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5 1 Coast news Snakes alive!

The Summer Guide you s-s-simply must read!

Clifton / Scarborough / Wombarra / Coledale / Austinmer / Thirroul / Bulli

Meet Our Contributors Lena Huda grew up in Germany,

where 30km/h speed limits were implemented in neighbourhoods in the 1980s. Before moving to Wollongong in 2019, Lena worked in senior roles for major banks in London. The Covid-19 crisis, gave her time to reflect upon contributions she could make to society, so she decided to launch 30Please.org - inspired by a research paper calling to reduce the default speed limit of 50km/h to 30km/h published by the British Academy and her own experience growing up in a neighbourhood where drivers looked out for kids.

Ant Ritter is a former CEO and Executive Director of Skydive the Beach, the adventure tourism company that began in North Wollongong and which Ant helped to list on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX:EXP) and grow to become the largest tandem skydiving operator in the world. Ant grew up in Sydney’s southern suburbs and completed his Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Wollongong, and is now the president of Scarborough Wombarra Surf Lifesaving Club.

Nic Squiers is a two-time Australian Champion, WSL QS Surfer. In his career as a professional surfer he has won multiple WSL QS events, represented Australia twice at the ISA World Games while also establishing Illawarra Surf Academy as one of the region’s most trusted and reputable learn to surf and surf coaching businesses. Nic is passionate about introducing kids and adults to surfing, inspiring and coaching the next generation and promoting an active and healthy lifestyle.

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NEXT DEADLINE January 20, 2021 COVER Golden-crowned snake, photo by George Madani 2515 is published by The Word Bureau, ABN 31 692 723 477.

DISCLAIMER: All content and images remain the property of 2515 Coast News unless otherwise supplied. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission. Views expressed do not reflect those of the publishers.

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Coast news

Snakes alive!

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District news

south coaster Sharing local knowledge

Celebrate 40 Years of Women in Life Saving

Clifton / Scarborough / Wombarra / Coledale / Austinmer / Thirroul / Bulli

Waterfall / Helensburgh / Otford / Darkes Forest / Stanwell Tops / Stanwell Park / Coalcliff

New Year, New Look After the trials of 2020, we needed a fresh start. So 2515 & sister mag 2508 both have a new colour scheme, inspired by the bush and the beach we love. Happy reading, everyone.

Gen & Marcus, the editors

Apology 2515 Coast News would like to apologise for a printing error in our December issue.

The owner of Malibumedia, Chris Duczynski, is an excellent photographer and the poor quality print on page 15, in December 2020, did not do justice to his work. Please visit www.malibumedia.com.au to see the true quality of Chris’s fine art photography.

For aerial photos and video, fine art and corporate photography, call 0408 205 390, email chris@malibumedia.com.au or follow @malibumedia on Instagram

KANE DOWNIE

Top 5 surf beaches for beginners

By Nic Squiers, of Illawarra Surf Academy

1

Thirroul Beach Only an hour from Sydney and at the northern hub of the Illawarra, Thirroul Beach is a great place to learn to surf, especially in small conditions and on a low to mid tide. Patrolled between September and April and with cafes a plenty, it’s the perfect place to set-up and surf all day. It is also the ideal place to book the kids into a surf lesson, while you sit at the Thirroul Beach Pavilion, enjoy a coffee and watch the kids surf.

2

The Farm, Shellharbour With long rolling waves and protection from the summer north-easterly wind, The Farm is an amazing location to begin your surfing experience.

Although the southern corner of The Farm can get very busy, there is plenty of space to escape the crowd and catch a bunch of your own waves.

3

Gerroa Beach Gerroa or Seven Mile Beach is the home of pro surfer Sally Fitzgibbons. The northern end of Gerroa Beach is protected from the summer north-easterly winds, which makes it the perfect place to enjoy the sun. The sandbanks are consistently shallow and gradual, which makes it one of the best locations to get a long rolling whitewash wave, ideal for beginners.

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Narrawallee Beach, Ulladulla Moving further south, Narrawallee Beach in Ulladulla offers protection from both the summer

4 January

north-easterly winds, as well as the southerly busters. It has the amazing South Coast feel, and you’ll always find a user-friendly sandbank and some protection from the wind at Narrawallee.

Don’t forget to stop at the Famous Hayden’s Pies and or Pilgrims Cafe when visiting Ulladulla!

5

Merry Beach, Kiola Once down at Merry Beach, you’ll never regret your decision to escape to the South Coast. When you’re in the surf and you look around and see the trees and nature, it’s mesmerising. When you get up for the early surf, you’re guaranteed to be met by the local kangaroos grazing on grass. The beach itself is only small in width, however, it offers fantastic rolling waves on shallow sandbanks ideal for kids and beginners. 2515 Call 0409 111 665, visit illawarrasurfacademy.com.au

This feature is an extract from our South Coaster book. The ultimate guide to the bush, the beach and the villages in between, it’s action-packed with local knowledge and all proceeds go towards keeping local news alive in the Illawarra! $19.99 at Collins Booksellers, Thirroul & Austinmer Newsagencies or www.southcoaster.com.au

Cuttlefish, Sergeant Baker and a grey nurse. Photos: Duncan Leadbitter

Hello Fish At Bushrangers Bay

By Duncan Leadbitter

Located at the eastern tip of Bass Point, Bushrangers Bay is one of the few parts of the coast that is totally closed to all types of fishing.

It is well protected from wind and swell and offers relatively easy access, if you don’t mind a few stairs. It is a very popular site for scuba divers and for dive training, including free diving.

Its safety makes it a great place to take young children for their first taste of snorkelling in the ocean.

The quickest access is from the car park via the stairs down to the cobble beach.

There is also a track from the southern end of the carpark that runs along a ridge on the southern side of the Bay. From here it’s possible to walk down the rocks and head further east to find a number of easy access points.

As one heads out of the Bay, it gets deep very quickly and ocean predators like kingfish and the occasional seal can come in close.

Inside the Bay, the eastern central part is about

6 January

13m to 15m deep and, if you’re on scuba it’s possible to see sea tulips, sponges and bryzoans growing on the rocks. Most of the area from about 6m to 13m is urchin barrens.

In the shallows are small forests of kelp and cray weed. At the head of the Bay is a small forest of the seagrass, Posidonia australis, also called strapweed.

This is a true grass, not a seaweed and this particular species is fully protected in NSW. The fish life is abundant, with some large bream, red morwongs, black reef leatherjackets, mado, grey morwong and the occasional beardie.

There is also a small colony of grey nurse sharks, also a fully protected (and endangered) species.

They tend to hang out in the deeper areas but I have seen them in depths of 4m, so they would be easily visible to snorkellers on the surface.

They are quite timid and are best viewed by not chasing them around. If you’re on scuba it is best to lie quietly on the bottom and they may come in for a close look. 2515

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The Net-Casting Spider, aka Ogre-Faced Spider, is a cunning crafter of webs.

Backyard zoology

looking formidable and fierce, particularly to other males of the same species.

I’ve recently finally come across the stunning Net-Casting Spiders, also known as Ogre-Faced Spiders, their huge headlight-looking eyes staring out into the dark. But it’s not only their incredible With Amanda De George charismatic faces that have won me over, but their I’m obsessed with night-time wanders now that the crafting skills, which consist of them spending the weather has warmed up. And it seems, as the early evening ‘knitting’ a net out of wavy silk. Back weather has warmed, the mosquitoes are absolutely and forth she works, carefully finishing off each obsessed with me too! But aside from the odd bite row, before slowly spinning around, her head now here and there, a walk around the garden after dusk facing towards the ground, where she uses her during the balmy summer season is my absolutely front four legs, to tug and stretch at the net, that favourite thing to do. wavy weave perfectly designed to pull out and to The evening usually starts right on sunset, with surround prey as it wanders across her path. the kookaburras still laughing away in the gums Even with those massive eyes, it’s difficult to around us and the micro bats taking to the sky, accurately determine where to aim her net, and so flitting and swooping in large circles hunting for she sprays the leaves below her with white fecal moths and other insects that they catch on the matter, knowing that when a cockroach or a cricket wing. Not long after that, there’s the obligatory wanders across the splatter she can launch forward crash as the possums emerge from our garage and and catch them with her net. the neighbours shed and, yes, from our roof, and So that’s where I’ll be, over summer and for make their way, marching across fence tops and long as I can last without being eaten alive, roof tops to find their feast for the night. surrounded by my favourite critters and being For me though, it’s the little lives that I can’t get surrounded by the comings and goings of those enough of. The orb weavers sailing down on their who live in the dark. If you get a chance, step silk, after spending the daylight hours hidden away outside during these warmer months – you never under leaves, and starting to build their large webs, know who you’ll run into. 2515 always at exactly face height and which they, for the most part, will take down and eat as light Follow Amanda on Facebook and Instagram dawns the following day. The crickets chirruping @BackyardZoology and the stag beetles ambling across the lawn,

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Living in a car for $800/month Architect Ben Wollen explores a sub-culture born of upheaval.

Some years ago a friend of mine and his wife quit their jobs, took their kids out of school, swapped their car for a Toyota Land Cruiser and hit the road to travel around Australia for a whole year. As you would expect, it was the experience of a lifetime.

It’s an experience that a lot more people are seeking and especially now that international travel for most of us is not going to happen for some time.

Whilst my friend and his family were only on the road for a year, there are some modern ‘nomads’ who take that a step further and sell up everything but the kitchen sink and hit the road for the rest of their lives. I say everything but the kitchen sink because the sink might just be installed into their new motorhome.

Now, when I write ‘motorhome’ most of you will envisage a large RV or camper van, but in the current environment, that might not be exclusive to the larger of motor vehicles.

In the US, there are now more people living in their cars than ever. With a series of recessions, flat wages, expensive housing and a minimum wage of $7.25/hour, there are a great number of people forced onto the road by circumstance rather than choice.

Nomadland, a new film starring Frances McDormand, documents the lives of this new generation of nomads, who give up the traditional model of home and convert their car or other vehicle into a mobile home. They travel to where the work is, picking beetroots, stocking Amazon warehouses and tending camping facilities in national parks.

