You’ve found the agency that exceeds expectations. So you can spend time on the things you live for.
PUBLISHER : John Vickery
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Megan Vickery
EDITOR: Tara Wesson
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John Vickery 0412 415 657 john@allbasescovered.com.au
MEDIA & WRITER: Caity Hardy
DISTRIBUTION: Jane Hewitson
DESIGNER: Jess Brunner
INTERNSHIP & ILLUSTRATOR: Jemima Brooks
This issue of COVERED. Local would not have been possible without the following contributors: Shannan Ponton, Mark Smith, Joseph Smith, Leonie Smith, Jill HealyQuintard, Jürgen Schmechel, Chris Thomas, Kevin Case and Ben Holmes. If you would like to contribute to
It’s summer people. Love it! Cricket season, endless beach days, BBQs, sunburn, bluebottles, hot days and warm nights.
Okay, bushfires, flies, 42-degree days… You need to take the good with the challenges and let’s face it, the bush fire fighters have had a monstrous time of it of late. As we go to press there are still many fires burning. A big shout out to all the volunteers who have devoted their precious time and energy risking their lives to keep those, unfortunately in the path of the many fires, safe. These guys are 1000% tops and deserve all of our thanks.
On that note, and a very cool thing, my wife Amanda recently gifted a pressie for ‘adopt an injured koala’ from the recent fires in Port Macquarie. It’s to help in the rehabilitation of the koalas. An awesome idea, so jump onto that this Christmas and support a worthy cause - www.koalahospital.org.au.
‘Summer Earth’ is here. Issue 22 is full of lots of eco initiatives and talking about what people and businesses need to do to do their bit.
How are you doing your bit? For sure, we like the idea of Keep Cups, but how many of us actually use them? Are you recycling everything you can? Do you compost? It all starts with us! Make a concerted effort this season, buy less useless junk, reuse more and truly think about the use of plastic and other single use items.
Summer Smuggling! Our cover shoot was a lot of fun. Thanks to Jarrod and Sam from Budgy Smuggler and the kids - Charlie, Ruby, Scarlett and Ivy - for a great afternoon down at our favourite beach, North Curly.
There’s a lot to get your teeth into for summer. We have Jimmy ‘Salty Rooster’ answering some big questions; staycations at Q Station and NRMA Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park in Narrabeen; The Beaches Markets and the many restaurants in our Eat, Drink & Dine Guide. The Corner at Queenscliff, Cook Room and One Café are to name a few. If you’re keen, visit Dee Why’s newest dive bar - Wings & Tins on Pittwater Road and taste a ‘Beached AZ’ tinnie from Modus Operandi Brewing Co.
There’s a lot to discover this summer. Grab the family and the kids, venture out and enjoy all the fun experiences we have recommended in our Summer Guide.
Speaking of wellness, OrangeTheory has opened up at the Mall and the wild women are exploring our beaches with Coastrek.
If summer style is on your list go check out the fashions at This & That Boutique and Wildflowers in Manly. Westfield Warringah Mall has all the ethical styling brands. The Property guys are leading us into 2020 with homestyling tips and eco-friendly clean starts.
Issue 22 is our biggest magazine yet, with a massive 112 pages. A big shout out to my team lead and sister Megan, as creative director it’s been weeks of sourcing, writing and designing. It takes a lot of effort to produce something worth reading, so please enjoy the summer eco vibes. Dig in, satisfy your appetite and think about doing your bit, it’s Summer Earth.
Have a fun festive eco-friendly summer and cracking New Year.
Yours in Smugglers. Johnevicks
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Issue 22: Summer 2019/2020
Circulation: 15,000
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While all care has been taken, some information in this magazine may have changed since its publication. All Bases Covered regrets it cannot accept liabilites from errors or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or amend all advertisements without explanation. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibitied.
All advertisements must comply with the Trade Practices Act. The Publisher will not be liable for any damage or loss caused through late publication, error or omission of an advertisement. The views expressed in articles or advertisements are not endorsed by the editor or publisher. No responsibility is accepted by the editor or publisher for the accuracy of any information contained within any article or advertisement.
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This information contained within COVERED. Social is given in good faith, obtained by from sources believed to be accurate. All information contained herein is gathered from sources we believe to be reliable. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers, All Bases Covered, who do not expect or invite any person to act or rely on any statement, opinion or advice contained herein. We cannot guarantee its accuracy and interested persons should rely on their own enquiries.
This year, Harbord Diggers is drawing its inspiration from the 2017 blockbuster movie - The Greatest Showman for their big New Year’s Eve bash. If you’re after live entertainment, quality meals and good music, all with the magic of the circus, this is where you’ll want to spend your night.
The Diggers will mesmerise you with a wonderful night full of surprises and wonders. Be wowed by the breathtaking circus acts, have a boogie to the live DJs and dance the night away with all the other entertainment to ring in the New Year.
Start the New Year on a light, joyful, playful foot, and don’t miss this spectacle of a night at your local Harbord Diggers. This special event will kick off at 6pm, and is free for members, plus you get to bring three non-member friends with you!
Teddy Larkin’s Seafood & Steakhouse, AcquaFresca by Pilu, and the Ocean Terrace will all be offering their mouthwatering creations to you, the carnival-goer, though you can expect maybe a little more culinary finesse than your average circus stall. In fact, the restaurants have dreamed up exclusive menus for you to choose from for the night.
Once you’ve had your feast at one of the Diggers’ great eateries, why not head over to the Main Bar? Order an enchanting cocktail or the drink of your choice, while watching some of the performance artists roaming around the venue. The DJs will be playing all the tunes that’ll make your head bob and your hips sway.
Get ready to watch their amazing fireworks at 9pm from the ocean. You’ll be able to see them from anywhere on the terrace, so find your seat, sit back, and enjoy the show. After this great display, time to start the party until the countdown with more entertainment and DJs. Let the music swirl, and let the childlike excitement set in, all with the taste of delicious cocktails and on your lips.
You will not regret spending this New Year’s Eve with Harbord Diggers. We know we won’t.
You can RSVP at www.harborddiggers.com.au and just show up on the day, but make sure you get in early, as they will most likely be at capacity if you don’t.
Harbord Diggers
Come to Harbord Diggers over Christmas, and who knows what will happen in this magical festival wonderland? Maybe you’ll get your photos taken with Santa, or win a Christmas ham. Or you might score some toys for the kids, or electrical items and more! And as always, our doors are always open for Christmas lunch… here’s what’s in store.
CHRISTMAS HAM RAFFLES
Every Wednesday & Sunday
Whatever way you cook it, win your ham in the lead up to Christmas.
$10,000 RAFFLE
Wednesday 11 December
Includes toys, electrical items, hampers, hams and more. 5pm On Sale, 6:30pm Drawn
CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Wednesday 11 December
Get your Christmas cheer on with Christmas Carols starting from 5pm.
SANTA FAMILY PHOTOS
Wednesday 11 December, 5pm-8pm
Sunday 15 December, 3pm – 6pm
Sunday 22 December, 3pm – 6pm
Come get your photo taken with Santa with us this year.
CHRISTMAS LUNCH AT ACQUAFRESCA BY PILU
Antipasti + Three Course Menu
$150 Members, $165 Non-Members, $55 Children Members, $65 Children Non- Members per child 12 years and under. Reservations // 9071 8681
www.coshliving.com.au
Johanna Occasional Chair by Kett
Frame Living System & Glenaire Swivel Chairs by Kett
Otway Table & Armchairs by Kett
Contemporary furniture from leading designer brands.
Why buy a boat? Use ours! Just
Whether it’s watching the sun set on Sydney Harbour or finding hidden gems up the Northern Beaches, exploring Sydney’s iconic waterways has never been easier with Pacific Boating. While it’s easy to picture yourself out on the water relaxing and taking it all in, it’s not always so easy managing the upkeep, berthing and cleaning that all boats require.
For over 13 years, Pacific Boating has offered a flexible alternative with our club concept that lets you get back to enjoying this city’s stunning coastline while we take care of the rest. Get up to speed with all the practical training you need on hand, to get you out on the water sooner.
Now boat share too!
Still keen on the idea of owning one for yourself? Well now you can join the club or buy a slice of your own with our new share experience. We now have 4 luxury Sea Ray Sports Cruisers across 2 locations with 1/10th boat shares available for purchase. Our premium booking model and years of management experience lets you own your own at a fraction of the cost.
From just $2,995 per month to join the club on a Pacific 52 class sports cruiser or $18,000 for a 1/10th boat share in a SeaRay Sundancer 340, Pacific Boating now has even more cost effective solutions to meet all your boating needs.
A cost effective boating solution
UNFURL WITH US THIS SUMMER
You're invited to be mesmerised by a wonderful night at your 'new' New Year's Eve destination. With fireworks, live entertainment, circus acts, DJs and great dining options, this will be a memorable night for the whole family. Each member gets to bring 3 guests with them and it is a free event. Come in early to secure the best spots in the venue and enjoy a fun-packed New Year's Eve.
HARBORD DIGGERS - 88 EVANS ST, FRESHWATER
TUESDAY 31 DECEMBER, 6PM www.harborddiggers.com.au
Helping Surf Life Saving Clubs on the Northern Beaches raise funds for vital equipment, join Westfield Warringah Mall for their annual Ducks for Duckies fundraising event as we fill the iconic Dolphin Fountain with over 3,000 rubber ducks. For just a $2 donation you’ll be able to catch a duck to see if you’re an instant prize winner.
WESTFIELD WARRINGAH MALL
Condamine Street, Brookvale
January 15 – 19, 2020
Dress to impress as you see in 2020 Miami Vice style. You'll have cocktails on arrival, heaps of canapes, a DJ and Live Music. VIP Tickets are $199 per person and include a reserved seat on the deck or terrace from 6pm. General admission tickets are $139 for members and $149 for guests.
MANLY 16FT SKIFF SAILING CLUB, Cnr East Esplanade & Stuart St, Manly
Tuesday 31 December, 7pm www.manlyskiff.com.au
Celebrate the start of the Sydney to Hobart at Q Station! Watch the yachts race down Sydney Harbour and out the heads from one of the best vantage points in Sydney. There will be giant games for kids, grazing platters, drinks, BBQ, live music and more.
Q STATION
1 North Head Scenic Dr, Manly
Thursday 26 December, 10am - 3pm www.qstation.com.au
Enjoy great international food and live music under the stars. Come and make the most of the warm summer nights, bring your picnic rugs and kick back with family and friends to celebrate the end of the working week. Each week there will be a different soul, funk or disco band and a wide selection of cuisines.
FRESHWATER, NARRABEEN AND MANLY
Every Friday night from 17 January to 20 March 2020
For more: www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
Whether you’re one of the thousands pounding the pavement in the 7km or 10km Sun Run, or competing in an Aquathlon and swimming 1km, 2km or 5km in the ocean Cole Classic, this year’s set to be a biggie. There will be entertainment, fitness and nutritional stalls, training runs/swims and fundraising.
MANLY BEACH
Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 February, 2020
For more: www.sunruncoleclassic.com.au
BROADWING
Indie electronic from award winning songwriter and producer. 'Lumen'
The Sydney Surf Pro will be the biggest professional surfing event to run in New South Wales with over 200 of the world's best men's and women's surfers competing at Manly.
MANLY BEACH // 8 to 16 March, 2020
For more visit: www.worldsurfleague.com
Tarp-O-Rama for Lifeline is a community event with the focus on mental health awareness. This event will promote great community spirit, fundraising and skating. It will also include local talent DJ's, bands, local stall holders and local food vendors.
ABBOTT ROAD NETBALL COURTS, CURL CURL Saturday, 22 February, 2020
Art and science come together in this new MAG&M exhibition. The Manly Dam area is a picturesque landscape rich in natural biodiversity and Aboriginal cultural significance. It is also a landscape shaped by engineering and science as a result of the construction of the dam. Eight contemporary artists have created new work inspired by place, history, water management and engineering.
MANLY ART GALLERY & MUSEUM: West Esplanade Reserve, Manly 6 December - 23 February 2020 For more: www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
JAKE SANDERCOCKBROWN & ELIZA PAL l 'Golden Chanson'
PRETTY BLEAK
Melbourne indie rock group, debut album 'Jawline'
NURIA
Tasmanian indie pop and singer-songwriter 'Enough'
Having struck a chord with the community over the past two years, the Lifeline Classic will be returning to the Northern Beaches on 29 March 2020. Bigger and more relevant than ever, in 2020 we’re aiming to break our fundraising record for suicide prevention and set ourselves a new benchmark.
QUEENSCLIFF BEACH
Sunday, 29 March, 8 AM – 5 PM
For more visit: www.sunruncoleclassic.com.au
DECEMBER 13
THE BRIGHTS, SUN DRESS, GINGER BAKERS
Avalon Beach RSL Club, Avalon
MOANING LISA
Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Basement, 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst
DECEMBER 14
BABY ANIMALS
Metro Theatre
624 George St, Sydney
LIME CORDIALE // NORTHERN BEACHES
U18 // ROBBERY TOUR
PCYC Northern Beaches 40 Kingsway, Dee Why
DECEMBER 20
LIME SPIDER
Crowbar Sydney 345 Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt
THE STUMPS
Selina's - Coogee Bay Hotel 253 Coogee Bay Rd, Coogee
FRONT YARD NOISE -
EAGLE EYE JONES & VELVET TRIP
Park House
2 Park St, Mona Vale
THE MEZCALTONES
The Beach Club Collaroy 1058 Pittwater Rd, Collaroy
EAGLE EYE JONES & VELVET TRIP
Park House, 2 Park Street, Mona Vale
RED SEA BAND
Time & Tide Hotel 30 Campbell Ave, Dee Why
DECEMBER 21
RUSSELL MORRIS
Pittwater RSL 82 Mona Vale Rd, Mona Vale
LATIFA LEE
Waywards at The Bank Hotel, 324 King St, Newtown
DECEMBER 26
DAVID HOLBERTON
Hemingway's Manly 48 North Steyne, Manly
DECEMBER 27
FRONT YARD NOISETHE SHANG & INKLINES Park House 2 Park St, Mona Vale
PARCELS
The Metro Theatre
624 George St, Sydney
DECEMBER 31
NYE IN THE PARK 2019 Girl Talk (USA), Hermitude, SAFIA. Client Liaison, Crooked Colours, Bag Raiders , Sneaky Sound System, Van She Tech, Touch Sensitive, Young Franco, GRAACE, Owl Eyes, Alice Ivy, Chase Zera, Jawbreakers, Happiness is Wealth and All My Friends DJs.
Victoria Park City Rd, Sydney
DEC 28 - JAN 1
LOST PARADISE 2019
Glenworth Valley Central Coast Sydney
DECEMBER 31
NYE & NYD FEAT. FRIENDLY FIRES (DJ SET), SET MO (DJ SET) Manly Wharf Hotel East Esplanade, Manly,
JANUARY 1
SET MO Manly Wharf Hotel E Esplanade, Manly, Australia
JANUARY 7
THE BROTHER BROTHERS The Vanguard 42 King St, Newtown
JANUARY 10
ZIGGY MCNEILL
Avalon RSL
1 Bowling Green Ln, Avalon Beach
JANUARY 11
THE GROWLERS Park House, 2 Park Street Mona Vale
JANUARY 16
SPOOKYGHOSTBOY
The Factory Theatre
105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville 42 King St, Newtown
LAIBACH
Metro Theatre
624 George St, Sydney,
JANUARY 18
MEMPHIS LK
Roadwerk
Saywell St, Marrickville
JANUARY 19
BOOTLEG RASCAL
Park House, 2 Park Street Mona Vale
JANUARY 19
BOOTLEG RASCAL + A.GIRL + GRACE GROVE
Park House
Mona Vale, Sydney
THE BLACK SORROWS
The Co-op Club, Church Point
The Waterfront Cafe & General Store, 1860 Pittwater Road, Church Point
JANUARY 24
CRY CLUB // ROBERT SMITH TOUR
Park House, 2 Park Street, Mona Vale
BAD PONY
The Lansdowne 2-6 City Rd, Chippendale
JANUARY 25
THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
Narrabeen RSL
116 Nareen Pde, Narrabeen
JANUARY 26
TINY MOVING PARTS
The Metro Lair
624 George St, Sydney
FEBRUARY 2
LANEWAY FESTIVAL SYDNEY W/ OCEAN ALLEY
The Domain, Sydney
FEBRUARY 7
THE BREAK AWAYS
The Beach Club Collaroy 1058 Pitwatter Rd, Collaroy
FEBRUARY 12
PENNYWISE
The Enmore Theatre 118-132 Enmore Rd, Newtown
FEBRUARY 14
THE ANGELS + BOOM CRASH OPERA
Pittwater RSL, 83 Mona Vale Rd, Mona Vale
FEBRUARY 23
BRASS AGAINST Metro Theatre
624 George St, Sydney
FEBRUARY 28
MISSY HIGGINS
Sydney Coliseum Theatre
55 Sherbrooke St, Rooty Hill
DECEMBER 21
RUSSELL MORRIS
Pittwater RSL
82 Mona Vale Rd, Mona Vale
MARCH 5
JULIA JACKLIN
Enmore Theatre
118-132 Enmore Rd, Newtown
MARCH 7
OLY SHERMAN
Bulli Brewing Company 1 Industrial Rd, Unanderra
MARCH 21
THE EXPLOITED
Narrabeen RSL
116 Nareen Pde, Narrabeen
LÉON is her stage name, but Lotta Lindgren is known as “the next big thing” according to popular music artist, Katy Perry. The 26-year-old from Stockholm released her first studio album earlier in March and this summer, will be touring around Australia. COVERED. sat down with the popular music artist to talk about her upcoming tour, plans for a second album and her epic 70’s style.
You come from a very musical family, your mum is a cellist, and your dad is a composer and conductor, what was your childhood like? Well, it was a lot of music (laughing), a lot of going to different choirs, seeing orchestras, having a lot of vocal lessons, cello, there was a lot of music but it was great, my childhood was great.
You’re coming to Australia for the first time on your debut tour! What are you most looking forward to?
First of all, I’m looking forward to doing the shows, it’s been a dream of mine forever to come to Australia. I feel like this is going to be such a classic answer but the weather and the animals are what I’m most looking forward to. I really want to hang out with animals! But I’m also a little afraid because people keep telling me about all the spiders and other stuff you have in Australia. So I feel like I’m going to be checking my bed every night for spiders. I’m just very excited to come over there though.
What should we be expecting from your upcoming tour?
Well it’s going to be a big show, the sets are longer than I’ve done before just because I have way more songs to pick from now because I released my first album earlier this year. I think it’s going to be a solid mix of old songs and new songs from the album. Hopefully people will just have a good time, I’m not bringing in anything crazy but it’s going to be fun!
What’s your favourite thing about performing live on tour, particularly in countries you’ve never been to before?
You don’t really get a lot of time to see things when you’re on tour, but I think I might take some days off when I’m in Australia, so I’m going to travel a bit and see some things in my free time. I don’t know what the best thing is about performing live, I just love touring and I just love playing live, that’s where I feel most at home. I love being back with my tour family and going to all these places.
I’m just very excited to be back on the road again, it’s felt like too long even though it was only a couple of months ago.
When you’re not creating music or performing, what other things and hobbies do you like to do?
Good question! I think when I’m in Stockholm I’ll just hang out with a bunch of friends, or you know, see my family. It’s kind of the same thing when I’m in LA, just catching up with friends. I don’t know, I’m a boring person! I go to the movies all the time, nothing crazy. I wish I had a hobby, I’m into poetry and music but that’s my job.
From your fashion style, Instagram and music, you seem really nostalgic for the 1960’s/1970’s, what’s with the obsession?
I’ve always been very fascinated with the whole era and time of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. It’s weird because I’ve never actually been able to experience it myself. There’s something about how people
would dress, all the movies and music. I don’t know, there’s something there. I’ve always just been very drawn to it. It kind of came naturally to bring that into my own musical world.
You’ve created your first album, started your own recording company, you’re going on tour around America, Europe and Australia, What’s next on the cards for you?
So now we’re doing the American tour, and then we’re coming to Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Then I’m just going to go back home for Christmas because that’s the best time of the year. Then, I’m pretty deep in the process of making my second album. So I’m just going to spend all my time in the studio, finishing songs and writing. I feel like I’ve been very stuck in the studio so this tour is coming at the right time. I don’t have to think about songs and writing all the time. But yeah, I’ll be able to finish what I’m working on after the tour. I’m trying anyway!
When do you think you’ll have the second album done by?
So that’s the hardest question because I don’t know when something will be done because it’s one of the hardest things to do. But I’m going to give myself a time limit of spring and summer. I just need to give myself some time to finish it in the first half of May. I feel like there’s a lot of things I want to say but I don’t know, I have so many songs maybe I should start writing now! Hopefully, I’ll bring out some new songs pretty soon. Time will tell. •
SANTA VISITS MONA VALE
VILLAGE PARK
MONA VALE VILLAGE PARK
DECEMBER 14 AT 6PM
Bring the whole family to Christmas Carols in the Park. The festivities will reach their peak when Santa makes his grand entrance. Entry is free. For more: www.rotaryupper northernbeaches.org
CAROLS BY THE LAKE
38 LAKE PARK RD, NARRABEEN
DECEMBER 21 AT 6 PM - 9 PM
Carols, fireworks, Santa, food trucks and more! Arrive early to grab your picnic spot. For more www.link.org.au/carols
POST-CHRISTMAS
GIFT SWAP
WESTFIELD WARRINGAH MALL
DECEMBER 28-29, 5PM TO 9PM
As the glow of Christmas Day fades and you’re looking at some of your presents with a perplexed thought of “Why on earth did I receive this?” or “How did Santa get it so wrong?”, then you need to be at 'The Mall' for their Post-Christmas Gift Swap. With live music playing and free light refreshments available, it’s going to be a fun weekend.
