Pittwater Life July 2024 Issue
GOVT’S BUDGET SNUB
CONCERN NARRABEEN LAND IS ‘FALLING INTO LAGOON’
AVALON’S RUSKIN ‘ROW’ OVER TREES / PUBLIC ALCOHOL BAN
THE WAY WE WERE / ARTISTS TRAIL / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD...
GOVT’S BUDGET SNUB
CONCERN NARRABEEN LAND IS ‘FALLING INTO LAGOON’
AVALON’S RUSKIN ‘ROW’ OVER TREES / PUBLIC ALCOHOL BAN
THE WAY WE WERE / ARTISTS TRAIL / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD...
The Local Voice Since 1991 J ULY 2024 FREE pittwaterlife GOVT’S BUDGET SNUB CONCERN NARRABEEN LAND IS ‘FALLING INTO LAGOON’ AVALON’S RUSKIN ‘ROW’ OVER TREES / PUBLIC ALCOHOL BAN THE WAY WE WERE / ARTISTS TRAIL / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD...
- Page 3 and 4: Editorial Our Council on notice Nor
- Page 6: News ‘Unchecked’ lagoon erosion
- Page 9 and 10: Great Ruskin tree row Community act
- Page 12 and 13: News Letters: Readers have their sa
- Page 14 and 15: News Northern Beaches Council has s
- Page 16: News From Pittwater to Paris Sienna
- Page 19 and 20: $2,200 fines for alcohol Drinking a
- Page 22: News Eyachts’ Boat Show sea trial
- Page 26: News Trivia, but certainly not triv
- Page 30: The Way We Were Every month we pore
- Page 36 and 37: News Pittwater News Gala Dinner for
- Page 38 and 39: Pittwater News News Continued from
- Page 40 and 41: News Pittwater News Bike odyssey fu
- Page 42 and 43: Talent by the palette Life Stories
- Page 44 and 45: Books Author Q&A Sandie’s focus o
- Page 46: Hot Property Potential, potential,
- Page 49 and 50: wer of art “I used to be in the c
- Page 51 and 52: MPs welcome hospital health check P
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
J ULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
FREE<br />
pittwaterlife<br />
GOVT’S BUDGET SNUB<br />
CONCERN NARRABEEN LAND IS ‘FALLING INTO LAGOON’<br />
AVALON’S RUSKIN ‘ROW’ OVER TREES / PUBLIC ALCOHOL BAN<br />
THE WAY WE WERE / ARTISTS TRAIL / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD...
Editorial<br />
Our Council on notice<br />
Northern Beaches Council<br />
staff have been put on<br />
notice to better manage its<br />
spending or risk not having future<br />
annual budgets approved<br />
– leading to the possibility<br />
of Council being placed into<br />
administration.<br />
At Council’s June meeting, its<br />
<strong>2024</strong>-25 Budget passed by the<br />
barest of margins.<br />
Council CEO Scott Phillips<br />
told the meeting: “Council’s<br />
adoption of a delivery plan is<br />
a core obligation of Council.<br />
In the event Council does not<br />
meet its core obligations and<br />
there is no resolution to that,<br />
one pathway the (Local Government)<br />
Minister has is to put<br />
Council into administration.<br />
“In the event you do not<br />
adopt the budget… Council will<br />
not have the capacity to meet<br />
its obligations to creditors in<br />
the new financial year.”<br />
The closeness of the vote<br />
highlighted the fracture within<br />
the elected Council – with the<br />
six Liberal councillors voting<br />
against the budget.<br />
Liberal Councillor David<br />
Walton said it was concerning<br />
Councillors had received modelling<br />
indicating a Special Rate<br />
Variation of up to 25 per cent<br />
would be required in order to<br />
fund future budgets – almost a<br />
third increase in rates.<br />
But Your Northern Beaches<br />
Independent Team Councillor<br />
Sarah Gratton maintained the<br />
<strong>2024</strong>-25 budget held an annual<br />
increase of around five per cent,<br />
around $100 per annum for<br />
most households on average.<br />
Let’s wait and see.<br />
* * *<br />
As we went to print we were<br />
saddened to hear of the<br />
passing of local community<br />
icon Ted Blackwood, aged 93.<br />
The Ted Blackwood Narrabeen<br />
Youth and Community<br />
Centre in Warriewood opened<br />
almost 50 years ago; a tribute to<br />
Ted will be published in August.<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 3
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Publisher: Nigel Wall<br />
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Vol 34 No 12<br />
Celebrating 33 years<br />
6<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
FREE<br />
pittwaterlife<br />
GOVT’S BUDGET SNUB<br />
CONCERN NARRABEEN LAND IS ‘FALLING INTO LAGOON’<br />
AVALON’S RUSKIN ‘ROW’ OVER TREES / PUBLIC ALCOHOL BAN<br />
THE WAY WE WERE / ARTISTS TRAIL / SEEN... HEARD... ABSURD...<br />
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thislife<br />
INSIDE: Residents are concerned about the erosion of public<br />
land into Narrabeen Lagoon (p6); the stand-off remains<br />
between locals and Council over the felling of trees at<br />
Ruskin Rowe, Avalon Beach (p9); the NSW Government has<br />
launched an inquiry into e-bike use (p10); work on the Mona<br />
Vale Place Plan has been suspended (p14); meet our local<br />
baseball whizz kids (p15); boating taxes are set to soar (p18);<br />
and we interview Archibald Prize finallist, North Narrabeen<br />
artist Stephanie Galloway Brown (p42).<br />
COVER: Reach for the Sky / Sharon Green<br />
also this month<br />
Editorial 3<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Local News & Features 6-41<br />
The Way We Were 308<br />
Seen... Heard... Absurd... 34<br />
Community News 36-41<br />
<strong>Life</strong> Story: Stephanie Galloway Brown 42-43<br />
Author Q&A + Art 44<br />
Art 45<br />
Hot Property 46<br />
Health & Wellbeing; Hair & Beauty 48-53<br />
Money 54-55<br />
Food & Tasty Morsels 60-62<br />
Crossword 63<br />
Gardening 64-66<br />
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on WEDNESDAY 31 JULY<br />
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All contents are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced except with the<br />
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JULY <strong>2024</strong> The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
‘Unchecked’ lagoon erosion fears<br />
Precious public land on the<br />
southern edge of Narrabeen<br />
Lagoon is eroding at a rate of<br />
almost one metre a year, according<br />
to residents.<br />
They are concerned Northern<br />
Beaches Council (NBC) has<br />
no remediation plan for the<br />
space and that it will disappear<br />
altogether, robbing community<br />
amenity while also threatening<br />
local homes.<br />
The public land, opposite<br />
Lakeside Holiday Park and<br />
adjacent to the Ocean Street<br />
bridge, forms a bank next<br />
to the narrow main channel<br />
through which huge volumes<br />
of water are funnelled when<br />
the lagoon is open. Locals say<br />
boat wake is also an issue.<br />
Barry Glasgow, who has lived<br />
next to the shrinking strip<br />
for 30-plus years, remembers<br />
when it was wide enough for<br />
a 20-metre cricket pitch with<br />
room for a bowler’s run-up.<br />
Now he says the land is two,<br />
maybe three metres wide at its<br />
broadest point.<br />
“I’d like to see it stabilised,<br />
don’t let it go any further,” he<br />
says.<br />
Mike Fitzgerald is leading the<br />
lobby to save the land but says<br />
he has been getting nowhere<br />
with Council.<br />
“I just hate watching that<br />
land just drop away. Week after<br />
week you’ll see another chunk<br />
has fallen in, all of a sudden<br />
the grass is bent, drooping<br />
down, hanging over the edge<br />
into the water, which means<br />
there’s another half a metre<br />
gone,’ says Mr Fitzgerald.<br />
“It’s just a lovely piece of<br />
land that’s soon going to end<br />
up totally gone and it’s just a<br />
damn shame… it’s wrong.<br />
“We’ve been here seven years<br />
and every year I see all these<br />
families and kids using that<br />
land, having family time and<br />
pleasure, especially on Australia<br />
Day, Easter and Christmas.<br />
“They’ve got their tents there<br />
and it’s just really nice. It’s a<br />
beautiful piece of taxpayer’s<br />
land disappearing – and noone’s<br />
doing anything about it.”<br />
He and other residents,<br />
including Glasgow and neighbour<br />
Jeff Hoffman, want to<br />
see the bank stabilised with a<br />
rock barrier, which has been<br />
actioned on the other side of<br />
the Ocean Street bridge.<br />
In a bid to make that happen,<br />
Mr Fitzgerald said he met with<br />
NBC Capital Works Project Manager<br />
Richard Parry last year,<br />
and recently corresponded with<br />
Jodie Crawford, Manager, Coast<br />
and Catchments for Council.<br />
Ms Crawford said bank<br />
remediation work had been undertaken<br />
in the Lagoon Street<br />
reserve (see pic below) which<br />
connects with the eroding<br />
stretch of bank.<br />
“There also appears to be<br />
evidence of seawalls along<br />
property and foreshore<br />
boundaries in historical aerial<br />
photography of the area,” she<br />
wrote in May.<br />
STABILISED: New seawall<br />
on the other side of the<br />
Ocean Street bridge.<br />
MATTER OF TIME:<br />
Concerned residents<br />
Mike Fitzgerald, Barry<br />
Glasgow and Jeff Hoffman<br />
(L-R) next to part<br />
of the eroding bank at<br />
Narrabeen Lagoon.<br />
“Construction of further<br />
hard structural bank protection<br />
works in this reserve are<br />
not planned at this time.”<br />
She wrote Council would<br />
investigate the feasibility of a<br />
sand nourishment and plant<br />
stabilisation program during<br />
the lagoon entrance clearance<br />
project planned for 2025.<br />
But Mr Fitzgerald says both<br />
the approach and potential<br />
timing are not good enough.<br />
“Sand nourishment is a band<br />
aid where this needs an operation,”<br />
he responded.<br />
“It’s a very sad plight and<br />
so disturbing to see such a<br />
beautiful piece of property<br />
disappearing when it could be<br />
stopped.” – Martin Kelly<br />
*What do you think? Tell us at<br />
readers@pittwaterlife.com.au<br />
PHOTOS: Martin Kelly<br />
6 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
15,000 more Mackellar votes<br />
The Federal seat of<br />
Mackellar is set to grow<br />
by around 15,000 voters<br />
at the next Federal Election<br />
under New South Wales<br />
electorate boundary changes<br />
proposed by the Australian<br />
Electoral Commission (AEC).<br />
Under the AEC draft proposal,<br />
Mackellar – currently<br />
represented by Independent<br />
MP Dr Sophie Scamps – will<br />
take in new areas of Dee Why,<br />
North Curl Curl, Forestville<br />
and Killarney Heights.<br />
Dr Scamps said she welcomed<br />
the changes.<br />
“They reunite important<br />
communities of interest and,<br />
I believe, enhance the unique<br />
Northern Beaches culture of<br />
the electorate,” she said.<br />
Dr Scamps said a key consideration<br />
for the AEC during<br />
the redistribution process<br />
was to not dramatically<br />
change voting margins.<br />
“These changes are balanced<br />
with only a 0.8 per cent change<br />
in the margin,” she said.<br />
“We are particularly<br />
pleased to see that the suburbs<br />
of Dee Why and Forestville<br />
have been reunited and<br />
are no longer split between<br />
two electorates.”<br />
Dr Scamps said the changes<br />
were commonsense in several<br />
ways.<br />
“The suburbs of Dee Why<br />
and Forestville, previously split<br />
between 2 electorates, have<br />
been reunited into Mackellar<br />
which will eliminate the confusion<br />
for voters and strengthen<br />
these communities.<br />
“The changes enhance the<br />
unique Northern Beaches culture<br />
of the electorate and the<br />
already strong connections<br />
between these local communities.<br />
“Importantly, the changes<br />
keep Mackellar within the<br />
one local Council area which<br />
again helps to maintain the<br />
strong local culture.”<br />
She added the changes<br />
“make sense geographically”<br />
as the new boundaries, utilising<br />
a major road and a significant<br />
waterway/parkland, were<br />
CHANGES: What’s proposed for the<br />
Mackellar boundary shift.<br />
easily recognisable, major<br />
boundaries.<br />
“I am very pleased to<br />
welcome Dee Why, North<br />
Curl Curl, Forestville and<br />
Killarney Heights voters into<br />
the Mackellar electorate who<br />
closely share the values of<br />
Mackellar and the Northern<br />
Beaches, and I look forward<br />
to continuing to genuinely<br />
and independently represent<br />
these communities,” she said.<br />
However, Dr Scamps added<br />
it was important to note that<br />
the proposal was a draft and<br />
there were still opportunities<br />
for two more rounds of<br />
submissions.<br />
In other proposed changes<br />
affecting Sydney electorates,<br />
the AEC plans to abolish the<br />
Teal Independent-held seat of<br />
North Sydney, with much of<br />
its territory absorbed into the<br />
Warringah electorate.<br />
“I want to say how sad I<br />
am that the AEC has chosen<br />
to abolish the electorate of<br />
North Sydney, held by my<br />
crossbench colleague, Kylea<br />
Tink,” said Dr Scamps.<br />
“She is a powerful representative<br />
for her electorate<br />
and the embodiment of a<br />
true community independent<br />
providing a genuine voice in<br />
Canberra for the people of<br />
North Sydney.” – Nigel Wall<br />
*What do you think? Tell<br />
us at readers@pittwaterlife.<br />
com.au<br />
8 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Great Ruskin tree row<br />
Community activists<br />
say they will continue<br />
their vigil to protect two<br />
mature Flooded Gums slated<br />
for felling in Ruskin Rowe at<br />
Avalon Beach.<br />
Northern Beaches Council<br />
maintains the trees need to<br />
be cut down due to safety<br />
reasons.<br />
However, protesters including<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Ward Greens<br />
Councillor Miranda Korzy say<br />
their independent arborists’<br />
reports reveal the 70-year-old<br />
trees pose no safety issue.<br />
Council contractors cut<br />
down two trees on June 11<br />
before protesters intervened,<br />
giving the remaining two<br />
trees a “stay of execution”.<br />
The stand-off was entering<br />
its third week as <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
<strong>Life</strong> went to press.<br />
“What the community is<br />
saying with this blockade<br />
is: ‘This far and no further<br />
with destruction of our tree<br />
canopy. We are drawing a line<br />
in the soil.’,” said Cr Korzy.<br />
VIGIL: Community activists say they will not give up the fight to save two<br />
mature gum trees on Ruskin Rowe after two others were felled in June.<br />
“We will maintain watch<br />
over these two trees for as<br />
long as it takes.”<br />
She said the trees were on<br />
public land, in a Heritage Conservation<br />
Area, and there had<br />
been “precious little consultation”<br />
with residents about<br />
their removal.<br />
Two separate, qualified and<br />
experienced local arborists<br />
said the council arborists’<br />
reports were flawed and the<br />
remaining two trees represented<br />
low risk, she added.\<br />
“What these two trees<br />
need is pruning and regular<br />
inspections. Even the two cut<br />
down could have been saved<br />
with that approach, the arborists<br />
have told me.”<br />
Twenty-years resident Arabella<br />
Lockhart said living with<br />
large trees was an accepted<br />
part of living on Ruskin Rowe.<br />
“I’m furious at the excuse<br />
of the trees being dangerous,”<br />
she said. “They must fall only<br />
once or twice a year, not constantly.<br />
I have replaced one or<br />
two windscreens, but I choose<br />
to wear that risk and cost,<br />
because the trees have given<br />
me so much joy.”<br />
PHOTO: NB Advocate<br />
A Council spokesperson<br />
said: “We continue to take<br />
action to protect, retain and<br />
maintain these trees so long<br />
as they are healthy and pose<br />
no risk to public safety.<br />
“We need to balance our<br />
goal of preserving trees with<br />
the need to protect the community<br />
when experts advise<br />
they pose unacceptable risks.<br />
“Earlier this year a very<br />
large branch fell from a tree on<br />
Ruskin Rowe, prompting Council<br />
to investigate. Council’s<br />
qualified arborist found that<br />
most of the trees on Ruskin<br />
Rowe were healthy and only<br />
required a trim, but four posed<br />
a serious risk and removal was<br />
recommended. An independent<br />
arborist also concluded the<br />
trees needed to be removed.”<br />
“Council will proceed with<br />
the removal of the trees to ensure<br />
the risk to public safety<br />
is resolved.” – Nigel Wall<br />
*What do you think? Tell<br />
us at readers@pittwaterlife.<br />
com.au<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 9
News<br />
Govt triggers e-bike inquiry<br />
The NSW Government<br />
has acknowledged the<br />
increasing danger of<br />
e-bikes, ordering a Parliamentary<br />
inquiry into their use.<br />
It comes at the urging of<br />
the State Opposition to set<br />
up the inquiry and at the<br />
end of a six-week rider safety<br />
awareness blitz by Northern<br />
Beaches Council.<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> MP Rory Amon<br />
welcomed the Government’s<br />
move which will see bipartisan<br />
discussion on ways to<br />
improve safety for users and<br />
pedestrians.<br />
It follows months of campaigning<br />
by Mr Amon that coincided<br />
with a surge in e-bike<br />
sales and use across NSW – as<br />
well as increasing near-tragedy<br />
incidents reported by the<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> community.<br />
Lobbying for an inquiry in<br />
March, Mr Amon urged the<br />
Government to provide more<br />
support to police and suggested<br />
Council rangers should<br />
be empowered to issue bikerelated<br />
infringement notices.<br />
He said that statistics<br />
gathered from <strong>July</strong> 1 last year<br />
through February this year<br />
revealed that only seven penalties<br />
were issued for e-bikes<br />
or pedal bikes carrying too<br />
many passengers; only five<br />
for an e-bike or pedal bike<br />
disobeying the speed limit,<br />
and only 60 for negligent<br />
riding.<br />
No data had been recorded<br />
regarding e-bike riders using<br />
motor assistance to exceed<br />
the regulated 25km/h speed<br />
limit.<br />
“Given the feedback I<br />
received, these numbers are<br />
COUNCIL CAMPAIGN: The launch of ‘The Code’ in late May.<br />
concerningly low,” Mr Amon<br />
said.<br />
Regarding regulation, he<br />
said the Government needed<br />
to consider an insurance<br />
scheme for certain kinds of<br />
e-bikes and consider whether<br />
it was appropriate for kids as<br />
young as six to ride e-bikes or<br />
mini motorbikes.<br />
“Should there be a minimum<br />
age to purchase, own<br />
or ride an e-bike?” he asked<br />
Parliament.<br />
“Should riders receive<br />
some educational resources<br />
regarding rules? Should the<br />
Federal Government do more<br />
to prevent the importing of<br />
e-bikes whose speed limiters<br />
can be readily removed or<br />
tampered with?<br />
“Should there be penalties,<br />
or greater penalties, for<br />
manufacturers and distributors<br />
who are in breach of the<br />
rules? What should be the extent<br />
of education campaigns<br />
for parents and children,<br />
and through schools, to help<br />
communities grapple with the<br />
challenge?”<br />
Mr Amon said that while<br />
e-bikes had a tremendous<br />
capacity for good, there were<br />
many well-documented challenges.<br />
“I welcome this enquiry – it<br />
will provide the platform for<br />
experts across all relevant<br />
sectors to make their submissions<br />
and help us chart a path<br />
for the safe use of e-bikes, so<br />
they can be an overall positive,”<br />
said Mr Amon.<br />
Relevant stakeholders will<br />
be invited to make submissions<br />
to the Inquiry and give<br />
evidence at hearings.<br />
Meanwhile Northern Beaches<br />
Mayor Sue Heins said Council<br />
was “incredibly delighted”<br />
with the results of its e-bike<br />
safety campaign (‘The Code’).<br />
“We’re already seeing behavioural<br />
change by users of<br />
e-bikes and feedback from the<br />
community has been positive,”<br />
she said.<br />
Council reported more than<br />
267,000 reel and video plays<br />
on Instagram and YouTube<br />
including more than 30,000<br />
replays – the highest-played<br />
video content to date on<br />
Council’s Instagram channel.<br />
More than 100 corflute<br />
signs were placed at 62 locations<br />
across the Northern<br />
Beaches, with posters and<br />
corflutes provided to 20 local<br />
high schools as well as campaign<br />
displays at seven local<br />
bike shops.<br />
As reported by <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
<strong>Life</strong> in June, Council urged<br />
local schools to follow the<br />
lead of Stella Maris College at<br />
Manly, which has introduced<br />
strict e-bike user and storage<br />
rules for its students – including<br />
passing the Learner<br />
Driver exam, lodging e-bike<br />
serial numbers and proving<br />
that the e-bike throttle speed<br />
was locked.<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> asked local<br />
schools <strong>Pittwater</strong> High and<br />
Barrenjoey High whether<br />
they would adopt any similar<br />
safety measures.<br />
A spokeswoman for <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
High said the school had<br />
instructed students to walk,<br />
not ride, their bikes (both<br />
cycles and e-bikes) into the<br />
grounds and store them by<br />
one of the main gates.<br />
A spokeswoman for Barrenjoey<br />
High said they had<br />
referred our question to the<br />
NSW Education Department<br />
but had not received a reply.<br />
Mayor Heins said Phase 2<br />
of the Council’s safety and<br />
awareness campaign would<br />
commence later this year.<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
*What do you think? Tell<br />
us at readers@pittwaterlife.<br />
com.au<br />
10 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
Letters: Readers have their say<br />
Don’t whitewash<br />
Labor contribution<br />
Your article, ‘Good Things In<br />
Store’ (<strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> – June)<br />
featured local Federal MP Dr<br />
Sophie Scamps expounding<br />
the benefits of the new<br />
Warriewood Community<br />
Battery, but the article makes<br />
no mention that this was<br />
a Federal Labor election<br />
commitment.<br />
The battery was promised to<br />
the people of Mackellar during<br />
the 2022 Federal election<br />
campaign by then Shadow<br />
Minister for Climate Change<br />
and Energy Chris Bowen,<br />
should Labor win that election.<br />
Labor’s candidate at the<br />
2022 election Paula Goodman<br />
formally represented Minister<br />
Bowen at the official opening<br />
of the battery in May.<br />
It is wonderful to read of Dr<br />
Scamps’ support for this great<br />
community facility which will<br />
help to hasten the transition to<br />
a net zero economy.<br />
But it would have been<br />
useful to acknowledge a key<br />
fact – the community battery<br />
was promised, delivered and<br />
funded by Labor.<br />
Pam Ward OAM,<br />
Secretary Mackellar ALP FEC<br />
In defence of<br />
Councillor Gencher<br />
In response to Tina Butler’s<br />
claim that Councillor Michael<br />
Gencher has betrayed his<br />
voters by joining the Liberals<br />
(<strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> – Letters, June),<br />
