North Sydney Sun June/July edition

Council plans a 7.6% fee and charge hike, including a new tax on 5G and a surcharge for touch football

North Sydney Council is planning a massive 7.6% hike in its fees and charges in the coming financial year.

47 new fees and charges are to be introduced from July, including 12 “newly identified opportunities to recover costs or utilise assets.”

18 fees and charges are to be discontinued, although 17 of them are being superseded by new fees.

Among the new fees are a $7000 annual charge on mobile telecommunications operators who place 5G antennae on council poles. The charge applies for each device.

There will also be a new small room meeting hire fee at Stanton Library. Somewhat amusingly, there will be new fees at the Denison St and Nicholson St car parks for signage required to notify the existence of reserved parking, itself subject to a fee.

There will also be a range of other new fees: a specific new item for guided tours of the Waverton Coal Loader when booked by a non-profit group for example.

Another is a move from a day or weekend rate for cricket wicket hire to an hourly rate.

One contentious decision is to increase the fees for use of council grounds for touch football, specifically on the basis that it has a greater impact on playing surfaces than other sports.

Seniors will pay $45 per hour, $8 higher than the charge for other sports.

Some fees are going up by consid-

erably more than the 7.6% average. Charges for filming in public areas will increase by around 10-13%. Fees for resident parking will increase by around 9% to 13%.

Other charges including those for busking, stalls at the Twilight Food Fair and hire of the Council’s Mobile Parklet for outdoor dining will remain the same as now.

Fees and charges account for 26% of the Council’s income.

Ratepayers will be spared though, with residential and business rates increasing by a lower figure of 3.7%. Domestic waste charges will increase by 5%. North Sydney councillors are scheduled to vote on the proposed fee and rate changes on June 26.

Touch football the target of unfair treatment by North Sydney Council?

Touch Football players and organisers say a special new fee singling out their sport is unfair.

In its new budget, North Sydney Council proposes to charge $8 more an hour for senior touch football at grounds such as Forsyth Park than it does for other sports hire uses. Junior touch will be charged $7 per hour more than other uses.

Touch Football organisers have accused North Sydney Council of trying to kill the sport locally.

“Why is touch football being singled out when clearly rugby and soccer absolutely tear up pitches and grounds far more with their heavy

impact,” Sydney Touch Football Inc has complained in a submission to the council’s consultation on the proposed new charge.

“Touch football is the one sport that is mixed and can be played for life and where parents and their kids can actively play together. The fabric of the community is being torn apart piece by piece with these continuous attacks on touch football by council,” it added.

“In addition, there is no evidence or consultation provided to the clubs on the so-called playing surface issues,” it concluded.

Council said it has legitimate rea-

sons for the extra impost on the sport.

“The increase proposed is as suggested due to the heavy wear and tear that touch football inflicts on the turf surface,” said in a reply to the touch submission. “It is adult competition games 4 nights a week on 2 marked fields for up to 4 hours each night that causes the severity of the damage. It’s evident at the end of the winter season at Forsyth Park as it’s always the worst affected ground in terms of damage to the surface.”

The Council also said that the special charges can be justified on the basis that neighbouring councils such as Willoughby also impose them.

Godfrey Santer

Is touch football being unfairly targeted by new hourly fee hike?

Now Arkadia wants consent to build a Grosvenor Lane plaza

North Sydney Council now has a second suitor who wants landowners consent over its Grosvenor Lane car park property in return for building a development-linked plaza.

Property company Arkadia, which owns and operates Theo’s Arcade between Grosvenor Lane and Military Road, has written to North Sydney councillors signalling its intention to seek consent to make use of the council land for its own plaza vision.

Arkadia was prompted to devise its own plan for the plaza after Coles sought—and was controversially granted Council consent to incorporate the existing car park in its own plan for an extended underground car park and above-ground plaza as part of a development it is planning at the existing Woolworths Neutral Bay site in Grosvenor St. This would see a multistory residential block constructed above the supermarket, which would convert to a Coles operation when Woolworths vacates its tenancy late next year.

As the North Sydney Sun reported last month, Arkadia was unhappy that Coles had jumped the gun and was seeking Council approval for a significant re-development many months ahead of the expected release of a Neutral Bay Town Centre Planning Study.

This study was rebooted after the current council nixed the existing one on the basis that it enabled excessive heights.

North Sydney Council mayor Zoe Baker told Arkadia CEO Ric O’Connell at a Council meeting in April that there was nothing to stop anyone from lodging a request to seek landowners consent over the car park.

Arkadia appears to have literally taken her at her word and is testing

Council prepares for Climate Change plan

North Sydney Council is looking to strengthen the LGA’s strategy and planning for Climate Change responses. Council administration was tasked with assessing current strategies and neighbouring councils’ resilience plans. It recommended seeking grant funding to develop a North Sydney Resilience Plan.

The Resilience Plan would need $100,000 upfront, and possibly further ongoing monies, to revisit the Council’s plan from 12 December 2022; a report detailing climate change tactics in response to the impact of future extreme natural disasters.

