

PAINTING 

Cloud9 Painting 

Call 0447 999 929 

Your one-stop shop for home or office painting; interiors, 

exteriors and also roof painting. Call for a quote. 

Tom Wood Master Painters 

Call 0406 824 189 

Residential specialists in new work & repaints / interior & 

exterior. Premium paints; 17 years’ experience. 

PEST CONTROL 

Predator Pest Control 

Call 0417 276 962 

predatorpestcontrol.com.au 

Environmental services at their best. Comprehensive control. 

Eliminate all manner of pests. 






PLUMBING 

Mark Ellison Plumbing 

Call 0431 000 400 

Advanced solutions for sewer & stormwater pipe relining: 

Upfront price, 25-year warranty. 

R AINWATER TANKS 

Aquarius Watermaster 

Call 1300 794 850 

Rainwater tanks & pumps to capture and use the rain. Sales, 

service & installation. View large display area at Terrey Hills. 

RUBBISH REMOVAL 

Jack’s Rubbish Removals 

Call Jack 0403 385 312 

Up to 45% cheaper than skips. Latest health regulations. 

Old-fashioned honesty & reliability. Free quotes. 

One 2 Dump 

Call Josh 0450 712 779 

Seven-days-a-week pick-up service includes general 

household rubbish, construction, commercial plus 

vegetation. Also car removals. 

SLIDING DOOR REPAIRS 

Beautiful Sliding Door Repairs 

Call 0407 546 738 

Fix anything that slides in your home; door specialists – 

DISCLAIMER: The editorial and advertising content in Pittwater Life has been provided 

by a number of sources. Any opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor 

or Publisher of Pittwater Life and no responsibility is taken for the accuracy of the 

information contained within. Readers should make their own enquiries directly to 

any organisations or businesses prior to making any plans or taking any action. 

wooden / aluminium. Free quote. Same-day repair; 5-year 

warranty. 

TV & AUDIO 

Install Service 

Call Damian 0456 53 53 51 

Sound specialist + TV (inc iQ5) and Wi-Fi repair; express 

service. Seniors’ rates. 

UPHOLSTERY 

Luxafoam North 

Call 0414 468 434 

Local specialists in all aspects of outdoor & indoor seating. 

Custom service, expert advice. 






Pittwater Puzzler 

Compiled by David Stickley 

22 Boarding place of dogs (6) 

24 Bird that nests in the Careel 

Bay area, mangrove ________ (8) 

26 The best part of Sydney to live 

in (8,7) 

28 Periodical payments given for 

1-down (8) 

29 A food prepared from grain, 

especially any of the various 

breakfast foods (6) 

Pittwater Puzzler 

CROSS 

1 An Australian organisation 

formed in 1923 to care for the 

families of those who had died 

during World War I and which 

extended in later years to the 

families of all deceased ex-service 

personnel (6) 

4 The sea eagle has a large one (8) 

10 One of the many types of birds 

that nest in the Careel Bay area 

(4,5-6) 

11 The floor above (8) 

12 Woody tropical grass having 

hollow woody stems; mature 

canes are used for construction 

and furniture (6) 

14 Japanese form of self-defence 

and martial art taught by Paul 

Coonan on the 26-across (6) 

16 A small part or portion that 

remains after the main part no 

longer exists (7) 

18 Popular card game (3) 

19 The cosmic explosion that is 

hypothesised to have marked the 

origin of the universe (3,4) 

20 Vigorous, powerful (6) 

DOWN 

1 Bodily toil for the sake of gain or 

economic production (6) 

2 Sudden strong rushes of wind 

(5) 

3 Tree characterised by jointed 

needle-like leaves, the she-oak (9) 

5 The solid form of water, 

produced by freezing (3) 

6 A semi-soft to hard, sweet-curd 

cheese, with a smooth, mellow 

taste, made in a traditional flat 

wheel shape with rounded edges 

and a yellow rind (5) 

7 Suburb that’s home to 

Snapperman Beach (4,5) 