NYE PARTY AT Q STATION
1 NORTH HEAD SCENIC DR, MANLY
DECEMBER 31, 7PM
Thursday 12th December, 5pm to 7.30pm
FOR MORE CALL DONNA ON 0424 494 311
With views of both the famous Sydney City and Manly fireworks from their Hospital Precinct, choose to dine in either the Boilerhouse Restaurant & Bar or Hospital before all gathering at the Hospital Precinct headland at 10:30pm for the count down to the New Year fireworks extravaganza. For tickets www.qstation.com.au
MANLY COVE NYE FIREWORKS
E ESPLANADE & W ESPLANADE, MANLY DECEMBER 31, 5PM TO 9PM Escape the inner-city madness and enjoy a family-friendly evening at Manly Cove. Get in early to grab your spot to watch the sunset on the last day of the year.
DEE WHY BEACH NYE FIREWORKS
DECEMBER 31, 5PM TO 9PM
An alternative to the bustle in Manly, join family and friends along Dee Why Beach for a fireworks bonanza.
BAYVIEW NYE FIREWORKS
VANTAGE SPOTS - THE NEWPORT AND ROWLAND PARK, BAYVIEW
DECEMBER 31, 5PM TO 9PM
Presented by local businesses, there will be two firework displays over Bayview at 9pm and midnight.
SYDNEY FESTIVAL SYDNEY
JANUARY 6 - 28, 2020
Every January, Sydney Festival starts the new year with a bang, transforming the city with a bold cultural celebration based on critical ideas and cutting-edge art and performances. For more www.sydneyfestival.org.au
AUSTRALIA DAY FERRYTHON
SYDNEY HARBOUR
JANUARY 26, 2020
One of Sydney’s most iconic free events - the annual ferry race, from Circular Quay to Shark Island, finishing at Sydney Harbour Bridge. Grab a vantage point and cheer on your favourite ferry. For more visit: www.australiaday. com.au/events/ferrython
WATER RESEARCH
LABORATORY OPEN DAY
110 KING STREET, MANLY VALE
FEBRUARY 15, 2020, 9AM – 1PM
A fantastic opportunity to experience first-hand this unique, world-class research facility. Tour the massive labs, meet the experts, and see engineering and science at work. For more visit: www.wrl.unsw.edu.au
THE DROP FESTIVAL KEIRLE PARK, 277 PITTWATER RD, MANLY MARCH 14
Combining surfing and live music, The Drop is a festival that chases waves around the nation alongside World Surf League events and a bunch of great Aussie artists. For more www.thedroplive.com
SYDNEY COASTREK
PALM BEACH, CURL CURL OR MANLY TO MOSMAN
MARCH 27, 2020
Join thousands of wild women, and a few awesome men, as you immerse yourself in nature for a good cause. Embark on an epic adventure of 15km, 30km or 60km. For bookings and conditions visit www.coastrek.com.au.
Sue Pocock talks us through the fast emerging career of designing programmes to keep people mentally and physically active... The training qualification only takes 12 months, part time.
SSue Pocock is brimming with enthusiasm talking about the breakthrough course she is teaching next term and believes it is transforming lives one by one.
“Many centres supporting people living with dementia will now be scrambling for people with this qualification, but you could also score a position working as a council sport and recreation officer, or with those living with mental health conditions.”
Cert IV in Leisure and Health (CHC43415) will be available in our local area at award winning Northern Beaches & Mosman College (NBMC). Sue is also part of the lifestyle enrichment team at Anglicare, and is a facilitator at Dementia Australia.
“The 2019 royal commission in aged care, along with the just released 2019 Aged Care Quality Standards, means providers need qualified people to design stimulating activities for their consumers. There is an estimated 447,115 Australians currently living with dementia and that number is growing rapidly.
The new standards focus on person centred care, and meaningful engagement. In this job you must find out the life story of the resident first. The spiritual, social and emotional needs are all part of the care plan.”
Important questions may be: what are their likes and dislikes? What was their job? Sue tells of one lady who was interested in fish and was thrilled with her aquarium and fish centred activities, while another man had a big smile doing all his golf-centred activities.
“Music has been proven to be mentally stimulating and so we design music playlists of their favourite songs and you see the person transform before
your eyes. No two people living with dementia are the same.”
In years past, when dementia wasn’t understood, you’d hear terrible stories about people being heavily medicated, not stimulated, and just put in front of the TV all day. They would decline rapidly because they had no quality of life. That, of course, isn’t allowed now with the new standards in place. This course has no prerequisites and the career would suit anyone who is a people person.
“Sometimes you are part psychologist because of how deep you dive down into their brain,” laughs Sue.
“You see the person transform before your eyes. No two people living with dementia are the same.”
“There are people of all ages who love this role. People in their 20’s right through to people looking for a career change or re-entering the workforce later in life.”
No doubt a very rewarding experience, making a difference to someone’s daily life. Sue says she genuinely cannot wait to see everyone in class. •
RTO ID 90113. This course may be subsidised by the NSW government - www.nbmc.nsw. edu.au/course/CHC43415_Leisure_Health
Any observer of politics both here and overseas, has to admit that the events in Britain and the United States are far more interesting.
Like most others, I am glad that the political scene in Australia has seemingly become quite mundane. The Federal and State governments, on the whole, are working together, especially on infrastructure projects, to try to push the economy along in increasingly tough times. While there are some mildly engaging stories around, none of them rise to the level of Brexit, the UK general election, and Donald Trump with his usual shenanigans.
Firstly to Britain. Over three years ago, in June 2016, approximately 52-48% of the British people voted ‘yes’ in a referendum of whether to leave the European Union. Since then, the inability of the government to agree on a plan, or to leave the union, has caused a quagmire of argument, indecision and chaos. When the vote was put to the people, a clear exit strategy was never planned for. This was due to the incredible arrogance of David Cameron, the PM of the time, who didn’t even instruct his public service to design a blueprint in case of the ‘yes’ vote. Arguments can be made for both cases in the Brexit debate. That having been said, the people voted to leave, and the elected representatives should always carry out the wishes of the people in a referendum. The failure to do so has fed the argument that there is a massive split between the people and the so-called ‘establishment’. These elite types, as seen by the ‘outsiders’, are doing themselves no favours, only feeding the beasts that claim they are only there for themselves, telling the
rest of the people what is good for them. Populists around the world are using this to their advantage.
Boris Johnson called a general election in Britain to be held on December 12 this year. The Conservatives are up by an average of around 10 points at the time of writing, but we’ve all seen how well polls have been performing of late. Add to this the fact that former PM Theresa May was 20 points up at the start of the last campaign, and she only just scraped over the line, making for an interesting few weeks.
Over in the US, impeachment hearings have been going on in the House of Representatives, into whether the President used his office for personal gain. The accusation is that he withheld military aid to Ukraine, unless the government there held an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden’ son Hunter, over business dealings he had there. The evidence presented so far seems compelling, and impeachment seems likely. This means a trial would be held in the US Senate as to the President’s guilt, and therefore removal from office. 66 of the 100 Senators have to vote guilty for this to occur. The Republicans, however, already hold a slim majority in the Senate, and the chances of them voting to remove a President from their own party are slim, at best. According to latest US polling, the impeachment of the President only ranks as the 10th most important issue. And Trump voters will only be galvanised further to support him.
Both of these current events are intriguing to say the least. •
Chris Thomas, local Northern Beaches illustrator and cartoonist, has always had a love for drawing. His creative flair includes t-shirt designs, gig posters - including one for Fleetwood Mac, cartoons and illustrations. He’s even featured in Qantas’ in-flight magazine and The Australian Weekend. Get intouch with Chris on 0408 990 509, or check out his instagram page at @christhomasillustration
With the dry and warmer months upon us, and there being so many fires blazing away across the state, it is so important that we collectively thank the brave members of the NSW Fire and Rescue, alongside the NSW Rural Fire Service, who tirelessly fight to keep us safe.
In acknowledging our state’s firefighting history, NSW Fire and Rescue certainly has an interesting tale to tell. Understandably, firefighting in NSW wasn’t always as corporate as it is now. By way of example, in the 1820’s, the only form of Fire Brigade in NSW was a military Brigade, consisting of soldiers trained to use firefighting equipment.
In somewhat of an advancement, in 1836 The Australian Insurance Company decided to establish its own Fire Brigade. What followed was a number of other insurance companies following suit, which meant that local volunteers who formed part of each Brigade were provided with equipment by the Insurance Companies, rather than having to source their own.
In 1909, the Fire Brigades Act finally established a statewide approach to
firefighting and on 1 January 2011, the NSW Fire Brigades changed its name to Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW). According to its website, “The new name more accurately reflects the wider scope of services offered to the community and proudly symbolises and supports the organisation’s vision for the future.”
Although Fire and Rescue have a part to play in putting fires out, they also have investigative officers who work with the police. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology;
“Bushfire arson, like structural arson, is a strongly patterned activity. These patterns seem to be mainly determined by the interplay between socioeconomic and environmental dynamics. Since the fundamentals of these two factors change slowly, bushfire arson tends to happen at the same time and in the same place every year.”
One challenge that will always remain for investigators, is catching arsonists
before they act. Techniques are regularly advancing to make sure this does happen, particularly via the use of camera detection and intelligence gathering.
In addition, penalties for arson are getting tougher. In fact, the Government has just announced that as a further crackdown on dangerous bushfire bugs, the standard non-parole period for convicted arsonists is set to increase from five years to nine years.
On behalf of McKenzie McLoughlin Law, we not only thank our suburban and rural firefighters, but we also take this time to wish all of our readers, clients and colleagues a wonderful holiday season. •
Geoff y’ Thomas, was my mother Bronwen’s favourite cousin. Sadly in November of this year, Geoff took a fall and passed away. A local legend in his day and as I discovered at his wake, the legend of Taffy was still very strong in the community, with family and lifelong friends coming together to mourn his loss. Here are the memories of a man who created, along with others, an icon of a bygone era.
Many people can remember certain places of character and substance within Manly, of times past and the fun they had at them, none shown more fondly than Taffy’s in the 70’s and 80’s.
Many will have celebrated, proposed or have dined at the iconic Manly restaurant ‘Taffy’s on the Beach’ during the 1970 - 1980’s. A local icon or tourist treasure find, nothing was better than tucking into a seafood platter on the beachfront restaurant loved by locals and overseas visitors alike.
Word spread quickly about the freshest seafood and other culinary fare offered and to reserve a table on a weekend, a week in advance, was the only chance to dine. Tables turned over twice a night with celebrities of the day donning the best seats. A regular haunt for celebrities, including Graeme Kennedy, Lorrae Desmond, Peter Garrett, Martin Plaza, and internationally acclaimed, the Village People.
Surfing royalty names such as Simon Anderson and Shaun Tomson brought their dates and local fire brigade crews regularly visited. The McWilliam’s Wines family were almost weekly customers along with families, couples and politicians.
Taffy’s on the Beach was just one of those places, for not only the best food, but the hippest waitresses in miniskirts, and fun, fabulous times in town.
Geoff’s early career was with Qantas Cabin Crew where he met his eventual business partner Rob Forsyth.
The Qantas crew would often be seen at the amazing upstairs cocktail bar, where it would become so busy, the Qantas crew would jump in and lend a hand, mixing the world-renowned frozen Mango Daiquiris, Strawberry Chi Chi’s and Pina Coladas. Out of town New Yorkers relished the Manhattans, Cosmopolitan and Martini’s.
Taffy’s first restaurant on The Corso in Manly was known as Taffy’s Beefhouse. Taffy’s on the Beach soon took the mantel for their legendary seafood as the amazing drawcard.
The empire kept growing to include Taffy’s at the Junction, Neutral Bay and Taffy’s Anchorage at Akuna Bay, with then Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, officially opening the venue.
Taffy further expanded the business with Pittwater Seafoods on Pittwater
Road, Manly, supplying the finest local establishments with daily fresh seafood including his take-away venues next door to the beachfront venue and in Manly Vale.
The fame all started in Manly with twelve tables on the beachfront between the Hotel Steyne and the then Manly Pacific Hotel, now the Novotel Manly Beach. Taffy lived upstairs with wife Suellen whose recipes for the Seafood Bouillabaisse and Taramasalata became cult favourites.
Taffy’s introduced the ‘Salad Bar‘ to Australia where you could serve yourself an array of fresh rolls and salad on both levels of the restaurant.
The staff from these days, still connect and enjoy yearly get-togethers. With so much fun and the friendliest vibe, the restaurant chain eventually sold in the mid 1980’s to local investors.
Geoff ‘Taffy’ Thomas is survived by his children Mitchell, Bryn and Mack who farewelled their father quietly along with Taffy’s former wife, Suellen, friends and family recently at the RMYC Newport.
As with all celebrations of life, many stories are told and memories shared.
Farewell Taffy! Local Legend –we will miss you. •
rey ‘Taffy’ Thom Novemb took a fa legen ered
words by: taffy’s waitress crew: Kas, Masha, Lindy Lu, Lady Di, Lee Helen Melon, MrsH, Good-on-ya-Sonia.
My old mate Warren ‘Wozza’ Molloy rode his last wave earlier this year. Aged 82, the man was a local legend in the surf club community, a man of high morals, a policeman of the highest honour, steadfast to the cause, and a tough nut to ruffle in the most trying of circumstances. I caught up with Helen, his wife, to see how she’s getting on and reflect on Wozza’s achievements. We laughed a bit about her many Gold Medal surf titles - a little joke between Wozza and herself, and generally reflected on a man that stood the test of time.
Wozza, was a legend in Surfboats and many walks of life.
He exposed corruption in the Police Force, Judicial and Political System in the 1970/1980’s. He almost single handedly ‘brought down’ crime boss Abe Saffron and exposed both Police Commissioner Allen and Judge Murphy.
Wozza grew up in Sydney joining the Police Force and Garie Surf Club, where he became Boat captain and sweep at age of 19 in 1956. He transferred to Port Macquarie and made an instant impact with junior boat crews winning numerous titles. His crew included Don McManus of Bilgola / North Narrabeen fame.
He was transferred to a one-man Police Station at Nymboida in 1960, where he rode horses and rounded up “Bush Rangers”.
Wozza joined Yamba Surf Life Saving Club for stint and then moved to Woolgoolga Surf Life Savers Club for a couple of successful years.
After a while the Police Force transferred Wozza back to Sydney and stationed him at Manly Police Station, under the command of the most feared and revered Australian Policeman, Francis Michael “Bumper” Farrell. Bumper taught him to wrap the handcuffs around his knuckles for the constant ‘blues’ they had with the bikey gangs, who terrorised Manly at the time.
Wozza joined Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club in 1967, bringing with him, country boys Dave ‘Lofty’ Baldwin, Dave Cooper and Rob ‘Burgo’ Burgess. In 1971 in Perth, Wozza won Queenscliff’s first open surfboat title
with his crew of ‘Burgo’, ‘Lofty’, John Poole and boat builder, Roger Ninham.
He captained the Australian Surf Life Saving Team in 1972 to compete in the Australia versus New Zealand competition. In the same year he was awarded the NSW Police Sportsman of the Year.
His ‘Aussie Titles’ did not end there. In 1977 he filled in for an injured sweep for the Warriewood SLSC, competing in Bancurra, Victoria he battled ‘monster’ seas to win his second Australian Open Boat Title. He continued to compete for various clubs and swept North Steyne Surf Life Saving Club to victory in the gruelling 182 kilometre George Bass Marathon in 2004 and 2008. In 2009, Wozza was inducted into the Australian Surf Rowers League (ASRL) Hall of Fame.
At the age of 77 years Wozza swept his last competition in Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club’s Masters Crew at the World Titles in France in 2014.
His involvement in surfboats continued to the day he passed away. This year, a crew he mentored from Woolgoolga won the Queensland State Titles and dedicated the win to Wozza.
His will to win was rare, he took the greatest pride in guiding young blokes on how to win not only in sport but in life.
He regarded second place as the first loser, and made no excuses. He was decent, he was brave and he was always a gentleman.
Rob ‘Burgo’ Burgess
My fondest memory of Wozza was when I was rowing in the mighty George Bass Marathon, in 2004. I’d heard Wozza was a tough competitor. Our crew was about two kilometres from the finish line and at least one kilometre ahead of any other crew in sight. Everyone was hurting after a gruelling 30km row. Victory was in sight. But Wozza kept shouting at us, “Row harder, row harder, they’re catching us.” Rowing stroke and in control of rate, I called out, “Ease up Wozza - we’re miles in front.” We raced to the beach, Wozza surging us on “Row to the line.”
As I stood catching my breath, the 68 year old Wozza fronted me and said, “Listen here boy, if I was five years younger I would have climbed down the boat and punched you square in the nose for back chatting me like that.”
I loved him like a Dad from that day on. He was a legend, commanded respect and deserved it for everything he gave.
John VickeryYou probably know about Manly’s Little Penguins, but have you heard of their equally little ambassadors? Northern Beaches Secondary College’s (NBSC) Project Penguin initiative is bringing innovation and hope to this threatened species.
If you needed to talk to an expert on Little Penguins, of which there is one breeding pair left in Manly, your local authority would most likely be a person a quarter of your age. Students of NBSC Cromer, Manly, Mackellar Girls and Balgowlah Boys, and their primary school mentor groups, know everything there is to know about these tiny endangered species thanks to Project Penguin
For NBSC student mentors, the key elements to the program are Habitat Day, an onsite environmental immersion day, and mentoring a group of primary students, with the ultimate goal being the design of a conservation program for the Little Penguins. This year, 250 Year 9 & 10 students, and 555 Year 4, 5 & 6 students participated.
Project Penguin gave rise to innovative ideas which NBSC College Projects Officer Sandra Bonello says were
only possible because of the open mindedness of students.
“If it was an adult, they would put a lot of roadblocks up. Because they’re students, they just have a lot of imagination,” said Ms Bonello of the creative, critical thinking students demonstrated throughout the project.
The tiny residents of Manly have a number of threats, including fox, dog and cat attacks, plastic pollution, boat strikes, fishing lines, rubbish and deliberate destruction of nests. One group of students built a prototype for a ‘wet dry nest’, where penguins can safely go from water to shore without the threat of fox, cat and dog attacks. Another group developed a fox spray,
the smell acted as a deterrent while not bothering the penguins.
The winning projects from each school were showcased in an exhibition at Taronga Zoo. Among the guests were Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan, Ms Zali Steggall OAM, Member for Warringah, Mr James Griffin MP, Member for Manly and Secretary for the Environment & Veterans and Mr Cameron Kerr, Executive Director, Chief Executive at Taronga Conservation Society of Australia, Stacey Exner Director Educational Leadership (Relieving), The Beaches NSW Dept. of Education.
“That’s education for life, and that means far more than just reading a book, putting it down and forgetting about it.
www.nbsccromer-h.schools.nsw.gov.au
nbscollege-m.school@det.nsw.edu.au
It’s something I’ll never forget,” Mayor Michael Regan said of the program.
“We’re seeing this generation coming through and saying, we’re serious about the environment and we want you decision makers to take it more seriously than you have been.”
Project Penguin’s Habitat Day also involved students in a beach clean. Ms Bonello said that often students were surprised by just how much plastic they found. She recalls a group finding a dead cormorant on the beach, wrapped in fishing line, which brought home the real impact for consistent conservation efforts. The beach cleans led to positive
continual action for some, with one student taking her family on a weekly beach clean as a result of the initiative.
Ms Bonello says Project Penguin is impactful because it teaches students that they can do the 1%, making small changes to amalgamate to a larger impact.
Project Penguin is run with the support of the Sydney Harbour Parks and Wildlife, Manly Environment Centre, Taronga Zoo, Manly volunteer penguin wardens and Manly community volunteers. Project Penguin is proudly sponsored by Landcare, NSW Department of Education. Project Penguin exists
through a collaboration with Taronga Zoo. Taronga is instrumental to the existence of the project and we work shoulder to shoulder with their team of educators and professional staff. •
“I think it really does have a big impact on the way students view their future and their place in that. The project really instils a sense of responsibility,” said Ms Bonello
You might know the man behind the legendary Salty Rooster: while his burgers are nothing short of droolworthy, his latest venture is thoughtful, wholesome, and a testament to the shining, lively man that is Jimmy Sagiotis.
Having lost his wife two years ago, left with two young children, Jimmy has in this time learned volumes about grief, moving on, and what it means to truly live… and Jimmy is now here to weigh in on your questions.
I broke up with my missus two years ago and honestly at the time it broke me. We thought we were each other’s forever. I’ve got two little ones, and I think I’ve finally met someone I really like, but I’m too scared of what the kids might think, what should I do?
Well, Scared Lover, you can’t be scared. You just can’t. I know that’s easier said than done, but the fear you’re choosing to hold on to is only making it harder to receive love. For one reason: YOU. Receiving love is one of the biggest gifts life has to offer. You see, your kids love you tremendously. You are a reflection of their happiness and joy. So seeing you in love and happy mirrors a possibility for themselves. You have to honour the love you once had and allow room for the new love. I lost my own wife and recently I met someone. So, I’m in love again. She truly is a remarkable person. She makes me happy every day that goes by.
And you know the best part? My kids love her too. The kids just want two things; they want to be loved, and have fun. And if you’re happy, they’ll see that.
And you know what, they want part of that love. Love hurts, but you can’t be scared of it. You have to have skin in the game, to score a big win. Good luck!