Lane Cove LGA was successful in granting funding for a climate resilience officer and a resilience plan back in 2019. Their plan develops 5 goals that aim to build resilience in the community, buildings, urban open space, natural environment and within Council. 70% of the 51 actions in the report were taken from existing strategies, with 31% new actions coming as a result of the 2019 plan.

the Council’s willingness to countenance alternate proposals.

“We submit this request in the interest of ensuring an open, transparent and collaborative approach to deliver the new public plaza in Neutral Bay, in line with Council’s future vision,” Ethos Urban, acting on behalf of Arkadia, wrote to councillors.

“As it stands, on the basis of the development application being prepared by Coles which includes the plaza, we are of the opinion that the opportunity for a collaborative process to deliver a design that equitably meets the needs of all relevant stakeholders may be lost.”

This is a reference to concerns from shopkeepers and property owners on Grosvenor Lane that the disruption to parking from the Coles proposed development would drive them out of business. “The proposed DA will involve reconfigured public parking, loading arrangements and design of a public plaza on the Grosvenor Lane car park site,” Ethos Urban wrote. “The development will be carried out and funded by Arkadia (at no cost to Council), through the mechanism of a Planning Agreement between Arkadia and Council. Arkadia propose that the agreement provides for delivery of the plaza in lieu of infrastructure costs levied on the future redevelopment of its land.”

“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no expectation that Council warrants any development outcome on Arkadia’s land, it is merely a forward funding proposal based on costs to be levied on any future development that may or may not occur. Arkadia supports Council’s requirement that the Plaza is to remain in public ownership and control.”

Arkadia’s proposal will concentrate public open space to the southern side of the plaza where solar access is best achieved, with direct and activated frontage to adjacent small businesses, it said. “Arkadia’s proposal will retain Grosvenor Lane and an appropriate quantum of on-grade parking, as well as dedicated servicing arrangements to ensure the viability and strength of the existing retail offerings, prior to future redevelopment of adjacent land,” it added. “Arkadia is willing to deliver the plaza at no cost to Council and in a manner that actively incorporates input from the community and relevant stakeholders and does not result in a prejudiced outcome.”

The latest development places the Council in an interesting quandary.

It cannot actually rule on either of the development applications since it has an interest in the carpark land: in both cases, they will be sent to higher planning panels.

Ultimately, both cannot proceed, which suggests that whoever can get its development application approved first wins the race. But where Council does have leverage is over its consent for use of its land, enabling it to make a choice between the two proposals. How it will do that is yet to be seen.

One of the four councillors who opposed the granting of consent to Coles earlier this year, Cr Ian Mutton, observed to the North Sydney Sun that: “it seems like we are crossing the finishing line before we fired the starter’s pistol.”

Ar st’s impression of Arkadia’s vision for a new Grosvenor Lane plaza and carpark

An indica ve map of the Arkadia-proposed Grosvenor Lane plaza and carpark

The state of the North Sydney CBD office market

COVID and the resulting trend to work from home has impacted office occupancy in North Sydney, but not to the extent one might imagine. Jones Lang LaSalle senior leasing executive Amy Cordiner, who is the nucleus of their North Sydney team, tells the Sun that the vacancy rate of 17% has only risen 1-2% over the COVID period and that’s in the context of 200,000 square metres of new space at Denison, Miller and Mount Streets. James Mullan spoke with Cordiner.

SUN: What changes have you seen in the market with the end of COVID?

CORDINER: Many corporates are realising that they can right size for their business. They may not require 500 square metres, however they have the budget which allows them to reduce their spatial needs and relocate to a higher quality building. The movement to higher quality buildings is having a definite impact on secondary grade assets.

If your current office is in a secondary asset, the pure difference in moving to a prime grade building may be 20-30% more, however the positive tenant metrics in the market are making it possible.

SUN: What types of companies are attracted to North Sydney?

CORDINER: North Sydney is highly diversified in the industries that we attract. Channel 9 changed up the dynamic by bringing media & advertising & marketing related sectors back to the fore. Technology industries have always been a strong contributor to the North Sydney economy. Microsoft’s a perfect example securing approximately 10,000 square metres, and we’re noticing a lot of FinTech coming into North Sydney now.

SUN: TPG said they are moving from North Sydney to Barangaroo partly because the newer building there helps them meet their emissions and sus-

tainability goals? Does North Sydney have a problem in that regard?

CORDINER: It’s happening across all markets – not just North Sydney. Sustainability and ESG initiatives are now stronger across the board. Victoria Cross, Lendlease’s over station development is designed as a net zero building and will be all-electric. Lendlease’s Blue & William development down near Shore School has very strong sustainability metrics and this will only continue in the future.

SUN: What are clients telling you about North Sydney itself, as opposed to the actual buildings?

CORDINER: It’s definitely improving on the back of new office and supporting development activity and supporting infrastructure. Retail offerings in Victoria Cross will only enhance North Sydney’s day & night-time economies.

SUN: Is there a risk of oversupply in the market?

