2515 DECEMBER 2019

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DECEMBER 2019

www.2515mag.com.au

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AUSTI RFS MEET THE LOCAL HEROES ON THE BUSHFIRE FRONTLINE

Clifton | Scarborough | Wombarra | Coledale | Austinmer | Thirroul

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS JANICE CREENAUNE

is a retired English teacher of 35 years, who has lived and worked in the Illawarra, and completed three year-long overseas teacher exchanges. A wife and mother of three, she sees the life of a retiree as an evolution, something to be cherished, enjoyed. Janice is a volunteer for PKD Australia and her interests include travel, Letters-to-the Editor SMH, letterpress printing and film study.

DR CHRIS REID

works in the Australian Museum in Sydney as a research scientist specialising in beetles.

His job is a combination of research, teaching or supervising students, and dealing with public enquiries. A NSW government beetle expert, Chris says identifying beetles is “a bit like detective work”.

AMANDA DE GEORGE is a naturalist, writer and photographer based in the STEPHANIE MEADES Northern Illawarra. Her is the founder of Life passion lies in Wellness Co., an discovering interesting critters in urban exercise physiologist, environments and bringing them to the nutritionist, rehabilitation consultant, wellness coach followers of her Facebook and Instagram page Backyard Zoology. Oh, and and food writer. She is a Thirroul adventures and naps and wine; she’s resident, a happily married mother of passionate about those things too! two, who is actively engaged in local activities including volunteering at the food co-op, running wellness workshops STAYCATION TIME! Early deadline and delivering real food inspiration to ahead for January’s edition, book the community. She is passionate about ads by Friday, Dec 13 please. creating a happier and healthier www.2515mag.com.au or call community.

Karen on 0403 789 617.

AFFLES !

MASWRed 11 Dec from 6pm X T e N GIA Ham Raff affe Wed 18 Dec Gia

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EDITORS Gen Swart, Marcus Craft CONTACT editor@2515mag.com.au Ph: 0432 612 168 2515mag PO Box 248, Helensburgh, 2508.

ADVERTISING Karen, 0403 789 617. www.2515mag.com.au. T&Cs apply.

DEADLINE 15th of month prior.

COVER Austinmer RFS, by Anthony Warry Photography.

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Disclaimer: All content and images remain the property of 2515 Coast News unless otherwise supplied. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Views expressed do not reflect those of the publisher. Articles of a general nature only; seek specific advice on an individual basis.

Cover image by Anthony Warry; story p16

MY L BRASSITETRLE IE

Come an chef Carld meet our new Brasserioes at My Little Internati and try our onal Men u

COLEDALE RSL CLUB Always welcoming members, their guests and visitors to our friendly little club on the northern beaches of Wollongong Live Music most weekends, check online for times Open 7 days a week for Lunch // Open Wednesday-Sunday for Dinner @coledalerslclub and 4267 1873 2­ / 2515­/ DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FEATURE

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The Good Gift Guide Tis the season to fill your trolley with great gifts from local businesses, writers and artists!

Also in our Chrissy round-up: where to find community carols, festive markets and native trees.

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4 1 FOR WINE DRINKERS Picnickers rejoice. Do you love drinking wine out of a real glass? These Glass on the Grass slide-on coasters will stabilise your glass – because life’s too short to spill wine! Designed and made in Australia from recycled material.

Available at Thirroul Collective; $35 for a bag of four coasters in different colours.

2 FOR ANIMAL LOVERS Symbio won Business of the Year at the 2019 Illawarra Business Awards. Was it because of the Splash Park, the fortress playground with its flying foxes, the frog-conservation program or all the exotic, native and farmyard animals? Let kids decide – give a season pass and they

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can enjoy 12 months of unlimited entry to Helensburgh’s award-winning zoo. $52 per child, $99 adults.

3 FOR SUSTAINABILITY FANS A membership to Bulli’s Make-Do Library of Things is the perfect sustainable gift. $80 buys your loved one a year’s access to a growing collection of tools, party and camping items. www.make-do.com.au.

4 FOR YOUNG READERS Austinmer children’s author Dianne Ellis is launching her new picture book, Kingsley the cross-eyed Kookaburra, on 14 December at the Thirroul Railway Institute Hall, 1.30pm (full story p14).

5 FOR READERS OF ALL AGES November is the biggest month of the year for new releases and shelves at Collins Booksellers Thirroul are bursting!

There are books for everyone – and if it’s not in stock, there’s still time to order for the 25th. Plus, find advent calendars, cards, crackers and loads of Christmas ideas for special gifts for your special people.

6 FOR YOUR HONEY BUN Local, raw, unfiltered honey by the Austinmer Beekeeper – $15 a jar at Moore Street General in Austinmer and The Village Practice in East Woonona.

7 FOR MUSIC LOVERS Give the joy of new vinyl records with an Artrockstore gift card.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

Carols on the Green.

1at Club Hosted by C3 Thirroul Thirroul for the

whole community. BYO picnic blanket! Sun, 8 Dec, 5.30-8.30pm.

Combined Churches Carols in the Burgh (Rex Jackson Oval, Helensburgh). Food and entertainment for everyone. Sat, 14 Dec 6-9.30pm.

Austi Village Carols by the Sea. (Austinmer Beach Park).

In the event of wet weather, Carols will be move to Austinmer Anglican Church at 49 Moore St. Sun, 15 Dec, from 7.30pm.

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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FEATURE

Visit this local business online at https:// artrockstore.com

Xmas trees from Sydney Wildflower Nursery in Heathcote (9548 2818).

8 FOR HISTORY BUFFS The Big History of Little Stanwell Park, by Michael Adams ($35), is the latest book published by the Helensburgh and District Historical Society. Others for sale include Our Boys Not Forgotten; Dr Cox – Mine Doctor; and Beyond Bulli. info@ historichelensburgh. org.au or ring Jan on 0418 681 384.

11 FOR FUTURE SURFERS Make the most of our coast – learn to surf with Illawarra Surf Academy (0409 111 665) or Essential Surf & Skate (0407 283 117).

Group lessons, private classes and gift vouchers available.

Enjoy the window display at Horizon Bank in Thirroul.

1financial It’s the 11th year that Horizon’s Kim Morris and her wizards have magicked up a snowy Christmas

12 FOR YOUR EYES ONLY Ask an expert – See Side Optical staff will help you choose the perfect pair of sunglasses, with lots of new styles from leading brands such as Maui Jim. Plus, find Reality Eyewear sunglasses in the latest styles at Cocoon Trading in Thirroul.

Made to the highest Australian UV standard.

Heaps to choose from!

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9 FOR YOUR CAR Mothers Carnauba Wash & Wax – a quick and easy way to clean, shine and protect paint. $14.50 from Switched On Mechanical & Tyres, 4294 4444. Or treat the car to the full 2515 Auto Spa experience: Thirroul’s Al Douglas offers an excellent mobile auto detailing service, with gift vouchers available.

10 FOR GARDENERS Give a gift that keeps on growing: buy native plants or alternatives to

13 FOR THEATRE GOERS Get in early with tickets to SPAT’s Wizard of Oz panto at Stanwell Park’s CWA Hall. Or buy a Merrigong gift certificate (the 2020 season kicks off with Legally Blonde – the Musical in January).

FESTIVE FUN

village, complete with model trains, a scene so mesmerising that last year one boy and his mum came to watch it daily. “We do it because it brings so much joy to people,” Kim said.

Native Wreaths Workshop. Make your own Australian bush wreath with florist Renay Horton. 6-8pm, Dec 18, Manic Organic, Woonona, $88-$110, www.therumpus.com.au Christmas Toy Raffle. Prizes drawn Sunday, December 8. Visit Tradies Helensburgh.

Buy a tree, from $60. Guides are selling Christmas trees at Helensburgh Guide Hall (4 Chippendale Place) on Fri 6 Dec, 2-8pm and Sat 7 Dec from 8am.

Love Christmas, Hate Waste. Council’s Green Team host a free DIY gift workshop at Helensburgh Library, Wed 4 Dec 10.30am-12.30pm. Bookings essential.

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GO MARKET SHOPPING

Twilight Edition - The Farm’s Market.

1Christmas Killalea State Park. Sun, 15 Dec, 4-8pm.

Farmers’ Market. Coronation Park @ Surf 2Kiama Beach, Kiama, Wed, Dec 18, 3-6pm.

Twilight Christmas Festival (Grevillea Park 3Foragers Road, Bulli Showground). Sun, 22 Dec, 5-10pm Christmas Twilight Market (Coledale Public 4Coledale School), Sun, 22 Dec, 2-8pm

WIN!

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We have two copies of the debut novel by Stanwell Park author Christine Sykes to give away! Inspired by the women behind the charity Dress for Success (DFS) – where Christine worked as a volunteer in Sydney – The Changing Room is an uplifting and heart-warming story of female empowerment, proving that there is more to fashion than just clothes. Tell us why you’d like a copy and the best answers will win a book. Email editor@2515mag.com.au – Merry Christmas, readers!

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FEATURE

CRANBERRY AND PISTACHIO CHRISTMAS BALLS

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By Stephanie Meades

INGREDIENTS: 1½ cups desiccated coconut ½ cup macadamia nuts 2 tablespoons raw honey 1 tablespoons of coconut oil or cashew butter ½ teaspoon natural vanilla extract 1/3 cup organic pistachios 1/3 cup dried cranberries Extra desiccated coconut to roll in (optional) METHOD: 1. Place the coconut, macadamias, honey, cashew butter and vanilla into your food processor and pulse until the mixture is smooth, broken down and sticking together.

2. Add the pistachios and cranberries and blend until the nuts are roughly chopped and the mixture is well combined.

3. Use your hands to firmly press and shape the mixture into balls.

4. Roll the balls lightly in coconut, or leave plain and place in the fridge to set. 2515

SEASON TO GIVE

City of Wollongong’s Giving Tree. On December 7, 1Wollongong hundreds of motorcycle riders will ride into to deliver sacks of presents. Add yours to the pile! To be distributed via the St Vincent de Paul Society and Anglicare. www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au Little Ray of Giving is Ray White Helensburgh’s annual appeal for donations for the needy - pop a gift under the tree at 1/131 Parkes St, Helensburgh.

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A TREE FOR LIFE

Narelle Happ, of A Garden For Life, presents native alternatives that can be planted out or kept in a pot.

Woolly bush, Adenanthos sericeus. Soft foliage with a very bushy habit and small red flowers over spring and summer. Height: 2-3m.

NSW Christmas bush, Ceratopetalum gummiferum.

White flowers occur in spring followed by showy red bracts in summer. Great as a cut flower. Height: 3-5m.

Norfolk Island pine, Araucaria heterophylla.

Large tree to 10m, great foliage for hanging Christmas ornaments.

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14 FOR THE ECO AWARE Entertaining? Buy organic, locally sourced fruit and veg at Thirroul’s Flame Tree Co-op. Plus find ethical stocking fillers, such as soaps and bamboo toothbrushes.

15 FOR CIDER DRINKERS Toast to local produce!

Made from 100% fresh crushed apples, the award-winning Darkes Cider range is available to taste and buy at Glenbernie Orchard’s Appleshack farm store.

Look out for their new 5-litre cider party keg!

16 FOR ART LOVERS Find local scenes and Christmas shows at these three galleries: painter John Vander’s Articles Fine Art Gallery in Stanwell Park; Thirroul’s Egg & Dart or Sketch Art Cafe in Towradji, which displays the fresh, modern works of Woonona painter Jaqueline Burgess. “The Illawarra’s my muse!” she says. Think ocean pools, beaches and

bushland, plus coastal scenes printed on silk scarves, sarongs or tea towels (pictured, $28).

17 FOR THRILL SEEKERS Give your loved one the experience of a lifetime – tandem flights, flying courses and gift vouchers available from two local businesses – HangglideOz (0417 939 200) and Sydney Hang Gliding Centre (0400 258 258).

18 FOR COFFEE SIPPERS Uluwatu Blue stocks unique, beautiful and functional coffee cups ($29.95), water bottles ($49.95) and other eco-friendly products.

18 FOR CHARITY Skip the gift and donate on their behalf instead.

Locally, 2515 can recommend Need a Feed, WIRES, Country Companion Animal Rescue, Green Connect, Surfrider and SCARF. To help 2515’s cover stars – visit rfs.nsw.gov. au and search for “Support your local brigade”. 2515

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Andrea Persico and Claire Brown with a beekeeping class.

Inset, Andrea and her bees. Photos supplied

HOW TO BEE FRIENDLY

2515 asked Austinmer beekeeper Andrea Persico (also known locally as the founder of Bulli’s Make-Do Library of Things) how bees are coping in these tough times – and what we can do to help.

I’ve been a beekeeper for over 10 years, four years in Austinmer, and now manage 50 hives in the Illawarra as Austinmer Beekeeper, together with my friend Claire Brown.

We’re all very aware at the moment of how climate change and drought is causing unprecedented bushfires and how our farmers, lifestock and native animals are suffering with the extremes of heat and lack of rain. Sadly, our bee populations are also greatly affected by these conditions.

Many beekeepers in country areas have lost hives completely to fire, with hives burning, or with high temperatures melting out the wax inside a hive, killing the whole colony. Bushfire damage to surrounding forests also completely removes all forage for the bees, so that beekeepers must feed sugar to keep their bees alive, and have no honey at all to sell.

