Pittwater Life January 2024 Issue

News
Pittwater News
Midget Farrelly
rock art tribute
Local surfing legend Bernard
‘Midget’ Farrelly will be forever
honoured and remembered
with a rock carving / public
artwork on Black Rock at Palm
Beach. It follows public consultation
undertaken by Northern
Beaches Council. Farrelly lived
at Palm Beach for 54 years and
surfed there almost every day;
he passed away in 2016 at the
age of 71, after a battle with
cancer. He became the first
Australian to win a major international
surfing title in 1962.
Two years later, he won the
inaugural World Surfing Championships
at Manly Beach. In
1985, he was inducted into the
Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
Farrelly gave back to the local
community through the Palm
Beach and Whale Beach Surf
Lifesaving Clubs, where he was
a member and mentor for more
than 20 years. The Recognition
Committee recommended a
petroglyph carving, which is
created by incising, picking,
carving or abrading part of the
rock surface. The tribute will
be installed in early 2024.
Become a
Computer Pal
Have you recently retired,
and looking for a way to feel
connected and pass on the
knowledge you have acquired?
Computer Pals for Seniors
Northern Beaches are looking
for volunteers who can give 2-3
hours of their time each week.
Local Probus News in January
Narrabeen Lakes Probus Club next meets
on Wednesday 24 January at Narrabeen
Baptist Church. Doors open at 9.45am for
10am meeting. The guest speaker will be
Merinda Air from the National Maritime
Museum. Visitors welcome; more info call/
text 0424 464 047.
The first meeting of the Bilgola Plateau
Probus Club for 2024 will be held on Friday
5 January at Newport Bowling Club. The
meeting starts 10am; doors open from
9.30am. Guest speaker will be Hette Mollema
who is going to focus on ‘Toiletology’ – the
study of toilets. Toilets are critical to our
wellbeing, and something that we very much
take for granted in our modern world. Hette
intends to plunge in and flush out all the
facts about the evolution of toilets, and the
methods for the disposal of our bodily waste
products that humans have devised from the
The not-for-profit organisation,
located at the Tramshed Arts &
Community Centre at Narrabeen,
helps seniors navigate the
world of technology. Platforms
include Android/Apple tablets
and phones, Apple/Microsoft
laptops and Chromebook. If
you feel you could help, email
anne.computerpals@gmail.
com
Short story
competition
The Northern Beaches Writers
Group has announced
the opening of its 2024 Arts
& Words Project, with a first
prize of $250 and publication
online. Writers are encouraged
to submit entries of up to 2,500
words responding to the theme
‘Glass’, along with at least
one image that reflects and
enhances their story. Collaborations
and multiple entries
are welcome. Stories can be
non-fiction, fiction, or fiction
inspired by true events – all
genres and styles are welcome.
Cost is $15 per entry (multiple
entries are permitted but must
be accompanied by a separate
fee and entered separately). The
primary judge is multi-awardwinning
author Zena Shapter
(‘Towards White’). Total prize
pool is $450, including $100 for
the Northern Beaches Commendation
Award (locals only).
Entries close March 31. More
days of hunter-gatherers up to today. Visitors
welcome; enquiries to Shelley (0415 538 864).
The next meeting of Newport Probus Club
is on 11 January at Newport Bowling Club.
This meeting is one week later than usual,
to give members the opportunity to return
from holidays and/or recover from the busy
Festive Season. The business meeting will be
followed by a panel of speakers from within
the membership and an entertaining hour is
anticipated. Commences 10am. More info Di
Burrell (0410 465 303).
The next meeting of Pittwater Mens Probus
will be held at Mona Vale Surf Club on Tuesday
9 January. If you are a boating enthusiast,
this is one not to miss. Gifted speaker Noel
Phelan will deliver ‘The Halvorsen Story’ – a
vessel which is steeped in boating history.
Commences 10am; visitors welcome. More info
Terry Larke (0412 220 820).
info northernbeacheswritersgroup.com
Draft Multicultural
Inclusion plan release
Northern Beaches Council will
put its blueprint for greater
inclusion of multicultural communities
in future decisionmaking
on public exhibition
in early 2024. Council’s draft
Championing Diversity –
Multicultural Inclusion Plan
2029 identifies the ways that
multicultural communities
can be better informed and
involved in decision making.
Council says it is the first step
in an overall plan to ensure the
needs of those from diverse
Countdown on to 50th Big Swim
The Pittwater Ocean Swim
Series splashes into action
in January, with three local
swims in the lead-up to the 50th
Big Swim (Palm Beach to Whale
Beach) on Sunday January 28.
The Newport Pool-To-Peak swim
starts proceedings on Sunday
January 7, followed by the Bilgola
Beach ‘Billy’ swim (January 14)
and the Warriewood to Mona Vale
swim (January 21).
Big Swim entrants are mainly
recreational swimmers, ranging
from 12 years through 80 years
and over, with more than 75 per
cent coming from outside the
Northern Beaches – a boost for
local businesses.
Organisers report that several
of the originals from the first
swim in 1974 will be swimming
in the 50th swim.
With a record number of entries
expected they will restrict numbers
to 2000 to ensure adequate
water safety craft and surveillance
including jet skis and drones.
*Whale Beach SLSC needs
volunteers to help with entry
registration for the Big Swim
on 28 January. The Big Swim is
expected to attract 2000 people.
If you are able to help, email
your name and contact to info@
whalebeachslsc.com.au
22 JANUARY 2024
The Local Voice Since 1991