2515 JANUARY 2018

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JANUARY 2018

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5 1 COAST NEWS

LUKE WRICE

THE COLEDALE SURFER TAKING ON THE WORLD’S BEST

Clifton | Scarborough | Wombarra | Coledale | Austinmer | Thirroul

NEWS 04 Wet and wild Water parks 06 Dive in Scuba sites 08 Find a wave Best beaches 10 Go bush Meet the Seacliff Coasters trail runners 12 Cover story Luke Wrice 14 Farm to table Visit friends of Thirroul co-op 16 Dam to tap Take the kids to see Cataract Dam 18 Vets open surgery Coledale couple launch new business 20 Dog walks Rusty Rumble author picks her favourites 22 Apples ahead It’s almost picking time at Glenbernie 24 Gardens Plan before planting

26 Surfrider New column 27 Cuppa with the kids Nipper-friendly cafes 28 Shellpod Amazing artwork 29 News bites Food & drink 30 Broadway to Beach SPAT’s outdoor concert in February 34 Kids Day Out Free festival of storytelling for ages 3-13 37 Need a cheer! Act of kindness BUSINESS 41 Local directory Your ultimate guide to small business SPORT / RECREATION 45 Tides 47 Dr Rip Documentary making

Cover image by Anthony Warry Photography

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS LARA McCABE

DR ROB BRANDER

worked in marketing for more than 20 years but wanted more creativity. Since studying photography at Ultimo Sydney Institute, Lara has worked as a freelance photographer for the past 10 years. Lara’s work includes editorials for magazines, portraits, food and web photography. Living in Coledale with her three children and husband, Lara is inspired by the abundance of natural beauty. “I love meeting people through diverse projects.” See her images of Cataract Dam on page 16.

– aka ‘Dr Rip’ – is a coastal geomorphologist and Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. A resident of Stanwell Park, he’s been studying beaches for 25 years, starting in Canada where water temperatures convinced him to come to Australia to do his PhD. He is an international expert on rip currents and runs a beach safety education program called The Science of the Surf (www.scienceofthesurf. com). His column is on page 46.

HELEN PIPER

CATH HILL

is a volunteer co-director at the Flame Tree Community Food Co-op in Thirroul. In her day job, she runs a health and wellbeing program for a mental health organisation across the Illawarra where she sees first-hand the positive influence that access to healthy and sustainable food can have on individuals and communities. You will find Helen either at the co-op shopping for fresh produce, cooking for her family or hanging with her puppy Pepper down at Scarborough beach.

Read her holiday tips on page 14.

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was born in Bulli – a fact she readily shares with any locals – and has now returned to the beautiful Illawarra with her husband and two children.

She currently works for the Communications and Media Law Association and previously worked as the Editor’s Assistant at Good Weekend magazine and The Bulletin. Cath writes the monthly News Bites column about local restaurants and cafes. In this issue, Cath also rounds up the best water parks (page 4) and meets our local trailrunners (page 10).

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LUKE WRICE

Clifton | Scarboro ugh | Wombarr a | Coledale

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EDITORS Genevieve Swart, Marcus Craft DESIGN youngwise design REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Rob Brander, Anthony Warry, Cath Hill, Janice Creenaune CONTACT editor@2515mag.com.au Ph: 0432 612 168 2515mag PO Box 248, Helensburgh, 2508.

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S TAY CATI ON GUIDE

WET, WILD FUN Photos: supplied; Anthony Warry

Splash around this summer by throwing a water park adventure into the school-holiday mix, Cath Hill writes.

WALISCAGS WATER WORX, DAPTO SHOWGROUND Enter via southern end of Mulda Street, Dapto Waliscags Water Worx is a pop-up water world of inflatable fun and kid heaven!

Splash out in five different themed pools with a super giant slide and age appropriate areas for little ones.

There is a cafe onsite or enjoy a picnic under the shady trees.

Waliscags is open seven days through the school holiday period closing on Sunday, February 25. All ages are welcome.

Book your two-hour wristband online and save.

Spectators are free.

YOUR HOLIDAY TO-DO LIST: ROCK POOLS

1. Coalcliff Rock Pool: Walk south along Coalcliff Beach, or park on Paterson Rd, off Lawrence Hargrave Drive, and take the path down through a playground.

2. Wombarra Rock Pool: Long pool and children’s paddling pool, Reef Road.

3. Coledale Rock Pool: Park on Northcote Street or Coledale Avenue, off Lawrence Hargrave Drive.

4. Austinmer Twin Pools: At Austinmer Beach, on Lawrence Hargrave Drive.

5. Bulli Rock Pool: Farrell Road, parking at the Surf Club.

6. Woonona Rock Pool: Collins Point, Kurraba Road.

7. Bellambi Rock Pool: Morgan Place, Bellambi.

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JAMBEROO ACTION PARK 1215 Jamberoo Road, Jamberoo School holiday outings don’t get much better than Jamberoo! Join your kids hurtling down watery tunnels and remember your fun side too. There’s an abundance of choices appealing to all age levels with toddler areas, wave pools, golf, bobsleds or the fast and thrilling “Perfect Storm” and the “Funnel Web” water slides.

“Dive in Movies” are on Saturday nights during the school holidays from 6pm. Save money with a season pass for family fun galore.

SUTHERLAND LEISURE CENTRE 1 Rawson Ave, Sutherland Head north for a jump along the giant water inflatable obstacle course at Sutherland Leisure Centre.

This course is suitable for kids six to 14 years with good swimming ability and an adult on hand to supervise. The inflatable is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday between 11.30am-2.30pm. Cost is $9.20 which includes pool entry. A great option when it is not beach weather! 2515 8. Towradgi Rock Pool: Towradgi Point, Towradgi Road 9. North Wollongong Rock Pool: (aka the Men’s Baths) on Cliff Road, accessed via a track to the north of the saltwater Continental Baths.

10. Shellharbour Ocean Pool: Addison Street, Shellharbour 11. Kiama’s Continental Pool: At the north end of Black Beach Reserve, with parking in Shoalhaven Street.

12. Blowhole Point Rock Pool: On the north side of Blowhole Point, with access from the harbour road, Kiama.

13. Ourie Pool: At the south end of Werri Beach with access via Pacific Avenue or Geering Street.

14. Boat Harbour Pool: Around the headland north of Gerringong’s Boat Harbour, access via a 50m walkway starting at the Boat Harbour Reserve. 2515

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S TAY CATI ON GUIDE Photos: Kristine O'Keeffe

TOP 3 DIVE SITES

Rachael Fallon, general manager at Sydney’s Abyss Scuba Diving, picks her favourite South Coast destinations.

1. MARTIN ISLAND SEAL DIVE Swimming with seals must be one of the best things to do in the ocean. They are so cute, just like puppy dogs of the ocean.

There is a secret location that the locals know about that is an amazing dive with seals. They are sure to get up close and personal with scuba divers and snorkellers and it will be an experience you will remember forever.

Just south of Wollongong at Port Kembla, the boat does a short trip out to Martin Island, where the seals swim from down south for a holiday from June to October. As soon as the boat pulls up, the seals jump in the water and come right up to the boat to check it out.

They are super-friendly and inquisitive – both snorkellers and divers can get close enough to just about touch them before they dart off. Make sure you have your camera for this one.

The seals are so cute. This is an easy dive and snorkel for anyone to join in.

2. WRECK OF THE BOMBO Everyone loves a wreck dive. Be it the history of the wreck, the excitement of descending to explore a big structure or even simply the sheer numbers of fish attracted to the artificial reef, a wreck makes for an amazing dive.

The South Coast of NSW, off Wollongong, is lucky enough to have a great wreck that divers love to explore.

In 1949, the collier freighter SS Bombo, carrying

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650 tonnes of 'blue metal' (basalt aggregate), disappeared off the coast of Wollongong.

A combination of the blue metal shifting in her no. 1 hold and rough seas caused her to capsize and sink without a trace for more than 30 years.

There were only two survivors.

The Bombo now lays upside down and broken in half at a depth of 30 metres just outside Wollongong Harbour. She is a perfect artificial reef, home to thousands of fish with several swimthroughs of interest.

It is always an adventure, with different marine life every time you descend. Divers can always expect to see wobbegong sharks, cuttlefish, lots of school fish and sometimes there is even a grey nurse shark around!

3. THE GRAVEL LOADER Heading a little further south to Shellharbour, there is a great little shore dive called the Gravel Loader.

Once again an excellent dive with lots to see.

The Gravel Loader is, just as the name suggests, a very large pier that extends out into Shellharbour Bay for about 500 metres. So basically the diver can just swim between the pylons, making it an easy dive to naturally navigate.

As I am sure you know, fish like a structure.

So the structure of the pylons has become home to loads of marine creatures, big and small.

Expect to swim though a heaps of yellowtail and at the end you will find a big school of old wives (pictured above), a spectacular sight. 2515

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S TAY CATI ON GUIDE

TOP 3 SURF SPOTS

A local expert gives us his favourite surfing spots on the South Coast.

Thirroul resident Jim Hughes is Surfing Australia’s Sport Development Manager. He has been developing, planning and implementing surf programs, courses and events around the world for more than 10 years.

long-boarders and short-boarders.

These super fun slow-peelers are also one of the rare offshore options during those summer NE winds … but this often means a crowd!

3. SANDON POINT Only 15 minutes north of Wollongong at Bulli is Sandon Point, one of the South Coast’s most 1. BLACK ROCK well-known breaks. A long, often fast point break One of the main reasons to hang around Jervis Bay that holds swells up to 8-10ft. A good right for and Booderee National Park as a surfer is to surf intermediate to experienced surfers that can the all-time classic South Coast reef break – Black produce really long rides if you chance it on the Rock (aka Aussie Pipe, Wreck Bay or Summercloud right day.

Bay).

This is a really wave-rich area as well, with great It is one of the hollowest and most photogenic beach breaks and reefs all the way along the coast lefts in Australia, breaking intensely over a shallow north to the Royal National Park. cunjevoi- and urchin-infested bottom.

JIM’S TOP 3 SURF SPOTS

2. GREEN ISLAND A long walk and a long paddle (over the Shark Pit) to the SW tip of Green Island when a moderate to big NE to S swell hits is often rewarded with long; sectioney, bending, walled-up lefts, great for

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JIM’S TOP 3 LEARN-TO-SURF SPOTS

1. BULLI BEACH Probably one of the best learn-to-surf options on the South Coast of NSW. Bulli Beach offers the perfect options for beginners almost 365 days a

2. BENDALONG BEACH All levels of surfers will find something at Bendalong, where sometimes busy, but highly consistent peaks can offer anything from barrels on NE to SE swells to perfectly gentle learning waves through all tides.

There are great shories and a bunch of other spots around this area too for all abilities, from Washerwoman’s to Manyana.

Photos courtesy of Surfing Australia / SurfGroms / www.learntosurf.com

3. BROULEE BEACH North Broulee is the closest beach to Canberra, and considered one of the best learn-to-surf breaks on the South Coast due to its sheltered position and flat sand bottom. Most days of the year Broulee offers safe waves, perfect for the beginner surfer.

Around the corner at South Broulee there is a more challenging beach break suited to intermediate to advanced level surfers. This is a stunning playground well worth a visit! n For more, visit www.learntosurf.com and www.surfingaustralia.com 2515

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S TAY CATI ON GUIDE

year. From the sheltered rolling waves of the south-end, perfect for youngsters and the more cautious beginner, to the bigger breakers on the north end for the more intrepid beginner … this beach offers the full package to newly enthusiastic!

Photos: Lisa Krummer, Luke Barrett, Sarah Tapp

SEACLIFF COASTERS GO BUSH Don’t let the name fool you – these are serious trail runners! Cath Hill reports.

Start 2018 right with the Seacliff Coasters Northern Illawarra trail runners group!

Kilometres are easier to conquer when you chat and laugh along the way in our beautiful natural environment. And this club puts away some serious distances. Founding member Mat Wall-Smith shares his experiences:

It has been a great success so far. We have met some crazy-fun people over the last six months and my own running has become a lot more enjoyable thanks to them.

When do you run and what is the average distance each time?

Social media (Strava and Facebook) allow us to keep our runs informal. A member will propose a run and pace. Whoever is keen and able will How did the Seacliff Coasters get started? organise to join them. This means people can By its nature, trail and ultra running tends to be a connect at times that suit them and at a level that is solitary pursuit – with many hours spent in the comfortable for them. It is also nice to have had wilderness by yourself. While this is something some connection online before you run off into the that attracts many of us to the sport – it turns out to be much more interesting, fun and motivating to bush together. Some of us train for 22km events be running with other like-minded people – it is an and rarely exceed 12kms on a group run, some of us are training for long runs (100km+) and will go experience you want to share. (much) further. If your distance and pace aren't We started as a small group of friends who ran trail and endurance events together. Because we all catered for then you can propose a run and you will ran at different paces and were training for different always find someone willing to run at your pace and distance. distances (from 20km to 160km) we rarely ran or trained side by side. We set up the Seacliff Coasters Group as a way of finding more people to run with What are your favourite trail runs in the Illawarra? across all our varied paces, distances and levels of Do we have to chose? We are so spoilt for trails and commitment. remarkable wilderness. I can step out of my door The sport of trail running is growing quickly, we and be in sub tropical rainforest within five have some truly world-class trails at our doorstep, minutes (Gibson Track), have climbed to 400 and we are seeing more and more people on the metres in 20 minutes (Sublime Point), and (if i was local trails. A local group seemed like a good way mad enough) run on single-trail through wildly to reach out, share our experience, and make trail varying, and wonderfully challenging landscape running more social. nearly continuously for another 60kms (through to

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Bundeena) before I turn for home. The escarpment trails above Thirroul and the National Park/Coastal Track around Helensburgh are our spectacular home grounds.