Australian natives in good condition are very generous nectar producers, but our trees, such as Eucalypts, have evolved to withhold flowering in drought conditions, to contain their energy, and in some areas have gone years without flowering.

Even in our own escarpment it has been a long time since you could look up and see the clouds of white flowers atop the gums from which our bees produce most of their honey.

Many people have heard that the honey bee is under threat of extinction, and this is partly true.

Bee colonies are under threat because of more difficult natural conditions, but also because of the spread of new pests and diseases, and because of the commercial and domestic use of pesticides,

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particularly Neonicotinoids, which are now banned in Europe but are in our most commonly used pest sprays in Australia. All these elements are terrible for bees, but also for our other pollinators and wildlife.

Another factor putting a huge strain on Australian beekeepers is the influx of doctored honey, which lowers the market price and also means the consumer is getting a product that has none of the health benefits of real honey. I highly recommend watching the documentary Rotten on Netflix for a clear picture of the global honey trade.

What can we do to help the honeybee and Australian beekeepers?

Several really easy things.

• Buy your honey from the market or from a local beekeeper; • Call a beekeeper to remove a swarm or beehive rather than poison the colony; • Plant flowers or flowering trees in your garden; • Don’t use Neonicotinoid pesticides, and never spray herbicides or pesticides on plants that are flowering; • Leave out a dish or birdbath with rocks or sticks in it for bees looking for water – but not sugar water or honey. n Andrea and Claire offer beekeeping classes and bee mentoring. Austinmer Beekeeper honey is sold at The Village Practice in East Wonoona and Moore Street General in Austinmer. Facebook @ austinmerbeekeeper or call 0478 892 512. 2515

JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE

Janice Creenaune meets Reg and Maisie Matthews, a remarkable couple, married for more than 70 years.

In retirement, more than two decades ago, they found Thirroul and continue to find joy in all they do.

Reg (96) and Maisie (93) Matthews have a remarkable partnership. They share a love of rugby league and the Rabbitohs (South Sydney), and also an interest in all things horses. After more than 70 years of marriage they continue to feel inspired by their passion for both.

Reg, an avid hockey and rugby league player in his youth, was born in Warren, in country NSW. After travelling the country with his parents (his father a drover for Coaches Camel Trains, and Kidman in North Queensland, and a stint at boarding school in Coolgardie), Reg remained in North Queensland and worked in various jobs: a mill, men’s wear shops and farm labouring. He later chose cherry picking in regional NSW and lived in Gunnedah, where he met and married Maisie in 1947.

Maisie, born and bred in Gunnedah, (her father, a coach of the local rugby league team when Reg and Maisie began their courtship) was intrigued by Reg’s dark hair and great dance moves.

“Maisie was a quiet girl but a great listener”, Reg says. “I am outgoing and I like to talk.” Together, they moved to Newcastle, Redfern and later Bass Hill, working in felt and textile works, bread products and a general store. They moved to Thirroul more than 20 years ago. Their camaraderie continues in their shared love of the Rabbitohs.

“We have always been members and travelled to the games, and still do on occasion. We follow them all around the country. When we lived in Canberra even, we never missed a game. We have The couple share a love of the Rabbitohs and horse racing.

Photos supplied

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been members since 1948 and marched in support when times were tough. Russell Crowe was definitely our saviour at the time. But rain, hail or shine, we were there at Redfern Oval.”

Maisie admits they were occasionally cloaked in plastic bags as protection from the elements – but it never mattered.

“We just love our team and now the whole family supports Souths. They are all registered members,” Maisie says. “I guess we have always seen ourselves, Reg and I, as part of the wider Souths family as well. We both hold such wonderful memories.”

Reg remembers an important incident during a Queensland game where he had to drive the great Clive Churchill to the hospital after an on-field incident: “Now he was a great player.” Reg himself won three premierships as a young man.

Maisie and Reg also share an interest in horses.

They have owned numerous horses and stables, and won in competitive races in Canberra and various race days.

“John’s Garden was one memorable horse of ours. He won us £500 in his day. That was a huge amount of money for us. When you think I was earning around £1.7.6 for 44 hours work, but I was taxed out of that, so the winnings were an enormous amount.

“The races still keep me going,” Reg says.

“We love attending Kembla Grange and Randwick, but I spend most of my Saturdays following races and horses, trainers and various jockeys.

“It is a whole other world. It also helps my computer skills.”

Maisie says: “If the Rabbitohs win, we also feel ‘up’. They continue to inspire us with their on-field moves, competitive spirit and playing ability.

“We love our league. But looking after Reg also keeps me going. I still cook, wash, clean and shop.

The housework is good exercise for us both.”

Maisie says that, at 93, her life is full with Reg and the wider family unit.

“I always appreciate my daughter, but it is my three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren with whom I savour a wonderful relationship. I am interested in them all. Family is all important.”

In 1988 Reg appeared in the Centenary Drove from Forbes to Warren, together with 5000 sheep.

He was the oldest drover at the time of the event.

He continues to drive, albeit in a car – “it gets us both around town”.

The couple love Thirroul and “its country town feel” but Maisie and Reg say: “Our greatest joy continues to be watching the Rabbitohs and together makes it even better.”

Reg and Maisie Matthews on their wedding day in 1947,

n Writer Janice Creenaune is a volunteer for the PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Foundation Australia, helping to raise awareness. For more info, email janicecreenaune@gmail.com 2515

Enjoy your holiday time here BISTRO OPEN: lunch & dinner Tues-Thurs, Fri-Sun 12 till late

Best Thai/Oz on the South Coast Kids play area Barefoot bowls

Party bookings still available Wombarra Bowlo 578 Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Wombarra

(02) 4267 2139 DECEMBER / 2515 / 13

NEW TALE OF ‘A TRUE BUSH HERO’

By Austinmer children’s author Dianne Ellis.

Readers may recall and hopefully still enjoy reading to loved ones my three Rusty Rumble picture books. These books were based on our gutsy little Jack Russell who we initially adopted from the pound and who won many hearts during his long and happy life with our family. Sadly, Rusty’s life came to an end in April 2018 at the grand old age of 18 years, however, he made many friends, particularly at the doggy beach and loved living his last 10 years in Austinmer. A day doesn’t go by without thoughts of Rusty but his legacy lives on.

He’s been immortalised in print and his books are still in demand locally and beyond.

My passion is creating stories and I continue to write every day. Often I look down at the spot where Rusty used to curl up under my feet, keeping me company and giving me heaps of love.

I honestly feel that my self-published Rusty Rumble books gave me the courage and desire to believe in myself as a writer. It’s so important because so many good writers give up when they receive rejection letters from publishers. A very wise lady once told me to do what makes your heart sing and for me that’s writing. It’s such a bonus when my stories are published and I see my books in print.

Two years ago, I had a picture book titled Mr Crocodile’s Cooking Class accepted for publication by Brolga Publishing and launched in late 2018. Since then, I’ve enjoyed promoting this

book, particularly reading it at early learning centres along with Rusty Rumble books and seeing the children’s reactions to my stories. I was elated to see Mr Crocodile’s Cooking Class sitting on a shelf in the State Library of Hobart last year when I was on holidays. When the librarian told me they had ordered six copies of this book and they were nearly always on loan to little readers, I felt like dancing around the library.

I am delighted to announce that my next picture book will be launched just before Christmas.

Kingsley the cross-eyed Kookaburra tells the story of a kookaburra born cross-eyed but determined not to let anything stand in his way – and he turns out to be a true Australian bush hero.

This book is suitable for children up to seven years and will be launched on Saturday, 14th December 2019 at the Railway Institute Hall at Thirroul Station from 1.30pm. Children who attend are also welcome to make a free kookaburra mask to take home. Please come along and bring your children. I’ll be signing books purchased on the day, along with a special Kingsley stamp. 2515 If you would like to buy any of Dianne’s books, visit her website at www.diannellisbooks.com and send her an email.

Dianne is happy to sign her books and deliver them locally.

ENTER THE 2020 VALENTINE’S DAY LOVE POEM COMPETITION!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: 1. The poem must be the original work of a resident currently living in the 2508 or 2515 post code area.

2. The competition is open to children and adults.

By Karen Lane 3. Only one poem per person.

4. The poem must include a title and include the name of the The annual Valentine’s Day Love Poem person who wrote it – the name can’t be ‘anonymous’.

Competition is open to all residents living in the 5. The poem can't be published elsewhere and must not be 2508 and 2515 postcodes.

There’s no entry fee and no prize money on offer on the internet, however, it’s OK if the poem has been posted – just a chance to have your poem published in the on the writer’s own website, Facebook page or blog.

6. Email the poem to WritersBootCampOtford@gmail.com February edition of the 2508 and 2515 magazines. and in the subject line use the words “Love Poem”. No Closing date is 12 noon, Friday, 3 January 2020.

The poem doesn’t have to be about romantic love attachments; the poem must be within the body of the email.

– it can address love for any person, place or thing. 7. Closing date and time is 12 noon, Friday, 3 January 2020.

If you’ve never written a love poem before, then 8. Poems will be judged by writers from the Wednesday Writing Haven in Helensburgh.

Google ‘how to write a love poem’.

9. Past and present writers of the Wednesday Writing Haven Any questions, please email in Helensburgh can not enter this competition.

WritersBootCampOtford@gmail.com 10. The judges’ decision will be final. The winning poem will or call 0412 787 873. Good luck. 2515 be published in the February editions of 2508 and 2515 mags.

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COLLINS BOOKSELLERS THIRROUL Locally Owned & Operated

Books for everyone Stationery & Gifts Educational Toys & Games Gift vouchers available Under Anita’s Theatre, King Street, Thirroul 4267 1408 | Open 7 days LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

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Please book ads by Friday, 13 Dec. Email editor@2515mag. com.au or call Karen

AUSTI RFS S ON LOCAL HEROE MEET THE IRE FRONTLINE THE BUSHF

rra | Coledale ough | Womba Clifton | Scarbor

| Austinmer |

Early deadline for 2515’s January ‘Staycation’ edition

Conveyancing I Deceased Estates Business Law I Estate Planning Criminal Representation I Family Law Challenging Wills I Personal Injury

Thirroul

0403 789 617

DECEMBER / 2515 / 15

LOCAL HEROES

COVER FEATUR E

As fires rage throughout Australia spare a thought for the nation’s hard-working firefighters – professionals and volunteers – who help to keep us safe. 2515 meets some of our local RFS heroes.

At time of writing, more than 40 bushfires were still burning in NSW and, of those, 20 had not been contained.

Six people in NSW had died as a result of injuries sustained during this bushfire season so far, more than 600 homes had been destroyed and more than 1.65 million hectares of land was estimated to have been burnt in NSW alone.

The damage bill from bushfires burning through Queensland and northern NSW had been estimated to be $145 million at the time.

More than 1000 firefighters remained operational in the field as this issue went to press.

When 2515 met members of Austinmer RFS, some of them had recently returned home after fighting blazes in the Wisemans Ferry area.

Gathered at the station to have a chat with the public as part of a community event on Saturday, November 16 were: Will Lee (Group Captain for Group 2, 49 years service), Peter Jackson (Deputy Captain, 39 years service), Phil Draper (firefighter, Comms Safety Officer, 25 years service), Malcolm Bartrop (Deputy Captain, treasurer, 40 years service), Richard Hundy (firefighter, two years service), Nonee Walsh (firefighter, 15 years service), Justine Leonard (firefighter, call-out officer, 30 years service), Ross Leonard (Austinmer Captain, Deputy Group Captain for Group 2, 40 years service), Joshua Leonard (firefighter, 10 years service), and Stephan Field (firefighter, one year service).

Ross (pictured left) kindly took time out of his rest day to answer our questions.

Where have you just returned from?

So we’ve just had a crew come back from Wisemans Ferry.

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We’ve been working on a fire up there.

We sent a crew up and we spent 12 hours up there putting a back-burn in to try and protect the village of Wisemans Ferry.

That was Friday, and on Friday afternoon we had another five crew members return from the Armidale region – they’ve been up there fighting a fire, before that we’d been another week in Wauchope, our group captain [Will Lee] had spent a week up there before me, so we’ve been continually supplying crews for northern New South Wales since September, since it all kicked off.

How many days do you spend on the ground at a fire?

Normally, it’s a five-day rotation: one day for travel up there, three days on the fire ground and one day to get back home again.

The days that you’re on the fire ground are

Photos: Anthony Warry Photography

supposed to be 12-hour days, but depending on what’s happening, that could stretch out to 14or 16-hour days. Those days are full-on where you might be walking 12 to 14kms, in and out of the truck hundreds of times, rolling hoses in and out, in and out, and just continually working.

How long have you been with the RFS? I joined the Waterfall Brigade as a junior in 1979 – I was 11 years old. I grew up in Waterfall – and my family were in the brigade – my mother and father and my sister – and it was one of those things that I progressed into.

So, I’ve been an active firefighter from the age of 16. I’m 51 now, so it makes it 35, 36 years.

Why volunteer?