CORDINER: New developments in the past few years have secured precommitments; 100 Mount Street was 98% committed upon completion and Blue & William is leasing incredibly well. Our vacancies are driven by those secondary-grade assets that lack landlord capital to meet the demand of tenants.

This interview was edited for length. Jones Lang LaSalle is a global real estate service firm.

MODERN ASIAN CUISINE

Amy Cordiner

The Sun Says…

Plans by the NSW state government are set to have a big impact on the North Sydney LGA.

Housing developments worth more than $75 million, which include a minimum of 15 per cent affordable housing, will gain access to a new State Significant Development pathway, meaning decisions will be made faster and bypass existing council and planning panel procedures.

Specifically, these projects will be entitled to what is called a 30 percent height and floorspace bonus.

The new government unashamedly wants more height and less urban sprawl.

The North Sydney LGA will be a prime target for its policy with expensive new metros currently being built in Crows Nest and North Sydney. Neutral Bay, with its B-Line stop, will also be a point of interest, and we imagine it won’t be too long before state planners realise that Waverton and Wollstonecraft, with their anaemic daily passenger numbers at their rail stations, are also ripe targets for more development.

If the state government gets its way on this issue, residential development is set to become a major local flashpoint.

The fundamental question is this. Who should have the most say? Existing owners, who fear congestion and also benefit financially from property supply scarcity. Or intending owners and residents, who want to live here, but are denied a voice in local political debates.

It will make for a very turbulent next three years.

Copyright Decisive Publishing.

All rights reserved.

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comment taken by G Lynch

Office address: Unit 704 6a Glen St Milsons Point NSW Australia 2061

Phone: 0415756208

URL: www.northsydneysun.com.au

Email for editorial: grahamelynch@northsydneysun.com.au

Founding editor and Decisive CEO: Grahame Lynch

Associate publisher: James Mullan james@northsydneysun.com.au

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Minimum of 15,000 copies circulated to homes and businesses in the North Shore electorate. Printer statement available on demand

Labor, Liberals seek to serve North Sydney with duty senators

Talk of the town

With local North Sydney MP Kylea Tink sitting on the crossbench in Canberra, the two major political parties have appointed NSW senators to look after the electorate.

The Labor government have designated Senator Tony Sheldon as the “duty senator” for North Sydney, while the Liberal opposition have opted for Senator Andrew Bragg.

Sheldon was elected to the Senate in 2019 and was formerly a Formerly the National Secretary of the Transport Workers’ Union of Australia. He is officially billed as the “Labor Senator for North Sydney” and was given carriage of two recent announcements: one for a community battery in Cammeray and another for a series of federal grants enabling the installation of air conditioning in local schools.

Last month the federal government issued a $500,000 grant to Ausgrid to build the community battery, one of 400 slated nationwide. The idea is that the battery can conserve solar power generated locally for later use. It was originally planned for Green Park but in the face of community opposition, is likely to move elsewhere.

Meanwhile, North Sydney Girls High School received a $25,000 grant earlier this month to upgrade its ventilation. Similar sized grants were also made to Lane Cove Public School and Artarmon Public for building repairs and air conditioning respectively.

Senator Sheldon said: “Our local schools deserve great infrastructure and quality equipment to help students achieve their best.”

“The Albanese Government is investing in a better and fairer education system and this is terrific news for our local schools with more to come. This is a great outcome and I’m happy that we can deliver this funding to much-needed projects for our local schools.”

In regard to the battery, Sheldon added: “This funding will deliver technology locally to increase the amount of rooftop solar in the grid, allow solar energy to be shared, and put downward pressure on household bills. This is a real win for the community of Cammeray.”

“This is a practical example of the Albanese Government’s commitment to easing cost of living pressures. A community battery in Cammeray will mean households can store cheap, solar energy for use at peak times, increasing our use of renewables and reducing emissions.”

Meanwhile, the Liberals’ Andrew Bragg, who also entered the Senate in 2019, has been appointed as their du-

ty senator covering both the North Sydney and Warringah electorates, both held by independents. Bragg lives across the harbour in Paddington but says he is in a relationship with a Kirribilli local and is regularly in the electorate. Sheldon also lives close by, with a residence in Surry Hills and an office in the Sydney CBD.

Bragg is almost a model candidate out of central casting to reclaim North Sydney for the Liberals from the Teals. He is a major warrior for its moderate faction, advocating previously for same sex marriage and now for the Voice to Parliament, opposed by many of his colleagues. But he is also highly financially literate, emerging as one of the leading advocates for people to have more rights over their superannuation, for example.

Cammeray battery causes pain for Council mayor

North Sydney mayor Zoe Baker is finding that listening to one’s community sometimes exposes one to the opprobrium of the rest of the city.

A case in point is the small media storm over the location of the federally-funded solar battery in Cammeray. Originally slated for Green Park, local residents felt it would take away a slab of open green space and wanted it relocated elsewhere. Baker endorsed their cause, writing to both the federal government and energy utility Ausgrid to press for an alternate site. In the end, Ausgrid apparently agreed to look for a new location.