What do you love about running in nature?

We all run for different reasons. For me; when you are trail running you are the echidna that crosses in front of you, the brumby who anxiously stamps his hoof warning you off, the red-belly whose sleep you interrupt, the towering eucalypt stand that you pass through, and the creek through which you wade. The longer you are out there the more this feeling takes hold – it is a cathartic antidote to modern life. When you run with a group you are all of this together.

How do you join the Seacliff Coasters?

Find us on Facebook or on Strava and introduce yourself. Come running with us. It's that easy. Part of what makes ultra and trail running great at the moment is that women are well represented and increasingly competitive in overall standings – our group reflects this and we'd love to build on the diversity of runners that make up the group. 2515

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COVER E R FEATU

LUKE WRICE

Look out for this Coledale surfer at January’s World Junior Surfing Championships in Kiama. 2515 reports.

When 2515 meets young gun surfer Luke Wrice at his home beach of Coledale, he seems pretty relaxed for a young bloke with a massive year of competitive surfing on the horizon.

Natural footer Luke, 18, started competing for fun when he was 11 but soon dominated his age groups in two of the biggest groms events in Australia, winning the 12 Boys division of the 2011 Rusty Gromfest and the 14 and Under Boys division of the 2012 Billabong Occy’s Grom comp.

He was also selected to be a part of the Red Bull Mick Fanning Surf Camp camp in 2012.

Luke has continued to record impressive scores and top placings in surf comps. As this issue went to press, Luke and his Sandon Point Boardriders team-mates had just notched up a back-to-back victory in the Beach Burrito Gromtag surf comp.

Luke was the team’s best with an impressive 27.87 points off his three waves in the final. Just prior to that, in November, he’d also earned a second place at the 2017 Port Stephens Toyota NSW Pro. Not bad for a young bloke who started surfing competitively for a laugh.

In January 2017, he was knocked out of contention in round three of the World Surf League (WSL)

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Photos by Anthony Warry Photography

World Junior Surfing Championships in Kiama and he will be looking to improve on that against the world’s best under-18 surfers in the 2018 event, from January 4 to 12. Representatives from each of WSL’s seven regions – Australasia, Africa, Europe, Hawaii, Japan, North America and South America – have won their Junior Qualifying Series to earn a spot in this comp.

Luke kindly answered 2515’s questions.

2011), because it was my first big comp result.

I was not known at these events and had no sponsor or support other than my parents but after this event I got sponsored and became more recognised.

At what age did you start surfing? What was the catalyst?

I caught my first wave when I was six and then begun surfing on occasion, at about nine I started to love surfing and go almost every day, so I’d say I’ve been surfing for nine years.

I begun surfing because I loved the ocean and the mix of peace and excitement it brings and I still feel this way today.

Name your three favourite local surf spots.

Coledale Beach because I live there and it is my local wave; Thirroul Beach because it is very consistent and always has waves; and Headlands because it has very high-quality waves.

When did you start competing?

I was 11 years old. I started doing small local comps – more so for fun than to be competitive.

A few months later I started to compete in bigger, more competitive nationwide competitions.

What’s your best/most memorable comp result?

It was a 1st place in under 12s Rusty Gromfest (in

What’s the appeal of surfing?

Being able to travel to cool places where I otherwise wouldn’t go, meeting new people.

What are your plans for 2018 and beyond?

I have the World Pro Juniors at the start of the year [the event ‘window’ is from January 4 to 12 in Kiama; the staging of actual comp days will depend on the waves and weather conditions] and I hope to do well in that, then pursue the Qualifying Series and eventually qualify for the World Tour, but my focus is on enjoying what I’m doing.

I’ll also continue working with my shaper, Parrish Byrne from Byrne Surf, to create the best boards for my surfing. 2515

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S TAY CATI ON GUIDE

FRESH FROM THE FARM

Visit suppliers and friends of Thirroul’s Co-op these holidays, volunteer co-director Helen Piper recommends.

The Illawarra is bustling with things to buy, see and do when it comes to sustainable food and produce.

At the Flame Tree Food Co-op in Thirroul, we’re lucky to have so many local producers who fill our shop with delicious and seasonal produce all year round. If you’re looking at a staycation this summer, why not pop into the co-op to see and taste our beautiful fresh produce or venture out and visit some of our suppliers and friends.

FARMERS BY CHOICE – BULLI Farmers by Choice is an urban farm set up by a group of people committed to sustainably producing food and following permaculture principles. The farm is open for tours and to purchase fresh eggs, veggies and honey every Sunday morning from 9am-noon.

Take your kids and see how this amazing urban farm produces beautiful fresh food and be inspired by their thriving aquaponics system.

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34 George Avenue, Bulli. Tip: Like their Facebook page – Farmers By Choice Bulli – to see what produce is available to pre-order each week.

THIRROUL COMMUNITY GARDEN The Thirroul Community Garden is run by a group of community members who practise permaculture design principles to grow seasonal produce for its members, all year round.

Anyone is welcome to become a member and get involved every Sunday morning from 9am-noon. If you don’t have the time to join, but you’re interested in doing your bit to reduce food waste from landfill, start composting your fruit and vegetable scraps. Simply pick up an empty white bucket from the left inside the front gate, take it home and fill with scraps, then return the bucket and take another.

For more information check the Thirroul Community Garden Facebook page or email

S TAY CATI ON GUIDE thirroulgardeners@gmail.com. Corner of Lawrence MOONACRES FARM AND MOONACRES KITCHEN Moonacres Farm is a Certified Organic farm and Hargrave Drive and High Street, Thirroul. orchard in Fitzroy Falls, supplying the co-op with seasonal organic veggies, potatoes and fruit.

MAHBROOK ORGANICS Take a trip to the Southern Highlands and enjoy Mahbrook Organics is a Certified Organic Farm a meal at their café, Moonacres Kitchen in located in Albion Park, run by Thirroul family Robertson, where the produce comes straight from Mary and Adam with their brother, Chris, who is their farm and the menu changes daily. based in Kiama.

Open seven days for breakfast and lunch, The co-op stocks seasonal produce from Mahbrook in the shop, Tuesday-Saturday or take a Mon-Fri 7am-3.30pm and Sat-Sun 8am-3.30pm.

Moonacres Kitchen is at Shop 6-7, visit to Albion Park and purchase directly from the 79-81 Hoddle Street, Robertson. 2515 farm gate on a Monday from 10am-3pm.

49 Calderwood Rd, Albion Park.

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S TAY CATI ON GUIDE Photos: Lara McCabe

FROM DAM TO TAP

Take the kids on a trip to discover a historic water source, writes Lara McCabe.

If you’re looking for a picnic day trip these school holidays, consider a visit to historic Cataract Dam. This will help next time the kids ask where the water in the taps comes from.

Just 15 minutes from Thirroul, head up Bulli Pass to Appin Road and you will soon see turn-off signs via Baden Powell Drive.

The Cataract Dam is a national engineering landmark. The principal engineers were L.A.B. Wade and T.W. Keele and it was the first large city water storage dam in Australia, the fourth largest of its type in the world.

It was the first of the four Upper Nepean dams providing water reserves for Sydney against drought and is one of the oldest dams in NSW. At the time of its construction – from 1902 to 1907 – the project cost was £429,000.

The Cataract River Dam has formed an 850-hectare lake that has a capacity of 20,743 million gallons. It’s hard to comprehend the scale of it. The dam itself is 247m long and 56 high, equivalent to the height of about a 16-storey building. The style of the sandstone structures and valve house on top of the dam wall makes it feel as if you are walking along a moat to an ancient castle.

While there, you may be lucky enough to see water being released from the dam to the river into Broughton’s Pass. The water is then diverted by a

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weir to the 3.2km-long Cataract Tunnel, which emerges into the upper canal and on to Prospect Reservoir. The man-made structure is an amazing and fascinating feat of engineering, set against a backdrop of native bushland and historic formal grounds.

The overall feeling at Cataract is peaceful. There are good facilities, with a playground, toilets, picnic shelters and electric barbecues.

Drive further down to the dam and take a walk to the lookout and viewing areas, where you can see the wall itself, the lake and Keele Island upstream, down into the gorge and surrounding bushland. Stroll through the landscaped areas and you’ll find remnants of ornamental gardens around the original cottages built from sandstone quarried from the site.

The Manor house offers short-stay accommodation; call 1300 662 077 or visit www. waternsw.com.au for more information. n Cataract Dam is open 10am-5pm daily.

Extended hours, 10am to 7pm, on weekends and public holidays during daylight saving time. Entry is free. Restrictions include no camping, dogs, wood and charcoal barbecues. When 2515 went to press in December, the dam level was at 73.8 percent and it was open to visitors – for more information, visit the WaterNSW website at www. waternsw.com.au/supply/visit/cataract-dam. 2515

S TAY CATI ON GUIDE

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Photos supplied

VETS OPEN SURGERY

Coledale residents Matt and Jenny O’Donnell opened their own practice in Bulli in December.

Here Matt shares their story and provides advice for pet owners this summer.

Jenny and I have been working in the Illawarra as veterinarians for over 20 years. In that time we have been living in Coledale raising three children, who are now all in high school, along with Sally our old Labrador, she is 16 and a bit dottery these days, and Pepper, the cheeky, bouncy young Cavoodle.

We both worked in county Australia as new graduates, then spent a couple of years locuming in England. At the end of this we spent about a year travelling across Africa from north to south in an old Land Rover and volunteering with wildlife rehabilitation groups, mostly involving drill monkeys and western lowland gorillas. Ever since then we have been growing deep roots in the northern Illawarra.

I have gone back to do further study in small animal surgery and am now a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (small Animal Surgery Chapter).

Jenny went on to get her Masters in Veterinary Clinical Studies at Sydney University. She has since worked for the not-for-profit organisation Vets Beyond Borders and is currently head teacher for animal studies and veterinary nursing at Yallah TAFE. Now that all our kids are at high school, we are

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ready to take on the challenge of growing our own veterinary hospital, a dream we had been contemplating for many years.

The first week was really hectic as we had a couple of big, complicated surgeries. So our systems and procedures were put to the test but we were pleased to see everything and everyone was up to the challenge.

It has been nice reacquainting with some old clients but also being introduced to some new faces. So far we have had to resect a large portion of bowel from a boxer cross with a fetish for eating basketballs, do a knee reconstruction on a labradoodle, hip surgery on a cat, along with the regular vaccinations and minor ailments.

It also didn’t take long for the general public to bring in injured wildlife – including a water dragon, a micro bat and various birds – for us to take care of.

FAVOURITES PLACES Living on this part of the South Coast is heaven for dog lovers and their dogs. There are so many locations to choose from. We are spoilt by being so close to Sharkeys Beach that generally we don’t venture much further, except for the occasional longer walk to Little Austi.

Sally is not up to big walks anymore so we have to drive her down, where she can waddle down to the shoreline. Many years ago we also loved to go to Belambi Point.

TIPS FOR PET OWNERS Summer time at the vets involves some common misadventures for pets including tick paralysis, generally very preventable in dogs these days with some effective new products available.

Cats are not so lucky, unless you can keep them indoors, you have to be very vigilant.

It is not unusual to have a dog brought in that has swallowed a hook with some smelly bait attached or has gotten sick from eating something rotten on the beach.

Summer is also the season for skin allergies. The best advice for this is to keep your pet flea free, keep them out of the weeds and overgrown bush and rinse them off in fresh water after a swim but ensure they are dried off afterwards. If they have developed an itchy rash, it might be time for a visit to the vet – we are here to help you! n Northern Illawarra Veterinary Hospital is at 332 Princes Highway, Bulli. Phone: 4238 8575. 2515

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JANUARY 2515 19

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LOVELY LOCAL DOG WALKS

Children’s picture book author Dianne Ellis – whose Rusty Rumble series was inspired by her own gutsy little Jack Russell – shares three favourites strolls.

LITTLE AUSTI BEACH A walk along Little Austi Beach is a must. As an off-leash area, this beach is ideal for all canines, from strolling pooches to swimmers. On the southern side, a short, steep walk leads to Bells Point, where the Isabel Boulton Memorial chair is an amazing spot to sea-gaze. My dog, Rusty, is 18 years old and we do a lot of that. Little Austi’s northern side has steps to a public path around Headlands Hotel. Often, I indulge in a morning cappuccino while Rusty snoozes beside me and I never tire of the view. We continue our walk around the block, returning along Little

Dianne and Rusty.

Photo: supplied

DEAL WITH BARKING

By dog trainer Philip Comans, of Bark Busters Illawarra & Southern Highlands Almost half of the enquiries I received last year were about barking dogs. One of the biggest causes of complaints to Wollongong Council is barking dogs. Living next to a barking dog can be a misery.

Why do they bark so much? And what to do?