Dear Jimmy...
I’ve had a lot of things go wrong in my life. It’s starting to feel impossible to just feel happy, when everything in the past has gone so wrong. I know this baggage isn’t good for me or my kids... how do I drop all of this and start living a good life?
Jordan, Freshwater Jordan, you said it yourself, baggage! As we move through life, things happen to us. You pick up emotional attachments to events where things didn’t work out the way you had hoped. These are called suitcases. ‘The girl of your dreams breaks up with you’. Suitcase. ‘Your old man passes’. Suitcase. ‘You lose your job’. Another suitcase. Lots of suitcases get really hard to hold. What happens next is, a recurring situation pops up. As you picked up all these suitcases you also bought yourself a new pair of sunglasses. Sunglasses that protect you from it happening again. Protecting yourself from the next encounter after a while isn’t sustainable. Sure, you’ll develop some awesome biceps. But man, that sounds tiring! There’s an easy solution to this, drop the baggage and take off the sunglasses. Learn from experiences, but don’t carry it around with you for the rest of your life. A new and exciting beginning is what you are after. If not for yourself, do it for your kids. Kids just want to have fun. So drop the baggage, sunglasses and you’ll have not one, but two free hands to throw a footy with your kids at the beach. Life can be simple, if you let it.
Jimmy has learnt this all first-hand; after losing his wife, he took his kids on a holiday to Miami. Recording everything and editing it later, he quickly realised how miserable he looked in the videos, and began to think about the impact it would have on his kids if he kept on like this. Thinking about what he wanted his legacy to be, he realised how truly amazing kids can be.
what kids can do.”
He found himself at a crossroads. He was sick of the “poor me” culture many of us are guilty of indulging in and wanted to turn the tables and redeem himself for his kids’ sake. Jimmy plans to link local “heroes” in the community, professionals in their fields, with kids, to help them realise their own true capacity.
“If you believe it, it’s possible,” said Jimmy, with light dancing passionately in his eyes.
Watch this space. Truly a community spirit, and we can’t wait to see what Jimmy does next. •
m.au
“It’s the kids leaving these memories, I’m just guiding them. Look
For members of the Quiver Club surf life and the daily grind exist all in one. Open early for the dawn raiders wandering down to this hotspot has a range of benefits almost as big as its range of surfboards.
SSurf N Stash is Manly’s most innovative new venture is giving surf addicts the chance to cram in a little bit more of their passion before the work day starts. Offering storage space for boards and change rooms for when you need to switch from boardies to blazers.
The Quiver Club is the next step up for the most adventurous of all; a club with brand-name boards for people to meet up, chill out, work and relax. Members have unlimited access to longboards, mini mals, short boards, hybrids and SUPs, the choice is yours. Feel like trying something different? How does a McTavish longboard or a Hypto Krypto sound? Or what about a Psycho Nitro, vintage single fin, a twin fin or maybe even a finless? Foil boards are coming soon too! The list is endless.
In the name of doing their bit for Mother Earth the Quiver Club is big on recycling and reuse with its range of second-hand boards on offer too.
As every surfer knows, surf conditions change all the time. What happens if your board is simply wrong for the day’s surf? Enter the Quiver Club, giving you the flexibility of choice each time you walk down, check out the surf, and make the three minute walk back to the club on Whistler Street.
Even if you’re a bit of a rookie the Quiver Club is all about community, and its members vary greatly in experience, both in the water and out. The good vibes that permeate the space make it impossible not to get chatting to the person next to you, building that legendary surf community in Manly all the more. Boards in your quiver can range from
an easy softboard, progressing to more challenging boards as your confidence grows. The club is planning to offer surf clinics to club members too! What better place is there to learn?
Speaking of learning and productivity, the Quiver Club also offers its members hot desks and free WiFi so you can check your emails or even work in the club for the day. Spend your lunch break surfing!
Wetsuits are freely available if you don’t have your own, as are the lockers, where you can stash your gear while you surf. Permanent locker hire is also available. The Quiver Club is so much more than a place to come and go; it’s a surfer’s second home. The 55” LED TV streams live sports and pro surf comps, or you can drop by and watch The Endless Summer or Big Wednesday. Chill on the couch or in a bean bag with a magazine, or a book from their library of surf paperbacks. The Quiver Club truly surrounds you with surf culture, rather than simply the act of surfing itself.
“Stop by and grab an espresso or herbal tea on us,” says Leanne Segedin, Director of Surf N Stash.
Saltwater therapy at its best! What a great way to boost physical, mental and emotional health. With your membership and a quiver at your disposal, pick your weapon of choice and conquer the swell.
Ongoing membership and three, five and seven day Surf Packs available. Summer opening hours Mon - Fri 7am - 6pm; Sat/Sun 8am - 6pm. Surf N Stash opens at 6am during the week if requested by a member - by appointment only. •
15A Whistler Street, Manly | 1300 037 893 | www. surfnstash.com.au info@surfnstash.com.au | surfnstash surfnstash_syd
“Stuck for Christmas present ideas? Keep the good vibes rolling with a Quiver Club Gift Card.”
Manly is home to some of the most important marine ecosystems and its beautiful coastline. It comes down to us to look after our beautiful beaches. What’s our MP doing about it? COVERED. sat down with James Griffin MP for Manly to discuss all things marine environments and our beautiful, top grade beaches.
The marine environment is a crucial part of Manly’s identity. We’re even home to some endangered populations like the Little Penguins at Manly Cove! However, more often than not, when many Sydneysiders think about the marine environment, they think about the Great Barrier Reef, ignoring the ecosystem –seaweed forests – that are right in front of them, in their local coastline.
As James Griffin MP states, “I am committed to a clean ocean and advocate for practical environmental policies to improve our marine environment. We all know Manly is home to some of our most important marine ecosystems along the coastline, such as Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve.”
Griffin has funded $199,000 for a new art-meets-science marine festival coming soon to Manly, funded through the NSW Government’s My Community Project. This new festival will engage the Manly community in a celebration of these mighty ecosystems, increasing stewardship and the potential for preservation of Sydney’s marine environments for generations to come.
“Supported by the community’s deep connection to our marine environment, this art-meets-science festival will work to further educate and engage our local community in protecting our underwater forests. It’s another great investment in our local organisations that I am so proud to support.”
Manly, along with other beaches on the Northern Beaches, proved how great
their marine environment is earlier this year. The state of the beaches 201819 report rated all ocean beaches on the Northern Beaches as Very Good or Good for water quality.
“It’s not all bad news as demonstrated by the high grading of our water quality across our Northern Beaches. Through the strong work of our environmental agencies, beaches such as Shelley Beach and it’s marine ecosystem have a Beach Suitability Grade of Very Good, the highest grade possible.”
The report summarises the performance of 228 swimming sites along the NSW coast in 2018–2019, providing a longterm assessment of how suitable a site is for swimming. 86% of swimming sites in NSW were graded Good or Very Good. •
With Chrissy shopping underway, why not get some beautiful gifts and support communities affected by drought? What began as an ingenious, simple idea is now @buyfromthebush with 200,000 followers and counting.
words by: tara wesson + regional pr photography: regional pr
It all started when Grace Brennan received a message from a friend in the city, asking her to recommend some stores in her local Warren. Living on a property in regional New South Wales, her friend’s coining of the phrase “buy from the bush” sparked a brilliant idea, and one easy to execute. Over lunch, Grace enlisted friend and local Millie Fisher as the project’s ‘Chief of Hustle’; the accounts were made, and the rest is history.
The social media accounts showcase beautiful rural boutiques and wares available from the bush. The suppliers featured rely on predominantly farming communities to keep them afloat, and at a time like this, that is difficult. Most farmers in drought regions are cash-poor at the moment, and many others are being forced to relocate in pursuit of work.
“I was very keen to feel helpful in what can often feel like a helpless situation. Having grown up in Sydney, I was also really aware of how much people in the city want to show their support if given a chance,” says Grace.
For Warren and the surrounding areas particularly, they are now rolling into their fourth year of drought. For the first
three years, Millie explains that many had the stoic farmer mentality of “she’ll be right. It’ll rain. People have been through this before, we’ll get there.” But these assurances had begun to wear this and communities were beginning to lose hope.
“It’s just filling people’s minds with a little bit of hope, and positivity throughout towns. I mean, people are talking about it in the news agencies and cafes, schools and markets. It’s just gone through the towns in waves, it’s quite incredible,” says Millie.
For the economies of these communities, the benefits of this cash injection are clear from the business owners now paying themselves a wage, to the post office franchisees sending the products to the city. Some featured businesses have even had such spikes in sales, they can now afford to take on other staff, put their kids in after school activities, or invest in some self care.
For Millie personally, she has a one year old and three year old, and hasn’t worked since her children were born. Her husband is a contract farmer, and being a farmer’s wife in drought, she says it’s difficult not to get bogged down in the same circulatory thoughts.
“Obviously being very close to my heart, feeling that you are making a difference has selfishly had a huge effect on how I am as a mother and a wife and a friend, and it couldn’t have come along at a better time,” Millie says.
@buyfromthebush connects the rural and regional, bringing Australians together through the magic of social media. According to Millie, the power of this direct communication quite literally speaks volumes. Many regional retailers don’t have a website, forcing us city slickers to pick up the phone. She explains that for many, feeling that city folk have got their back boosts morale and mental health.
“They ask how they’re going and what’s going on in the town, and likewise for the country boutique owners. They love hearing what’s going on in the city as well. And I think maybe we thought that the disconnect was there. I only think it was there because people in the city didn’t know where to channel their help,” says Millie.
So sit down after dinner, put the kids to bed, have a browse and have a shop. Or, you can share the @buyfromthebush pages and spread the love. Every little bit helps. •
Colormaker Industries is the Peninsula’s own sustainable paint manufacturer, located in Orchard Road, Brookvale. Colormaker is the only remaining paint manufacturer on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, who researches, develops and manufactures innovative, low-VOC paints, water-proofing membranes, swimming pool paints and water-based eco-friendly ink products and exports many of these products to the world. The manufacturer has proudly led by example with their environmentally sustainable business practices; working towards eliminating harmful chemicals from manufacturing, reducing their environmental footprint using only 100% renewable energy and supporting local and national environmental causes.
Colormaker proudly manufactures PERMASET® inks –a range of environmentally-friendly screen printing inks which are popular worldwide.
Colormaker’s environmental measures include an increasing focus on the development of solvent free, water-based and low-VOC paint technologies and a significant commitment to invest in the research and development of eliminating harmful chemicals from their products. Furthermore, Colormaker produces all their products using 100% renewable energy and a range of recycling practices. This includes the use of LED lighting throughout the warehouse and office complex, the treatment of all waste water, recycling of paper, board and scrap metal and the use of 100% renewable electricity for all their manufacturing.
COLORMAKER
Ceiling White paint has eliminated plastic microbeads from the formulation to make it safer for the environment.
Colormaker’s PERMATONE® textile screen printing inks are Approved by the Soil Association in the UK under the Global Organic Textiles Standards (GOTS) for use in Organic Textile processes. In 2012, PERMATONE® became the first ink from outside the UK to receive this sought after Approval. The entire family of PERMASET® textile printing inks does not contain ozone-depleting chemicals such as CFCs and HCFCs, aromatic hydrocarbons or any volatile, or lead of any heavy metals.. In fact PERMASET® inks do not contain any toxic chemicals at all, not even white spirits like other water-based inks on the market. PERMATONE® inks have also passed the Oekotex Class 1 standard (with 60% to spare) and are safe to use on underwear, swimwear and even baby clothes.
The manufacturer’s solid commitment to research & development in eliminating harmful chemicals is testament to this continuing company objective. Colormaker’s eco-responsible low-VOC technologies, utilised in their ACRYLMERIC® construction products and COLORMAKER House Paint ranges, are examples which mirror the increasing demand for environmentally sustainable paints and inks in response to growing public awareness and concern over the world’s ecosystem.
An example of raw material improvements includes the eradication of plastic microbeads from all paints and coatings to ensure these products don’t make their way into rivers and oceans. These microbeads function like miniature sponges, absorbing pesticides and chemical runoff. Clouds of discarded microbeads make up a toxic debris that settles on river and ocean floors. Marine worms ingest these toxins and then, when they’re eaten by fish or other predators, the fish gobble up microbead poisons along with the worms. If people then eat those poisoned fish, they’re at serious risk of falling ill from the toxic residue.
PERMATONE® ink manufactured by Colormaker Industries has been Approved by the Soil Association of the UKIn September this year, Colormaker installed a 356 solar panel array on the roof of their factory and warehouse/office complex. This solar generated electricity is used to power their manufacturing with any additional power required being sourced from 100% renewables. At peak production, their solar array exports surplus clean energy back to the grid. In fact, their solar array generates enough energy to power 20 local homes, and saves the production of over 150 tonnes of greenhouse gases over a year!
As part of Colormaker’s commitment to help save the earth and Australia’s natural wonders, since 2016, the company has supported the Free the Reef campaign which raises awareness about threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Colormaker Industries provides their eco-friendly PERMASET® inks to the Free the Reef team to print t-shirts on a live screen printing tour around Australia.
Colormaker Industries’ Managing Director, David Stuart has been a strong proponent of environmental initiatives and an inspiration behind the development of many of the company’s premium product ranges, including LUXAPOOL®, Australia’s leading trusted swimming pool paint, and PERMASET® eco-friendly screen printing inks. LUXAPOOL pool paint is used to paint many of our beautiful Northern Beaches ocean pools including South Curl Curl, Dee Why, Queencliff and Fairlight ocean pools. Colormaker celebrated 60 years last year. “Sustainability is something I care deeply about,” advised Stuart. “We’re delighted that from now on a little bit of Australian sunshine is going into every container of ink, paint and coatings we manufacture here at Colormaker Industries in Brookvale.” he said.
EXTERIORS
SOLARCOLOR water-based exterior paint with UV protection is a durable product, excellent for all exterior walls, decks, pergolas and fences. Gloss or Low Sheen.
10 Year Guarantee
INTERIORS
ULTRAWASH Low-VOC wall paint is great for all interior walls, bedrooms, lounge-rooms, kitchens and more. Easy application and wipes clean of stains. Available in a range of finishes. Can be tinted to match any colour.
CONCRETE & PAVED FLOORS
Colormaker Water-Based low-VOC PAVING PAINTS are perfect for sprucing up paths, patios, decks and garage floors. Self-priming with a Satin finish.
CEILINGS
Colormaker low-VOC Ceiling White paint is an easy to apply spatter resistant, flat finish. This eco-friendly plastic bead-free paint has excellent opacity to cover surface imperfections.
YLike “The Plastics” of Mean Girls (2004), the big supermarket trifecta is, upon closer examination, full of plastic. Months on from the #banthebag movement that swept Australia, how are these giants shouldering their eco-responsibility?
You’d have to live under a rock, or never go to the supermarket, not to remember major supermarkets attempting to ban single use plastic bags, and the controversial back and forth that followed. Coles and Woolworths hung on to their original plan to #banthebag, once the media storm calmed down, and have now phased out single use plastic bags completely.
Single use plastic bags aren’t the be all and end all, however, as critics have argued that the much debated pledge was tokenistic. And the critics may have a point.
When you walk into the fresh produce section of a Woolworths, what do you bag your fruit in? That culpable, thin plastic bag. What are baked goods packaged in? A plastic container, wrapped in more plastic.
Here on the Northern Beaches, we care about our oceans, and the many creatures that call it home. Plastics threaten the iconic Little Penguins of Manly, not to mention turtles, cormorants, and fish that consume harmful microplastics. So, what are the major supermarkets doing, in doing their bit to work towards a plastic-free future?
“We understand many of our customers want us to reduce plastic and we’re working to do just that. Over the last two years, we have removed around 1000 tonnes of plastic from our fruit and vegetables and bakery ranges,” said a Woolworths spokesperson.
Key Woolworths plastic reduction initiatives include the removal of plastic wrapping from tomatoes, organic bananas, spring onions, celery and kale. Woolworths has also switched stone fruit and apple punnets from plastic to recyclable cardboard, and have
introduced new pulp based packaging for bakery items. Their reductions take more than 3.2 billion plastic bags out of circulation annually, according to a Woolworths spokesperson.
According to a Coles spokesperson, “we understand the importance of appropriate packaging in maintaining food safety, supporting product longevity and reducing food waste. At the same time Coles is committed to making our packaging more sustainable.”
Coles wants to be recognised for being Australia’s most sustainable supermarket and we have released a range of initiatives and commitments to drive more sustainable operations, to reduce our impact on the planet and to help our customers and team members lead healthy lives.
This includes the REDcycle initiative, in which both Woolworths and Coles allow customers to return and recycle soft plastics for repurposing.
“Coles is also actively working with our suppliers on more sustainable and recyclable forms of packaging across all products. Coles is a member of the Australian Packaging Covenant, which sets sustainable packaging guidelines and we also have our own Sustainable Packaging Policy. Our journey to becoming a truly sustainable company will take time, but these commitments are an important first step.” said the Coles spokesperson.
A spokesperson from Aldi, said similarly, “Despite our desire, and that of our customers, to reduce plastics immediately, this process will take years not weeks.
While we are ambitiously reducing the amount of plastic in our stores, we are also considering how to stimulate
Australia’s circular economy and support the development of recycling infrastructure needed to close the loop.”
Aldi has announced that they will be working in close collaboration with their business partners to reduce plastic packaging by 25% by the end of 2025; with the aim to stimulate an Australian circular economy by committing to include 30% recycled materials in their plastic packaging by the end of 2025.
Last year, Gary Mortimer, a retail expert at Queensland University of Technology, projected that Coles and Woolworths would turn approximately $71 million in gross profit by switching out single-use plastic bags, charging for the thicker plastic reusable option.
You, the consumer, have immense power in all this. Action against climate change, towards a sustainable future, can be moved along with even the smallest of actions. Keep holding big organisations accountable. As Spiderman said, “With great power comes great responsibility.”•
It’s been a while since COVERED. has caught up with Member for Mackellar, Jason Falinski. We chatted about all things climate change, local eco initiatives and how we can all do our bit to help the planet too.
Recently, Member for Mackellar, Jason Falinski secured a grant of just under $150,000 for the installation of solar panels on the Bayview Golf Club. The solar panels will help to reduce carbon emissions locally, ensuring the Northern Beaches is doing its bit to combat climate change.
“The Club will now become a Northern Beaches leader for renewable energy. The solar panels will not only reduce the club’s power bills, but will contribute to the government’s commitment to ensuring a more sustainable future.” Mr Falinski said.
Mona Vale Bush Regeneration is another project that Jason is supporting. This project will remove dense, noxious weeds such as Asparagus Fern and Lantana, in an area of about 5000m2. This will allow regeneration of native plant species, along with tube stock planting, will restore this area to a healthy coastal ecosystem, providing habitat for the wildlife of the area.
and restore our coastline, and bush flora and fauna. As inhabitants of the Northern Beaches, we owe it to the next generation to preserve the beautiful environment we call home.”
This project will reduce an environmental threat, helping the native dune plants and wildlife in the area.
“I advocate strongly for marine parks because I value our marine environment. Growing up on the Northern Beaches, I have a close connection to the beach and our waterways and believe it is very important that we keep them clear of pollution and damage. Under this government, Marine Parks have increased by over 50%.”
Falinski has instituted a Keep Cup policy in his office, insisting that his staff always take a Keep Cup from the office when they go to get a coffee.
“It is simple strategies like these that can reduce our waste output. Every take away cup that we do not use is one less in landfill or worse,
littered in our waterways or ocean. Individual households should also think about the little things they can do to save energy and create less pollution. Because if everyone does their bit, it can make a difference. For example, is it possible to walk somewhere rather than drive?”
As of recently, Falinski has been supporting a new initiative at his office called Foodbank Australia: a not-forprofit charity that distributes food to those who have difficulty supporting themselves or their families, in avoiding hunger. Approximately 3.6 million Australians seek food relief annually.
“The Christmas period can be a very stressful time for those doing it tough. This is why my office is holding a food drive with Foodbank. The drive aims to relieve some of the stress of the holiday period for families that need some extra support. We are accepting food and sanitary donations in my office until the 16th of December and I have been overwhelmed with the amount of support we have already received.” •
“It is so important that we look after
Colormaker Industries in Brookvale recently made the switch to solar power, with Zali Steggall MP officially flicking the switch on the 356 panel installation. COVERED. caught up with Federal Member for Warringah at the launch.
Personally, Steggall has made the switch to solar panels, and is currently exploring the acquisition of an electric car and beehive.
SSteggall was by far the most fitting person to launch Colormaker’s solar panels; a vocal campaigner for the environment in Canberra, back home in Brookie she says that it is businesses like Colormaker, that set the bar for others in the area.
“We are honoured that Zali Steggall, OAM and Federal Member for Warringah, has agreed to flick the switch on our rooftop solar photovoltaic array,” said Colormaker’s owner, David Stuart. “Zali was a champion skier and is now a champion of renewable energy.”
Steggall has advocated for climate action on behalf of various professional sectors, including medical bodies’ No Time for Games campaign which highlights the health risks of climate change, and Farmers for Climate Action.
“This is not a left or right issue. It’s a human issue. That’s a really important recalibration of the debate that I think needs to happen and we’re starting to see that be accepted. It also puts the conservative deniers on the fringe, and brings everyone into the centre in terms of the concern,” Steggall says.
According to the Australia Institute report, which Steggall recently launched, 81% of Australians are concerned about climate change and don’t believe we are currently doing enough. 64% would like to see us have a plan to be at net zero by 2050.