But this didn’t stop metropolitan media from jumping on yet another instance of what seemed to be entitled lower north shore residents who weren’t prepared to even sacrifice a few square metres of parkland for the sake of the cause of climate change.

To wit, the following exchange with 2GB drivetime host Chris O’Keefe last month:

Zoe Baker: We’re not saying no to a battery. We’re saying there are better locations. (The Warringah Freeway upgrade areas was previously cited as

such a location)

Chris O’Keefe: Can you honestly, with a straight face, say that a fourmetre-long, two-metre-tall structure is big?

Zoe Baker: I’m not saying it’s big, but it impinges in the park. It means that there are parts of the park that kids won’t be able to access.

Chris O’Keefe: But what would happen then on this logic? What would happen then if North Sydney Council decided to build a toilet block in a park for people to use because that’d be bigger than four metres long and two metres high?

Zoe Baker: Well, no doubt it would be, but the reality there would be community consultation and there would be a decision.

Chris O’Keefe: But on this logic, then you couldn’t put it in. You’d have to put it on the Warringah Freeway, the toilet block.

Zoe Baker: No, not on this logic because it’s about what serves the park. Those sorts of facilities serve the park. People need to use the toilet. And in fact, what might be a better...

Chris O’Keefe: But a battery, a solar battery serves the community because it saves on people’s power bills, right?

Zoe Baker: Absolutely. And it may be that the best location for it is at the back of a toilet block in a park if it’s going to be in a park. But none of those options had been canvassed. So we’re having that conversation with Ausgrid.

Chris O’Keefe: I hate to say it, but you sound like a NIMBY.

Zoe Baker: Well, we’re actually not a NIMBY (sic). We want this in our backyard, just not this corner of the backyard.

What the Ausgrid community ba ery would look like

North Sydney’s Olympic Pool. When will

The decision was taken in 2020 to go ahead with the rebuild of the pool and grandstand - refurbishment was simply not a viable option. The pool liner installed a decade ago to stop leaking was progressively failing.

The grandstand was suffering concrete cancer and had its capacity reduced because of safety fears.

The contract for the rebuild is based on the Australian Standard AS40001997 Construction Contract modified for the rebuild project and was then put out to tender.

Significantly, the design risk was with Council. The tender process was reported on by a probity advisor. The report was fulsome and complimentary.

In December 2021 it was reported to Councillors that:

> The entire budget allocation, including the design phase, consultation, DA preparation, construction and an allowance for contingencies has increased from $57.9M to $63.9M.

> The increase occurred after obtaining competitive tenders and adjusting for risk factors associated with construction on the edge of the harbour.

The contract was approved by Council in December 2020.

Date for completion. November 2022.

Cost. $63.9m.

The report to Council in October 2021 (at the last substantive meeting before the election) was comprehensive; it included details of all claims for (a) extension of time to complete and (b) variation (accepted and pending), as well as details of funds applied and scope changes.

Date for completion. March 2023.

Cost. Approved variations were reported at less than $200,000. Unapproved claims for variations (at values attributed by Council) were within the amount allowed for contingencies.

The present Council (with the exception of one Councillor) was elected on 4 December 2021. In June 2022 it was reported that as at 23 May 2022:

Date for completion. July 2023.

Cost. The potential budget over run was reported at $8m.

In August 2022 it was reported:

Date for completion. December 2023.

Cost. The potential budget over run was reported at near $9m.

On 6 September 2022 it was reported to Councillors that the contractor had made a claim of $13m for variations without providing particulars. The broad basis for the claim was that appropriate technical construction documents had not been provided.

In October 2022 it was reported:

Date for completion. November 2023.

Cost. The potential budget over run was reported at near $20m.

On 10 October 2022 Council resolved to undertake an independent review of the Council’s management of the project. PricewaterhouseCoopers was engaged to undertake the review – it’s made 16 “findings” and 33 recommendations (13 specific to the Pool Project). To my mind the most significant “findings” included:

>There was a mismatch in the expectations between Council and some contractors.

> The staff appointed to manage the contract had limited recent experience delivering projects of this type, size and complexity. An external Project Manager was appointed but removed from the project after the concept design phase.

> The Governance structures/steering committee did not include an experienced technical expert/advisor to advise on challenges and mitigation opportunities.

> The management practices were not at a level that could support effective decision making in a project of this complexity and scale and furthermore some of the risks and mitigations identified were not managed or implemented during delivery of the project.

The PricewaterhouseCoopers’ recommendations are being implemented.

Want a better understanding of the issues? The report to Council included in the papers for the meeting held on 26 April 2023 is well worth reading –it’s at https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/ecm/download/document10421217

In April 2023 it was reported to Council:

Date for completion. April 2024.

Cost. Variances to budget confirmed at $7.7m.

The potential budget over run was reported at between $25 and $30m with the scope expanded to include consultants, contract works, works outside original scope such as fit outs and technology and costs associated with establishing operations for the pools, gym, creche, and kiosk and sufficient contingency given the level of risk associated with the project.