8 Suburb in which you’ll find Salt 

Pan Cove (7) 

9 Type of pizza crust you’ll find at 

Pizza Riccardo in Narrabeen (9) 

13 Visited informally and 

spontaneously (7,2) 

15 More often than not (2,7) 

17 Suburb that contains many 

retirement villages in the 

26-across region (5,4) 

19 Swimmers seen on Pittwater 

beaches, no doubt (7) 

21 A floating craft used for 

transport over water (6) 

23 Number that’s no longer 

used? (5) 

25 A mineral of clay and 

ferric oxide, used as a pigment 

varying from light yellow to 

brown or red (5) 

27 Fish eggs (3) 

[Solution page 80] 



Food Life 

with Janelle Bloom 

Food Life 

Recipes: janellebloom.com.au; Images and use of recipes thanks to perfection.com.au 

Do Christmas to ‘perfection’ 

with my all-time fave dishes 

I 

don’t know about you, but I cannot wait to celebrate Christmas 

with the whole family this year. It’s been a tough few years, so 

keeping Christmas simple, delicious and special (hopefully 

warm and sunny too!), seems to be what we are all craving. Here 

I am sharing some of my all-time favourite recipes I have created 

using beautiful fresh ingredients by perfection.com.au. Merry 

Christmas to you and your family from me and mine – Janelle xxx 

Loaded Greek salad 

hummus wreath 

Serves 8 

1 bunch Broccolini® 

1 tsp dried chilli flakes 

4 tbs extra virgin olive oil 

3 x 200g tubs hummus 

200g Sweet Solanato® 

Tomatoes, quartered 

250g Qukes® baby cucumbers, 

sliced into rounds 

150g feta, cut into cubes 

½ cup small mint leaves 

80g (½ cup) pitted mixed olives 

3 tbs pine nuts, toasted 

½ lemon, juiced 

3 tsp honey 

1 tsp dried oregano 

crackers, and crispbread, to 

serve 

1. Preheat oven 200°C fan 

forced. Arrange broccolini 

in a greased roasting 

pan. Combine chilli and 1 

tablespoon oil, spoon over 

broccolini. Season. Roast 

8-10 minutes until just 

tender. Set aside to cool. Cut 

into three crossways. 

2. Spoon hummus onto serving 

board or platter in the shape 

randomly with roasted chilli 

broccolini, tomatoes, Qukes, 

feta, mint, olives and pine 

nuts. 

3. Just before serving, whisk 

remaining oil, with lemon 

juice, honey and oregano. 

Season. Spoon dressing 

over the wreath. Serve with 

crackers and crispbread. 

Mango and 

macadamia 

glazed ham 

Serves 10 (with leftovers) 

4 Calypso mangoes®, chopped 

6 green shallots, chopped 

1 cup white sugar 

100ml raspberry or red wine 

vinegar 

1 tbs chipotle in adobe sauce, 

chopped 

½ tsp sea salt flakes, crushed 

7-8kg ham on the bone 

¼ cup Dijon mustard 

½ cup raw macadamia nuts, 

chopped 

Sliced Calypso mangoes® & 

watercress to garnish 

to the boil, stirring often, 

over medium-high heat until 

sugar dissolves. Boil gently 

10 minutes until reduced and 

thickened. Stir in the chipotle 

and salt. Set aside to cool. 

Mash a little with a potato 

masher to break down some 

of the mango. (Makes about 

700ml.) 

2. Move the oven shelf to 

lowest position, removing 

all other shelves. Preheat to 

150°C fan forced. Line a large 

roasting pan with baking 

paper. 

3. Remove the rind from 

the ham. Score the ham 

crossways at 1cm intervals, 

making sure you cut no 

deeper than 5mm. Place ham 

into the roasting pan. 

4. Combine 1½ cups (375ml) 

mango chutney and 

mustard. Stir in macadamia 

nuts. Spoon the mixture over 

the surface of ham. Bake 

for 1½ hours, spooning the 

glaze and pan juices over the 

ham every 30 minutes. 