10 January

They fit out their car with beds, kitchens and even toilets. There are YouTube channels and online courses detailing how this is all done.

Single women in particular are among the biggest proportion of new nomads, having escaped violent homes or being left without any retirement savings. Whilst a number of them are forced into this mobile lifestyle for survival, a lot of them enjoy their new transient lives so much they don’t want to return to a fixed address. On the road there is hope, “a by-product of forward momentum” – a quote from the non-fiction book Nomadland is based on.

You might ask what this has to do with architecture? My answer would be that it has so much to do with architecture! This new sub-culture is one of many new modes of living that is being born out of social, economic and environmental upheaval resulting from the pressures of nearly eight billion human beings competing for resources on this planet. The current pandemic has shown how quickly humans can adapt to a changing environment, but it also exposes the holes in our society. Many have had to reinvent themselves and their lifestyle due to the pandemic.

Sales of tiny homes and caravans are booming since Covid-19 wrote itself into our history books.

Currently, CBDs across the world feel like ghosts of their former selves. It’s hard to say what the future holds but it could be that many people and organisations may choose to not return to their previous way of working/living. While the ‘Arch’ in architecture may not be so prevalent in today’s buildings, perhaps the arch has come full circle and become the wheel! 2515

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This summer, protect your skin with an ocean-friendly sunscreen. Photo supplied

Become a member and get involved!

For more info: www. surfrider.org.au

On Board With

By Coledale’s Susie Crick, head of the Plastic Research program at Surfrider Australia As January is our hottest month and we are in full holiday swing, we are all out enjoying the beauty that 2515 has to offer. We are lucky to have so many beautiful beaches on our doorstep with the majestic escarpment as a backdrop.

Summer is the best time to go to the beach and meet with friends and family to enjoy the fresh air.

Whenever you head outside, it’s important to slip, slop, slap, seek and slide. Usually my articles are about nasty single-use plastics and the dangers that they pose to marine environments, but this month I’m asking you to protect your skin with an ocean-friendly sunscreen that is healthy for you and safe for marine ecosystems.

In Australia we need to take our sunscreen seriously because during our summer months, the elliptical trajectory of the Earth’s orbit brings us closer to the sun (in comparison to Europe or the US during their summer). The closer proximity to the sun results in an additional 7% solar UV intensity. Also, as we have a smaller population with less industry, this results in clearer and cleaner atmospheric conditions, exposing Australians to up to 15% more UV than our friends in the northern hemisphere. We are also closer to the equator, resulting in greater energy exposure and this gives our sun more bite.

We know that we need to put sunscreen on our skin, but are the ingredients used in sunscreens

12 January

safe? Not always. Like our plastic problem, this is an issue that few Australians consider. Unlike our plastic problem, it has an easy solution. There are several sunscreen companies who produce lotions that are healthy for us and the environment.

Many sunscreen brands market their product to have the word ‘natural’ on their labels, however, I urge you to read the ingredients and steer clear of oxybenzones. There is conflicting information regarding what ingredients are safe (or not safe).

A good rule of thumb to minimise sun damage to your skin is to avoid being in the sun when the UV Index is at its highest. This is usually between 11am and 4pm. Whenever you head outdoors, wear sun-safe protective clothing and a widebrimmed sun hat. Apply an ocean-friendly water-resistant 30+ sunscreen (without oxybenzones) to your skin, and re-apply every two hours. To protect your eyes, wear sun-glasses and if heading to the beach or picnicking in the park, remember to take a sun shelter or beach umbrella.

If you slip on ‘sensible sun-safe’ clothing, slop on sunscreen (or zinc), slap on a wide brimmed hat, seek shade and slide on your sunnies, plus avoid the hot midday hours between 11am and 4pm, you should be all right.

Most importantly, enjoy your day in our great 2515 and whenever you can, live a good life without plastic. 2515

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‘A small win for Thirroul’

By Louise Wellington and Stephen Le Bas, founders of the Save Thirroul Village community campaign The Thirroul community’s efforts have been rewarded with a small win in preserving the integrity of our iconic village.

After seven months of tireless campaigning, community consultation and significant personal investment, the local Thirroul community have come out “on top” in stage one of the long and continuing campaign against the controversial Thirroul Plaza DA. Whilst the fight isn’t over, we can pause to enjoy the moment when a letter sent from Wollongong Council to the developers’ architect on 27 November 2020 stated the DA will likely need “substantial changes to the design” before any approval is recommended.

Council has suggested the developer withdraw the DA now to enable these matters to be properly addressed prior to resubmitting a new application or they risk the Council recommending a refusal to the Southern Regional Planning Panel, the determining body of the development application.

This is great news for the Save Thirroul Village campaign. We have been opposing the development based on the vast array of issues that the developer has refused to address, all of which align with the issues reported by Council.

The developer is now considering their options.

As we understand it, they can either take on board the Council’s recommendation to withdraw the DA, or continue with the current DA, and take their chances with the Regional Planning Panel.

In an article in the October edition of 2515 Coast News titled ‘A missed opportunity’, Louise Wellington, founder of the Save Thirroul Village group, asked “why are we accepting this development as a one-way communication?”

The developers appear to be treating the development of the Thirroul Plaza site as a basic business transaction with no thought given to the ‘heart’ of our town. No consideration has been given to the suitability of the structure proposed.

We are not opposed to development of the site; however, it would be great if the developers consulted the community. We have ideas, and the inspiration, to explore all possibilities to make this ‘the’ truly iconic centrepiece of Thirroul.

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) have stated they do not support the development in its current form. TfNSW have presented an alternate traffic plan that should form the basis of an inspired design for the Thirroul Plaza site. This traffic option provides a unique opportunity to create ‘the’ contemporary jewel in the crown of Thirroul, offering a complementary partnering with the existing elegant presence of Anita’s Theatre.

It was uplifting to see that council have listened to the 1,052 objections to the Thirroul Plaza DA. Perhaps it is time to pause for thought, to slow development in the northern suburbs, and give Council time to undertake a Master Planning exercise for Thirroul and the northern suburbs.

There is a link to the Council letter to the developer on savethirroulvillage.com 2515

W p he an urp re if d c ose cop an o s yr y pyr on igh pa ig ly t rt ht in ex of la a is th ws cco ts in e do stil rda a cu l a nc do p m p e cu en ly wi m t i . T th en s C us he ou t, it ed co nc is fo pyr il’s pro r a ig s vi ny ht tat de ot ow uto d fo he ne ry r r p r’s ob inf ur co lig orm po n at a se se ion tio . nt s n is re qu ire d

Alternative for consideration Option D

TfNSW highlights this sketch is not intended to imply this alternative option should or should not be adopted or that it is acceptable. It is merely to enable open discussions and consideration of all the options available. For all options, traffic analysis/modelling would still be required to demonstrate an acceptable level of performance and strategic design would still be required to demonstrate a compliant design can be achieved.

Low speed public road

Low speed (i.e. 10km/h shared zone) or perhaps 40km/h high pedestrian activity area with strong pedestrian connectivity across as shown indicatively with green arrows.

Narrow corridor, one lane each way for the most part, potentially parking along the corridor. Could explore options to narrow further by removing movements. The key movement to cater for is the right out onto LHD.

14 January

Additional pedestrian refuge

On 27 Nov, Wollongong City Council wrote to the Thirroul Plaza developer, recommending they withdraw the DA and address an array of issues – Save Thirroul Village campaigner Stephen le Bas would like the community to check out TfNSW Traffic Plan Option D, which was attached to council’s letter to the developer – please visit savethirroulvillage.com.

Blue periwinkle is a trailing herb with runners up to 1m long. Photo: Merilyn House

Be Weed Wise With horticulturalist Merilyn House

Remove it: Vinca major, Blue periwinkle Blue periwinkle is an example of a garden plant that has ‘jumped the garden fence’. It is now considered an invasive species, not just in wetter areas of Australia, but in New Zealand and North America (USA and Canada).

It is a trailing herb with a woody crown and

runners up to 1m long. The stems sometimes develop roots where they come into contact with the soil, and creeping underground stems are also produced. It has blue to purple tubular flowers (3-6 cm across) which are usually borne singly in the upper leaf forks.

Blue periwinkle’s broad-leaved runners form a dense mat, shading out native plants and competing for moisture and nutrients. Its growth is particularly vigorous in riparian and other moist habitats.

It is spread into bushland mostly by dumping of garden waste, but can also spread by broken stem bits being washed into a new area. It occasionally spreads by seed.

Digging every little bit out is the most effective way of removing it. Follow up will be required for some time.

Grow Me Instead Scaevola species, fan flower: An Australian native groundcover with prolific flowering of mauve, purple or white flowers.

Hardenbergia violacea ‘Happy Wanderer’, Native sarsaparilla: The pea-shape flowers appear in winter and spring and are usually violet in colour.

Convolvulus sabatius, Moroccan glory vine: An attractive evergreen perennial with a spreading prostrate habit with blue to violet flowers. 2515

January

15

Q&A with the Happy Organiser Aka Edel Beattie, of Thirroul

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I grew up in Ireland and moved to Sydney 10 years ago with my now husband. We have two daughters, aged 5 and 2, and most of our families still live back in Ireland.

We made the move to Thirroul in 2019 after visiting many times and falling in love with the South Coast. I still pinch myself every day at the beauty of this place. We love the outdoors and the sense of community too!

Why become the Happy Organiser?

After many years working as a buyer in retail I decided to pursue my passion for opening a business. I’ve always been creative and had a love for interior design and art. Although home organisation isn’t exactly interior design I feel they are strongly linked.

I could see there was a growing demand for a service that could help people declutter and organise their space. Many individuals and families are very busy and don’t always find time to get organised, even though organisation itself can save time.

I then discovered some of my friends had used similar services in Sydney and found it lifechanging.

16 January

This inspired me to start The Happy Organiser.

The natural problem-solver in me got straight to work, further developing my organisation skills and learning all about business. I believe organisation skills can be learned and I have learned so much throughout this journey and want to share as much knowledge and support throughput my services.

What do you love about it?

I love that every home is so different – it’s like a new puzzle I get to solve.

Some homes and spaces are extremely cluttered, so that you can’t actually see the kitchen benches and you have to jump over things to get through the hallway. Many people feel overwhelmed and truly don’t know where to begin.