The management of the project has gone forward in an environment where there has been 2 Mayors, 3 General Managers and 3 Directors of the division responsible.

For a later time is a discussion on the extent to which:

> delays have been caused by non-COVID related factors; and

> increased costs driven by changes to scope (e.g. the decision of Council to fit out and operate facilities), management issues and actions of contractors.

The challenge for our Council is to ensure that the claims for variations are assessed with the degree of rigour that ensures only those with merit are met.

Can we afford it?

Meeting the cost is well within the capacity of Council – it is beyond me why anyone would suggest otherwise. In the financial year ended 30 June 2022 Councils: Income was $141m

Expenses were $118m

Operating result was $23m

Council owned commercial properties are valued at in excess of $57m.

Was it right to rebuild the pool?

Past Councils have given us St Leonards Oval, The Coal Loader and the North Sydney Olympic Pool. These are magnificent community assets. It’s incumbent on us to preserve and prepare them for future generations. Whatever else is to be said, there can be no doubt, Council is building a facility in the tradition of the pool bult back in 1936 when it, as one of the venues for the Empire Games, showcased Australia – it was world class back in 1936 and it’s about to be world class again.

Ian Mutton www.ianmutton.com

it be completed? At what cost?

LOCAL WRITERS

Summer Beach a perfect read for a long, cold winter

By James Mullan

After the success of her debut novel series, McMahons Point author Amber Jakeman has released the first book of her new ‘Escape to the Coast’ series: Summer Beach.

As long as Jakeman can remember books and literature have been a strong part of her life. “I have always been passionate about books from the first picture books I saw. They took me away to another world and I afforded them. I loved learning to read and write, composition time at school was my favourite!”

This naturally led her into a career in journalism which included time at the Sydney Morning Herald, The Sydney Sun and suburban newspapers. As her children grew up, she obtained a Masters in Professional Communications which led into roles writing for universities and schools. Yet there was something missing, as this path had Jakeman dealing mainly in the nonfiction world: “I found I was particularly interested in stories especially after a career in journalism. I really wanted to read and write stories with positive resolutions.”

It’s fair to say Jakeman isn’t a fan of writing horror, taking inspiration more from authors like JoJo Moyes, Beth O’Leahry and Jane Austin, describing her style as ‘feel good fiction.’

After a long career in journalism, Jakeman had a strong desire to write more creatively, so began to take an interest in fiction writing.

“I just realised that life was going by. It’s a bit of a cliche but it’s not a rehearsal, if you want to do something you should just do it.”

Early on, she had discovered the ‘5am writers club’ on Twitter which had the author writing with the sunrise where she found it was the best time for undisturbed, creative writing. After writing five books, Jakeman was ready to publish her debut work ‘House of

Diamonds’ which is an “enemies to lovers” tale about sassy indie jeweller stallholder Stella Rhys taking on an infamous diamond store.

This was followed with the release of a full series which included Hearts, Spades, Clubs and finally Full House. The series followed the tales of the Huntley jewellery family and was very well received by readers not just in Australia, but around the world. All were launched last year.

With the momentum from her debut books, Amber began to work on a new series titled ‘Escape to the Coast’, starting with her latest release; Summer Beach.

For Jakeman, a story always begins with character development. “The key character in this one is Sam, she’s a workaholic who is Australian but lived in the US for most of her working life.” Sam is a computer coder who takes her work very seriously. When her father dies, she returns to Australia to settle his beach side property. While in the “back water” place, Sam meets neighbour Jake. “He comes across as gruff and quite difficult person.”

The two clash on a lot of things from petty to big picture. After some time, they begin to get along but Sam slowly finds out more about some of Jake’s skeletons in the closet.

That’s all we can tell you! You’ll have to pick up a copy to find out what happens.

Stylistically, Summer Beach is slightly different to the House of Diamonds series yet Jakeman says “the main bones of it are similar: serious themes, positive resolution and hopefully with characters that readers will be barracking for.”

Inspiration for the ‘Escape to the Coast’ series comes from the author’s time spent living and working as a journalist on the Central Coast.