Dogs are “pack animals”. They need the company of other dogs to survive. Being left alone for a whole day is hard on them. They pine, they stress, they may bark (or dig or chew). Think about this: 70,000-year-old graves have been found with human and dog bones co-mingled. So for a very long time we’ve bred and chosen dogs to want to be

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Austi then cross the road to Glastonbury Gardens, where the grass is a relief for sandy paws. A 1-2km loop with a guaranteed friendly chat on the way.

AUSTINMER LOOP For the more adventurous, I recommend a cardiac-friendly walk of about 7km. Leaving from the western side of Austinmer Station, cross the road and walk up mighty Hill Street, then turn right onto Buttenshaw Drive for about 3km of relatively flat walking. You will pass refreshing rainforest areas dotted with houses and when you turn right into Cater Street, your leg muscles may (or not) appreciate the steep downhill pace. At the bottom, enjoy a refreshing ale at historic Coledale RSL (dogs allowed on grassy area) or go south on Lawrence Hargrave Drive towards dog-friendly cafes. Just past Coledale shops, have an invigorating ocean dip at off-leash Sharkeys Beach.

Follow Lawrence Hargrave Drive for about 2km, passing Little Austi and Austinmer Beach. Turn right into Moore Street, one of our quaintest. At the end of this street, you’ll be back at the station.

BULLI TO WANIORA POINT From Hamilton Road, Bulli, walk south along a track that crosses Woodlands Creek then passes McCauley’s Beach and Sandon Point. Stroll on to Waniora Point, where you can sea gaze over Bulli Beach. On your return, visit McCauley’s Beach for a swim and walk in the off-leash area. This is a good combination of a walking track and a leash-free dog beach. About a 4km return trip.

To help keep beaches open to dogs, please adhere the to Beach Access for Dogs signs. n Dianne’s latest book is Mr Crocodile’s Cooking Class (Brolga Publishing). 2515

with us. It’s only in recent industrialised times that we’ve not had them trotting by our sides all day, and left them at home while we’re at work.

What to do? Dogs can be taught to cope better with alone time. An experienced dog trainer may help. But even with training, some dogs won’t ever be happy alone. So arrange dog walking, or doggie day care. The right, natural diet may also help.

Being a responsible dog owner is more than just having them vaccinated and registered. It is helping them to fit in with your family, and society. It is helping them lead happy, contented and fulfilled lives. It is reaching out for professional help when you can’t solve an issue yourself. Huge fines can be levied for barking dogs, much more than training will cost. So, help Fido relax when alone, and don’t annoy your neighbours! 2515

ASK BOHMER

What should I do with my Christmas tree when we take it down? I’d like to grow my own next year. What’s the best way to go about this?

If you buy a Christmas tree that has no roots, it’s already dying so you can’t replant. Chop it up and place in your green bin.

If you bought your tree in a pot, I suggest that you re-pot it in a larger pot and feed it water and keep the soil moist, which will result in a fresh Christmas tree next year.

If you do grow your own, remember to prune it.

Depending on how mature the tree is when you buy it, they can grow for 10 to 20 years.

If you want to have a Christmas tree in your yard, then re-plant it in the ground from the pot.

However, there is always a risk when re-planting as you are touching/damaging roots by putting it in a different environment.

If you wanted to move this Christmas Tree indoors next year, you would need to cut it down at the base. It’s no good re-planting from pot to backyard, then re-planting to pot as this places too much stress on the roots. n Would you like Bohmer to collect your Christmas Tree? Contact us for details (T&Cs/fees apply).

– Clive Woodnutt/Bohmer is the director and head arborist at Bohmer’s Tree Care, call 0432 789 530. 2515

JANUARY 2515 21

APPLES AHEAD

Glenbernie Orchard’s Jo Fahey says late January is a great time to pick delicious apples.

January is a wonderful time on the farm. White peaches are finishing up and apples are gearing up for new beginnings!

The first apple picked at Darkes Forest is the Buckeye Gala apple. They are deliciously juicy and bright to dark red in colour. Fantastic in lunch boxes due to their ideal size and wonderful at any time of day as a healthy snack. We have found them to make awesome cider and have included them in our new Ellen of Darkes Methode Traditionelle Apple Cider.

Today our apple trees are designed to be smaller and are grown on a trellis to support them. They become a wall of apples which catch loads of sunlight and are easy to pick. Families can book to come apple picking in late January. Perfect timing to stock up ready for going back to school!

Always store your apples in the coldest part of the fridge to keep them crunchy. Store your stone fruits on the bench so they keep their juice. When you buy them, ask the shop keeper about the variety and best storage. Ask if they are a melting variety that will ripen and develop more sweetness as they get soft or are they non-melting and best eaten quickly while still crunchy.

Here’s a stone fruit recipe I adapted from a Curtis Stone summer salad at Taste.com.au.

STEWING STONE FRUITS Stone fruit can be stewed in the same way an apple can be, but cut out the seed.

Cut into chunks, skin still on and place in a pot with a couple of dessert spoons of water to stop them sticking on the bottom at first and cook until soft. Add honey to taste if you prefer them sweeter.

They can be cooked in the microwave by placing cut chunks in a microwave-safe cooking pot with a lid. Do not add water. Cook on high until soft. A 2-litre container should take about 15 mins.

Some people freeze stewed fruit in ice-cube trays to use in smoothies or spritz up a cold drink!

DRESSING • 60 ml olive oil • 2 limes, zest finely grated, juiced • 3 teaspoons honey • In a medium bowl, whisk lime zest, ¼ cup lime juice, honey and ¼ cup oil. Season with salt. Toss onions, capsicum and one-third cup of mint leaves in the dressing.

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SIMPLE QUINOA AND PEACH, NECTARINE SALAD • ¾ cup (150g) quinoa, preferably red • 20 ml olive oil • ½ red onion, sliced very thin • ½ red capsicum, seeded, sliced very thin • two-thirds cup mint leaves • 60g baby kale or baby spinach leaves (or a mix of both!)

• 1 firm, ripe white or yellow nectarine, halved, pitted, cut into 12 wedges • 1 firm, ripe white or yellow peach, halved, pitted, cut into 12 wedges • 1 firm but ripe avocado, pitted, peeled, cut into 12 wedges • ½ cup (70g) macadamias, toasted, coarsely chopped (if you don’t like macadamias, use almonds) METHOD: Rinse and drain quinoa. Heat 20ml oil in saucepan over medium-high heat. Add quinoa and cook, stirring, for 2 mins or until toasted. Add 310ml water; bring to boil. Cover pan, reduce heat; simmer for 20 mins or until quinoa has absorbed liquid and is tender. Spread quinoa over a baking tray and set aside for 20 mins to cool completely.

TO SERVE: Spread quinoa over a platter. Top with kale or spinach, nectarine, peach and avocado. Spoon dressing, onion, capsicum over salad. Scatter macadamias; garnish with remaining mint. 2515

REAL FOOD WITH STEPH Stephanie Meades has a recipe to help reboot your metabolism.

Counteract the indulgences of the festive season with a nourishing, health-boosting salad. This dish will not only boost your energy and vitality, it will also brighten your mood. Enjoy the beautiful, bright colours and the taste explosion!

NOURISHING SOUL BOWL • 1 cup roasted sweet potato or pumpkin cubes (roast in coconut oil with a sprinkle of paprika at 180˚C for 25-30 minutes) • ½ head of broccoli florets, steamed • Handful of baby spinach or lettuce • 6 cherry tomatoes, halved • ½ avocado, sliced • ¼ cup purple sauerkraut • ½ cup of hummus • 1 egg • Sprinkle of fresh or pickled chilli • Lemon wedges (2) • Handful sunflower seeds and dulse flakes (optional) METHOD: Place spinach/lettuce in bowl. Mentally divide your bowl into sections and place broccoli, tomatoes, avocado, sauerkraut, hummus and sweet potato in separate mounds. Top it off with a perfectly poached egg (cooked for 3-4 minutes in boiling water with a dash of white vinegar).

Sprinkle with a handful of sunflower seeds (or pepitas), pickled chillies and a dusting of dulse flakes. Season with salt and pepper; serve with a lemon wedge or two. n Find this recipe and more in The Nourished Family cookbook, available at www.lifewellnessco. com and at local wholefood stores and cafes. 2515

JANUARY 2515 23

PLAN YOUR GARDEN

Take time out over the holidays to plan before you plant, writes Narelle Happ, owner of A Garden for Life.

If you plan before planting, you will save time, money and create a better garden. Here are some aspects to consider.

OBSERVATION Observe the garden for the following: soil, wind, sun, shade, buildings (shadows cast from these will affect plant choices). Also look at utilities, such as clothes lines, compost and worm farms, rubbish bins, areas that need screening and power lines.

Think about how much time you have to work in the garden. Look at your topography – slope, water run-off, water retention – and existing vegetation, including plant roots, and the type of soil you have – sandy, loam, clay, silt, compacted, contaminated.

Factor in animals (deer, possums and pets).

Imagine areas for children to play.

SOIL This is the most important bit for plants. Test your soil’s pH – soil that is too acidic or alkaline can lock up ingredients and stunt plant growth or kill plants.

Does your soil drain well, hold water or allow water to run off and cause erosion? What will you use to improve your soil – new soil, compost, manure, mushroom compost, worm castings? How deep is your soil? This will determine plant height.

FERTILISER This is essential for healthy, prolific growth. Will you have a totally organic garden or do you plan to use slow-release products and man-made fertiliser?

Are you aware when the best times to fertilise your plants are, depending on type of plants – early spring and autumn for most but edible plants require their own individual fertilising regime.

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MULCH Bark chip for native gardens – be aware that very fresh mulch can cause nitrogen problems for your plants. Sugar-cane mulch, lucerne hay, pea straw are beneficial for edible gardens as they break down quite quickly and feed the soil as they do so.

ACCESS TO WATER A water tank near the vegetable garden ensures easy access to water at all times and this can then be hooked up to a drip system on a timer for when you are busy or planning to be away.

Perennial gardens still need water from time to time, so even if you don’t have a tank, make sure there is a tap.

PLANT CHOICE Now the fun part: choosing the plants.

Trees: For winter sun and summer shade, consider a deciduous tree. Discuss tree height with an experienced nursery person as plant tags can be ambiguous. Will you need to prune trees, net them from birds and animals or will they drop leaves you need to clean up.

Colour: This can be created by foliage as much as by flowers.

Shrubs: Do you need screening, hedges, productive hedges or striking feature plants?

Small shrubs and ground-cover: Reduce weeds by filling gaps in the garden with dense small shrubs or ground-cover. They can also hide retaining walls and reduce erosion on slopes.

Grasses: Movement makes for a relaxing garden – consider grasses, especially if shallow soil or planting under existing trees.

Happy gardening. 2515

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JANUARY 2515 25

SURFRIDER REPORT

Hi, I’m Susie Crick from Surfrider South Coast. 2515 has invited me to write a monthly column on local marine environmental issues and ways that you can get involved to keep our beaches clean and plastic free.

We have been busy over the past two months.

Jack Johnson nominated our Illawarra Clean Beach Festival #icbfest as his official beach clean-up for his Sydney concert series, and over 450 volunteers turned up to clean the beach and diverted over 85kg of rubbish from entering the sea.

It was great to see so many local community groups come together on the day, as well as eight regional Boardriders clubs who participated in the inaugural U14’s surf tag team event #surfridergromfest. The Disabled Surfers Association also brought along a team so the beach was packed with surfers of all abilities. We plan to host the festival at Thirroul in 2018, so stay tuned.

On the first weekend of December, the UOW Surfrider crew came to lend a hand to the Disabled Surfers Association (South Coast branch) Thirroul event. The day was awesome and it’s collaborations like these that bring the surfing community together.

Surfrider’s ‘Ocean Friendly’ program is growing thanks to help from the Plastic Free Wollongong movement. Our aim is to target businesses, markets and events that serve or sell food, and encourage them to go ‘single-use’ plastic free.

The challenge here is not only to alter behaviours of vendors, but also of the customers, and this is where we all have to play a part. It’s one thing to expect cafes, takeaways and restaurants to be sustainable and to provide ethical alternatives, but we as a community have to rethink the way that we do things. In the past, it was all about Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, but now we also have to REFUSE and RE-THINK our options. It’s alarming because our convenience has actually become the ocean’s inconvenience, and we rely on the ocean for our oxygen.

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Here are a few small steps that we can each do to reduce our impact on the environment. If you do one (or all) of these things each day, we can really improve our world, all it takes is a bit of planning: • Take a Keep cup with you to cafes, or refuse the ‘to go’, and ‘take it slow’ (sit down and relax).

• Take cloth bags with you to the shops, be bold and refuse plastic bags, and buy your produce loose rather than in prepackaged plastic bags.

• Refuse plastic cutlery when eating takeaway, always carry your own in your bag.

• Refuse plastic straws. What you use for 10 minutes lasts forever. The plastic never breaks down and just keeps breaking up into smaller microplastics that are wreaking havoc upon marine life.

• Carry your own reusable stainless-steel water bottle, don’t buy water in plastic bottles; our planet is choking in plastic and every bottle that you don’t buy gives us all a better future.

• Refuse styrofoam, its chemical components leach and are toxic to both you and the environment.