While the motion to declare a state of climate emergency was recently quashed
by the Coalition, with Federal Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor arguing that the motion was “symbolism” and impractical, Steggall has pledged to draft a Climate Change Act by 2020.
“I think it’s really important that this government understands that their inaction will be their legacy,” said Steggall.
On a local scale, Steggall is working to create opportunities for constituents, businesses, families and schools, so that they can appreciate their carbon footprint and take steps to reduce it. In Steggall’s eyes, small actions are key in fighting the disillusionment that many feel in the face of environmental issues.
“This is not an issue where giving up is an option. If you come across a roadblock, we just have to find solutions and break it down into manageable bits.”
“I get a lot of trolls telling me, ‘your campaign on climate change, why haven’t you fixed it yet?’ I wish I had that magic wand. I do believe like I said, it’s about incremental changes,” Steggall says.
“I consider myself one of many looking for the solutions and understanding the steps. I’m relying on experts to come to me with those solutions, and people leading by example, and Colormaker is absolutely a prime example. Hopefully other businesses will follow as well exactly when they see the benefits of what can be achieved.”
Installed over a six week period by Australian Solar on Colormaker Industries’ factory, warehouse and shop roof, the electricity it generates is 100% renewable, and will save production over 150 tonnes of greenhouse gas per annum.
“This array will produce twice as much electricity as we consume. That will mean, from a production perspective, the products will be arguably carbon negative. We’re delighted that from now on, there will be a little bit of Australian sunshine in every drop we make here at Brookvale,” Stuart said. •
“There will be a little bit of Australian sunshine in every drop we make here at Brookvale.”
Amy
I used to always use the plastic bags from the shopping centre, but I realised I can recycle them. I also line my bins with the newspaper. Even for kids, I’m thinking now that I’m a mum I’m setting an example. It’s these little things that kids learn to care about, other than themselves.
Cathy
We’ve just put in two compost bins at home and even a dog compost for our dog poos! We also grow our own veggies, next we’re getting chooks.
Elizabeth
We’ve grown up believing to look after the earth and the environment. So we look after the garden at our retirement village and reduce single use plastic as Mother Nature would have wanted.
We have a coffee cup recycling system here at Westfield which is a fantastic idea. We’ve got four of them that move throughout the centre, so make sure to use this for your coffee cups and don’t just chuck them in the bin!
Nathan
I work for Sydney Water so we’re trying to educate people on ways to save water, and utilising waste water and rainwater for better things like for farms in drought. At home we’re always trying to make sure taps are off and there are no leaks.
We offer Keep Cups at Four Brothers and discounts for those who use them. We try to get people to have two cups, one in the car and one here at the cafe so they can order in
advance on apps like Hey You with their keep cups, and that’s been really effective.
Tim
Minimising our plastic, especially our single use plastic. Simple things such as glad wrap, zip lock bags, takeaway coffee cups, and looking at using alternatives at home. I take my own bags to the shop, I’m a dude and I’m always walking around with a handbag, but everyone does it now.
Issy recently toilet trained herself in a week so she doesn’t use nappies anymore. No more single use nappies!
Santa
We don’t use any power engine at all, it’s totally reindeer powered and the reindeers run on carrots that we grow ourselves in the North Pole. Mrs Claus is also always making me sandwiches when I’m out and about so I don’t waste any food! At Christmas make sure not to leave me too much food, I don’t want to waste it!
Tia
I actually study environmental science at university. I try to reduce my consumption of single-use plastic as much as possible, so a lot of the time I’ll bring food from home. I also try to reuse my takeaway containers, cups and single-use plastic where I can. I partake in regular beach clean ups with Sea Shepherd.
We have a worm farm at our home for all our compost and kitchen scraps. They really love eating up the sports section of the paper. Next, we’re hoping to get bees and make all our own honey. •
words by: caity hardy photography: john vickeryCOVERED. spoke to the locals of the Northern Beaches to find out how they do their bit for the environment.
Mayor Michael Regan pulls no punches when it comes to making sure the Northern Beaches Council does everything and more for our beloved beaches. Moving into a range of environmental initiatives, COVERED. has the lowdown on what they all involve.
Towards 2040: the draft Local Strategic Planning Statement, Towards 2040 is just off public exhibition. This statement identifies that the environment and climate change will be considered in the future planning framework for the Northern Beaches.
Draft Environment & Climate Change Strategy: This strategy is also just off public exhibition and includes aspirations and commitments to protect and enhance the environment and reduce emissions.
MOVE – Northern Beaches Transport Strategy 2038: This strategy includes aspirations to reduce carbon emissions from transport through increasing public transport and reducing trips in cars.
Cities for Power Partnership (CPP): Council is a member of the Cities Power Partnership (CPP) a national program to celebrate and accelerate the emission reduction and clean energy successes of Australian towns and cities. Council has committed to five CPP pledges that will see new initiatives in renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transport and working with our community.
Charge Ahead: Council’s Charge Ahead program provides support to residents who want to make a difference in their own home. There are two free services on offer for residents including:
1. Sunspot - A solar mapping tool which allows homeowners to calculate potential electricity savings.
2. Australian Energy FoundationA sustainability advice service which offers practical guidance on reducing energy use in the home.
Sustainable Business Programs: We are engaging with local business through our Sustainable Business Network and hosting a series of programs and events to support businesses to reduce environmental impact.
Simplifying Solar: The program, planned for launch during this financial year, will address key identified barriers to solar uptake in the community.
Community education programs: A series of programs to improve sustainable behaviours in the community including waste reduction workshops such as composting and worm farming, reusable nappies, keeping backyard chickens and small electrical repairs café .
Sustainability Advantage Program: We have been recognised as a Bronze Partner of the NSW Government Sustainability Advantage Program which means we demonstrated commitment to improving environmental outcomes, rigorous data management practices, implementation of resource efficiency projects, commitment to sustainability goals and staff and community engagement.
Waste: The new waste contract involves modernising our waste collection and processing system across the whole Council area will result in considerable environmental benefits.
Emission Vechiles (EVs): Fleet Council is transitioning its fleet to low emission vehicles and within 2 years will have 12 electric (fully electric and hybrid vehicles) in its fleet. Charging infrastructure has been installed for Council use at its depots and at the PCYC, at Dee Why for use by Council and the local community.
Solar: We have installed over 400kW of solar across 30 sites and is planning on near doubling this by the end of 2020.
Accelerated Street Lighting Program: We have partnered with Ausgrid to accelerate the replacement of over 9,000 residential street lights with LED’s to reduce our energy consumption by around 80% and reducing emissions by 3,000 tonnes per year.
Electricity Procurement: We have entered into an agreement to procure 30% of our electricity from clean, renewable energy.
Energy Efficiency Upgrades: We have conducted energy audits at Council’s highest using sites and have been implementing priority actions. This includes HVAC upgrades, lighting upgrades and pool pump upgrades. •
Are you a Northern Beaches local and you haven’t got much planned for the holidays? How about you rediscover the amazing place we live in and enjoy a ‘Staycation’ right here! Or are you new to the Northern Beaches? Welcome! Let us show you around like a true local and show you all the spots you won’t hear about anywhere else.
Iconic Manly Beach is a surf beach that has three main sections South Steyne, North Steyne, in the centre, and Queenscliff (Queensie) at the northern end. In the summer months, there are usually three sets of flags - one at each of these sections, where swimmers can swim with the added assurance that these areas are patrolled by lifeguards. Queenscliff also has a large ocean pool where you can simply splash around or do lengths.
Northern Beaches locals love their coffee, and we’re pretty damn good at it. There’s an abundance of cute cafes with an epic chill vibe overlooking the water, perfect for a coffee pit stop or checking on emails. Our top picks: Ora Manly, Hemingway's Manly or The Corner at Queensie.
A beautiful coastal walk of approximately 50km that can be broken down over a number of days, the walk takes you from Palm Beach, at Barrenjoey Headland, along all of the Northern Beaches, finishing at Manly’s North Head. Cafés, stores and accommodation providers are scattered along the way in areas such as Avalon and Dee Why, whilst a number of buses complement the walk to allow easy access along different points. The entire coastal walk can be a little too much to take on board all in one go, so why not break it into sections and enjoy it at a more leisurely pace?
The quickest and easiest way to get around the Beaches! You’ll be zooming past the crowds and looking at the ocean from the best seat in the house. The Northern Beaches has some great bike paths, making it super easy to get around from beach to beach.
Manly has some great shops along the Corso showcasing all your favourite brands. Or if you’re wanting to shop like a local, head down to the markets just off the Corso every Saturday and Sunday. If you’re wanting something bigger and better, Westfield Warringah Mall has it all.
Q Station is a hidden gem located at North Head on the shores of Sydney Harbour in Manly. Surrounded by native Australian bushland with stunning views overlooking the Sydney Harbour and skyline. It is also home to the old Quarantine Station. Go there for their famous ghost tours or delicious restaurants. You can also stay overnight at their stylish accommodation overlooking the harbour.
1 North Head Rd, Manly | +61 2 9466 1500 | www.qstation.com.au
on the Northern Beaches
The Northern Beaches has many beautiful ocean pools to choose from and they are cleaned and maintained by the Northern Beaches Council. Our top picks are:
• Fairy Bower Pool
• North & South Beaches Curl Curl Pools
• Mona Vale Beach Pool
• Bilgola Beach Pool
Manly showcases some of the best food and wine in Sydney, with a mix of flavours including our ‘Aussie local’ - the Harbord Diggers. Whatever you’re craving, the Northern Beaches has you sorted. A few of our other favourites include: The Corner at Queenscliff, Seaside Thai, The Cook Room, Wings & Tins, The Bistro Manly and Manly Skiff Club.
With a range of craft beer breweries and a boutique distillery on the Northern Beaches, you can take your time to visit them individually for a tour and sample what they have on offer. The beers and spirits are also available at various bottleshops.
• 4 Pines Brewing Company
• Dad & Dave's Brewing
• 7th Day Brewery
• Modus Operandi Brewing Company
• Nomad Brewing Co.
• Manly Spirits Co. Distillery
Ever wanted to learn how to surf or are you a budding surfer looking to join the locals in Manly? You can easily hire a surfboard at Manly Surfboards Hire from $15 along with wetsuit hire. So you can come to the beach without having to worry about lugging around the heavy boards and wetsuits. You can also hire a locker meaning you can surf, stress-free.
Shop 3, 49 North Steyne, Manly 02 9976 0591 www.manlysurfhire.com.au
If you’re a local or a tourist, why not enjoy a stay at one of our beautiful venues and discover or rediscover the beauty this little slice of heaven has to offer. Our top picks for accommodation includes
NRMA Lakeside
Enjoy a weekend getaway just moments from your doorstep. NRMA Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park is one of the only beachfront caravan and camping locations in Sydney, located in Narrabeen on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The park has several accommodation options to include all styles and budgets.
Q Station
The Q Station offers stylish hotel accommodation, interactive tours and group activities, restaurants and a unique destination for weddings, events and conferences.
Novotel
Situated in the middle of Manly right on the beachfront. Novotel offers incredible ocean views, while also being in the hub of the hustle and bustle of Manly.
After a long day swimming, surfing and shopping in Manly, nothing quite finishes the day off perfectly than watching the sunset at Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club. Situated just a short walk from Manly’s famous Wharf, you can watch it turn from day to night with a cold one in hand. Their delicious food showcases the best of Manly with fresh seafood and delicious mains to share. This is the perfect meeting spot.
Cnr Stuart St & East Esplanade,Manly | www.manlyskiff.com.au
From Manly to Palm Beach, we have 23 beautiful beaches to choose from, most with wonderful rock pools and plenty of options to feel sand under your feet. With each having it's own personality, our top picks are:
• Whale Beach
• North & South Curl Curl Beaches
• Bilgola Beach
• Freshwater Beach
Just remember to swim between the flags and you will always be in good hands.
Covering an area of approximately 20 hectares, Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve includes seven main types of habitat: sandy beaches, rocky shores, rocky reefs, kelp, seagrass beds, sandy seabed and open water. The reserve harbours an abundance of sea-life, including the blue groper, cuttlefish and wobbegong sharks. Recreational activities are allowed in the reserve such as swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, underwater photography and boating. Fishing or collecting any marine life is not permitted.
Manly is one of the best known surfing spots in Australia and the world. Manly Beach stretches 1.3 kilometres from Fairy Bower on the southern headland to Queenscliff.
Facing directly east, it is one of the most consistent breaks in Sydney on a northeasterly or easterly swell, and one of the few city beaches that handles southerly winds well.
The breaks are divided into two regions: the beach itself and the Bower area on the southern headland. There is also an offshore bombora, the Queenscliff Bombie, off the northern headland.
In most swells the northern end of the beach around North Steyne and Queenscliff have the largest surf, with size tapering toward Manly Point.
Have you ever dreamed of owning a boat? Who hasn’t! Whether it’s watching the sun set on Sydney Harbour or finding hidden gems up on the Northern Beaches, exploring Sydney’s iconic waterways has never been easier with Pacific Boating.
For over 13 years, Pacific Boating has offered a flexible alternative with their club concept that allows you to enjoy this city’s stunning coastline while they take care of the rest, with affordability and ease.
Pacific Boating also offers you all the practical boating training you need on hand to get you up to speed and out on the water sooner.
Still keen on the idea of owning one for yourself? We now have 3 luxury Sea Ray 340 Sundancer Sports Cruisers with 1/10th boat shares available for purchase. Our premium booking model and years of management lets you own your own at a fraction of the cost.
From just $2995 per month to join the club on a 52-foot Sundancer Sports Cruiser or $18,000 for a 1/10th boat share in a Sundancer 340, Pacific Boating now has even more cost-effective solutions to meet all your boating needs..
While it’s easy to picture yourself out on the water relaxing and taking it all in, it’s not always so easy managing the upkeep, berthing and cleaning that all boats require. That’s where Pacific Boating comes in. As one of our loyal members said,
“I’ve always enjoyed the boating lifestyle but found it hard to justify all of the
ancillary costs that comes with boating; maintenance, insurance, berthing and of course… time spent cleaning up! Joining PBG has been the best decision … without all of those added concerns.“
Pacific Boating is the affordable, hassle free alternative to sole boat ownership. While its club based concept operates like a gym or golf club with a fee to join and an ongoing monthly fee to use their fleet of luxury sports cruisers, its new boat share experience allows you yet another option to enjoy a boating lifestyle with way less hassle.
REASONS TO CHOOSE PACIFIC BOATING
• Sea Ray sports cruiser fleet29’ through to a 52’
• Flexible mid-week or full week membership options
• Sophisticated and extensive training programmes
• 1 year to 3 year initial term options
• Corporate or private recreational memberships
• 3 great locations at Church Point, Rose Bay or Rozelle Bay
• Pacific Boating’s walk on, walk off service offering.
Pacific Boating caters to non boaties and boating enthusiasts alike with over
50% of members never having skippered a boat before! Our members rate us highly. Here is just some of what they have to say...
“Quality boats. Quality staff. Great price. The whole experience with Pacific Boating has been a good one. Times for training are easy to get, suited to your needs and the staff are very professional.”
“Amazing way to go boating. Really enjoying the Pacific Boating experience. Very convenient and really helpful staff. The ability to use the boat in Pittwater and Sydney Harbour is a real bonus. Thanks guys.”
“Much better than owning a Boat. If you really want to explore Sydney’s beautiful harbour and get some great family time out on the water, there is no better way than by boat. I love this membership, access to gorgeous boats without the expense and hassle of owning one outright.”
If you are looking for an easy, affordable way to enjoy boating, check out Pacific Boating and start enjoying the beautiful waterways that Sydney has to offer •
Head to Sydney’s only beachside holiday park for your next getaway. Located on the Northern Beaches, enjoy fishing, surfing or simply relax and recharge.
Search NRMA Parks Sydney Lakeside
IFamily holidays don’t have to involve a chockers trailer and “are we there yet” for hours on end. Quirky but tranquil Q Station is Manly’s answer to the increasingly popular 'staycation'.
It’s a warm, early morning. Sitting amidst the shelter of the trees, the call of a cockatoo empties into the silence, blissfully blanketing you as you sip your cup of tea. The kids are sleeping in the next room, and you’re enjoying a few moments of peace, nestled in the national park of North Head. What will you get up to today?
The festive summer months are here, and Q Station is the staycation that takes zero stress to plan or get to, so all you have to worry about is how you’ll spend that much needed leisure time each day. Perfect for the family, this unique spot boasts a stunning location with 360° views of Sydney Harbour, and a private harbour beach, unpatrolled.
Hire out kayaks, SUPs or snorkels, or walk or ride on one of the many trails around Q Station and North Head. You may even spot an echidna, or one of the other many wild residents sharing this beautiful slice of wilderness with you on your stay. The
kids can bring their scooters along to explore the grounds; save for Q Station vehicles, no cars are allowed on site, continuing that impenetrable quiet of paradise.
For those who want to venture beyond, visitors have easy access to North Head, Manly and the city for a day out. The ‘Hop On Hop Off’ Ferry leaves direct from Q Station wharf, making this a no fuss option for families especially.
By night, the kooky, historical parts of Q Station creep out. The location was once a quarantine station for those migrating to Australia in the 19th century, who had contagious diseases. History and ghost tours are available for families, and for the more daring adults (18+), try an extreme ghost tour. The free museum offers more background to the house of spooks. The tour guides are passionate, and will take the family on a ghost tour on a Friday or Saturday night. Even for the non believers, it’s a fun and
interesting tour with lots of history thrown in as well.
The food and drink options at Q Station make it a destination in and of itself, offering visitors a choice of restaurant, cafe or bar, each with its own draws. Award winning Boilerhouse Restaurant has a shared style menu with delicious Manly Spirits Co. Distillery cocktails, whereas Engine Room Bar has more casual dining options. The Visitor Centre Café is perfect if you’re after a snack on the go, and hot buffet breakfasts are also available at Views Restaurant if booked with an accommodation package.
A range of accommodation options include deluxe rooms, apartments and three bedroom cottages perfectly suited to families. There are a total of 106 accommodation rooms on site.
The restaurant menu does change quite regularly, according to what’s in season: just one of the many ways the venue honors its roots in its natural surrounds. Diners can definitely expect an exciting summer menu!
Immerse yourself in nature and chill into the summer months. •
Q Station is the staycation that takes zero stress to plan or get to, so all you have to worry about is how you’ll spend that much needed leisure time each day.words by: tara wesson photography: qstation
The Beaches Market at Warriewood was established in 2011 as not only a place to do your weekly shopping but a community meeting place for locals. Every Friday, from 8am to 1pm, there’s entertainment for the kids, live music, delicious food and space to sit on the grass and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Come down and see the best stalls on the Northern Beaches with high quality produce and products which are mostly grown or made by the stallholders themselves.
www.thebeachesmarket.com
Momma Kombucha was born in 2017, initially to help Natalie the founder and son of two boys to fight her eldest son’s allergies. Through this, the whole family became hooked on the delicious, gut-loving drink. The local family-run business thrives at the markets. It’s made by fermenting a careful blend of Rooibos and black tea, organic and local produce and berries and spices for flavour. Each bottle is made with love and is full of alive and healthy bacteria. Making it better than those store bought brands which favour shelf-life over your life. We welcome everyone to return your glass bottles and jars as part of our goal to reduce single-use plastic.
www.mommakombucha.com
mommakombucha | mommakombucha
Sourcing new and old furniture and accessories from Asia particularly from Indonesia and India, Arikaya thrive on bringing in beautiful ethically sourced homewares that you can layer piece by piece to create the perfect aesthetic in your home. These ladies are passionate about delivering good quality and affordable products and will always go the extra mile to assist their customers. As well as their timeless furniture pieces, you can also purchase beautiful resort wear inspired clothing, stunning leather clutches and handbags. Not only can you find Arikaya at the markets, but you can also pop into their warehouse in Cromer and grab some one-of-a-kind pieces. Their warehouse is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10.30am-4.30pm or Saturday, 10.30am-1pm.
www.arikaya.com.au | arikayahomewares | arikaya_homewares
A unique new ‘ice cream’ has hit the Northern Beaches just in time for summer. Curious? SUPERNICE KREAM is made entirely from plants. They take nature’s juiciest fruits, freshest veggies, powerful herbs and roots and blend them with thick, creamy Australian almonds to create a frozen superfood that looks, tastes and feels like ice cream but isn’t, It’s SUPERNICE KREAM! A delicious, nutritious ‘ice cream’ that’s actually good for you. It’s 100% natural, sweetened only with fruit, dairy free, gluten free and vegan friendly. These ice creams are the perfect take home dessert that the whole family is sure to love.
www.supernicekream.com.au supernicekream | supernice_kream
Palm Art Boutique brings rustic home decor items, focusing on baskets and wall hanging designs, the coastal vibes straight to your living room with palm fronds and palm inflorescence. These items would normally be sent to the tip-top in the green recycling bin, however, Palm Art Boutique turns them into beautiful pieces. Every single item is fully handmade and no two items are the same, from the colours and textures of the leaves, no one will have the same piece as you. Owner of the brand, Krystyna believes, “I’m doing my best to showcase nature’s true beauty.”