5. Increase oven temperature 

to 200°C fan forced and bake 

a further 15-20 minutes until 

golden. Serve hot or at room 

temperature with remaining 

mango chutney. 

Tomato, smoked 

salmon bagel salad 

Serves 8 

300g spreadable cream cheese 

1 small bunch chives, finely 

chopped (1/4 cup chopped) 

4 tbs drained baby capers, 

divided 

½ cup (125ml) extra virgin olive 

oil 

2 tbs apple cider vinegar 

2 tsp horseradish cream 

½ tsp caster sugar 

2 x 320g Mixamato® tomatoes 

8 Qukes® baby cucumbers 

6 sesame bagels 

120g baby rocket leaves 

2 large French shallots, peeled, 

very thinly sliced into rounds 

400g sliced smoked salmon 

1. Place the cream cheese, 

chives and half the capers in 

a bowl and mix well. 

2. Combine the oil, vinegar, 

horseradish cream and sugar 

in a bowl. Season then whisk 

until well combined. 

3. Cut the large Mixamato® 

tomatoes into three 

crossways, and the remaining 

tomatoes in half. Cut the 

Quke® baby cucumbers 

lengthwise into thin strips, 

using a mandolin or very 

1. Combine the mango, 

shallots, sugar and vinegar in 

of a 30cm wreath. Top 

a non-stick frying pan. Bring 



For more recipes go to janellebloom.com.au 

sharp knife. 

4. Split the bagels in half and 

lightly toast under a grill. 

Tear the warm bagels into 

large pieces then spread with 

the cream cheese mixture. 

Arrange on a large serving 

platter with the tomatoes, 

Qukes®, rocket, shallot and 

smoked salmon. Sprinkle 

with the remaining capers. 

Spoon over the dressing and 

serve immediately. 

Mediterranean roast 

vegetable salad 

Serves 6-8 (as side) – this 

dish not pictured 

1 leek, halved crossways 

1 bunch Broccolini®, ends 

trimmed 

175g Minicaps® bay capsicums 

3 (100g each) Lebanese 

eggplant, roughly chopped 

1 bunch baby carrots, 

scrubbed, trimmed 

125g button mushrooms 

3 tbs olive oil 

2 tsp Greek oregano 

2 garlic cloves, peeled, thinly 

sliced 

200g Sweet Solanato® tomatoes 

1 cup (135g) pitted kalamata 

olives 

1 lemon, halved 

1 baby endive or cos lettuce, 

leaves separated 

2 tbs pine nuts, toasted 

Extra virgin olive oil, to serve 

1. Preheat oven 200°C fan 

forced. 

2. Cut the leek in quarters 

lengthways. Place into a 

large roasting pan with 

broccolini, minicaps, 

eggplant, carrots and 

mushrooms. Drizzle over 

the olive oil. Scatter over the 

oregano and garlic. Season, 

toss gently to combine. 


Roast 30 minutes or until 

vegetables are tender. 

3. Remove from the oven, add 

the tomatoes and olives, 

squeeze over one lemon 

half. Allow to cool to room 

temperature in the pan. 

4. Divide the endive or lettuce 

between serving plates, top 

with the vegetables and 

pine nuts. Drizzle with extra 

virgin olive oil and remaining 

lemon. Delicious served with 

ham, turkey, chicken, pork or 

fresh seafood. 

Deconstructed 

Perfection 

Berrymisu 

Serves 8 

4 egg yolks 

1/3 cup (70g) firmly packed 

brown sugar 

2 tsp vanilla bean paste 

100ml masala 

100ml espresso, cooled 

100ml Kahlua 

215g (24) savoiardi sponge 

biscuits 

250g mascarpone 

300ml double cream 

¼ cup (45g) icing sugar, sifted 

250g Perfection Strawberries, 

hulled, halved 

125g Perfection Raspberries 

125g Perfection Blueberries 

125g Perfection Blackberries 

1. Place the egg yolks, sugar, 

vanilla and masala in a 

heatproof bowl. Whisk for 

2-3 minutes until the sugar 

has dissolved. Place the bowl 

over a saucepan of gently 

simmering water (the bowl 

should fit snuggly in the pan, 

without the base touching 

the water). 