The Surfrider Foundation holds regular beach cleans throughout the region, but this year we are adding a twist! In 2018, we will be incorporating our #surfridergromfest U14’s Tag Team events into our beach cleans. We figure it is a great way to get young surfers involved in the conservation and care of our oceans while they are having fun with their friends and team mates. For more information or to get involved, please go to www.surfrider.org.au and I hope to see you at the beach! 2515

CUPPA WITH THE KIDS

Local mum of three Lara McCabe picks her top three nipper-friendly cafes.

1. 16 FEET ESPRESSO 91a Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Stanwell Park, 4294 1425 By far the best cafe in the northern beaches for a dedicated kids’ play area. Head to the back courtyard with outdoor seating and the kids will make friends in the sandpit, cubbyhouse, slide and even pretend kitchen and shop. Open daily from 8am.

2. THIRROUL BEACH PAVILION 23 Cliff Parade, Thirroul, 4268 2336 The beachside outdoor seating has the best view in Thirroul, making this is a fantastic spot if your kids are a little older and want to take a scooter or beach toys and play in front of the cafe.

Find more outdoor seating on the west escarpment side to watch the kids kick a ball around in the park and then afterwards visit the playground across the car park. Open daily from 7am.

3. GREEN BEAN PLAY CAFe 8 Railway St, Corrimal, 4283 9900 A good one if you are further south, this is more about the kids indoor play space. Terrific on a rainy day when you still need a break and some time out of the house. Open from 8.30am Monday to Friday, $7 for unlimited play (ages 1-7 only), free entry under 12 months. 2515

HOW THINGS GO TOGETHER II new works by Moira Kirkwood Red Point Gallery 100 Wentworth St, Port Kembla Opens Sat 3 Feb @ 2pm Show runs Fri 2 Feb - Sun 11 Feb Gallery open Tues- Sun 10- 4pm Free entry, all welcome, wheelchair accessible

JANUARY 2515 27

From left: Lois Hill, Gaby Porter, Annette Wellings and Al Wetten with Shellpod. Photo: supplied

SCULPTORS’ SHELLPOD

Gaby Porter, professional sculptor and creator of Wombarra Sculpture Garden, and her sculpture workshop mates have created a beautiful work of art that they hope, with Wollongong City Council approval, will soon have a home on the coast.

Here, Gaby tells 2515 about it.

Last year I was contacted by Wollongong Council and informed that Council was offering a grant of up to $25,000 for a group to create a cultural project that could be enjoyed by the community.

We have a sculpture workshop that has been meeting at the Wombarra Sculpture Garden and working one day a week for five years, so we put in our proposal. We were aware that there would be a lot of competition from many different groups – musicians, dancers, theatre groups, painters etc.

As it happened, we missed out on the grant, but as we were excited about our vision we decided to do it anyway. We were given modest funding from Culture Bank and Shellpod has just been finished.

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The 2.5m-long sculpture is an abstract shell design and built of ferro cement covered with mosaic white tiles. It has been carefully designed with public safety in mind and it will be securely installed into concrete pier foundations following engineering advice.

We would love to see Shellpod situated on a prominent headland in the beautiful Illawarra along the coastal walk and are waiting to hear back from Wollongong Council.

The sculpture is in Wombarra Sculpture Garden waiting for installation and has attracted many favourable comments from visitors to the garden. 2515

Got any exc itin for 2018? Te g events or news writer@the ll us about it at: southcoaste r.com.au

News BITES

Photos supplied

Cath Hill tracks down the new action at local eateries.

There are some new eateries and refreshed favourites to enjoy this summer in the Illawarra.

Snap up some fish and chips (or burgers) at Sharkys (759 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coledale) – one of the newer takeaways in the area to enjoy right on Sharkey’s Beach!

Many locals were devastated by the forced closure of the Bombie Bar at Coalcliff but the music, spirit and good times live on at the new pop-up venue for 2018 – Coledale RSL (731 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coledale). The first gig is Garfish on Friday, February 9 and it will continue on the second Friday of the month.

A new Mexican restaurant, Escondidos, is set to

open in south Thirroul this month.

Great to have Mexican cuisine and sangrias in the local restaurant mix.

Woonona Bulli RSL (455 Princes Highway, Woonona) has undergone a big renovation and looks great. The playground is still there and you can sort your family Sunday night dinner and drinks with the Family Feast special for $55.

We recently visited Helensburgh Hotel (formerly the Centennial, now under new management). We enjoyed an easy dinner after a heavy afternoon of after-school activities.

A seafood platter and chips fed the combined bunch of kids while we tucked into the mezze platter in the beer garden.

There is a new toddler-friendly playground and also a grassy area for older kids to make their own fun. 2515

ESTATE & SUCCESSION

Solicitors Enjoy your holiday time here

Best Thai/Oz on the South Coast Kids playground Barefoot bowls

new Thai street food

BISTRO OPEN Wednesday dinner Thursday to Sunday 12 noon till late

(02) 4267 2139

Scarborough-Wombarra Bowling Club, 578 Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Wombarra

• Conveyancing • Wills • Administration of Deceased Estates • Challenging and Defending Wills • Power of Attorney • Enduring Guardianship • Family Law • Litigation

364 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul.

Tel: 42 67 3111 and 42 67 3316 Fax: 42 67 1903 Email: nlyonsolicitors@bigpond.com Web: www.estateandsuccessionsolicitors.com.au

JANUARY 2515 29

BROADWAY TO BEACH

Stanwell Park Arts Theatre communications officer Cameron Campbell chats to musical director Alison Garvie about a new show.

Broadway to the Beach is the theme that introduces this inaugural concert of SPAT Music. Come enjoy and sing along with some of the best show tunes from Broadway’s musicals performed for you in our own uniquely Aussie setting.

The varied program will have your toes tapping and voices singing! SPAT Music is a local orchestra that welcomes musicians to share their love of performing with our community. Under the direction of music teacher Alison Garvie – nominated by two of her students for Music Teacher of the Year, a new category in 2017’s Aria awards – you can be assured of a great evening.

Alison, tell us about yourself. How long have you been involved in SPAT? I live and work in Helensburgh, as a music teacher.

I have been involved with SPAT on and off for nearly 20 years.

I began my SPAT journey as a member of the SPAT Singers, my husband read about the Singers in the 2508 magazine of the time, (Helensburgh News, I think), and pointed the information out to me saying “I think you should do this”, so I did!

I then “temporarily” directed the SPAT Singers for the next seven years. I have been in a few

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Christmas pantomimes and various other SPAT endeavours over the years, plus I have been a happy audience member!

How long have you been a musician?

I have always had music in my life, I started singing before I can remember and started piano when I was five. As a child I dabbled with the flute (two lessons) and the guitar (probably six lessons). I received a BA in music at Rutgers University in the US. Ten years ago I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time and ended up running the Helensburgh Public School Band program, which meant I quickly had to learn to play all the wind instruments, so I could teach the kids.

I have been having the best time “working” ever since. I believe my SPAT Singers experience gave me the confidence to step into my current role.

Over the past 10 years I have organised and run regional band camps, organised an annual regional music festival, played with some amazing musicians in and around the Illawarra, had students play at town events and markets and have taught hundreds of kids (and a few adults). I tend to adopt my students and call them my children, it has been wonderful. I really love my job!

Tell us about your show and why should we come along?

SPAT Music is the realisation of a dream of mine to have a Northern Illawarra community member “orchestra”. When Ian Stevens, SPAT President, brought the idea up to me, I said yes! And when he asked who I thought could direct the band, I said I would be happy to.

We have attracted an amazingly talented group, who I am honored to be working with. This evening promises to present some great music in a great family-friendly setting. The plan is for the audience to bring a picnic and blanket, sit on the hill, eat, sing and generally be merry. Additional refreshments will be provided by the CWA. The theme of the evening is ‘Broadway to the Beach’, everyone should hear at least one song that they will be able to sing to, and we are encouraging audience involvement. I expect it to be a fantastic night! I look forward to sharing it with you all.

www.the-playhouse.com.au

TERM 1 DRAMA CLASSES IN THIRROUL Book now for Term 1 drama classes. Classes are run by two local Thirroul parents, Daley and Siobhan Chaston. All the details are on the website:

Where is the show being performed?

SPAT is trying out a new venue on the CWA property on The Drive in Stanwell Park – the whole event will be outside with the orchestra on a stage at the bottom of the hill, setting up a natural amphitheatre for the audience.

The concert will be held on Sunday, February 4th. Bring your friends, family, your picnic and a blanket. Tickets are limited so please make your booking at www.spat.org.au. Bring your tickets with you please – paper or on your phone.

Note: Should the weather be against us, we will email you to advise of a new date.

www.the-playhouse.com.au Or contact Daley Chaston on 0476 257 389 or email daley@the-playhouse.com.au if you have any questions at all. We're happy to chat anytime.

Children, teenage, and adult classes available

n Prices: Adult $20; child/concession/student $10; family $55 (two adults and up to three children).

Light refreshments can be purchased from the team at the CWA in the hall or there are numerous great cafes nearby. We hope to see you there. 2515

JANUARY 2515 31

Thirroul (here) and Austinmer (right) from 500 feet.

ON CHOPPER PATROL

Wollongong City Council’s shark-management strategy takes a three-pronged approach: aerial patrols and drones, controversial shark nets and lifeguards trialling new electrical shark-deterrent devices on their jet-skis. For this issue, 2515 went on patrol with Touchdown Helicopters.

Last year, according to council, there were three shark sightings on Wollongong beaches. The council’s recreation services manager, Mark Bond said: “We have 42 kilometres of coastline with 17 patrolled beaches – the biggest service in NSW – which services not only residents of the Illawarra, but more increasingly visitors from South Western Sydney, with over one million beach users every summer.” Mr Bond said.

“Patrols are contacted twice a day on the scheduled days. The helicopter service will provide advice on any shark activity within entire coastline and their proximity to patrolled beaches.

“In addition to this, advice is provided on fish activity also around patrolled beaches that will heighten the lifeguard surveillance of the patrolled location. This may include deploying jet skis in particular areas to for additional water viewing and shark shield activation.”

Shark nets – criticised as outdated technology – are in place at five beaches: Coledale, Austinmer, Thirroul, North Wollongong and Wollongong City.

2515 rode along with the Touchdown crew on December 2 for the first official aerial patrol of this summer. After a thorough safety briefing, we took off in a four-seater R44 from Touchdown HQ at Illawarra Regional Airport in hazy conditions.

Pilot Tom Pearse and spotter Grant Jones have known each other for years so there’s an easy, jokey rapport between them but when it’s time to work they quickly switched into professional mode.

We flew out over the coast at an operational height of about 500 feet and at an average speed of

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Touchdown Helicopters’ chopper pilot Tom Pearse and shark spotter Grant Jones.

90 knots. We headed north in gusty, overcast conditions, past Wollongong, Bulli, Sandon Point, Thirroul, Austinmer, Coledale, Scarborough, Sea Cliff Bridge, Coalcliff and then turned around after checking Stanwell Park.

All the time Tom and Grant were scanning the water with their eyes, watching for any sign or shadow of sharks.

The water along the coast was choppy and visibility was pretty ordinary. The westerly wind was becoming stronger and at times we were buffeted by gusty blasts from different directions.

No sharks were observed during the one-hour, 104km flight.

Summer’s best safety advice remains “no flags, no swim”. Read Dr Rip’s article on page 46 for more on the ever-present danger at our beaches. 2515

Photos: supplied

JOY OF STARFISH CLUB Crawchy’s swim school owner Mel Whiteside reports.

Helensburgh’s Starfish Club has been going for two years and operates every three weeks during school terms. It’s free and all involved volunteer their time.

Our local superstar, Darren Coggan, often comes, sits in the pool with his guitar and sings to the kids. We have all sorts of disabilities including autism, Asperger’s, cerebral palsy, CMV (Cytomegalovirus), kids who have had strokes, Angelman syndrome, learning difficulties and a few with life-threatening or life-shortening conditions. It sounds like it would be very sad, but it’s the exact opposite! We all leave full of smiles

and giggles and have a great time. The idea is that the parents get spoilt, sit down, be served tea/coffee and yummy food and share their life with other families with similar issues. We have a “big” (primary, high school and 21-year-olds) Starfish club on Wednesday nights and a “small” Starfish (preschoolers) club on Saturdays. We have about 10 families and growing in each group. Twenty families all up. The most rewarding part hands down is the smiles! They are the best! What you put in, you get back 100 times. To join, volunteer or sponsor us, call 4294 9999. 2515

THE HOME FRONT SHOULD YOU INVEST IN PROPERTY? Property investment has always been considered a safe, albeit slow, avenue to wealth and people are increasingly turning to the housing market as a way of securing financial freedom. However, not everyone makes millions in the property market and plenty of people have finished financially worse off for their efforts. The key to being a success is careful consideration and plenty of research. Consider the following things when buying an investment property: Are you looking for rental return or capital growth?

A positively geared property that puts money in your pocket each week seems appealing, but most investors agree that capital-growth potential is the most important thing to look for. If the value of your investment increases by 10% each year, you will soon have enough equity to buy a second investment property and eventually a third.

Will the property be easy to rent/sell? Put your own

preferences aside and choose a property with mainstream appeal to minimise the risk.

What is happening in the local market? Demand and supply determines value, so if you know a large housing estate is planned in a neighbouring town in the near future it may shift the supply curve unfavourably. Find an area where the demand for housing does not depend on one industry.