The more you put in, the more you get back out of

PICTURED ABOVE (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT): Will Lee (Group Captain for Group 2, 49 years service), Peter Jackson (Deputy Captain, 39 years service), Phil Draper (firefighter, Comms Safety Officer, 25 years service) Malcolm Bartrop (Deputy Captain, treasurer, 40 years service) Richard Hundy (firefighter, two years service) Nonee Walsh (firefighter 15 years service) Justine Leonard (firefighter, call-out officer, 30 years service) Ross Leonard (Austinmer Captain, Deputy Group Captain for Group 2, 40 years service) Stephan Field (firefighter, one year service).

Inset: Joshua Leonard (firefighter, 10 years service).

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it, so you get to meet a lot of good people. People up here at Austi are family and people at Waterfall, my previous brigade, were family as well, so it’s just an extended family and we certainly get to go out and see a whole heap of things that normal people don’t go and see. We were up the back of Wisemans Ferry yesterday and some of the sights we got to see – the views, the valleys, all that type of stuff – are brilliant.

At the end of the day, it’s about trying to help somebody else and up here, as the captain of the brigade, my job is to try and teach the next generation of people to be the next leaders of the brigade.

Austi has a long-serving brigade, so the brigade will continue to run, way after I’m finished.

Is there a real sense of satisfaction or achievement coming out of a five-day deployment?

Yeah, there is. You get to the end of the cycle and you get to see what you’ve achieved and what your outcomes were and what you started off trying to achieve – and sometimes, a couple of days later, you sit back and you look at the scale of what you’ve been working on and what you’ve been setting up or doing, and that’s when it really sinks in, just how much of a difference you’ve made.

On average how many hours a day do you put in for the RFS? I’d probably do a minimum of two hours a day, eight hours on a Saturday – so, yes, it’s nearly a full-time job in some ways.

18­ / 2515­/ DECEMBER

We’re a small brigade, we’re pretty active with community safety, we’re active with a lot of hazard reductions and that type of stuff. There is always something to do.

So if I’m not doing an hour’s worth of work, whether it’s planning for what we’re doing with training for the next year, looking at our resources, what we need to be doing, organising fundraising, just being up to date on all the relevant information to work out where we’re going and what we’re going to do.

How many active members do you have?

We have 25 active members.

Is there a good mix of ages and men and women?

Yeah, we’re quite lucky. We have our senior leadership team, we’ve got two female deputy captains, so they’re field officers who have been elected by the brigade members. They are qualified to be crew leaders and so they’re able to take strike teams out, of up to five trucks.

Several of our female members are truck drivers and our ages range from 18 through to 70. And we’ve got more and more women in the brigade, which is good, because we want to reflect the community and the community’s 50-50.

And, as far as we’re concerned, and the brigade’s motto is, that everyone’s accepted, everyone’s welcome and there’s always a job for someone at Austi RFS.

And if you pull your weight, then you’ll be fine.

Yeah. And everybody brings different skill-sets and because we’ve got a diverse range of people, we’ve got a diverse range of skill-sets, from journalists to accountants, truck drivers to Uber drivers to uni students. So that wide range of information and skills helps the brigade develop.

What happens when you have to be away, from your family, your work?

Our simple principle at Austi is: family comes first, work comes second, and the brigade comes third.

The advantage of having multiple people – 25 active members – is that we can normally get a crew of five from within that group who can get time off [from work] – not everyone can have time away. Different family circumstances can change that around a bit. Most of our people are looked after by their employers.

Not everyone can take the time off work; people who work for themselves can’t really afford to do that, but so far our members’ employers have been very good and assisted us to assist the community.

What are some of your tips for bushfire season?

You need to have a bushfire plan. No bushfire survival plan, you’ve got no plan at all.

What we really want you to do is grab the information from reputable sources: go to the rural fire service website, go to the rural fire service page.

Austi has a good Facebook page, but we’re out in the truck fighting fires and doing that stuff, so we’d prefer people to go to the official pages. Listen to ABC Illawarra, ABC Emergency – they’re the official broadcasters, they’ll put all the good information out – and go from there.

n For more, visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au and sort out your Bushfire Survival Plan.

Download the Fires Near Me app and make sure you set a watch zone and turn on notifications.

RFS Bush Fire Information Line: 1800 679 737 If you see a fire and there are no fire trucks in attendance, ring 000 asap. 2515

DECEMBER / 2515 / 19

Fire beetle, Merimna atrata.

Photo: Ben Sale (Wikimedia Commons).

Below: Smoke fly, Microsania.

Photo: Melissa Graf (Australian Museum).

BEETLING ABOUT

With entomologist Dr Chris Reid. This month: insects and fire.

Climate change is happening and our landscape is drying out. Much of our landscape is eucalypt forest and eucalypts mean fire – that’s how they regenerate. The problem is we aren’t getting the follow-up rain to help them. And the small rainforest patches have dried out too and have become vulnerable. But forests generate rain and lock up carbon, so the worst response is to cut them all down.

While our ‘management’ put their collective heads in the once-was-soil-but-now-is-sand, it seems appropriate to talk about insects and fire.

It might be a surprise to learn that there are insects attracted to fires. In Australia two insects are so frequently observed doing this that they have common names: the fire beetle (Merimna atrata) and the smoke fly (Microsania). The fire beetle, a dull black 2cm-long member of the jewel beetle family, has an obvious reason for visiting recently burnt areas – it breeds in dead wood and is basically getting a bit of one-upmanship over its wood-breeding rivals. Thousands have been observed flying into fires but the beetles appear to be limited to sitting on surface temperatures of 46°C or less – the sensors on their feet save them from landing on anything too hot. This species occurs in our area but is more common in the drier woodlands of the west. There is a fascinating study of it using thermal imaging and some helpful ‘firies’ (in WA): visit http://museum.wa.gov.au/sites/ default/files/RecWAMuseum_2015_30(1)_1to11_ SCHMITZetal.pdf The other insect, the smoke fly, is a group of species of tiny black flies that fly into fires to lay eggs in recently burnt soil. It’s thought that the

20­ / 2515­/ DECEMBER

larvae feed on soil fungi, which rapidly produce fruiting bodies after fire. Other insects, for example, species of flat bugs, are also attracted to fires, for similar reasons.

Of course these few species are no compensation for all the insects lost in fire. But what really happens to the ‘ordinary’ insects?

This is a really complex issue that I can only touch on. Some things benefit, such as the insects above that live in dead wood or soil fungi and can fly in quickly. Other things, those that are flightless and feed on the leaf litter that gets burnt up, may be destroyed may not recover for a very long time.

Looking at the literature, surprisingly little is known about the effects of fire on insects in Australia, especially in Australian forests, like the ones around us. And the effects depend on the region, fire intensity, post-fire rainfall, time of year, type of forest, type of insect, local invasive weeds etc. We need some local studies…

I think that’s enough about fire. I hope it is not a problem for any of you this summer and that you all have a safe and peaceful holiday break.

Mail questions for Chris to editor@2515mag.com.au. 2515

TV STAR GOES FRUIT PICKING! Stonefruit is here and it’s cider weather too …Sydney Weekender’s Mike Whitney is into the fun at Darkes Glenbernie Orchard. Jo Fahey reports.

Mike Whitney arrived at Darkes Glenbernie Orchard in style on a Harley Davidson Trike, with Steve Melchior of Just Cruisin’ Harley Davidson Motorcycle Tours, after a trip along our famous coastline.

The former Test and one-day cricketer now television personality climbed aboard the 50-seat ‘Orchard Explorer’ tractor train, along with a bunch of local under five-year-olds. Zipping around the orchard has never been so much fun!

The peaches we picked were huge and Mike said that he had never seen such juicy ones!

The playgroup children who came on the day had fun talking to Mike and making up some tall stories too. Mike joined a taste-testing and mixology session of the ciders with some of the mums. He is now a new fan of ‘Little Blue’ non-alcoholic cider.

We enjoyed ourselves so much that we forgot to demonstrate our new five-litre cider party keg on camera! We found out Mike is very health conscious and supports looking after your body.

He’s a fan of apple cider vinegar and was appreciative of ours being unpasteurised and including the vinegar’s mother culture. He encouraged us to keep making it and not to change anything with it.

Picnic by the Sea, a local business based in Thirroul, hosted a wonderful picnic on the farm for Nicole Burrill, Diane Counsell and Oliver Risi.

They surpassed themselves with a feast fit for a king, in the orchard under our 80-year-old plum trees. Nadia from Picnic by the Sea can set up themed events for you in pretty much any setting, but we just love the feel of a picnic within the farm!

Sydney Weekender airs on Sundays at 5.30pm on Channel 7. Catch this episode sometime in the new year!

We had such a great day – thanks to the mums and children from Helensburgh and district who gave up their day to come and join in!

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DECEMBER / 2515 / 21

ON BOARD WITH SURFRIDER

By Coledale’s Susie Crick, chair of Surfrider Foundation Australia.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! I have some great news: the government is calling for submissions from the public regarding amending their Product Stewardship Act 2011, where they want to establish a mandatory product stewardship scheme for manufacturers, importers and distributors of consumer packaging and certain single-use plastics. You have until 13th December to get your submissions in.

Visit https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_ Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_ Communications/PackagingPlastics2019.

You can make a difference and shape the future if you use your voice!

‘YOU MAKE IT, YOU TAKE IT BACK’ Society has become addicted to the convenience of plastic and we are paying the price as it contaminates our natural environment. This Bill allows the Government to address policies offering alternatives to plastic that complement, and are compatible with nature. Plastic is a design failure.

We are asking the Government to adopt a ‘you make it – you take it back’ stance where the manufacturer is responsible for the product right from its inception through to its end of life.

Our Government must put in place strict policies covering restrictions on harmful additives that will put an end to the increasing amount of plastic toxicity that is polluting our oceans. Some of these chemicals are known, but many are not due to the thousands of toxic ‘cocktail’ chemical combinations of plastics.

WE CAN’T RECYCLE OUR WAY OUT OF THIS Plastic pollution is exponentially increasing, meanwhile biodiversity is rapidly declining. Half of

22­ / 2515­/ DECEMBER

the plastic ever produced was made in the past 15 years. Economic and societal pressures contribute to the rampant growth of plastic production and our current solutions are incapable of dealing with our consumption.

Today’s commodity plastics are simply too cheap and notions of recycling our way out of this do not take into account the scale and toxicity of the problem. We cannot ignore the environmental footprint after materials have been recycled many times, and recycling as a process is finite.

BILL IS A ‘MOMENTOUS OPPORTUNITY’ The current level of economic single-use plastic dependence has reached crisis levels, it is unsustainable, and we need to ensure that any future plans provide long-term solutions. Our objective is for no plastic leakage into the natural environment to safeguard the well-being and prosperity of future generations. The plastic ‘soup’ in our oceans and its correlation with climate change has been proven. Each individual has the power to tackle the issue at the source. This Bill provides us with a momentous opportunity to show a renewed commitment to the environment if backed by strong political will, a responsible private sector and an engaged local community.

CLEAN UP THIRROUL BEACH ON DECEMBER 1 Looking to do something great for your community? Join us when we celebrate Ocean Care Day on Sunday, December 1st with a beach-clean at Thirroul Beach from 10am. Everyone is welcome! 2515 Become a member and get involved! For more info: www.surfrider.org.au

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‘If you haven’t seen two redbellies in combat before, it can be easy to mistake them for mating. The top of their bodies rise up and entwine themselves, untwisting and twisting again.’

BACKYARD ZOOLOGY

With Amanda De George

I spend a lot of my time looking for, writing about and photographing Australian wildlife, so it’s safe to say, I’ve seen a lot of beautiful animals and amazing behaviours. But I have to admit this encounter I had with a couple of red-bellied black snakes in early spring would have to be amongst one of my very favourite.

I get asked a lot about how I find so many interesting critters and really it comes down to a few things. Firstly, I spend a lot of time out and about. Just wandering around, heading out to different places, at different times of day, in different weather and different seasons.

And, secondly, and I think this is key, I’m a keen observer, of nature and of people. So when I walk, I don’t wear headphones and try to keep the chat to a minimum. That way I can hear alarm calls from birds, or unusual rustling and I’m constantly looking around for anything that looks out of place.

An unexpected splash out to sea; a bunch of flies buzzing noisily in the one area; birds flying in and out of the one tree? All worth investigating.

But do you know what my number one, absolutely-drop-everything, do-not-pass-go, head-straight-and-don’t-look-back, mustinvestigate-at-all-costs giveaway is? Humans with phones or cameras pointing at something! Trust me on this. Sometimes I’m one of them. And that’s

24­ / 2515­/ DECEMBER

how I came across this pair of combatting male snakes. I was actually photographing whales when I turned around and saw two big burly blokes, backs to the ocean, arms outstretched, phones at the ready. I watched as they took a couple of steps forward and then hurriedly took a step or two back again. That was enough for me to turn on my heel and to head towards them and I’m so glad I did.

If you haven’t seen two red-bellies in combat before, it can be easy to mistake them for mating.

The top of their bodies rise up and entwine themselves, untwisting and twisting again. There’s an occasional hiss, but the action itself doesn’t look particularly violent. They may bite each other but generally the two males battle to push the head of their opponent down with their chin, the goal being to hold the other one down.