PalmArtBoutique | krystynas99
The former Potts Point restaurant may have closed its doors, but Jimmy Liks is now coming to you from Warriewood Markets in the form of MRS LIKS. You can now get their delicious frozen food to cook gourmet meals at home. Using the best ingredients, and lots of time and love in the cooking process, all the hard work is done for you and then frozen to be used at your convenience. Perfect for busy people! These restaurant quality meals include Yellow Chicken Curry, Green Beef Curry, Bolognese Sauce, Roast Capsicum and Tomato Meatballs. They also have gluten-free and vegan options. Try MRS LIKS for yourself and you’ll be sure to find something the family will love.
mrsliks | mrsliks
jimmyliksrestaurant | jimmyliks
Pittwater Rugby Park 1472 Pittwater Road, Warriewood NSW 2102
For all enquiries: 0452 446 556 www.thebeachesmarket.com thebeachesmarket thebeachesmarket
Nick and Mel are the power couple behind the delicious brand that creates farm fresh, spray-free and chemical-free produce. Including their sweet jams like mango and vanilla bean jam or vegan honey, sauces like their peanut sauce or their famous chilli garlic balsamic. As well as their brand new prebiotic tonics. All their produce uses only real natural ingredients, cooked by hand in small batches, which makes them deliciously unique. No thickeners, no essences, no chemicals or cheap fillers. Just all natural yummy goodness, get down to the markets and try some for yourself.
www.fatwrenfarm.com
fatwrenfarm
RARE by LIVKIN is a unique luxurious skincare collection. Their holistic and unique range uses New Zealand glacial clay, precious gemstones and minerals and native Australian botanicals to bring you amazing treatment masks. The glacial clay extracts toxins and heavy metals from deep underneath the skin. While the gemstones and minerals revitalise the skin, stimulate collagen growth, reversing the signs of ageing and protect and repair the skin from the damaging effects of environmental stress, pollution, electromagnetic stressors and toxins. Along with the treatments, you can also purchase their rose quartz facial roller and crystal eye masks to enhance the benefits of their unique skincare collection.
www.rarebylivkin.com
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Madame Magnesium is a boutique luxury body magnesium cream handmade from 100% natural and organic ingredients. The health and wellbeing benefits of magnesium are endless. Studies show that applying magnesium on the skin can relieve the symptoms of sensitive skin conditions, including mild forms of eczema and mild to moderate acne. The trans-dermial magnesium has also been widely used by sporting enthusiasts to relieve muscle pains. As well as giving you a better, more relaxed night’s sleep while relieving cramping and restless legs. Madame Magnesium has a variety of creams safe to use on everyone from athletes, children and teenagers to pregnant mums.
Bringing it back to the old-school way of enjoying ice-cream, Pepita’s serves their delicious, healthy plant-based, gluten- free and dairy-free ice cream from a mint colour green kombi van. Just like how ice cream was meant to be enjoyed, they use fresh, seasonal and local produce that’s gentler on the body and the environment. All their ice-cream is handmade from scratch with a coconutcashew base, unlike store-bought products which are full of artificial colours and flavours. You can find their epic van at the Beaches Market or you can book their van for any events or functions you have in mind.
0414 718 754 | www.pepitas.com.au
icecreampepitas
The
www.madamemagnesium.com
madamemagnesiumsoulcreams
Founder Lenka Dostal is from Czech Republic where sauerkraut was born. She has been making delicious fermented veggies for as long as she can remember, massaging and pressing the fermentation with her feet as a kid. Today, Ms Dostal runs her own food business Bohemian Delights from the Beaches Market. She makes and sells a range of fermented foods including sauerkraut, which is full of health benefits, jams and chutneys, with less sugar, to her growing number of customers. Each pot is hand-made fresh with love, without all the nasties in them, just as mother nature would have wanted. Try a pot for yourself and taste the difference.
succulentparadise
AZTECA Taqueria is more than food. Founded by funky foodies, world travelers and hospitality wizards who’ve made the Northern Beaches their home. AZTECA brings the flavours of Mexico to the markets: Warriewood every Friday, Bondi on Saturdays, Mona Vale every Sunday, and Palm Beach fourth Sunday of the month. And for those braving the Eastern Suburbs this silly season, AZTECA has a summer pop up at clothing brand One Teaspoon every Saturday from 3-6pm. Live music, beers and tacos... how good! Need even more of these guys? Let the legends come to you. The AZTECA team loves to party. Bring on those summer margies and tacos!
www.aztecamexicanfood.com
AztecaMexCatering azteca_taqueria
Making our way south through Mexico, we settled on the Oaxacan Coast. We rented a hut with amazing ocean views for two hundred dollars a month. We had electricity, sometimes, and no running water. We lugged 20 litre bottles down long dusty dirt roads. But more important than the muscles we were building during this period of our lives, was an extraordinary and insatiable appetite for Mexican food.
In March of 2013 we moved to Mexico.
We had little money and our passports - mine embossed with an eagle and Tommy’s with marsupials, meant our different birth nations necessitated perpetual motion. We were adventure and culture junkies. We’d been travelling for 2 years, since falling in love in a tiny Laotian village in Southeast Asia.
Time and our metabolisms were on our side. We were sucking the marrow out of our early twenties and eating, a lot.
Mealtime, previously dictated by the sun’s whereabouts, became a constant. The smell of fresh tortillas hung in the
air like fog settles in a valley, enveloping Delving into Mexican food was a big fat (literally) adventure. Every morning we’d buy fresh corn tortillas from a neighbouring abuelita (little grandma in Spanish), still warm of course.
Our mornings were spent fishing for tuna which we grilled on a dug-out BBQ. Topped with an enormous variety of salsas and hugged by a tortilla. We were living ‘la vida dulce’ - the sweet life.
All of this to say when we decided to settle on the Northern Beaches, we couldn’t shake those incredible memories and so we decided to recreate them. AZTECA Taqueria was born on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in 2017.
www.aztecamexicanfood.com AztecaMexCatering azteca_taqueria
We’re the same crew • same coffee • same delicious food same evening wine bar • same salsa socials • same location
We’ve just got a new name • Welcome to Twist
“It’s the perfect place to celebrate any occasion or just catch up with friends”
TWISTESPRESSO
ESPRESSO & WINE
BOOKINGS (02) 8084 8603
OPEN 7 DAYS FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
DINNER AND DRINKS
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
Manly Thai Gourmet is that hole in the wall spot that you’ve heard about, through whispers and fervent recommendations; a local, well-kept secret that we’re about to break. Their heavenly menu will have you raving to everyone you meet.
Why, you ask? Read on and find out.
TThis humble restaurant, with its oh-sogood kitchen at its heart, is nestled off the beaten track in the middle of Manly. A few windings, ending up in the arcade, will have you at a seat and perusing arguably one of the best Thai menus on the beaches.
A foodie favourite, upon finding you haven’t yet tried Manly Thai Gourmet will elicit shocked responses from anyone you have; this one’s a local gem, and a delightful discovery for visitors in equal measure. This Manly restaurant is always busy, emphasising quality to bring you incredible Thai at prices that won’t break the bank.
Sam and Nat, who founded the restaurant, studied food and hospitality in Thailand for three years. In 2008, they joined forces, and the epic Manly Thai Gourmet resulted. Ten years strong, to this day the venue is dreaming up fresh takes on a Thai based menu, fusing these flavours with hints of Aussie favourites.
Head chef Nat sources many of these flavours from fresh food markets, which he frequents daily, coming back with
only the highest quality produce. For Thai herbs and spices, Nat knows the best “Thai-town” outlets; tapping in to his foodie intel, to bring you his own hotspot on the foodie map.
Nat whips all of his selected elements into a range of imaginative “chef’s specials”. Banana flower salad, anyone? Or maybe the heavenly beef? The soft shell crab with green mango salsa will be irresistible to anyone with curious taste buds, and the herbal barramundi boasts an exquisite explosion of carefully chosen flavours.
Manly Thai Gourmet puts its own daring twist on the classics you’ve grown to love. Our picks are the oyster mushroom stir-fry, or the crispy noodle coconut chicken salad, with green mango and roasted coconut.
However, if all this talk of culinary experimentation is too far a wander from the Thai food you’ve grown to love, Manly Thai Gourmet doesn’t forget its traditional roots. All the classic favourites are still strong contenders on the menu and will surprise you with their richly
“The venue is dreaming up fresh takes on a Thai based menu, fusing these flavours with hints of Aussie favourites.”
delicious flavours. The crispy prawn rolls are a great extension of the traditional spring rolls; while they come in single servings, you may want to order a plate full. Their Penang Curry and Massaman Curry are two of their most popular dishes, as they both heartily delve into the goodness of tried and true Thai staples.
It’s easy to fill up on dish after dish at Manly Thai Gourmet, but we seriously advise you to leave room for dessert! The menu offering is small, but each dessert shines through with effortless yum factor. The Mango Sticky Rice is drowned in a creamy coconut sauce over freshly chopped mango, perfect for summer, and the rice is cooked perfectly to the minute.
Go exploring and check it out today.•
Arcade, 4-10 Sydney Road, Manly 2095 | (02) 9977 0990 www.manlythaigourmet.com | manlythaigourmet
The summer holidays, for those with hungry little ones, can pose a formidable challenge to those at a loss for fun activities. Enter, RASHAYS Dee Why. The family operated, family friendly restaurant that’ll have your little munchkins munching in no time.
Located conveniently on Oaks Avenue, RASHAYS Dee Why has something for everyone. If you’ve got the family in tow, there’s an epic range of kids options on offer, going beyond the often minuscule kids menu other venues may offer. Plus, all kids’ meals come with a free Twist and Drink*! Whether it’s Claire’s Chicken Nuggets or Lara’s Lasagne, the fun doesn’t stop there, with brownies and icecream on the menu for dessert. All this, starting from $10 a pop, making it an affordable yet still delicious option.
For the adults, RASHAYS has you covered. If you’re with a group and feel like trying a bit of everything, their menu is designed to be shareable, with a culture of sharing at the heart of what drives the venue. Every item on the menu is made with love. From their roasted veg pizza to their juicy beef ribs with a smokey, sticky bbq sauce and delicious grain-fed steaks, with your choice of sides, there’ll be plenty to share.
RASHAYS Dee Why is a bright, open space that enjoys a light atmosphere perfect for any function where you want that little touch of playful fun. Their flexibility to cater for functions extends into their menu, with their celebrations packages saving the day for all things Christmas. The a la carte menu, and the way they welcome guests to bring their own decorations, are just some of the ways RASHAYS can take the hassle out of planning while still ensuring your function is tailor-made. It’s as easy as striking up a conversation with one of their friendly staff members, and they’ll get the ball
rolling on the best way to create that dream celebration, all within budget and catering for your vego, vegan and gluten intolerant mates too.
The colourful approach to the decor of RASHAYS Dee Why is a result of the venue’s approach to food as a whole; that it should be fun, experimental and a little bit cheeky. Their dessert menu is utterly droolworthy, fizzling with original pops of imagination. Nutella Burger, anyone? Also of note is the Sticky Cookie - oven baked marshmallow cookie dough with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice-cream; and the Berry Waffle, a garish, delectable pink treat for all the sweet tooths out there.
From lunch with the girls, to a family dinner, to work Christmas parties, RASHAYS Dee Why is ready for whatever plans you’re cooking up this festive season. But the best part is, you can sit back and let the pros do the cooking. •
Welcome to the place where ingredients and imagination grow wild. Zing Fresh is the brainchild of Jennifer Sargent. We spoke to the creative catering upstart who is introducing tasteful food innovation to the mouths, hearts, minds and memories of many.
Allow us to introduce you to Zing Fresh, an up-and-coming mover and shaker in the local catering and events industry. Zing Fresh is an eighteen month young, dynamic business based in Manly, catering both private and corporate events.
The company serves contemporary, clean and creative cuisine which is every bit refreshing on the local food scene as it is nourishing for you. Choose from a deliciously unique menu where all ingredients are earth fresh and friendly. As a former interior stylist and current all-round nature loving creative, Jennifer's innovative food affords both distinctive flavours and outstanding presentation without costing the earth.
Jennifer makes, 'clean grub' by working from the ground roots up, quite literally; Jennifer believes that your well-being is worth the dig! She uses predominantly unprocessed produce, even sauces, dressings and dips are made from scratch and are therefore unrefined and uncontaminated. Fresh food that is closest to its natural state is super guest-friendly, so catering for food intolerances is a cinch.
If that sounds scary-serious when you and your guests just want to let your hair down, don’t fret! Zing Fresh does good food incognito. It still seems like you're living as though there's no tomorrow and you can party hard this festive season. Going way beyond good taste, Zing also rocks at zero waste, using only local suppliers and farmers who tread lightly and minimise packaging.
The menu is designed to utilise the entire product, from peel to pip and stalk to tip, without a single bit to waste. Discouraging single use serving items, many of the canapes are entirely edible, right down to the flowers. For example, their delicious guacamole and chips served inside the avocado. Scrumptiously sustainable!
No plastic, polystyrene, foil and ugly, ordinary or unsustainable presentation in sight. They serve you and preserve the environment using biodegradable compressed corn or bamboo plates/cutlery and only if or when necessary.
“I create 'clean grub' by working from the ground roots up, quite literally. Your wellbeing is worth the dig!”
It is always hard in any hotel space to completely transform a restaurant. The Novotel in Manly took on this challenge opening the new Bistro Manly recently, and they have triumphed.
TThe COVERED. crew made the journey to the famous Manly icon during yet another heatwave, and were happy with the immediate comfortable surroundings overlooking the beach.
The entrees are skewed towards seafood, which is always a great way to start a meal on a balmy afternoon.
As there were six of us, we were able to sample all of the choices, plates being passed around, in need of a ‘Lazy Susan’. Freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters are a bargain at $3.80 a pop, served with a tangy finger lime mignonette. The crispy school prawns with lemon myrtle salt and aioli were a hit with everyone, and probably the winner. The prawn bisque had a strong flavour, while the chilli prawns with linguine had the perfect balance of garlic and cherry tomatoes. The sourdough with beautifully salty prosciutto, macadamia puree and caramelised figs was a good way to round out the first course.
Onto the mains, and once again we ordered everything so we could get a complete picture of the journey the kitchen wanted to take us on.
Not being a duck fan, I was hesitant to try the confit leg with mushroom
risotto, but if I was ever going to try duck, I’m glad this was it. Tender and light, and nowhere near as oily as I’d heard confit can be, it was complemented well by the risotto. I have however, always loved chicken, so my expectations were high, and I was not disappointed at all by the corn fed breast. Served with celeriac puree, portobello mushrooms, baby leek and porcini jus, I could have eaten another portion. I didn’t get to taste the salmon, mainly because one of my colleagues pretty much kept it all to herself. The 120 day dry aged sirloin with café de Paris butter and truffle salted handcut chips was taken apart like seagulls at the beach. Manners were thrown out the window, when it came to the goats cheese gnocchi, green peas, roast shallots, watercress cream and pangrattato, with only forks and a spoon left on the plate.
There is an excellent, and varied selection for dessert. Everything bar the cheese plate was asked for, and delivered.
The four remaining desserts were all exceptional. A classic crème brulee was certainly that. Light, fluffy and accompanied by sable and fresh berries. It was the ideal way to finish. The apple tarte tatin and flourless chocolate cake were devoured with an equal lack of
decorum. My pick, however, was the vanilla pecan and strawberry bombe Alaska. I hadn’t had this dessert for years and was stoked to see it on the menu. I will admit that I kept this one virtually to myself, and enjoyed every last mouthful.
The wine we had was the 2018 AIX Rose from Provence, France ($65), and the 2017 Cockfighters Ghost Single Vineyard Pinot Gris from the Adelaide Hills, SA ($60), and complimented the food and the mood. Our illustrious ‘astrologer’ tried several whiskeys, including an Old Fashioned, and assures me they were top notch.
As for the staff, one can only be impressed. Most new ventures have kinks that need to be ironed out, but at Bistro Manly, they seem like seasoned veterans. Attentive without being overbearing, the team here deserve credit for their professionalism so early in this new restaurant’s life.
Overall, we had a great night.
Food, drinks and service, all delivered with aplomb. Premium, without the price tag, Bistro Manly looks to become the jewel in the Novotel Manly crown. •
words by: tara wesson photography: st john imagery
We all love a Pad Thai, no? Thai food is firmly instilled in Australia’s internationally threaded blend of cuisines, and Manly has been blessed with Seaside Thai Gourmet for a number of years. COVERED. found out what makes this blend of ocean and Thai so special.
TThere’s no doubt that the boys that brought you Manly Thai Gourmet are pro’s in making some awesome Thai food. But, in a way typical to their unique Oz-Thai fusion style of cooking, they’ve brought their Thai roots to the Manly beachfront, with their five star dining experience: Seaside Thai Gourmet.
Customers wanting upmarket Thai dining will not be disappointed, with the owners coming from a background of 5-star hospitality experience in Thailand. Pair that with the panoramic 180° sea view, and you’ve got the perfect venue for a birthday celebration, group dinner, small wedding or corporate function.
Building on that luxe mindset, Seaside Thai Gourmet will go so far as to even create a bespoke function menu, accompanied by wine, to ensure that extra mark of finesse and class. They cater for groups up to 40 for a sit-down meal, and 70 for cocktail style gatherings.
Whatever you choose, whether it be their banquet or bar menu, their three course menu or canapés and cocktails, this secret haunt delivers in taste and quality each time. The customer is at the heart of every step of their process, and this shines through in the sincere friendliness of their servers, and their desire to cater for any and every dietary need.
The menu is a mix of old favourites and new classics, verging on the point of daring in its joining of both Thai and Australian flavours. The team is deft in cherry picking the best flavours and produce, preparing the elements to result in the deliciousness that ends up on the plate.
The team takes a light, fluid approach to the menu, flexibly changing it to roll with the seasons. Come summer, expect flavours like lychee, mango and pomegranate, with distinctive blends to satisfy all tastes. New and interesting ideas redefine their solid base knowledge of Thai cuisine.
This is truly a restaurant perfect for the coming summer months. Recline in this breezy world-class setting, drink in hand, and dine at the standard you deserve. •
“The team is deft in cherry picking the best flavours and produce, preparing the elements to result in the deliciousness that ends up on the plate.”
The team behind the cult animation Beached Az are excited to announce their partnership with Modus Operandi Brewing and the release of Beached Az Brew - Trans Tasman Pale.
Following the recent launch of the new series of Beached Aziversary - a ten part animation supported by Screen Australia - the team have taken the more serious climate message in the series and continued to spread the word. The partnership between Modus with Beached Az, along with a number of local charities championing ocean initiatives and answering their call to action in the series to “actually do something”, will see Beached Az Brew aiming to make a contribution to combatting growing climate issues. $1 of every pint sold and 20¢ from each can sold will go towards a host of charities throughout the year.
“We love a beer! Nothing new there, but it was important that the beer was actually
d to announce elease of
one we wanted to drink and not a token gesture, which is why we wanted to speak to Modus. We’ve been loving their beers for a while and so we gave them a call. Knowing they’re aligned on green energy of the beer and sustainability credentials was key, it’s proved to be a natural partnership,” said Beached Aziversary creators Anthony MacFarlane, Jarod Green and Nick Boshier.
“The Beached Az series is bloody funny, so when Nick and Macca rocked up to talk about the beer, we were all ears. We love the direction of the new series. Obviously brewing by the beach, climate action and sustainability is hugely significant to Modus. We try to have a light footprint across the board with
100% green energy. Beached Az Brew is a great opportunity to take a serious message and convey it in an original and compelling way. Brewing meets comedy,” said Modus Operandi cofounder Jaz Wearin.
In celebration of the freshly released new beer, Modus Operandi will be running ongoing beach clean up events through the summer, including a special event for Clean Up Australia Day.
The beer itself is a Trans-Tasman Pale. As the name suggests, it’s brewed with a mix between Australian and New Zealand hops and malt - the result being a tropical and citrus pale ale - 4.5%, easy drinking, and the perfect beach beer, especially after a Beach Clean up.
Sound good? Reach out to your favourite pub about stocking Beached Az Brew, and the guys at Modus will organise a clean up in the area. Who knew you could be drinking beer for such a good cause. •
The French revolution started in 1789, toppling the French Monarchy and marking a turbulent time in history. A nation of power and passion, the French strive to do the little things well.
Manly’s resident French restaurateurs Emmanuel and Sonia Deleuze have excelled in every little corner of this magnifi que French menu designed by Hugo Mathieu, the resident chef all the way from Lyon France to The Corner at Queenscliff
Words & Images: Andrew Pittwater
Lyon is situated in the region of France known as the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. With its ‘Bouchons’, casual places to eat hyperlocal food, it is often considered the heart of French cuisine.
COVERED. paid a visit on a balmy Thursday night, and couldn’t wait to return to savour the flavours again. With their weekly dinner menu changes to stay up-to-date with what’s fresh in season, you’ll just want to keep coming back for more.
For me it was a simple step back in time, a time when my travels took me to small bistros on the streets of Paris, overlooking the glistening lights on the Eiffel Tower.
This café chic by day space where customers enjoy coffee and fabulous Modern Australian food gets transformed
by night into a tranquil relaxing bistro tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Manly.
It’s not French without cheese, so we kicked things off with a board of Comté Camembert and Fourme d’Ambert mild blue which was perfectly paired with the house duck rillette and an incredible, classic ‘French style’ salad dressing on the leafy green salad.
First main was a perfectly roasted, juicy chicken leg, with cauliflower gratin and a jus made with delicate salty moreish flavours that takes years of practice to master.
Second was Risotto Ratatouille, a true French classic, with a twist. The perfect combination of tomatoes, aubergines, peppers with a hint of garlic and onions. Third main was a delicious fillet of salmon, with zucchini noodles and herbs. Yum!
They say that dessert doesn’t go to the stomach, but to the heart and at only $12, you know you deserve it. The chocolate fondant is a crowd favourite
and perfectly oozes its chocolate sauce from the crusted cake shell, making for a decadent finish to the evening; not to be outdone by the strawberry salad of mascarpone and meringue of course. The French really do know how to do everything well, with the food being proportionally perfect in every way.