Jakeman said that themes from news stories she had written at this

Neutral Bay Community Centre 190-192 Military Road, Neutral Bay

Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre 16-18 Fitzroy St

Nimba Bakery 4 Ennis Rd, Milsons Point

James Milson Village 4 Clark Rd, North Sydney

Kirribilli Hotel 35-37 Broughton St, Milsons Point

The Flying Bear 76 McDougall St, Kirribilli

Altitude Cafe Shop 3/48 Alfred St S, Milsons Point

Rustic Charm Cafe 2/102 Alfred St S, Milsons Point

Latitude Cafe 55 Lavender St, Milsons Point

Kirribilli Club 11 Harbourview Cres, Lavender Bay

Blues Point Hotel 116 Blues Point Rd, McMahons Point

Waverton Community Bookshelf 94A Bay Rd, Waverton

1st Sipzz Cafe 157 Walker St, North Sydney

North Sydney Council Chambers 200 Miller St

Stanton Library 234 Miller St, North Sydney

North Sydney Community Centre 220 Miller St

Crows Nest Community Centre 2 Ernest Pl, Crows Nest

North Sydney Indoor Sport Centre 36 Hume St, Crows Nest

Bean Drinking Shop 1/13 Ernest Pl, Crows Nest

Fresh Crows Nest Cafe 13 Ernest St, Crows Nest

Woolworths Crows Nest 10 Falcon St, Crows Nest

Galleria Cafe 66 Pacific Hwy, St Leonards

Norths Cammeray 12 Abbott St, Cammeray

Orpheum Theatre 380 Military Rd, Cremorne

time fed into many elements of Summer Beach and the trilogy. As for the next two books, Sunset Beach and Midnight Beach, she has begun to plot out the stories however prefers to go along with her imagination and the feel of the story instead of rigorously

We have three copies of Amber Jakeman’s new book Summer Beach to give away. The first three people to email us and answer the following question will win.

Name one of Amber’s previous books. Send the correct answer and your contact details to James Mullan at james@northsydneysun.com.au

First three correct emails wins a copy of the book.

planning an arc.

Sunset Beach will officially be launched at 3PM on Sunday 25 June at Better Read than Dead in Newtown. For those who can’t wait, you can now order the book online through Amazon.

Re Council’s decision to reduce apartment-to-car space ratios

North Sydney Council exhibited its proposed changes to parking regulations in new apartment buildings in certain areas close to railway stations and asked the community for feedback. Of the responses received, 82% opposed the proposed changes. Yet at its meeting of 26th April, Council decided to ignore its community and change the planning document anyway.

So we have the situation where a staff report to Council recommended changes and these were endorsed (with minor change) by six of the Councillors in the face of community opposition to the change proposed.

It is time those six Councillors supported the community.

Ian Curdie

Re Coles’ Neutral Bay plan to build plaza, underground parking

Would be helpful to see what Coles’ plans are but many in the community enjoy driving up to Neutral Bay and parking the car above ground and going to one of the many cafes there to meet up with friends. A lot may be lost if the community and open feel of the space goes but if the redesign keeps the area open for cafes and is a park like environment then it may receive community support. Good reporting on an important issue by North Sydney Sun.

Tim Charlton

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

WHERE TO FIND THE NORTH SYDNEY SUN

Ritmo Latino comes to North Sydney

The Ritmo Latino festival is a vibrant celebration of all things Latin, and for $35 you too can salsa the night away on Saturday 24 June.

Alongside an array of mouthwatering food options, including tacos, empanadas and burritos, the outdoor courtyard will be turned into a one night only dance floor with performances ranging from authentic reggaeton to mariachi beats.

Performers include Club Havana Band, Gonzalo Porta and Victor Valdes - who spoke to the Sun about his lengthy career and what to expect for the festival.

Coined the ‘walking encyclopaedia of Latin music past and present’, Valdes has been a performer since his primary school days in 1975.

“I was chosen in primary school for the music and dance program in my home town of Xalapa - Veracruz in Mexico,” he told the Sun.

“They made up little routines, and little things to sing to see who works on talent to be part of the program and I was lucky enough to get there and be chosen.”

The performer said music quickly became his ‘main incentive’ to attend school.

“It became very serious even from the very beginning because we trained to do interstate and national competitions,” he said.

“I won three times the national champion of folk dance in Mexico when we were in primary (school), then when we joined high school I kept doing more intensively, and after a few years I started teaching younger kids.”

“Firstly, (it was) something on the side, but then with the years became my principal thing - when I was 16, I was a dance teacher.”

Valdes first ventured out to Australia in 1992, as a part of a larger band called Tlen Huicani that quickly became renowned in Mexico.

“(Tlen Huicani) means ‘The Singers’ in Indigenous Nawat language,” he added.

“That band was very international, and we started touring Australia in 1992 in the first Mexican festival of Sydney, organised by the Mexican Cultural Foundation, the Mexican Embassy and used to be a Mexican Consulate.”

“We performed at the Opera House during the Festival of the Cultures, we also performed in Bondi’s Festival of the Wind and we performed in con-

certs in major universities in Sydney,” he said.

“We kept coming from 1992 until 1997, and then I decided to try Australia in 1998 as an individual without any contract or anything.”

“Just wanted to see how I would go.”

Valdes said he has loved a challenge from a young age, with Australia offering something new after initial success in the industry in Mexico. His biggest challenge to date has been learning to sing in English.

“In those days I couldn’t speak any English to save my life,” he explained. “It was a big challenge! I embraced the challenge and luckily I was employed by Sydney Dance Company for Latin dance.”

“I started busking on the streets of Sydney, as when I came to Australia it was very difficult for me to get a job. So I decided ‘I’m going to the streets’, because I can see great quality music by musicians busking on the streets,” he added.