The loser of the battle leaves the area while the winner gets to mate with the female who is waiting nearby. Generally the snakes combat for up to half an hour and on this day I was lucky enough to watch them for about six minutes before they separated and slithered off separately into the ankle-length grass. And if it hadn’t have been for those two phone-bearing blokes, I would have been none the wiser, still standing staring out to sea!

Follow Amanda’s Facebook blog @BackyardZoology 2515

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BLUE FUTURE OF SEAWEED

UOW’s Blue Economy project leader Dr Michelle Voyer reports on seaweed – the ‘new’ kid on the block in the Blue Economy.

For such a recent entrant to the Blue Economy – at least in western cultures – the NSW South Coast has been surprisingly active in the seaweed industry. All the way back in the 1970s, Betty Long was known as ‘the Kelp Lady’ of Narooma.

Australian Women’s Weekly ran a feature on her healthy lifestyle and seaweed-harvesting business.

“When it’s dried I put it by hand through the disintegrator, then keep sieving it to pure meal …

I collect my order from the post office in the morning and dispatch them in the afternoon. That way I’m sure everything is really fresh.” – Kay Keavney, Australian Women’s Weekly, January 28, 1970. To read the full story, go to https://www.

seahealthproducts.com.au/sea-health-history Betty Long’s ‘cottage industry’ operated until 2015 when Eurobodalla marine biologist Joanne Lane took over and turned it into Sea Health Products, now based at Central Tilba.

In 2018, Lane was awarded a Yulgilbar Foundation Churchill Fellowship, enabling her to research ocean-based kelp farming in the northern hemisphere, which she imagines working well with other South Coast aquacultures, such as Eden Mussels. Sea Health Products – which harvests kelp from the Far South Coast (under licence) – is currently exploring opportunities in the areas of food and health products, carbon capture and biotechnology.

Visit www.seahealthproducts.com.au.

KELP FOR LIFE Another small, but growing seaweed business is Mystery Bay Kelp for Life, located on the far South Coast. This business collects, produces and distributes a range of local kelp-based nutritional food products with a philosophy of plastic-free packaging.

They are actively engaging with local schools to join the fight against plastic pollution in our oceans. Visit https://mbkforlife.com/ VENUS SHELL SYSTEMS Arguably the rock star of the South Coast Blue Economy, however, is Dr Pia Winberg, Honorary Fellow at the School of Medicine, University of Wollongong.

Drawing on the therapeutic and nutritional properties of compounds found within seaweed,

26­ / 2515­/ DECEMBER

her company, Venus Shell Systems, is producing and distributing a range of innovative products with health benefits. Working with local enterprises, especially Manildra ethanol plant, on environmental solutions, the company is also involved in water filtration and treatment using seaweed products.

Visit www.venusshellsystems.com.au.

SKIN FROM THE SEA Dr Winberg is also working on a unique biotech collaboration with Professor Gordon Wallace of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science at UoW Innovation Campus.

This project, “Skin from the Sea”, has explored the use of seaweed for wound healing, as some seaweed molecules are very similar to the natural molecular matrix that supports and repairs human skin cells.

A new customised 3D printer is in development and will be used to turn the molecules into medical treatments, with artificial skin to treat burns a potential end product.

As a result of years of hard work from Pia and her colleagues, Nowra is increasingly a globally recognised hub for marine biotechnology. It will be exciting to see how this emerging industry develops in the coming decades. 2515

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Hours of trade December. H’BURGH: MONFRI 9-5.30; SAT 9-4; SUN 10-3. S’LAND: MONFRI 9-6 (Thursday 9-7.30); SAT 9-5; SUN 10-4

Thanks to Dr Pia Winberg (pictured above) for these photos of seaweed and seaweed products.

DECEMBER / 2515 / 27

caption to come

A LETTER FROM WOMBARRA By residents Caroline Baum and David Roach

If you care about something, you have to be prepared to defend it. So when we discovered that developers are planning to cram 16 homesites onto a block of bushland and critically endangered littoral rainforest adjoining Coledale Hospital, many of us felt we had no choice. It’s not so much a question of stopping something but of saving something. We need to rally quickly: the deadline for submissions to council is December 6.

As the temperature rises, so do the stakes. So we rearrange priorities and remind ourselves about what we cherish about where we live. Not in a NIMBY*-ish way. (* Not In My Back Yard) Many of us welcome sensitive development, especially if it can alleviate the housing crisis and boost local business. But we also know that this narrow strip between the escarpment and the ocean is fragile. It includes precious rainforest, a vital habitat for wildlife as well as a majestic backdrop to our lives. We are all custodians of this ancient bush for future generations.

The wonderful thing about a crisis is how often it can generate fresh unity, a new-found solidarity.

Sometimes a suddenly arising issue focuses and reinforces a shared sense of purpose. You find an instant commonality in banding together with people who may live just a few doors up from you, but whom you have never spoken to, except to nod when you get the mail or recognise each other at the markets or on the beach.

United in concern, we come together at weekends for strategy meetings, we generate flurries of emails, we circulate petitions and we Worried Wombarrians ran a stall at Coledale Markets on Sunday, November 24 promoting a petition to stop development of bushland next to Coledale Hospital.

Photo supplied

28­ / 2515­/ DECEMBER

roster a formidable team of hill-climbing, door-knockers who brave steep driveways and watchful dogs.

We all have skills that we can bring to the table – not to mention baked goods to share while we strategise. There are tasks to suit everyone, introverts and extroverts alike. (If you’d told us our number would include a Bollywood dancing doctor, we would never have believed you.)

The campaign has galvanised those of us who fear the impact of this development because it pays so little attention to the area’s nature and unique character. It is just too big for this small place.

There is a saying around here that unless you were born at Coledale Hospital, you are never going to be considered a local. Forget that.

This campaign welcomes anyone who wants to join to raise concerns about increased traffic congestion, pedestrian safety, land slippage and protecting rainforest.

Along the way we’re learning more about the history of the site, the hardy spirit of those who came before us – miners who donated some of their precious wages to buy this block of land for the community to build a hospital – and the special nature of the bush on our doorstep and our neighbourhood. We are determined that we’ll be successful but, whatever happens, this campaign has united us as a community and that already feels like a victory.

CHECK OUT THE PETITION: https://tinyurl.com/save-escarpment 2515

SUMMER FUN IN SHELLHARBOUR

The Surf and Skate Festival has added live music to the mix. By Kelli Wells.

The South Coast’s newest summer music festival, Hidden Forest, will be held at Shellharbour on December 14, as part of Surf and Skate Festival Shellharbour.

Hidden Forest Festival will bring together a carefully crafted medley of local and national artists in Blackbutt Forest.

The Beautiful Girls (with lead singer Mat McHugh, pictured above) will headline alongside three-piece, indie rock royalty, The Grates.

Triple J Unearthed winners Moaning Lisa, and Erthlings and Benny Walker will perform.

Illawarra locals Pacific Avenue will roll out some summertime feelings alongside fellow South Coast indie surf rock duo, Lemon Row. Illawarra’s Five Barrel Brewing and Simall Wines will serve craft beverages.

A free valet bike-parking service will be available as well as a shuttle service between a main designated car park and the festival.

Fresh food, local beverages, rocking tunes, plus a yarn and a boogie with good company – start gathering your mates and pack your picnic blanket, tickets are on sale now! n For more, head to surfskateshellharbour. com/music or see the Facebook event. 2515

BOARD HOARDERS #3

Board Hoarders #3, a skateboard graphic art exhibition, is coming to Shellharbour Civic Centre as part of the Surf and Skate Festival. Shellharbour City Council is co-presenting Board Hoarders #3 with Wollongong creative studio, Verb Syndicate, from Friday, 29 November to 15 December. The exhibition celebrates the vintage era of skateboarding art and will be the third instalment of local South Coast collector Callum Crinis’ prized selection of 80s boards, as well as shapes and styles from the 90s and 2000s. Callum says: “Art is similar [to skateboarding] in that you’re putting yourself on to whatever canvas you have; you’re expressing a part of you on it.” Visit https://surfskateshellharbour.com 2515

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DECEMBER / 2515 / 29

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HOW A GUITAR IS MADE

In part 2, Paul McGrath – the Coledale resident who runs Tedwood Guitars from a Helensburgh workshop – explains how he crafts unique instruments.

I make solid-body electric guitars. The process starts by understanding the sound the customer is looking for, then choosing the components that will help to achieve that sound.

The next steps are all about sound design and construction.

Deciding on the finished shape: Shape is a mixture of function (playing comfort) and form. Players often have a leaning towards a particular shape, so it’s not surprising that most custom guitars take styling clues from the designs produced by the early pioneers Leo Fender and Les Paul.

Choosing the wood: There are three main pieces of wood in most electric guitars: the neck, the fingerboard on top of the neck and the body. Using differing species of timber for each of these parts will transfer the vibration of the strings differently so choice of timber is important in achieving a particular sound. The moisture content and maturity of the timber are also important to an instrument’s ability to stay in shape, and thus in tune. Finally, it also needs to look beautiful too!

Choosing the electronics: Pickups in the body of the guitar collect the vibrations of the strings and convert those vibrations to electrical signals. The volume and tone controls filter those signals and pass them through to the amplifier and speakers, so choice here will have an effect on the final sound.

Choosing the vibrating components: The strings, the tuning machines at the peg head, the nut over which the strings pass at the peg head and the bridge where the other end of the strings are anchored all make a contribution to the sound.

30­ / 2515­/ DECEMBER

The construction process: It begins by taking the raw timber for each of the above components and roughly shaping it with traditional machine and hand tools. The roughly machine-cut neck and finger board are glued together, then final shaped with routers and hand tools.

The fingerboard has the slots cut into it for the frets, which form the finger stops where each note is played. The position of each fret is a careful measurement to produce the correct note on the scale. Then the frets are pressed and glued into the slots. The body is roughly shaped with a scroll saw, then final shaped with routers and hand tools.

The cavities for the pickups and controls are then cut in at precise locations with a router.

The neck and body are now ready to be joined together: either glued or screwed, the raw guitar is set up on a special jig and the tops of the frets on the fingerboard are hand-ground and -polished to provide an accurate and comfortable playing surface. The electronics are soldered together and fitted in the control cavity, strings and other components are attached and the finished raw guitar is tested for playability.

The guitar is then disassembled, and the final finishing process begins with hand-sanding and the application of coats of lacquer or tru oil prior to the long process of hand rubbing and buffing.

The guitar is then re-assembled and returns to the special jig for its final set up and it’s ready to be handed over to its new owner. www.tedwood.com.au 2515

WHAT’S ON BURNING PALMS POSTER POP-UP

“Art with a Message: 2-6pm, Saturday, 7 December, Austinmer Surf Club. Innovations in 3D printing technology and hand woodcut printmaking techniques. One day only.

DISABLED SURFERS ASSOCIATION AT THIRROUL

Saturday, 7 December, Thirroul Beach: A fun day of surfing for any person with a disability, no matter how challenging, with complete water supervision.

Registration for participants is $10 and all participants receive a bag of goodies, Disabled Surfing is about helping individuals with a disability to get in to the surf and feel the freedom of catching a wave in a safe enviroment. More info: Disabled Surfers Association South Coast’s Facebook page.

AT THIRROUL LIBRARY, CALL (02) 4227 8191

CODE CLUB Mon 2 Dec, 3.30pm – bookings required via Eventbrite. • LEGO CLUB 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month at 3.30pm. Drop in and create. For 5-12 years. • STORYTIME & CRAFT. Fridays 6 & 13 Dec, 10.30am. Drop in. • MUSIC IN THE LIBRARY Saturday 7 Dec 11-noon.

Musicians from Wollongong Conservatorium of Music.

No bookings required. • COLOUR, COFFEE, CALMER. Wednesdays 4 & 18 Dec, 9.30am-noon. No bookings required. • KNIT, STITCH, YARN. Wednesday 4 Dec, 10.30 am. Drop In. • TECH HELP Please call library staff on (02) 4227 8191 to arrange a time. • THIRROUL POETRY CLUB 3rd Tuesday of the month at 4pm. Poets share work and receive feedback in a friendly space.

No expertise required, just a passion for poetry. • CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR OPENING HOURS 2019-2020 Corrimal, Dapto, Helensburgh, Thirroul, Unanderra and Warrawong will be closed from 1pm Tuesday, 24 December and will reopen Thursday, 2 January.

Wollongong Library will be open: Tues 24 Dec 9am-1pm; Fri 27 Dec 9am-5pm; Sat 28 Dec 9.30am-1pm; Mon 30 Dec 9am-5pm; Tues, 31 Dec, 9am-5pm 2515

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First Home Loan Deposit Scheme

BY IAN PEPPER From 1 January 2020 the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme will assist an eligible first home buyer to purchase a house with a 5% deposit. The government will provide a loan guarantee of up to 15% of the property’s value to individuals earning up to $125,000, or couples earning up to $200,000, per year.

However, there are purchase price caps.

For Sydney properties, and those in large regional cities like Wollongong, the cap is $700,000. The price cap for properties across the rest of New South Wales is $450,000. Not all banks will be offered the scheme and interest rates may be higher, so stay tuned for further updates as more information comes to hand.