In these situations, The Happy Organiser can take that overwhelming feeling away and work through the clutter to transform the home into a beautiful calm space. We can also implement sustainable systems and processes that help clients to maintain that organisation.

Note: Our service is fully confidential and we do not share any photos unless we have permission from the client. 2515

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Kim Williams and Nadine Tong run Layered Space. Photo: Anthony Warry.

Q&A with Layered Space Kim Williams and Nadine Tong run this interior design studio based in Coledale.

Please tell us a bit about yourselves.

We are both based in Coledale, passionate about the design and building process and have also both completed a Bachelor of Interior Design. Kim moved to the Illawarra at the beginning of high school and has called the area home ever since.

She has a deep appreciation for the local natural environment with its ever-present escarpment and ocean edges. Nadine grew up in the coastal town of Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. She studied Textile Science before travelling, and eventually settling in Wollongong’s Northern Suburbs in 2001.

small business! How did you cope?

Nadine: We certainly did not see a global pandemic coming! Like many, we suddenly had to juggle working from home while teaching our children.

Due to the required restrictions this year many people have been spending increased amounts of time inside their homes, which seems to have led to a drive and desire to start their renovation projects.

We have been extremely fortunate to be working on projects within a few kilometres of our homes and our local community has certainly made the jump into business an enjoyable one.

When did you launch Layered Space, and what’s in the name?

Kim: Layered Space was launched in early 2020.

Our name encapsulates what we desire to achieve through our interior design and collaboration process with other design professionals and craftspeople. A typical space, whether interior or exterior, is composed of multiple vertical and horizontal planes, so by thoughtful placement and layering of materials or objects we create places that encourage you to linger or move through depending on the desired result.

How did the two of you first meet?

Nadine: Kim and I were involved in personal building projects at the same time and were utilising many of the same talented local craftspeople, so our paths would cross indirectly.

Eventually we happened to meet in a bathroom showroom and cemented our friendship by chatting incessantly about all those details that need to come together to make a successful room.

2020 turned out to be a very tough year for

18  January

What do you admire about Nadine and her work?

Kim: Nadine has a natural eye for composition.

She can bring a range of materials into a space and artfully balance them to create either interest or

calm. It also helps that she is fun, fair and has a healthy dose of compassion.

And what do you like about working with Kim? Nadine: Kim is meticulous in her work ethic and her sustainable design ethos is always factored into our design process. We complement each other’s strengths to produce considered, functional and beautiful spaces for our clients. Working with Kim is always enjoyable and her sense of humour is a bonus.

What are your plans for the future?

Kim: We will continue to enjoy problem-solving and seeking efficient ways to improve a room or building for our clients. Whether a partial renovation, complete home or a commercial space, our designed spaces will always seek to balance function with aesthetic. As a new business we look forward to some level of normality resuming in 2021 and plan to continue with some current projects and start some new ones.

After the chaos of 2020, have you seen an increased demand for serenity in the home?

And what are your tips for achieving this?

Kim: We have certainly seen people seeking to increase the serenity in their surroundings. This calmness can be achieved by improving the organisation of your home and by adjusting your existing spaces to become multi-purpose.

Customised joinery is one solution which helps improve the organisation of your home by maximising underutilised spaces and enabling more efficient use of existing areas.

Calmness can also result from creating a better flow through a space by moving walls to improve the location and function of rooms, which may also result in an increase of natural light. So many benefits are achieved through smart design and spatial improvements.

Please look into your crystal ball and give us your predictions for interior design trends in 2021.

Nadine: Connection to our natural world will continue to increase in importance. Biophilic design bridges the divide between inside and out, with plants becoming integrated with internal joinery and outdoor rooms being added. Plants supply us with oxygen and filter out pollutants; micro-organisms in the soil also contribute to this process, thereby being beneficial to our health.

Colours will be earthy in 2021 to help ground us; with tones of rich rusty reds, calming soft blues and a range of greens. These will be complemented by warm neutrals and gentle greys. Materials will continue to be considered for their environmental impact and robustness for longevity. 2515

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Photos: Jo Fahey

Summer – time for local fruit & cider fun!

Discover real fruit, real cider – real fresh, real local. Jo Fahey reports.

While kicking back over the January school holidays check out some of the ‘real’ things to do in our own Northern Illawarra backyard.

1. Book a fruit-picking experience. Line up a few mates and pick some white peaches early in January.

2. 2021’s first apples will start late January (just in time for school lunch boxes, yippee!)

3. Use fresh fruit to dress a cider cocktail/ mocktail.

4. Blitz your fresh-picked peaches with a sprig of fresh mint. Freeze in ice-cube trays and serve in your non-alc apple cider.

5. Serve a ‘cider spider’, great fun with the kids as a dessert. Mix 1/2 glass of Little Blue alcohol-free apple cider + 1 scoop vanilla ice-cream (dress it up for adults with a fresh strawberry and a sprinkle of cinnamon… tastes like apple pie in a glass!)

6. Cook up a storm with fresh fruit as a centrepiece or garnish.

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Visit www.darkes.com.au

Baked Peach Surprise Cheesecake Ingredients Crust (double this if you like a thick crust)

200g gingersnap biscuits blended to a crumb 1/4 cup melted butter Compote Filling

600g fresh peaches, peeled, pitted, sliced 2 tablespoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice Cheesecake Filling

11/4 cups sugar 4 x 250g cream cheese tubs, room temp 4 large eggs 1/2 cup sour cream 11/2 teaspoons vanilla extract Glaze

300g sliced peach, 200g sugar 11/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 1/2 large peach, peeled, pitted, thinly sliced Preparation for crust: Preheat oven to 180°C.

Grind gingersnap biscuits in processor to coarse crumbs. Add butter, blend. Press crumbs over bottom and slightly up sides of 23cm springform pan. Bake crust until beginning to brown, about 8 min. Cool on rack. Reduce oven to 160°C.

Preparation for filling: Combine peaches,

2 tablespoons sugar, and lemon juice in saucepan. Cover and cook over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves and peaches are juicy, stirring occasionally, about 5 min. Uncover and cook until peaches are tender and juices thicken, about 5 min. Cool.

Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually add 11/4 cups sugar, beat until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time. Mix in sour cream and vanilla. Spoon half of cheese mixture (about 3 cups) into crust.

Spoon cold compote over by tablespoonfuls, spacing apart. Top with remaining cheese mixture. Bake at 160°C until set in centre, and beginning to brown, about 11/2 hours.

Place hot cheesecake on rack; cool for 5 min. Run knife around pan sides to loosen.

Refrigerate overnight. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; keep chilled.)

Sasha Faint Photography

For glaze: Combine peaches, sugar and lemon juice in saucepan. Stir over medium heat until glaze comes to a simmer. Strain into small bowl.

Cool slightly. Remove cheesecake from pan and place on platter. Spread glaze over the top. Chill cheesecake until glaze sets, at least 30 min and up to 8 hours. Arrange fresh peach slices in centre of cake and serve. 2515

January

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Aerial photos and video

Fine Art and Corporate images

0408 205 390 chris@malibumedia.com.au www.malibumedia.com.au

instag @malibumedia

YOUR GUIDE TO

Snake Season By ecologist Kylie Madden

Whether you’re new to the Northern Illawarra, or just need a refresher on our local snakes, here is a definitive guide to what you might see in your backyard.

There are different types of snakes in the suburbs above the escarpment (i.e. Helensburgh, Darkes Forest, Otford and Stanwell Tops) to below (i.e.

Stanwell Park, Coalcliff, Clifton, Scarborough, Wombarra, Coledale, Austinmer and Thirroul). There are a lot more types of snakes above the escarpment – sorry Helensburgh!

Keep this guide handy as a reference. Neighbourhood Facebook groups are notoriously unreliable for snake identification.

Spoiler alert: it’s almost certainly not a Death Adder.

Snakes have been loosely ranked from most-common to

least common for our area: > Golden-crowned Snake > Red-bellied Black Snake > Diamond Python > Marsh Snake > Blackish Blind Snake > Small-eyed Snake > Eastern Brown Snake > Yellow-faced Whip Snake > Green Tree Snake > Mainland Tiger Snake > Death Adder Other snakes: There are a couple of other species in the bushland of the water catchments and national parks above the escarpment, such as the bandy bandy, red-naped snake, mustard bellied snake and broad-headed snake but the likelihood of them coming into yards is slim to non-existent.

This guide has been compiled with the assistance of the Illawarra Snake Catcher (phone 0418 162 441), a professional service you can call on to help relocate any snakes that are causing concern. Visit www. illawarrasnakecatcher.com.au If your snake is injured, you could also call WIRES on 1300 094 737. They will generally not relocate a healthy snake, for that you’ll need the snake catcher.

Most Fire and Rescue crews don’t relocate snakes any more.

Above left: Millie Schulz watches a diamond python slither by in Coledale.

These snakes are neither venomous nor aggressive. They eat rats, so are useful too. Photo: Jamie Madden Above right: Diamond python.

Photo: Kirsten Emma Dalgleish

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Photo: Martin Schulz

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Photo: George Madani

Golden-crowned snake NOT DANGEROUS – all suburbs, but more common below the escarpment

If the Northern Illawarra had a wildlife emblem, it would be the golden-crowned snake. Being a snake that happens to be brown, they’ve been freaking out new arrivals since time immemorial.

However, the ‘Golden-crown’ is about as harmless as they come.

They are a little rainforest dweller, mostly eating small skinks.

If you’re not a skink, you’re not in danger.

Golden-crowned snakes are very common in the Northern Illawarra, more so than perhaps anywhere else in Australia. They are often seen in the bushier parts of suburbs like Thirroul, though they can turn up just about anywhere. I once found one in the carpark at Aldi in Fairy Meadow. They are not aggressive, though if cornered they will try to put on a bit of a show and convince you they are a brown snake. They aren’t. It’s all bluff and not a particularly convincing bluff at that. They have an orangey-red belly that is part of their show, but it looks very different to the blood-red of a red-bellied black snake.

What to look for: The pretty golden crown. It’s an obvious feature letting you know it’s one of the harmless ones.