If dining at lunchtime is more your thing, The Corner has select dishes available from their evening menu for lunch. It’s even paired with a glass of wine.
Do yourself a favour and go French in this wonderful space at The Corner, Queenscliff - bon appétit! •
Stepping into the eatery, right on the shores of Narrabeen Beach, you’ll first be struck by the café’s friendly ambience. On the wall is a quote about unity - the ethos that drives One Café, the brainchild of owner, Peter Gurtner with a background in building, directing his own company, Unity Australia.
Attention to detail is but one element that comprises the success of One Café as a whole. Focus on quality as a venue is also key; Peter and his team redeveloped the kitchen space to uniquely fit the fusion style of the venue. The kitchen opens up both ways, serving up sushi and Japanese cooking on one side, and modern Australian on the other.
As if the awesome ocean view doesn’t speak for itself, One Café brings the outside in, the Norfolks extending into wooded, open interiors, the hanging fairy lights outside morphing into a soft, bright natural light. Customers also can opt for beachside seating and inhale the soothing salty air, and listen to the waves crashing.
One Café has a conscious community approach. Peter recognises that, to operate in a community, the café must be a part of the community that gives
back. One way they do this is through their weekend live music. Supporting local artists, by night the café transforms into a bar, with a mobile bar set to push out from the sushi side of the kitchen come summer. As the months warm up, customers can expect fresh oyster shucking amidst the chilled tunes of local talent, and the general warm ambience of a community coming together.
The team at One Café have partnered with leading Australian coffee roaster, Five Senses, with One Café also selling retail coffee for their customers to enjoy at home. Across both their modern Australian and Japanese menu, there are a few solid favourites. At breakfast time, try their 'Ricotta Hotcakes' or 'Mushroom Bruschetta' for a delectable start to the day. At lunch, favourites include the ‘Chicken Katsu Burger’ from the modern Australian menu, and One Café's signature Fish and Chips are a quintessential addition to a day at the beach.
And it doesn’t stop there. This December, the café will be operating for dinner seven days a week. We highly recommend signature menu items such as the Seafood Linguine served with crabmeat, prawns with a hint of chilli
lemon zest oil, vine ripened tomatoes, basil, parmesan. Or, try One Café's signature Japanese Menu items such as the 'Crunchy Tuna Rolls', or try the team’s take on Sashimi Nachos.
Have we sparked your curiosity? If you’ve got no plans for this week’s Sunday sesh, or you’re still umming and ahhing about what to do on New Year’s Eve, this freshly hopping venue has got you covered.
Their New Years Eve White Party is slated to be one of the biggest parties on the beaches, with a step away from the traditional combo of simply drinks and fireworks. No, no, no… innovation has taken this little corner of Narrabeen by storm, with the creative 'sky’s the limit' attitude of the team.
A glow in the dark theme will light up the venue, which will also see Taiko drummers and a DJ sushi bar, with sushi spinning on the decks. The more adventurous of punters can also take the opportunity to try out One Café's take on the Bloody Mary, which uses maple bacon as a key ingredient.
All in all, an awesome venue. COVERED. can’t wait to see what they do next. •
- ENTERTAINMENT FROM PRINNIE STEVENS, GRACE GROVE AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
- WHITE PARTY WITH A SPLASH OF COLOUR
TICKETS $95 INCLUDING:
- WELCOME DRINK
- SUSHI, SASHIMI AND CANAPÉS
- NYE SPECIAL DRINKS ALL NIGHT
BOOK VIA FACEBOOK
havan hav
Manly’s favourite local venue Havana Beach is now on wheels, serving Tacos, Burritos or healthy Cuban Bowls and drinks at your private events. The same delicious bowls are being served that Havana Beach stood out with at Taste of Manly in May this year, when the local brand built their impressive Manly Beach pop-up venue in the sand.
Always#havanagoodtime,theCuban-themedvenueon Manly’sOceanfronthasanimpressiveportfolioofevents theyhavecateredfor,rangingfromBirthdayParties,Weddings, EngagementPartiesorCorporateEventstoSchoolParties andevenfestivalswithover25,000+attendees.
Operatingbothafoodtruckand mobilebarmakestheHavana Beachtruckthefun,convenient anddeliciouschoiceforthose upcomingsummerparties!
Ora may have taken out TimeOut’s Café of the Year in 2016, but you wouldn’t hear it from owner duo Alex Johnson and Alex “Pod” Rast. It’s quickly evident, stepping into their Manly café, that care and goodness takes priority over the capitalist grind that drives many.
Johnson is strikingly passionate, honest, and far from self centred. Believing unfalteringly in organic, healthy food that is sourced ethically, her holistic approach does not waver, as Ora radiates with goodness from the heart.
“I will serve you what I eat at home,” Johnson says.
Her empowering, unapologetically forthright manner is clear as she believes one must “be a good person for the sake of being a good person. If you want to be unethical, be loud and proud about it, don’t mislead.”
Cafés across Sydney have been swept with the organic ‘trend’, but Johnson believes not enough cafés are committing fully to the inherent principles of good food, and considering the implications of their processes from sourcing, to cooking, to what ends up on the plate. Whether it’s using vegetable oil rather than olive oil, or wrapping everything in cling wrap rather than Tupperware, there are many easy ways businesses can make the switch.
Johnson has a love for healthy food because “you can control what goes in your mouth”. In a world where air quality and factors beyond your control impact your health, why wouldn’t you do everything in your power to ensure your own good health?
An intentional sense of mindfulness is central to Ora. Due to drought conditions, at times Ora is unable to source some ingredients. Rather than
buying from major supermarkets, if Johnson and Rast face a shortage in their suppliers, they simply accept that they do not have the ingredient in question. The menu is vague and adaptable to availability, or lack thereof, keeping diners on their toes, who keep coming back for their old favourites regardless of the minor changes. Leaves, collard greens, herbs and natives are sourced from their garden in Brookvale.
However, while Ora certainly caters to vegetarian, vegan and gluten free diners, “fad” diets in and of themselves are not a goal for Johnson, as she ideates the menu. Often perceived as a paleo-esque or vegan café, Johnson herself eats meat and actually just believes in good, healthy food. Pretty simple.
Instant gratification has ravaged the way we eat today, with many consumers choosing fast food options, or overly sugary, salty foods, over food as fuel with long term benefits. Having greasy takeaway “just this once”, or to “treat yourself” can snowball into habit, and have an adverse effect on society as a whole.
“We just make food that tastes good, and I can tell you everything that’s in it. You’re coming to our house for dinner and everything is beautiful,” Johnson says of THE COOK ROOM, Ora’s sister venue who comes out at night.
THE COOK ROOM pioneers the clean kombucha cocktail, free of artificial colours, flavours and sugar. Everything on the menu is cooked slowly, with 19 year old chef Julia Marques preparing much
“We just make food that tastes good, and I can tell you everything that’s in it. You’re coming to our house for dinner and everything is beautiful.”
of it during the day. Marques’ passion echoes that of Johnson’s; Marques hails from Brazil, and made the cross continental journey to pursue her love of organic food spawned in her upbringing.
“I know that I am what I eat, I’m very conscious,” says Marques. “I don’t want to eat poison, I’m really passionate about it, that’s why I work nine hours a day.”
Marques’ favourite thing about working at THE COOK ROOM is her ability to create everything from scratch, even down to the house-made crackers. She spreads her passion to others through the menu, which bursts with the heart of a home cooked meal. The gluten free, vegan or vegetarian options will be loved by even the hardiest of meat eaters; “you won’t feel like you’re eating a lettuce leaf,” Johnson explains of their innovative take.
So where does Johnson get her inspiration? Podcasts, reading, and studying online. She found that traditional institutional avenues of learning about cooking had glaring faults in knowledge, a sentiment shared by Marques as she first tried to study in Brazil.
Ora and THE COOK ROOM are all about changing mentalities through irrefutably good food. They choose minimal waste over speed, ethics over profit: just ask the garbage collectors, who’ll tell you that they only need to make the journey once a week to this wholesome Manly café. •
choice
BERRY-LICIOUS
With our new summer menus launching at each Zubi location, we are gearing up for another cracking Northern Beaches summer. Enjoy a stunning coffee and sandwich in the garden courtyard at our Newport location.
Watch the surf and enjoy a smoothie and burger at our Bilgola café.
Or drop in on the crew at Narrabeen for a chat and the best coffee on the south side of the bridge!
We are also proud to announce that all three Cafés are now Ocean Friendly accredited. Operating so close to the beach, it is vital that our Cafés are as environmentally friendly as possible. Each Zubi location has developed sustainable recycling procedures to ensure we reduce our impact on the environment, that we reduce our waste going into landll and that nothing we sell ends up in the ocean!
Enjoy your summer!
In the age of the socially conscious consumer, it is increasingly important for retail brands to be taking honest steps toward delivering ethical fashion to their customers. It is no longer enough for brands to consider only the environment; customers are looking at the quality of working conditions, the effect on local communities and the sustainability of the products they purchase.
With the release of its sixth Ethical Fashion Report, Baptist World Aid has graded 130 apparel companies on their ethical foundations. Companies are graded from A+ to F, taking into account the strength of their labour rights to ensure workers are paid a fair living wage, as well as the environmental management systems in place to help keep our waterways, the earth and the atmosphere healthy.
This summer, why not feel just as good as you look by choosing to shop ethical fashion. Here, we share some of Westfield Warringah Mall’s highest graded stores and the initiatives that set them apart from the crowd:
transparency of the working environment of those who produce its beautiful garments. In 2018, KOOKAÏ established an ethics and sustainability committee with representatives from all departments from supply chain management, design and production, legal, retail, marketing and IT. KOOKAÏ now has sustainability champions in each of its Australian and New Zealand stores, as well as in its factories. The focus of the committee and sustainability champions is to ensure sustainability initiatives are at the core of everything the business does - from head office right through the supply chain and retail stores.
KOOKAÏ is a family owned women’s fashion label and is vertically integrated, owning its own factories in Fiji and Sri Lanka, where the majority of its clothes are made.
Owning and operating its own factories allows KOOKAÏ to ensure production is carried out in an ethical and sustainable way. As a business, KOOKAÏ has full
KOOKAÏ’s founders also established a charity in 2012, the KATALYST FOUNDATION, which currently operates in Fiji and Australia. Katalyst is embedded in the DNA of the KOOKAÏ business, with a commitment to create self-sustainable change. Katalyst projects in Fiji are centred on the pillars of education and health and some of the current projects include: a medical outreach program to provide medical services to those in regional areas who do not otherwise have access to health care services, operating a hostel in Suva for tertiary students who have moved from remote areas of Fiji to provide them with a safe and positive environment in which to study, scholarship programs for tertiary education students, support of kindergartens, schools and universities through the provision of school supplies, equipment and furniture, donation of medical equipment, and education to communities on financial literacy. Donations to the Katalyst Foundation can be made in any KOOKAÏ store, or for more details see www.katalystfoundation.org
Kookai makes way for sun-filled days spent styled with a feminine charm and youthful abandon. Bonita, the brand’s SS19 collection is just as ethical as it is colourful, carefree, and oh so pretty.
Collage by @labyrinthofcollagesits
Iconic Australian swimwear brand, Seafolly, has built its brand BDA on a commitment to both fashion and fit, giving women the freedom and confidence of looking good because they first feel good in their swimwear.
Seafolly makes it easy to fall in love with its high-quality fabric, by designing a collection using sustainable fabrics like MIPAN® regen™ each season. Famous for its eco-friendly by-products, the MIPAN® regen™ fibres help conserve our natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce waste to landfill.
“We know a small change can make a huge difference. By finding ways to use sustainable fabrics without compromising on the lasting quality, fit and cutting-edge design we are known for, we are ultimately reducing waste on our land and in our seas,” says Head of Design, Genelle Walkom.
The brand has just released its must-have summer collection, Safari Spot. Made from upcycled sustainable fabric called MIPAN® regen™, the range of swimwear and apparel is an exciting take on animal print. Modernising the classic polka dot into an organic design, Safari Spot is perfect for mixing and matching with apparel accessories from the limited-edition Australian artist collaboration with Gemma O’Brien.
e limited Brien.
The Cotton On Group is committed to creating positive change for their customers, community and for the planet. They call this ‘The Good’.
Cotton On Foundation is the Cotton On Group’s philanthropic arm, dedicated to empowering youth globally through quality education. Through a unique partnership with customers and team members, the Foundation is focused on empowering youth globally through the delivery of education projects in Uganda, South Africa, Thailand and Australia.
Cotton On commits to ethical sourcing and transparency across all business operations. In 2016, Cotton On started publicly disclosing the supplier base and actively pursuing a goal of end-to-end mapping of all suppliers, including raw materials. The responsibility to how their products are made, the people who make them and the materials used extends across the 1,900 factories used and the 170,000 workers employed at them.
In all the Cotton on Group stores globally, customers can purchasearangeofeverydayincidentalitemslikewater
purchase a range of everyday, incidental items like water, tissues, mints, bracelets and tote bags, at an accessible $2 price point. Above and beyond the group’s own purpose to make a positive difference in people’s lives, they believe it’s important to bring their customers on this journey too, so they can easily participate with just $2, which they can track to a tangible outcome.
The child-centric model focuses on delivering quality education, removing the barriers to education that children currently face, ensuring they have a brighter future full of opportunities and possibilities.
Cotton On released their ‘Holiday Edit’, giving you everything you need to chase the endless summer. Featuring swimsuits for body shapes of all kinds, cover-ups and light, bright dresses, you’ll be rolling from the beach to the bar with ease.
From the beginning, H&M group’s role has been to democratise fashion. Today, that means making it sustainable; it is the only way the company will keep making great fashion and design available today, tomorrow and for generations to come.
The vision is to use the groups size for good, and with the help of technology and innovation, lead the change towards circular and renewable fashion while being a fair and equal company. To achieve this, an ambitious strategy was developed with the help of a broad range of external and internal experts. The strategy follows a science-based approach, wherever possible.
In 2019, H&M and H&M Home rolled out a new transparency tool, enabling customers to trace most of their products to the factory they have been made in, and find further information to make more conscious choices.
Since 2013, H&M has been offering a garment recycling service in all stores. The H&M Garment Collecting Programme is a global initiative that works to prevent customers unwanted clothes from going to landfill. H&M accept unwanted clothes by any brand, in any condition, at any of their stores, every single day of the year. •
To find out which brands are taking steps toward improving their ethical grade and environmental footprint, visit: westfield.com.au/warringahmall westfieldwarringahmall | westfieldwarringahmall
The athletes of cushions are here, and they have just as much endurance... and they’re gorgeous - so much so, Westfield Warringah Mall thought so too. COVERED. caught up with Rebecca Bickerstaff, the woman behind Tropique.
Curating fabrics from all over the world, the cushions you see around Warringah Mall are a product of Bickerstaff’s creative genius in combining designer fabrics. With a background in the arts, the Dulux colour finalist has a knack for dreaming up palettes. She’s been creating for the last twenty years, but Tropique is only six years young.
“Colour is what really drives me,” Bickerstaff explains with warm, fizzling energy. “I communicate via colour to create the feel, and then the pattern follows.”
The cushion shop of Brookie is your new go-to, just in time for a summer revamp. The Tropique range is perfect for outdoor
furniture, and come beach season, the Mokum cushions are even Teflon coated, so you can lay on them with sunscreen… perfect for families. Tropique’s brand isn’t simply limited to cushions, however. Bickerstaff sees Tropique as a lifestyle, the feel permeating through the range of paintings, candles, soaps and more.
It’s no wonder Westfield Warringah Mall sought out Bickerstaff’s artistic eye to deck out the mall’s spaces. Step into the fountain space of the mall and you’ll see the iconic cushions, with sun
lounges and plenty of light to complete the relaxed resort vibe. Her durable cushions are perfect for high traffic areas like the Westfield, but also catering and hospitality spaces. Bickerstaff says that for Westfield, planning to the area was key, focusing on activation points, and creating a vibe in accordance with that.
This year the Tropique, Australian made, collection vibe is more playful and mindful of how tricky the year has been, and how we need enduring home decor whilst creating a harmonious and fun space to be in, when spending valuable time with friends and family.
Our homes are our sanctuary, an oasis from the hectic pace of modern life
“I design for inside and outside living”
and what’s going on in the world, including the environment.
Tropique’s designer collection invites calmness in, with relaxed indoor-outdoor living, connecting spaces and people with colour and beauty that will endure the seasons with quality cushions and home decor.
The collection reflects this with soft colour tones, uplifting patterns and colour blocks. It’s like living in a resort all year round!
Bickerstaff is no stranger to working with a mindfulness for space; Tropique started with a job photographing for a furniture
store in Terrey Hills, where she found that her cushions sold the furniture even more, bringing life to the store’s ‘dead zones’.
Mokum, Sunbrella, Warwick, 3 Beaches, Tommy Bahama and Catherine Martin are just some of the fabrics Tropique proudly uses. Bickerstaff describes these brands as “authentic and original”, as well as, of course, oh so durable. Sunbrella is water, stain and mould resistant, bleach cleanable, and has a five year warranty… all in a range of colours!
Get your family proof cushions today, in this little corner of Brookie where creative genius emanates. •
Breeze in for the coolest new looks and textures in pots,plantsandcontemporary lifestyle.
grourban
gro-urbanoasis.com.au
URBANOASIS
Tropique have a huge range of cushions for all seasons ready to go and offers a custom design service too!
bright, beautiful and delicious
For Flower Child, details are everything. The meticulousness of this commitment to detail is evident in the polished cutlery, the stylised, understated style of the decor, and the fresh daisies and baby breath in glass bottles. True to the name, the flowers change on a weekly basis.
After their success at Chatswood Westfield, it was a no brainer to bring the authentic Australian café style to the Northern Beaches. The delicious menu is inspired by the various backgrounds of their hospitality crew including Brazilian, Israeli, French and Modern Australian. Their menu is always changing to stay with what produce is in season, and the emphasis is on quality, from produce to presentation.
They hand select the top rate products from local suppliers, looking for consistency down to every last detail, even the flesh to stone ratio of an avocado. Intention and mindfulness for quality is at the heart of this meticulous yet worthwhile process.
Some of their standout dishes include The Vegan Bowl which has rainbow quinoa salad with watermelon radish, dressed in a creamy miso dressing with their house made falafel and sweet potato & jalapeño corn hummus. For those with a sweet tooth, you can’t go pass their Instagrammable Hazelnut French Toast, garnished with hazelnut dark chocolate crumb, sliced bananas, fresh seasonal
berries, salted toffee, Canadian maple syrup and hazelnut gelato.
The open kitchen format keeps the chefs honest, and makes whatever they’re cooking up pretty irresistible for passersby.
“We have the opportunity to talk with the customers. We know the regulars and we get good feedback,” said Head Chef Luis.
The community spirit is strong at Flower Child, with the friendly staff led by venue manager Calvin who said, “We’ve got a good team here, and there’s a strong teamwork vibe. Everyone helps everyone.”
Not only can you enjoy their delicious brunch by day, but you can also enjoy long summer European nights at their restaurant on Thursdays, perfect for when you need a bite to eat while doing some late night shopping before Christmas.
Yan, the Flower Child Group Director said, “The core value of Flower Child is to create something that stands out of the crowd. We’re creating a flower garden feeling in urban life, bringing the outside in. It’s a unique experience.”
Yan has a strong background in restaurants and hospitality, having worked over ten years in the industry. His experience, in heading up Flower Child, drives a premium dining experience, making this café a destination for every snap happy foodie on the Northern Beaches and beyond.
When you’re in a rush doing your Chrissy shopping, Flower Child also offers takeaway. Or why not grab one of their Parisian inspired danishes or pastries? Baked and delivered fresh daily, seven days a week, with love, straight from the Grounds of Alexandria.
Colour plays a huge part in their dishes, especially their whimsical desserts, which include edible flowers. The flora theme flows through the decor too, of this upmarket, boutique café, with leafy bursts of green everywhere. The shop was built to fit the curve of the Westfield design, and the result resembles a giant vintage birdcage that is truly unique.
Their core value is to create a dine in experience that is unique and can be shared with loved ones. So come and unwind in the Northern Beaches’ prettiest cocoon. •
Udaya Silva is an Aerospace Engineer by profession, does not have a formal fitness background, and is moving to the Northern Beaches from his home country, Canada for one reason: to open an Orangetheory Fitness Studio, most effective group fitness medium for weight loss, conditioning and toning, in the heart of the fitness mecca that is the Northern Beaches. What is Orangetheory, you ask? And why did it compel a man to move his family across the world? COVERED. found out.
I’m sure we’re all familiar with that sly side-eye at the gym, where you can’t help comparing yourself to others. What are they doing, you think? How often are they here? Why can’t I look like them? This is just one of the many things you won’t be doing at Orangetheory.
Orangetheory is a fitness studio, and yes, we’ve got no shortage of options to make you sweat here on the Northern Beaches. We know you’re probably in the swing of your preferred exercise regime too, but Orangetheory is worth the switch. Stay with us, and we’ll delve into why Orangetheory is taking over the world with over 1,300 locations, in 22 countries worldwide.
Orangetheory is all about building a healthy community with a positive, encouraging culture that incorporates group classes led by a fitness coach. The non-competitive nature that permeates the space will have you trading numbers and making friends, rather than trading, well, who can lift more.