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in the event of wet weather Carols will be at the church 49 Moore St www.austianglicanchurch.org.au

DECEMBER / 2515 / 31

AUSTI FETE 2019

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AN AFTERNOON ON THE GREEN Austinmer Public School raised more than $15,000! Photos: Lara McCabe 1. Dilini Perera, Finn Bobbert, Keoki Bobbert, Chan Bobbert 2. Mia Armstrong 3. Sharne Mallam, Harley Wilson 4. Jessica Tremain, Zeenath Hoskins, Maddi Morgan 5. Max Russell, Kyle Mathiesen 6. Leanne Bridger 7. Taylor Harvey, Caleigh Blacklaw 8. Olga Freer, Ella Allshorn, Kate Morris, Mia Holden Kim, Joy McCall, Lilli Berry, Grace Crittenden. 2515

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AUSTI SCHOOL COMMUNITY SHINES “The day was a real celebration of the Austi school community; its passions, skills and creativity.”

These words from one of our parents capture the spirit of An Afternoon on the Green, held on Sunday, 10 November.

The hard work, creativity and talents of committed parents, students and teachers made the fete a day to remember.

There was delicious food, music, art displays and workshops, prizes, stalls, rides and even a dinosaur show. Two of the three Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo shows were sold out and the third session was close to full. The food stalls sold out. There was a constant stream of kids lining up for rides. The main stage was a hit, with Melinda James doing a fabulous job as MC and our students and teachers showing us their musical talents.

The fete raised more than $15,000 after costs.

This will fund a permaculture garden and outdoor learning space for Austinmer Public School.

The P&C adopted a sustainability policy this year, to reduce waste and encourage environmentally responsible practices at the school. This was fully embraced by the fete committee, parents, staff and children. Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 students, parents and teachers made an extra effort to avoid single-use plastic at their stalls.

Food stalls were supplied with 100% compostable (in FOGO bin) bowls, Biopak cups, sporks and napkins, and fete organisers encouraged patrons to bring their own plates and cups. DrumRoll Coffee Van also used the Biopak cups and brought along their own reusable ceramic cups.

Bronx Goodwin from REMONDIS kindly provided extra red, yellow and green (Food Organics, Garden Organics, FOGO) bins to be used across the school grounds. Thank you to the local community who attended and put their rubbish in the correct bins.

It was important to reduce single-use plastic water bottle use, so the committee rented a Meet PAT Refill and Bubbler Filtered Water Station, which was a huge success. Based on the statistics we received from them – we avoided using 315 x 600ml single-use plastic bottles! Great Effort!

We would encourage all schools to rent these units for their school fetes.

The fete would not have been possible without the amazing support of our local community organisations, businesses and individuals. 2515

Photos: Creative Events Photography, www.creativeeventsphotography.com.au

By Liz Armitage, Austinmer Public School P&C Communications Committee

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS:

GOLD sponsor: WEALTH CONNECTION Austinmer.

SILVER sponsors: One Agency Thirroul, AM Rutty, Bunnings Bellambi, Bennett Family, REMONDIS Wollongong.

BRONZE sponsors: Meet PAT, Hello World Thirroul, South Sailor, Headlands Hotel, Coledale Wines, 55 Parrots, Austi Beach Café, Moore Street Hair, Mala Beads, I Am Aromatics, Ocean Plastic Patrol, Make Do Library of Things Wollongong, Leanne Bridger Facial Massages, Coles Thirroul, IGA Thirroul, Bulli Fruit and Deli, Pure Bred Meat Thirroul, Austinmer PO and Newsagency, Haveli, Finbox, See Side Optical, Smiths Pharmacy, The Salon by Bec Lissa, Wollongong Botanic Garden Grounds, Miss Zoe’s School of Dance Coledale.

DECEMBER / 2515 / 33

place and instantly makes me feel like a child, so much so, in fact, that during the last school holidays I took one of our farm tours under the mulberry tree and let the kids go mad, picking and eating as much they could bear. I loved seeing their purple-stained smiles.

I have come to realise that a lot of Australians have heartfelt memories of mulberries and, as I have recently become an Australian citizen myself, I could think of no better way to celebrate than with a mulberry cake.

MULBERRY CAKE INGREDIENTS 11/2 cup of flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup rice malt syrup 200g Greek yoghurt 1/2 cup coconut oil (melted and cooled down) 2 large eggs 1 tsp lemon zest 2 tsp vanilla essence 2 cups of mulberries For the glaze: 1 tbs lemon juice 1/2 cup icing sugar

’TIS THE SEASON

Preheat your oven to 180°C. Line a loaf pan with baking paper.

In a bowl, mix together flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together rice With Green Connect Fair Food Coordinator Kristin Watson syrup, yoghurt, coconut oil, eggs, lemon and vanilla. Once combined, stir in the flour mix, mix together well, then fold in the mulberries gently.

My favourite part of the Green Connect farm at The more you stir the bluer the cake will be.

Warrawong is down by one of our creek crossings Bake in a pre-heated oven for 45-50 mins or where we’ve planted a native forest around the until you can stick a skewer in the middle and it creek to encourage wildlife. It looks a bit untamed comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for and overgrown, with luscious watercress growing 15 mins then place on a cooling rack. wild, stretching its vines over the log crossing.

Mix together the glaze and drizzle over. 2515 When you stand there, especially in spring, there is so much activity. Activity that could easily be missed unless you stop and listen. Bees are buzzing, birds are singing their spring harmonies, some little insect is rattling in the high grass, perhaps even a snake. It’s a beautiful sample of the Last month Westpac Foundation and The Ian wonderful ecosystem we have managed to create Potter Foundation announced they will invest on the farm. It’s almost as if you can hear the veggies growing. $564,000 in Green Connect to help scale its social Straight over the creek, there’s a sea of dark enterprise to create an estimated 111 new jobs green leaves with blood-red stems and large red and 262 employment pathways over the next beetroots bulging out of the ground. I’ve been three years. “We’ll be ramping up environmental enjoying making homemade beetroot dips, by education at the Green Connect farm, opening roasting the beetroots and blitzing them with more shops, and strengthening our zero waste pinenuts, feta, a squeeze of lemon juice, a clove of garlic and lug of good quality olive oil. and labour hire arms,” said general manager Another newly discovered favourite place on the Kylie Flament. Visit www.green-connect.com.au farm is under the mulberry tree. It’s such a magical

FUNDING FOR GREEN CONNECT

34­ / 2515­/ DECEMBER

OFF TO SEE THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ By panto director Isabella Franklin

The Stanwell Park Arts Theatre (SPAT) Pantomime is a longstanding local tradition. This year is our 45th annual Christmas Pantomime, based on The Wizard of Oz. I am directing the show and Penelope Wood is producing it. We have both been involved with SPAT for many years.

The Wizard of Oz Pantomime was written by Emma Houldershaw and Samantha Cartwright and is a lot of fun, starring many of the classic songs from the movie.

Danielle Ives (costume designer) and Melanie Russell (set designer) have made almost all of our costumes and sets by recycling, reusing, upcycling, borrowing and with generous donations from our community.

The show has a cast and crew of over 50 people, making it one of the largest SPAT shows ever!

Because of this we have extended our usual five show to seven shows over the first three weekends of December. This year’s pantomime will be performed in loving memory of Ken Edwards, who was heavily involved with SPAT for many decades, was a beloved member of many pantomimes and is dearly missed.

Dorothy will be played by Lucy Morgan, who performed in her first SPAT pantomime when she was six years old. She has since been involved in the following SPAT productions: Miss Lily’s Holiday

Wizard of Oz cast, from left to right: Allison Cairncross, Lucy Morgan, Eve Pedersen and Leonie McDonald.

Home, Leisel and the Lost Melody, Grease (as Frenchy), as well as SPAT’s Christmas carols. She is excited to be bringing such a classic tale to SPAT this year.

Toto will be played by Eve Pedersen, Eve is six years old and this is her first time performing in a SPAT Pantomime. Eve has previously been involved in the SPAT workshops and SPAT weekly kid’s classes (SPATYOULA).

BOOK YOUR PANTO TICKETS The Wizard of Oz Pantomime opens on Friday, December 6 at the CWA Hall in Stanwell Park.

Other show dates are: December 7, 8, 14, 15, 21and 22. Tickets $15-$55. To buy tickets or for more information, please visit www.spat.org.au 2515

VOLUNTEER DRIVER MENTORS NEEDED

SCARF’s L2P driver mentor program helps former refugees get their provisional licence, Cristina Sacco reports.

The ability to operate a vehicle can be a critical factor in securing and maintaining employment. SCARF’s L2P Driver Mentor program supports former refugees to access on-road driving practice supervised by a volunteer mentor.

The program is designed to assist learners from refugee backgrounds, who would not otherwise have access to a car or a suitable supervising driver, to learn Australian road rules, practice

driving according to Australian conditions, and gain experience with all aspects of becoming a safe road-user and licensed driver.

During the past year a massive 318 hours were completed by driver mentors, and 11 learners got their provisional licence with the help of the program.

But we need more driver mentors.

Please email volunteer@scarfsupport. org.au if you would like to volunteer for the L2P driver mentor program. 2515

DECEMBER / 2515 / 35

VET AT WORK With Dr Matt O’Donnell.

This month: Dingoes - a Part of Australia’s Natural Heritage.

Did you know that dingoes come in a range of colours? We can all probably picture the classic look of a tan-coloured dingo that is commonly used to describe them but pure wild dingoes have been shown to have a range of colours and coats including alpine varieties that can vary from a thick even white coat to jet black.

Recently we had the pleasure of meeting Banjo, Biscuit, Honey and Kimba. They are all dingo hybrids rescued from situations where they may have been euthanased or mistreated. Banjo, Biscuit, Honey and Kimba are living with a local family who are working with Dingo Den Animal Rescue, a registered Australian charity run by a national network of volunteers, dedicated to saving the lives of dingoes.

All four dingo hybrids were in for an annual health check and vaccination and passed with flying colours. They have all adjusted in the family environment and as you can see in the photo, visited our veterinary hospital with the minimum of fuss.

Dingo Den is a not-for-profit organisation that is rehabilitating and rehoming dingoes and dingo hybrids throughout the country but their scope is much wider, including: • Empowering and educating dingo owners to become the best carers they can be, with the long-term goal to end dingo homelessness, abuse, neglect, abandonment and euthanasia.

• Providing temporary foster carers for dingoes whose owners are no longer able to care for them.

• Finding permanent ‘forever’ homes for dingoes in foster care, so that they can live the rest of their lives as companion animals and be part of a family who understands the special needs of dingoes.

• Ensuring that all animals in foster care receive necessary veterinary treatment throughout their time in foster care.

WANT TO HELP DINGOES? If you are interested in helping this iconic Australian animal you can go to their website to find out more at https://www.dingoden.net/ n Northern Illawarra Veterinary Hospital is at 332 Princes Highway, Bulli. Phone 4238 8575. 2515

36­ / 2515­/ DECEMBER

A local family are caring for dingo hybrids, working with Dingo Den Animal Rescue.

PET RESCUE

JEZZIE NEEDS A HOME!

Jezzie is a two-year-old greyhound who needs an energetic family to take her out, keep her busy and exercised. Jez isn’t like normal greyhounds, she likes to play, walk and run. She would make a wonderful family addition!

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

LIFEOLOGY With Terri Ayliffe

FOLK FEST BACK AT BULLI

The Illawarra Folk Festival will celebrate its 35th year in 2020, Nick Hartgerink and Alastair Yorke report.

Illawarra’s world-renowned folk festival – one of the largest festivals in Australia run entirely by volunteers – is on again this January 16 to 19 at Bulli Showground.

The annual festival is four exciting summer days of folk, world, roots, bluegrass, gypsy and Celtic music, as well as poetry, comedy and dance.

Set in the spectacular northern Illawarra Escarpment at Bulli Showground, the festival has 11 on-site venues and is a family-friendly village.

Expect superb music from more than 150 international, national and local artists performing in more than 320 concerts. There’s also a colourful array of international food stalls, craft stalls and the festival bar.

On-site camping is available for those wanting to fully immerse themselves in the experience.

There’s plenty of on-site car parking and Bulli train station is only a short walk away. Catch the ‘green music train’ for an environmentally sound way to get to the festival.

The festival commences on Thursday, January 16 with music from 4pm till late. If you’ve never been before, Thursday’s special ticketing prices are a wonderful opportunity to get a taste of the festival and support charity partner, Hidden Harvest.

Thursday tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for youth.

The festival concludes on Sunday evening with a huge finale featuring the festival choir, orchestra and special guests.

What do we do with the bad experiences?

We’re all going to have negative experiences, there is very little we can do about that other than accept the hard times as part of life and ensure we cultivate flexible thinking styles to protect ourselves.

Positive affirmations that lead to positive thoughts is not the way to go about this. The truth is no amount of positive thinking will protect us from life. It is how we think about negative experiences that change things.

Let’s say, someone I trust has let me down.

If my beliefs are rigid, for example, people are either good or bad, right or wrong, then it will be very hard for me to forgive them and if I can’t forgive I carry negative emotions, such as resentment.

Side note: Negative emotions directed at another person have zero impact on their lives and a massive impact on ours.

Let’s say my beliefs are flexible and that I understand we all make errors of judgement.

I can forgive and let the incident go and, by doing so, I’ve eliminated negative emotions from my life.