Photo: George Madani

Red-bellied black snake DANGEROUSLY VENOMOUS – all suburbs

Glossy black with a blood-red belly, though sometimes the belly isn’t as red as you’d expect. Fairly common along the creeks and coastal strip, even in the more developed parts of Thirroul. They are most at home along the bushy edge of the escarpment.

Red-bellies are a ‘good’ big venomous snake to have around due to their placid nature, and they do eat other snakes! But their strong venom is dangerous to people and pets – be extremely cautious.

What to look for: Shiny black with that flashy red belly. Our area’s only big, jet-black snake.

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Photo: Alex Dudley

Marsh snake

NOT DANGEROUS – all suburbs

Marsh snakes (or Black-bellied Swamp Snake), are another brown snake that aren’t a ‘Brown Snake’. They’re actually more greeny-grey than brown, but look alike enough to warrant a shovel to the head more often than is deserved. They’re only a little snake when fully grown, eating skinks, frogs and insects and not at all aggressive. You should be able to leave this guy where you found it, and your cat or dog is more of a risk to it, than it is to them.

What to look for: The little white lines around the eye – that is a definitive sign that it’s not a brown snake.

Photo: Martin Schulz

Photo: Helen Jessup

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Diamond python

Blackish blind snake

Diamond pythons are totemic and long-lived. We still have big ones locally, but they’re very vulnerable to being hit by cars due to a propensity for warming their bellies on the tarmac. They eat rats, which is useful. They’re not venomous or aggressive, but can inflict a nasty bite if you get a cranky one. Don’t pick up these gentle giants – this may damage their fragile spines.

What to look for: ‘Starry starry night’ skin pattern and diamondshaped head. Mostly they are black with yellow/green spots (making them look greenish) but can also have white spots. Very rarely, they can be plain black.

Blind snakes are cool. They are strictly nocturnal and look like giant worms – ignore the ‘blackish’ bit of their official title, they’re actually pink. They eat termites, so perhaps we should set up a breeding facility? They’re safe to pick up as their mouth is termite sized. But they make up for a lack of jaw strength with a disgusting odour they can emit from their anus – you will be trying to scrub formic-acidsmelling skank from your hands for a week, so as with all snakes, just leave it be.

What to look for: Is it a worm, is it a snake?

NOT DANGEROUS – all suburbs, but only close to bushland or creeks

NOT DANGEROUS – all suburbs but only close to intact bushland

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Photo: Martin Schulz

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Photo: Harry Cotterall

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Photo: Kirsten Emma Dalgleish

Small-eyed snake

DANGEROUSLY VENOMOUS – all suburbs

These are only little, more rarely seen than red-bellies – and difficult for most people to tell apart. They’re strictly nocturnal.

You don’t want to muck around with it – keep your pets away too.

A simple mnemonic for our area is “if your snake is black, step right back!” – it’s either a red-belly or a small-eyed snake and they’re both dangerous.

What to look for: A small, plain black snake out at night. It has very small eyes compared to a red-belly… and it’s more of a matte black. Its underside can have a hint of pink, but there’s no distinctive “red belly”.

Yellow-faced whip snake

NOT DANGEROUS – Darkes Forest, Helensburgh, Stanwell Tops, Otford

Slender and long, like ridiculously long. Brown but with yellowwhite marking around the eye.

Whip-snakes aren’t dangerously venomous and not aggressive.

But they look enough like a brown snake that you’d want to know what you were doing before going near one. If you try to pick one up you’ll get bitten and your hand will puff up and you’ll look like an idiot and you’ll be in lots of pain. Leave it alone.

What to look for: Long greybrown snake with a whip-like tail and yellow markings around a very large eye.

Photo: Michael Pennay

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Eastern brown snake DANGEROUSLY VENOMOUS – Helensburgh, Stanwell Tops, Otford and Darkes Forest only

The one we’re all scared of. Can be defensive and fast moving.

Live below the escarpment?

Relax, they don’t like rainforest.

They prefer the plateau’s drier sandstone environment. Never say never: the Snake Catcher found one in Wollongong that’d hitched a ride on a truck from Appin. Adults are plain brown; though the shade varies a lot – they can even be silvery.

What to look for: Big plain brown (any shade) snake. Young ones can be banded. The coffin-shaped head is distinctive and a reminder of where you’ll be if you try to kill one with a shovel.

Photo: George Madani

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Green tree snake

NOT DANGEROUS – Stanwell Tops, Otford, Helensburgh, Darkes Forest

As the name implies, green tree snakes are usually green, though can sometimes be brownish.

If your snake is up in a tree and a plain green-brown colour, this is a good bet. These guys aren’t down on the coast, only up on top on the plateau.

What to look for: Green or green-brown long, thin snake, usually with a yellow belly. Often in a tree or climbing something.

Illawarra Snake Catcher 0418 162 441 www.illawarrasnake catcher.com.au

Mainland tiger snake DANGEROUSLY VENOMOUS – all suburbs

Another one you don’t want to muck around with. Look out for the ‘tiger stripes’ – banding down the body – and a yellow belly.

If the snake has banding, definitely call a professional!

Having said this, this snake is extremely rare in the Northern Illawarra and mostly keeps to itself deep in the bush. They do seem to be having a bit of a time this summer, and I’ve seen three babies recently, having never seen one before ever.

What to look for: Tiger stripes!

None of the harmless snakes in the Illawarra have stripes.

11 Photo: George Madani

Death adder

DANGEROUSLY VENOMOUS – Helensburgh, Darkes Forest and Stanwell Tops and Otford only

Death Adders are so rare you’ll likely never see one. However, given how dangerous they are, they do need to be included for completeness. They do not occur below the escarpment. If you think you’ve got a Death Adder in Thirroul, you have a Blue-Tongue Lizard – though the Illawarra Snake Catcher assures me that more than one person has been bitten thinking a Death Adder was a Bluey, so perhaps call a professional anyway!

What to look for: They look like a big, fat Turkish carpet in the shape of a snake. 2515

30 Please

By Lena Huda, founder of a campaign to lower neighbourhood speed limits

Cone of Vision at different speeds.

Image: Claudio Olivares Medina

My Aussie husband convinced me to move to Australia just a year ago. Now I am grateful to live in such a beautiful place. I love how everyone is outdoor-loving and active.

Given the great Covid response by the government and community, I am surprised that it seems harder to agree to also watch out for others in traffic. I am surprised that kids are not free to ride through their neighbourhoods. I have met many parents worried about road safety; many don’t allow their kids to walk to school due to these concerns.

I grew up in Germany, which is a car-loving nation, where the car industry is influential.

However, I felt much safer there when I walked or cycled. Car drivers did not feel that they “owned” neighbourhood streets. They were watching out for kids and people riding bikes.

I believe this has less to do with people’s general attitudes than with a sensible road hierarchy and according speed limits put in place by road authorities decades ago.

26 January

Current road rules and speed limits in Australia make it hard to understand where drivers should go slowly and share the street and where drivers should go fast to not hold up the traffic.

This results in some drivers outright rejecting the idea that they should share the road with cyclists or pedestrians.

When I cycle with my kids from Bulli to Thirroul to beat the traffic and enjoy the sunshine, crossing the streets when cars drive 50km/h feels unsafe.

I live in Sandon Point, which is built for driving slowly, we have narrow streets and chicanes. The speed limit is 50km/h, some drivers go much slower, some don’t.

I was taught to aim to drive a speed equivalent to the speed limit to not slow anyone down. However, in neighbourhoods like mine, I drive 30km/h and only faster if there is someone driving behind me.

There is less than a 10 per cent risk that somebody walking will be killed at an impact speed of 30km/h but a 90 per cent risk at 50km/h.

Eighty per cent of streets in Munich (and most

GO SLOW

Lena comes from a land famous for its Autobahn.

Less well known are Germany’s 30km/h speed limits in city neighbourhoods. In Germany, Lena writes, there are no cycle lanes in a typical 30km/h neighbourhood zone as a shared low-traffic, low-speed environment is safer for cyclists. Nor are there speed humps or chicanes to slow traffic down. Driving too fast is simply socially unacceptable and enforced by the councils. It seems the solution is low cost and proven – so, what’s the hold up?

Sandon Point mum Lena Huda wants safer streets.

For local, experienced and educated real estate advice, call Ian today!

Ian Pepper 0403 570 041

ian.pepper@raywhite.com raywhitehelensburgh.com.au

Renovate to add value other German cities) have 30km/h speed limits where cars have to share with people on bikes – how come this is widely accepted by drivers?

Drivers only spend a small percentage of their journey on these neighbourhood streets, so impact on travel time is minimal.

I founded 30please.org, a campaign for 30km/h to be the speed limit in neighbourhoods.

Of course, we can have higher speed limits on arterial roads and main streets. On those streets, we need separation: cycle lanes, footpaths and pedestrian priority crossings. And we must make their use mandatory.

Councils can now trial 30km/h limits.

In Wollongong, many streets have no footpaths.

We need a strategy to create a safe connected walking and cycling network. Sharing existing streets by driving slowly on those that are not very important for cars is a sensible solution, not only from a cost perspective. 2515 Visit https://30please.org

With the summer school holidays now in full swing, and most of us staying home this year, many homeowners are busy undertaking or planning a renovation on their property.

In most cases this is money well spent and should provide an equal or greater return on subsequent sale of the property. Generally adding another bedroom, say from three to four bedrooms and an ensuite, can add substantially to the value of a property.

New kitchens, bathrooms and painting are also good value adds.

But there are some works that may not necessarily add value. Swimming pools are one such major item that can cost around $50,000 these days and not necessarily add the same amount to the value of a property.

Going up a level, say from one story to two stories, can add living spaces but the costs involved are usually high and may not add the same value to the property.

If in doubt, please seek the advice of a real estate professional.

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1. Steve Wilson climbing a route called Worm on a Razor. Grade 19.

2. Kieran Volk climbing a route called TSPG. Grade 22.

3. Lewis Joseph climbing a route called Ain’t No Sunshine. Grade 28.

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Where the

Journey begins

By Max Gordon

Rock climbing on the South Coast has pockets of extremely good quality. It’s famous among climbers locally and overseas for being burly and powerful.