Instead, you become your own biggest competitor. What truly makes Orangetheory unique is their use of technology, and the fact that after every class, you’ll receive a personalised
report of your performance in the class, and what it was doing during the workout. This also combats “why-aren’t-Iseeing-results-itis”, instead giving you that warm fuzzy feeling for even going to the gym in the first place! A lot of the benefits of working out - heart health, blood pressure - aren’t immediately visible; Orangetheory validates your every visit with that little nugget of encouragement. Yes, your body is changing, and yes, you should keep going.
The monitoring of metrics also extends into the style of the classes. While group fitness often lacks the personalised element, causing you to maybe seek out personal training, instructors at Orangetheory can see the heart rate of all fifteen odd participants, giving you that personal trainer touch without breaking the bank. They’ll make sure you’re in the “orange zone,” the perfect zone where
you’re working just hard enough, while not pushing yourself too hard.
Orangetheory utilises High Intensity Interval Training, and exercise equipment such as the rower, which has actual water to give you the most authentic feeling workout possible. Regular exercise is proven to boost energy and vitality, and with the good vibes as a bonus, you’ll feel the qualitative benefits of investing in yourself.
“This is a new way of doing fitness for the Northern Beaches. What you do in there helps you have a better life out there,” says Udaya.
Orangetheory has certainly changed Udaya’s life. He believes in the theory so much that he’s begun the process of moving his family to the Northern Beaches. He loves the beautiful beaches and believes that the strong local passion for fitness is something that aligns well with the Orangetheory’s “more life” theme.
Orangetheory Brookvale is located near the Woolworths pick-up zone in Warringah Mall, and with classes every day and taking only an hour of your time, it fits easily into a busy lifestyle. •
words by john vickery
There was a time when good old personal customer service was not only the norm, but expected. Times have changed and people are busy, and our age of digital mediums hitting us at a frenetic rate has diluted the common values that connect us all together, the personal touch.
COVERED. discovered one small business owner with these values instilled from his childhood. Excelling in his brand labelled shop with his secret weapon - plain and simple - great customer service, he exceeds expectations through caring about his customers’ product journey from initial purchase through the lifecycle of the device.
I sat down with George from Vodafone Warringah Mall to talk about what he does differently when it comes to his service.
John: George, tell me about your old school customer service?
George: Well John, I have always instilled in my team the lessons I learned growing up. Be present with the person in front of you, listen to what they want and need, and deliver the most help you can give them.
J: Okay so if, like me you’re a bit of a technophobe...
G: It’s like this John, most people are blown away by what these phones can do these days, how to work them and most importantly how to secure the data they have stored in them.
J: Such as?
G: A phone is not a phone anymore, it’s a way of life. People have precious memories, important contacts, work files, banking information, health information, pretty much a life of important documents stored in these devices.
J: Okay yes, you’re right, what do we do about that?
G: Well first and foremost, what my team does is educate. You don’t come into my
store just to buy a phone. What you get is your personal phone expert who will help you out with whatever you need. If that’s data recovery or setting up your phone to store information correctly, save photos, whatever it is, we are here to help. We run Seniors Seminars’ on the basics of how to use these devices to help with everyday life. Just pop in-store and ask.
J: How long have you been at the mall?
G: Over five years now with pretty much the same team. If you need a hand we will be here in six months or two years when you need to upgrade, we will still be helping every step of the way.
J: George, Vodafone is a big brand, but you own this shop. How does that work within the network of stores?
G: My network extends across eight stores: Warriewood, Warringah Mall, Penrith, Narrellan, Eastgardens,
Warrawong, Campbelltown and Mount Druitt. What this means you can go into any of these stores and say, “Hey, I bought my phone from Warringah Mall...” and you will get the same amount of care and customer service as you do at the Mall.
J: As for price? Everyone wants the best deal?
G: As most people are aware, all the big guys control the market. They set the price. What we do is excel in customer service, and provide you with a fully set up product. If you come and see my team, you walk out with a phone, a case, a screen saver and all the help you need for the price of the phone package with no extras charged.
J: Sounds amazing George, I can’t wait to come and switch over, and have that personal touch. •
In the heart of Sydney’s Northern Beaches, you will find the Lifestyle Collective. Our collective working village and showroom houses interiors, homewares, lifestyle products, designers, artists, stylists, photographers, luxury travel - and more! We have brought our minds and businesses together as well as offer our clients and customers convenience by only having to visit one amazing location on the Northern Beaches when sourcing for their lifestyle needs.
OPEN
www.lifestylecollective.com.au
From keep cups, bamboo straws and food wraps, to reusable thermo bags and sustainable UV resistant rainbow pegs, do your bit this festive season - give the gift of everyday sustainability.
HUSKEE Reusable coffee cups are sophisticated as they are sustainable. Made from coffee husks as a raw material, the technology keeps your coffee hotter, longer. Great for the reduction of waste and designed to impress.
Made from washable paper (yep, seriously). It’s reusable and eco-friendly and made to withstand daily use. It will safely hold up to 10 kilos of groceries, while the soft cotton handles make for easy carrying. The internal zipped pocket is ideal for keys or your phone.
$55
Insulated and thermo lined, this versatile zip bag can be used to carry food, drinks, medicines, cosmetics or even a wet cozzie. Added bonusit’s large enough to fit a bottle of wine. Perfect for mums, kids’ lunch or travellers on the go.
This 500ml double-walled bottle can be used for coffee, hot or cold tea, fruit-infused water, chilled wine and more. Keep your drinks hot or cold all day long. BPA free this waterproof and shockabsorbing bottle is the healthiest bottle option.
100% Cotton Bliss Bomb Dress – $89.95
Sorrento Italian Linen Top – $109.95 Tori Linen Pants – $109.95
100% Linen Shirt – $139.95 Italian Linen Luxe Shorts – $89.95
Pretty Lil Thing Cotton Dress lined with Rayon – $99.95
Cotton Morrocan Nights Halter Dress – $89.95
$
Betty Boo Playsuit – $89.95
She enjoys collaborating closely with her clients to create their perfect piece of jewellery - from engagement rings, wedding bands or re-modelling your existing jewellery utilising your stones to make a unique piece of jewellery just for you.
We work with you from initial design and sketch stage, right through to finished product. It is a process where we work with you to make sure the result exceeds your expectations.
words by: cloud 9 event management
With the added heat of summer in the mix, for many the coming months mean a whole lot of summer love. As it comes to this time of year, many people consider popping the question. Is this you? Well, we have some ideas that might just help!
We can just imagine it now: a picnic set-up with candles or a naked teepee adorned with fairy lights, giant light up letters asking your loved one, “Will you marry me?”
A sea-plane flight or a private chef and dinner for two, your favourite restaurant and a beautifully styled table, or maybe a weekend getaway to put the cherry on the top.
If you need our assistance from concept through to delivery, or if you know what you would like to do but need help pulling it all together, that is what we do best.
But first, a few points to help you plan your proposal and make it an unforgettable moment:
• PICK YOUR FAVOURITE SPOT: beach, park, lake, garden, or your favourite restaurant. Consider how private it is, how special it is for the two of you and how busy it may be depending on the date you choose.
• CHOOSE THE DATE: remember this will be your date forever!
• CHOOSE THE TIME: if you’re considering sunset on the beach for example, check when it is so that there is sufficient time to enjoy the romance and magic of lighting as the sun goes down.
• CONSIDER YOUR MENU: we can help with a picnic set-up, champagne on ice, or how about a private chef?
• MUSIC: choose a playlist with all your favourite songs, or perhaps you would like us to arrange live music for you. Whatever you need we’ve got it sorted.
• PHOTOGRAPHER: because who doesn’t want to have the perfect images to post on Instagram? Make your proposal unforgettable with images that will last a lifetime.
• THEN WHAT’S NEXT... Do you want a getaway car to a hotel for the night? We can help with all the planning details to make it a weekend worth remembering.
We can help with blankets and picnic baskets, cushions, photography lighting and candles. If you’re going big and need that extra help with planning: everything from location, timing, logistics, arranging your menu and so much more. That may sound like a lot of things to consider and arrange, but that’s where we come in with our connections to make a truly unforgettable proposal.
Think about what you are going to say. If you or your partner is more traditional, consider requesting permission from parents before proposing. Do your research on getting the perfect ring: try and get measurements or other rings your partner has, to get as close as possible to the right size. Make sure it’s a style you know they’ll treasure forever.
If you’re popping the question to a girl, consider offering her to treat herself and get her nails done a few days prior, depending on the girl and sharing photos of your happy news, she is likely going to want to have nice nails.
BE AUTHENTIC. Do what feels right for you as a couple in that moment.
PUT IN THE EFFORT: even if you have been together for a long time, people always ask, “How did they propose?”.
This is a memory you’ll have forever, so make it unforgettable with Cloud 9 Events & Styling. •
We have an abundance of incredible wedding ceremony locations and reception venues on the Northern Beaches. Whether you’re after ocean views or grounding greenery, total luxury, something more rustic or a blank canvas you can really dress to your own personal taste - let’s plan a wedding!
A beachfront elegance with a relaxed Hamptons aesthetic, Beachside Dojo’s private split-level balcony overlooks Manly Beach. A private bar and a large alfresco space, will surely have you cruising into a blissful married life.
Call: (02) 9977 6963
Perched high above Whale Beach, minutes to Palm Beach, Jonah’s offers a unique location with a cliff top garden, breathtaking views, first-class service and luxurious furnishings that will leave you and your guests with a memorable experience.
Call: (02) 9974 5599
With spectacular water-views over Pittwater, this multi award-winning venue is a magical location for your indoor or outdoor wedding ceremony and reception. They also have their own jetty and bespoke floating pontoon.
Call: (02) 9997 7011
The stunning ocean views from both the ceremony grounds and reception room provide the perfect backdrop for your ceremony, reception and photographs. Delivering exceptional service and innovative food that can be tailored to suit your individual needs.
Call: (02) 9999 4266
Re-opening in March 2020, Orso boasts an abundance of natural light in their 250 guest function space. With absolute waterfront access, guests can arrive by boat to Orso’s private jetty, beach and deck, making it the perfect ceremony and reception venue.
Call: (02) 8218 8866
Fit for royalty… The wedding team are ready to work closely with you to create a wedding day which is personalised, flawless and memorable. The magnificent location has a variety of ceremony and reception spaces, and a sophisticated menu to match your seaside soirée.
Call: (02) 9997 5511
Enjoy that engagement glow and soak up the summer vibes
9 FEBRUARY 2020
12-3PM | FREE ENTRY NARRABEEN BEACH SURF CLUB
With the arrival of summer comes swimsuit season and some well deserved time at the beach. It’s also the time we are at most danger to excessive amounts of sun exposure. So it’s important to lather up with at least SPF 30, even better 50, to make sure you are safe from harmful UV rays. Don’t forget to reapply every 2 hours.
It’s important to drink lots of water, at least 9 glasses a day, in the summer months. Try adding fruit and cucumber to add variety to your water.
A great way to shake up any meal of the day is to mix in fruits and vegetables of summer. Eat more cooling meals, such as salads, to combat the increasing heat and choose fresh juices and water over energy and soft drinks.
Summer is the time where you start to slow down with the increase in temperature but it’s especially important time to stay fit. Try healthy activities to help you feel refreshed and awake such as swimming or biking, just don’t forget your water and sunscreen.
Having an alcoholic drink in summer is irresistible. However, it’s important to remember that alcohol fails to provide any hydration to your body and causes the body to dehydrate at a faster rate. Remember to consume in moderation and sip on water between drinks.
Get the kids off the video games and iPads and get them outside in the sunshine. Take them on a family trip to the beach; don’t forget to bring a spade and bucket to make an epic sandcastle. Or enjoy a bike ride along Manly’s boardwalk. Whatever you’re doing, get moving and get outside! •
words by: shannan ponton
There’s such a positive communal buzz around eco friendship and sustainability, it’s hard not to get swept up in something bigger than yourself. I love, that on the Northern Beaches, we still believe in positive people power.
Sustainability is the ability to exist constantly. It’s a pretty broad and binding term. Unfortunately I see and hear that term being constantly regurgitated in conversation around diet and nutrition. “Don’t undertake that diet, it’s unsustainable,” or “I’ve tried everything to lose weight, but they were all…” you guessed it, “unsustainable”.
Most fad diets are very onerous and sticking to them takes preparation, sacrifice and discipline. Those three traits alone make it near impossible to stick to, for even the most determined of us. Add to that a lack of results, unsettle with a yo-yo weight loss, weight gain syndrome, throw in a whole heap of pseudoscience, a pinch of social media hype, a few drops of misinformation and the weight loss recipe becomes confusing and downright disheartening!
Fear not, for with this special, controversial, personal insight, I’m giving you permission to live your life... unsustainably!
Okay, honesty time. Who’s been sucked into fad dieting? Be it successful, or for most of us, not so much. Truthfully?!
Counting calories is the one scientifically proven way to lose weight for every human body. It also takes planning, discipline and sacrifice but of course, its saving grace is that it will deliver results every time. If you want to lose weight and improve your health and fitness, do yourself a favour and count calories. Every time I receive change from a financial transaction, I count it. Not because I’m tight, but so I know that I’m actually getting back what’s mine. I worked hard for that money. Counting calories is exactly the same
in a nutritional sense. You know you’ll get the results back from the hard work you’ve put in.
My way of thinking attracts a fair bit of criticism from detractors and so called experts, as being… you guessed again… unsustainable!
In essence, those detractors are 100% correct but nothing we do “exists constantly”. If you’re fired up and want to lose weight for a special occasion, a wedding, school reunion or even a midlife crisis, go get it. If your motivation is strong, make the most of it, get some inspirational results whilst the iron is hot.
To lose weight: I recommend eating a diet that is higher protein, lower carb, lower fat, less processed and good for you. Restrict total quality calories to 1200-1400. Train at a moderate intensity, consistently and you’ll be blown away at how much you can change. This method will deliver weight loss results and get you ‘in shape’, every time.
Once you hit your target, continue to eat well and move often. If your weight creeps back on, don’t be disheartened or disappointed, address it and go back to what you know works.
In my mind and professional experience, this is a perfectly natural healthy way to live unsustainably. It’s the flow of life. Don’t try to be perfect, it’s impossible and unsustainable; rather, ride the wave of your life.
If life gets in the way, weight creeps back on and you start to feel unhealthy and uncomfortable, rip back in and make the changes you need to feel great again.
Nothing in our world is forever, anymore. When a change becomes important to you, identify your goal, commit to achieving it, set yourself free from external influences and hype, do the work and enjoy the process. If it works, repeat as necessary.
These holidays, don’t try to be perfect, enjoy things your way, encompassing what’s important to you. If weight or health do become an issue for you, address them before they become insurmountable. Commit, make the sacrifices and do the work that you need to feel well. No longer can you cop out and dismiss the things you want under the guise of being unsustainable. •
www.shannanponton.com.au | email: harduppt@hotmail.com | shannanponton
Coastrek, an initiative of Wild Women On Top, is all about embracing that fire in your belly and getting out into nature. Over the past twelve years, Coastrek has inspired over 40,000 people to get moving in nature and raised over $30 million for charity. COVERED. spoke to ‘Chief Adventure Chick’ Di Westaway about being a wild woman and giving back.
Can you tell me a bit about Coastrek and how it started? When I started my business 19 years ago, we were a little women’s hiking group called Wild Women On Top. Wild Women On Top was an outdoor fitness program for women where we trained women for bucket list, big adventure challenges around the world. And we did that by taking groups of women into the bush and doing quite challenging adventure fitness training with them. We got to the point after a few years where we weren’t really growing and we weren’t reaching out to as many women as we wanted to. So I decided it would be a really good idea to have a little event that we would run to motivate our existing clients and hopefully bring new clients in, where we would do a challenging walk, trekking 100 kilometers along the coast of Sydney. Part of that challenge for our girls was that they would also raise money for charity. So that was the beginning of Coastrek.
And Chief Adventure Chick, what does that job description entail? My role is all about creating the next adventure. The obvious sort of thing that you go to in your mind when you hear ‘adventure’ is a hiking adventure. The term adventure can be applied to anything, by taking that adventurous mindset into doing things differently and being prepared to take risks.
What is a wild woman to you? How do you channel your wild woman every day? A wild woman is someone who’s prepared to age disgracefully. I think a wild woman is someone who’s okay about breaking rules, but not all rules. I believe in what the Dalai Lama said, which is ‘know the rules well, so you can make them wisely’. Being prepared to step outside your comfort zone is a big part of what we do because in doing so, you experience exhilaration and magic, and you live life to the fullest rather than just, you know, passing the years.
What long held beliefs do you see Coastrek challenging most for women? I think that strikes to the core of why I created the brand of Wild Women On Top. In the early days, I realised outdoor adventure was very male dominated. Women generally didn’t have the confidence to try really adventurous
things. Also I think that girls, quite often, are brought up not to do adventurous things, to play safe. So whether we’re taking a group of women to Everest base camp, or taking thousands of women along the coast of Sydney, our teams of women nurture and lift each other up so that everybody grows in strength, confidence and resilience.
How can women on the Northern Beaches get involved with Coastrek and Wild Women on Top? The Northern Beaches of Sydney is our heartland. There are three ways that Northern Beaches women can get involved with Wild Women On Top; they can sign up for Coastrek, and our Sydney Coastrek event has a 60km trek, 30km hike or a 15km moonlight magic walk where our trekkers raise funds for Beyond Blue.
on 27th March 2020. Get $10 off your individual entry. Use promo code COVERED10 at www.coastrek.com.au
Coastrek is not only great for your physical well-being, but also for your personal mental health. Physical activity in nature is a wonder drug for almost everything. Just 30 minutes of walking a day reduces your risk of heart disease, obesity, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, dementia, stress, depression and anxiety by up to 50%. And the best way to motivate yourself to walk is with a goal that scares the hell out of you!
You can also join one of our small group training programs where we go out into the bush for two or three hours at a time. We offer sessions pretty much every day of the week, we either train at sunrise or sunset going into moonlight. We do challenging hiking activities and those adventures get us really fit and strong so that we can then go and hike to Machu Picchu or climb Mount Kilimanjaro or trek the Patagonia trail.
How important is giving back to charity in the community as an organisation? Giving back is a core part of our values. There are two reasons behind that. One reason is because we know that in giving back, we engage our own health and wellbeing. And the other reason is that we love our charity partnership with Beyond Blue is that in raising funds, you support people living with mental health conditions in Australia. It really is a win-win.
When is Sydney Coastrek? Join thousands of wild women, and a few awesome men, in teams of four on 27 March as we immerse ourselves in nature for an epic adventure of fun, fitness, friends and fundraising, proudly supporting Beyond Blue. You can register your team at www.coastrek.com.au.•
Everyone wants to be healthy and have energy, but not via artificial supplements. Natural Sports Energy is the first 100% Australian Made and owned line of sports drinks, that has no artificial flavours or ingredients. COVERED. explores what earned Night Nutrition and Warm Up, a certified 5 star Australian Health rating.
Natural Sports Energy is comprised of three products; Night Nutrition, Warm Up, and Energy+. Energy+, not far behind the other products, has a 4.5 Australian Health rating.
ENERGY+ is your alternative to the supermarket shelf drinks, which are bursting with artificial flavours, colours and processed sugar. In fact, these drinks have so much sugar in them, two drinks will easily place you over 95% the recommended daily intake of sugar… without even eating a thing. Energy high like you think? Or is that just a sugar high?
Energy+ gives you the energy minus the negative health effects. The drink is a low GI natural electrolyte that slowly releases into your system. Long lasting, you can mix it with water or add it to any natural juice or smoothie.
NIGHT NUTRITION, despite the name, can be used any time during the day or night, to give your body that extra bit of protein and energy it needs. Eating before exercise to sustain maximum energy is difficult and often after exercise, you don’t feel like eating a big meal to replenish all you expended. Night Nutrition is the recipe that’ll sustain muscular equilibrium, strength and endurance, which often arises due to lack of food. Night Nutrition also tastes sensational, using natural cocoa. Add this chocolatey goodness to any milk or smoothie, for a taste experience that’ll fuel your body too.
Last but not least, WARM UP! Warm Up can be used either as a pre workout drink or during exercise. It gives you a little kick of extra protein, whilst providing the benefits of the electrolytes from certified organic coconut sugar derived from the coconut flower. •
100% owned and manufactured in Australia All products can be purchased online: www.naturalsportsenergy.com.au | naturalsportsenergy
I have a suggestion for you. This Christmas, you make a conscious effort to stay calm and compassionate – whatever curveball life might throw at you. You keep your cool. You bite your tongue if necessary and swallow the bitter remark without saying it.
This Christmas, you are not rehashing old arguments and you are not falling for the trigger points your partner, your kids or your family present. You stay centred in yourself and let these things bounce off you. You are titanium.
Look, Christmas is the major time for couples to get into fights over petty things. The reason is this: you are suddenly spending three or four uninterrupted days together and at the same time, everyone’s expectations are sky high.
Everyone wants the most sparking, enjoyable and perfect Christmas experience for their family, partner, kids, and themselves. It is no wonder that stress builds up… and we all know from past experiences that there is always something going wrong. It might be that your famous dessert does not come together, your kids are in a bad mood, or your partner is teasing you about not having enough sex or your family.
In the past, those trigger points would have caused an eruption on your side, blowing the whole Christmas mood out the window in no time. But not this year.
This year, you stay calm, cool and collected, and respond compassionately. Maybe the dessert can still be eaten, tasting as good as always. Maybe the kids are just going through some growing pains and need comfort, not boundaries. And maybe your partner is just trying to make an old joke about your family, and you can laugh it off together.