No one can make us feel anything without us investing in the experience and we are not powerful enough to affect anyone else’s behaviour, they own their responses.

If we blame others for our pain or take responsibility for theirs, we are enmeshing ourselves emotionally, and no good can come of that.

We should accept negative experience as a part of life. We can cultivate flexibility of thought and we can understand we are as responsible for our emotional experience as others are for theirs.

Beliefs give rise to thoughts and thoughts give rise to our emotional experience.

There is no easy way of saying this – we are all responsible for our own experience. n Have a question for Terri?

Email editor@2515mag.com.au 2515

n Illawarra Folk Festival, Bulli Showgrounds, January 16-19 2020. 4-Day Early-bird Tickets are available at www.illawarrafolkfestival.com.au or call 1300 887 034. 2515

DECEMBER / 2515 / 37

A DISTRICT DIVIDED

No one liked the initial proposals, but the four new options presented by Roads & Maritime Services (RMS) for the proposed closures of Lawrence Hargrave Drive in 2020 have met with a mixed response. 2515 reports.

On Monday, November 18, in round 2 of community consultation, Transport for NSW released a press release announcing four options for essential slope repair and safety work on Lawrence Hargrave Drive between Bald Hill and Stanwell Park.

Locals immediately began tagging and sharing the news on social media. It was eagerly awaited.

Ever since the news broke in July, residents have been worried about the proposed closures. For small business owners, livelihoods are at stake.

Family life is set to be disrupted. Sydney commuters and school children face extended travel times. Health care and emergency services access are also major concerns.

On Tuesday, November 19, the Illawarra Business Chamber issued a media release announcing its support for Option D, “as it represents the shortest total road closure period that will enable the road to be open during weekend peak visitation periods.”

IBC policy manager James Newton, who represented the IBC at a Coalcliff community meeting with RMS on August 28, told 2508 (2515’s sister mag): “As the regional chamber, we have considered the significance of Lawrence Hargrave Drive to the broader Illawarra, including its role

THE FOUR ROAD CLOSURE OPTIONS

The road in need of vital repairs is between Otford Road and Chellow Dene Avenue, essentially, Bald Hill and Stanwell Park.

• Option A – Two stages of four-week closures during the winter months • Option B – One eight-week road closure during winter months • Option C – 16-day full road closure (in winter school holidays), plus 6 to 8 months of full road closures on weekdays from 9am-3pm with one lane open to traffic (under alternating traffic flow) at all other times until work is completed

38­ / 2515­/ DECEMBER

in bringing tourism visitation further down the coastline.”

Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce (NICC) president Greg Watts said the IBC had not consulted with the NICC, a volunteer-run networking group that covers the suburbs directly affected, to reach this conclusion.

Mr Newton said via email: “The NICC declined a previous opportunity to advocate jointly on this issue with the IBC and were therefore not approached for further comment on the media release. In any case, local chambers are entitled to formulate and advocate their own policy positions, as is the IBC.” CHAMBER TO SUBMIT MEMBERS’ FEEDBACK On November 19, RMS officials presented the proposed road closure options to a special NICC meeting at Headlands Hotel in Austinmer.

About 20 people attended, representing a wide range of local businesses – including Symbio, Stanwell Tops Technical Services, Articles Fine Art Gallery, Outside Space, the Bald Hill Ice-Cream Van and 2508 District News and 2515 Coast News.

Robyn Lyster, RMS area maintenance manager, outlined the four options RMS was considering (see below). After the RMS presentation, NICC attendees discussed the options and voted unanimously in favour of Option B. NICC president Greg Watts, however, said he planned to canvass as many NICC members as possible in the lead-up to the cut-off for RMS feedback at 5pm, on Monday, 16 December.

Mr Watts said: “NICC welcomes the ongoing community consultation process of RMS and will be making a further submission to advance the interests of, and explain the impact of road closure options on, our members and the wider small business community in the Northern Illawarra.”

Share your thoughts with the NICC via president@nicc.net.au before Tuesday, 3 December.

NICC will make another submission to RMS before the December 16 cut-off. 2515

• Option D – 16-day road closure (in winter school holidays), plus 4 to 6 months of full road closures on weekdays from 9am to 3pm, full road closures from Sunday to Thursday at night from 8pm to 4am and only one lane open to traffic (under alternating traffic flow) at all other times until the work is completed.

Repairs will not start prior to May 2020.

The cut-off for feedback is 5pm, Monday, 16 December, with an update expected in early 2020.

Have your say at rms.work/lhd-closure. 2515

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Images by Duncan Leadbitter

At Bass Point, south of Shellharbour Village.

With Duncan Leadbitter This month we head back to Bass Point for a scuba dive in one of my favourite shore dive sites, the Gutter. The video (https://youtu.be/ F817SRk4MUc) is over a year old but there are others on my YouTube page.

I have been trying to write a story about Stanwell Park but big swells, dirty water, the weather and work travel have been against me.

At this time of the year the water is at its coldest but we also get blooms of plankton as the marine ecosystem kicks out of its winter torpor and provides food for fish larvae.

Hopefully in 2020 I can get my most visited snorkelling spot covered.

The Gutter is located at the north-eastern end of Bass Point. Get there early to get a carpark. Whilst standing facing north, the Gutter is easy to find. It’s a short rock hop down to the entry/exit spot. Watch how the swell affects the various ledges, and have a think about how the area may behave if the nor’easter gets up or the tide changes.

After entering the water, swim on the surface using compass north until you can’t see the bottom, then keep heading north. The depth gradually increases from about 12m to a maximum of 24m.

There are a variety of low-rise reefs and drop-offs covered in sea tulips, a few gorgonian fans, brown, red and green seaweeds, bryzoans and many types of sponge. At times the fish life can be rich and varied with red morwongs, red rock cod, beardies, various wrasse species, half banded sea perch and leatherjackets among the sea bed dwellers and one spot pullers, mado, yellowtail and southern sea pike living just above or in the water column proper.

Because of the long swim, it’s easy to get low on air or bottom time. Swim south until you reach the rock wall that defines the Gutter and say hello to the groper near the big rock that marks the way home.

On two occasions I have seen whales whilst gearing up to get in the water. I have also seen the only giant salp I have ever seen in almost 40 years of scuba. It’s a varied spot!

Watch the underwater action!

Go to https://youtu.be/F817SRk4MUc 2515

DECEMBER / 2515 / 43

BOATS FOR THE BUSH

Two local surf boats are bound for a school in a Riverina town in remote NSW, Ian Backhouse reports.

Bulli and Austinmer Surf Clubs have each generously donated one surf boat for the students at Balranald Central School. The principal of the school, Gus Comi, is grateful for the support as it will help him start a rowing program for the students at his school in the remote rural community in south-western NSW. Balranald – which is on the Murrumbidgee River and a 10km drive to Yanga Lake – is 130km west of Hay and 82km from Robinvale, which is situated on the Murray River.

The boats will be used to teach students water safety, rowing skills and for house sport on the lake and river. Mr Comi is also interested in the students completing the annual Murray River Rowathon, a 90km marathon held on the river to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Shane Geloven, Chris Mercer and Keith Caldwell, of Bulli Surf Life Saving Club, Austinmer SLSC registrar Ian Foreman and Stephen Perkiss, also of Austinmer SLSC, were happy to help with the project as the boats are past their competitive best for surf boat carnivals but still very serviceable for use on the river and lake.

The boats have not been in use for some time but

1

both have won gold medals in the surf boat events at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.

The Austinmer boat won gold in the Open Surf Boat in 2003 at Kurrawa, Queensland and the Bulli boat won gold in the Reserve Surf Boat in 2009 at Scarborough Beach in WA. Principal Comi has recognised the generous help of the surf club members in facilitating the donation. Mr Comi said: “There was a lot of moving of boats and maintenance of trailers as well as storage, transport to and from road-worthy

2 3

44­ / 2515­/ DECEMBER

4 checkpoints before the trailers were fit for purpose again. I really appreciate all the work done on my behalf for our students and the community at Balranald. Thank you one and all.”

The first boat to arrive in Balranald left from Thirroul on the 14th of November 2019.

Before the project commences in December, Mr Comi has a few further wainwright jobs to complete – such as fitting rolling seats and painting the boat and oars. “My students are really getting excited about a new water sport available to them at school in Balranald,” he said.

“These decorated Aussie surf titled boats will continue to provide opportunities for children in our isolated community. I look forward to continuing the relationship with Bulli and Austinmer Surf Clubs into the future, bringing the bush to the beach and beach to the bush.” 2515

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COAST NEWS

1. Principal Gus Comi and Drew Lloyd and Keely Gaston, school captains of Balranald Central School.

2. Austinmer Boat hand-over on Thursday, 14 November with Ian Foreman and Stephen Perkiss from Austinmer Surf Club, Ian Backhouse and Gus Comi.

3. Austinmer Surf Boat winning the Open Surf Boat at Australian SLS Titles in 2003.

4. Bulli Surf Boat inspection at Mercers Engineering Bulli: Ian Backhouse, Gus Comi, Shane Geloven and Chris Mercer from Bulli Surf Club.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ian is a Thirroul resident who helped coordinate the donation and equipment of the boats and maintenance of the trailers. He is an active reserve member of Thirroul SLSC but rowed surf boats for years with Umina SLSC, most recently in 2010.

OUR THANKS TO IAN FOR A GREAT COMMUNITY STORY!

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TAKE OFF! LOCHIE

KYLIE FLAMENT

RS WITH WORKING WONDECONNECT WASTE AT GREEN

THIRROUL NIPPERS

LEARNING WITH LAUGHTER AND Y SURF CLUB A FAMILY-FRIENDL

gh | Wombarra Clifton | Scarborou

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MCDONALD

DISCOVER THE JOY OF FLIGHT AT BALD HILL

AUSTI RFS HEROES ON MEET THE LOCALFRONTLINE THE BUSHFIRE

FROM WATER-SHY TO YOUNG LIFE NIPPER SAVER OF THE YEAR!

LOLLY RUN! SANTA’S ON HIS WAY

Helensbu Helensburgh | Otford l rgh | Otford | Darkes Helensburgh | Otford | Darkes Forest | Stanwell | Darkes Forest | Stanwell Forest | Stanwell Tops e | Austinmer | Thirrou | Austinmer | Thirroul Tops | Stanwell Park Tops | Stanwell Park | Stanwell Park | Coalcliff | Wombarra | Coledale | Wombarra | Coledal | Coalcliff | Coalcliff Clifton | Scarborough Clifton | Scarborough

r | Thirroul | Coledale | Austinme

GET SET FOR 2020!

Early print deadline ahead – send in your ads for our January edition by Friday, 13 December!

LAST DEAL OF THE YEAR Book now, run the same ad in Jan & Feb and get 5% off Go to www.2515mag.com.au or call Karen on

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DECEMBER / 2515 / 45

10 0104 0.38 0552 0.50 0548 1.24 1.17 0554 0.50 0526 0.37 0028 0.40 0530 0.21 0451 0.24 0000 1.23 0029 1.33 0129 1.54 0115 12 1.37 0127 1 25 16 1122 1 25 16 0527 10 10 10 7 7 22 22 28 0712 1.58 1.71 0.51 0543 0.61 1215 1200 1.70 1116 0745 1.47 0745 1.27 1.41 1.73 1133 0.67 0642 1151 0.66 0753 0.46 66 0.53 47 0.35 1809 0.31 1156 1.79 1215 1.64 1852 0.31

25 0145 0821

1.20 0000 1.13 0013 1.23 42 0139 0.42 0015 1.18 0618 0.36 0052 0.16 0011 0.37 0117 0.28 0056 18 0.43 0115 1.50 0159 0.44 0212 0.35 0150 17 0537 2 26 17 0622 2 26 11 11 11 8 23 8 23 0.56 0629 0.67 0645 0.55 04 0746 1.59 0615 0.60 1222 1.34 1.54 0818 1.55 1.80 0822 61 0634 1.31 0730 0.43 0630 1.42 0838 1.65 1208 1.68 1259 1.54 1247 1.72 30 0.37 1247 1.61

0.42 1.68 0.49 0.29 0.40 0.19 56 SU 1.53 MO 0.58 TU 0.38 SA 0.60 FR 1337 SA 1330 MO 1435 TU 1511 WE 1458 0.34 FR 1228 SA 1825 SU 1245 MO 1318 0.33 1834 0.42 1908 0.25 1.28 31 1948 1.29 1830 0.39 1.70 1902 2031 1.51 1949 1.39 2003 1.42 1945 1.38 1939 1.28 2107 1.32 2048 29

26 0230 0905

16 0212 0.48 29 43 0819 1.58 52 18 0.40 BER 63 SA 1415 SA 2025 Time 18 0451 1.21 0242 21 56 1122 0.54 0851 41 27 1.55 1453 40 SU 1809 SU SA 12 2100 0.43 68