2. Cook, whisking constantly 

for 8 minutes until the 

mixture is thick. Remove 

from the heat. Place the 

bowl, uncovered in the 

fridge, for 30 minutes until 

the mixture feels cold. 

3. Meanwhile, combine the, 

espresso and Kahlua in 

a jug. Roughly chop the 

savoiardi and scatter them 

over a large serving platter. 

Spoon over the Kahlua 

mixture. 

4. Spoon the mascarpone, 

double cream and icing sugar 

into a large bowl. Whisk the 

cooled masala mixture then 

add to the mascarpone and 

cream. Use a balloon whisk 

to whisk the mixture until 

it resembles dollop cream 

(don’t over whisk it should be 

soft but still hold its form). 

Spoon the mixture over the 

savoiardi. Place into the 

fridge for 30 minutes. 

5. Just before serving, scatter 

the berries over the espresso 

cream mixture and serve. 

Janelle’s Tips: You can make 

the Berrimisu to the end 

Step 4 up to 12 hours before 

serving. Also, the traditional, 

thin sponge finger biscuits are 

better for this recipe. 

Qukes®, cos and 

parmesan salad with 

buttermilk dressing 

Serves 4 

250g Qukes® baby cucumbers 

2 cos lettuce hearts, leaves 

separated, washed and dried 

1 cup herbs (like mint, chervil, 

dill and parsley) 

30g parmesan, finely grated 

Extra virgin olive oil, to serve 

Buttermilk dressing 

¼ cup (60ml) buttermilk 

¼ cup (65g) mayonnaise 

1 tbs sherry vinegar 

2cm piece fresh ginger, peeled, 

finely grated 

1 tsp raw sugar 

1. Thinly slice the Qukes® 

lengthways. Coarsely chop 

the cos and arrange on a 

large serving plate. Top with 

three quarters of the herbs. 

2. Combine all the dressing 

ingredients in a jug, season. 

Whisk until smooth. Spoon 

¼ cup (60ml) of the dressing 

over the cos and herbs. Top 

with the Qukes®. 

3. Sprinkle over the parmesan 

and remaining herbs. Season 

with freshly ground black 

pepper. Drizzle with extra 

virgin olive oil and serve with 

the remaining dressing on 

the side. 


Food Life

Tasty Morsels 

with Beverley Hudec 

Some Tiny Morsels to savour in December 

Tasty Dining Morsels Guide 

Cheers to Bar Elvina's 

Peninsula Renascence 

Love a chilled red, a sparkling rose or a 

crisp white? Then the summer season 

starts with a bang at Bar Elvina. Following 

a series of monthly wine dinners and 

lunches, the Avalon wine bar is taking the 

concept to the next level. The big-ticket 

event is the bar’s first afternoon wine 

festival called Peninsula Renascence on 

December 4. Festival organisers will have 

over 30 drops to taste supplied by 28 

different producers from seven Sydney 

distributors. What’s more, 20 wines are 

Australian and more than 90 per cent of 

the wines are natural. The party kicks 

off at 1pm with DJs all afternoon and 

a barbecue on the back terrace. Book 

tickets on the website, barelvina.com.au 

Mona Vale gets 

set to look on 

the Brightside 

One talking point this summer 

is the new cafe at Mona Vale 

Surf Life Saving Club. The 

Brightside by Nine Yards is on 

track to open on December 

1 and the dining forecast is 

sunny. The venue showcases 

a light and spacious interior 

wrapped in a warm orange 

glow. Expect a modern cafe 

menu with a few twists like 

mojito avocado on toast (left) 

and Nine Yards’ own coffee. 

Three of a kind: Beachy bites 

Early morning surfers, dog 

walkers and beach goers 

bring a buzz to Zubi at Billy’s. 