it’s crucial to clear things up.<br />
Councillor Gencher’s recent<br />
move isn’t a betrayal – it’s a<br />
smart step to get things done<br />
for <strong>Pittwater</strong>.<br />
Anyone paying attention to<br />
Council business would know<br />
that Councillor Gencher’s<br />
switch is all about advancing<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>’s interests. His<br />
commitment to the platform he<br />
was elected on hasn’t wavered.<br />
He’s focused on achieving<br />
actual results, not just looking<br />
good on social media.<br />
The team Councillor<br />
Gencher has joined is all<br />
about being responsible,<br />
functional, and strategic.<br />
Unlike those more interested<br />
in social media popularity, this<br />
team is dedicated to making<br />
meaningful improvements for<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>. Councillor Gencher’s<br />
move ensured he can keep<br />
advocating for the community<br />
and work towards sustainable<br />
outcomes and fiscal health.<br />
His move months ago was all<br />
about making sure <strong>Pittwater</strong>’s<br />
interests are prioritised and<br />
effectively advanced. Instead<br />
of seeing it as a betrayal,<br />
recognise it as a clear sign of<br />
his commitment to delivering<br />
real results for our community.<br />
Shane Fergusen<br />
Newport<br />
Motor-only mode a<br />
big e-bike problem<br />
Congratulations for your<br />
recent articles on e-bike rules<br />
and safety. Northern Beaches<br />
Council’s ‘The Code’ initiative<br />
is an excellent move and<br />
delivers a comprehensive<br />
message. However, one<br />
massively important fact that<br />
appears to receive the lowest<br />
priority in both advertising<br />
and editorial is the message<br />
delivered at the end of your<br />
June article: “To be considered<br />
a bicycle it cannot be propelled<br />
exclusively by a motor.”<br />
Unfortunately, most of<br />
the bikes appearing in the<br />
advertising pictures can be<br />
simply converted to a “motoronly<br />
use” with the switch of<br />
a button. When being used<br />
in motor-only mode these<br />
bicycles are illegal; they fall<br />
within the category of a motor<br />
vehicle and under NSW Law are<br />
required to be registered and<br />
the driver needs a motorcycle<br />
licence.<br />
Last week, I spoke to two<br />
14-year-old girls who were<br />
cruising along without<br />
pedalling and without helmets<br />
and I asked them if they had<br />
any idea of the laws they were<br />
breaking. They had no idea.<br />
This is a daily sight. Our<br />
youth are not getting this<br />
important message and the<br />
Safety Video and Signs that<br />
have been placed around our<br />
schools do not allude to this.<br />
At this stage, slowing down<br />
appears to be the only message<br />
getting through.<br />
Gareth Jones<br />
Bilgola Plateau<br />
E-bike safety:<br />
has the horse<br />
already bolted?<br />
What a great initiative by<br />
Council to place the ‘The Code’<br />
plaques at strategic places<br />
within the LGA. Great to see<br />
people are so concerned about<br />
safety around school kids<br />
riding these “weapons” called<br />
e-bikes.<br />
Numerous times kids are seen<br />
speeding on these bikes, no<br />
helmets, speeding on roads<br />
and footpaths, with two or<br />
three kids on the bike, also<br />
with no helmets.<br />
I have witnessed these<br />
idiotic kids hooning around<br />
the car park at McDonalds,<br />
Warriewood. How are the<br />
police going to police the<br />
situation? These kids are too<br />
young to carry ID.<br />
I would think the<br />
Government should ban these<br />
weapons before the horse<br />
bolts.<br />
Andrew Massie<br />
Dee Why<br />
Education programs<br />
won’t solve problem<br />
Being a daily walker on shared<br />
paths around Warriewood, I<br />
constantly encounter people,<br />
young and old, whizzing past<br />
me from in front and from<br />
behind. Most are travelling<br />
at speeds much higher than<br />
walking pace and most do not<br />
indicate their presence.<br />
These very large and<br />
substantial e-bikes are, in fact,<br />
motorbikes with an electric<br />
rather than petrol engine. They<br />
have no place on footpaths.<br />
Proposed ‘education’<br />
programs will have minimal<br />
effect. These electric motor<br />
bikes must be registered and<br />
restricted to roads. Pedestrians<br />
are in increasing danger. Will it<br />
take a death or serious injury<br />
to change the law? I hope not.<br />
Many of the ‘shared’<br />
pathways on the Northern<br />
Beaches are dangerously<br />
narrow, putting pedestrians<br />
at a disadvantage from both<br />
traditional pushbikes and<br />
these new, heavy motorised<br />
12 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
ikes which, incidentally,<br />
provide little or no exercise for<br />
the riders.<br />
E-bikes must be banned from<br />
pedestrian walkways – that<br />
means shared paths.<br />
Ian Roberts<br />
Warriewood<br />
No infrastructure a<br />
major e-bike issue<br />
Your article on ‘The Code’<br />
(<strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> – June) highlights<br />
the alarming risk of accidents<br />
which will be caused by the<br />
latest spike in fat-tyre e-bikes<br />
used by teenage students.<br />
Although it is undoubtedly<br />
important to promote safety<br />
and compliance with e-bike<br />
power and speed regulations,<br />
the safety campaign does not<br />
take into consideration the lack<br />
of safe infrastructure – which<br />
is the most important risk<br />
factor of cycling in general.<br />
The shared footpaths which<br />
constitute the majority of<br />
cycling infrastructure, are<br />
basically designed for foot<br />
traffic only. They run in front<br />
of homes and bus shelters<br />
and therefore it’s a recipe for<br />
disaster when cyclists riding<br />
at speeds of up to 25km/h mix<br />
with pedestrians, mums with<br />
prams, dog walkers, mobility<br />
scooters and smartphone<br />
zombies.<br />
Bikes of all kind are an<br />
unregistered, uninsured mode<br />
of transport which must be<br />
kept off footpaths.<br />
Eli Friedlander<br />
North Narrabeen<br />
Find a workable<br />
graffiti solution<br />
I live in Narrabeen and<br />
have written to Council on<br />
numerous occasions regarding<br />
the graffiti in this suburb. They<br />
have always come back to me<br />
saying they can only address<br />
the problem on public land and<br />
not private property.<br />
Above the shops on <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Road, Narrabeen is the worst<br />
for graffiti; it is very unsightly<br />
and brings down the aesthetics<br />
of the area. One also wonders<br />
how the vandals reach the top<br />
of the shops and no-one ever<br />
sees them?<br />
I have suggested to Council<br />
that maybe they could<br />
contribute to the cost incurred<br />
by the shop owners to remove<br />
the graffiti, but no action is<br />
ever taken.<br />
Thanks for your article and<br />
hopefully they will come up<br />
with a solution sometime in the<br />
not-too-distant future.<br />
Patricia O’Brien<br />
Narrabeen<br />
Rein in fat cat<br />
Council salaries<br />
Outrageous residential rate<br />
rises predicted for the future –<br />
and six Council executives earn<br />
more than the Premier of NSW?<br />
Perhaps savings could be made<br />
from the top down before rate<br />
payers carry the burden.<br />
Denis Suttling<br />
Newport<br />
Council giving us<br />
poor productivity<br />
I think the wages paid at the<br />
Northern Beaches Council are<br />
ridiculous. Productivity is very<br />
poor and value for rates is<br />
appalling.<br />
I would suggest a large pay<br />
cut – and if they don’t agree<br />
then it’s time to find another<br />
job.<br />
Christopher Bardwell<br />
Warriewood<br />
Rate rise ‘not<br />
more than 3%<br />
above peg’<br />
Northern Beaches Council<br />
is unlikely to push for<br />
a residential rate variation<br />
of more than three per cent<br />
above the rate peg set by the<br />
Independent Pricing and<br />
Regulatory Tribunal (IPART),<br />
it has been revealed.<br />
Last month, senior Council<br />
employees appeared at the<br />
NSW Government’s inquiry<br />
into the ability of Councils<br />
to fund infrastructure and<br />
services.<br />
Mayor Sue Heins said staff<br />
gave evidence to highlight<br />
issues Council faced around<br />
long-term financial sustainability<br />
in the face of rising<br />
fixed costs and cost-shifting<br />
from the State and Federal<br />
Governments.<br />
“Over the three years to<br />
June 2023, inflation was more<br />
than double the increase in<br />
rates income over the same period,”<br />
she said. “Over the same<br />
period, we experienced six<br />
natural disasters at a cost of<br />
$14 million, COVID had a $41<br />
million impact, and the Emergency<br />
Services Levy increased<br />
this year by $3.1 million.”<br />
At the inquiry Council<br />
pledged its support for the<br />
rate peg, with flexibility to adjust<br />
to cover items unique to<br />
its LGA in consultation with<br />
the community.<br />
IPART had also suggested<br />
this, within a margin of 3 per<br />
cent above the rate pegging<br />
limit.<br />
“We hope to see recommendations<br />
from the Inquiry that<br />
address the issues that we<br />
have raised.”<br />
– NW<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 13
News<br />
Northern Beaches Council<br />
has suspended work on the<br />
Mona Vale Place Plan.<br />
Council’s Director Planning<br />
and Place Louise Kerr confirmed<br />
the halt at a tumultuous<br />
June Council meeting which<br />
saw the <strong>2024</strong>-25 Operational<br />
Budget passed only by Mayor<br />
Sue Heins’ casting vote.<br />
Also tabled at the meeting<br />
was a June 2023 report on the<br />
Mona Vale Community and<br />
Cultural Precinct which revealed<br />
two options for the longawaited<br />
Art Space at Council’s<br />
Mona Vale Civic Precinct – with<br />
costs of $13.5 million and $19.7<br />
million respectively based on<br />
construction in 2028-29.<br />
Council first promised the<br />
Mona Vale Art Space in February<br />
2019 – with indicative costings<br />
of just $3.5 million.<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Ward Councillor<br />
Michael Gencher said he was<br />
staggered at the cost rise and<br />
also disappointed at the delay<br />
of the release of the report.<br />
“Given the report was<br />
UP IN THE AIR: The<br />
Mona Vale Place Plan.<br />
prepared over 12 months ago<br />
it’s fair to assume the price<br />
blowout is not representative of<br />
the current financial situation,”<br />
he said.<br />
“I will be questioning why<br />
staff sat on this report for so<br />
long.”<br />
The $13.5 million option<br />
proposes an “isolated” art<br />
space, separate to the Library<br />
and Memorial Hall, while the<br />
$19.7 million option proposes<br />
an “integrated” plan within the<br />
Civic block.<br />
However, Council’s executive<br />
summary casts serious doubt<br />
on whether the Art Space will<br />
Mona Plan suspended<br />
New Beaches LEP drafted<br />
After four years of studies<br />
and public consultation,<br />
Northern Beaches<br />
Council will advance its<br />
proposal for a new, consolidated<br />
Local Environmental<br />
Plan (LEP) to the NSW Government.<br />
If approved, the proposed<br />
LEP would dissolve the current<br />
four different LEPs and<br />
Development Control Plans<br />
which have been in operation<br />
since the Council was<br />
amalgamated in 2016.<br />
Mayor Sue Heins said the<br />
new LEP does not propose<br />
significant new development;<br />
rather, it proposes<br />
to implement Council’s<br />
Local Housing Strategy to<br />
provide more options for<br />
different types of housing<br />
to meet the demand for<br />
more affordable and diverse<br />
housing stock, such as dual<br />
occupancy.<br />
Once finalised, the LEP<br />
will provide consistent controls<br />
and land use zoning<br />
throughout the LGA; protection<br />
of land with identified<br />
ever be delivered.<br />
It noted the Civic Precinct<br />
building adjoining Village Park<br />
was now required for operational<br />
purposes to relocate existing<br />
Council staff from Vuko<br />
Place Warriewood and the Dee<br />
Why Civic precinct.<br />
Also, the long-term financial<br />
plan had not identified the<br />
project for funding and there<br />
was limited opportunity for<br />
a return on Council’s capital<br />
investment, staff said.<br />
It concluded that to fully<br />
realise the potential of either<br />
option to convert the site into<br />
a vibrant cultural and community<br />
hub, “an increase in<br />
service levels and additional<br />
net operational funding per annum<br />
would be required”.<br />
Ms Kerr said work on the<br />
Mona Vale Place Plan had been<br />
suspended due to the State<br />
Government draft reforms on<br />
low-rise and mid-rise housing.<br />
Council was “at the critical<br />
stage” of needing to procure<br />
traffic investigations based on<br />
likely increased housing capacity<br />
around the Village centre,<br />
she said.<br />
Responding to a Councillor<br />
question Ms Kerr said the<br />
Place Plan committee and all<br />
councillors had been informed<br />
of the Mona Vale Place Plan<br />
suspension.<br />
Councillors accepted staff’s<br />
recommendation to note the<br />
report on the Mona Vale Community<br />
and Cultural precinct<br />
and the operational needs of<br />
the Mona Vale Civic Centre site.<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
*What do you think? Tell us at<br />
readers@pittwaterlife.com.au<br />
high environmental values;<br />
greater clarity for the community<br />
on what can and<br />
cannot be done on properties;<br />
extended opportunities<br />
for dual occupancies in<br />
low rise residential areas;<br />
better controls to protect<br />
urban character (e.g. FSR,<br />
landscaping, development<br />
controls in centres); and<br />
sustainability controls for<br />
large-scaled urban developments.<br />
“The draft recognises<br />
the unique characteristics<br />
of our neighbourhoods<br />
and protects our precious<br />
environment while meeting<br />
our housing needs for the<br />
future,” said Mayor Heins.<br />
“It will harmonise existing<br />
planning rules across<br />
the area and deliver more<br />
consistency and surety in<br />
planning outcomes.<br />
“Once the NSW Government<br />
have confirmed the<br />
draft meets requirements<br />
we will go back to the community<br />
once more so they<br />
can have their say.” – LO<br />
14 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Big team in Little League<br />
Little League baseball team Manly<br />
Maroons recently became the first<br />
Northern Beaches side to ever win a<br />
national championship – with four <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
youngsters among their ranks.<br />
The all-stars rep team made up of the<br />
best players aged 10 and 11 from clubs<br />
in the Manly Warringah area (Forest,<br />
Warringah, <strong>Pittwater</strong>, Curl Curl) won<br />
the Division 2 State Championship in<br />
May before taking out the National Title<br />
at Blacktown in June – going six games<br />
undefeated.<br />
They outscored opponents 67-6 across<br />
the 6 games and defeated Melbourne<br />
Twins 3-0 to take the title.<br />
It’s the first national championship for<br />
any Manly Warringah District Baseball<br />
Association (MWDBA) team.<br />
Among their ranks were <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
club players Riley White, Jeff Martin and<br />
Benny Beezley – Benny making the last<br />
‘out’ at first base to win the championship.<br />
Noah Smith who lives in <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
but plays for Warringah was also part of<br />
the winning side.<br />
As one of the team’s volunteers and<br />
dads, Mark Connelly explained that<br />
winning was something the team have<br />
become very used to.<br />
LOCAL BASEBALL STARS: (L-r) Benny Beezley,<br />
Noah Smith, Riley White and Jeff Martin.<br />
“The same core team are now undefeated<br />
across five tournaments, starting<br />
with the Rookies Cup last year,” he said.<br />
Again the team were undefeated (5-0),<br />
outscoring their opponents 57-2 across<br />
the four-day tournament.<br />
MWDBA President Brook Russell said:<br />
“We could not be prouder of these boys.<br />
They’ve worked hard for months to<br />
achieve this.”<br />
As Mark points out, people should not<br />
be swayed by the Division 2 nature of<br />
things, as that applies to age rather than<br />
ability.<br />
“The Div 1 / Div 2 thing is misleading<br />
– it’s based on age, not ability. They are<br />
very much the top team in their age level<br />
of 10s and 11s.<br />
“Next year they will progress to Division<br />
1, which comprises 11- and 12-yearolds.”<br />
And that’s where things become really<br />
interesting – with the winner of the Division<br />
1 National title heading to America<br />
to play for the Little League World Title.<br />
An expensive endeavour, but one the<br />
club is preparing for.<br />
“We had good sponsorship and ran a<br />
GoFund me page this year to fund travel<br />
for the Nationals and raised $3000 per<br />
child,” Mark said. “Now we’re lining up<br />
sponsors for next year and will do more<br />
fundraising.”<br />
Are they in with a chance of the Big<br />
League next year?<br />
“Very much,” said Mark. “Shane is a<br />
great coach, they’re very competitive and<br />
they want to win.”<br />
– Rob Pegley<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 15
News<br />
From <strong>Pittwater</strong> to Paris<br />
Sienna’s Olympics boarding pass<br />
Sienna Hearn of the Australian Stingers<br />
water polo team is the latest in a long<br />
line of Northern Beaches athletes to<br />
grace an Olympic pool – and she’s taking<br />
the whole family to watch.<br />
“I’m taking a bit of a crew with me to<br />
Paris,” laughs Sienna. “My parents, my<br />
brother, my boyfriend and his mum, my<br />
grandma…”<br />
It’s a healthy cheer squad, but then on<br />
recent form, they might get to see Sienna<br />
on the podium – possibly even with a gold<br />
medal round her neck.<br />
“We’re a realistic medal chance,” enthuses<br />
Sienna.<br />
Indeed they are. Currently ranked<br />
seventh in the world, the team have performed<br />
better than that in recent tournaments.<br />
When Sienna, who lives at Freshwater,<br />
made her debut for Australia in the 2022<br />
FINA World League Intercontinental Cup<br />
in Peru, The Stingers remained unbeaten,<br />
beating world number ones the USA in the<br />
process. They finished sixth in the <strong>2024</strong><br />
World Championships in Doha earlier this<br />
year, beating Britain 20-8 in the round of<br />
16, before losing to their nemesis the USA<br />
by a point in the quarter finals.<br />
“The USA are always strong,” admits Sienna.<br />
“But also Spain and the Netherlands<br />
will be tough.”<br />
Now 21, Manly-born Sienna grew up<br />
playing netball and touch footy, but was<br />
always a strong swimmer.<br />
And she needs to be.<br />
“Quarters last for eight minutes,” explains<br />
Sienna. “But with all the stoppages<br />
you’re out there for 15 minutes at a time<br />
EXCITED: Australian<br />
Women’s water polo<br />
representative<br />
Sienna Hearn.<br />
and you can’t touch the bottom, so you’re<br />
treading water or swimming the whole<br />
time.”<br />
Not surprisingly, there’s a lot of training<br />
involved.<br />
“You have to be strong in all areas… it’s<br />
whole-body movement, so there’s a lot of<br />
fitness and cardio work. We do four hours<br />
in the pool six days a week, swimming and<br />
doing work with weighted legs. Then we<br />
have three times a week in the gym, with<br />
one day off a week.”<br />
For those unfamiliar with water polo,<br />
Sienna plays Right Hand Driver – it’s a<br />
role that seeks out the forward players<br />
with creative passes. (We were tempted to<br />
make the dad joke “you know you’ll be a<br />
left-hand driver in Paris”, but was far too<br />
professional for that…)<br />
Now playing for the UTS Balmain Tigers,<br />
Sienna excelled as a junior with the Sydney<br />
Northern Beaches Breakers. In only her<br />
second game for the Australian National<br />
Team she was player of the match.<br />
Making the team for the Olympics was<br />
slightly bittersweet as many of her friends<br />
missed out.<br />
“They set aside a day to call us to let us<br />
know if we were in or out. I was at home<br />
with my mum and my boyfriend. I was<br />
a bit shocked and overwhelmed to be<br />
included as they chose 13 from a squad of<br />
21. We found out through the day who had<br />
missed out, which was tough.”<br />
Away from the sport she is training to<br />
be a school teacher, but that will go on the<br />
backburner as she heads to Europe for<br />
final preparations.<br />
“We arrive in Paris on 15 <strong>July</strong> for a camp<br />
with the French team, after competitions<br />
in Athens and the Netherlands,” explains<br />
Sienna. “Then we head to the Olympic Village,<br />
but we’ll miss the opening ceremony<br />
as our event takes place on 26 <strong>July</strong>, the<br />
next day.”<br />
And all going well she’ll be home to celebrate<br />
in true Beaches style. – Rob Pegley<br />
16 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
Boat licence fees hike anger<br />
The State Government is<br />
set to hit the NSW boating<br />
public and industry with<br />
the highest taxes in the nation<br />
from 1 <strong>July</strong>, according to the<br />
Boating Industry Association<br />
(BIA).<br />
BIA says Transport for NSW<br />
had seemingly constructed<br />
the plan behind closed doors<br />
to significantly raise taxes on<br />
boating well beyond the CPI to<br />
raise millions of dollars in new<br />
revenue.<br />
BIA spokesperson Neil<br />
Patchett said: “Just a couple of<br />
years ago boating proved itself<br />
during a global pandemic as<br />
a standout option in recreation<br />
for people to experience<br />
the great outdoors and the<br />
social benefits of getting out<br />
on the water with families and<br />
friends.<br />
“Now, despite reaping the<br />
revenue rewards of increased<br />
participation through extra<br />
licences and registrations over<br />
the past few years, Transport<br />
wants to make what are already<br />
the highest boating fees in the<br />
ALARM: Mooring<br />
fees are among the<br />
boating price hikes.<br />
nation, even higher.”<br />
BIA said the massive disparity<br />
in boating licence fees in<br />
NSW compared to the neighbouring<br />
States of Queensland<br />
and Victoria was alarming.<br />
For example, a 10-year<br />
licence fee for a personal watercraft<br />
in NSW already eclipses<br />
$1000 – and the new proposal<br />
aims to increase that to almost<br />
$2000.<br />
This compares to $124 for a<br />
lifetime licence for a personal<br />
watercraft in Queensland, and<br />
$45 for an annual licence in<br />
Victoria. In addition, Queensland<br />
and Victoria had chosen<br />
to hold fees as they were and to<br />
not apply CPI.<br />
Meanwhile a licence in<br />
Queensland is $124 for either<br />
a boat or a PWC, and that is a<br />
one-off fee for life. In NSW a<br />
licence will range from $77 to<br />
$245 a year.<br />