Are you buying at the right price? If you secure a property at below market value you start your journey two steps ahead.

What are the hidden costs? There are plenty of additional costs such as stamp duty, conveyancer fees, council rates and more.

If you’re considering buying an investment property or would like any assistance in the real estate market, call your local property professional, Mattias Samuelsson, on 0466 627 226 to schedule your free consultation.

MATTIAS SAMUELSSON B.Bus, J.P. Director, Ray White Helensburgh

0466 627 226 mattias.samuelsson@raywhite.com

JANUARY 2515 33

From left to right: Allison Tait, Lillian Rodrigues-Pang and Pat Simmons

KIDS DAY OUT!

Meet three authors who will be at Kids Day Out, a free celebration of storytelling to be held at Dapto Ribbonwood Centre on January 18.

Organised by the Illawarra South Coast branch of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Kids Day Out is a free annual event for ages three to 13.

This year it’s on Thursday, January 18 at Dapto Ribbonwood Centre from 10am-2pm. There’ll be author and illustrator workshops, storytelling, book signings and sales. Children must accompanied by an adult and, great news for parents, there’ll be a cafe onsite.

2515 had a chat to three of the 12 presenters.

ALLISON TAIT, AUTHOR

I’m the internationally published, bestselling author of The Mapmaker Chronicles, which is an epic adventure series for kids 9+. The first book in my new series, The Ateban Cipher, came out in September 2017, and book 2 is due in March 2018.

I also work as a freelance writer and social media consultant, and co-host the popular So You Want To Be A Writer podcast. I live on the south coast of NSW with my family and a very cheeky border collie (known as Procrastipup).

How did you come to be a children’s author?

I never expected to be a children’s author. I was working as a freelance writer and happily writing (unpublished) fiction for adults when I had two conversations with my oldest son, then aged nine, now 13. The first took place out in our backyard, under a dark, velvety sky strewn with stars. I’d taken him out there to star gaze and was feeling

34 2515 JANUARY

very Mother Of The Year, when he turned to me and asked, ‘Mum, how far does space go?’ He’s very good at head-hurting questions. When I explained that nobody knew, that every time they went out there they just found more space, he looked at me sceptically, totally ruining my levels of Parental Satisfaction.

The following night we were reading a Horrible Histories novel together and he turned to me (again with the head-hurting) and asked me how they’d mapped the world. “Well,” I said. “They had to go. They had it get in their ships and go out there to see what they might find.” I paused and then, struck by a brilliant moment of Mum Inspiration, I added: “They would have felt exactly the same way we feel when we look out into the night sky.”

And in that moment, I could see a race to map the world – and a boy who really didn’t want to go.

I tried to ignore that idea for a long time because I’d never written for children before, but eventually I sat down to have a crack at it – and it was the most fun I’ve ever had writing anything.

What are your books about and who would like them?

My books are full of adventure, excitement and fun. They’re set in worlds that are inspired by history but with fantastic elements. Kids tell me that they love my characters, either because they see themselves in them, or they’d like to be friends with them. They’re great for kids who love to escape into another world when they read.

What research did you do for the Mapmaker series?

I’ve always loved antique maps. I love how beautiful they are, and the fact that they show us what we knew about the world at any time in history – and what we didn’t know. I think that plays a big part in how I envisage Quinn’s map

coming together. I also wonder about what it would feel like to get on a ship and sail off into the unknown, having no clear picture of what was out there, or, indeed, if I’d be coming back. It takes a lot of courage to do that. For me, my readers, who are mostly tweens, are embarking on an adventure of their own as they head into their teenage years.

Growing up is one of the biggest adventures that any of us understakes.

What will you be doing at Kids Day Out? I’m conducting a workshop called Unlocking The Story Code: The 10 Keys To A Great Story. I’ll take kids through the steps needed to create a story, and we’ll have great fun… It’s aimed at kids 9+, but, really, it’s good for beginner writers of any age.

Your no. 1 writing tip?

To finish. Too many writers – kids and adults included – start a story in a blaze of enthusiasm and then just... stop when it gets hard. You need to finish a story to even know what the story is. n Visit allisontait.com.

privileged enough to be told stories. Her stories of the moon were my favourite. I have a degree in economics and in arts and a masters in education; so for the first 10 years I worked in economics.

The serious mental illness of my brother reminded me of the value of story sharing, remembering and telling. His illness opened up a new path for me (and us to communicate) and when he died I quit economics and became a storyteller. continued on page 36

KIDS DAY OUT!

KIDS

10am-2.00pm Thursday 18 January 2018 Dapto Ribbonwood Centre

10am-2.00pm Dapto

LILLIAN RODRIGUES-PANG, STORYTELLER

I am a professional oral storyteller from Stanwell Tops. I tell or perform stories to people the old-fashioned way – not reading, it’s words, imagination and connection.

How did you come to be a professional storyteller?

It’s a long story! I think a lot of features come into a career. I love stories, I love sharing stories and the connection it creates, it can be playful, educational, meaningful, creative and straight-out awesome fun.

My grandmother is Pipil Indian (born in El Salvador). My family came here leaving the war conditions in El Salvador, so when she visited I was

FREE event for kids 3-13 years Author & Illustrator Workshops Storytelling • Book Signings & Sales

Registration: On the day only from 9.15am Sponsors: Friends of Wollongong City Library Dapto District Community Centre & Library Bluescope WIN Community Partners Visit: nsw.cbca.org.au/pages/illawarrasouthcoast Email: isccbca@gmail.com Telephone: Margaret Wolfe 4268 2498 Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult Café onsite or BYO lunch

JANUARY 2515 35

FREE ev

Author Storytell

Registration: On the day Sponsors: Friends of W Dapto Distr Bluescope W Visit: nsw.cbca.or Email: isccbca@gm Telephone: Margaret W Note: Children mu Café onsite

continued from page 35 Why are stories so important?

Hafiz the poet says: “Your heart and my heart are old friends.” I’d say the way to each other’s hearts are through stories.

Stories are important for vocabulary development, for cognitive development, for emotional learning and teaching. Not only teaching language also teaching culture and values – think every religion’s ‘book’ of stories. They help us to connect and learn about each other and create communities of understanding and support.

Which of your stories do kids love most, and why?

Depending on the age – kids love The Wide Mouth Frog. I also love it; actually I only tell stories I love.

I love silliness and adventure stories and also the ‘how so’ stories. Kids love strong powerful princess stories (Paperbag Princess), stories with danger that clever characters find a way out of (Koala Lou).

I also tell a lot of improvised stories where the audience gives me words and we create together, that’s always a favourite as it is a shared story and fires imagination and their connection to the story.

I do loads of percussion and singing stories as well, as everyone loves to join in.

What’s your role in Kids Day Out 2018?

The finale! Come together, share time all together, laugh, create and enjoy a session with all authors, parents and attendees.

What other storytelling projects have got on this year?

For the past few years I run a weekly storytelling session at the New Outlook centre in Wollongong (mental health centre) and a weekly percussion class. I will continue these in 2018.

I produce a podcast called A Mile In My Shoes (https://amileinmyshoes.com.au).

I lead the “Fireflies” program – multilingual story and rhyme time for preschoolers, delivering well-known original stories, songs and rhymes, presented by a small group of people from the Wollongong region with a refugee background.

I have just released a CD of percussionintegrated stories – StoryBeats with Matt Bourne so we will be touring that CD and performing at a range of festivals I am touring to India in January and February.

And the list goes on you can find details and updates on my website. n http://www.thestoryline.com.au/gigs.html

PAT SIMMONS, AUTHOR AND POET

I live at Scarborough with my cats, dogs and a variety of mini beasts. I love writing poetry, flash fiction, short stories and picture books. I have two picture books due for publication in 2018. Ziggy’s

36 2515 JANUARY

Zoo (Little Pink Dog Books) and Little Spiral (Little Steps Publishing) How did you become a children’s author?: I worked in children’s services for over 20 years as an out-of-school hours care coordinator, an early childhood educator, a Tafe teacher and a kids’ activities coordinator at the Australian National Maritime Museum. I’ve always enjoyed writing for children and began taking myself seriously as a children’s writer in 2010, which is when my first poems were published.

Which authors have inspired you?

Oh so many! For her wonderful rhyme, Julia Donaldson. And Lewis Carroll: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is still my favourite book.

As a writer of funny verse, what makes kids laugh?

Kids like nonsense verse and also verse that’s a little bit cheeky. (See Choosing Shoes, below.)

Tell us about your involvement in Kids Day Out. This will be the third KDO I’ve participated in.

This year I’ll be sharing some of my animal poems with the kids. We’ll be creating crazy bugs, decorating book bags and I’ll be bringing along some live mini beasts.

Any advice for parents who’d like to encourage their kids to read?

Reading needs to be fun so find books on topics that they love, bring them along to events like Kids Day Out and get them to read stuff around the house, the backs of cereal packets, ingredients on the cat food tin, flyers that come in the mail box are a few examples. n Visit www.patsimmonswriter.com.au 2515

CHOOSING SHOES A POEM BY PAT SIMMONS Gum boots when it’s raining Sports shoes when I’m training Sparkly shoes for dancing Riding boots for prancing Sandals for a summer’s day High heeled shoes for dress up play Then sadly comes that time of year When Mum says, ‘Let’s go shopping dear.

Your feet keep growing, time to choose A nice new pair of (yuk!) School Shoes.

NEED A CHEER!

Shaz Harrison-Shaw – of local charity Need a Feed and now also Need a Coffee – shares a story of a troubled van and an act of kindness.

Recently our Need a Coffee van started making a funny ticking noise…

Our Need a Coffee van is the connection to those in the community who live on the streets, feel segregated and alone and those going through challenging times. The Need a Coffee van is a hive of activity during the week in Globe Lane, Wollongong, 8-11.30am, where we provide $1 barista-made coffee, distribute food and personal care items, organise activities and provide connection and that listening ear to those who may have no-one to talk to.

We have built up some great relationships with our friends doing it tough – because of the Need a Coffee van they now feel a sense of belonging and purpose.

When we heard a strange noise coming from the coffee van we took it to the team at WISE Integrated in Unanderra; these guys service generators, among other things.

As they started to look for the ‘ticking noise’ they opened up a can of worms for our newly purchased Need a Coffee van.

It became a question of ‘what is right’ with the van, not ‘what is wrong’ with the van…

After days up on a hoist, new fuel tank, engineered parts, compliance certificates, new switches, safety checks, new generator mount, new carpet, fridge check, gauges checked and a list of other things… I started to feel sick at the cost of this enormous task, during this time we were being

told, one more day, one more day, actually at least another day… nine in total to be exact…

Early on, Alex, the owner, said he would ‘help us out’ and try to keep the costs as low as possible.

As the days went on, I started to think what does ‘help us out’ actually mean at this point…

On the seventh day, I spoke to Alex and said ‘OK, Alex, can you give me a ballpark figure of what this is going to cost?’’

Gulp, feeling sick at this point.

Alex replies with: ‘Well, you know we aren’t going to charge you, don’t you?’

WHAT THE!?

I nearly cried and could not believe what he was saying!

I said: Really?? No, really? Wow!’ He said that what we do has really made him think about how fortunate he is in his life and he feels a real connection with our community outreach service.

So much gratitude to Alex and his team, THANK YOU! This is the spirit of giving…

Is there something you can do for someone?

Even the smallest gesture, something like a compliment can make a difference to someone’s life.

Start this year with a giving attitude. n If you need a coffee van at your next event contact coffee@needafeed.org. 2515

JANUARY 2515 37

THE WORLD BENEATH

Photos: Matt Smith, Anthony Warry (top left)

Meet Matt Smith, the award-winning ocean wildlife photographer from Stanwell Park.

A bluebottle from Shellharbour recently made it into Blue Planet II, the incredible new BBC Earth documentary narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

The floating terror was captured in an over/under picture, its brilliant cyan-blue venomous tentacles dangling down into dark water. Stanwell Park’s Matt Smith is the photographer behind this amazing shot – and many more of the world beneath the waves.

Matt, a mining engineer from the UK, has lived in Stanwell Park for 10 years. “I instantly fell in love with the area for its diversity in underwater environments and quality surf breaks,” Matt told us in 2014. Then Matt was up for a string of awards (including BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, which he went on to win) for over/under images of local blue bottles (Physalia physalis) he’d taken using a specialised waterproof housing that he designed and built himself.

“What I really love about an over/under picture is that it gives an underwater part of the image a sense of place,” Matt said. “It marries the

38 2515 JANUARY

underwater world with our own familiar world; it links the unknown with the known.”

Fast-forward three years and Matt is an ocean wildlife photography superstar. His images are extraordinary, lighting up an alien underwater world of bold colours and strange creatures, from comical cuttlefish to fearsome crocs.

Fill us in on your adventures since taking those prizewinning bluebottle pics off the coast three years ago.

Ah yes, my signature bluebottle images, they were a real door-opener for me and it’s been a hectic roller-coaster ride since! I’ve done many trips over the last three years, either as specific magazine shoots, further competition wins or places I really wanted to visit personally.

Cuba was an interesting trip, I was there with Ocean Geographic magazine and we had gone there to photograph the American saltwater crocs (not alligators) that live in the mangroves off the coast.