0.34 0053 1.40 0711 0.43 1314 SU 1.51 1914 m

0108 1.17 0212 1.12 1.24 0.42 0150 1.11 0044 0.14Local 0230 0.37 0.33 0156 0312 0.40 0200 0.24 0.43 0.36 0228 LATTime 34° 29ʼ S 0039 LONG 150°0254 55ʼ E 0100 0630 0.61 0.72 0.58 1.75 Local Time 0704 0.68 0706 1.65 Times 1.62 0923 1.85 0724 0947 Heights0708 of High 0722 and Waters0734 1.39 0815 1.62and0851 1.51Low 1.73 0900 1.63 1.45 1.64 0.27 1338 1.51 1424 0.21 0.35 0.17 DECEMBER SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 0.53 1322 0.33 0.49 1415 0.30 MO 1300 TU 1346 WE 1345 SU TU 1514 WE 1601 TH 1540 FR 1636 SUDECEMBER MO 1333 TU NOVEMBER Time m2133 Time m m 1.51 Time Time 1.28 m Time 2030 m 0.45 Time m 1920 Time 2004 m 0.34 0.46 2041 0.28 Time 2049 1.68 2111 1.37 1.35 1.28m 2230 1.40 1921 1.30 Time m0410 2054 Time m TIME 0320 M0.322002 M 2159 TIME TIME 0451 0.50 M 0000 1.24 0.38 0028 1.17 0330 0.05 0342 0.18 TIME 0530 0.50 1 0.37 1 0957 11.13 1 0543 16 0527 0.51 0935 1.55 16 0926 1.42 1.70 16 1028 1.58 1200 1.70 16 1122 1.71 1.16 1.08 0309 1.28SU 0.32 SU0256 0301 0.39 0.39 0307 0.430.61 0244 0.15 0354 0127 0129 0.24 0.39 0.50 0000 1.24 0028 1.17 1215 1.64 MO 1156 1809 0.31 1.79 0.410212 0.35 0336 1530 0.22 0.19 0115 0.31 SA0258 MO 1523 TU 1614 WE 1647 0.42 FR 1852 0145 1850 0.23 1.520733 2250 0825 1.36 1007 2148 1.86 1.55 0745 0.65 0.74 2134 0.75 0821 0.60 1915 1.46 0804 1029 0925 1.67 1.85 0832 1.810.37 0900 1.74 0745 1.47 0753 1.73 2221 1.80 0940 1.60 1.71 0527 0.51 0543 0.61 0011 1.20 0117 1.13 SA0056 1.23 0350 0.351400 0442 1442 0.42 0415 0.10 0424 0.28 1416 0052 1505 1.18 1.58 1.43 1.37 1446 1.55 0.39 1717 1554 0.31 1651 0.19 1623 0.23 1517 0.16 1356 0.46 1418 0.25 0.24 0.41 0.31 1156 1.79 1215 1.64 TU MO21436 WE TH WE TH FR MO MO TU WE SU1.57 17 1000 1.44 MO 2 0629 2 1044 20.48 0.67 17 0622 0.55 1025 1.69 17 1104 1.59 0615 0.60 17 0537 0.56 0.34 0.48 0.30MO 1259 1.50MO2149 2314 2151 1.33 1.28 2220 1.271.54 TU 1247 2122 1.61 1953 1.40 2015 1.47 1.28 1.28 1208 1.68 1.72 1626 0.25 0.26 2005 1247 2056 1.61 SU2136 0.422106 0.37 2248 1850 0.23 1915 0.37 TU 1602 TH 1730 2145 WE 1711 SA

3 27 24 2019 18 12 12 9 3 27 24 18 12 9 DECEMBER

27

13 10 4 281 25 19 16 13 10 4 28 25 19 13 16

28

0.49 1.79 0.25 1.21

13 0011 1.15 0311 16 45 0537 0.61 0922 54 18 1208 1.52 1530 29 MO MO SU 15 1902 0.45 2135 70

0.390322 0516 0407 0.48 0417 0108 1.17 1.12 1.24 0500 0.20 0.41 0150 0150 0230 1.11 1.10 0420 0400 1.34 0212 1.19 0434 0.33 30403 0326 0.21 0335 0.42 0.47 0350 0159 0.37 0.42 0212 0.28 0.42 1.20 0117 1.13 0056 1.23 3 0.45 18 0156 3 0507 31.18 0724 0.58 1115 1.57 18 1036 1.45 1132 1.64 18 1143 1.58 0704 0.68 18 0630 0.61 0.75 0.75 0.59TU 0722 0.65 1107 1.51 TU0916 0945 1.79 1001 1.71 1.81 1022 1.830.72 0818 1.55 1.68 0838 1.80 1.83 0.56 0629 0.67 0622 0.55 0.450847 0.40 1050 1300 1.63 1346 1.45 WE 1345 1.64 1724 0.32 0.34 0822 1338 0905 1.51 MO0947 WE 1645 FR 1818 0936 TH 1812 SU 1.361509 2002 0.34 0.28 2331 1.54 2049 1552 0.45 1.37 1.32 1.47 2054 1.55 1758 0.36 0.15 1635 0.29 0.24 0.210.46 SU2041 1435 0.40 0.34 1511 0.19 0.22 1.68 1259 1.54 1.72 TU 1542 TH 1544 FR 1554 WE TU TH 1247 FR 1740 SA 1710 WE 1458 TU 2248 TH MO1610 TU 0453 0.44 0018 1.21 0212 1.16 0546 0.32 0011 1.24 0256 1.08 0309 1.13 0258 1.28 0.48 2233 0.47 2145 2231 0.324 1.25 19 2356 2208 0.32 19 1.47 42245 2213 1.51 2233 1.29 2338 1.22 2309 2031 1.39 2048 1.28 2107 1.42 1.26 0.33 2003 0.42 1945 0.25 19 19 4 4 1207 1.56 0552 0.53 1115 1.45 0556 0.54 0733 0.65 0804 0.74 0825 0.75 0832 0.60

0.53 1.73 0.30 1.19

0.42 1.60 0.46 0.55 0.40 0.25 51 FR 1.36 SA 1.54 SU 1.28 MO 1.36 SU 1356 TU 1416 0.41 TH 1255 FR 1232 MO 1418 TH 1743 SA 1744 SU 1808 FR 1725 50 1910 1.36 1.48 0.23 1.28 0.37 1.47 1850 2005 1846 2356 1.68 0.25 1953 1.40 1915 2015 37

0.39 1.80 WE 1505 0.24 2056 1.28 0.42 1.83 TH 1552 0.22 2145 1.26

2019 PORT KEMBLA TIDAL CHART 2019

S

PORT KEMBLA – NEW SOUTH WALES

2239 1.72

2315 1.39

2210 1.44

1902 0.33

1949 0.39

2331 1.29

2003 0.42

14 11 5 29 26 20 14 14 11 5 292 26 20 17 17

1945 0.25

29

WE 1827 0.40

TH 1730 0.49 2331 1.27

FR 1224 1.57 1916 0.42

SA 1227 1.55 1912 0.43

MO 1436 1.43 2149 0.48

TU 1400 1.58 2106 0.34

WE 1442 1.37 2145 0.48

TH 1446 1.55 2136 0.30

0028 0633 TH 1302 1936

1.36 0.43 1.53 0.47

0530 0.50 1158 1.44 FR 1825 0.53

0114 0644 SA 1321 2028

0113 0645 SU 1318 2015

0403 0916 TU 1542 2245

0322 0847 WE 1509 2208

0407 0936 TH 1544 2233

0400 0947 FR 1554 2231

0130 1.21

0022 1.18

19 0108 1.11 0230 1.15 0254 1.26 0228 1.25 0312 1.44 0.47 0340 0.34 0503 0.29 0411 0.45 0500 0.54 0459 0515 14 0.37 0407 0.33 0156 0.42 0500 0.45 0436 1.17 0212 1.12 0428 1.24 6530 21 6 21 15 15 30 15 12 27 12 27 18 3 18 45 0630 0.65 1029 0.73 0923 1003 0.61 1047 0.72 0947 1103 0.54 1.83 30 1145 0955 1.55 1030 1.80 1040 1.72 1132 1.74 1108 65 0851 1.62 1.85 0900 1.75 1.83 0.61 0722 0.72 0724 0.58 20 5 20 5 20 5 20 21 1608 1.50 1514 1.36 1601 1.54 1540 1.29 1636 1.40 0.21 0.35 1646 0.17 1619 0.29 1646 0.30 1702 1837 21 0.35 1703 0.17 1720 0.27 1828 0.22 1758 1.13 0.63 1.49 0.47

1.15 0.61 1.52 0.45

1.10 0.75 1.37 0.48

1.19 0.65 1.55 0.32

WE WE TH WE FR SA SA TU 1300 FR 1345 SU TU 1.63 WE 1.45 TH 1.64 FR MO TU 1346 27 2002 0.43 2111 0.46 2159 0.28 2133 2211 1.42 2333 1.39 2320 1.25 2319 68 1.37 2305 1.35 2041 1.28 0.46 2230 2323 1.24 0.33 0.34 2054 0.46 2304 0.28

37 15 01 74 32 16 TU 36 61

1.12 0212 0.66 0733 1.51 1400 WE 0.37 2106

0327 1.07

0219 1.11

0503 1.15

0428 1.26

0500 1.25 0.72 1.29 0.46

6 0.39 6 0846 61.33 6 1047 0725 0.54 21 0613 0.57 0.69 21 0745 0.65 1029 0.73 21 1003 0.61 1.23 0548 1.54FR 1.37 0448 0.39 0301 0336 0.39 0.43 WE 0.49 1.16 FR0552 0309 1.13 0258 1.28 1.430526 1402 1.49 1.44 0307 1619 1.54 1646 0354 1.36 TH0554 1646 SA 1248 SU 1527 MO 1421 1.50 0.551116 2053 0.51 0.49 0940 2127 1151 0.43 2304 0.28 2333 1029 0.46 0.67 1930 0.66 1215 0.46 2319 0.53 1115 1.77 0925 1.67 1007 1.85 2236 1.81 1.79 0.65 1133 0825 0.75 0832 0.60 0552 1717 1.23 0245 1.111725 1.07 1623 0337 1744 1.12 0526 1.37 1.36 1.36 0548 1.54 1757 0.23 1554 0.31 1651 0.19 0.23 0.25 1.58 1442 1.37 1446 1.55 TH71743 SA SU 1808 FR TH TH 0126 FR SA WE1.11 TH 71.28 7 1151 7 0443 1133 0.67 22 1116 0.53 0825 0.61 22 0710 0.62 0959 0.71 22 0901 0.66 0.25 2358 1.28 2151 2248 1.28 0.34 SA 1.33 2145 0.48 2136 0.30 1.36 FR1.21 1.442356 1508 1.48 1.41 2220 1.51 1725 1.54 TH 1743 2314 SA 1744 SU 1350 MO 1635 TU 1532 1.27

19 13 7 314 28 22 19 13 7 2046 0.52

2209 0.51

2336 0.47

2236 0.37

28 22

2356 0.25

50 0322 1.18 0335 0.43 0245 1.50 0402 1.08 1.090618 1.12 0350 0450 0000 1.18 21 0.42 0417 0.47 0545 0.45 1.19 80015 0407 1.18 0400 1.34 8 1108 0930 0.64 23 0821 0.63 0.68 23 1020 0.61 f Australia 2018, of1.48Meteorology 20 0.61 1001 0634 1.31 1222 0.43 0630 79 1050 1.81 0847 0.65 0936 0.75 0947 0.59 1614 Bureau 1.49 1.42 1022 1.56 SU 1.71 MO 1500 TU 1736 WE 1645 1.83 2313 0.47 2336 1245 0.29 0.451825 45Astronomical 1.56 0.60 1.53 15 0.29 1740 0.24 0.21 1509 1.55 1.32 1.47 FR 1228 SA SU TH 1635 FR 2201 SA 1710 WE TH 1544 FR 1554 st Tide 0508 1.11 0.44 2309 0550 1834 0404 1.13 1.22 0024 36 2208 0.29 2233 1.38 51 1.29 2338 1.25 0.32 91830 2233 0.47 2231 0.32 9 0632 1.19 24 1130 1.29 1032 0.62 24 0936 0.59 0.52

20 14 8 5 29 23 20 14 8 ALES

0013 0.35 0000 0015 0434 0.43 0618 1.50 0.53 80.44 8 0630 0634 1.31 23 1222 0.43 1.42 1.65SU 1.73 1825 1.53 0.60 SA0645 1245 FR 1228 1107 1830 1758 1.38 0.58 0.30 0.38 1834 MO 1318 SU 0053 2356 0.40 0044 0.24 1.329 0039 1.19 91.28 241908