You will see everyone’s surprise, in the moment that you react differently from what they expect. They will all change their behaviour as well.
I’m not saying that you need to devalue or disown yourself. Not at all. Be yourself, and use love and understanding as your guidance.
I’m wishing you a wonderful, relaxing and peaceful Christmas, and a great start into an amazing 2020. •
This Christmas might as well be called iChristmas. The amount of internet connected toys and gadgets for sale increases every year. Perhaps you want to gift your child a smart speaker, or an interactive doll that talks with your child, answering their questions. Maybe you’d like to contact your child through a smart watch or fit your wandering dog or cat with a location tracker.
Anything in your family home that connects to the internet, including appliances, toys or wearables like watches, may be at risk of being hacked or transmitting unsuitable content. Identity theft, where criminals can hack your personal data including your name, birthdate, address and passwords in order to steal from you, is the fastest growing online crime. Internet connected gadgets often require those details in order for you to activate it. Is the manufacturer trustworthy with this private information?
Protecting your family’s personal data is also important for privacy. You think Facebook is listening to our private conversations via the app on your phone? Well, maybe it was your family drone, or the doll or fridge you just bought! So what can you do to protect your family if you do decide to buy the latest digital gadget for Christmas?
• Do some research. Don’t impulse buy and check reviews.
• Check that the manufacturer is well known and has a privacy policy on their website.
• Limit the amount of personal information you provide.
• Check age ratings to find out if the device is suitable and age appropriate for your family member.
• Consider enabling parental controls to prevent your child from shopping through the device.
• Check whether the device has access to adult content. If so, can it be disabled or filtered out?
• Check whether it meets Australia’s safety standards and, in other words, won’t blow up. Remember those exploding hoverboards?
• Read the manual that comes with the device.
• Change the default passcode to a more secure combination to prevent hacking.
• Enable extra two factor authentication via an extra code sent to your app or phone, if it is available.
• Set firewalls to ON via your internet modem.
My manual “Keeping Kids Safe Online” has step by step instructions on setting parental controls and security on Apple and Android devices, Smart TVs, Video Game Consoles, Smart Speakers and Smart Watches. •
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jürgen Schmechel is the founder of Inspiring Relationships where he supports people to create and maintain a loving, intimate and respectful relationship. www.inspiring-relationships.com.au | 0415 509 275 InspiringRelationshipsAU inspiring_relationships
www.thecybersafetylady.com.au
www.keepingkidssafeonline
TheCyberSafetyLady
@LeonieGSmith
Christmas is quickly approaching us this season! Bring the taste of Harbord Growers to your home this Christmas with a variety of beautiful delicacies on offer like Antipasto platters, shortbread biscuits, gingerbread houses and chocolate advent calendars. Make this Christmas easy, and shop at Harbord Growers for all your Christmas needs.
Using only the freshest produce, Harbord Growers creates a variety of platters from Antipasto cheese or fruit. Making celebrating and partying this silly season easy, so you can focus on having fun and partying the night away. Growers will sort you out with all the yummy treats for your guests.
Did you know, Pandoro e Panettone are both originally from the north of Italy in Venice and Milan and have been eaten at Christmas and New Years for centuries. They make the most perfect gifts, or buy one for yourself to enjoy at the Christmas table. Bring the taste of Italy to your home.
At Harbord Growers, you can order cakes online that can be delivered in store and picked up at your convenience. With a variety of cakes to choose from with stores like, Mezzapica cakes, New York Cheesecakes, Papa’s Pasticceria and VSE International cakes. It’s he perfect addition to the Christmas table at any party.
Christmas isn’t Christmas without shortbread bikkies, gingerbread men and Fruit Mince pies. These are delicious to add to any dessert table and we know that Santa loves these left out for him. These biscuits also come in beautiful tins making them the cutest Kris Kringle present.
3 5 4 6
Finding ways to entertain the kids at Christmas time can be tiring. At Harbord Growers you can purchase gingerbread house kits and make beautiful creations this silly season - even gluten free gingerbread houses. Now everyone can enjoy this sweet treat.
Ahhh... advent calenders, the epitome of Christmas. Treat the little ones to a little chocolate a day, counting down to Christmas, or why not grab one for yourself.
Pukka tea is offering an advent calendar, making it the perfect excuse to relax and enjoy a new cuppa every day.
We’ve loving the quirky illustrations and cartoons from Northern Beaches local artist, Chris Thomas.
Contact Chris on 0408 990 509 | christhomasillustration
SAGITTARIUS: NOV 23 - DEC 21
Healthy classics such as the Chiko, aka ‘the mystery box’, roll or Kebab should only be consumed after midnight. If you can’t remember eating it, then it doesn’t count.
CAPRICORN: DEC 22 - JAN 21
Shark nets are like old undies. They’re supposed to keep us safe, but something is always sneaking through the gaps.
AQUARIUS: JAN 22 - FEB 21
Honesty is the best policy, until your girlfriend asks if she looks fat in something.
PISCES: FEBRUARY 19 – MARCH 20
Christmas. The time of year where you become an Oscar winning actor because pretending to like some of your relatives deserves some reward.
ARIES: MARCH 21 - APRIL 19
Oh no! It’s Summer. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, the mirror is telling you something different. Time to get rid of all the mirrors!
TAURUS: APRIL 20 - MAY 20
Cleavage is like the sun. You can glance for a second, but if wear sunglasses, you can look a lot longer.
GEMINI: MAY 21 - JUN 20
Being single means never having to pretend that you’re sober… unless you still live with your parents. Then you need to be drunk.
CANCER: JUN 21 - JUL 20
Making fun of a man with a moustache can be fun. Making fun of a woman with a moustache can be deadly.
LEO: JUL 21 - AUG 22
Having children is your opportunity to have all your worst traits and behaviour manifested in miniature.
VIRGO: AUG 23 - SEPT 22
It’s only excessive drinking when you realise that they haven’t actually carpeted the walls at your local watering hole…that’s the floor.
LIBRA: SEPT 23 - OCT 22
Love is…the unlimited power of your home internet when everyone else is asleep.
SCORPIO: OCT 23 - NOV 22
Cricket season is back. Expect your husband’s selective hearing to gradually get worse over the coming months. •
“I am so hot,” said Angie K. “In fact, so hot I feel like ripping my clothes off at any given moment, and it is not even summer yet.” This is Menopause the ‘Climate Change of Women,’ it is real and happens to all women
Some earlier than others, but extreme heat conditions will make it happen sooner. The good news is, we can do much to help relieve it by recognising it, talking about it, and understanding that it does, and will, happen to all women from as young as 37 up to 55 and beyond.
I know that many of you reading this will not even have considered this happening yet, but the fact is, warmer conditions generally can trigger earlier menopause.
This actually happened to me. Arriving in an early spring/summer heatwave in France, to visit family, I suffered severely with the heat. Apart from normal heat related sweating, I was swinging between burning to shivering. When we returned to Australia, it was winter, and I was still going between ripping the doona off the bed to shivering underneath it in a few minutes. I knew I needed to find out what was going on.
My GP said straight away, “It sounds like that heatwave triggered perimenopausal symptoms.”
I thought, “Oh no, I’m not ready for that,” and sure enough, a blood test indicated this was exactly what happened. Yes, I panicked at first, and thought all the things I have discovered most women do, such as “I’m not a real woman anymore, I’ll get fat, I feel depressed,” and desperate feelings that it’s “too late” to do anything and so on. But once over that, most women find that life post-menopause is one of nature’s best-kept secrets.
According to a survey commissioned for Health Plus magazine, 72 percent of women think they are “just as attractive as before”, 82 percent feel “as feminine as before”, eight out of 10 say they now have an overwhelming “sense of
hot I feel like ment, and it is se the ‘Climate ns to all women
freedom” and six out of 10 women say they feel “better than ever before”. They also feel an average of 10 years younger than their real age. It is a fabulous release, a new found freedom after years of those monthly ups and downs. There is so much you can do to relieve symptoms, and feel energised and sassy, and look the part too. I know it, understand it and I can help.
I am a positive Pro-age Woman and I would love you to join my Body and Balance programs in Manly and Manly Vale as I address all these issues, and run classes for all ages, sex and fitness levels. I am passionate about Mind Body exercise in order to keep a balanced outlook on life and living. I have recently released an APP A45PLUS PROAGE EMPOWERMENT PLAN that will keep you moving with a fusion of Pilates, Yoga, HIIT for Women and BodyBarre at different levels. My face to face programs are a Fusion of YogaPilates and I have added HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) throughout my classes to balance hormone levels. Breath and mindful meditation is also a big part of my programs. A 10 minute FREE Yoga Nidra is on my website www. bodyandbalance.com.au and Yoga Nidra is practised in every class as well as on the App.
Regular exercise releases serotonin and endorphins into the body. These feel good hormones help fight off depression, making you look and feel fabulous. The bottom line? Exercise, eat well, sleep well, love life and have fun. •
Move your body, increase your heart rate, lengthen and strengthen muscles, tone the skin, oxygenate the blood, relax, breath and focus from the simplicity of your smart phone
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Summer is a time of sun, fun and stepping out of your comfort zone. So nothing is better than bringing the brightness of summer indoors. This can easily be done through switching out boring homewares for something more colourful, like uniquely coloured or patterned pillow cases and throws, adding variety and flair to the home.
Spring may have ended, but with summer here, it’s the perfect time to refresh and embellish the home by bringing greenery into the home, to create a healthier, fresher feeling environment as well as acting as great statement pieces and decor. If creating an indoor garden isn’t your taste, perhaps it’s time to take advantage of any vacant garden or outdoor space, possibly providing a new hobby to try.
Being the ideal time to switch out the old for something new, take the opportunity to create your very own outdoor oasis. Investing in a new outdoor furniture set or a backyard statement piece can create the perfect environment for the summer barbecues and get-togethers. •
With seasonal fruit and veg comes the return of the local market culture. It’s also the best time to pick up a completely unique statement piece from a local vendor like a hand-made plate or sculpture. This not only acts as a great piece of decor for the home, but supports our local creators and artisans. So check out the vast selection of goods available at your nearest markets.
Turn your outdoor living space into a coastal oasis this summer and festive season. Enjoy long days out by the pool under the sun, beautiful BBQ dinners and entertaining outside. With everyone coming over to celebrate this season, there’s no better time to redecorate your outdoor living area for everyone to enjoy. Here’s our top tips for making this summer unforgettable.
There is nothing better than enjoying a summer lunch or dinner outside with family and friends. Decide which shape would work best with the amount of people you would usually like to seat; rectangular, oval or round. There are many options here at Cosh Living, from small 4 seater dining settings, to large extension tables that will seat up to
Umbrellas for the summer and covers for your furniture in the winter. Looking after your beautiful pieces will ensure that you’ll have them for a lifetime. If your house is located in a highwind area, it is a good idea to choose outdoor dining furniture with heavier frames, avoid plastic and aluminum which will blow away easily.
At Cosh, there’s a vast range of sunbed lounges to purchase so that you can enjoy watching the kids splashing in style and comfort. Turn your pool area into a Byron Bay resort with our vast range of furniture. Or if you’re lacking space, a simple easy chair with a blanket, side table and some cosy deco cushions is a brilliant way to create an inviting space.
14 people. Be sure that your choice of furniture suits the style of your home and existing pieces. But most importantly, make sure it’s comfortable. This will encourage long conversations under the stars well after your meal has ended.
With the weather constantly changing, it’s important to invest in pieces that considers Australia’s vast climate.
Ensure your outdoor space will come to life in the evenings. By introducing ambient outdoor lights and garden lighting, you won’t be forced inside when the sun goes down. We all love to get together with friends and enjoy a summer BBQ outside. By integrating a selection of candle holders, fairy lights and rechargeable LED lights, you will create a magical atmosphere and enjoy long conversations under the stars. •
TaoTable&ToscaArmchairsbyTribu
Be sure that your choice of furniture suits the style of your home and existing pieces. But most importantly, make sure it’s comfortable.
If your new year resolutions are anything like ours, they probably give mention to adopting some eco-friendly habits, and keeping the home clean.
Give your home a fresh feel for the warm months ahead. Making your own environmentally-friendly cleaning products to use around the home is not only cost effective but better for your health. Let’s start with the kitchen.
• Wipe, clean storage: Remove all items from any drawers and cupboards, and wipe them out thoroughly with an ecofriendly solution of the juice of three lemons, three teaspoons of bicarbonate soda, one drop of dishwashing detergent and a drop of oil such as eucalyptus or lavender. Mix together and add to one litre of water.
• Clean the oven: Rather than kitting yourself up in a biohazard suit, try using bicarb mixed with water. Scrape off as much grime before making a paste and spreading it over the walls, top and bottom of a cold oven. Leave overnight. The next day use a cloth with hot water to wipe it all down and finish with a final wipe using paper towels. Spread a layer of bicarb on the oven glass and spray with white vinegar until it fizzes. Finish using a soft scouring pad to clean off the grease and wipe clean.
Moving on to the bathroom, there are a few ways you can reduce the wet and eco footprints, in equal measure.
• Clean the shower door: Fill a clean spray bottle with equal parts water and white distilled vinegar. Spray the solution onto the front and back. Allow the mixture to stand for at least five minutes or up to 30 minutes for tough soap scum.
• Detox the toilet: Pull on some gloves and thoroughly scrub the toilet using one cup of vinegar mixed with a quarter of a cup of bicarb soda. Don’t forget to remove the seat and clean around seat bolts. Wipe with a clean cloth soaked in warm water.
For the bedroom, there’s a number of things you can do.
• Tidy your wardrobe: Sweep and wash the wardrobe floor, or for carpeted areas sprinkle baking powder over the area,
leave for two to three hours, vacuum well. Donate items you no longer need.
• Banish bed bugs: Sweep, mop or vacuum underneath your bed. If it’s a sunny day, take your mattress outside and let it sit in the sun. The ultraviolet rays will kill any nasty bacteria.
• Window wonder: Wash the curtains or clean blinds with a damp cloth. Clean the windows with a solution of two teaspoons of white vinegar mixed with one litre of water in a spray bottle. Sparkle up the glass using a clean cotton cloth.
The living room is arguably the heart of the house. There is much you can easily do to spruce it up.
• Couch cleanse: Vacuum all surfaces and wash any cushion covers, blankets or snuggies. Spot clean small stains with a mix of quarter of a cup of eco-friendly dishwashing detergent and one cup of warm water, blended to form a foam. Apply with a soft brush gently working it into the fabric, then use a clean, dry cloth to dab dry.
• Disinfect door handles: Wipe away any grime with a mix of three to four drops of natural soap and 15 drops of tea tree or eucalyptus oil with two cups of water. Spray onto areas that need cleaning and wipe off with a soft, dry cloth.
And ending with the home office; decluttering your physical space can declutter your mental space, leading to increased productivity.
• Keyboard clean: Turn off your computer or unplug the keyboard. Buy a can of compressed air from the hardware store. Attach the nozzle and aim the air in between the keys, blowing away any debris.
• Desk declutter: Clear the top and contents of the desk drawers, and clean with an all-purpose cleaner made from half a cup of vinegar, one quarter of a cup of baking soda mixed with two litres of water. •
words by: caity hardy photography: adam moore
With Adam Moore’s new bike initiative, he’s helping reduce Northern Beaches resident’s carbon footprint and fulfill his dream of European living right here, in Sydney’s treasured Northern Beaches.
If you list your property with him prior to the 20th of December 2019, for 2020 sales campaigns, you will receive a luxury Lekker bike, valued at $2,500.00*, for free.
This funky Dutch-style electric bike is perfect for every Northern Beaches homeowner. It will not only keep you healthy and fit, you’ll blend in with the locals and help save the planet by reducing carbon emissions, as well as avoiding that pesky weekend traffic along Manly Beach.
‘The Active Agent’, as Adam Moore calls himself, takes an entrepreneurial approach to the property market. It’s his record sales in Manly, Fairlight, Queenscliff and Freshwater that proves that his bike strategy is working. He’s given away over 40 bikes in the past couple years.
When it comes to selling, for Adam, “it’s not just about property, it’s about the lifestyle too that the Northern Beaches has.” Moore has a dream to leave a legacy of making Manly like “Little Amsterdam.” Bringing a bit of European living to Manly with his new Lekker bike initiative and finish of the “whole package” that the Northern Beaches has to offer.
Adam Moore lives, works and breathes the Northern Beaches. He’s spent seven years of his 12 years in real estate working his core areas of Manly, Fairlight, Queenscliff and Balgowlah Heights, so
he knows the local market well. Making him credible, helpful, professional and honest are just some of the words you’ll see with a quick Google of Adam’s name.
Adam is responsible for numerous record sales in the area such as the time when he broke the $4M barrier with a sale of a residential apartment in South Steyne Beachfront, 9 Highview Avenue, Queenscliff for $5,425,000 and 58/1 Lauderdale Avenue, Fairlight for $4,860,000.
He took out ratemyagent - Agent of the Year 2019 for Queenscliff and won Australia’s Realestate.com.au - Residential Property campaign of the year award this month for the sale at 5 Marmora Street, Freshwater which sold for $3.5M.
So are you looking to buy or sell in 2020? There’s plenty of reasons to go through Adam Moore at Stone Manly for all your property needs. •
*Terms and conditions apply.
At Upstate, we’re the first to admit that selling a home can bring with it a whirlwind of emotions. The thought of styling and renovating your home can be a daunting one, and add to the stress of selling. But fear not: Upstate has a few tips on how to eliminate the overwhelm. These easy steps will help you prepare and style your property, in the hopes of selling it for more.
Anyone can make simple changes to enhance the look of their home affordably.
And the best part? It’s achievable regardless of what’s happening in the market, so you can feel in control of this aspect of the selling process.
Now, let’s get into it!
important?
Styling and renovating is the icing on the cake when it comes to selling property.
Sure, you might be in a sought-out location, all of your amenities are working, you have the best real estate agent in the game [cough] ‘Upstate’ [cough]... BUT if your house isn’t looking its absolute best on open day, you could be turning away potential buyers.
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, but let’s face it – with homes being one of the biggest investments any of us will make, buyers most definitely judge a house based on its visual appeal.
If Mrs Thompson adores the look of your living room, she’s going to picture herself, Mr Thompson and the little Thompsons curled up on the couch together watching their favourite shows. If it’s looking drab, out-of-date or there is noticeable damage, even on the furniture, she’s not going to picture her family living there at all.
If potential buyers are comparing two properties in the same area of the same price, it’s almost a given that they will choose the one that has received TLC.
A well styled home is going to appeal to more than one buyer, creating competition which can lead to a bigger sale price.
All of the reasons above are almost certain to increase your sales price and shorten the time on the market, giving you peace of mind and reducing the stress of selling.
This is not the easiest step but it’s key in allowing the potential buyer to really see themselves in the home. The goal here is to make the space feel uncluttered and like a blank canvas so buyers can imagine their personal belongings on display.
When walls and floors are clean, tidy and fresh, they pretty much go unnoticed. When they’re dirty, scuffed, old or outdated, they stand out like a sore thumb.
Adding stylish lamps in dark areas is a simple but effective change that makes a huge difference.
As everyday human beings, we rarely have our home in perfect condition. If we live in a space for a long time we become accustomed to dirt on skirting boards, or unclean windows. But these are the areas that are noticed very quickly by potential buyers.
You don’t have to do this alone. It’s normal to lean on your agent to get your home to the highest standard. The team behind them will work with you to make suggestions and discuss your budget so you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck.
Whether you’re going for an inexpensive revamp on your home and K-mart is more in your budget (no harm in that!) or you’ve got the money to spend on investing in your home, these tips will make any home look more inviting and valuable.
COLOUR
Colour has the power to create an emotional reaction in buyers. Bring in colour through the addition of soft furnishings and artwork. Stick to tonal and soft hues, two to three colours max
STREET APPEAL
They say first impressions count, right? Sprucing up the front of your home will not only be inviting to those who are already interested in the property, it may also catch the eye of people driving past.
A modern piece of art and new season cushions have the power to change up the look of a room. Minimalism and neutral colours is the best and easiest place to start.
DINING CHAIRS
Dining chairs tend to cop a lot of knocks, scuffs and dirty finger marks. If yours are looking a little worse for wear, it might be time for an update.
Plants are the styling hero of the season. Adding a few plants around the house creates a sense of calm and personality. And not to mention, it brings the outdoors in and reduces pollutants in the air.
Clean floors freshen up any space instantly, bringing life with a little extra gleam. Update your rugs, give the floorboards a mop or get your carpets professionally cleaned, and you won’t even need to spend a fortune.
When was the last time you had a good look at your curtains? They tend to lose colour, collect dust and experience wear and tear overtime.
Rather than spending an hour comparing the striped and polka dot bedspread, choose white for big impact and luxurious styling.
So, what are the biggest takeaways from these renovation and styling tips?
• Styling and renovating is the icing on the cake of a good property.
• Renovate with paint first, followed by flooring, finishings, lights and cleaning.
• You can style your home affordably with small and simple updates.
• Focus on curb appeal, layout and colour schemes for big impact.
If styling or renovating your home is completely out of your comfort zone, the concierge team at Upstate can take that weight off your shoulders. This personalised service is designed to help make your selling experience as seamless as possible. Find yourself in a better place with Upstate and give them a call today on 9971 9000.
IT’S PROPERTY BUYING SEASON!
The average time to buy is almost 9 months from start to nish! At Asquire our average time is 6-8 weeks with an average saving of 5-7% on price.
“Don’t waste time and thousands of dollars running around trying to do this yourself, go to the experts at Asquire.
They’ll do it all for you!”
Charles L. Manly NSW