You can only get in the water with them at specific stages of the tide, when the water is deep and crystal clear for it to be relatively “safe” and you have to have a support team and boat very close by.

They are not as aggressive as their Australian counterparts, but still not to be toyed with.

How was your November trip to see the great whites?

The trip was great! I made a heap of new friends and we had a good laugh on board Rodney Fox’s charter. We were out to sea off Port Lincoln, South Australia for four days and nights. Firstly, we had awesome encounters with the playful Australian sea lions at Hopkins Island before heading further out to the Neptune Islands for the sharks. It wasn’t a disappointing trip! Several 3.5m great whites

turned up and gave us a spectacular experience, and, of course, we got some great images.

What cameras have you been using?

I’m still with Nikon cameras and using Aquatica Digital water housings, as well as the water housing I designed myself for specific shoots.

was when one of the large female tigers came right up to me whilst I was in only about 3m of water.

She took a close look before turning away and melting back off into the big blue.

Are you still juggling photography and engineering?

I still do engineering contract work as photography isn’t quite earning me a full-time living just yet.

Congratulations on your new role with Nikon.

However, I am now starting to teach underwater Thanks so much! It’s a privilege of the highest order photography courses, my next being a trip to for me! I’ve been shooting for Nikon as a supported The Solomons. Once I get that off the ground I can photographer for the past three years. That meant I hopefully ditch the engineering for good. got all the latest Nikon gear on long-term loans, but June 23 to July 3, 2018 is my 10-night Solomon recently they decided to “promote” me to Brand Islands scuba photography workshop on board the Ambassador, which brings a heap of nice perks.

Bilikiki live aboard dive vessel. This will be my third trip out to The Solomons, home to some of What’s been your strangest encounter underwater? my favourite dive sites ever!

That might have to be the time a large basketballThe clarity and colours under the ocean over sized octopus tried to steal my camera whilst I was there are just mind-blowing! photographing it at a dive site at Kurnell, Sydney.

The occy latched on to my camera and wrist What else is new? with all eight of its arms and tried to relieve me of I’m running a two-day scuba photography my expensive and quite heavy equipment. After a workshop at United Divers in Fairy Meadow 3rd struggle for a couple of minutes I got my camera and 4th of February. I’m also returning to South back and managed to get a great selfie with the Australia to lead a photography workshop and sticky-fingered would-be thief before it fled! four-day photo shoot-out contest February 22-26.

Guests will be mentored by me in how best to Most breathtaking? shoot the seals and sharks and at the end of the Isla del Coco, Costa Rica would be well up there. four days Nikon will award the best photographs It’s a small volcanic island 300 nautical miles off the taken on the trip with some great gear. coast of Costa Rica and is nicknamed “Shark There are spots still available, you don’t have to Mountain” for good reason. It’s uninhabited and be a qualified diver or use Nikon camera gear to get only accessible by a 36-hour boat crossing, but involved. You can get details of all the trips by wow it’s worth it! Every day we dived with large emailing me at info@mattysmithphoto.com. schools of hammerheads, tiger sharks, white tips, Galapagos sharks and many other species. One of n Visit www.mattysmithphoto.com. Follow Matt’s the most breathtaking and humbling experiences work on Instagram @mattysmithphoto 2515

JANUARY 2515 39

Nutrition coach Hollie Kempton has a new summer recipe book.

Photo: supplied

• ¼ butter nut pumpkin • 1 eggplant • lettuce or baby spinach

METHOD Slice the pumpkin horizontally into 1cm thick disc shapes and place into a 180°C oven.

Slice the eggplant into 1 cm thick disc shapes and place into a 180°C oven until soft to touch.

As the pumpkin is cooking, start to prepare the jackfruit.

Remove jackfruit from can and rinse well.

Chop the jackfruit until it begins to look stringy.

Slice the onion into thin strips and place in a preheated fry pan. Stir with a wooden spoon, as the onion begins to stick add approx. ¼ cup water and Lara McCabe asked local recipe book author, blogger and stir. Continue this process until it caramelises healthy living advocate Hollie Kempton to share a recipe (approximately 3 mins). from her new book.

Crush the garlic and add to the pan with paprika, cumin, onion powder and optional chilli.

Hollie Kempton shares a recipe from her collection.

Add the jackfruit, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup and tamari and mix well.

PULLED PORK-FREE BURGERS Add ½ cup water and leave to simmer for 5 mins • 2 x 565g can jackfruit in brine stirring occasionally.

• 1 large onion Slice tomatoes.

• ½ cup water Assemble burgers with tomato, eggplant, lettuce • 2 cloves garlic and pumpkin. Top with jackfruit mixture.

• 3 tbsp maple syrup • 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar SERVING OPTIONS • 2 tbsp tomato paste Wholemeal/wholegrain bread/flat bread, lettuce • 1 tbsp tamari cups. You may also like to top with hummus or • 1 tsp paprika chipotle sauce.

• 1 tsp onion powder • 1 tsp cumin n Follow Hollie on Instagram and Facebook; visit • 1 tsp chilli powder (optional) www.poweredbyvegies.com.au. 2515 • 2-3 tomatoes

GO VEG

UNO NEEDS A HOME!

This gorgeous girl is Uno, an eight-month-old cattle pup.

She is so happy, relaxed and friendly and she would be the perfect addition to any family.

She is the perfect age to start training, as she is quick to learn and loves to make you happy.

Uno is, you know, perfect!

Want to adopt or foster?

Email Julie-ann on ccarpetrehoming@tpg.com.au or Helensburgh’s Country Companion Animal Rescue. 2515

40 2515 JANUARY

WHAT’S ON AT THIRROUL LIBRARY

SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES All free. Bookings essential.

Activities for ages 5+: Weird Science (Tue, 9 Jan, 10.30am), Movie (Thu, 18 Jan, 2pm) and Lego (Fri, 12 Jan, 10.30am and 1.30pm).

Activities Ages 8+: Escape from the Pharaoh’s Tomb: Tuesday, 16 Jan, 10.30am.

MUSIC IN THE LIBRARY Returns Sat, 3 Feb 11am-noon. With musicians from the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music. No bookings required.

Find out more via Council’s website, book via Eventbrite. 2515

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1.38 1.44 1.33 1.39 WE 1357 FR 1641 TU 1509 SU 1822 0.32 WE 1247 TU 11 TU 1338 0.41 0.39 0.44 0.44 Time 2141 m 2000 Time 2231 m 10 Time 2030 m 1905 m

SA 1226 1.78 1912 0.19 Time

0209 0.49 0308 0.44 0138 0.30 0029 1.28 0312 0259 0.28 0129 0520 01 0414 0228 1.36 1.37 1.36 1.44 16 0.54 1 1.34 1 25 16 0.52 10 10 22 7 0122 7 7 00 0845 1.66 0934 1.69 0810 22 1.89 0606 0939 0901 1.98 0738 1024 0.64 1209 0.61 0703 0.50 0838 0.61 1528 0.33 1608 0.28 1452 0.13 1621 0.04

1.22 1.30 TU 1.55 MO 1.63 MO 1222 TH 1.25 FR 1.34 SA 1752 WE 1613 TH 1459 SU 1317 TH 1339 WE 11 WE 1430 2117 1.23 2205 1.34 2049 1.38 1900 0.35 2221 2124 1.43 1952 2230 2045 0.49 0.52 0.43 0.45 2329 10 2001 0.28

0345 0.42 0230 0.29 0114 1.29 0246 0.48 0404 0400 0.28 0224 0510 0322 1.40 1.36 0615 01 1.43 1.46 17 0.54 2 1.33 17 0.57 2 26 11 11 8 0218 8 00 8 23 1009 1.69 0901 23 1.97 0655 0921 1.69 1029 1019 1.94 0846 0.57 1136 0.62 1304 0804 0.57 0947 0.65 1641 0.27 1545 0.05 1602 0.30 1708 0.07

PORT KEMBLA – NEW SOUTH WALES 2018 PORT KEMBLA TIDAL CHART

1.24 1.16 1306 SA 1.24 TU 1.47 WE 1.47 FR 1.14 TH 1717 SU 1850 FR 1612 MO –1412 TUWALES TH 11 TH 1530 FR 1444 PORT KEMBLA NEW SOUTH 2145 1.39 1943 0.38 2154 0.37 LAT 34° 29ʼ 2051 LONG 150° 55ʼ Times and Heights of High and Low Waters 0323 0.29 0324 0203 1.32 0316 1.33 MARCH FEBRUARY

1.24

2241 1.37 1

2310 1.44

2318 2135 0.51 0.57 2224 2049 0.44 0.51 LAT 34° 29ʼ LONG 150° 55ʼ Local Time 0.47 0426 0.41 0456 0.31 0601 and 1.46Low 0501 0327 1.53 1.49 0022 0421 1.38Waters Times and Heights of High APRIL JANUARY JANUARY 2018 0953 2.01 0956 1045 1.66 1116Time 1.85 1239 1100 0.57 m 0.64 1136 0.48 0.52 0701 0.60 Time m Time m1.70 Time 0.63 m m 1006 Time m 0912 Time0753 m Time Time m 1638 0.02 1636 0.29 1714 1753 0.14 MARCH JANUARY FEBRUARY 1818 1.14 1730 1.23 1348 1357 TH 1.38 SU 1.18 SA 0209 0.49 0211 0308 1.33 0.44 0.361601 0240 0.311.09 0.30 0.28 1509 0210 0.32 FR0.48 SA0212 MO 0.28 WE TU FR 1641 SA FR 1 16 1 0138 1 0312 16WE 1 16 0849 1.67 0830 1.63 0934 0.44 1.69 0817 1.60 0810 1.89 16 0845 1.66 0939 1.98 2141 0833 1.88 1.39 2231 1.25SU2231 2318 Time 1.40 2359 1.43 2326 0.42 1938 2158 2030 Time m1608 2239 Time m 0.280.60 Time m 0.53 Time Time m FR0.41 1502 0.33 1500 0.32 0.28 0.32 0.04 TIME 1513 0.11 TU 1528m TH TH 1621 MO 1452 0.13 FR MO 1427 TIME M M TIME M TIME M 2115 1.65 2117 1.23 2101 1.41 2205 1.34 2042 1.71 2049 1.38 2221 1.43 2114 1.47

24 18 12 9 3 27 24 18 12 9 0001

9 3

0416 0209 0.49 0.30 0.48 0.28 0414 0345 1.36 0.42 17 2 0404 1029 1.94 1024 1.69 1009 0.64 1.69 1044 0845 1.66 1.89 0.30 FR 1708 0.07 SA 1641 0.27 1730 1.44 1613 1.24 2241 1.22 1.37 1528 0.33 TH WE TU2310 MO 1452 0.13 TH 2333 2117 1.23 2049 0324 1.38 0323 0.29 0.47 0456 0.31 2230 0426 0.49 0.41

2 3

0.32 0259 0507 0211 0.42 0547 0602 0.37 0436 0402 0308 0.47 0005 0520 0.52 1.41 0109 000 1.64 0.44 0312 0.28 1.36 0210 0.32 1.55 21209 1711246 21.99 0901 170.61 19 19 4 28 13 13 10 25 10 111 16 10 4 1 25 16 16 1123 1.61 1031 1.70 1204 1.71 1126 0648 1.52 0744 0.36 0.60 0934 1.69 0830 0939 1.98 0833 1.88 0.45 0.04 1459 1.30 1748 0.30 1711 0.29 1836 1840 0.23 1724 1330 1752 0.50 1.09 1427 10 1.26 1.19

17 1 0138 0810

0230 0901 TU 1545 2145

0.29 1.97 0.05 1.39

0953 2.01 WE 1638 0.02 2239 1.39

0246 0921 WE 1602 2154

18 0956

10 21

1.70

3 1116

1.85

18 1045

1.66

0301 0923 FR 1557 2200

0.28 1.88 0.11 1.52

0250 0907 SA 1532 2136

0.43 1.65 0.29 1.47

0326 0932 MO 1538 2154

0.32 1.57 0.35 1.65

0257 0902 TU 1504 2122

0.32 1.57 0.34 1.76

3 1010

1.83

18 0945

1.65

3 1015

1.47

18 0949

1.51

1621 FR MO SU SU SA 1608 TU 1500 SA 0.28 SU 0.11 TH 0.04 SA 0 TH 1513 FR FR 2358 2101 1.42 1.37 2309 1.26 1912 2329 1.150.360.60 03452114 2018 211 2205 1.34 2221 1.43 0.43 1.47 0.51 0412 03522124 0.27 0330 0.38 0.292308