21 15 9 6 30 24 21 15 9

30 24

2019

1.18 0.75 1.32 0.47

29 23

MO

1.34 0.59 1.47 0.32

0.45 1.83 0.22 1.24 M

0.57 1.66 0.35

1.44 21 0459 1103 0.54 0039

1.18 0.62 1.54 1.57 1224 TU0554 22 1215 0.46 1916 1.36 0.40 SU 1808

31 0558

1.33 0.66 1.28

0.44 1.42 0.58 1.28 0.43

SA 1702 1.40 2323 0.33

23 0013 0645

0.35 1.65 MO 1318 0.38 1908 1.32

THE EQUILIBRIUM 0100 0.36

0711 1.39 0708 1.51 24 0734 1.73 HEALTHCARE me (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when0706in1.62 effect MO 1711 1.51 TU 1610 1.56 WE 1206 0.62 TH 1749 1.63 SA 1314 0.53 SU 1322 0.33 MO 1333 0.49 TU 1415 0.30 1914 0515 1.40 2004 1.30 0.340044 1827 1.45Time 1921 1.51 50 0428 1.29 0411 0053 0.40 2304 0039 0100 0.36 1920 1.28 STANWELL 0.24 29 0.45 0500 0500 0.54Local 0436 0.47 0.43 0.57 1.25 0459 1.44 1.26 PARK New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter Full Moon 30 1003 0.52 1.39 0509 1.51 0734 1.73 0115 0.42 1.62 0002 0.43 1.220706 0.40 1108 0029 0708 0.21 0127 1145 0.37 0129 0.24 0145 0.39 80 1040 1.72 1132 1.74 0104 1.83 1.66 1047 0.72 1103 0.54 0.61100711 OCEAN SWIM IS 25 10 25 10 25 10 25 0559 1.16 0712 1.27 0642 1.41 0753 1.73 1044 0.51 0745 1.47 0745 1.60 0821 1.80 OVEMBER DECEMBER 49 1619 1.63 0.53 0.49 0.30TU 1416 0.41 WE 1505 0.24 0.33 17 0.29 1828 0.30 0.21 0.35 1.29 1702 1.40 1.54 SATU1314 TUMO1415 SU FR 1720 SA SU MO 1127 0.55 1758 1232 1333 0.40 1418 0.25 1.671322 1356 1837 0.46 FR0.581646 SA TH WE 1712 TH 1255 FRMO SU

1800 1.55 1.48 0.33 1846 1920 1.68 0.231921 1910 1953 1.40 2358 1.28 1.51 39 2320 1.25 0.46 0.28 1914 m 2319 Time m 2323 Time m m 2304 Time 0043 0640 WE 1214 1841

11

0.38 1.22 0.53 1.58

0602 1.33 1144 0.40 TH 1807 1.78

26

0139 0746 FR 1337 1948

11

0.36 1.34 0.49 1.51

0115 0730 SA 1330 1939

26

0.16 1.54 0.29 1.70

0159 0818 MO 1435 2031

11

2015 1.47 2004 1.30

1.40

0.37 1.55 0.40 1.39

0150 0822 WE 1458 2048

2159 1.35

2133

26

11 0.39 1.80 0.13 0.34 1.36 0200 0.14 0230 0.37 1.28 1808 SA 1.54 SU0046 MO SU 0118 MO TU WE 0254 0.330.24 0228 TU SA0.351744 SU0212 FR 1725 0715 1.27 27 0651 1.44 12 0819 1.40 27 0815 1.65 12 0851 1.62 27 0923 1.85 12 0900 0.23 TU1.28 0.37 46 2356 1.68 0.2512 1953 1.40 1915 2015 1.47 1850 2005 1.28TH 1540 0.40 28 1514 1916 0.35 WE2056 1601 0.17 TH 1255 0.48 FR 1239 0.29 SA 1415 0.43 SU 1424 0.21

0.50 0548 1.24 0.42 0039 0145 1.17 0554 0.50 29 0526 0.21 0451 0.37 0028 0.24 0000 1.18 39 1.33 0129 1.54 0115 1.37 0127 16 1122 1 25 16 0527 10 0745 10 0745 25 0821 7 22 22 1.71 0.51 31 0543 0.61 1215 1.70 42 1116 1.41 1.47 1.73 1.60 0558 0.62 77 1151 0.66 0753 0.46 0.53 0.31 0.46 1215 1418 1.79 0.41 1224 1505 1.64 0.25 1156 1416 0.31 32 0.40 1809 1356 1.57 23 1918 1.60

1859 1.84

2025 1.51

0117 1.130242 1.18 0.37 0131 15 0618 0.16 0011 0.28 0151 0.32 0.070212 0.32 1.50 0159 0000 0.44 0013 131.20 13 0851 28 0738 0749 1.321.55 1.540838 1.46 0.56 0629 0.67 0.60 30 Meteorology 1.54 0537 1.80 of 1222 0.43 FR0818 0630 1.42 0645 1332 0.44 0.21 0.39 SA 1332 SU 1453 1953 1.61 1949 1.851511 2100 1.50 1208 1.68 1259 1.54 1.61 1435 0.40 30 0.29 0.19 1825 1.53 1245 0.58 1318 SU MO TU MO TU SA SU MO 0.33 2003 0.420311 0.39 1.39 0216 39 1.70 1902 2031 1.42 0221 0.30 0.062107 0.33 1834 1.28 1908

2030 1.68

2111 1.37

0056 1.23 0.42 0.35 0150 280230 11 0822 23 17 11 8 2 26 23 17 28 0622 0.55 131.68 26 0905 1.65 1247 1458 1.72 0.34 1552

0.42 0307 13 0940 1.83 FR 1623 0.22 2220 0.38 WE TH 1945 0.25 1.26 0350 0326 2048 0.21 0335 0.42 0417 0.47 1.32 29 141.28 292145 14 0244 0900 MO 1517 2122

0.15 1.74 0.16 1.61

SA 1409 0.42 2027 1.60

SU 1426 0.16 2039 1.80

MO 1530 0.36 2135 1.47

0251 0854 SU 1445 2100

0300 0910 MO 1519 2130

0340 0955 TU 1608 2211

0.39 1.67 0.31 1.33

0336 1007 TH 1651 2248

0.43 1.81 0.23 1.27

TU 1610 0.15 2213 1.51

1001 1.71 TH 1635 0.29 2233 1.29

1050 1.81 FR 1740 0.24 2338 1.22

0.45 1022 1.83 SA 1710 0.21 2309 1.25

0407 1030 WE 1703 2305

0411 1040 FR 1720 2320

0500 0.54 1132 1.74 SA 1828 0.30

1.17 0039 1.12 0100 1.24 0.42 1.11 00 0044 0.14 0108 0312 0.37 0212 0254 0.33 0156 0.24 0230 0.43Moon 0.36 0228 irst0706 Quarter Quarter Full 18 0630 3 18 27 12150851 27 12 24 9 24 0.61 0722 0.72 0734 0724 0.58Last 0.68 15 1.65 1.62 1.85 0900 1.75 1.62 0708 1.51 0923 1.73 300947 30 1346 1601 15 0.17 30 1.63 0.35 1.45 1345 1540 1.64 150.27 1.51 24 0.21 1300 1514 1636 0.31 1.39 0.40 1.57

0.10 1.68 0.15 1.70

0.34 1.55 0.35 1.42

0.42 1.68 0.34 1.28

0.39 1.85 0.19 1.28

14 0821(UTC 1.36 29 0824 1.62 14 0922 1.51 0945 1.79 ht savings time +11:00) when in effect

0301 0925 WE 1554 2151

BACK2056 ON SUNDAY, 1.28 DECEMBER 0230 0.428.

26 0905 1.83 ENTER ONLINE 0.22 AT TH 1552 2145 1.26 OCEANSWIMS.COM 0.42 0312 0.45 27REGISTER 1.75OR 0947 1.83 FROM 0.27 FR 1636 0.22 1.28 8AM 2230 1.24 ON THE DAY.

2005 1.28

0.28 1.80 0.19 1.42

0212 0838 TU 1511 2107

0.29 1.80 0.17 1.39

MO 0.33 TU 0.49 WE 0.30 TU MO 1333 WE TU 1415 TH SU 1322 0.28 1.28 0.34 1920 0.46 2004 0.45 30 1921 1.68 2002 1.37 2054 1.35 2041 1.51 2111 1.28 2159 1.30 2133

31 0448 1115

0.39 1.77 TH 1757 0.23 2358 1.28

1.16 0115 1.13 0145 1.28 0.39 0309 0.39 0258 0.42 0336 0.39 0307 0.24 0301 4 28 19 0832 13 0925 13 0940 10 25 25 19 0212 0733 0.65 0825 0.75 0821 0.60 1.67 1.85 0745 1.60 1007 1.80 1.73 1400 1554 1.58 0.31 1442 1651 1.37 0.19 1446 1623 1.55

0.45 1.83 0436 15 1108 0.22 FR SU 1758 2230 1.24

0.45 1.72 0.29 1.25

28 0354 1029

0.49 1.79 SA 1717 0.25 2314 1.21

TIMES AND HEIGHTS 0434 0.53 OF29HIGH 1107AND 1.73LOW SU 1758 0.30 WATERS 2356 1.19 LAT 3400.57 29’ 0515 0.47 1.83 30 1145 1.66 0 1837 0.21 MO LONG 1500.35 55’

31 0039 0558

1.18 0.62 TU 1224 1.57 1916 0.40

1.08 44 0129 0.15 0.74 00 0753 1.74 1.43 17 1418 0.16 TU MO 0.48 22 2015 1.61

0354 0.43 1029 1.81 0.23 SA 1717 0.25 WE 0.41 TH 0.24 WE TU 1416 TH WE 1505 FR  Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Bureau of Meteorology 2106 0.34 2005 0.48 2056 0.30 1.27 2314 1.33 2145 1.28 2136 1.28 2248 1.28 2220 1.47 2151

1.10 26 0212 0.21 0.75 45 0838 1.79 1.37 10 1511 0.15 WE TU 0.48 13 2107 1.51

Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect 0322 1.19 0150 1.18 0230 1.34 0.45 0335 0.42 0407 0.47 0400 0434 0.53 0.42 0417 0.28 Moon 0.42 0350 Phase Symbols New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter 0847 0.65 0822 0.75 0905 0.59 1.83 1.71 0936 1.81 0947 1107 1.73 1.68 1050 1.80 1001 1.83 1022 1509 1.55 1544 1.32 1554 1.47 1635 0.29 1740 0.24 1710 0.21 1758 0.30 0.19 0.22 TH 0.34 FRwhether THThe Bureau FRno warranty SA SU in respect to the availability, accuracy, currency, completeness, Meteorology gives any kind express, implied, statutory or otherwise WEof 1458 THof1552 2208 0.32 2233 0.32 2233 1.29 1.22 2309 1.25 2356 1.19 or reliability of the information or0.47 that the2145 information2231 will be fit for any particular purpose or will not infringe any third party Intellectual Property rights.

2048 1.28 2338 1.42 quality 1.26

28

Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide

26 20 14 11 5 29 26 20 14

0.49 1.79 0.25 1.21

29

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

1.15 1.25 0312 1.44 1.26 0228 0.45 0500 0.54 0459 07 0254 0.29 0428 0.33 0411 0.42 0500 0.45 0436 6 30 21 1103 21 1003 1546­1040 15 1108 27 12 27 0.73 1047 0.72 0947 0.54 0.61 1.74 30 0923 1.80 / 2515­0900 /1.72 DECEMBER 1.85 1.75 1132 1.83 1.36 1.29 0.30 1702 1758 1.40 1.54 0.29 1646 1828 03 0.17 1619 1720

FR 0.27 SA 0.22 TH 0.17 FR TH 1540 SA FR 1636 SU WE 1601 0.46 0.28 2133 1.25 2319 05 2159 1.39 2304 1.35 2320 1.28 0.46 2230 2323 1.24 0.33

1.23 48 0336 0.39 0526 0.39 1.37 0307 0548 0.43 1.33 0354 0554 0.49 22 1116 28 13 7 1151 28 0.67 0.66 22 1215 0.53 15 1.77

1.54 0.46

0.47 1.83 0.21

30 0515 1145

0.57 1.66 MO 1837 0.35

31 0039 0558

1.18 0.62

‘A GREAT YEAR FOR WAVES AND SURFING’

Ian Pepper reports.

What a huge night at the annual Scarborough Boardriders presentation night on Saturday, 16 November at The Beaches Hotel in Thirroul.

Special thanks to all the organisers, the sponsors, the parents, the venue, band and, most importantly of all, the surfers!

The full results for the year are here: www.liveheats.com/scarborough/rankings The main winners were: A-Grade Rod Morgan, Senior Women’s Talina Wilson, 18s Will Clarke, Junior Girls Anna Chamberlain, B-Grade Tim Wood, 35s Shaun Warren, 45s Andrew Christensen, 55s David Kemp, 14s Lennox Golding, 12s Korbin Whyte.

Congrats to Junior club person Joshua Pepper and Senior club persons, Ken Jordan and Raylee Golding. The micro grommets were all big winners, with each of them receiving a prize pack from club sponsor Carve.

It’s been an absolutely massive year and big thanks to the community for being part of it and local surfers for sharing their waves with us. It was

From left to right: Josh Pepper (third place), Fin McLaren (second) and A-Grade winner Rod Morgan with his giant cheque.

a great year for waves and surfing a multitude of venues from Stanwell Park, Coalcliff, Scarborough, Wombarra, Sharkeys and Little Austi.

Keep an eye on the Scarborough Facebook page for news of the Boardriders Battle National Final in Newcastle and, in the meantime, don’t forget to back our boys surfing in Hawaii: Nic Squiers and Kalani Ball.

And, finally, good luck to our surfers heading to the National Junior Surfing Titles in Margaret River early in December: Fin McLaren, Kasey Hargreaves, Zahlia Short and Shyla Short.

Bring home the silverware! 2515 Licence No. 95628C / ARC Licence No. AU09136 ABN 62 078 105 978

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