The type of climbing that causes one to grit their teeth and try their hardest.

Climbing became a part of my life the way it does for many, spending afternoons at my local

28 January

climbing gym (Hangdog – Wollongong). After five consecutive days spent in the gym, I knew two things.

1. My forearms felt like they were about to fall off.

2. This was about to become a part of my life.

Though I never could have guessed just how much things were about to change.

I was 17 years young and enrolled at the University of Wollongong to undertake a fine arts degree. Whilst sketching nude models was a great experience, I found myself daydreaming about the next time I’d be free to go climbing again.

Fast-forward six months and I had dropped out of Uni and begged for a job at the gym. My interview went very well, so I thought, but I was denied the role of ‘party host’ over the phone during a car drive to a festival. It wasn’t the greatest start to my weekend.

Two weeks later I was offered the chance for a second interview. When I arrived at Hangdog I was welcomed, not with questions about the job, but with a uniform and an introduction to work procedures. I was ecstatic!

During the next few years I spent most of my spare time rock climbing outside in Australia and overseas. I became completely addicted to the adventure. Rock climbing intertwined itself into every aspect of my life.

Five years has elapsed since then and I am still working with Hangdog climbing gym. Though a few things have changed. I’m now a qualified guide, route setter and coach. The one thing that remains constant is my excitement to go climbing every chance I get.

It feels fantastic to be a part of an incredible community of people who just want to experience adventure in the outdoors.

My tips for you to start your journey into climbing: 1. Don’t hold back! Being afraid of heights is totally normal and makes it all so much more rewarding when you finally conquer your fear.

2. Having fun is top priority. It doesn’t matter how high you go or how hard it feels, as long as it’s making you smile, you’re on the right track.

3. Come to Hangdog. The friendly staff will guide you through your first experience in a safe environment and when you feel ready, we’ll take you climbing outside. 2515 Visit hangdog.com.au, follow Max on Instagram @southcoastclimber This feature is an extract from our South Coaster book. The ultimate guide to the bush, the beach and the villages in between, it’s action-packed with local knowledge and all proceeds go towards keeping local news alive in the Illawarra! $19.99 at Collins Booksellers, Thirroul & Austinmer Newsagencies or www.southcoaster.com.au

HOLIDAY FUN AT THIRROUL LIBRARY By librarian Katrina Henze

There is plenty to keep the kids entertained at Thirroul Library these school holidays.

We have three fantastic activities, as well as free scratch art crafts to come and collect to continue the fun at home.

Make an Aquarium in a Jar Monday – 18 January, 10.30-11.30am. Create your own coral reef in a mason jar aquarium.

Movie time – Wednesday, 13 January, 10-11.45am.

Tom the Pom: All Hands On Ukes – Wednesday, 20 January, 2.45-3.45pm.

From funk and disco through jazz to pop, did you know that most songs and most styles of music can be played on a ukulele? Come along to learn how to strum and play chords on the ukelele.

No prior ukulele skills required!

Bookings are essential via Eventbrite.

Go to www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/library or call Thirroul Library (02) 4227 8555.

Book and poetry clubs are back Good news – Thirroul Library’s Poetry Club and Thirroul Library Book Club have reformed and resumed their meetings!

All welcome and no bookings required.

On the 3rd Tuesday of the month in the Community Centre Black Diamond Room.

Thirroul Library Book Club 1.30-2.30pm.

Poetry Club 4-5pm 2515

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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This recipe has just five wholefood ingredients in it, will take you about 30 seconds to whip up and is a real treat for your kids’ gut microbiome! It can be eaten out of the food processor (blender), or freeze it in popsicle moulds for a great mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack.

You can use the same base recipe to make all sorts of flavour combinations. Try a new variety every week of the holidays: strawberries, peaches, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, passionfruit … they all work a treat. Freeze the berries first if you want an ‘instant’ ice-cream, otherwise the mixture will be runny and you will have to wait for it to set in your moulds.

Mango Soft Serve Ice-Cream

Ingredients: 1 frozen bananas 1 cup diced frozen mango 1 tbsp maple syrup (or raw honey) 1/4 cup cashews (or macadamia nuts) 1 cup of Greek / natural yoghurt

Looking for a healthy ice-cream treat for the kids this staycation? One that doesn’t come with a tonne of refined sugar or the plethora of artificial ingredients and one that you can whip up last minute? I’ve got you covered.

Place cashews/macadamia nuts in a food processor or thermomix (a mini food processor or vitamix would work too – but be sure to halve the ingredient portions) and blitz to form small crumbs. Add all remaining ingredients to the food processor and blitz until you reach a smooth, soft-serve consistency. Enjoy! 2515

By Stephanie Meades, of Thirroul’s Life Wellness Co.

Art again at Clifton

By Vicki Potter, Clifton School of Arts president

For over 10 months the Clifton School of Arts has been closed to people, events and classes. But the drought has broken!

The CSA was built in 1911 by miners as a community centre to educate and involve the local mining community. It has survived World Wars, the Depression, mining closures, and pandemics, but the iconic building is still standing. Hopefully, it will survive many more decades.

Weekend art exhibitions started again with Stephen DuPont initially opening up

30 January

the venue, then Ashley Hall and Hal Pratt had a major exhibition over two weekends.

Seven art workshops have been much enjoyed. Numbers were limited and COVID social distancing rules applied when local artist Christine Hill taught a series of three-hour workshops. Participants came from northern suburbs areas ranging from Wollongong to Helensburgh.

Artists’ workshops are planned for February and March, so roll on 2021, hopefully an improvement over 2020. 2515

‘24,000 Wollongong residents live with a rare disease’ By physiotherapist Nicole Frost, who consults from Bulli Medical Practice

Rare Disease Day 2021 is approaching, on 28 February. By definition, an individual disease is classified as “rare” if it affects less than 5/10,000 people, but collectively about 2 million Australians and 24,000 Wollongong residents live with a rare disease.

By their very nature, rare diseases are often less understood and recognised by the general public and also health professionals, who may never or infrequently come across these conditions.

Individuals living with rare diseases can therefore face many challenges and costs obtaining a diagnosis and the treatment and support they need.

One disorder that falls under the “rare diseases” classification is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). This disorder involves a failure of the sufferer’s body to compensate for the usual pooling of blood in the lower body upon standing.

People with POTS will experience a significant rise in heart rate on standing in an effort to compensate for this pooling and as a result of the difficulty maintaining blood to the upper parts of the body may faint or come close to it and experience symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, nausea, difficulty concentrating, headaches, pain or coldness.

The mechanisms and causes of POTS are not fully understood but it has been associated with other conditions such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS: a group of rare conditions that present with hypermobility and a range of other symptoms).

The impacts of POTS, EDS and their related conditions, like many rare diseases, may not be outwardly visible, yet sufferers may face many challenges in their day-to-day life as a result of the disorders. Understanding from the community and support for research efforts into rare diseases have the potential to make a significant positive difference to the lives of those living with rare diseases. References and resources: www.rarediseaseday.org www.health.gov.au www.dysautonomiainternational.org www.ehlers-danlos.com 2515

Book online* via our website: bullimedicalpractice.com.au or call

4284 4622

*if you have respiratory symptoms please call for an appointment

Monday to Friday: 8am-6pm Saturday: 8am-12 noon 74 Park Road, Bulli

QUALITY PERSONAL HEALTHCARE AND TRAVEL MEDICINE

WORK SMART. STAY LOCAL.

January

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Aerial adventures

Staycation special

By Ant Ritter

The Illawarra has so many adventures to explore.

Historically, it has been left to the international visitor to enjoy, or maybe even the weekend day-trippers, however, given the predicament we find ourselves in, there are amazing opportunities for us all to explore our own backyard.

Yes, we have the oceans and rock pools, we have the forests, the scenic drives and the man-made structures, but what about above us, what about up there?

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Jump out of a perfectly good plane from 15,000 feet …

The number 1 attraction is skydiving over North Wollongong beach, Sydney’s only beach skydive. Experience the thrill of freefall at more than 200km/h for up to an insane 60 seconds, and then float under canopy for 5-7 minutes soaking up the spectacular views of Wollongong and the Southern Sydney beaches.

It is a true bucket list experience. It is the rush of a lifetime. The tip is to get in early and do it first thing in the morning when the sun is rising and the water is glistening.

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Jump off the world famous Bald Hill …

Bald Hill has an unrivalled history stretching back to some of the first ever experiments in flight done by Lawrence Hargrave in the late 19th century. Today, as then, we have the ability to fly the beautiful stretch of the coastline between Sydney and Wollongong by way of hang gliding or paragliding. With both of these you soar like an eagle with a magnificent bird’s-eye view of the Grand Pacific Drive and the ocean during your tandem experience.

32 January

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“What’s with all this jumping? I want to sit in style and enjoy the view …”

Not much beats sitting back in a leather recliner and enjoying a scenic joy flight. The flight leaves Albion Park and flies over Lake Illawarra and Wollongong, northbound to Stanwell Park, taking in the beautiful coastline up to the Sea Cliff Bridge.

On the way back you will head down past Kiama and over Jamberoo. The best tip for this one is to do it later in the day as the sun sets over the escarpment.

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“Ok, I’m happy sitting but I need a little more adventure …”

Easy… let’s get you in a helicopter! Within minutes of departing Albion Park you’ll be flying over the pristine sandy beaches of the South Coast, from Wollongong Harbour up to Sea Cliff Bridge. The helicopter will have you zipping in and out and around the escarpment, giving you the best chance to see what your house looks like from a thousand feet. Great ability to spy on the neighbours as well!

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“That’s all great, but what if I want both?

I want to sit and be relaxed yet still feel the sea breeze blowing through my hair …”

Have you heard of a microlight? 5th and by no means last on the list is to go and sit in a microlight glider. A microlight is a weight shift controlled aircraft, consisting of a hang glider style wing and a tricycle type undercarriage which the pilot and passenger are suspended in. A bit like a hang glider on steroids, one could say. Often referred to as trikes, microlights have become the fastest growing form of sports aviation in the world today, and you can do it all in the Illawarra. 2515

This feature is an extract from our South Coaster book.