1612 0.44 WE 1545 0.38 TH 1636 0.29 SA 1753 0.14 SU 1714 0.28 SA 1638 0.15 SU 1605 0.28 0552 0250 0.45 0511 0.36 0441 0.48 00472206 1.41 0049TU0615 0.511.621.46 0151 0025 0.39 0230 0.29 0246 0.48 0345 0.42 0301 0.28 1.64 0404 0.28 1.43 2231 2231 1.25 2318 1.40 1.40 22440400 1.54 2212 1.53 1.790545 2359 1.43 0510 1203 0907 1.54 1135 1.91 1107 1.67 06410436 0.45 0730 1304 1.570.420.53 0822 0700 1.77 0901 0402 1.97 0921 1.69 1009 1.69 0923 1.88 0.34 1029 1.94 0.57 0457 0416 0.32 0.47 0507 0.62 0.42 04411019 0.30 0411 0.36 0.301235 0547 0.37 1136 19 41850 19FR1040 4 1044TU1.991545 19 1031 4 1204 40.10 1.70 10561612 1.73 1023 1.63 1.71 1717 1057 1.361.12 1123 1.16 1.61 1.441835 1825 0.34 1821 1746 0.30 1250 1.55 1414 0.44 1502 1346 0.23 0.05 1602 0.30 1641 0.27 1557 0.11 1708 0.07 TU 1.25 FR SA191.24 MO SU0.29 WE MO SU MO TH FR SU SA SA 1532 FR SU 0.04 FR 1711 0.29 WE 1717 0.23 MO 1639 1628 0.45 WE 1645 0.52 TH TH 1730 SU 1836 0.23 MO 1748 0.30 2347 1.27 0.34 1958 2310 1.181.5919182253 2055 1943 2333 1.37 1.26 23272224 1.54 2249 1.57 2358 0.51 1.42 1.78 1.31 2145 2309 1.39 2154 2318 1.24 2241 1.37 2200 1.52 2136 2310 1.44 0.44

0 211

20 1107 5 0641 20 51.35 201.53 20 1136 1203 1.46 1.54 1141 1.350015 0.45 0601 1.67 11400501 1.60 1104 1.57 0028 0522 0.50 0041 0330 1.43 0136 1.39 013050022 0.501.260.58 0123 0.34 0230 0323 0.29 0324 0.47 0426 0.41 0352 0.27 0.46 0456 0.31 1718 0.60 FR 1716 0.53 1755 0.32 TU 1715 0.32 SA 1746 0.30 MO 1250 1.55 TU 1825 0.34 0606 MO 0.42 1144 1.62 0642 0945 0.48 07362344 0.54 0809TH0701 1.621.531.52 0756 1.88 0859 1136 1045 1.66 0953 2347 2.01 0956 1.70 0.57 1010 1.83 1.74 1116 1.85 0.48 2349 1.740645 1918 0.34 1239 1.27 2330 1.60 1226 1.78 1822 0.32 1247 1.44 1338 1.39 1452 0.38 1442 0.13 1535 1714 0.28 1638 0522 0.02 1636 0.29 1638 0.15 0.14 SA SU 1.23 WE 0.24 TU MO TU TH 1605 FR MO 1348 TU MO SA 0028 0.50 0041 1.14 1.43 00101730 1.51 0543 0633 0.540.46 0.361333 1.39 1818 WE1.35 TH0136 SU0.37 SA0633 SU SA 1753 61938 6 0606 0.422239 21 1144 60.19 210.42 21 1238 6 0736 1.62 0642 1912 0.48 06182326 0.42 1149 1.49 1.281934 1228 0.54 21 1905 2212 0.39 2000 0.44 2039FR 1.211.181.17 2038 1.36 2130 2318 1.40 1.39 2231 1.25 2244 1.54 1.33 2359 1.43 1758 0.68 SA 1812 0.61 SA 1226 1.78 SU 1822 0.32 TU 1223 1.45 WE 1754 0.38 TU 1338 1.39 WE 1247 1.44

0 211

2

0511 0.36 1135 1.91 FR 1821 0.10

5

0441 0.48

3

1912 0.19

14 11 5 292 26 20 17 14 11 010101 17 11 5 2 26 20 17 10 0047 1.41

0552 0.45

0530 0.35

0455 0.35

0544 0.48

0531 0.32

15 12 010101 15 12 6 303 27 21 18 18 12 6 3 27 21 18 10 2000 0.44

1905 0.39

1830 0.42

0122 1.34 0029 1.28 0109 0129 02280042 1.37 0217 0.30 0507 0.421.480.54 0.32 0402 0.47 0547 0.37 1.64 0441 0.30 0.39 0129 0.52 1.44 0033 1.690115 1.28 1.37 0005 00520602 1.48 0014 1.61 22 70.50 220.36 22 0742 7 0228 0730 0.390742 0838 0.61 0648 0738 1.52 0.52 0.54 07091246 0.51 0635 0.40 0703 0606 0.54 70744 0738 0838 0.61 0848 1.96 1.58 1123 1.610.58 1.99 1031 1.70 1204 1.71 1056 1.73 1.83 1324 1.13 1349 1.24 1430 1.25 1339 1.34 1.55 1307 1.31 1239 1.39 TH SA SU WE WE TH 1317 1.63 1222 1.55 1339 1430 1.25 1532 0.06 1748 0.30 1711 0.29 0.23 1717 0.23 1848 0.740.39 0.671425 0.52 1330 1952 0.50 0.45 0.35 19071840 0.52 1836 SU MO 1.26 TH 0.16 WE WE SA TU 1427 WE SU MO0.46 TH 1730 0.04 FR2045 SU 1836 SU1919 MO 2001 0.28 1900 0.35 2018 1952 20450148 0.52 2130 1.41 2358 1.421.431.22 2333 0114 1.37 2309 1.26 2327 1.54 1.41 0218 1.33 1.29 0136 1.44 0102 1.59 0322 1.36 1912 0224 1.15 1.46 0128 1.642026

1.44 00 13 11 19 13 7 4 28 22 19 13 7 314 28 22 19 0411 0.52 1023 1.34 1

22 4 0416 1044

7 0122 0703

1.34 0.50 SU 1317 1.63 2001 0.28

0029 0606 MO 1222 1900

8 0804

23 0655

0.57 MO 1412 1.47 2051 0.37

8 0947

0.65 TH 1530 1.14 2135 0.57

23 0846

0.54 FR 1444 1.24 2049 0.51

0218 0.36 0441 0049 0.48 0.51 0804 1.91 1107 1.67 1.32 0421 1.38 0730 0327 1.57 1.49 9 1100 24 0.64 1414 1006 0.44 0.52 0.60 1412 1746 0.30 MO SU FR 1821 0.10 SA MO 1.38 FR 1641 1.09 SA 1601 1.18 2051 2347 1.27 2231 0.60 1958 2158 1.18 0.53 0.41

5 0511 1135 24

0316 0912 TU 1509 2141

9

0.57 TU 1306 1.47 1943 0.38

1.33 0.63 1.33 0.44

0203 0753 WE 1357 2030

10 0414 1024

1.36 0.64 WE 1613 1.22 2230 0.49

0259 1.36

2318 0.51

2224 0.44

8 0804

23 0734

8 0832

0.44 FR 1335 1.29 1926 0.54

0.60 SU 1432 1.11 1955 0.78

1.41

0159 1.57

0231 1.40

0323 1.38

0304 1.56

2252 0.70

2300 0.60

0.58 TH 1355 1.19 1947 0.60

23 0851

0.40 MO 1506 1.25 2036 0.69

1639 TU 0 0.45 1 2249

1.33 0025 0114 0552 1.29 0151 0322 0530 1.36 0.35 0224 0455 1.46 00 0.45 0.50 0047 1.41 0.39 8 5 29 23 8 14 14 01 20 20 14 PORT 5 20  Copyright Commonwealth of Australi 0947 0.65 23 0.54 0.57 0700 0655 0.57 0822 1.63 1203 1.54 1140 1.60 0846 1104 0641 0.45 1.77 91502 SOUTH 24 1.14 WALES 91.47 1346 240.23 KEMBLA NEW 1530 1444 1.24 1 1306 – 1.47 0.34 0520 1.41

0436 1.55

0226 0908 FR 1453 2038

0300 1.61

0938 0.59 0957 0.38 0.32 0.47 1825 0.34 1755 1715 1250 1.55 TU 0844 TH FR WE WE 0 MO 0.62 TU TUAstrono Datum Predictions is Lowest 1546 1.13 MO 1.21 1.11 SA 1445 MOof TU 1615 1.31 2135 0.57 2049 2330 0.51 11 0.37 1943 1943 1.31 1918 0.34 2111 0.781.26 2152 0.65 2029 0.60 0.66 LAT 34° 29ʼ 0.38 2055 LONG 150° 55ʼ

Times are standard time (UTC + 0340 in 1.41local 0410 1.62

25 10 25 1055 25 0901 10 25 0203 1.32 0316 1.33 0421 1.38 1.49 00 0.61 10 1209 0.60 0130 1126 0.50 0.45Times 10170123 0.63 1000 0.46 1036 0.35 0.34 0230 0.47 0041 1.430.55and 0028 1.35 0522 0.50 0010 1.51 0327 0543 0136 1.39 and Heights of High Low Waters New Moo01 Moon Phase 1.19 1649 1.19Symbols TH 1459 1.30 SA 1752 1.09 SU 1724 1.19 SA 1605 1.07 SU 1605 WE 1713 1.40 1100 0.64 0.52 0753 0.60TU 0912 0.63 0859 0642 0.480.741.67 0606 0.42 1144 1.62 0618 0736 0.54 1.88 2124 0.43 2329 0.60 0809 2308 1.62 0.51 21430756 0.70 2144 0.63 2219 2300 0.58 0.42 1006 1149 MARCH JANUARY FEBRUARY 1641 1.09 1601 1.18 1357 1.38 1509 1.33 1452 0.38 1442 0.13 1535 0.30 1247 1.44 1226 0400 1.78 1822 1223 1.39 WE 0417 TU 1.64TU 1338 FR SA WE 1754 MO TU TH 0441 TH 10 WE1.58 SA1.40 SU0615 1.43 1.46 0.32 0428 1.39 1.44 1.63 1.45 11 0510 26 1019 26 0545 261.36 112130 26TU0512 1136 0.62 0.57 11 1304 0.53 2039 1235 1.21 0.34 11 11272038 0.60 1115 0.41 1125 0.491.30 1145 0.33 0.42 2158 0.53 2 2231 0.60 2030 0.41 2141 0.44 1905 0.39 1912 0.19 1830 2000 0.44 T Time m Time m Time m Time m Time m TH 1717 1.16 FR 1612 1.24 SU 1850 1.12 MO 1835 1.25 SU 1723 1.09 MO 1724 1.23 WE 1737 1.27 TH 1802 1.50

6

0138 0122 0501 1.34 1.53 27 1136 0810 0.48 0703 0.50 SA 1730 1.23 1452 1.63 MO2326 0.42 SU 1317 2049 2001 0602 0.28 0005 0.52 1.64

7 1

12 0601 1239

1.46 0.57 FR 1818 1.14

13 0648

1.52 SA 1330 0.50 1912 1.15

28 1246

0.36

1.26 SU 1840 0230 0218 1.33 0901 0804 0.57 0.51 0025 0.39 14 0049 29 0730 1.77 1545 1412 1.47 TU0700 MO1.57 SU 1414 0.44 MO 1346 0.23 2145 2051 1943 0.37 1958 1.18 1.31

8 2

15 0130 0809

0.50 1.62 MO 1452 0.38 2039 1.21

0123 0.34

30 0756 0323 1.88 0316 1.33 0.13 TU 1442 0953 0912 0.63 2038 1.36 1638 1.33 WE0217 TU 1509 0.30 31 0848 1.96 2239 2141 0.44 1532 0.06

9 3 WE

2130 1.41

21 15 9 6 30 24 21 15 9 6 2316 0.67

0210 0.32 0014 1.55 01 1.48 0436 16 00 22 16 10 7 311 25 22 16 10 7 1 25 22 0833 1.88 0635 0.45 0.51 1126 1513 1724 0.11 1.19 1 0.44 00000052 0209 0.49 0228 0.300022 0312 0.28 0129 1.41 0414 1.36 0259 1.36 0308 0217 1.441.490520 0029 1.37 0.30 0.58 1.28 0015 0.46 0531 1.42 0530 0.50 0528 1.64 12 0701 27 271.96 120934 27 06060709 1.69 1.66 1.89 0939 1.980.33 1218 1.52 0845 0645 1024 1.74 12 12260848 0.54 1206 0.441209 1.62 0.60 0.64 0901 0.61 0738 0.52 0606 0.54 0838 0.61 MO 1348 0.46 TU 1333 0.24 MO 1825 1.14 TU 1829 1.31 TH 1817 1.36 FR 1230 0.32 0.28 0.33 0.13 1621 0.04 1.09 1.22 1459 1.30 1.34 1222 1.55 1.25 TU TH TH1532 FR 1608 SA 1752 WE TH 0.06 1.17 1528 1934 1613 1.33 2354 0.66 1.59 WE TH 1339 MO1938 WE18471307 WE 1430 AND 1.34TIMES 2117 1.23 1.380109 2221 1.43 1952 0.60 0.49 2124 0.43 2205 0.450.592329 1900 1907 2045 0.52 1.41 0004 0.54 0.35 0115 2230 0.39 06262130 1.47 0008 0.53 0052 0.43