“I did so well busking, and I met a lot of contacts. I used to stand in Circular Quay and people used to say to me: ‘Oh my God, why don’t you play at the Opera House?’ and I replied ‘I’m 200 metres away, I’m getting closer!’”

The performer had an unlikely ally in overcoming this challenge in the form of Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes.

“This life in Australia, I see it as before (opening for) Jimmy Barnes and after Jimmy Barnes,” he said.

“To play with Jimmy Barnes and tour nationally with him was another great, great event in my life.”

“Before Jimmy, I had a bit of recognition and people called me in the media a ‘very good ethnic act’. Very good, high standard, ‘ethnic’ act. Then the next day, I played with Jimmy in Melbourne and the magazines, the newspapers called me: ‘the versatile, Mexican harpist’. From ‘ethnic’ to ‘versatile’ - all because of the power of an invitation from one of the greatest singers ever from Australia.”

“It really changed my life,” he added. “Jimmy Barnes said, ‘you need to sing with me, you need to sing in English,’ and he showed me a couple of tunes.”

TEX-MEX TUNES: “He loves some Tex-Mex (Mexican-American tunes) so we sung them together sometimes,” Valdes said, “and he made me feel confident.”

“That was my biggest challenge in

Australia, to feel confident enough to sing in English.”

Valdes has also opened for and performed alongside other big names such as Angus and Julia Stone, The Wiggles, Marusia, and Tex-Mex rock band Los Lobos.

Throughout his career he has had so many beautiful memories, he said.

“The most recent was to sing the Argentinian national anthem for the international rugby world cup before the match between Australia and Argentina.”

“In the full stadium, it was a very big honour,” he added.

“With my band in Mexico, I performed for the 500 years anniversary of the discovery of America. At the Bahamas in 1992 we performed for all the Royals from Europe and every President in the American continent. I played in Berlin when the wall fell ... we used to sleep in East Berlin, then cross the border every morning to perform in West Berlin. I also worked in 1990 in the Achille Zavatta Cirque in Paris, and we toured France intensively for one and a half months.”

“I’m very fortunate.”

Valdes said he treasured collaborations the most when he is able to play with the artist.

“To open the concert for Angus and Julia Stone, then play a couple of tunes with them - now that is great,” he said.

“I did the same with Los Bobos, they came in 2011 and the Sydney Festival booked me. This is something that really fills up my heart,” he explained.

“At that time I was performing in Mexico for about six months, and then the Sydney Festival called me and said: ‘Victor, this year we invited Los Lobos who are a symbol of MexicanAmerican music around the world. They represent Mexican-Americans around the world. And we are calling

you because you represent HispanicAustralians.’”

“‘Oh my god!’ I said. ‘When and where do I need to be?’”

“And so they asked if I was willing to open for Los Lobos, and they wanted to know if I would be willing to sing a couple of tunes with them. That was a big honour,” he added.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the Gypsy Kings are two bands Mr Valdes would love to perform with one day.

“Honestly I never craved the kind of life I seemed to get,” he said.

“The most important thing, my goal, is to be known Australia-wide with my cultural heritage. Showing authentic mariachi music to every corner of Australia.”

“What I really want to do in the future, from next year, is to go wider and go regional Australia and just to go everywhere - it’s a big country I know - but that’s my goal to show my authentic mariachi Mexican music and make everybody cheer, and shout, and dance and to be happy.”

For those ready to boogie down to the Ritmo Latino festival at the Greenwood later this month, Mr Valdes is ready to ‘make people jump with (his) music’.

“We will play the most iconic Mexican and Latin-American songs and hopefully people will sing along with us. Some of the most Iconic Mexican Songs such as La Negra, Cielito Lindo, México Lindo y Querido, Volver Volver, La Malagueña, El Rey, Serenata Huasteca to name just a few .. and of course La Bamba!”

“Everybody is going to be jumping, singing Bamba Bamba with us.”

“The most important thing is to connect,” he said.

“What I’m looking forward to is making people from Australia, from every ethnic background, cheer and dance to my Mexican music.”

Artists impression of the Victoria Cross development

Proposed development at 88 Walker St

An explosion of lights, food, art and music will transform North Sydney’s Greenwood Hotel into a Latin American paradise. By Hannah Wilcox

Lush flowers in abundance at our biggest local florist

By James Mullan

It’s apparently the biggest florist on the North Side of the bridge. The brand new Lush has opened its doors at 115 Military Road, Neutral Bay and is offering an incredible 110 different varieties of flowers. We spoke with owner Jack Maatouk to find out what is so special about this newly bloomed business.

Maatouk is the third generation of his family to work in the flower industry with his grandparents and parents all working as either growers or retailers. His parents ran the Blossoms of Paradise stores in the Eastern Suburbs and Mona Vale, the latter almost being the site of Jack’s birth.

“I grew up in the shop. 3am wake ups going out with Dad to growers….. Opening and closing the shop, changing water buckets, cutting flowers.”

But it’s not just Jack’s family who have floristry in their DNA. His wife’s family ran Singapore’s largest florist for 25 years: “She never told me she and her family were florists until two years after we met!”