The ultimate guide to the bush, the beach and the villages in between, the book is action-packed with local knowledge and all proceeds go towards keeping local news alive in the Illawarra! $19.99 at Collins Booksellers, Thirroul & Austinmer Newsagencies or www.southcoaster.com.au January 

33

Workshops at the Writers Centre

Learn how to Minecraft a Story, create fantastical worlds and make an audiobook.

There are workshops for all ages on this month, writes South Coast Writers Centre director Sarah Nicholson.

Are you home for the holidays? If you have restless small writers, enrol them in our school holiday program at Coledale Community Hall.

Minecraft a Story On January 14 you can send your 8- to10-year-olds to Minecraft a Story with award-winning children’s author Sandy Fussell. This unique writing workshop uses elements of Minecraft game play: kids will fill their Minecraft inventory with the items needed for storytelling; use the crafting table to make their story more compelling with increased exciting action, extra creepy atmosphere and really scary monsters.

Learn writing with Helena Fox Helena Fox, our Young Writers Program leader, hosts workshops for older kids. Helena won the Prime Minister’s Award for Young Adult Fiction for her novel, How It Feels To Float, in December, so if you have a young person who likes to write, don’t let them miss out on the opportunity of working with her!

For ages 10-13 the workshop, What a wonderful world!, will focus on creating vibrant settings: investigating how to create fantastical and compelling worlds for stories, thinking about everything from physical geography to possible magic systems, what the occupants of your story look like and how they behave.

For ages 14-18, Who Are You? explores character and voice. Characters are the cornerstones of any story, and stories shine brightest when those characters are distinct and three-dimensional. This workshop explores the different ways characters can look, think, move and

34 January

interact with each other, as well as learn the things they want and what makes them tick.

Writing lessons for adults Our adult programming resumes on 16th January.

Ever wondered how audiobooks get made? You can join experienced audiobook narrator and producer Katherine Littrell on a journey from PDF to MP3.

Katherine works regularly with major American and Australian publishers, including HarperCollins, Macmillan and Simon and Schuster, transforming novels into audiobooks. In this interactive workshop she will give you a behind-the-scenes tour of how audiobooks are created for the global marketplace. You’ll learn everything you might need to know, including casting, the author’s role in the production cycle, distribution options, and promotion.

On 17th January you can join South Coast Writers Centre’s Director Sarah Nicholson at the Wollongong Art Gallery for writing embodied in the senses. Writing from sound, writing from breath and writing from skin, participants will view and write in response to the gallery’s major exhibition ‘Every Body’.

Finally, we are thrilled to announce that, in partnership with Wollongong City Council’s Cultural Development Team, Brad Eastman, aka Beastman, will be painting a mural on the external wall of Coledale Community Hall in 2021.

As part of the design development, we invite locals to attend one of our free writing workshops: Writing Australian History on January 23 with Judi Morison and Poetics of Place on Sunday 24th with Mark Tredinnick. 2515 All info and bookings: www.southcoastwriters.org.au

Nomads Happy New

In 2020, we farewelled a regular contributor, photographer Lara McCabe.

Lara has sold the family home in Coledale and gone caravanning – this is her story.

You’ve sold your home? Both resigned from your full-time jobs? You’re taking the kids caravanning around Australia?

Sometimes life needs gutsy decisions. Maybe you’ve also felt lost, like it’s time to take your foot off the accelerator or get everyone out of the car altogether? My husband and I went away for a few days without our kids for the first time since having children. While away we walked to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko and we did a big re-evaluation about what we wanted to prioritise in life.

The answer was each other, our children, those who really matter – family and close friends.

Having both worked in office jobs for almost 25 years, we’d developed busy careers and side projects. The resulting left-over time was too thinly spread across our three young children and each other. It was time for a big change.

How could we reconnect, create amazing experiences together and actively raise our children? Other local families had made lifechanging decisions – a one-year house-sit in Tasmania, renovating a chateau in France

36 January

(seriously). We too wanted to unburden and simplify. We sold everything to caravan around Australia. We pressed that big “reset button” on our lives.

Once we sold our house, we shared our plans.

Some people were shocked at our chosen path, which happened to coincide with the rise of that vile virus and before an impending recession.

Whereas caravanning folk came out of the folds at work and socially to exclaim: “Good for you! We did it, it’s the best thing you’ll ever do”, “Your kids will learn and experience so much”, and “Make sure you go to Ningaloo Reef in WA”. These wonderful stories helped to boost our resolve during the big selling and de-cluttering of our possessions.

We’d never caravanned before. The day before pick up, I Youtube’d how to tow a caravan. So the next day on my birthday, we pulled all nine metres, two and a half tonnes of caravan down Bulli Pass, with my husband nervous and proud beside me.

We’re now months into happily travelling with our home, owning much less and getting so much more out of each day. Home-schooling has been an

Record sale for ‘the Hill’ at Clifton

By Ian Pepper, of Ray White Helensburgh

adjustment. It’s also been a comedy of errors with the caravanning – thank goodness we can laugh together as we learn on the job.

We’ve forgotten to release the van handbrake twice before attempting to drive off. People have waved to us in the next driving lane to let us know that we’ve left the roof hatches open. And we’ve learned that wearing a peg on your nose whilst emptying the sewage cartridge doesn’t block out the smell – at all.

Our favourite experiences so far? Using boogie boards as toboggans in snowfall, indigenous cave paintings, sea turtles, whales, dolphins and stingrays. A day at South West Rocks began with seeing a baby koala clinging to mum’s back climbing down a tree at sunrise, then ended at sunset with a sea eagle catching a fish in its claws.

In Hastings Point, copying some local kids, my husband and I held hands whilst jumping off a bridge into a lagoon – certainly one of the best date memories we’ve ever had. As we start to cross state borders again, even more in our ‘reset’ life awaits us. 2515

In October 2020 a record sale price was reached for a property called “The Hill” at Clifton. The Hill belonged to the Harvey Family for almost a century when the current owner’s father, Jack Harvey, bought two blocks circa 1927 and built the original house the following year when he got married. The couple started a dairy farm early in the Great Depression, when the local coal mine (where Jack was employed in the stables) closed.

Coalcliff Colliery was not to open again until just before the outbreak of World War II. The original slab dairy is still standing on the property. Jack and his wife Gladys started out milking 15 Jersey cows purchased from the north coast. The dairy expanded over the next few years, peaking at 28 cows. The remaining three blocks were bought over the ensuing decade, bringing the land area to about an acre.

The dairy cattle were grazed along the roadsides as far away as Wombarra, but returned to Clifton morning and night to be milked. Jack sold the milk out of metal cans and into householders’ billy cans from the back of a horse-drawn dray.

The dairy closed a few years after the Colliery re-opened, but horses and cattle have always been kept on the Hill. The current owner has lived on The Hill for almost 86 years, being the only child of Jack and Gladys. When he married in the late 1950s, he and his wife moved in with his parents, before building the second house to the south of the original house in 1962.

The current owners have lived in their house since then, raising a family and working in the local area but needed to downsize. The Hill was sold by local real estate agent Simon Beaufils from Ray White Helensburgh for a record price of $4.51m. 2515

January

37

Creative Corners

With Imogen Ross. How to make Bird Feeders, Bee Baths & Mobiles Despite our best intentions, plastic waste is inevitable in a busy household no matter how hard we may try to eliminate it from our lives. One of the things left behind in the recycling bin is lids.

According to many recycling facilities, these small plastic lids are often dropped out of the industrial recycling machines and sent to landfill. One way to stop this is to make sure small lids are placed in a container with a secure lid before placing them in the yellow bin for recycling.

There are so many opportunities for imaginative repurposing of lids and the internet is full of ideas ranging from Pop Art earrings to tiny doll’s plates to giant wall murals. I now keep a small box of lids and interesting household plastics in my kitchen, waiting for inspiration to strike...

This month, I made a small bird feeder (or a Bee Bath for thirsty bees who can drown in deeper bird baths) using all the left-over lids from last month’s bottle flower project. If you don’t want to make a bird feeder, then simply make a colourful hanging mobile to dance in the breeze.

Materials: Assorted coloured plastics: clean lids of all sizes, hooks & hangers, texta tops, cutlery, showercurtain hooks, odd earrings, broken jewellery, bread tags and interesting bits from lost toys Assorted beads, buttons or small shapes that can be threaded. I found a small brass bell!

Thin Wire. I use fuse wire, garden ties or thin gauge wire. (Wool or embroidery thread will also do plus a needle with a large eye.)

Pliers (I prefer needle-nosed for twisting wires together) or strong scissors Drill – I prefer to use a 3mm bit as most wires/

38 January

5

wools will pass easily through the hole and most Hang Time: Bring the finished lengths up to beads won’t! If you do not have a drill, a sharp pointy the top hook piece (I used a black plastic thing like a nail, a dart or end of a sharp pair of Kmart hanger from a pair of socks) and tie securely scissors will usually make a hole in most plastic lids. through a central hole. This may require some adjustment to ensure the birdseed plate hangs flat.

Use pliers to twist the wires together and tuck Instructions: under to prevent snagging. I added a large central Wash and dry plastic lids to remove residue. bead hanging down in the centre, but this is (No one likes the smell of old milk or juice optional. except flies!) Wipe items clean with metho or Hang from a tree branch out of reach of cats and eucalyptus oil if sticky labels or other marks need possums. Fill with birdseed to encourage small to be removed. local birds to come and play. If you wish to use water instead, to help our native bees drink, you Design Time: Assemble all materials together will need to plug the central hole with some PVA to work out the colour palette and the glue or a blob of glue gun. different shapes you have. Plan out how many When you are ready to recycle the different pieces are needed. A bird feeder requires four equal creations you make, simply remove the wire, wire lines that hold the birdseed plate horizontal buttons and beads, and place all the plastics in a when hanging down from a central hook. yellow-lidded bin for Council to pick up.