This beach shack (left) brews 

Campos for caffeine tragics 

and whips up tasty faves in the 

kitchen. The menu focuses on 

simple fare including seasonal 

fritters, a breaky burger, avo on 

toast and a classic mash-up, the 

cheeseburger toastie. 

Hospitality giant Merivale has 

gone small with the launch of a 

local mini bar. The Surf Deck 

rocks a beachside location, an 

ultra-casual vibe and a number 

of old-fashioned tropical cocktails. 

The menu meanders from 

Mexico to the Mediterranean 

with pizzas, tacos and plenty 

of seafood. Find The Surf Deck 

next to The Collaroy. 

Pay attention 

to the Goodfolk 

at Newport 

Matt Whitely and Nick 

Parr are the faces behind 

Goodfolk Espresso in 

Newport. Whitely is a coffee 

roaster, so you’ll find his 

brand Kingdom on the 

menu. There are no surprises 

that the most popular choice 

is smashed avo, spiked with 

coriander, lime and chill, and 

poached eggs on sourdough 

toast from Bonfire Bread. 

Closed Sundays. 

There are two ways to enjoy 

dining at Dunes. Option one 

is a grab-and-go coffee order 

plus a snack ordered from the 

kiosk. The alternative is booking 

a table for a leisurely meal 

in the smart but casual dining 

room. Linger over dishes like 

blue swimmer crab linguine 

and kingfish sashimi. Both are 

perfect with a glass of white. 



Garden Life 

with Gabrielle Bryant 


Indoor plants provide a living 

blaze of colour over Christmas 

It would not be Christmas 

without indoor flowering 

plants to decorate the house. 

Many hours are spent looking 

after the garden but as gardens 

get smaller and ‘homes’ 

are units or town houses, 

balconies and living areas need 

decorating. The popularity 

of flowering indoor plants 

increases every day. If you are 

looking for a gift, an indoor 

plant will always fill the gap. 

Florists and garden centres 

are ablaze with the colour of 

scarlet, pink (right) and white 

poinsettias and flamboyant 

hydrangeas in a rainbow of 

colours; tiny ones for table 

decoration and huge pots 

for impact. Once they finish 

flowering cut back the ‘spent’ 

flowers. You can keep them 

in pots, or plant them into 

the garden. Hydrangeas will 

flower again next year but the 

poinsettias will only flower 

again in the middle of winter. 

They are grown with special 

lighting conditions to make 

them flower at Christmas. 

As the popularity of indoor 

colour grows, there is an everincreasing 

range of flowering 

pot plants for indoors. The old 

favourites are re-appearing: 

flowering orchids and hot pink 

begonias, white peace lilies and 

pots of flowering gerberas. 

African violets (below) – 

a favorite in the ’70s and 

’80s – have made a stunning 

comeback. Violet breeders have 

worked hard; now there are 

so many colours: white, pink, 

violet, magenta, speckles and 

stripes singles and doubles. 

African violets are the 

perfect plants for tiny spaces; 

they flower for many months. 

They are so easy to grow and 

thrive with very little attention, 

perfect for a busy lifestyle. 

They would rather be dry than 

overwatered and only ask for 

food once a month! 

Pick a bright spot out of 

direct sunlight on a coffee table 

or in a window and sit the pot 

on a saucer. Water the plant 

under the leaves, keeping the 

water away from the surface of 

the plant. Once it is thoroughly 

watered, only re-water once the 

soil is dry. Fill the saucer with 

water and allow the water to be 

absorbed from the bottom up. 

Again, wait until the soil is dry 

before watering. 

It is better to under-water 

than to drown the plant. Always 

remove the old flower stems to 

keep new ones coming. If you 

have a reluctant plant that does 

not flower, try putting it into a 

paper bag for four days. When 

you take it out again, hopefully 

it will behave better, presenting 

flowers that will delight you. 

Violets are easy to propagate. 