Transport for NSW says it<br />
needs the extra revenue in<br />
part to pay for more patrol<br />
effectiveness; however, the BIA<br />
says figures show Queensland<br />
has more than one million<br />
marine licences compared with<br />
540,000 in NSW, and Queensland<br />
managed that with almost<br />
half the number of patrol craft<br />
and fewer maritime compliance<br />
personnel than NSW.<br />
“Boating is a way of life for<br />
many in NSW and the Government<br />
is set to make it even<br />
more expensive, which runs<br />
the risk of disenfranchising<br />
young people and families<br />
from participation in what is a<br />
healthy outdoor activity with<br />
proven social benefits,” Mr<br />
Patchett said.<br />
“We remain hopeful the<br />
Transport Minister will intervene<br />
and force Transport for<br />
NSW to reset the full schedule<br />
of fees impacting licences, registrations<br />
and moorings to be<br />
no more than CPI adjusted.”<br />
BIA represents hundreds<br />
of marine businesses and<br />
thousands of workers in NSW<br />
supporting the more than two<br />
million people who go boating<br />
each year in the State.<br />
BIA said it was waiting for a<br />
response from the State Government<br />
on its concerns which<br />
included a lack of appropriate<br />
consultation. – NW<br />
*View and sign the BIA’s<br />
petition calling for the full<br />
reset of fees at change.org<br />
18 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
$2,200 fines for alcohol<br />
Drinking alcohol will be<br />
banned around the clock<br />
at Village Park at Mona Vale<br />
and the boardwalk at Church<br />
Point following a new Council<br />
decision.<br />
The two <strong>Pittwater</strong> locations,<br />
along with Howard<br />
Ave Reserve at Dee Why and<br />
Wingara Reserve at Belrose,<br />
were declared 24-hour Alcohol<br />
Prohibited Areas (APAs)<br />
in June.<br />
Council warned non-compliance<br />
could lead to a fine of<br />
up to $2,200.<br />
An APA is a non-roadrelated<br />
public place such as a<br />
park, reserve or beach where<br />
drinking alcohol is prohibited.<br />
Council can declare<br />
an APA at all times, or only<br />
for specific days, times or<br />
events.<br />
Council explained the aim<br />
of APAs was to help improve<br />
public safety by reducing<br />
disruptive and anti-social behaviour<br />
and crime associated<br />
with alcohol consumption on<br />
the Northern Beaches.<br />
Council said police and<br />
rangers could confiscate and<br />
dispose of alcohol in these<br />
places – and anyone refusing<br />
to co-operate, can be charged<br />
with obstruction, carrying<br />
penalties up to $2,200.<br />
Northern Beaches Mayor<br />
Sue Heins said the changes<br />
would bring a consistent approach<br />
to community safety.<br />
“Previously, our APAs were<br />
inconsistent due to former<br />
Council areas having different<br />
approaches; however, the<br />
police have requested a uniformed<br />
approach to provide<br />
certainty for them and our<br />
rangers as to the restrictions<br />
and enforcement,” Mayor<br />
Heins said.<br />
“This is a practical way in<br />
which Council can assist the<br />
police to improve public safety<br />
and to reduce alcohol-related<br />
incidents, ensuring our parks,<br />
recreational areas, and public<br />
spaces remain safe and enjoyable<br />
for all residents.”<br />
All Council beaches<br />
(oceans and inner waterway<br />
beaches) are already 24-hour<br />
APAs.<br />
– NW<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 19
News<br />
Palmy residents want cash audit<br />
The Palm Beach and<br />
Whale Beach Association<br />
has delivered a<br />
terse response to Northern<br />
Beaches Council’s proposed<br />
Delivery Program for services<br />
over the next four years,<br />
demanding Council open its<br />
books on NSW Government<br />
grant funding which it says<br />
“seem to have disappeared”.<br />
In its submission to Council,<br />
the Association requested<br />
that Council reveal the<br />
revenue it obtains from the<br />
local Palm Beach and Whale<br />
Beach area – noting there was<br />
virtually nothing in Council’s<br />
budget for works within the<br />
2108 and 2107 postcode area.<br />
It comes as Council pores<br />
over feedback on its new<br />
proposed Plan of Management<br />
for Governor Phillip Park.<br />
Noting that rates totalling<br />
$359 million equated to 57<br />
per cent of Council’s income,<br />
the Association wanted to<br />
know how much was gathered<br />
from the top end suburbs.<br />
“How much is raised from<br />
parking, from other income,<br />
and parking within Governor<br />
Phillip Park for the Golf Club,<br />
the Dunes restaurant, North<br />
Palm Beach Surf Club, The<br />
Joey, Home and Away and<br />
other film making?” the Association<br />
said.<br />
On expenditure, the Association<br />
said: “There is almost<br />
no recognised expenditure for<br />
Palm Beach and Whale Beach<br />
in the Delivery program.<br />
“On examination we could<br />
find only the following expenditure<br />
in PB and WB: 225<br />
metres of road re-sheeting for<br />
Florida Road 225.<br />
“We question why Florida<br />
Rd? It is in reasonably good<br />
condition. We suggest there<br />
are many other roads that<br />
should take precedence.”<br />
The Association noted there<br />
was no allocation for curb<br />
and guttering, footpaths or<br />
other roads.<br />
“Over the years we have<br />
submitted many requests for<br />
upgrades to roads and footpaths<br />
in many areas in PB and<br />
WB, many of which are unsafe<br />
– in particular Surf Road at<br />
REVENUE-RAISER:<br />
Governor Phillip Park.<br />
the junction with Barrenjoey<br />
Road [and] Whale Beach Road<br />
where it continues on from<br />
Florida Road and Ocean Place<br />
Palm Beach.”<br />
It was disappointed there<br />
was no budget for major<br />
repairs for Whale Beach ocean<br />
pool, only a budget for planning,<br />
and also no budget for<br />
Palm Beach ocean pool.<br />
“There is very little return<br />
in the program for the rate<br />
payers of Palm Beach and<br />
Whale Beach. Our rates are<br />
considerable.<br />
“There is no budget for<br />
maintaining Governor Phillip<br />
Park.<br />
“There is no budget for<br />
the walkway from Whale<br />
Beach to Palm Beach along<br />
Whale Beach Road, or for the<br />
completion of the South Palm<br />
Beach landscaping program.<br />
Both of these projects were<br />
funded under capital grants<br />
from NSW Government. These<br />
grants seem to have disappeared.<br />
Where has the money<br />
gone?<br />
“Does the Council have<br />
a record of the individual<br />
capital grants that have been<br />
received and how they have<br />
been spent?<br />
“Are the accounts audited<br />
and if so, is it shown where<br />
these grants go, or do they go<br />
into general revenue?<br />
“We would like to know<br />
where the capital grant monies<br />
have gone. To where have<br />
they been allocated?<br />
“Where have the monies<br />
collected from Governor Phillip<br />
Park been allocated? They<br />
should have been used to<br />
upgrade the park.”<br />
On solutions to increase<br />
revenue, including a rates rise<br />
by as much as 14 per cent, it<br />
said: “This is unacceptable<br />
when many ratepayers are<br />
suffering severe financial<br />
stress due to the rising cost<br />
of living.<br />
“The Council must live<br />
within its budget and not<br />
just treat rate payers as cash<br />
cows.”<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
*What do you think? Tell<br />
us at readers@pittwaterlife.<br />
com.au<br />
20 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
Eyachts’ Boat Show sea trials<br />
Boat owners and enthusiasts are gearing up<br />
for new ranges and innovation at the Sydney<br />
Boat Show at Darling Harbour in August.<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>-based industry leader in dayboats<br />
Eyachts are set to make a splash at the Show<br />
with a display featuring premieres from two of<br />
the fastest-growing<br />
brands worldwide,<br />
Axopar and<br />
Pardo – offering a<br />
glimpse into the<br />
future of boating.<br />
Debuts include<br />
the Axopar 29<br />
Sun Top, with<br />
an innovative<br />
opening Sun Top<br />
roof providing<br />
sun protection<br />
without sacrificing<br />
the open-air<br />
experience and sunshine. The forward cabin<br />
offers ample storage, a head, and a sink, and<br />
can convert into a cosy sleeping area. The<br />
social bow area features a spacious U-shaped<br />
dining area and convertible sunbed, accommodating<br />
up to 7 guests.<br />
Also on debut is the Axopar 45 Range<br />
featuring the Sun Top and Cross Cabin. With<br />
smooth, clean surfaces and handsome hull<br />
lines, this bold new development brings a<br />
45-foot Axopar to the range, powered by triple<br />
ON DISPLAY:<br />
The sleek<br />
Axopar 45<br />
Sun Top.<br />
Mercury V8 300 Verado engines, offers classleading<br />
fuel economy and impressive speeds.<br />
For those seeking all-weather capability, the<br />
Axopar 45 XC Cross Cabin breaks barriers in<br />
design and functionality, redefining possibilities<br />
on the water. With versatile seating for up<br />
to 12 guests, an<br />
interior wetbar,<br />
and options like<br />
U-sofas and an<br />
integrated BBQ,<br />
it’s optimized<br />
for both entertainment<br />
and<br />
comfort.<br />
Pardo Premieres<br />
include<br />
the Pardo 50.<br />
An icon of Italian<br />
design and<br />
sophistication,<br />
the Pardo 50 offers luxury on a grand scale.<br />
Perfect for entertaining family and guests or<br />
relaxing in uncrowded comfort, the 50-footer<br />
feels much larger, delivering performance,<br />
elegance, and comfort synonymous with all<br />
Pardo yachts.<br />
*Eyachts will uniquely be offering sea trials<br />
during the show (August 1-4) for those interested<br />
in the Axopar range. Find the E-Yachts<br />
stand at the main entrance. More info and to<br />
register for a sea trial visit eyachts.com.au<br />
6THINGS<br />
THIS MONTH<br />
NAIDOC Week. Celebrations<br />
are held across Australia Sun 7 to<br />
Sun 14 to recognise the history,<br />
culture and achievements of<br />
Aboriginal and Torres Strait<br />
Islander peoples. There will<br />
be live music, bushtucker<br />
talks, dance, weaving and art<br />
workshops at Narrabeen’s<br />
Tramshed precinct on Sun 7 from<br />
11am-2pm and local libraries are<br />
hosting a variety of activities for<br />
kids during the school holidays<br />
including tree art projects,<br />
movies and bracelet weaving.<br />
Fishing Club. Avalon Beach<br />
RSL Fishing Club competitions<br />
recommence Fri 19 and every<br />
third Friday of the month at 5pm<br />
with competitors meeting on the<br />
Sunday for a 2.30pm weigh-in.<br />
Email avalonfishingclub@yahoo.<br />
com.au<br />
Art show. Invest in some original<br />
artwork at The Rotary Club of<br />
Upper Northern Beaches Art<br />
Show and sale at the Mona<br />
Vale Memorial Hall from Fri 19<br />
– Sun 21. Opening and auction<br />
on Fri 19 from 6pm-9pm. Info<br />
rotaryuppernorthernbeaches.org<br />
Motown party. There may still<br />
be a few tickets available for Palm<br />
Beach Golf Club’s Christmas in<br />
<strong>July</strong> dance party on Sat 27 with<br />
the show, featuring Dancing<br />
in the Shadows of Motown,<br />
commencing at 8pm. More info at<br />
palmbeachgolf.com.au<br />
Have a laugh! Avalon Palm<br />
Beach Business Chamber has<br />
organised a great comedy line-up<br />
to appear at Avalon Cinema on<br />
Sat 27 from 7-10pm as part of<br />
Council’s Creative Open Festival.<br />
Tickets $25 bar and cinema<br />
snacks available. See ad page 7.<br />
National Tree Day. Duffys<br />
Forest Residents Association<br />
(DFRA) invites you and the kids to<br />
Waratah Park, the former home<br />
of Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, to<br />
help plant 400 native seedlings<br />
donated by Harvest Seeds and<br />
Nugrang Warada Community<br />
Nursery on Sun 28 from 9am-<br />
1pm. Wear protective clothing<br />
and footwear and bring a drink<br />
bottle and gloves - tools provided.<br />
Meet at the gates at 13 Namba Rd,<br />
Duffys Forest. To register contact<br />
Jenny Harris on 0408512060<br />
or jenny1053@icloud.com.<br />
22 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Budget blues for <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
News<br />
NSW Treasurer Daniel<br />
Mookhey’s <strong>2024</strong> State<br />
Budget has snubbed<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>, ignoring local<br />
infrastructure and upgrade<br />
requirements and instead<br />
injecting massive funding<br />
into Western Sydney.<br />
The Minns NSW<br />
Government’s second budget,<br />
delivered in June, again<br />
turned a blind eye to the<br />
partially completed Mona Vale<br />
Road precinct upgrade, with<br />
the 2-kilometre Western Stage<br />
of the road set to remain in<br />
one-way limbo indefinitely.<br />
And according to local MP<br />
Rory Amon, Government<br />
policy will now see <strong>Pittwater</strong>’s<br />
annual land tax liability<br />
increase from $95 million in<br />
2023 to around $156 million<br />
in <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
In his budget response,<br />
Mr Amon slammed the<br />
Government for its failure<br />
to once again fund the $340<br />
million Mona Vale Road West<br />
upgrade – despite committing<br />
$62.9 billion to transport<br />
infrastructure in Western<br />
Sydney and beyond.<br />
He warned that safety<br />
issues would remain as<br />
long as the stretch of road<br />
remained single-lane each<br />
way, as well as traffic<br />
bottlenecks for motorists to<br />
and from the electorate.<br />
“It’s essential the Mona<br />
Vale Road West upgrade is<br />
completed,” Mr Amon said.<br />
“Delivery drivers, tradies,<br />
tourists and visitors are<br />
impacted by the lack of<br />
foresight to complete the Mona<br />
Vale Road dual carriageway.<br />
“Peak hours are a<br />
ONE-WAY LIMBO: The incomplete upgrade of Mona Vale Road – West.<br />
nightmare, but it’s also<br />
unsafe. Labor’s refusal to<br />
undertake a safety audit<br />
of the road and implement<br />
measures while we await<br />
an upgrade makes the<br />
government’s position all the<br />
worse.<br />
“And, when the next crash<br />
sadly occurs, the Government<br />
will be culpable for any loss<br />
of life, injury, and ensuing<br />
traffic chaos.”<br />
Mr Amon said the<br />
Government needed to<br />
develop the understanding<br />
and the foresight to deliver<br />
smooth-flowing, timeefficient<br />
and economic traffic<br />
flow along the full length of<br />
Mona Vale Road.<br />
“Despite more than 16,5000<br />
signatories to our upgrade<br />
Mona Vale Road petition, the<br />
Government doesn’t care and<br />
is failing to hear – or take any<br />
notice – of the calls from our<br />
community and beyond,” he<br />
said.<br />
“I will continue demanding<br />
the upgrade of Mona Vale<br />
Road West for the benefit of<br />
residents and all those who use<br />
this important regional link.”<br />
On land taxes, Mr<br />
Amon said that based on<br />
Government data, <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
land taxpayers would pay an<br />
average of $50,000 by 2028 –<br />
up from $30,000 in 2023.<br />
“This will increase rents<br />
and cost of living pressures<br />
on renters and landlords,” he<br />
warned.<br />
“As well as land taxes,<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> pays over $200<br />
million in payroll tax and<br />
stamp duty. At the same<br />
time as increasing our taxes,<br />
Labor has cut funding for<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong>.”<br />
Mr Amon detailed his<br />
pre-budget submission to the<br />
Government, which he said<br />
prioritised the needs of the<br />
community.<br />
In addition to a request for<br />
full funding for the Mona<br />
Vale Road West upgrade, the<br />
submission included a call to<br />
“hurry up” Northern Beaches<br />
Council on its flood mitigation<br />
works on the Wakehurst<br />
Parkway, increased funding<br />
for domestic violence support<br />
services including the<br />
Women’s Resilience Centre,<br />
increased funding for youth<br />
mental health services at<br />
Northern Beaches Hospital,<br />
the restoration of more than<br />
$500,000 in local school<br />
resource funding, funding<br />
for a much-needed pre-school<br />
at Terrey Hills, renal dialysis<br />
units at Mona Vale Hospital<br />
and more funding for Surf<br />
Club upgrades at North Narrabeen<br />
and Newport.<br />
In a positive, he said the<br />
Government had allocated<br />
$48 million towards the<br />
Staying Home Leaving<br />
Violence program to assist<br />
women and children escape<br />
domestic violence.<br />
Opposition leader Mark<br />
Speakman echoed Mr Amon’s<br />
criticism, saying the State<br />
Budget delivered more<br />
deficits, higher taxes and less<br />
investment while ignoring the<br />
cost-of-living crisis.<br />
He said despite the<br />
Government’s taxes bringing<br />
in record revenues, NSW<br />
was facing more real cuts to<br />
overall health, education and<br />
infrastructure spending and<br />
a long line of deficits.<br />
– Nigel Wall<br />
*What do you think? Tell us at<br />
readers@pittwaterlife.com.au<br />
24 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
Trivia, but certainly not trivial<br />
Question 1: For two points, where<br />
on the Northern Beaches can you<br />
have a great Friday night testing<br />
your general knowledge?<br />
The answer is Bookoccino at Avalon<br />
which is holding gatherings on a semiregular<br />
basis; June’s event, attended by<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong>, was brilliant fun, also<br />
funny, as well as heart-warming. It felt<br />
very typical of the Avalon community: a<br />
blend of high brow, cool, and a sense of<br />
togetherness.<br />
Be warned though: the questions are<br />
hard.<br />
If a pub quiz has questions of a certain<br />
standard, then this is very much a Trivia<br />
Quiz OF Bookoccino as much as AT<br />
Bookoccino. It’s not for the big-brained<br />
and not for the faint-hearted.<br />
Possibly the easiest question of the<br />
night was: Name the three tenors, both<br />
first names and surnames. (We got<br />
Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingos<br />
easily enough but couldn’t remember<br />
Jose Carreras.)<br />
It’s not: Who-is-the-current-State-of-Origin-coach-of-Queensland-type<br />
questions.<br />
After arriving we were put on a table<br />
with four people we’d never met – a South<br />
African lady and her English husband,<br />
and two of their female friends. They<br />
were happy to share the game with us<br />
and we were all great chums by the end<br />
of the evening – that is, around 9pm,<br />
after arriving at 5.30pm.<br />
In between were three rounds of questions,<br />
including a music round that included<br />
improvised karaoke. Which, after<br />
a few glasses of wine, was hilarious.<br />
Quizmaster Amanda did an amazing<br />
job of keeping things light and fun.<br />
Jules from Bookoccino buzzed about<br />
making sure everyone was happy. And<br />
in between question rounds there were<br />
funky tunes spun on the record decks by<br />
DJ Pete.<br />
Alcoholic and soft drinks were available<br />
to buy and you can bring your own<br />
food (lots of people ordered pizza from<br />
nearby Pocket Pizza for ‘half time’.)<br />
The crowd was generally 50+ and after<br />
a quiet 15 minutes or so waiting for<br />
things to start, I wondered if it might be<br />
a little stuffy. Two hours later the table<br />
next to us were all singing Bonnie Tyler’s<br />
‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ at the top of<br />
their lungs.<br />
Will you have fun? Absolutely! (Just<br />
make sure you read up a bit first..!)<br />
– Rob Pegley<br />
*More info and other events visit<br />
Bookoccino.com.au<br />
LIGHT AND FUN:<br />
Quizmaster Amanda.<br />
26 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
News<br />
Father and daughter in sync<br />
If you haven’t heard of<br />
Northern Beaches fatherand-daughter<br />
entertainment<br />
duo Ben and Zara,<br />
you’re in the minority – more<br />
than 50 million people have<br />
viewed their hilarious videos<br />
on social media.<br />
It all began during COVID<br />
lockdown in 2020, when the<br />
pair started filming shows to<br />
keep themselves amused.<br />
“We were using Tik Tok to<br />
film the videos,” explains<br />
Ben, “but we were just sharing<br />
them with the family for a<br />
bit of fun.<br />
“Then in September that<br />
year we were talking about<br />
whether to put one out to the<br />
public and see what happened.<br />
My wife (Lisa) and I<br />
talked about it and decided to<br />
release one – it very quickly<br />
got a couple of hundred thousand<br />
hits!”<br />
Which in social media<br />
terms is “loads”. And by<br />
the time they released their<br />
fourth video, they were getting<br />
a million views.<br />
“It wasn’t just the numbers,<br />
it was the response from people<br />
about how great it was,”<br />
says Ben. “There was a lot<br />
of praise about the dad-anddaughter<br />
aspect.”<br />
Their videos are brilliantly<br />
made comedy sketches that<br />
usually involve the pair lipsyncing<br />
to a song. While Zara,<br />
9, can be funny and goofy,<br />
she’s usually the “straight<br />
man” to Ben’s visual comedy.<br />
“Zara is amazing and… and<br />
then I’m the butt of the joke,”<br />
laughs Ben. “It’s the classic<br />
star-and-sidekick routine.<br />
“But then if you’re going to<br />
WHIRLWIND<br />
SUCCESS:<br />
Ben and Zara.<br />
be the butt of the joke to anyone,<br />
then it’s better it’s one of<br />
your kids!” he concedes.<br />
Ben was himself a ‘child<br />
star’, filming his first commercial<br />
at the age of nine<br />
and spending a couple of<br />
years in a soap 20 years ago.<br />
Since 2011 he has ironically<br />
been doing a lot of voiceover<br />
work before their lip-syncing<br />
variety-show format became<br />
the “day job”.<br />
Ben points out what they’re<br />
doing is very different to being<br />
influencers.<br />
“The main thing is that<br />
we’ll only continue to do it if<br />
it remains fun,” he explains.<br />
“Zara never wears make-up,<br />
it’s all performance-based,<br />
we’re not endorsing products.<br />
We’re very much a family having<br />
fun – it’s brought us all<br />
closer together. We’re having<br />
adventures as a family.”<br />
According to Ben, after he<br />
and Zara have worked out<br />
who does which bit, Zara<br />
spends five minutes in the<br />
morning and five minutes in<br />
the evening learning the lyrics<br />
over a 3- to 4-day period.<br />
When you watch a video you’ll<br />
see how impressive that is.<br />
Ben says that Zara was a<br />
natural from the start.<br />
“You can just tell the<br />
character of your kids from<br />
a young age and she was a<br />
performer,” says Ben. “We’ve<br />
done some TV work now and<br />
Zara loves being on a set and<br />
the atmosphere around it.<br />
Live TV can be daunting but<br />
she’s carefree.<br />
“She definitely has acting<br />
aspirations,” Ben continues.<br />
“She played the granddaughter<br />
in the Mother and Son remake.<br />
And we’ve had a lot of<br />
interest from overseas saying<br />