Each wire can be a different design or identical The wire, beads and buttons are then free to play – it is more important that the wires are the same on another project! 2515 length! I layered three larger lids together to create a stable ‘plate’ for the birdseed to sit on. If you are Imogen Ross is a local artist who specialises in making a mobile – just choose one long wire/string working imaginatively with her community of pieces hanging down. around environmental sustainability, repurposing

1

2

3

Drill Time: Using a small drill bit, make a small hole in A: the centre of your plastic lids, B: either side of the centre (like a button), or C: either end of the lid in the sides. Do the same for all the other bits of weird interesting plastic things you have. A centre hole will make your lid hang horizontally. A side hole will make it hang vertically. Drill four holes equidistant around the Birdseed Plate. Drill a hole (if needed) in top hook.

Hot Tip: I use an old bit of wood under the lids to stop the drill marking my table.

household objects and reducing the amount of waste we generate. If you are interested in Imogen coming to your school, community group or event to deliver creative upcycling craft workshops, please send an email to imogenross@yahoo.com.au

4

Wire Time: Push wire through the various objects, threading them together as per your original design. Adapt the design as you go. I use beads to create small stops after each lid, to stop it sliding downwards on the wire. I do this by pushing the wire down through the bead and then up again and through it twice. It is possible to do this step with a button too. Hot Tip: thread beads/ buttons on the inside of vertical-hanging lids so the lid looks good on all sides.

When finishing off a length, I place a bead or button underneath the final lid and thread the wire through the bead/button twice, then twist the bead several times to secure the wire before trimming.

Hot Tip: don’t trim the ends until ALL wire lengths are in place just in case any require adjusting. If using wool or thread, you will do a similar thing, wrapping around the bead several times, but then tie the thread off securely with a double knot.

January

39

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Have a question for Dr Rip? Email rbrander@ unsw.edu.au

Spot the rip: it’s the dark green gap between the whitewater. Photo: Rob Brander

Dr Rip’s

By Rob Brander. This month – Summer Beach Safety Tips.

It’s summer and time to enjoy the beach, but beaches can be dangerous, even for experienced beachgoers and swimmers, so here are my top 5 beach safety tips: 1. Always swim between the red and yellow flags.

It’s so important, particularly if you have kids, are not a confident ocean swimmer, and don’t understand much about waves and rip currents.

Lifeguards and lifesavers do an amazing job of keeping you safe. So please try and find a patrolled beach and swim between the flags, or at least close to the lifeguards.

If they can’t see you, they can’t save you.

2. Always THINK about beach safety.

Even if you go to a patrolled beach, you must get in the habit of always spending a few minutes thinking about beach safety when you arrive.

What are the conditions like? Is the surf too rough? Is there a nasty shore dump? Are there rips?

Do you know what a rip is? Are there flags further down the beach? Who can help if you get into trouble? You don’t cross the road without looking both ways and you should never go in the ocean without spending some time thinking about beach safety.

3. Know your rip currents.

All surf beaches have rips. These strong, narrow seaward-flowing currents often occupy deeper channels along the beach and against headlands

44 January

and rocks, and some can suddenly appear out of nowhere when large waves break. Do you know how to spot rips? If not, look at my Rip of the Month feature at www.scienceofthesurf.com There’s also lots of fantastic educational information at www.ripcurrentsafety.com including the National Geographic documentary Rip Current Heroes.

4. Keep your eyes open.

Never turn your back on breaking waves when you are coming out of the ocean, especially dumping waves.

Look for bluebottles (jellyfish) washed up on the beach. If they’re on the beach, they’re probably in the water. Just being a little bit more observant can end up saving you a lot of pain.

5. Don’t rush in.

If you see someone in trouble, don’t just run in to help them. Tragically, many bystanders drown trying to save others in the surf. If you do see someone in trouble, even if it’s a family member, it’s important to not rush in, but take 10 seconds to think about what you should do. Get someone to go get a lifeguard or call for help. Look for something on the beach that will float that will give the person you are trying to save (and yourself) something to hold onto.

Thinking about beach safety will go a long way to making sure you have a great and safe time at the beach. Make it a lifelong habit! 2515

2111 Time 0.35

m

2129 Time 0.552354 2231 Time 0.52 m 0.41

m

2223 Time 0.692004 m 1

1.39 0.50 0408 0453 1.330632 0515 0517 1.60 1.420132 0.49 1.70 0007 1.35 0 0.420.58 0001 7 0339 22 1029 221.530510 1 0356 16 10 125 16 10 0935 0.60 1.80 0.721318 1210 0.45 1214 0.600808 1122 1.787 0555 0.537 1030 1139 1.78 0.35 0645 1

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PORT KEMBLA – NEW SOUTH WALES Port Kembla Tidal Chart

1.32 0.26 1.101417 1909 1.19 1901 1.13 1.67 1.38 1225 1.69 0.25 1420 0.42 0 FR 1648 SA 1721 MO TU MO SU 1201 WE 1243 SA 1800 TU TU MO TH 1541 2300 0.39 2312 1847 0.592008 0.33 1.27 19012135 0.49 1 1859 0.261.17 2008

LAT 34° 29ʼ S

LONG 150° 55ʼ E

0536Times 1.59 1.23 0556 1.46of 0.51 0.620309 1.36 0 0051 1.25 0000 1.410.53 0140 0132 and2021 Heights High and 0114 Low Waters 9 January 24 90.420036 24 0023 0125 9

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1211 0527 0.46 0.53 1246 0622 0.590818 0716 0706 1.75 0658 0729 1.590939 0.64 1 0.59 1.88 0.481.70 0810

1800 1.28 1.75 1.10 1412 0.28 1351 0.41 MARCH FEBRUARY 1324 1.26TU 1241 1.55 1315 1.55 1459 0.34 0 SATIME WE TH MOTIME SU 1154 WEWE TU 1510 FR 1620 TIME JANUARY M M SU 1828 MTU0.18 TIME M 0.41 0.27 2004 1.23 1946m1937 1.202215 0.55 0.40 0.33 1.28 2050 1.21 1 Time m 1944 Time 2354 m 1845 Time Time m19242102 Time Time m

1 0356 1030

0.580230 0132 0.48 0112 0.550352 1.70 1.24 0211 1.36 1.44 0136 1.25 0215 0.49 0007 1.35 0207 0.490050 0453 05170001 0417 10 0632 25 100.42 25 1001 190.31 190.42 4 0618 428 13 13 1 16 0453 16 16 1.53 0808 1.81 0743 1.69 1318 0.3510.55 0829 0.68 0711 0.65 0811 0.53 0850 1.77 1018 0908 1.92 0555 0.53 1122 1.78 1102 11390645 1.78 1036 1.83 0.50 1.42 1459 1412 0.23 1.41 1430 1415 0.32 1.16 1907 1241 1.27 1.68 1337 1320

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0.42 1.31 0.530407 0309 0.43 0243 0.400514 0314 1.29 1.53 0406 1.38 0343 0.42 0125 1.36 0410 1.250240 0000 01140132 0602 12 0140 27 1201 120.45 27 6 0821 211.41 630 210.34 15 15 18 18 0051 18 3 0818 1.8830.60 1.70 0939 1.82 0908 1.84 0913 0.73 1051 0.52 1103 0.67 1040 1.86 1012 1.85 1131 0729 0.64 0622 0.59 0615 07060810 0.48 1212 1.61 1510 1430 0.18 1.49 1459 1500 0.34 1.20 1620 1640 0.22 1.18 1546 1645 0.18 1.05

4 0050 0618

0.49 1.33 0.43 0330 0.35 1.42 0.42 1.39 0408 1.60 0510 0429 0.41 0211 0352 1.36 0515 1.250339 0036 02070215 0045 28 13 1018 28 13 0230 13 7 0935 221.44 731 221.59 19 19 0136 19 4 1.77 1.78 0952 1.86 0908 1.9240.60 1029 0.72 1210 0.45 1214 0.60 1055 1.84 0829 0.68 0711 0.65 0701 08110850 0.53 0701 0.40 0.27 1.13 1656 1800 0.25 1.16 1625 1803 0.15 1.07 1559 1536 0.15 1.40 1537 1608

5 0143 0715

0.43 1.48 0.45 1.39 0.45 1.67 0503 0608 1.50 1.260438 0117 0139 1.59 03060259 1.48 0305 0433 1.36 0619 14 0320 29 14 14 8 23 8 20 0222 20 0955 1.9150.55 1.82 1056 1.7050.36 ©20 Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 1055 1144 0.67 1316 1307 0.51 0806 0.70 0757 080923 0.46 09270930 0.55 0943 0.70 TIMES AND PORT KEMBLA – NEW SOUTH WALES 1645 0.16 1.32 1615 1721 0.22 1.10 1729 1909 0.30 1.19 1648 1901 1.13

6

21 15 9

0.50 1.80 FR 1717 0.26 2315 1.22

0.51 1.78 SA 1800 0.26 1.23 0.53 SU 1154 1.75 1845 0.27 1.24 0.55 MO 1241 1.68 1930 0.29 1.27 0.58 TU 1332 1.59 2020 0.32

SU 0.26 MO SA 1809

0.27FR 1656 0 1559 0.151.49 1206 1713 1816 TU 0.21WE TU 0.17SA TU WE TH WE TH TH 1537 MO 1704 MO MO 1.132153 2052 1.28 2027 1.272254 2020 0.61 0.46 1930 0.29 1922 2001 0.41 2130 1.25 1 1.28 1830 0.42 2033 2326 2312 1.55

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1728 0.201.26 0.19SU 1800 0 1324 1215 1315 TH 1.55FR TH 0.31MO TH TU 1.55 FR FR SA WE SA SA 1655 MO 1241 WE WE WE 1826 1.28 0.35 1.212325 2215 1.33 2146 2223 1.42 0.69 2129 0.55 0.521.33 1.27 2253 1937 0.55 2231 1924 2102 0.402111 1809 19442050 0.33

0.19MO 1.41 FR 1415 1.45 FR 1257 TH FR SA 1.16 SU WE 1.42 SA TH SU SU 1735 TU 1320 TH 1412 TH 1305 1.25 0.58 1.35 2228 1.49 0.67 1.28 0.37 2219 0.53 2327 2337 1.36 2020 2254 0.61 2335 2001 2153 0.462204 1843 20332130 0.41 1911 0.41