Make a new plant by taking a 

healthy leaf that has a stem 

3cm long. Dip the stem into 

cutting powder and plant the 

leaf into a small pot, burying 

the stem to the base of the leaf. 

Keep it moist and cover the pot 

with a plastic bag. In a couple 

of months, a tiny new plant will 

emerge from the soil. 



Hard-pressed having more fun 

Kids have fun making cards 

and presents; what better 

time than the weeks before 

Christmas? Dried, pressed 

flowers used to take many 

weeks to make, the time taken 

took much of the fun away. 

By the time the flowers were 

ready the enthusiasm had 

gone. The perfect rainy-day 

project is to ‘dry’ flowers in 

the microwave – they will be 

ready to use in 30 minutes. 

You will need a traditional 

flower press that has no metal 

clasps. If you don’t have one, 

make one. It is easy: you 

need two pieces of plywood 

(approximately 20cm x 15cm 

is big enough), several sheets 

of corrugated card, matching 

sheets of white paper, some 

paper napkins (or blotting 

paper if you can find it), and 

some strong elastic bands. 

Choose flowers of similar 

thickness – daisies are great. 

You can dry flowers, leaves, 

grasses or ferns. Make sure 

that the flowers have no water 

on them before pressing. Wet 

flowers will not work. 

Lay the flowers out between 

Mardi Gras in the pink 

the napkins and press them 

between the white paper, 

then sandwich them between 

the sheets of card. 

Put the layers between the 

wooden sheets and wrap 

tightly with elastic bands. 

Press down hard to make the 

press as tight as possible. 

Now you are done. Put the 

press into the microwave 

at its lowest heat (300) or 

if you don’t have a variable 

temperature, use the ‘Defrost’ 

setting. Heat for two minutes. 

Let the press cool down, about 

20 mins before opening. If the 

flowers are not quite dry repeat 

for another two minutes. (Don’t 

be tempted to cook for more 

than two minutes at a time or 

the flowers will burn.) 

Now the fun begins; use 

the flowers to make cards, 

framed pictures, collect them 

in a scrap book or use them 

to decorate boxes. To protect 

the flowers, you can spray 

them after sticking them on 

with a matt surface spray, 

available from craft shops, or 

cover them with clear plastic 

or glass. 


Flowering now is Justicia 

Carnea, better known as 

Mardis Gras (above). It is a very 

fast- growing shrub that loves 

part shade in the garden. If 

you have a spot in the garden 

on a south facing wall, it is the 

perfect plant. 

The huge cones of pink sit 

up like candles above the soft 

green leaves. It is the most 

tolerant plant that will thrive 


in almost any conditions. It 

hates wind and needs water, 

otherwise it is not fussy. 

Cut back the old flowers by 

at least three sets of leaves and 

wait for the next wonderful 

display of colour. This will keep 

it as a compact shrub that will 

grow to about 1.2m tall and 1m 

wide. Trim it as much as you 

like, and it will bounce back 

and into flower again. 

NOVEMBER 2022 79


Jobs this Month 


The rain comes and goes 

without notice. The 

heavy showers seem to 

water the garden but soon run 

off, leaving the surface very 

dry. It may sound silly but the 

garden needs water! After so 

many months of heavy rain the 

roots of trees and shrubs have 

all grown towards the surface 

to survive the deluge. The 

unexpected hot sunny days will 

burn the surface roots. 

Encourage roots 

Many trees and shrubs put 

on additional foliage in the 

wet cool days but now in the 

heat they can’t sustain the 

new growth. It will take time 

to repair the damage. Mulch 

the soil well and feed them 

with seaweed solution. It is 

tempting to water every day, 

but a deep watering several 

days apart will encourage the 

roots back down. 

Lawn length 

Lawns are growing fast; don’t 

cut them too short as the sun 

will burn the roots that have 

been shaded by the leaves. Let 

the grass adapt to the warmer 

weather gradually. If you don’t 

already have one, install a 

watering system before the 

holidays to give yourself some 

time to relax and enjoy your 

lawn and garden. 