she’s definitely got the chops<br />
to become an actor.”<br />
That interest has included<br />
some big names: Buster<br />
Rhymes posted a video Ben<br />
and Zara made of his song,<br />
saying ‘this kid embodies<br />
Buster!’. Will Smith has<br />
shared their videos, as has<br />
Elton John. Dana White the<br />
UFC boss follows them, plus<br />
Courtney Cox, Chris Jenner.<br />
“We have followers from<br />
rugby league to Hollywood,”<br />
says Ben. “When we did<br />
Michael Jackson’s Earth song<br />
we got 27 million hits on<br />
Instagram, 20 million more<br />
on Tik Tok and 5 million on<br />
Facebook… it went crazy.”<br />
The pair have appeared<br />
on Channel 7’s Telethon,<br />
along with Studio 10 and Play<br />
School. A tour is planned with<br />
dates to be released soon.<br />
But Ben is aware of one<br />
thing that might one day<br />
scupper their success.<br />
“We’ll keep going as long as<br />
it remains fun for everyone<br />
and as long as Zara is enjoying<br />
it. But there might be a<br />
day when she doesn’t want to<br />
film videos with her dad,” he<br />
laughs. – Rob Pegley<br />
28 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
The Way We Were<br />
Every month we pore over three decades of <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong>, providing a snapshot<br />
of the area’s recent history – and confirming that quite often the more things change,<br />
the more they stay the same! Compiled by Lisa Offord<br />
The Way We Were<br />
25 Years Ago…<br />
Northern Sydney Area Health Service was<br />
planning a meeting to discuss the future of<br />
Mona Vale Hospital. “It will follow a meeting<br />
held late last month in Mona Vale when the<br />
community made it quite clear that it wants<br />
the hospital to remain open.” The editor at<br />
the time wrote that Health Minister Craig<br />
Knowles “… has refused to give a direct<br />
answer on the future of the hospital… The<br />
current State Government does not care<br />
for the Northern Beaches as manifested by<br />
the State Budget which gave the area not<br />
one cent for important and urgent works.”<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> MP John Brogden “… is quite<br />
convinced that the Government’s mediumterm<br />
plan is to close the hospital, along<br />
with the Manly Hospital and amalgamate<br />
services in a central location”. Referring to comments<br />
made by Director of the Executive Unit of the NSAHS Ms<br />
Loray Dudley, the Editor wrote: “This is one of the options<br />
under consideration… the driving force she says is the cost of<br />
technology and expertise.” There were plenty of developments<br />
in the pipeline. A building application for 14 one-bedroom<br />
apartments plus two commercial spaces at 5-7 Careel Head<br />
Road Avalon North was set to go back before Council after<br />
it was “opposed almost two years ago and ended up in the<br />
Land and Environment Court where it was approved”; same<br />
story for a group of 13 townhouses between Hock Avenue,<br />
15 Years Ago…<br />
Interest in “secondary<br />
dwellings, the successor<br />
to what used to be known<br />
as ‘granny flats’ has been<br />
growing steadily in <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
since the Council changed its<br />
policy to allow them in 2008…<br />
the policy change was made to<br />
overcome a lack of affordable<br />
housing in <strong>Pittwater</strong>”.<br />
The parents<br />
of Avalon<br />
Beach shark<br />
attack victim,<br />
15-yearold<br />
Andrew<br />
Lindop, were<br />
honored at the<br />
Club’s annual<br />
presentation<br />
night.<br />
Andrew’s dad<br />
Charles (who<br />
put himself<br />
between<br />
Andrew and<br />
the shark after<br />
the attack at North Avalon<br />
that March and helped him<br />
onshore) was given an Award<br />
of Courage, while Andrew’s<br />
mother Louise received the<br />
<strong>Life</strong> Saver of the Year Award<br />
for her dedication to training<br />
volunteer life savers. It was<br />
reported “Andrew is currently<br />
in good spirits<br />
recovering,<br />
waiting for<br />
nerves in his leg<br />
to mend. He has<br />
been back in<br />
the water too.”<br />
Residents were<br />
encouraged<br />
to register for<br />
the 17 th annual<br />
Pub to Pub fun<br />
run; and the<br />
Palm Beach<br />
RSL hosted<br />
the Miss Palm<br />
Beach Model<br />
Search.<br />
The Crescent and Barrenjoey Road; and<br />
concerns were being raised by “Newport<br />
Progress Association over the proposed<br />
Woolworths development which involves<br />
two floors of underground parking, a<br />
shopping level at the ground floor and two<br />
levels of (30) residential units” between<br />
Barrenjoey Road and Foamcrest Avenue.<br />
The Association considered the project<br />
to be “an overdevelopment of the site”.<br />
The editor noted: “It is however typical of<br />
what is happening in commercial areas<br />
like Newport and Avalon as developers<br />
seize on the Council’s policy of shop-top<br />
housing to cover its commitment to the<br />
State Government to provide mediumdensity<br />
housing.” In other news, Avalon<br />
Community Library “went electronic last<br />
month with a Webpoint Internet Kiosk… the booth is available<br />
to the public wanting the surf the Net, for students needing<br />
to research projects and for individuals wanting to set up<br />
their own email address or use it to check their mail when<br />
away from home”; there was a proposal to run an under-18s<br />
nightclub on Fridays from 6pm-midnight at the rear of the<br />
Avalon Cinema for up to 1200 teenagers; and nominations<br />
for the September Council elections were to open late <strong>July</strong>.<br />
“At this stage sitting Councillors are not saying if they plan to<br />
run or not but it is expected many of them will.”<br />
5 Years Ago…<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> was earmarked<br />
the lion’s share of public<br />
art installations across the<br />
Northern Beaches Coast<br />
Walk. Bryan Brown and<br />
Rachel Ward gave us the<br />
inside goss on their new<br />
movie Palm Beach. Labor<br />
triggered a parliamentary<br />
enquiry into the Northern<br />
Beaches Hospital,<br />
prompting Health Minister<br />
Brad Hazzard to defend the<br />
facility saying “… challenges<br />
will continue to some degree<br />
– as happens with all new<br />
hospitals”. Council proposed<br />
“… a trial arrangement<br />
that would allow people<br />
to take their dogs for a<br />
walk and a swim offleash<br />
along a section of Station<br />
Beach – bound to east by<br />
Palm Beach Golf Club and<br />
to the west by <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Estuary – at specified times<br />
and days”. Avalon Beach<br />
SLSC was awarded Sport<br />
NSW Community Club of<br />
the Year and Minister for<br />
Local Government Shelley<br />
Hancock described NB<br />
Council as “… a shining<br />
star amongst the merged<br />
councils”. She told<br />
Parliament: … it is amazing<br />
to see what they have<br />
been doing in that space.”<br />
Our <strong>Life</strong> Story featured<br />
local maritime and sailing<br />
identity Yvette Wijnen.<br />
30 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
eing vacant for two years, the Avalon Surf <strong>Life</strong> Saving Club<br />
restaurant and café is set to reopen in Spring. The new tenant<br />
is the new owner of Lovat restaurant at Newport, Sunny Amarpreet<br />
Singh (of AKCN Group Pty Ltd), whose 10-year lease commences<br />
on 1 August. The new café will increase its footprint by<br />
taking in several metres of currently public-access land to the<br />
south of the café… Meanwhile there has been no compromise<br />
between Council and the owners of 2kf Espresso café on Bungan<br />
St, Mona Vale over the early setting up of outdoor furniture<br />
which contravenes the café’s operating agreement. The café<br />
has been threatened with closure if it attempts to assemble its<br />
outdoor seating before 7am (it had been doing so at 4.40am).<br />
But co-owner Kristy Rempt said the crackdown – prompted by<br />
a single noise complaint to Council from a new-to-area resident<br />
– would deprive them of 30 per cent of their business ongoing.<br />
The café is permitted to trade from the early hours, just not<br />
with outdoor seating. Councillor Michael Gencher says he will<br />
continue to lobby for a resolution.<br />
News<br />
ABSURD…<br />
Driving along Elanora Road at Elanora Heights in June,<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> was stopped by a road management crew as a<br />
team of Northern Beaches Council contractors repainted the<br />
double white/yellow lines on the roadway. Traditionally this<br />
work is undertaken by a vehicle dropping paint from its underbelly;<br />
however, this crew was rolling it on by hand. Which,<br />
as our photo shows, presented its challenges. Knowing what a<br />
stickler Council is for detail and “value for money”, we asked<br />
if it was happy with the results of the edgy, linked straight<br />
lines rather than traditional curves. They replied: “Council is<br />
not satisfied with the line markings in Elanora Road, Elanora.<br />
Council’s contractor was trialling a new technique and unfortunately,<br />
the result was not satisfactory. The contractor will<br />
return to the location in the coming weeks to correct the markings…”<br />
Five weeks on they and other sections are still there.<br />
(Anyone noticed the same in their suburb?)<br />
SEEN…<br />
‘Naughty’ sulphur-crested cockatoos continue to open red rubbish<br />
bins across the upper peninsula, spilling contents onto the<br />
road as they selectively pick for scraps. The cockatoos’ learned<br />
behaviour is being shared among cohort flocks in Avalon,<br />
Newport, even Mona Vale. After spying a group making a mess<br />
on Old Barrenjoey Road (pictured) we asked Council if they<br />
might consider setting up a working group to see if bins could<br />
be modified to keep the birds out while still allowing contractors<br />
to tip rubbish into their trucks. They replied: “The results<br />
of the Clever Cockie Project which researches how the birds<br />
develop new behaviours, is yet to be released for <strong>2024</strong>. Since<br />
2018 they’ve been asking Sydney residents in their annual binopening<br />
survey to share evidence from within their communities<br />
to contribute to their research on cockatoo behaviour. In<br />
the first year, the study identified only 3 southern Sydney<br />
suburbs with bin-lifting cockatoos. Two years later, it was 44.”<br />
Council’s advice to residents is to not overfill your bin and put<br />
your bins out later at night, as the cockatoos are more likely to<br />
forage during the day.<br />
HEARD…<br />
The Careel Bay shopping strip has been sold for $11.1 million,<br />
according to a report on realcommercial.com.au. It said the<br />
1,771 sqm block at 1-3 Careel Rd, Avalon has been bought by<br />
a retail developer. “The double block comprises the fully tenanted<br />
Careel Shopping Village with adjoining residential home,<br />
offering a prime development opportunity,” it said… After<br />
34 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
PHOTOS: Nigel Wall
News<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> News<br />
Gala Dinner for<br />
Mona Vale PS<br />
Mona Vale Public School P&C<br />
Association invites Mona<br />
Vale Public School members<br />
past and present to celebrate<br />
its wonderful school community<br />
by attending its <strong>2024</strong><br />
Education Week Gala Dinner.<br />
Enjoy a three-course dinner,<br />
champagne on arrival, live<br />
music and a silent auction. All<br />
proceeds go to the P&C who<br />
work in collaboration with<br />
the school to build memories<br />
for students. Come raise a<br />
glass to this year’s theme<br />
‘Proud to Belong’ and toast to<br />
30 years of the OC class. The<br />
gala will be held at the Rock<br />
Lilly Auditorium – <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
RSL on Friday 16 August from<br />
7pm-11pm. Tickets ($110 per<br />
person) can be purchased<br />
at trybooking.com/CSRSG<br />
until 5pm Thursday 1 August.<br />
<strong>July</strong> Probus Club news in your suburb...<br />
The next meeting of the Avalon<br />
Beach Ladies Probus will be held<br />
on Tuesday <strong>July</strong> 2 at Club Palm Beach,<br />
commencing 10am. Members will<br />
hear from local author Cindy Davis,<br />
whose third novel ‘The Favourite of<br />
the Harem’ is set in the Topkapi Palace<br />
harem of 16th century Istanbul.<br />
Her talk – Strong Women, Eunuchs<br />
and the Sultans – will look at life in<br />
the harem, which was operated for<br />
five centuries by women and eunuchs<br />
and became a pollical power base of<br />
the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Visitors<br />
welcome.<br />
The next meeting of the Newport<br />
Probus Club will be on Thursday<br />
4 <strong>July</strong>, commencing 10am at the<br />
Newport Bowling Club. The speaker<br />
will be Graham Sims who will tell the<br />
story of Bea Miles, a Sydney identity<br />
known as “the bag lady”. Visitors<br />
welcome; more info Phil Butcher (0413<br />
046 370).<br />
The next meeting of the Combined<br />
Probus Club of Mona Vale will be on<br />
Tuesday, <strong>July</strong> 16 in the auditorium at<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> RSL Club (from 10am). Guest<br />
speaker in <strong>July</strong> is Dark Sky Defender<br />
Marnie Ogg who will talk about ‘Night<br />
Conservation’. With a 30-year history<br />
in tourism and several years with<br />
her own eco-based tourism business,<br />
Marnie returned from an astrotourism<br />
event in Europe and realised<br />
how truly special the Australian<br />
dark night sky is. Recently, her work<br />
consulting on dark sky place creation<br />
in Milparinka, Wentworth, Palm Beach<br />
and the Blue Mountains has seen dark<br />
sky place-making suitable for designation<br />
with the International Dark-<br />
Sky Association. Visitors welcome –<br />
enquiries call Barry (0435 010 367).<br />
Narrabeen Lakes Probus Club next<br />
meets on Wednesday, <strong>July</strong> 24 at Narrabeen<br />
Baptist Church. Neville Turbit’s<br />
presentation will cover the early lives<br />
of explorers Bass and Flinders. Doors<br />
open at 9.45am for 10am meeting.<br />
Visitors welcome; more info call/text<br />
(0424 464 047).<br />
King honours locals<br />
in Birthday Honours<br />
Congratulations to locals<br />
who received a nod from<br />
King Charles in June’s King’s<br />
Birthday Honours: Maureen<br />
Rutlidge of Elanora Heights<br />
received a Medal of the Order<br />
of Australia (OAM) for service<br />
to the community of the<br />
Northern Beaches, including<br />
Special Needs education,<br />
scripture teaching, and for<br />
community sport with Narrabeen<br />
Amateur Swimming<br />
Club; Michael Smith of Collaroy<br />
Plateau received a Member<br />
of the Order of Australia<br />
(AM) for significant service to<br />
geological and earth sciences<br />
with the Geological Society of<br />
Australia, the Australian Geoscience<br />
Council, and the Australian<br />
Institute of Geosciences;<br />
and Dr Laurence Upfold of<br />
Narrabeen received a Medal of<br />
the Order of Australia (OAM)<br />
for service to people who are<br />
deaf or hard of hearing as an<br />
audiologist, and with the National<br />
Acoustic Laboratories.<br />
Congrats!<br />
Kevin’s golfathon<br />
for kids with cancer<br />
Bayview Golf Club <strong>Life</strong> Member<br />
Kevin Smith will take to<br />
the fairways on Monday <strong>July</strong><br />
15 to play 36 holes to raise<br />
funds for the Kids with Cancer<br />
Foundation. The 77-yearold<br />
has already raised more<br />
than $1000 and is hoping to<br />
raise more to help support<br />
families that have a child<br />
suffering from cancer. In 2021<br />
Kevin played 50 holes to raise<br />
funds. You can donate via<br />
bayviewgolfclub.com.au<br />
Palm Beach and Peninsula Probus<br />
Club’s next meeting is on Wednesday<br />
17 <strong>July</strong> commencing 9.30am at Club<br />
Palm Beach. Their speaker will be<br />
Diana Noyce with the topic ‘A Fateful<br />
Feast – The Final Repast on RMS<br />
Titanic’. Diana holds a Master of Gastronomy<br />
degree and her talk will give<br />
attendees an insight into the Edwardian<br />
world with its class distinctions,<br />
its etiquette and fashion obsessions<br />
and its love of fine food. Visitors welcome;<br />
enquiries call (0421 435 792).<br />
The next meeting of <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
Men’s Probus is on Tuesday <strong>July</strong> 9<br />
at Mona Vale Surf Club, commencing<br />
10am. <strong>July</strong> speaker is Constable<br />
Laura McKinnon, the Crime Prevention<br />
Officer from Northern Beaches<br />
Police Area Command based in Dee<br />
Why. She will give a presentation on<br />
Cyber Safety and Scams, outlining the<br />
many types of scams that operate and<br />
how people can avoid them. Visitors<br />
welcome; more info Terry Larke (0412<br />
220 820).<br />
36 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Ingleside RFB<br />
call for volunteers<br />
Ingleside Rural Fire Brigade<br />
is recruiting. Do you live in<br />
the local area of Ingleside,<br />
Elanora Heights, Bayview,<br />
Warriewood, Mona Vale or<br />
North Narrabeen? Are you<br />
interested in learning new<br />
skills, meeting new people<br />
and helping the local and the<br />
wider community? Head to<br />
the new member information<br />
night on Tuesday <strong>July</strong> 2 from<br />
7pm at Ingleside Rural Fire<br />
Brigade, King Road Ingleside.<br />
More info Inglesiderfs.org.au<br />
Call goes out for<br />
more Computer Pals<br />
Computer Pals for Seniors<br />
Northern Beaches would love<br />
to hear from prospective volunteer<br />
trainers and students.<br />
The not-for-profit organisation<br />
helps seniors navigate<br />
and use modern technology.<br />
Common topics requested<br />
by seniors are: Sending and<br />
Continued on page 38<br />
$50,000 for Community Bridle Trail<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> MP Rory Amon joined<br />
with members of the Duffys<br />
Forest and Terrey Hills residents<br />
and <strong>Pittwater</strong> Ward Councillor Michael<br />
Gencher to celebrate $50,000<br />
of funding being secured for the<br />
beloved community bridle trail.<br />
Funded as part of the NSW<br />
Government’s Local Small Commitment<br />
Allocation Program, the<br />
funds will be provided to Northern<br />
Beaches Council for the restoration<br />
and maintenance of the trail.<br />
“The trail is enjoyed by walkers,<br />
families, pets, horses, and<br />
riders alike, so many people will<br />
benefit from this investment in<br />
the trail –I congratulate the Duffys<br />
Forest Residents’ Association who<br />
has spearheaded the campaign,<br />
the equestrian community, and<br />
Michael Gencher for his efforts in<br />
securing Council support,” said Mr<br />
Amon.<br />
He also acknowledged Jeffrey<br />
Quinn, the recent Labor Party candidate<br />
for <strong>Pittwater</strong>, for proposing<br />
the project for funding during the<br />
March 2023 State election.<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 37
<strong>Pittwater</strong> News<br />
News<br />
Continued from page 37<br />
receiving emails, discovering<br />
useful apps, safe banking<br />
online, learning how to take<br />
and store photos, avoiding<br />
Scams, and basically being<br />
able to operate their devices<br />
with confidence. Devices span<br />
Android/Apple tablets and<br />
phones, plus Apple/ Microsoft/Chromebook<br />
laptops.<br />
In-term sessions Monday to<br />
Friday at the Tramshed Arts &<br />
Community Centre, Narrabeen.<br />
More info 0478 920 651<br />
or email training.compalsnb@gmail.com<br />
Animal Welfare<br />
Branch relaunch<br />
The Animal Welfare League<br />
NSW (AWL NSW) is relaunching<br />
its Northern Beaches<br />
Branch. Dedicated to improving<br />
the lives of companion<br />
animals and promoting<br />
responsible pet ownership,<br />
the Branch is seeking volunteers<br />
to help it provide<br />
much-needed services on the<br />
Northern Beaches, including<br />
a Subsidised Desexing<br />
Program, Foster Care and<br />
Adoption Program. “Whether<br />
you can spare some time, offer<br />
a temporary home to a cat<br />
or dog in need, or contribute<br />
financially, your involvement<br />
could have a real impact on<br />
the lives of companion animals<br />
in our community,” said<br />
Branch President Persephone<br />
Nicholas. More info about<br />
volunteering, fostering, and<br />
donations (including goods<br />
and services) call or text<br />
0476 153 437 or email nbsecretary@awlnsw.com.au<br />
Astronomy evening<br />
at Waratah Park<br />
The Duffys Forest Residents<br />
Association will hold an Astronomy<br />
evening at Waratah<br />
Park on Saturday August 10<br />
(from 6.30pm). Local expert<br />
Jill Seubert will open the<br />
evening with a talk on ‘space<br />
navigation in the solar system’<br />
before members of the<br />
Northern Sydney Astronomical<br />
Society will share their<br />
expertise and telescopes,<br />
allowing everyone to observe<br />
the night sky. Free event;<br />
bookings essential (spaces<br />
limited) to david.harris@<br />
sydney.edu.au<br />
Warriewood<br />
Community<br />
Centre turns sod<br />
Work has officially begun on<br />
the construction of the Warriewood<br />
Community Centre,<br />
which is being built on the<br />
existing site of the recently<br />
demolished Nelson Heather<br />
Centre building. Mayor Sue<br />
Heins said there had been<br />
a growing need for a multipurpose<br />
centre to accommodate<br />
the expanding local<br />
community. Features of the<br />
new centre will include five<br />
multi-purpose halls suited to<br />
a wide range of recreational<br />
activities; two multi-purpose<br />
meeting rooms; an entry<br />
lobby with seating and kitchenette<br />
facilities; covered outdoor<br />
spaces which overlook<br />
landscaped gardens; modern<br />
and accessible amenities;<br />
multiple kitchen facilities;<br />
and 78 car parking spaces, 5<br />
of which have disability access.<br />
The building is expected<br />
to be completed in late 2025,<br />
weather permitting. More<br />
info Council website.<br />
‘Housing Jury’ day<br />
a success: Scamps<br />
Mackellar Independent MP<br />
Dr Sophie Scamps will report<br />
back on the findings of her<br />
‘Housing Jury’ initiative on<br />
August 6 following careful<br />
analysis of findings from<br />
the full-day “deliberative<br />
democracy” event held on<br />
June 15. “A jury of people<br />
from Mackellar with a range<br />
of backgrounds and living<br />
circumstances were prepared<br />
to come together and have<br />
the hard conversations the<br />
major parties shy away from<br />
on housing,” said Dr Scamps.<br />
“After careful deliberation<br />
and consultation with subject<br />
matter experts, they were able<br />
Continued on page 40<br />
38 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
New indoor sports facility<br />
The NSW<br />
Government<br />
has allocated $1<br />
million to allow<br />
planning to<br />
begin for a new<br />
multipurpose<br />
indoor sports<br />
facility at<br />
Northern Beaches<br />
Secondary<br />
College – Cromer<br />
Campus.<br />
Wakehurst<br />
Independent MP<br />