SU SA 1347 Astronom 1924 LOW WATERS time (UTC + Times are in AND local standard 0 LAT 34Low 29’ 0514 0.49 0.45Times 0.42 1.46 1.59 0556 0036 0.51 0023 0.62 0208 0240 1.31 0314 0407 1.290536 04100343 1.53 0406 1.38 0238 1.58 and Heights of High and Waters New 1.59 Moon Moon Phase Symbols 0 55’ 1.601501.75 1.86 0.46 1.85 0.59 1246 0716 0658 0903 0821 0.60 0913 1040 0.731211 10511012 0.52 1103 1131 0.67LONG 0927 0.49 MARCH FEBRUARY 0.36SA0.28 0.20SA1.28 0.19SU1.10 1828 1351 1453 1.20 1640 1.18 1645 1.05 1519 WE 1.17 MO 1800 FR 1728 SA 1655 MO SA 1800 SU TU 1412 SU0.41 WE 1430 1.49JANUARY TH 1500 2111 Time 0.35

0339 0356 1.39 0935 1030 0.60 1.40 FR 1717 TH 1536 2204 2315 0.37

7 1

1.30 1.27Datum 1.08 TH 1.30 FR SA SU FR MO TU WE 1405 FR 1406 FR 1520 SA 1523 of Predictions is Lowest HEIGHTS HIGH 1.28 0.39 2211 1.29 0.59 1.35 OF2000 2312 2042 2240 0.512300 2129 0.48 0.66 LAT 34° 29ʼ S 2116 2330 LONG 150° 55ʼ E0.52

m

0.50 1.80 0.26 FR 1.22

630 24 21 15 9

2325 1.27 2129 Time 0.552354 22312253 0.521.33 Time m m 0.41

6

24 21 15

1946 2020 2223 Time 0.69 2004 2101 Time 0.60 m 1.23 m 1.20

0.41 1.35 0.48 0.49 1.70 0517 0.420.58 0.310.55 0001 0112 0408 0453 1.330632 05150429 1.60 0510 0007 1.42 0132 0347 0417 1.57 0310 1.84 0.53 1.81 1.78 0.35 1139 1.781.53 1.831.69 0645 0743 1029 1122 0.721318 12101055 0.45 1214 0555 0.60 0808 1050 1036 0.48 1020 0.19 1.49SU0.23 0.26SU1.27 1816 0.21 0.17 1337 1430 1608 1.13 1800 1.16 1803 1.07 1459 1647 1.12 1617 SU MO 1704 SA 1809 MO1735 TU 1206 TU SU 1907 MO WE TH MO0.50 MO0.32 1.36 1.13 0.42 1.28 1.551.27 1922 2027 2219 0.58 23352337 0.53 2327 1830 0.67 2052 2215 2312 0.65 2135

22 16 10

731125 22 16 10

7 125 22 16

1.35 0.45 1.26 0.41 1.390.56 0.310.48 0049 0158 1.48 0.51 0503 0009 1.390047 0619 0024 1.67 0608 0045 1.50 0223 0500 0508 1.59 0420 17 17 17 2 0439 226 2Bureau 11 11 26 © Copyright of Australia 2020, of Meteo 8 0438 23 23 8 23 0638 0.59 0537 0.538Commonwealth 1111 0609 0.44 1123 1.75 1.80 0729 1.62 1.83 0826 1.78 1055 0.55 1.78 1144 0.670727 1316 0.36 1307 0.51 0855 1206 0.43 1130 1.38 0.21 17451508 1201 1417 1.67 0.25 12251420 1800 0.26 1.690.42 1243 1541 0.220.24

SA 1.32 FR 1648 2300 0.39

1.10 1.19 1.13 1.15 TU 1737 WE SU WE TU TU TU FR MO of Predictions TH SA 1721 MO 1909 TU 1901 MO 1807 Datum is Lowest Astronomical Tide 0.49 1.31 0.33 1.27 18592008 0.261.17 1901 2135 1.581.35 2106 2312 1847 0.592008 2328 2357 0.64 2252

0536 0000 1.59 1211 0527 0.46 1.28 SU 1154 SA 1800 2354 1845 0.41

1.36 0.43 1.25 0.42 1.23 0556 0051 1.410.53 0.340.40 0140 0132 0309 0243 1.46 0036 0114 0.51 0023 0.62 0607 0602 1.63 0526 New0125 Moon First Qua Moon Phase Symbols 0.64 1.82 0.59 1.88 0.53 1246 0622 0.481.70 1.611.84 0810 0908 0.590818 0716 0706 1.75 0658 0729 1.59 0939 1306 1212 0.37 1226 1.26TU0.22 1.55TU0.18 1.75 1315 1.55 0.31 1459 1546 1.10 1412 0.28 1351 0.41 1907 1.21 1833 TH 1324 MO 1241 TH WE WE WE 1826 TU 1510 FR 1620 SA SU 1828 WE0.34 WE0.18 0.55 1.33 1924 2102 0.40 1.28 0.27 0.331.21 2050 2146 1.42 2004 1944 1.23 1946 1937 1.20 2215 2355

9 3

Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savin

24 18 12

9 327 24 18 12

9 327 24 18

1.25 0.42 1.36 0.43 0.49 0.35 1.70 1.24 0001 0136 0.580230 0132 0207 0112 0211 0.55 0352 0032 0045 0622 19 13 19 13 19 4 0050 4280.4802151.44 4280.5903301.59 10 0632 25 10 25 10 25 1320 1559 1.42 0.15 14121537 1.16 0.25 13051625 1241 1.68 1.410.27 1415 1656 1.450.15

0711 0.65 0.68 0.55 0645 0811 0.401.86 0850 1.77 1.92 1018 1.78 0952 MOON 1318 PHASE0618 SYMBOLS New Moon First Quarter 0.53 Full Moon 1.69 Last Quarter 0.35 1.530908 0808 1.81 0743 0829 0704 0701 1.68 1312

1907 1.27 MO 1337 0.50 1459 0.23of Predictions 0.32 1355 0.32 TH 1917 TU2020, FR FR MO TH Datum TH SU TH WE SA ©SU Copyright Commonwealth of Australia Bureau ofWE Meteorology. is Lowest Astronomical TH 1430 WETide.

0.46 2020 0.61 1930 time 0.29 2033 0.41in1.25 0.411.49 Times are in local standard (UTC1922 +10:00)2001 or1.13 daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when effect.

Bureau of Meteorology 2130 2153 1.28 2254 1.35 2228 2052 1.28 2027The 1.27 1955 1911 1.28 gives no warranty of any kind whether express, implied, statutory or otherwise in respect to the availability, accuracy, currency, completeness, or reliability of the information or that the information will be1.48 fit for0.45 any particular purpose or will not 0222 1.26 0143 1.27 0049 0139 0306 0305 1.36 0433 0.45 0.43 0259 0047quality 0.41 0.560320 0223 0.45 0158 0.48 0128 0.53 1.59 0049 infringe any third party Intellectual Property rights.

The Bureau’s for any loss, damage, cost or expense use of, 0806 0.70 liability 0927 0.551.82 0943 resulting 0.70 from 1056 1.70 0955 1.91 0930 0727 0715 1.80 0.58 0729 1.62 0855 1.83 0754 0809 1.71 0.46 0711 or reliance on, the information is entirely excluded. 0826 1.78

14 11 529 26 20 14 11 5 11 5 1332 1.59 26 20 1405 26 20 1.30 0.16 15201615 1.270.22 1523 1729 1.08 0.30 1406 1.30 1645

0.21 FR 1508 WE 0.42 SA TU 0.25 TU 1420 FR 0.29 FR 1352 FR FR SA 0.24 SU TH MO 1417 TH 1541 TH 1436 0.51 1.28 0.481.29 0.66 1.35 2211 2008 2020 1.27 0.32 2008 2042 1.172240 2135 2129 1.31 2106 2116 1.35 2330 2035 2000 1.34 0.52 1958

0140 0240 0.42 46 January

1.31 0132 0314 1.29 0.45 1.530.42 1.38 0.49 0343 0.530407 0215 0238 0.48 1.58 0138 0309 0410 0.43 0243 0406 0.40 0514 21 6 0821 21 0913 630 21 1103 6 0927 15 15 12 0818 27 12 27 0757 12 27 0.73 1051 0.52 0.67 1.86 1012 1.85 1.60 1.88 0.60 0810 1.701040 0837 1.72 0.49 0939 1.82 0908 1.84 1131 1430 1.49 1500 1728 1.20 0.20 16401655 1.180.19 1645 1800 1.05 0.36 1519 1.17

0.22 SA 1546 0.18 SU WE 0.18 WE 1459 TH 0.34 SA SA SU MO SA 0.29 SA 1431 FR TU 1510 FR 1513 FR 1620 0.55 1.27 0.521.33 2253 2102 2111 1.28 0.35 2050 2129 1.212325 1.39 0.60 2037 2215 2231 1.33 2146 2223 1.42 0.69 2113 2101 0339 1.39

0408 1.33

0515 1.60

0510 1.42

0347 1.57

Photo thanks to Surfing NSW

Scarborough triumphs in Boardriders Battle

By Ian Pepper, of the Scarborough Boardriders

November 21 was a huge day for our club, as we took out the Southern NSW Nudie Boardriders Battle at Jones Beach, Kiama. Thanks to our surfers for smashing round one, the semi and final, and thanks to the support crew for helping out. And well done Kalani Ball, named most outstanding surfer on the day.

The National Titles are in Newcastle in February.

Other huge results for our club followed, with members competing at the recent Australian Open of Surfing series run up and down the NSW coast.

Kalani Ball was a stand-out competitor in the

events, winning two out of the three he attended.

Well done, Kalani!

At a Narooma event, our club was represented by seven competitors (five of them girls). Congrats to everyone on their great results, with a special mention to Kasey Hargreaves for surfing insane all weekend and coming 4th in the final.

All this has coincided with two of our girls being nominated in the latest Surfing Life magazine as among the top 100 most talented teenagers currently in Australia. Congratulations Zahlia Short #20 and Anna Chamberlain #23. 2515 Licence No. 95628C / ARC Licence No. AU09136 ABN 62 078 105 978

SPLIT SYSTEM DISGUISED

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If you are looking to make a move in 2021, call David Hyslop on 0417 784 945.