December 

Seeds to sow 

Plant sunflower seeds now. 

There are three sizes: tall, 

dwarf and miniature. The 

tiniest will grow just 40cm 

tall, perfect for pots on sunny 

balconies. Some are singlestemmed, 

and some are 

branching. Choose the seed 

carefully; some flowers are 

double, some are single. The 

classic yellow flower (above) 

will turn to face the sun, so 

make sure that you will see the 

flowers when you plant the 

seeds! Also, if you plant some 

poppy seeds now you will have 

flowers for ANZAC Day in the 

Autumn. 

Last veggies 

It’s not too late for a last 

planting of tomatoes, beans 

and silver beet. Plant carrots, 

Asian greens, lettuce and 

spring onions at fortnightly 

intervals to have a regular 

supply of veggies. Seed tapes 

are perfect for these veggies. 

Deter possums 

Possums can destroy the new 

growing tips of plants and 

shrubs, and they can eat your 

veggies and fruits before 

you. Protect fruiting trees by 

securing netting neatly around 

the base or trunks of trees. 

Remember, unlike birds that 

will fly down, possums can 

climb up under the netting! 

If possums are eating the 

buds of ornamental plants, 

try spraying the plants with 

a lavender-scented aerosol. 

Possums don’t like the smell 

of lavender. 

Roses revival 

Remove the old flowers from 

rose bushes to encourage a 

second flush of buds. Trim 

the bushes lightly and feed 

them with a soluble fertiliser. 

They will flower again in early 

autumn. 

White nights 

The longer evenings are great 

for entertaining. Fill any empty 

spots in the garden with white 

petunias, impatiens, vinca and 

alyssum. White flowers glow 

in the evening light. White 

gazanias look great, but they 

close up as the sun sets. 

BBQ revamp 

Brighten up the BBQ area. Give 

outdoor furniture a new look 

with bright new cushions and 

a coat of paint or timber oil. 

Solar lanterns or a string of 

lights will let you sit outside 

all evening long. Don’t forget 

about the mozzies: citronella 

flares will keep them away. 

Crossword solution from page 72 

Mystery location: TASMAN SEA 



Times Past 

FESTIVE SPIRIT: Santa conveyed in an IRB in a tricky swell off 

Avalon Beach; Jim Bartlett played Father Christmas for the ABHS. 

Our merry local Christmases 

According to historical 

records, the first Christmas 

in Australia was 

celebrated in December 1788, 

only one year after the first 

fleet landed in Sydney Cove. 

The Reverend Richard Johnson 

conducted services for Governor 

Arthur Phillip and his 

officers before they sat down to 

a Christmas supper. 

Christmas in Avalon Beach 

has been celebrated in many 

different ways by organisations 

and individuals over the years. 

One of the earliest was the 

desire by the founder of Avalon 

Beach, Arthur Jabez Small, to 

fix two cut native trees, one 

each side of the steps leading 

up to the verandah of his house 

‘Avalon’, over the Christmas period 

to celebrate the occasion. 

Dennis Glenny, an English 

actor who spent some years 

with the J.C. Williamson Theatre 

Co. from 1947 onwards, also 

conducted the Acting Group with 

the Avalon Evening College from 

1950 onwards. The Avalon News 

reported that he was also responsible 

for “one of the most charming 

and lovely Nativity Plays 

staged at Avalon Public School’s 

open-air theatre”on Christmas 

Eve in 1951. This was followed 

with some carol singing by the 

audience and the school choir. 

In place of a sleigh with jingle 

bells, Father Christmas 1951 

model arrived at the ‘Playtime’ 

kindergarten in Avalon Parade 

in an Austin A40 tourer, to the 

clang of the school bell. 

A concert was followed by the 

presentation of a gift each child 

had made for his or her respective 

mothers. 