Michael Regan joined Premier Chris Minns to visit the<br />
campus for the announcement in June.<br />
The NBSC Cromer Campus student population has<br />
grown significantly in recent years, including students<br />
from the upper Northern Beaches, and while some minor<br />
works and refurbishments have been delivered, the school<br />
community has been vocal in their support for a new<br />
school hall.<br />
Mr Regan said this new facility would be used by the<br />
school during school days, with local sports clubs and<br />
other community groups able to use the facility after<br />
hours, on the weekends and during school holidays.<br />
“Across the Northern Beaches, the community has been<br />
crying out for more indoor multi-use sports courts, so<br />
everyone can play the sports they love,” he said. “Waiting lists<br />
are in the thousands, with kids in particular missing out.”<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 39
News<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> News<br />
Bike odyssey fundraiser update<br />
Readers may recall Avalon couple Richard<br />
and Judy Brierley-Jones’ ambitious<br />
six-month motorbike trek to Wales, with a<br />
plan to cover 35,000 kilometres across 25<br />
countries, raising money for charity (Pit <strong>Life</strong><br />
Feb issue). The couple set off with another<br />
couple in February and have checked in with<br />
this update: “We crossed Australia to Perth<br />
and shipped the bikes to Bali. Rode through<br />
Indonesia, which was a crazy experience,<br />
intense traffic, poor roads, floods, temps in<br />
the 40s. Malaysia, Thailand with Songkran<br />
water festival and elephants. Laos with<br />
more poor roads and amazing scenery and<br />
into China for our 8200km journey across<br />
the country including Everest base camp<br />
Indigo a proud Young Achiever<br />
Terrey Hills-based tour group<br />
On Course Tours and Travels<br />
added a feather to its cap when<br />
its Managing Director Indigo<br />
Penn won the Travel, Tourism<br />
and Hospitality gong at the<br />
prestigious Channel Seven<br />
Young Achievers Awards in May.<br />
At just 24, Indigo (pictured<br />
far left) oversees the local<br />
business which specialises<br />
in bespoke tours for mature<br />
travellers, including single-day,<br />
extended coach tours, cruises,<br />
and overseas holidays.<br />
Accepting the award Indigo<br />
said: “I am honoured – thank<br />
you to the esteemed panel of<br />
judges for acknowledging my<br />
vision and dedication. This<br />
award is a testament to our<br />
amazing team.”<br />
On Course Tours and Travel<br />
have offered diverse travel<br />
experiences to mature-aged<br />
travellers for more than 30<br />
years. Their tours are built<br />
with the intention of bringing<br />
like-minded people together to<br />
experience authentic cultural<br />
encounters and enjoy the<br />
warmth and hospitality of<br />
regional Australia and beyond.<br />
In February 2025, On Course<br />
will be running a first of its<br />
kind: a mature-aged volunteer<br />
tourism trip to Cambodia to<br />
help teach English and support<br />
underprivileged Cambodian<br />
school kids.”<br />
*Info oncoursetours.com.au<br />
in Tibet. Ancient cities of Dali, Lijiang,<br />
Lhasa and Kashgar. High mountain passes<br />
over 5000m with snow and sub-zero temps<br />
making riding difficult. Now in Kyrgyzstan.”<br />
Follow them at 2upfromdownunder.com<br />
Continued from page 38<br />
to find consensus on four<br />
policy areas. Their proposals<br />
were detailed and nuanced<br />
and my team and I will be<br />
analysing them deeply.” Dr<br />
Scamps said the jury of 12<br />
ranged in age from 18 to 91<br />
and came from different<br />
backgrounds and life experiences<br />
of the housing market<br />
– from owners to renters to<br />
people in social housing or<br />
still living at home. “I am<br />
going to think deeply about<br />
what the jury has suggested<br />
to me and how I can advance<br />
these ideas in Canberra.” Dr<br />
Scamps said “deliberative<br />
democracy” had been used<br />
often in Europe as part of<br />
formal decision making, with<br />
citizens chosen randomly and<br />
then whittled down to best<br />
reflect the make-up of the<br />
community. More info sophiescamps.com.au<br />
A night with the<br />
blokes of Avalon<br />
What does it mean to be a<br />
bloke today? And what do we<br />
want it to look like tomorrow?<br />
The team from Tomorrow Man<br />
are heading to Avalon Beach<br />
Surf <strong>Life</strong> Saving Club to run<br />
a free workshop on Tuesday<br />
2 <strong>July</strong>. Tomorrow Man runs<br />
programs for boys, parents<br />
and teachers in schools. They<br />
believe outdated stereotypes<br />
are leaving some of our<br />
mates, dads, sons, uncles,<br />
teammates, workmates or<br />
40 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
others stranded without<br />
the tools to live a healthy life.<br />
This free community event<br />
aims to get beyond the banter<br />
and explore what it means to<br />
be a man today and what it<br />
will mean tomorrow. Come<br />
along, have some laughs, and<br />
engage in a no-holds barred<br />
conversation about the state<br />
of man, including a discussion<br />
on some stats affecting<br />
men. Starts 7pm (doors open<br />
6.30pm). Register at tomorrowman.com.au<br />
Bank of Grandparents<br />
Baby boomers are often<br />
blamed for today’s inflated<br />
house prices but they’re the<br />
unsung heroes of today’s<br />
cost-of-living crisis – helping<br />
their offspring carry the<br />
cost of childcare, clothes and<br />
essentials, according to new<br />
Compare the Market research.<br />
Almost three-quarters of Australian<br />
grandparents surveyed<br />
said they had been supporting<br />
their family financially, with<br />
31% gifting money and providing<br />
childcare free of charge.<br />
Some other top ways they care<br />
for their kids and grandkids<br />
is by: Purchasing clothes, toys<br />
and essentials (31%); cooking<br />
for them (20%); lending<br />
money (13%); contributing to<br />
household bills (9%); helping<br />
with property purchases (9%).<br />
The data also showed that 7%<br />
contributed towards the cost<br />
of school and daycare, and a<br />
further 7% had helped their<br />
kids or grandchildren buy<br />
a car. Compare the Market’s<br />
Economic Director David Koch<br />
said this was living proof that<br />
grandparents were the unsung<br />
heroes of our generation.<br />
“Baby Boomers have been getting<br />
a bad rap in the media for<br />
aiding inflation and spending<br />
up big,” Mr Koch said. “But in<br />
reality, 75% of grandparents<br />
are helping ease the cost-of-living<br />
crisis and are chipping in<br />
to help their kids and grandkids<br />
in some way.” More info<br />
comparethemarket.com.au<br />
Vet<br />
on call<br />
with Dr Brown<br />
Over 80 per cent of dogs<br />
develop dental disease by<br />
the age of three – one of the<br />
reasons we have Dog Dental<br />
Months.<br />
If your dog has either bad<br />
breath, discoloured teeth, loose<br />
teeth, a change in their appetite<br />
or behaviour – chances are your<br />
best friend may be experiencing<br />
the pain and discomfort of<br />
dental disease, so come and<br />
see us this <strong>July</strong> and August and<br />
receive the benefits of our dog<br />
dental months special.<br />
Dental disease begins when<br />
bacteria and food in your dog’s<br />
mouth accumulate on the teeth,<br />
forming plaque which sticks to<br />
the surface of the teeth. Saliva<br />
then causes the plaque to harden<br />
into tartar which becomes<br />
firmly attached to the teeth<br />
causing discolouration, bad<br />
breath and further infection.<br />
The unsightly tartar build-up<br />
on your dog’s teeth can often<br />
be an obvious indication of dental<br />
disease; however it’s what<br />
happens to the nearby gum<br />
tissue that’s also of concern.<br />
Bacteria creep in around the<br />
teeth causing inflammation<br />
and infection – referred to as<br />
gingivitis. This causes pain, bad<br />
breath and discomfort in the<br />
mouth, and can damage and<br />
erode the teeth. If gingivitis is<br />
left unchecked the infection<br />
subsequently travels underneath<br />
the gum line and destroys<br />
the attachment of the tooth<br />
to the bone and erodes the<br />
jaw – this is called periodontal<br />
disease and ultimately results in<br />
pain, bleeding and tooth loss.<br />
Whilst gingivitis can be treated<br />
and the tooth can be saved,<br />
periodontal disease can’t.<br />
The signs of dental disease<br />
can sometimes be difficult to<br />
see, but the good news is that<br />
we’re here to help. Dog Dental<br />
Months are in <strong>July</strong> and August<br />
at Sydney Animal Hospitals and<br />
our team are providing FREE<br />
dog dental checks with a veterinary<br />
nurse, to examine your<br />
dog’s mouth for signs of dental<br />
disease. We’re also offering<br />
some great deals on dog dental<br />
scale and polish procedures<br />
and Hills Dental Diet food. Book<br />
your dog in for a FREE dental<br />
check today!<br />
News<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 41
Talent<br />
by the<br />
palette<br />
<strong>Life</strong> Stories<br />
The <strong>Pittwater</strong> creative community<br />
has new ‘royalty’ after a high honour<br />
bestowed on North Narrabeen artist<br />
Stephanie Galloway Brown.<br />
Story by Greg McHugh<br />
Stephanie Galloway Brown where we wanted to go with huge shields and truncheons. man Prizes were all won by<br />
reached new heights in our art,” Galloway Brown I’d just never seen anything women.<br />
the art world when she recalls.<br />
like that in my life. Bumping<br />
The big news that Galloway<br />
was chosen as an Archibald The portrait is more than<br />
into Kathrin and hearing Brown had been chosen as an<br />
Prize Finalist for <strong>2024</strong>. The just a realistic depiction her story brought it all back Archibald Prize Finalist came<br />
Archibald Prize is awarded of Longhurst. It shows her again,” she explains.<br />
by email.<br />
each year for the best portrait strength, her work ethic and Galloway Brown knew how “I think out of the whole<br />
painted by an artist resident references her upbringing in she wanted to portray Longhurst<br />
thing, getting that email was<br />
in Australasia. “I’ve always East Berlin, with background<br />
and only needed one the most exciting part of it.<br />
dreamed of having a piece of graphics of the Checkpoint sitting with her. She is shown Just getting that initial ‘okay…<br />
work hanging in the Art Gallery<br />
Charlie border crossing sign – as she is every day, dressed you’ve been accepted, you’re<br />
of NSW,” Galloway Brown a stark contrast with Galloway as a professional artist. Oil going to be in this thing that<br />
says. “The Archibald seemed Brown’s own childhood on a mixed with beeswax paste you’ve always wanted to be in<br />
a little bit far-fetched at the New Zealand dairy farm. was used to give texture and for your whole life as an artist’.<br />
time but now it has become A bus trip holiday in Europe translucency to the paint and<br />
It’s pretty huge,” she says.<br />
a reality so that’s pretty in the late 1980s left Galloway the portrait.<br />
Galloway Brown soon found<br />
exciting. I really feel like I’ve Brown with her own experiences<br />
“It’s one thing to get a out that the Archibald Prize<br />
fulfilled a life goal.”<br />
of the protests, unrest strong likeness in a painting, exhibition is a massive event,<br />
She explained she made and upheaval in a divided it’s another thing to try to get requiring an artist statement<br />
a late decision to enter the Germany, when she arrived across a feeling of a person, for her portrait and interviews<br />
Archibald Prize and only had around the time the Berlin or of their character or part of<br />
with Archibald tour<br />
four weeks before deadline to Wall came down.<br />
their personality,” she says. guides. A lunch for the artists<br />
paint her portrait of Kathrin “It was frightening, because Longhurst is aptly described<br />
and sitters was “a little bit<br />
Longhurst, a fellow Northern I came from this quiet little<br />
by Galloway Brown as daunting… especially when<br />
Beaches artist and friend. “We country town where nothing “quite a powerful feminine there are artists there that<br />
used to carpool together and happens, to Berlin – watching figure”, in a year where the you have idolised”.<br />
talk about our ambitions of the police pile in with batons, Archibald, Wynne and Sul-<br />
Opening night came com-<br />
42 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
plete with a red carpet entry<br />
and a packed three floors of<br />
the Art Gallery for the Archie<br />
Party. “I was just constantly<br />
pinching myself the whole<br />
night!” she said.<br />
Galloway Brown moved to<br />
the steep heights of Alexander<br />
Street, Collaroy in 1991<br />
and fell in love with the<br />
Northern Beaches.<br />
“This is home, because I had<br />
travelled all around the world<br />
at this stage and I just had this<br />
definite, strong feeling when<br />
I got to here on the Northern<br />
Beaches, that this was home,”<br />
she remembers.<br />
“I think I just loved the sort<br />
of aloofness about it, it was<br />
leafy and quiet and it just had<br />
a little artistic quality about<br />
it. A real community.”<br />
A rainforest pocket in<br />
North Narrabeen, bookended<br />
by waterfalls, has now been<br />
home for more than 20 years.<br />
The love of art started in<br />
Galloway Brown’s schooldays<br />
and has sustained her<br />
throughout her career as a<br />
graphic designer and illustrator<br />
(remember the Yellow<br />
Pages!), when working for a<br />
portrait photographer and as<br />
an art teacher. She exhibits<br />
her works locally in the annual<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Artists Trail<br />
and is also a talented mail<br />
sorter at Avalon Post Office<br />
(<strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> March 2023<br />
edition).<br />
She sketches Church Point<br />
and Palm Beach scenes and<br />
carries them around as paintings<br />
in her head before they<br />
become colourful canvases<br />
evoking memories of special<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> places. “The paintings<br />
often go to people that<br />
have a connection to that<br />
place in some way,” Galloway<br />
Brown says.<br />
Even as an Archibald Prize<br />
Finalist, she remains focused<br />
on increasing her versatility<br />
and taking on new challenges.<br />
Galloway Brown admits to<br />
still learning her craft. “I’m<br />
learning to listen to the painting<br />
more – where the painting<br />
says ‘Stop!’. The painting<br />
kind of tells you, ‘You’re not<br />
to do any more… enough is<br />
enough!’.”<br />
*Stephanie will throw<br />
open her sketch books at<br />
her home studio during the<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Artists Trail on<br />
27-28 <strong>July</strong>. More info<br />
pittwaterartiststrail.com<br />
CLOCKWISE FROM<br />
OPPOSITE:<br />
Stephanie in her<br />
studio; a drawing<br />
of an old local<br />
icon, the Palm<br />
Beach Boathouse;<br />
her Archibald<br />
Prize portrait of<br />
Kathrin Longhurst<br />
hanging in the<br />
Art Gallery of<br />
NSW; the early<br />
artist sketching<br />
at home, aged 21;<br />
pushing the tour<br />
bus (she’s second<br />
from left) while<br />
on her European<br />
holiday in the late<br />
1980s; a place of<br />
solace, painting<br />
in her North<br />
Narrabeen studio.<br />
<strong>Life</strong> Stories<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 43
Books<br />
Author Q&A<br />
Sandie’s focus on finding voice<br />
Local author and Founder and Director of the<br />
Northern Beaches Readers Festival Sandie Docker<br />
has penned six works of Women’s Fiction about love,<br />
loss, family and small country towns that weave<br />
together the past and present. Her latest release The<br />
Lyrebird Lake Ladies Choir is a deeply moving story<br />
about belonging and the power of discovering your<br />
voice. Interview by Lisa Offord<br />
Q: What’s your connection to<br />
the Northern Beaches…<br />
I grew up in Coffs Harbour; I<br />
first fell in love with reading<br />
when my father introduced me<br />
to fantasy books as a teenager.<br />
But my love of Women’s Fiction<br />
began when I first read Jane<br />
Austen for the HSC. It wasn’t<br />
until I was taking a translation<br />
course at university that my<br />
Mandarin lecturer suggested<br />
I might have a knack for<br />
writing – a seed of an idea that<br />
sat quietly in the back of my<br />
mind while I lived overseas and<br />
travelled the world. I settled on<br />
the Northern Beaches with my<br />
husband and daughter 15 years<br />
ago, embedded myself into the<br />
community through school<br />
P&Cs and my local netball club<br />
and I feel lucky to have raised<br />
my daughter here.<br />
Q: What inspired you to write<br />
your new book?<br />
There were two initial sparks<br />
of inspiration for The Lyrebird<br />
Lake Ladies Choir. The first<br />
was when I read an article<br />
saying the fastest growing<br />
demographic of homeless<br />
people in Australia, are women<br />
in their 50s. This struck a<br />
real chord with me, and I<br />
wanted to explore, outside<br />
of circumstances people<br />
would maybe understand<br />
(like DV or addiction), how<br />
and why this is happening.<br />
This became Hannah’s story.<br />
The second spark was the<br />
mystery surrounding my own<br />
grandmother and a daughter<br />
she had who no-one knows<br />
what happened to. Lyrebird is<br />
NOT my grandmother’s story…<br />
that is still a mystery – but<br />
over the years I have imagined<br />
many wild scenarios of how<br />
and why she might have come<br />
to Australia from England<br />
and one of those imaginings<br />
became Maggie and Eleanor’s<br />
story.<br />
Q: How did it come together?<br />
That was the tricky part,<br />
figuring out how to weave<br />
those two sparks of<br />
inspiration together. There<br />
was a bit of trial-and-error<br />
involved, as is often the<br />
case with writing a novel,<br />
and I played with different<br />
combinations of who the<br />
women were to each other,<br />
and how their paths would<br />
or wouldn’t cross, and a<br />
few different plot paths too.<br />
Most of the writing of the<br />
first draft was done over<br />
nine months from 2023,<br />
and then we go into a few<br />
rounds of editing that take<br />
a few months also. All up,<br />
it’s about a year of writing,<br />
editing, rewriting, polishing.<br />
Q: What are your writing<br />
habits?<br />
I tend to do most of my<br />
writing in what I grandiosely<br />
call my ‘library’, which is<br />
actually just a study decked<br />
out with Ikea bookshelves, a<br />
sit-stand desk, and very comfy<br />
chair in the corner for reading.<br />
Though you can often find me<br />
writing in local cafes as well.<br />
I’m not very routine with my<br />
approach, so I’ll snatch time<br />
all over the place to get my<br />
writing done, but boy when a<br />
deadline is looming, you won’t<br />
see me leave said library.<br />
Q: Any interesting feedback<br />
from readers?<br />
Waiting on feedback is<br />
incredibly nerve-wracking…<br />
even after six books. It doesn’t<br />
get easier. But thankfully,<br />
early feedback has been very<br />
positive.<br />
I’ve had comments like ‘an<br />
utterly exquisite story… I<br />
didn’t want it to end’ from<br />
one of Australia’s top book<br />
podcasts, Talking Aussie<br />
Books. That takes the edge off<br />
the nerves a little.<br />
*The Lyrebird Lake Ladies<br />
Choir RRP $34.99 is out now.<br />
Sandie will be talking about<br />
her new release at Mona<br />
Vale Library on Wednesday<br />
<strong>July</strong> 24 from 6.30pm-<br />
7.30pm. Cost $5 includes<br />
refreshments, bookings<br />
essential. Enquiries 8495<br />
5028 or libraryprograms@<br />
northernbeaches.nsw.gov.<br />
au. The Northern Beaches<br />
Readers’ Festival will be held<br />
at the Avalon Recreation<br />
Centre in September. More<br />
info at nbrf.com.au<br />
44 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Art <strong>Life</strong><br />
Get on the Trail of stunning art<br />
Open studio events assist local<br />
the opportunity to walk away with<br />
arts communities to connect<br />
some cool textured paper they<br />
with and engage the public to<br />
experience and buy art from the<br />
wealth of talented artists and craftspeople.<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> is renowned for<br />
its strong community of creatives,<br />
and on 27 and 28 <strong>July</strong> the members<br />
of the <strong>Pittwater</strong> Artists Trail<br />
will once again throw open studio<br />
doors and present pop-up galleries<br />
scattered across the peninsula. You<br />
can browse, admire, observe, ask<br />
questions, see the artist working<br />
and of course buy pieces of art<br />
directly from the artists.<br />
On the Saturday, popular<br />
have created. Romanda Newman<br />
will also be demonstrating making<br />
a small porcelain bowl decorated<br />
with native flowers.<br />
Just down the road at Silver Plus<br />
Studio (Ingleside), visitors can view<br />
the wide range of specialist equipment<br />
employed in the creation of<br />
beautiful objects. Silver Plus members<br />
will be working on pieces<br />
throughout the two days and<br />
welcome questions from visitors.<br />
At the North Narrabeen and<br />
Collaroy studios of Stephanie<br />
Galloway Brown (<strong>2024</strong> Archibald<br />
abstract artist and teacher Jan<br />
‘beyond the Bends’ and nearby in Clareville,<br />
Prize finalist and <strong>Life</strong> Story subject<br />
Cristaudo (pictured in studio) will be doing<br />
Bilgola Plateau and Newport where visitors<br />
– p42) and Jennifer Rosnell, visitors can view<br />
a demonstration with charcoal at 11am at<br />
sketch books and discuss their passions, inspiration<br />
and techniques. Jennifer’s current<br />
can view paintings, macrame sculpture and<br />
Avalon Recreation Centre. Jan says her demonstration<br />
will provide some tips on how<br />
passion is the beautiful Australian coastline.<br />
printmaking first-hand.<br />
to loosen up and work from memory. Jan<br />
There will be five artists from the trail<br />
Stephanie also regularly depicts the coastal<br />
is exhibiting alongside Karen Hick and Jacqueline<br />
on display up at Eramboo Artist Environ-<br />
landscape, as well as creating playful oils of<br />
Payne, whose ethereal and gestural ment (Terrey Hills), and several hands-on everyday still life. – Susan Peacock<br />
works sit comfortably with Jan’s bold and<br />
colourful abstracts.<br />
There are eight other studios open<br />
demonstrations visitors can get involved<br />
with. Ally Bryan will be demonstrating the<br />
art of Gelli Printing, and visitors will have<br />
*<strong>Pittwater</strong> Artists Trail <strong>2024</strong> Open Studios<br />
27-28 <strong>July</strong> (10am-4pm); download a Trail<br />
Map at pittwaterartiststrail.com<br />
Enviro Prize finalists<br />
Council has announced<br />
the finalists for the <strong>2024</strong><br />
Environment Art & Design<br />
Prize, selected according to a<br />
brief focused on showcasing<br />