13 0744

1.58

28 0742

1.83

13 1313

0.48

28 0630

1.70

13 0615

1.54

Moon Phase Symbols

0510 1136 FR TH 1717 2318

11 5

1.31 FR 1 SU TH 1239 2114 1.47 1836 0.51 20 0.52 2308

28 0656 OF1.60HIGH HEIGHTS

1243 0.39 SA 1311 0.33 0.16 1913 1.21 WE 1314 0.27 TU 1427 0.39 0246 WE 1425 0510 TU 0.42 19290136 0.29 0.48 0404 0.28 0224 0301 0.28 1.64 01 1.46 1.40 1.43FR0345 0114 0322 1.36 0400 1.461.450615 1853 2018 1.22 1.29 2026 1.41 1921 1.41 1.66 1.44 0545 0102 AND LOW0.53 WATERS 1009 1.69 1.970151 0921 1.69 1029 1.94 0923 1.88 0.34 00 1136 0.62 1019 0.57  Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2016, Bureau of Meteoro 0804 0.58 1235 0655 0.57 0734 0947 0.65 0846 0.540.511304 0.50 0046 0.60 0108 0.44 0047 0141 00.39 LAT 34 29’ 1557 14 14 14 291612 29TH 0822 1.63 1602 0712 1.53 0726 1.75 0656 1.581850 0742 1.56 1641 0.27 0.05 0.30 0.07 0.11 1.12 1.25 1.16 1.24 1355 1.19 1306 1.47 1335 1530 1.14 1444 1.24 SA WE FR 1708 FR SA 11 SU MO 1835 THof1717 FRis TU FR TH FR Datum Predictions Lowest Astronomical Tide 1502 0.34 1352 0.41 1401 0.22 1316 0.35 1348 0.37 WE SU 0 1.39 1.24 WE 1.441.50 0.51 0.44SA2241 LONG 1501.71 55’2200 1947 0.60 1.52 1926 20 1943 0.38 2318 2135 0.57TH2224 2049 0.511.541.37 2055 1.26 2154 1952 2310 1.28 2009 1928 2008

23 17 11 8 2 26 23 17 11 8 2 26 23 17

Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings 0130 0.43 0130 0.54 0201 0.37 0227 0.37 0352 0.27 0159 0.46 01 1.41 0015 First Quart00 1010 1.83 0844 1.74 0.62 0645

0230 0.47

15 0859 300501 150426 30 08260226 0.29 0.47 15 0.41 0.311.76 0601 1.46 0.58 1.53 1.67 0324 0736 1.600022 0753 0456 1.59 0816 1.50 0203 1.32Phase 0421 1.38 0327 1.49 Moon 0.30 1351 1427 0.36 FR 1445 0.21New 0.41 TH 1535 Moon TH MO 1423 2.01 1.70 Symbols 1.66 1.851.57 0.57 1.52 0.48SU1045 0753 0.60 1239 1100 0.64 1136 1006 0.520.32 0908 2130 1.30 0956 2004 1.630701 2028 1116 1.34 2053 2045 1.73 0.02 0.29 0.28 0.14 1.14 0.46 1.23 1.38 1.09 1601 1.18 TH 1636 SU 1714 SA SA 1753 FR 1818 MO 1348 SA 1730 WE 1357 FR 1641 SA0.32 FR 1453 0252 312326 0903 1.39 2030 2231 1.40 2038 1.431.73 1.17 0.42 2318 0.41 1.25 2231 2359 0.60 2158 0.53 1938

18 24 18 12 9 3 27 24 18 12 9 3 27 24 1638 1333 0.15 0.24 1 SA 1525 0.23 2134 1.62

0.47 0520 0.37 0436 0.52 0547 1.64 0507 1.41 0602 1.55 0414 0416 1.36 0.32 0259 0402 1.36 0005 1044 1031 1.70 1.71 1126 0648 1.52 1204 0.36 1123  Copyright Commonwealth of Australia Bureau of Meteorology 1209 0.60 1246 0.45 1024 0.64 1.99 09012016, 0.61 Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide 0.04 0.29 0.23 0.50 1.26 1.09 1.19 1.22 1459 1.30 MO 1748 TH 1730 FR 1711 SU 1836 SA 1330 TU SU 1840 SA 1752 SU 1724 WE 1613 TH Times are 2230 in local standard +10:00) or daylight (UTC +11:00) 2308 when in 2358 effect 2333 1.37(UTC 2309 1.26savings 1912 1.15time0.60 2329 0.51 0.49 time 2124 0.43

10 4

24 21 15

1.11 SU 1 TU SA 1445 2244 1.54 2029 1.33 20 0.66 1934

0.42 0323 0.30 0304 0.54 0441 0.39 01 1.38 0115 4 28 19 10 25 19 13 10 4 28 25 19 13 0109 10 25 1.61 1056 1.73 1000 0744 1.58 1.83 1017 0.63 0742 0.30 0.39 1717 1425 0.23 0.16 1 1427 New Moon

First Quarter

0511 0.48 1.40 0.36 0400 0441 1.43 0049 1135 1.67 0.62 1.91 1019 1107 0.57 0730 1821 0.30 1.16 0.10 1.24 SA 1746 SU 1414 SU FR 1612 1.27 0.51 2224 2347 0.44 1958

0.51 0615 1.57 1304 0.44 1850 MO 1.18

Full Moon

0047 1.41 0545 0.39 1.46 0025 0641 0.45 1235 1.77 0.53 0700 1250 1.55 0.23 1.12 TU MO 1346 MO 1835 1918 1943 0.34 1.31

SU 1.07 MO 1 WE SA 1605 SU 1605 1.42 2143 1.54 2144 2018 1.22 2327 1.41 20 0.70 2026 Last Quarter

0552 0.45 0428 0.50 0530 1.64 0151 1.39 0.35 0417 1203 1.54 1127 1.63 1140 0.34 0822 0.60 1.60 1115 1825 0.34 0.34 1.25 1.09 0.32 MO 1755 TU WE 1502 SU 1723 MO 1724 2055 2252 1.26 0.70 2300

26 20 14 11 5 29 26 20 14 11 5

The Bureau of Meteorology gives no warranty of any kind whether express, implied, statutory or otherwise in respect to the availability, accuracy, currency, completeness, quality or reliability of the information or that the information will be fit for any particular purpose or will not infringe any third party Intellectual Property rights.

The Bureau’s liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense resulting from use of, or reliance on, the information is entirely excluded.

26 20 01110

1 20

0.50 0022 1.432515 1.39 0015 0.50 0136 0.34JANUARY 0.47 0010 1.46 1.35 0501 0522 1.53 0130 0.58 0123 0.46 0230 0531 1.42 1.51 0528 01 6 0028 21 1144 21 0041 6 0618 21 10 6 30 15 0809 15 0859 12 0601 12 27 12 0606 0.42 1136 1.62 0642 0.48 0.42 1218 0736 0.54 0645 1.62 1.88 1.67 1239 0.57 27 0.48 0701 1.52 0756 1.74 1226 0.54 27 1226 1.78 1822 1452 0.32 0.38 1338 1442 1.44 0.30 1223 1.45 1 1.39 0.13 1247 1535

45

SA 1.14 SA 1730 SU 1.23 WE 0.24 TU 1.14 TU 1829 WE 1 TU 0.46 MO MO 1348 TU TH MO 1825 FR 1818 TU 1333 1912 0.19 2326 0.42 2039 1938 0.39 2354 0.44 1934 1.21 2000 1.36 1905 1.30 1830 1.17 2038 1.33 2130 0.66 0.42

DR RIP’S SCIENCE OF THE SURF In order to prevent rip-related drownings, Dr Rob Brander wants us all to become Citizen Lifeguards.

Since my article on rip currents last month, an 11-year-old boy drowned in a rip at Port Macquarie and a 15-year-old girl visiting from India drowned near a breakwater in Adelaide.

The first tragedy took place on an unpatrolled section of beach and the family were from Canberra, suggesting they were perhaps not familiar with surf beach conditions. The young girl was with a group of visiting Indian students who also got into trouble.

Clearly a common message here is just how much infrequent beachgoers and international visitors are at risk when they visit our beaches. I’ve just done a study on Study Abroad students coming to Australia. Beaches are a prime factor behind their choice of what university to study at, yet most do not have any knowledge of our beach flag system, or rip currents. Of concern, they are not getting any information about beach safety before they leave their home country.

What can we do to stop these terrible tragedies from happening? We keep stressing to always swim between the red and yellow flags and to swim near lifeguards. But flags and lifeguards are not everywhere and many unpatrolled beaches are easily accessible and often located next to tourist accommodation. For those unfamiliar with surf beaches and rip currents, often the choice of a safe swim location comes down to luck and that’s just not good enough. We know that signs don’t work

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and not everyone is getting, or interested in, beach safety education. What can we do? In particular, how can we help people who clearly don’t understand what’s going on at the beach?

I think it’s time that Australia started adopting a ‘Citizen Lifeguard’ approach. Many of us have a good understanding about how waves and rips work and it’s not hard to help others out. Too often we have a bit of a chuckle when people, particularly tourists, do silly things in the water. But it’s really not that funny. If you see someone, or a group of people, entering the water when or where they shouldn’t, go and chat to them. Tell them that it’s not safe and why. Tell them to find the red and yellow flags and swim between them because that’s where the lifeguards and lifesavers are. Taking a simple preventative action could easily save a life.

Prevention is always best. It’s not uncommon for people to see someone in trouble and rush in to help them, placing themselves at risk. Far too often, it is these bystander rescuers who end up drowning. This is one of the themes of a new documentary about rip currents called Rip Current Heroes that is being shown on the National Geographic Channel this summer. You too can be a hero by saving a life and you don’t even need to get wet. Be a citizen lifeguard.

Have a question for Dr Rip about the Science of the Surf?

Email rbrander@unsw.edu.au. 2515

RIP CURRENT HEROES

Dr Rob Brander tells us more about the documentary that premiered on Australian National Geographic last month.

How did the documentary come about?

I was contacted over four years ago by Jason Markland, a Gold Coast-based documentary filmmaker, who was keen to do something on rips.

Jason wanted to take a grass-roots approach to the rip drowning problem by focussing on people’s stories. He didn’t have any funding, but never gave up and eventually National Geographic came to the rescue, so to speak.

Best part about working on it?

Meeting some incredibly passionate and dedicated people trying to stop people drowning in rips.

It really was inspirational.

What was your role in this documentary?

One of the central themes was the research I’ve been doing looking at rip current behaviour using GPS Drifters. Many other scientists have done the same thing, but our experiments also tested different rip current escape strategies. Jason was also interested in my community education efforts and combined the two.

Rip currents cause more deaths in Australia per year than cyclones, floods and sharks combined – does Australia need to address this hazard with more publicity or funding?

For a while there, rips were getting a lot of media attention, and rip current drownings went down, which was great. But a certain amount of complacency has crept back into the rip problem.

We absolutely must get rip education into the school curriculum as a minimum and somehow get the word out to tourists. Compared to the amount of government funding pouring into the shark problem, the amount of dedicated funding on reducing rip drowning is shameful.

What’s the story behind the title?

Jason got to know the family of Ryan Martin, who drowned last year trying to save a young girl in trouble in a rip. Many other people were involved in this rescue and while the young girl survived, it was a very close call. So a major theme is on bystander rescuers and small communities, who are taking rip safety into their own hands. These people truly are heroes. The documentary in this regard is very powerful and emotional.

Most challenging?

I accidentally brought my wife’s wetsuit to the filming. Squeezing into that was a major challenge.

Unfortunately, it did not have a slimming effect.

Where can people watch it if they miss the show?

It’s running on the National Geographic channel all summer and will also be watchable through their new NatGeo-Optus app. I’m sure it’ll get out there in the mainstream eventually. Nat Geo is also funding a rip current education kit that will be What was involved in its production? available to thousands of schools for free, which is Lots of incredibly realistic re-enactments of rescues amazing. I really encourage people to watch the and some of my drifter experiments. He also filmed documentary somehow, it will definitely save lives some of my community ‘Science of the Surf ’ talks … and it’s good. 2515 and, of course, there’s some purple dye release footage in there.

“Compared to the amount of government funding pouring into the shark problem, the amount of dedicated funding on reducing rip drowning is shameful.”

JANUARY 2515 47

Photos: supplied

SUMMER OF CRICKET

Members of the Illawarra’s biggest junior club are loving the 2017/18 cricket season. Scott Westbrook reports.

Our Milo In2Cricket kids have finished for the season. We hope you have had a great experience under the guidance of the Butchers senior cricketers and we look forward to you playing for the junior Butchers for many years to come.

The T20 Blast kids are having a ‘blast’.

The season will restart in February and it’s not too late to join for the final seven weeks. You can register at playcricket.com.au – enter your postcode ‘2515’ and you will find Northern Districts Cricket Club (aka Butchers).

If you would like to find out more about T20 Blast, visit the playcricket website and watch a short video.

We have 15 junior Butchers teams playing up and down the coast each weekend, ranging from Under 11s to Under 16s – the biggest junior club in the Illawarra. You will see them looking smart and proud in their white and blue uniforms, each individually named; three teams are currently topping their respective competitions.

While we have many great individual performances (including a 99!), it is all about doing your best for yourself and your team mates.

Special mention to the five Under 11 teams who are all doing great – they are playing a new format this year and are lapping it up.

Up the Butchers! 2515

NORTHERN ILLAWARRA VETERINARY HOSPITAL

Your Pet’s Health is in Good Hands

Northern Illawarra Veterinary Hospital is 100% owned by local veterinarians Drs Matt and Jenny O’Donnell who have lived and worked in the Northern Illawarra for over 20 years. Your pet will always be offered exceptional, personal care by our experienced team, using the most up to date facilities and equipment.

02 4238 8575 332 Princes Hwy, Bulli NSW 2516

48 2515 JANUARY

nivh.com.au info@nivh.com.au