In December 1952, the Avalon 

Beach RSL, the Women’s Auxiliary 

and the Ex-servicemen’s Club 

decided to pool their meagre 

resources and conduct one big 

picnic-party/Christmas at The 

Basin. Special ferries were run 

at convenient times to transport 

the many participants. After a 

host of games and races were 

run, Father Christmas arrived in 

a decorated launch. 

Father Christmas has also 

been arriving on Avalon Beach 

for many years, especially for 

the benefit of the Nippers of the 

Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving 

Club. Appropriately he has been 

transported to the beach in an 

IRB – a rather precarious procedure 

considering the possibility 

of a spill and a swim wearing 

all the paraphernalia associated 

with the costume. 

The Avalon Beach Historical 

Society held its first Christmas 

celebration in 1984. 

The late and much-loved Jim 

Bartlett, who lived at 1 Marine 

Parade, would don his Father 

Christmas gear in Palmgrove 

Road; he then began the descent 

of the stairs and to the delight 

of the many children of 

members, appeared as a red and 

white apparition through the 

stunning cabbage tree palms in 

Palmgrove Park, with his large 

red sack full of presents for 

each of the children. We also 

had fun playing an early colonial 

game called Dog and Bone. 

(If you’re still sending 

Christmas cards you might be 

interested to know that the first 

one printed in Australia was 

issued in 1881 by good old John 

Sands.) 

TIMES PAST is supplied by 

local historian and President 

of the Avalon Beach 

Historical Society GEOFF 

SEARL. Visit the Society’s 

showroom in Bowling Green 

Lane, Avalon Beach. 

Times Past 



Travel Life 

Travel Life 

Discovering the Eternal Japan 

From primeval wilderness and masterfully 

to explore Karatsu’s medieval heritage, 

curated gardens to medieval castles and 

Ube and Uwajima’s incredible gardens and 

futuristic cities, Japan is a multi-faceted land 

of great intrigue. 

And to truly experience the extent of 

The Land of the Rising Sun, visitors need 

to venture off the beaten track and have 

adequate time to immerse in the little 

things, be stepping the well-trodden path 

of geisha in a traditional village or shinrinyoku 

(forest bathing) beneath a canopy of 

ancient trees. 

An opportunity to do this (and more) is as 

rare as it is satiating for the soul, and you 

can experience it on Discover Eternal Japan 

– a 15-day small ship exploration around 

the coastline and islands of Japan with 

Heritage Expeditions to uncover the heart 

of this wondrous land. 

Expedition Leader at Heritage 

Expeditions Aaron Russ said Japan’s 

combination of rich history, fascinating 

culture and diverse wilderness and wildlife 

made it perfect for expedition cruising. 

“Japan has long captured the imagination 

of travellers, juxtaposing centuries-old 

tradition with ultramodern living and 

pristine wilderness with skyscrapers and 

ancient temples,” Aaron said. 

“There is no place quite like it and we are 

incredibly proud and excited to be able to 

share unforgettable, intimate explorations 

of some of its rarely visited islands and 

coastlines alongside iconic cities, cultural 

encounters and wildlife hotspots with our 

intrepid guests.” 

Discover Eternal Japan, starting in Otaru 

on 1 June 2023, includes Hakodate’s islanddotted 

lakes and Fort Goryokaku, as well 

as remote Sado Island (widely considered a 

perfect miniature version of Japan). 

It continues to South Korea’s ‘museum 

without walls’ Gyeongju, then back to Japan 

shrines, Hiroshima and the famous Shinto 

Shrine and Torii Gate on Miyajima Island, 

Takamatsu’s proud bonsai history and 

more. 

Travel is aboard the 140-guest expedition 

vessel, Heritage Adventurer, where guests 

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voyage from spacious, stylish and 

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Guests will also enjoy all-suite 

staterooms, an observation deck with 

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And when you book now with Travel 

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In addition to this special deal, if you 

combine this trip with a back-to-back trip 

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off the second trip (which is priced from 

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*For information and bookings, contact 

Travel View on 9918 444 or sales@ 

travelview.net.au

Pittwater Life December 2022 Issue

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