innovative and thoughtprovoking<br />
works that respond<br />
to the theme of environment,<br />
with an aim to inspiring action<br />
towards a sustainable future.<br />
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue<br />
Heins said the Australia-wide<br />
response was impressive.<br />
“The EADP continues to<br />
increase its prominence<br />
and respect in the arts. This<br />
year we received almost 700<br />
entries,” she said.<br />
“It is also pleasing to see an<br />
increase interest in the Prize<br />
from our younger generation.<br />
“The level of entries<br />
confirms that the climate,<br />
environmental concerns, and<br />
the natural world are the key<br />
concerns of many artists and<br />
designers. The judges have a<br />
challenging time narrowing<br />
down to just two winners in<br />
the Art and Design categories,<br />
and shared winners in the<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
Young Artists & Designers<br />
category.”<br />
Prize money in <strong>2024</strong>,<br />
across the four categories,<br />
has increased with the Visual<br />
Arts and Design winners<br />
each receiving an impressive<br />
$20,000, making the design<br />
category one of Australia’s<br />
richest design awards. The<br />
Young Artists and Designers<br />
winners will receive a total of<br />
$3,000, and the three People’s<br />
Choice winners will receive<br />
$1,000 per venue.<br />
Public can vote in the<br />
People’s Choice Award until<br />
21 August, with winners<br />
announced on 23 August.<br />
Prize winners will be<br />
announced on Thursday 1<br />
August at 6.30pm at Manly Art<br />
Gallery & Museum.<br />
View the finalists’ works<br />
at Manly Art Gallery and<br />
Museum, Curl Curl Creative<br />
Space and Mona Vale Creative<br />
Space Gallery from 2-25<br />
August.<br />
*View finalists on Council’s<br />
website.<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 45<br />
Art <strong>Life</strong>
Hot Property<br />
Potential, potential, potential<br />
Savvy buyers won’t find it difficult to unlock the potential of these three properties new to the<br />
market in Avalon Beach, Newport and Elanora Heights… By Lisa Offord<br />
Here’s an opportunity to acquire an absolute<br />
oceanfront property on one of Avalon Beach’s most<br />
prestigious streets at 97 Marine Parade. Perched on a<br />
near-level 910sqm block, this expansive family home<br />
boasts an unrivaled coastal position with uninterrupted<br />
ocean vistas from its northeast aspect. Boasting classic<br />
architecture with boundless potential to renovate<br />
or modernise, both the ground and first floor living<br />
spaces seamlessly flow onto expansive indoor/outdoor<br />
ocean-facing terraces, creating a private setting for<br />
entertaining. Five generously sized bedrooms with<br />
built-in wardrobes and four bathrooms comfortably<br />
accommodate guests or a large family. For sale, EOI.<br />
Contact Jonathan Fletcher at Cunninghams.<br />
Hot Property<br />
This single-level north-facing family beach house<br />
in a private resort style garden sits in a quiet spot<br />
at 61 Bardo Road, Newport, just an easy walk to<br />
the surf and <strong>Pittwater</strong>. Ready to be enjoyed while<br />
offering scope to extend up in the future (STCA),<br />
the home offers open-plan indoor/outdoor living<br />
with a defined lounge/dining featuring a combustion<br />
fireplace. There are three bedrooms with built-ins<br />
and a master wing with walk-in robe and ensuite.<br />
The property boasts an oversized double garage and<br />
sits on 732sqm (approx) secure grounds. For sale<br />
with a guide of $2.6m. Contact Cherie Sevenoaks<br />
at LJ Hooker Newport.<br />
Seize this rare opportunity to build a dream coastal<br />
home high above the escapment at 119 Woorarra<br />
Avenue, Elanora Heights, looking over Narrabeen<br />
Lake and surrounds with long-range ocean views<br />
extending to Long Reef. Sweeping over a grand 70m<br />
elevation, 1,542 sqm of lush green landscape is on<br />
offer with an approved DA for a stunning dual level<br />
four-bedroom residence. Contemplate the build<br />
in the property’s exisiting two-bedroom cottage<br />
and quaint art studio. A lower-level workshop<br />
provides storage while the recently completed<br />
carport can accommodate two cars with driveway<br />
space for an extra vehicle. Contact Amy Young at<br />
Laing+Simmons Avalon Beach.<br />
46 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Health & Wellbeing<br />
The great healing po<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Art is being used as therapy<br />
to help people of all<br />
ages across <strong>Pittwater</strong>.<br />
The Be Centre and Inner View<br />
Art Therapy are two of the<br />
groups doing beautiful work.<br />
“Art speaks where words are<br />
unable to explain.” There are<br />
many quotes on the power of<br />
art to express feelings. Perhaps<br />
call it expressionism. At<br />
the Be Centre in Warriewood,<br />
children are using art to reduce<br />
their anxiety and overcome<br />
social challenges.<br />
On a tour, Be Centre’s CEO<br />
Tania Tailor and Jane Leckie,<br />
one of their Creative Art Therapists,<br />
explained how art allows<br />
children to express emotions<br />
and feelings they may otherwise<br />
keep to themselves.<br />
“We offer creative therapies<br />
for children between three and<br />
12,” begins Tania, “art therapy,<br />
drama therapy and play<br />
therapy – play therapy is where<br />
we started.<br />
“Children don’t always have<br />
the words to express what you<br />
would in a talking psychology<br />
session. When they play, their<br />
subconscious comes into play,<br />
and they start telling you exactly<br />
what’s going on in their<br />
world.”<br />
Be Centre has been running<br />
since 2008 and currently caters<br />
for around 80 children. There<br />
are 30 more children on a waitlist,<br />
but such is the increase in<br />
anxiety levels for children at the<br />
moment that sometimes that<br />
wait list needs to be closed.<br />
“We see children with DV,<br />
families splitting up, peer-topeer<br />
pressure,” explains Tania.<br />
“Some are even struggling with<br />
the residual nature of COVID<br />
lockdown. For us it was abnormal<br />
to go into lockdown; for<br />
children that were born during<br />
that period that’s their normal.<br />
When it finished, we all went<br />
back to normal and they came<br />
into this world that they didn’t<br />
understand.”<br />
Jane adds: “It might be<br />
the children have suffered a<br />
traumatic incident in their life,<br />
a parent figure has passed<br />
away, or they have autism<br />
or ADHD. Maybe they’re just<br />
struggling with low mood or<br />
depression, selective mutism, a<br />
lack of social skills, or are low<br />
in confidence – we really see a<br />
whole range.”<br />
An initial Play Therapy<br />
program runs 12 weeks and<br />
around six months is average<br />
for a child to come to the<br />
centre. Parent counselling is<br />
free, because as Tania says: “If<br />
you can help the whole family<br />
they’re better equipped to<br />
deal with what’s happening at<br />
home.”<br />
“It’s a safe and supportive<br />
environment, where they get<br />
to process and become more<br />
regulated,” says Jane. “And<br />
early intervention gives them<br />
tools to deal with life and not<br />
carry it further, not cause them<br />
problems as an adult.”<br />
One-to-one and group sessions,<br />
as well as parent and<br />
BEAUTIFUL WORK: The Be Centre’s Tania Tailor (left), temporary teacher<br />
Sam Doran and Jane Leckie (right) with resources at the centre.<br />
child sessions, are available<br />
and 30 per cent of Be Centre’s<br />
services are via scholarship for<br />
children who might not otherwise<br />
be able to afford to come.<br />
“We don’t get any government<br />
funding, it all comes<br />
through grants, foundations<br />
and private funders,” says<br />
Tania. “Our fundraising team<br />
has to work hard to make<br />
those scholarships available.<br />
And there must be hundreds,<br />
if not thousands, of children<br />
out there who may not even<br />
know this exists. It’s a really<br />
good way for children to find<br />
themselves and to thrive.”<br />
The end point of the art<br />
therapy is the Good Planet<br />
Studio Art Exhibition at Gallery<br />
109 on Wednesday 24 <strong>July</strong>.<br />
Children’s artworks from Be<br />
Centre will then be displayed<br />
as part of Creative Open at Gallery<br />
109 from Thursday, Friday,<br />
Saturday, and Sunday (11-4pm).<br />
Over at Avalon Golf Club, art<br />
therapist Philippa Montier from<br />
Inner View Art Therapy is helping<br />
adults to express themselves<br />
for similar reasons.<br />
48 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
wer of art<br />
“I used to be in the corporate<br />
world and then studied art at<br />
around 40,” explains Philippa.<br />
“I then did a Masters degree in<br />
Art Therapy.<br />
“When I was studying art I<br />
began to look at my own experience<br />
and things I’ve been<br />
through, including post-natal<br />
depression. As I looked at<br />
recovering through the lens of<br />
art, it gave me a new perspective.<br />
“Art is a way that people can<br />
express themselves and externalise<br />
their experience without<br />
using words. By putting their<br />
thoughts and feelings into art<br />
it’s really helpful and supportive.”<br />
Philippa has worked with art<br />
therapy in hospitals as well as<br />
working with individuals from<br />
all walks of life.<br />
She now offers sessions at<br />
Avalon Creative Space once a<br />
week, as well as a session once<br />
a month at Bassett Street in<br />
Mona Vale.<br />
“We have small groups at<br />
Avalon of between two and<br />
10 people,” says Philippa. “It’s<br />
then more of a contained experience<br />
and better to connect<br />
with each other.<br />
“It’s different to an art class,”<br />
says Philippa. “It’s more a process<br />
of exploring the materials<br />
and space to make art for it’s<br />
own sake. Anything from paint<br />
to collage, to drawing to fabric<br />
to clay. It’s up to people what<br />
they want to do on the day.<br />
“Everyone has creativity in<br />
them – where you’re making<br />
something that didn’t exist before.<br />
It’s really just being open<br />
to it and having the world open<br />
up as a result.”<br />
The two-hour class costs<br />
$40 and includes refreshments.<br />
– Rob Pegley<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 49
Health & Wellbeing<br />
with Dr John Kippen<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
What to know about removal<br />
of skin lesions and moles<br />
Diagnosing “bad” moles,<br />
or those that may be<br />
suspicious for skin cancer,<br />
typically involves a thorough<br />
examination. Here are some<br />
features that might indicate a<br />
mole needs further evaluation:<br />
Asymmetry: Healthy moles are<br />
usually symmetrical. Asymmetrical<br />
moles may be a cause<br />
for concern.<br />
Irregular Borders: Borders<br />
of normal moles are typically<br />
smooth and well-defined. Moles<br />
with irregular, scalloped, or<br />
poorly defined borders may be<br />
concerning.<br />
Colour Variation: Normal moles<br />
are usually one colour, such as<br />
brown, tan, or black. Moles that<br />
have multiple colours or that<br />
have changed in colour over<br />
time may need evaluation.<br />
Diameter: While size alone isn’t<br />
always indicative of a problem,<br />
moles larger than about 6mm<br />
may warrant closer examination.<br />
Elevation or raised moles.<br />
Evolution change or rate of<br />
change: Any changes in the<br />
size, shape, colour, or elevation<br />
of a mole, or any new symptoms<br />
such as bleeding, itching,<br />
or pain, should be evaluated by<br />
a dermatologist.<br />
Family History: Individuals<br />
with a family history of melanoma<br />
or other skin cancers may<br />
have a higher risk of developing<br />
abnormal moles.<br />
As part of an examination a<br />
biopsy may be needed.<br />
During a biopsy, a small<br />
sample of tissue is removed<br />
from the mole and examined<br />
under a microscope to determine<br />
if it’s cancerous or not.<br />
Early detection and treatment<br />
of abnormal moles are crucial<br />
for preventing skin cancer.<br />
Regular self-examination and<br />
professional skin checks are<br />
recommended for anyone<br />
concerned about their moles<br />
or skin health. Do not rely on<br />
someone else to find all your<br />
skin spots – you know your<br />
skin better than anyone else.<br />
Any changes, any bleeding,<br />
any flakes that reform should<br />
be pointed out at the time of<br />
your assessment.<br />
The extent of scarring after<br />
mole removal surgery can<br />
vary based on several factors,<br />
including:<br />
Size and Depth: Larger or<br />
deeper moles may require more<br />
extensive surgery, potentially<br />
resulting in larger scars.<br />
Join Palmy ‘Bloody Long Walk’<br />
The Bloody Long Walk is a 35km challenge<br />
from Palm Beach to Manly raising vital<br />
funds to help find cures for mitochondrial<br />
disease (mito).<br />
Registrations are open for this year’s<br />
event on August 4 with participants 16 years<br />
and over encouraged to do it “their way” by<br />
walking, jogging or running the course, participating<br />
as an individual or part of a team.<br />
Mito is a debilitating and potentially fatal<br />
genetic disorder that impairs the body’s<br />
ability to convert food into the energy needed<br />
to power muscles and major organs; 1 in<br />
200 people are at risk of developing mito.<br />
One Australian child born each week<br />
suffers a severe or life-threatening form of<br />
mito.<br />
*More info bloodylongwalk.com.au<br />
Location: Moles in areas with<br />
thicker skin, like the back, may<br />
produce different scars than<br />
moles in areas with thinner<br />
skin, like the face.<br />
Surgical Technique: Different<br />
surgical techniques, such as<br />
excision, shave excision, or<br />
laser removal, can result in different<br />
types and sizes of scars.<br />
Some techniques may be more<br />
minimally invasive and produce<br />
smaller scars.<br />
Individual Healing Response:<br />
Each person’s body heals differently,<br />
and some individuals<br />
may be more prone to forming<br />
raised, thick, or discoloured<br />
scars (keloids or hypertrophic<br />
scars) than others.<br />
Postoperative Care: Proper<br />
wound care following surgery,<br />
including keeping the area<br />
clean, avoiding sun exposure,<br />
and following any specific<br />
instructions from your doctor,<br />
can help minimise scarring.<br />
While some scarring is<br />
inevitable with any surgical<br />
procedure, surgeons are<br />
trained to minimise scarring<br />
as much as possible. They may<br />
use techniques like meticulous<br />
wound closure, suturing<br />
techniques, and postoperative<br />
care instructions to optimise<br />
healing and minimise scarring.<br />
In many cases, the scar will<br />
fade over time and become less<br />
noticeable.<br />
It’s essential to discuss any<br />
concerns about scarring with<br />
your surgeon before undergoing<br />
mole removal surgery.<br />
They can provide information<br />
specific to your situation and<br />
discuss potential scar management<br />
options if needed.<br />
Our columnist<br />
Dr John Kippen is a qualified,<br />
fully certified consultant<br />
specialist in Plastic and<br />
Reconstructive surgery.<br />
Australian trained, he<br />
also has additional<br />
Australian and International<br />
Fellowships. He welcomes<br />
enquiries; email<br />
doctor@johnkippen.com.au<br />
50 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
MPs welcome hospital health check<br />
PERFORMANCE: Latest statistics for Northern<br />
Beaches Hospital have been released.<br />
Mackellar federal MP Dr Sophie<br />
Scamps and Wakehurst state MP<br />
Michael Regan have welcomed the<br />
announcement that Northern Beaches<br />
Hospital and its ownership structure will be<br />
reviewed by the NSW Auditor-General.<br />
“The Northern Beaches Hospital is<br />
staffed by skilled and committed doctors,<br />
nurses and allied health professionals, and<br />
this audit will assess whether these professionals<br />
are being supported structurally by<br />
(owner) Healthscope to be able to deliver<br />
the quality of care the Northern Beaches<br />
community deserves,” the pair said.<br />
They said the audit would provide<br />
a real opportunity to test whether the<br />
unique public/private arrangement was<br />
delivering for the 350,000 people who<br />
relied on Northern Beaches Hospital, as<br />
well as assessing whether it was delivering<br />
value for money for taxpayers.<br />
They noted that latest official statistics<br />
from the Bureau of Health Information (BHI)<br />
confirmed that wait times in Emergency<br />
were getting longer.<br />
“Only 49.2 per cent of patients left emergency<br />
within four hours during the January<br />
to March quarter, compared to the state<br />
average of 56 per cent (all hospitals),” said<br />
Dr Scamps.<br />
“This is a significant deterioration compared<br />
to a year ago.<br />
“Constituents contact my office with<br />
stories of unacceptably long waits in<br />
emergency. Doctors and nurses report<br />
chronic understaffing,” she said.<br />
“I am also concerned about the reports<br />
in the media about Healthscope’s $1.6bn<br />
debt burden and the financial pressures<br />
of the private health system more generally.<br />
“I hope the Auditor-General can<br />
reassure the public that the service at<br />
Northern Beaches Hospital is not being<br />
impacted by cost pressures.”<br />
Mr Regan said: “An independent<br />
performance audit will be a very useful<br />
reference – providing more transparency<br />
and clarity for our community.<br />
“Where the hospital is found to be<br />
performing well, we can build public confidence.<br />
Where there are issues, we can<br />
understand and work to address them.<br />
“The Northern Beaches community has<br />
every right to expect the same quality<br />
of services as other comparable public<br />
hospitals.<br />
“After all, that is what was promised<br />
with the opening of the Northern Beaches<br />
Hospital in 2018, when the two previous<br />
truly local public hospitals in Mona Vale<br />
and Manly were closed.”<br />
– LO<br />
*What do you think? Tell us at readers@<br />
pittwaterlife.com.au<br />
NB Hospital stats<br />
How Northern Beaches Hospital<br />
performed, compared with Peer Group<br />
(like) hospitals across NSW (Jan 1 – March<br />
31, <strong>2024</strong>):<br />
• Patients leaving ED within 4 hours:<br />
49.2% (-2.2% average)<br />
• Patients starting ED treatment on time:<br />
71.4% (+9.7% average)<br />
• Patients transferred from Paramedics<br />
to ED staff within 30 minutes: 87.5%<br />
(+12.1% average)<br />
• Median wait time for urgent elective surgeries:<br />
11 days (4 days fewer average)<br />
Source: Bureau of Health Information (BHI).<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 51
Health & Wellbeing<br />
Hospital staff living boost<br />
Health & Wellbeing<br />
The former residential Kedesh<br />
Rehabilitation Service at Mona Vale<br />
Hospital will be made available as<br />
interim accommodation for new staff, it<br />
has been revealed.<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> MP Rory Amon has welcomed<br />
the breakthrough in local accommodation<br />
for essential workers but says far more<br />
needs to be done.<br />
Mr Amon said the development follows<br />
a submission he made to the draft Northern<br />
Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD)<br />
Clinical Services Plan for <strong>2024</strong>-2029.<br />
“In my submission, I called for the<br />
former residential Kedesh alcohol and<br />
drug rehabilitation complex at Mona Vale<br />
Hospital to be repurposed for essential<br />
worker accommodation,” he explained.<br />
The former Kedesh facility accommodated<br />
up to 10 individuals, and it was<br />
expected that essential worker accommodation<br />
could be provided for up to that<br />
number.<br />
Mr Amon said: “It’s essential we do<br />
all we can for our essential workers, or<br />
we just won’t have them, and essential<br />
services could fail.”<br />
He said that in response to his submission,<br />
the Chief Executive of the NSLHD,<br />
Adjunct Professor Anthony M Schembri<br />
AM said: “I strongly agree with your point<br />
regarding essential worker accommodation,<br />
and while a whole of government<br />
response is required, the former residential<br />
Kedesh Rehabilitation Service at Mona<br />
Vale Hospital will be made available as<br />
interim accommodation for new staff, per<br />
your suggestion.’<br />
“I welcome the positive response to<br />
my submission and look forward to the<br />
repurposed facility becoming available as<br />
soon as possible,” Mr Amon said.<br />
WELCOME NEWS:<br />
Vital accommodation<br />
for essential workers<br />
at Mona Vale.<br />
“However, more needs to be done,<br />
especially through a replacement of the<br />
former alcohol and drug rehabilitation<br />
service, which ceased operating in December<br />
2022.<br />
“My submission to the NSLHD also<br />
highlighted the need for Youth Mental<br />
Health Services and to expand the Renal<br />
Dialysis Services.<br />
“Sadly, June’s State budget provides no<br />
new funding for Youth Mental Health or<br />
drug and alcohol rehabilitation services<br />
for our community,” said Mr Amon.<br />
– Lisa Offord<br />
52 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Hair & Beauty<br />
with Sue Carroll<br />
New to clinic: is it a Laser, or<br />
Light Therapy? No, it’s ‘Tixel’<br />
Skin rejuvenation is assisted<br />
by so many different treatment<br />
modalities such as<br />
Fractional Laser, CO2 laser, IPL,<br />
Q-Switch Yag, Radio Frequency<br />
Needling and Skin Needling, to<br />
name a few. And then there is<br />
Tixel®.<br />
Tixel is not a laser, but an<br />
ablative (removing the top<br />
layer of skin) and non-ablative<br />
fractional skin treatment that<br />
will rejuvenate skin by stimulating<br />
new collagen to improve<br />
skin quality and will also target<br />
and treat acne and scarring.<br />
Tixel uses thermo-mechanical<br />
(heat) energy to evaporate<br />
tiny channels in the skin. This<br />
technology uses a titanium tip<br />
which is heated to 400 degrees<br />
celsius. The small and large<br />
tips contain tiny pyramids that<br />
pass over the skin, delivering<br />
short bursts of heat energy<br />
directly to the skin. This heat<br />
energy will firm the skin and<br />
refine the texture.<br />
Tixel can be used on all skin<br />
types, including those with a<br />
darker skin tone and hyperpigmentation.<br />
The energy settings<br />
can be reduced depending<br />
on your Fitzpatrick skin type,<br />
meaning the darker the skin<br />
the lower the setting, which<br />
in turn will mean a few more<br />
treatments.<br />
From addressing fine lines<br />
and wrinkles to improving skin<br />
texture and tone, to treating<br />
active acne and scarring, the<br />
Tixel offers extremely versatile<br />
solutions to a myriad of aesthetic<br />
concerns. When treating<br />
acne, the Tixel can treat both<br />
active clusters of acne and<br />
acne scarring. When treating<br />
active acne, the heat assists<br />
with slowing the sebaceous<br />
oil flow and reducing infection.<br />
The temperature and the<br />
treatment for this particular<br />
procedure (treating the active<br />
acne) can be a little “spicey”<br />
but can be a positive alternative<br />
to medications in some<br />
cases. Depending on the severity<br />
of the acne, 3-4 treatments<br />
may be required, spaced about<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
two weeks apart.<br />
When treating acne scarring,<br />
again, depending on the<br />
severity of the scar tissue, a<br />
few treatments about four<br />
weeks apart will be required<br />
and must be combined with a<br />
clinical home care program for<br />
optimum results.<br />
The Tixel treatment can<br />
also provide a rejuvenation<br />
technique by infusing active<br />
serums into the skin. Thousands<br />
of tiny microchannels<br />
are created and stay open for<br />
roughly six hours. During this<br />
time a take-home cocktail of<br />
customised serums is massaged<br />
into the skin every hour.<br />
This procedure is one of my<br />
all-time favourite treatments in<br />
the Clinic, without downtime.<br />
The skin may be superficially<br />
dry for a day or two post-treatment<br />
and then the skin glows<br />
and is well on its way to a more<br />
refined appearance. Everything<br />
from rosacea to hyperpigmentation<br />
can be treated easily.<br />
The rosacea has a rednessreducing<br />
cocktail massaged<br />
into the area and within a few<br />
days has begun to reduce in<br />
intensity.<br />
Hyperpigmentation has<br />
tranexamic acid massaged in<br />
to reduce the discolouration of<br />
the skin. The infusion treatment<br />
has no downtime and no<br />
pain, just a radiant complexion.<br />
The Tixel treatment can treat<br />
any area of the body, face,<br />
neck, chest, back of hands and<br />
eye area. When the ablative<br />
settings are used, expect slight<br />
crusting for 4-5 days, along<br />
with dryness and a light pink<br />
colour kissing the skin. There<br />
is no peeling or blistering.<br />
The eye area, both upper<br />
and lower areas, achieves a<br />
truly amazing result. Tixel<br />
is often used with surgical<br />
blepharoplasty to refine the<br />
texture of the skin in this area.<br />
As the Tixel is not a laser, the<br />
skin can be treated close to the<br />
lash line and the brow area.<br />
With any Tixel treatment,<br />
some people will see a result<br />
after one treatment, while others<br />
will require 3-5 sessions.<br />
The best results will be seen<br />
4-5 weeks post-treatment.<br />
Tixel can be customised<br />
for the individual. When you<br />
are seeking a smoother, more<br />
revitalised complexion, Tixel<br />
is definitely a treatment worth<br />
considering with less downtime<br />
than most lasers and<br />
clients with dry eye have reported<br />
experiencing improvement<br />
with this condition after a<br />
Tixel Treatment.<br />
Sue Carroll is at the forefront<br />
of the beauty, wellness<br />
and para-medical profession<br />
with 35 years’ experience on<br />
Sydney’s Northern Beaches.<br />
She leads a dedicated team<br />
of professionals who are<br />
passionate about results for<br />
men and women.<br />
info@skininspiration.com.au<br />
www.skininspiration.com.au<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 53<br />
Health Hair & Wellbeing Beauty
Business <strong>Life</strong>: Money<br />
with Brian Hrnjak<br />
Business <strong>Life</strong><br />
You can’t take it with you...<br />
and definitely not tax-free<br />
This month we look at<br />
aspects of what happens<br />
to your super when you<br />
die… People are often surprised<br />
to learn that superannuation<br />
balances do not necessarily<br />
form a part of their estate on<br />
death. If you spend any time<br />
at all thinking about this stuff,<br />
a superfund is really just a<br />
trust with a different tax jacket<br />
on. Trusts and superfunds are<br />
governed by their trustees.<br />
When you die, the assets that<br />
are held directly in your name<br />
pass into an estate governed<br />
by an executor, another form of<br />
trust and trustee arrangement.<br />
Depending on what you own<br />
and how you own it, assets<br />
held by you at death will pass<br />
to your estate under the control<br />
of your executor. Assets that<br />
you hold jointly with another<br />
person will bypass your estate<br />
and move to the surviving joint<br />
owner and your super balance<br />
will fall under the control of<br />
your super trustee who may be<br />
acting on behalf of a public offer<br />
fund or possibly be a member<br />
of your own family in the<br />
case of a self-managed fund.<br />
These topics in my grandparents’<br />
generation were<br />
not so vital as there was no<br />
super – super for most people<br />
started after 1992, most things<br />
my grandparents owned were<br />
held jointly and frankly, new<br />
migrants to Australia didn’t<br />
have that many assets to worry<br />
about. Move forward a couple<br />
of generations through the<br />
many Sydney property booms<br />
and into a time when super may<br />
now be your second biggest<br />
asset, some thought might be<br />
warranted about who gets what<br />
when the time comes.<br />
Compounding this complexity<br />
are legislative definitions<br />
about who is a dependent and<br />
who can receive your superannuation<br />
death benefit (see table).<br />
I’m not here to write a legal<br />
self-help book in the short<br />
space I have available, but the<br />
superannuation law spells out<br />
who you can leave your super<br />
to, the tax law determines how<br />
it will be treated. The catch all<br />
for when there is no-one in these<br />
categories is your legal personal<br />
representative – your executor in<br />
other words – the person responsible<br />
for your estate.<br />
You’ll notice that parents, for<br />
example, are not in any category<br />
and it’s here that we start to<br />
experience some of the tensions<br />
in the system. What happens<br />
if your parents are dependent<br />
on you? Or if an adult child is<br />
dependent on the parent? Why is<br />
it even important?<br />
People tend to understand the<br />
fundamental tax benefits of the<br />
superannuation system: money<br />
going into super is taxed at<br />
15% (and another 15% for those<br />
earning over $250,000 adjusted<br />
taxable income), which is low<br />
compared to the highest marginal<br />
rate of tax. Funds in super<br />
are taxed 15% on their earnings,<br />
unless the fund is in pension<br />
phase. Funds leaving super as a<br />
pension, or lump sums are tax<br />
free for those over 60 years of<br />
age.<br />
Death benefits, however, are<br />
only tax-free if they are paid<br />
to those who are dependents<br />
54 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Superannuation Law<br />
Spouse or de-facto Spouse<br />
Child of the deceased (any age)<br />
Tax Law<br />
Spouse or de-facto spouse<br />
(of any sex)<br />
Former spouse or de-facto<br />
spouse (of any sex)<br />
Person in an interdependency Child of the deceased under 18<br />
relationship with the deceased<br />
Person in an interdependency<br />
relationship with the deceased<br />
Any other person dependant<br />
on the deceased<br />
under tax law. In cases where<br />
death benefits are paid to adult<br />
children, for example, we need<br />
to look at the components of<br />
someone’s superannuation<br />
balance and determine what is<br />
taxed and what is tax-free.<br />
Tax-free balances in super<br />
are usually the result of nonconcessional<br />
contributions,<br />
those contributions that were<br />
made where a tax deduction<br />
was not claimed. Taxable<br />
amounts in a super fund usually<br />
arise from the earnings on<br />
member balances and concessional<br />
contributions – tax<br />
deductible contributions from<br />
employer contributions, salary<br />
sacrifice amounts etc and likely<br />
to be the dominant balance in<br />
those funds where a member<br />
has been contributing over<br />
their working lifetime.<br />
It’s in this area of taxable balances<br />
that we find Australia’s<br />
last remaining death duty, the<br />
others having been abolished<br />
by the Fraser government more<br />
than 40 years ago. If a deceased<br />
person leaves an adult<br />
child their taxable superannuation<br />
balance, the child will pay<br />
15% plus the Medicare levy on<br />
that distribution.<br />
Someone with a modest<br />
balance in super may not<br />
consider this an issue but most<br />
people these days have some<br />
level of life cover as part of<br />
their fund. If there is $100,000<br />
member balance and an insurance<br />
death benefit of $500,000<br />
there could be a (negative) tax<br />
difference of at least $102,000<br />
if the death benefit is left to an<br />
adult child compared to, say,<br />
leaving it to a spouse. Depending<br />
on the tax treatment of the<br />
insurance premiums inside the<br />
fund and the deceased’s age at<br />
death, the tax component on<br />
the life insurance payout could<br />
be as high as 32%.<br />
These taxation factors along<br />
with modern day longevity are<br />
creating situations where peo-<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
ple who find themselves caring<br />
for ageing parents, or perhaps<br />
the other way around – parents<br />
caring for kids, are seeking to<br />
rely on the interdependency<br />
provisions contained in the tax<br />
laws to avoid what could be<br />
an eye watering tax bill for the<br />
beneficiary when the superannuation<br />
member in the relationship<br />
passes away.<br />
Advice in this area is critical<br />
and the circumstances, if you<br />
are intending to rely on them,<br />
need to be thoroughly documented.<br />
it’s not ideal to wait<br />
until someone has passed away<br />
or lost capacity to do this.<br />
The tax office defines interdependency<br />
as:<br />
An interdependency relationship<br />
exists between two people<br />
if all the following conditions<br />
are met:<br />
• they have a close personal<br />
relationship;<br />
• they live together;<br />
• one or both provides the<br />
other with financial support;<br />
and<br />
• one or both provides the<br />
other with domestic support<br />
and personal care.<br />
There are nuances attached<br />
to each dot point. Each case<br />
will be judged on its merits and<br />
based on the private rulings we<br />
have drafted to the ATO, the<br />
bar can be quite high.<br />
Brian Hrnjak B Bus CPA (FPS) is<br />
a Director of GHR Accounting<br />
Group Pty Ltd, Certified Practising<br />
Accountants. Office: Suite 12,<br />
Ground Floor, 20 Bungan Street<br />
Mona Vale NSW.<br />
Phone: 02 9979-4300.<br />
Web: ghr.com.au and altre.com.au<br />
Email: brian@ghr.com.au<br />
These comments are general<br />
advice only and are not intended as<br />
a substitute for professional advice.<br />
This article is not an offer or<br />
recommendation of any securities<br />
or other financial products offered<br />
by any company or person.<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 55<br />
Business <strong>Life</strong>
Trades & Services<br />
Trades & Services<br />
AIR CONDITIONING<br />
Alliance Climate Control<br />
Call 02 9186 4179<br />
Air Conditioning & Electrical Professionals.<br />
Specialists in Air Conditioning Installation,<br />
Service, Repair & Replacement.<br />
AIRPORT TRANSFERS<br />
TeslaAirportTransfers<br />
Call Ben 0405 544 311<br />
New Tesla Model Y fleet; Airport transfer<br />
Mona Vale ($129), Avalon ($139), Palmy<br />
($149). Guaranteed on-time pick-up.<br />
BATTERIES<br />
Battery Business<br />
Call 9970 6999<br />
Batteries for all applications. Won’t be beaten<br />
on price or service. Free testing, 7 days.<br />
CARPENTRY<br />
Able Carpentry & Joinery<br />
Call Cameron 0418 608 398<br />
Avalon-based. Doors & locks, timber gates<br />
& handrails, decking repairs and timber<br />
replacement. Also privacy screens. 25 years’<br />
experience. Lic: 7031C.<br />
CAR SALE & REMOVAL<br />
Cash for Cars<br />
Call Wal 0425 304 475<br />
Damaged, unregistered car on your<br />
property? Will beat any offer from dealer;<br />
also free tow-away service.<br />
CLEANING<br />
Amazing Clean<br />
Call Andrew 0412 475 2871<br />
Specialists in blinds, curtains and awnings.<br />
Clean, repair, supply new.<br />
Aussie Clean Team<br />
Call John 0478 799 680<br />
For a good clean, inside and outside;<br />
windows, gutters. Also repairs.<br />
CONCRETING<br />
Adrians Concrete<br />
Call Adrian 0404 172 435<br />
Driveways, paths, slabs… all your concreting<br />
needs; Northern Beaches-based.<br />
ELECTRICAL<br />
Alliance Service Group<br />
Call Adrian 9063 4658<br />
All services & repairs, 24hr. Lighting<br />
installation, switchboard upgrade. Seniors<br />
discount 5%.<br />
Eamon Dowling Electrical<br />
Call Eamon 0410 457 373<br />
For all electrical needs including phone, TV<br />
and data. <strong>Pittwater</strong>-based. Reliable; quality<br />
service guaranteed.<br />
56 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Warrick Leggo<br />
Call Warrick 0403 981 941<br />
Specialising in domestic work; small jobs<br />
welcome. Seniors’ discount; Narrabeenbased.<br />
FLOOR COVERINGS<br />
Blue Tongue Carpets<br />
Call Castro 9979 7292<br />
Owner/operator of Northern Beaches<br />
Flooring Centre. Owner/operator, Mona<br />
Vale. Carpets, tiles, timber, laminates,<br />
hybrids & vinyls. Open 6 days.<br />
GARDENS<br />
!Abloom Ace Gardening<br />
Call 0415 817 880<br />
Full range of gardening services including<br />
landscaping, maintenance and rubbish<br />
removal.<br />
Campos Tree Services<br />
Call Paulo 0403 941 883<br />
Over 20 years servicing <strong>Pittwater</strong>. All<br />
tree work including stump grinding. Fully<br />
qualified team.<br />
Conscious Gardener Avalon<br />
Call Matt 0411 750 791<br />
Professional local team offering quality<br />
garden maintenance, horticultural advice;<br />
also garden makeovers.<br />
Down To Earth Irrigation<br />
Call Kane 0405 153 703<br />
Get lawns and garden ready for a hot<br />
dry Summer! Installations, service and<br />
repairs.<br />
Luxury Property<br />
Maintenance<br />
Call Luke: 0415 112 480<br />
All maintenance inc hedge trimming, lawn<br />
mowing, pressure cleaning, mulching +<br />
planting.<br />
Melaleuca Landscapes<br />
Call Sandy 0416 276 066<br />
Professional design and construction<br />
for every garden situation. Sustainable<br />
vegetable gardens and waterfront<br />
specialist.<br />
HANDYMEN<br />
Local Handyman<br />
Call Jono 0413 313299<br />
Small and medium-sized building jobs, also<br />
welding & metalwork; licensed.<br />
JEWELLER<br />
Gold ‘n’ Things<br />
Call 9999 4991<br />
Specialists in remodelling. On-premises<br />
(Mona Vale) workshop for cleaning,<br />
repairing (including laser welding), polishing.<br />
Family owned for nearly 40 years.<br />
HOT WATER<br />
Hot Water Maintenance NB<br />
Call 9982 1265<br />
Local emergency specialists, 7 days.<br />
Sales, service, installation. Warranty<br />
agents, fully accredited.<br />
KITCHENS<br />
Collaroy Kitchen Centre<br />
Call 9972 9300<br />
Danish design excellence. Local beaches<br />
specialists in kitchens, bathrooms and<br />
joinery. Visit the showroom in Collaroy.<br />
Seabreeze Kitchens<br />
Call 9938 5477<br />
Specialists in all kitchen needs; design,<br />
fitting, consultation. Excellent trades.<br />
MASSAGE & FITNESS<br />
Avalon Physiotherapy<br />
Call 9918 3373<br />
Provide specialist treatment for neck &<br />
back pain, sports injuries, orthopaedic<br />
problems.<br />
PAINTING<br />
Alan’s Painting<br />
Call Alan 0478 714 478<br />
No.1 Painter in the Northern Beaches;<br />
high-quality work. Prompt, reliable. Free<br />
quotes.<br />
Trades & Services<br />
Precision Tree Services<br />
Call Adam 0410 736 105<br />
Adam Bridger; professional tree care by<br />
qualified arborists and tree surgeons.<br />
GUTTERS & ROOFING<br />
Cloud9 R&G<br />
Call Tommy 0447 999 929<br />
Prompt and reliable service; gutter<br />
cleaning and installation, leak detection,<br />
roof installation and painting. Also roof<br />
repairs specialist.<br />
Ken Wilson Roofing<br />
Call 0419 466 783<br />
Leaking roofs, tile repairs, tiles replaced,<br />
metal roof repairs, gutter cleaning, valley<br />
irons replaced.<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 57
Trades & Services<br />
Trades & Services<br />
Cloud9 Painting<br />
Call 0447 999 929<br />
Your one-stop shop for home or office<br />
painting; interiors, exteriors and also roof<br />
painting. Call for a quote.<br />
Tom Wood Master Painters<br />
Call 0406 824 189<br />
Residential specialists in new work &<br />
repaints / interior & exterior. Premium<br />
paints; 17 years’ experience.<br />
PEST CONTROL<br />
Predator Pest Control<br />
Call 0417 276 962<br />
predatorpestcontrol.com.au<br />
Environmental services at their best.<br />
Comprehensive control. Eliminate all<br />
manner of pests.<br />
PLASTERING<br />
Craig Florimo Plastering<br />
Call Craig 0420 866 009<br />
All aspects specialising in ceilings,<br />
cornice, walls, repairs, renovations,<br />
insurance work. Vermiculite ceiling<br />
solutions. craigflorimo@hotmail.com<br />
PLUMBING<br />
Platinum Plumbers & Pipe<br />
Relining<br />
Call Rhys 0421 637 410<br />
Northern Beaches Plumbers, all general<br />
plumbing and specialists in blocked drains.<br />
DISCLAIMER: The editorial<br />
and advertising content in<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> has been provided<br />
by a number of sources. Any<br />
opinions expressed are not<br />
necessarily those of the Editor or<br />
Publisher of <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong> and<br />
no responsibility is taken for<br />
the accuracy of the information<br />
contained within. Readers<br />
should make their own enquiries<br />
directly to any organisations or<br />
businesses prior to making any<br />
plans or taking any action.<br />
Total Pipe Relining<br />
Call Josh 0423 600 455<br />
Repair pipe problems without<br />
replacement. Drain systems fully relined;<br />
35 years’ guarantee. Latest technology,<br />
best price.<br />
REMOVALISTS / PACKING<br />
NB Removals<br />
Call Greg 0417 253 634<br />
Owner/operator, Avalon-based. For<br />
local / country / interstate requirements.<br />
Reputation (30+) years built on<br />
excellence in furniture removing. Trucks<br />
regularly upgraded.<br />
Pack & Unpack U<br />
Call Lynne 0414 988 919<br />
Professional local ladies will pack and<br />
unpack your clothes/belongings; also<br />
declutter and organise your home.<br />
RUBBISH REMOVAL<br />
Jack’s Rubbish Removals<br />
Call Jack 0403 385 312<br />
Up to 45% cheaper than skips. Latest<br />
health regulations. Old-fashioned honesty<br />
& reliability. Free quotes.<br />
One 2 Dump<br />
Call Josh 0450 712 779<br />
Seven-days-a-week pick-up service<br />
includes general household rubbish,<br />
construction, commercial plus vegetation.<br />
Also car removals.<br />
SLIDING DOOR REPAIRS<br />
Beautiful Sliding<br />
Door Repairs<br />
Call 0407 546 738<br />
Fix anything that slides in your home;<br />
door specialists – wooden / aluminium.<br />
Free quote. Same-day repair; 5-year<br />
warranty.<br />
UPHOLSTERY<br />
Luxafoam North<br />
Call 0414 468 434<br />
Local specialists in all aspects of outdoor<br />
& indoor seating. Custom service, expert<br />
advice.<br />
58 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
WINDOW CLEANING<br />
Local Window Cleaning<br />
Call Simon 0406 389 841<br />
Free quote; Mona Vale-based window<br />
cleaning micro-details specialist.<br />
Reasonable price, no subcontractor, the<br />
owner does it himself. Fully insured.<br />
YACHT SERVICES<br />
Hanlon Yacht Services<br />
Call Jeff 0415 327 687<br />
Professional yacht captain available<br />
for Australian and worldwide yacht<br />
deliveries and all yachting services. No<br />
job too small.<br />
Trades & Services<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 59
Food <strong>Life</strong><br />
with Janelle Bloom<br />
Food <strong>Life</strong><br />
Recipes: janellebloom.com.au; Insta: instagram.com/janellegbloom/<br />
Comfort food for the soul:<br />
Delicious ‘Winter Warmers’<br />
Comfort food is one of the only things<br />
I like about Winter (ok, there are a few<br />
more). But delicious food, simmering<br />
away and giving off great aromas, is the<br />
ultimate way to combat the dark, cold wintery<br />
days and nights. Most of us have a few Winter<br />
Slow cooked pot<br />
roast lamb<br />
Serves 6<br />
faves on rotation that we go to this time<br />
of year, whether it be a soul-warming bowl<br />
of soup with crunchy toast and lashings of<br />
butter, a slow-cooked pot roast , or some<br />
rich creamy pasta, to name a few. Here is a<br />
collection of my favourite Winter warmers.<br />
Homemade lasagne<br />
Serves 6-8<br />
2 tbs olive oil<br />
1 large brown onion, finely<br />
chopped<br />
3 garlic cloves, crushed<br />
600g pork and veal mince<br />
4 rashers bacon, rind<br />
removed, finely chopped<br />
1 cup chicken or beef stock<br />
500g tomato pasta sauce<br />
50g butter<br />
2 tbs plain flour<br />
2 cups milk<br />
Pinch of ground nutmeg<br />
1 cup grated mozzarella<br />
1 cup grated parmesan<br />
375g fresh lasagne sheets<br />
occasionally, for 30 minutes<br />
or until sauce thickens.<br />
2. Preheat oven to 200°C.<br />
Grease an 8-cup rectangular<br />
baking dish.<br />
3. Sauce. Melt the butter in<br />
a saucepan over mediumhigh<br />
heat until foaming.<br />
Add flour. Cook, stirring,<br />
for 1-2 minutes or until<br />
mixture bubbles. Remove<br />
from heat. Gradually add<br />
the milk, whisking with a<br />
balloon whisk until smooth.<br />
Return to medium-high<br />
heat, stirring constantly,<br />
bring the sauce to the<br />
boil. Remove from heat.<br />
Stir in the nutmeg half<br />
the mozzarella and ¼ cup<br />
of the parmesan. Season.<br />
4. Spread one-third of the<br />
meat mixture over the base<br />
of the baking dish. Top with<br />
one-third of the lasagne,<br />
trimming to fit if necessary.<br />
Spread with one-quarter<br />
of the bechamel sauce.<br />
Repeat twice with remaining<br />
mince mixture, lasagne<br />
sheets and bechamel sauce,<br />
finishing with the remaining<br />
bechamel sauce. Place onto<br />
a baking tray.<br />
5. Cover with baking paper<br />
and foil. Bake 30 minutes.<br />
Remove the baking paper<br />
and foil, sprinkle over the<br />
remaining mozzarella and<br />
parmesan. Bake a further<br />
20 minutes or until golden<br />
and cooked through. Stand<br />
for 10 minutes to cool<br />
slightly before serving.<br />
in the oven for 3½ hours.<br />
4. Meanwhile, with 1 hour 1. Heat olive oil in a deep,<br />
to go on the lamb timer, large frying pan over<br />
par-cook the potatoes in a medium heat. Add onion<br />
saucepan of boiling salted and garlic. Cook, stirring<br />
2kg lamb shoulder<br />
water until just tender. Drain often 8 minutes or until<br />
3 garlic cloves, peeled, sliced<br />
well. Pour enough oil into soft. Increase heat to<br />
1 tbs olive oil, plus extra for<br />
a large nonstick frying pan medium-high, add the<br />
frying potatoes<br />
to cover the base. Add the mince and bacon, cook<br />
1 red onion, cut into wedges<br />
potatoes, cook 15 minutes,<br />
for 6 minutes, stirring to<br />
3 stalks rosemary, cut into<br />
turning occasionally until<br />
break up the mince, or until<br />
pieces, plus extra to serve<br />
edges are crispy and golden.<br />
mince changes colour. Pour<br />
1 cup dry white wine (optional)<br />
Drain oil from the pan, keep<br />
in the stock, bring to the<br />
1 cup chicken stock<br />
potatoes warm.<br />
boil, boil gently until almost<br />
1kg chat potatoes, halved<br />
5. After 3½ hours, remove the<br />
all the liquid evaporates.<br />
Stir in the pasta sauce.<br />
1. Using a small sharp knife, foil and baking paper from<br />
Reduce the heat to mediumlow<br />
and simmer, stirring<br />
cut 8 deep slits into top the lamb. Add the potatoes<br />
of lamb. Press garlic into to the lamb. Increase the<br />
slits. Rub lamb with oil and oven to 220C° fan forced.<br />
season well all over.<br />
Roast lamb and potatoes<br />
2. Preheat the oven to 130C° a further 20-30 minutes<br />
fan forced. Scatter the onion until the top is golden.<br />
and rosemary over the base Allow to stand 10 minutes<br />
of a deep, large roasting before serving with steamed<br />
dish. Place the lamb into the greens.<br />
pan. Pour in the wine and Janelle’s Tip: It’s important to<br />
stock, being careful not to ensure the pan is deep enough<br />
wet the fat on the top of the to hold the lamb and it’s<br />
lamb.<br />
completely covered with foil.<br />
3. Place a piece of baking paper Cast iron bakers with a tightfitting<br />
over the lamb, then tightly<br />
lid create a wonderful<br />
with 2-3 layers of foil. Roast environment to ‘slow roast’.<br />
60 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Hearty beef stew<br />
Serves 6<br />
2 tbs plain flour<br />
1 tsp smoked paprika<br />
1.5kg piece beef chuck<br />
casserole steak, trimmed, cut<br />
into 5cm pieces<br />
4 tbs olive oil<br />
1 large brown onion, finely<br />
chopped<br />
2 garlic cloves, finely<br />
chopped<br />
200g bacon, rind removed,<br />
chopped<br />
2 tbs tomato paste<br />
1 cup red wine<br />
2/3 cup beef stock<br />
2 carrots, cut into 3cm pieces<br />
2 medium Sebago potatoes,<br />
peeled, cut into 3cm pieces<br />
6 small pickling onions,<br />
peeled (see tip)<br />
2 tbs chopped parsley, to<br />
serve<br />
Mashed potato & green<br />
beans, to serve<br />
1. Combine the flour and<br />
paprika in a large snap lock<br />
bag. Season with salt and<br />
pepper. Add the chuck,<br />
toss to coat.<br />
2. Heat 1 tablespoons oil<br />
in a large, heavy-based<br />
casserole dish over<br />
medium-high heat. Add 1/3<br />
of the steak, cook, stirring<br />
often for 5 minutes or until<br />
browned. Transfer to a<br />
bowl. Repeat twice with oil<br />
and remaining steak.<br />
3. Reduce heat to medium.<br />
Add remaining oil with<br />
the onion, garlic, and<br />
bacon, Cook, stirring until<br />
onion has softened. Add<br />
the tomato paste, cook,<br />
stirring for 1 minute.<br />
4. Return beef and juices<br />
to pan. Add the carrots,<br />
potato, and onions. Pour<br />
in the wine and bring to the<br />
boil. Add the stock. Bring<br />
to a simmer. Reduce heat<br />
to low. Cover and simmer<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
for 1½ hours or until steak<br />
and vegetables are tender.<br />
Taste and season. Scatter<br />
over the parsley, serve<br />
mashed potato and beans.<br />
Janelle’s Tip: You can replace<br />
the pickling onions with<br />
small brown onions cut into<br />
wedges.<br />
Loaded meatball<br />
mushroom soup<br />
Serves 4-5<br />
Meatballs<br />
3 tbs olive oil<br />
250g mushrooms, finely<br />
chopped (see tip)<br />
1 carrot, grated<br />
1 zucchini, grated<br />
1 brown onion, grated<br />
400g beef mince<br />
1 egg, lightly beaten<br />
1¼ cups fresh breadcrumbs<br />
Creamy mushroom soup<br />
60g butter<br />
4 green onions, finely<br />
chopped<br />
600g cup mushrooms,<br />
quartered (see tip)<br />
1/3 cup plain flour<br />
4 cups chicken stock<br />
½ cup thickened cream<br />
Chopped parsley and toasted<br />
crusty sourdough, to serve<br />
1. For the meatballs, heat half<br />
the oil in a large non-stick<br />
frying pan over high heat.<br />
Add the mushrooms. Cook,<br />
stirring until all moisture<br />
has evaporated. Add carrot,<br />
zucchini and onion, cook<br />
for 1 minute. Set aside<br />
to cool in the pan for 15<br />
minutes. Transfer to a<br />
bowl, draining any excess<br />
moisture.<br />
2. Add the mince, egg<br />
and breadcrumbs to<br />
the mushroom mixture.<br />
Season. Mix well. Using<br />
a heaped tablespoon<br />
of mixture, shape into<br />
balls. Place onto a tray,<br />
refrigerate for 30 minutes<br />
For more recipes go to janellebloom.com.au<br />
if you have time.<br />
3. For the creamy mushroom<br />
soup, melt the butter in<br />
a large saucepan over<br />
medium-high heat. Add<br />
onions, cook, stirring<br />
3 minutes until soft.<br />
Add mushrooms. Cook,<br />
stirring occasionally,<br />
for 10 minutes or until<br />
mushrooms are tender.<br />
Sprinkle the flour over the<br />
mushrooms.<br />
4. Cook, stirring constantly,<br />
for 2 minutes. Remove<br />
the pan from the heat.<br />
Gradually add the stock,<br />
stirring constantly. Return<br />
saucepan to medium<br />
heat. Bring to the simmer,<br />
stirring occasionally.<br />
Reduce heat to mediumlow.<br />
5. Simmer, uncovered, for 10<br />
minutes or until thickened<br />
slightly (soup can be<br />
blended at this stage if you<br />
like a smoother soup).<br />
6. While the soup is cooking,<br />
preheat oven 180°C fan<br />
forced. Heat the remaining<br />
oil in the frying pan<br />
over medium heat. Cook<br />
meatballs in two batches,<br />
for 3 minutes, shaking<br />
pan often or until golden.<br />
Remove to a roasting pan.<br />
Place into the oven for 10<br />
minutes to cook through.<br />
7. Stir in the cream and<br />
meatballs through the<br />
soup. Heat without boiling,<br />
until warmed through.<br />
Season. Sprinkle with<br />
parsley and serve.<br />
Janelle’s Tips: If you<br />
have a food processor,<br />
place mushrooms into the<br />
processor and pulse until<br />
very finely chopped… also,<br />
try using a combination of<br />
cup, button and Swiss brown<br />
mushrooms.<br />
Triple chocolate self<br />
saucing pudding<br />
Serves 4-6<br />
100g dark chocolate, chopped<br />
60g butter, chopped<br />
2/3 cup full cream milk<br />
1 cup self raising flour<br />
¼ cup brown sugar<br />
¼ cup cocoa powder<br />
100g Toblerone, chopped<br />
Ice cream or cream, to serve<br />
Topping<br />
3/4 cup brown sugar<br />
2 tablespoons cocoa powder<br />
1½ cups boiling water<br />
1. Preheat oven 180°C fan<br />
forced. Place chocolate,<br />
butter and milk in a<br />
heatproof microwave-safe<br />
bowl. Heat uncovered on<br />
High 1-2 minutes, stirring<br />
with a metal spoon until<br />
melted and smooth.<br />
2. Combine flour, brown sugar<br />
and cocoa powder in bowl.<br />
Stir in chocolate mixture<br />
until just combined. Fold<br />
through the Toblerone.<br />
Spoon mixture into a<br />
greased 6-cup capacity<br />
ovenproof dish. Place onto a<br />
baking tray.<br />
3. Topping. Combine brown<br />
sugar and cocoa and<br />
sprinkle over pudding<br />
mixture. Pour the boiling<br />
water over the back of<br />
a metal spoon over the<br />
topping. Place into the oven.<br />
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or<br />
until the top of the pudding<br />
springs back when touched<br />
in the centre.<br />
4. Stand no longer than 5<br />
minutes (any longer the<br />
sauce becomes thicker).<br />
Serve.<br />
Janelle’s Tip: The size of<br />
the dish is important, as it<br />
determines the thickness of the<br />
pudding and sauce. You can<br />
use a 6-cup, 20 x 20cm square<br />
cake pan.<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 61<br />
Food <strong>Life</strong>
Tasty Morsels<br />
with Beverley Hudec<br />
Some Tiny Morsels to savour in <strong>July</strong><br />
Tasty Morsels<br />
Wharf Bar revamp<br />
offers reasons to<br />
head to Manly<br />
New owners and a new way forward…<br />
and more reasons to head south and<br />
linger longer in Manly. When Artemus<br />
Group acquired iconic gateway Manly<br />
Wharf and its harbourfront pub with<br />
to-die-for views in April, one of the<br />
first changes has been to the menu.<br />
The Queensland group quickly<br />
brought onboard former Rockpool<br />
Bar and Grill culinary director Corey<br />
Costelloe to consult on local suppliers<br />
and produce and curate the pub’s<br />
new Mediterranean-style food.<br />
The focus reflects the pub’s surfside<br />
charm as well as showcasing quality<br />
and simplicity. In comes a selection<br />
of smaller grazing plates, side dishes,<br />
pub classics and weeknight specials,<br />
burgers and bowls and pizzas (made<br />
with 36-hour fermented dough).<br />
Standout dishes include whole<br />
butterflied whiting, a prawn salad<br />
with green papaya and a nahm jim<br />
dressing, and Mr Costelloe’s pick –<br />
grilled Clarence River baby octopus<br />
with lemon, chilli and oregano.<br />
Wharf Bar is open daily from 11am<br />
until late.<br />
Hang 10 and its<br />
unique gin twist<br />
Fancy a G and T made with<br />
leftover bread? After two and a<br />
half years, Marine Raynard and<br />
Deon Rowe have opened Hang<br />
10 Distillery, their Warriewood<br />
distillery which specialises in<br />
sustainable craft spirits and beer.<br />
Pop in and try that signature<br />
Bakers Dozen gin, made from<br />
leftover bread and 13 organic<br />
botanicals. The cellar door opens<br />
Fridays and Saturdays.<br />
Three of a kind: Tasty Toastie time<br />
There’s nothing more satisfying<br />
on a cold Winter’s day than a<br />
tasty toastie. Sammy’s in Careel<br />
Bay pumps out the coffee and<br />
keeps hunger pains at bay with<br />
its selection of fancy-filled<br />
jaffles. Go for the slow-cooked<br />
bolognaise, mozzarella and<br />
basil, the bacon and egg with<br />
aioli or that all-time classic ham,<br />
mozzarella and tomato relish.<br />
The Hungry Ghost is a<br />
definitive member of Avalon’s<br />
laneway coffee club. It’s also<br />
the spot to order one of the<br />
knock-out jaffles this hole-in-thewall<br />
knocks out daily. Choices<br />
include bolognaise with feta<br />
and jalapeño, a classic Reuben<br />
and, for non-meat-eaters, there’s<br />
the umami punch of truffle<br />
mushroom and jarlsberg (left).<br />
Sunday Roast a<br />
Dunes highlight<br />
Head up to Palm Beach for<br />
lunch or a dinner date at<br />
Bistro Dunes. Over Winter, the<br />
restaurant is offering a $59 a<br />
head set menu, which includes<br />
tomato focaccia, olives and a<br />
choice of entree and main. The<br />
a la carte menu is also available<br />
for lunch and dinner. And,<br />
available now, the $45-a-head<br />
Sunday roast with a glass of<br />
wine or beer is back.<br />
Follow the well-trod toastie trail<br />
down to Newport Bowling<br />
Club, where you’ll find that<br />
the good folk at Good Folk<br />
Espresso have a couple of<br />
mighty toasties on the menu.<br />
The cheesy chipotle chicken with<br />
spinach and cherry tomatoes is<br />
a customer favourite. It’s perfect<br />
for a Winter breakfast or brunch,<br />
with or without a cup of coffee.<br />
62 JULY <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Puzzler<br />
Compiled by David Stickley<br />
painting and drawing, resulting<br />
in visual representation (3)<br />
29 Walkway that can be used to<br />
reach The Coastal Environment<br />
Centre (7,4)<br />
30 The ability to withstand<br />
great pressure or force (8)<br />
31 A vessel attending a larger<br />
one to supply stores, convey<br />
passengers or orders, etc. (6)<br />
ACROSS<br />
1 Conforming to a standard (6)<br />
4 Stress laid on a word or words<br />
to indicate special meaning or<br />
importance (8)<br />
9 The former home of Skippy<br />
the Bush Kangaroo (7,4)<br />
11 Division of geological<br />
time (3)<br />
12 Location of the Avalon Car<br />
Boot Sale (6,4)<br />
13 One may be spotted out to<br />
sea from the Northern Beaches<br />
(4)<br />
15 The sport or practice<br />
of sailing: something done<br />
regularly on <strong>Pittwater</strong> (8)<br />
17 Architect of the Sydney<br />
Opera House who used to live<br />
on the Northern Beaches, ____<br />
Utzon (4)<br />
20 Midday (4)<br />
21 A hairdresser (8)<br />
24 An association of persons<br />
united by a common interest,<br />
usually meeting periodically for<br />
a shared activity (4)<br />
25 Northern Beaches fatherand-daughter<br />
entertainment<br />
duo who are big on social media<br />
(3,3,4)<br />
28 Creative activity, especially<br />
DOWN<br />
1 At the present time (8)<br />
2 Repeat of a TV show (5)<br />
3 An entertainment that is<br />
offered to the public (10)<br />
5 Lacking in amount or quality<br />
(6)<br />
6 A long walk; an increase in<br />
wages, fares, prices, etc. (4)<br />
7 Artist who was chosen as an<br />
Archibald Prize Finalist for <strong>2024</strong>,<br />
_________ Galloway Brown (9)<br />
8 Very large prawns (6)<br />
10 Keeping your fingers crossed<br />
(6)<br />
14 Belief in the trustworthiness<br />
or reliability of a person or thing<br />
(10)<br />
16 A director of an orchestra or<br />
choir (9)<br />
18 A picture or pattern<br />
produced by an arrangement of<br />
small variously coloured pieces<br />
of glass or stone etc. (6)<br />
19 A snorkel, for example; rest<br />
(8)<br />
22 Expanses of sea (6)<br />
23 A light-bodied red wine (6)<br />
26 A judicial decision, as a<br />
determination of an industrial<br />
court or commission or tribunal<br />
(5)<br />
27 Slant given to a media story<br />
so as to achieve the desired<br />
outcome in terms of public<br />
awareness and acceptance (4)<br />
[Solution page 66]<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> Puzzler<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
JULY <strong>2024</strong> 63
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
Planting gorgeous grass trees<br />
will make a growing statement<br />
An absolute stunning and<br />
iconic genus of plants<br />
are the Xanthorrhoeas.<br />
Commonly know as grass<br />
trees, there are approximately<br />
30 known species endemic to<br />
Australia. Most species form a<br />
thick trunk with a tuft of long,<br />
thin leaves spilling out from the<br />
top. Long flower spikes with<br />
small creamy white flowers<br />
are produced from Autumn to<br />
Summer.<br />
Grass trees are notoriously<br />
slow-growing – on average<br />
approximately 1cm per year<br />
– which means established<br />
nursery stock is the way to<br />
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
go (below) when acquiring<br />
a grass tree. The two most<br />
important things to consider<br />
when planting a grass tree are<br />
position and drainage. Grass<br />
trees prefer full sun but will<br />
handle dappled shade. Good<br />
drainage is key. Test your<br />
drainage by digging a hole<br />
where you want to plant. Fill<br />
the hole with water; if the water<br />
drains out within a few minutes,<br />
then it’s probably okay. If<br />
the water is slow to drain or<br />
remains, then you may need to<br />
consider an alternative location,<br />
or a raised garden bed.<br />
Common species that are<br />
available in nurseries are<br />
Xanthorrhoea Jonhnsonii and<br />
Xanthorrhoea glauca. Both<br />
species produce a stunning<br />
thick trunk and reliable flower<br />
splikes. Xanthorrhoea glauca is<br />
the faster growing of the two,<br />
with leaves that have a slightly<br />
bluish tinge. Whichever species<br />
you choose it is bound to make<br />
a great feature plant in your<br />
garden.<br />
64 JUNE <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991
Compiled by the team at Cicada Glen Nursery, Ingleside.<br />
What’s flowering<br />
The weather may seem a tad<br />
dull this time of the year, but<br />
this is the season some plants<br />
will show off! We have lots<br />
of bushland in the <strong>Pittwater</strong><br />
area and it is popping with<br />
colour which can warm the<br />
spirits. As well as warming<br />
the spirits, why not get out<br />
for a walk, warm up the body<br />
and see what you can find!<br />
Take pictures or drawings and<br />
connect with our local flora<br />
– you never know what you<br />
might find. Some favourite<br />
local natives to keep an<br />
eye out for are Persoonias,<br />
Hardenbergia (Violacea –<br />
pictured), Philotheca, Correa,<br />
Banksia, Grevilleas and Epacris.<br />
Pterostylis and other terrestrial<br />
orchids are favourites of ours<br />
to look out for; most species<br />
will die back for the warmer<br />
months of the year, making<br />
this the best and only time to<br />
see some of the orchids.<br />
Shady Gardens<br />
Creating a shade-loving garden<br />
with Australian native plants or<br />
exotics can be both beautiful<br />
and sustainable. Here are some<br />
plants that thrive in shady<br />
conditions:<br />
Native Violet – A low-growing<br />
groundcover with small violet<br />
flowers (pictured top of page),<br />
perfect for shady spots.<br />
Dianella – Many varieties of<br />
Dianella, such as Dianella<br />
caerulea (Flax Lily), can grow<br />
in shaded areas and produce<br />
attractive bright blue flowers<br />
and berries.<br />
Clivea – An ever-popular and<br />
hardy plant that loves shady<br />
areas and still produces<br />
The Local Voice Since 1991<br />
colourful orange flowers even<br />
in full shade.<br />
Native Rhododendron – A<br />
small to medium native shrub<br />
that will flower in a shady<br />
position.<br />
Native Ginger (Alpinea) – Also<br />
known as Native Turmeric,<br />
it has attractive foliage and<br />
prefers shade with moist soil.<br />
When selecting plants,<br />
consider your specific shade<br />
conditions (light shade, deep<br />
shade, morning/evening sun)<br />
and local climate to ensure the<br />
best choices for your garden.<br />
Native plants are generally<br />
well-suited to local conditions<br />
and require less maintenance<br />
once established.<br />
Gymea Lilies<br />
Gymea Lilies thrive in warm<br />
temperate climates like we<br />
have here on the Northern<br />
Beaches. They are native to<br />
coastal areas of NSW and<br />
Queensland. When flowering,<br />
the impressive flower spike<br />
can reach up to 4m high and<br />
is topped with a display of red<br />
trumpet like flowers (pictured<br />
top right) that stand out above<br />
the surrounding vegetation.<br />
Planting them in uneven<br />
numbers like 3s or 5s will give<br />
the best effect in the garden.<br />
They prefer full sun to partial<br />
shade, however as a rough<br />
guide ensure they get at least<br />
6-8 hours of direct sunlight<br />
daily for optimal growth and<br />
flowering.<br />
Gymea Lilies are relatively<br />
drought-tolerant once<br />
established and have the<br />
amazing ability to pull<br />
themselves deeper into the<br />
ground during droughts, which<br />
not only helps them conserve<br />
water but protects their growth<br />
tip during bushfires. They will<br />
benefit from regular watering<br />
during dry periods, especially<br />
in the first few months after<br />
planting. Avoid waterlogged<br />
conditions, as they can lead to<br />
root rot.<br />
JUNE <strong>2024</strong> 65<br />
Garden <strong>Life</strong>
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
Garden <strong>Life</strong><br />
Your <strong>July</strong> to-do list...<br />
Potted plants<br />
If you are out of space in the<br />
garden, potted plants are<br />
a great idea – and Winter<br />
is a great time to get them<br />
established. Most plants will<br />
thrive in pots for an extended<br />
period; for most plants it is<br />
not a forever home but for<br />
some, if treated well, can last<br />
years in the same pot. Also,<br />
potted plants are a great<br />
option for the smaller gardens,<br />
townhouses and apartments.<br />
You can reposition the pots<br />
as the seasons change. If the<br />
plant outgrows the pot and<br />
don’t want to discard it, you<br />
can pot-up the plant into a<br />
larger size, root prune the<br />
plant and place into the same<br />
pot with fresh soil, or plant it<br />
into your garden.<br />
Potted plants will require a<br />
bit more love than plants in<br />
the ground – plants will need<br />
regular watering as the pots<br />
will dry out quicker.<br />
And keep the fertiliser<br />
up to keep them looking<br />
healthy. Our favourite native<br />
plants for pots are Banksias,<br />
Anigozanthos (Kangaroo Paw),<br />
Xerochrysum (Paper Daises),<br />
Dendrobium orchids, Ferns<br />
and Xanthorrhoea (Grass<br />
Trees). Favourite exotics for<br />
pots include Olives, Citrus,<br />
Rhapis Palms, Bromeliads,<br />
Philodendron and Maple Trees.<br />
Weeds of the month<br />
At times it can be a real pain<br />
trying to get on top of weeds,<br />
even just in our own backyard.<br />
Don’t let them get the better<br />
of you! The cooler months<br />
are a great time to do some<br />
weeding.<br />
As well as the aesthetic<br />
impact, they can also harbour<br />
pests, have a negative impact<br />
on the local ecosystems and<br />
compete for resources and<br />
nutrients with our desired<br />
plants. Weeds can also spread<br />
rapidly and can take over<br />
the garden if not controlled,<br />
making the maintenance more<br />
challenging. Highlighting two<br />
common weeds in our area<br />
that can be a real nuisance to<br />
remove are Onion Weed and<br />
Ground Asparagus.<br />
Onion Weed (pictured<br />
above) can be a real challenge<br />
due to its ability to re grow<br />
from bulbs and seeds. Manual<br />
removal is the most common<br />
method – with gloves on dig<br />
down around the base of<br />
the plant and try to remove<br />
the entire bulb and as much<br />
roots as possible; remove<br />
the bulb gently as fragments<br />
can drop off and re-grow. As<br />
a last resort you can use a<br />
selective herbicide designed<br />
to target Onion Weed and<br />
follow instructions. Always<br />
try to remove flowers if ever<br />
you see them as that stops<br />
the plant from going to seed<br />
and carefully dispose of any<br />
bulbs.<br />
Asparagus aethiopicus or<br />
Ground Asparagus grows very<br />
densely above the ground<br />
and forms thick mats of<br />
tubers and roots underground<br />
making larger plants very<br />
difficult to remove. Smaller<br />
plants and seedlings can<br />
be easily removed by hand;<br />
ensure the crown is removed<br />
and disposed. Another<br />
technique commonly used<br />
in bush regeneration is<br />
‘crowning’; it involves digging<br />
out the entire crown that<br />
sits just below the surface<br />
of the soil. Roots and tubers<br />
can be left in the soil. This<br />
helps prevent excessive soil<br />
disturbance in sensitive areas,<br />
particularly coastal dune<br />
environments.<br />
Remove stems and foliage<br />
to get access to the crown.<br />
Use a sharp knife or trowel<br />
to cut all of the roots around<br />
the crown just below the<br />
surface. Lever the crown out<br />
of the ground and dispose of<br />
it. Any small segment of the<br />
crown that is left behind can<br />
regrow.<br />
If all else fails, chemical<br />
controls can be effective.<br />
Cut the stems then gouge<br />
out a section of the crown<br />
with a knife. Apply the<br />
herbicide to the gouged crown<br />
immediately.<br />
Crossword solution from page 63<br />
Mystery location: NEWPORT BEACH<br />
66 JUNE <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Local Voice Since 1991