Both families are hands on deck at Lush and Maatouk says this connection is part of the reason he kicked off the business.

After spending years in the corporate world, Maatouk realised he wanted more than the office could provide.

“My parents put us through uni, I

studied, doing a Bachelor of Commerce and Masters in Business Administration and rose to the top levels pretty quickly.”

“I grew up in a small business with the early wake ups, dealing with customers face to face and that’s what brought me back to the business.”

The quality shows as you walk in from bustling Military Road. The array of colours, styles and fragrance is immediately noticeable.

Maatouk still buys from many of the same growers he met through his father years ago, continuing the commitment to buying straight from the source rather than going to wholesalers. This isn’t easy as most growers are on the outskirts of Sydney or beyond like the Central Coast, Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains.

“You don’t get them any fresher than when you pick them yourself,” he emphasised.

Once the flowers arrive in Neutral Bay they are trimmed, put into hand washed buckets and immersed in specialised water from a PH tap which adds extra potassium and magnesium.

This increases the flowers life span by 60% according to Maatouk. They also switch the water every 72 hours.

Additionally, they focus on freshness by using a cool room.

“We control them in the cool room with about 3-6 degrees temperature,

which enhances the life of the flower,” which he says extends the life of the flower by around 3 weeks.

“People are used to having flowers and they just die within a week. That’s not normal,” adding “Our goal is different, we get it very young and they are temperature managed so we can mature them naturally and then sell them ready to present.”

“A normal florist is 50-60 sqm. They hold a variety of about 30-40 flowers. We’ve gone to the hyper end of the spectrum with 100 different varieties,” Maatouk said.

As for his top picks, the lilies which

are grown on the Central Coast are a favourite. “They give us lilies which are so fresh that we can’t even sell them straight away.”

Other standouts include the chrysanthemums and roses, which come from Kempsey. Some flowers even come straight from his father’s backyard in Turramurra.

As for the imported flowers, the extremely rare striped roses from Ecuador are simply stunning.

Lush offers customised arrangements with wrapping as well as gifts, chocolates, succulents, cards and many more treats.

Local artist brings joy-pop to Bloomingales

By James Mullan

Andy Taylor is an artist who captures the beauty and essence of our area with a uniquely colourful flair. He has teamed up with Kirribilli’s Bloomingales to display his popular ‘joy pop’ style pieces that you simply must see.

Andy’s artistic journey is perhaps not your typical one. He started painting when he left school, originally dabbling mainly with acrylic paints. As a young artist, who didn’t attend art school, he cut his teeth selling pieces at Bondi markets and then with a commercial gallery in the city. Yet he put down brushes to study a law degree before living overseas in England.

Returning to his childhood suburb of Mosman in 2019, he found himself inspired by the beauty of the Australian landscape and began to paint once again.

Taylors’ work is influenced by other artists like Ken Done, Brett Whitely, Michael Muir.

“My purpose is very much to create joy and beauty,” Taylor said.

Although he started off as an impressionist painter, he eventually shifted into more realism.

“In the last few years I’ve really given myself permission to break the rules and really expand my palate. I’m

still very much loyal to the place, in that I want the place to be recognisable. But I’m still playful in my motifs.”

His subjects include iconic landscapes from around Balmoral, Manly and Sydney Harbour with some seriously zesty colour palettes.

Interestingly, outdoor painting (planar) is something Andy admittedly doesn’t enjoy, instead preferring to paint out of his new studio at Middle Head. “I work from a combination of photos and memory. But there’s a lot of editing of photos and artistic licence.” These memories are particularly strong considering he grew up in Mosman. “I grew up fascinated about the island and those bridges (Rocky Point).” Which comes through in his work, with the motif of childhood strongly present.

When Bloomingales opened, Taylor had heard about it on the grape vine. After visiting the Kirribilli lifestyle store he felt it was a good fit for him to sell his prints.

Founder of Bloomingales, Venietta Slama is delighted to have these works on display as his art has already been wildly popular in print form.

She told the Sun: “A lot of the locals loved his prints because it really celebrated the beauty of Balmoral and

the North Shore.”

With a clear desire amongst patrons for more art, they decided it was about time they held an exhibition to display the larger pieces and display a wider range of works.

Slama particularly likes the fact that Andy has developed his own unique style.

“It is really colourful and to be honest with you I’m usually one for more

monochromatic styles. So I’m really surprised he’s taken me out of my typical attraction to art because I really see the energy, the joy and it evokes happiness in people.”

Taylor’s unique art will be on display and available for purchase at Bloomingales in Kirribilli for the next month, so go immerse yourself in the rich colours and wonder of this North Shore artist’s works.

The Lush extended family

Strong, social and senior

By James Mullan

Judy was working, busy and had always been an active person. However, as she became older began to experience more physical issues, from niggles to serious injuries, resulting in a total of 15 operations.

At 62, Judy knew this would be a considerable task but harkened back to her earlier years when she swam several times per week and chased after her three children, now grown adults. On thinking about her exercise “I realised while I was working that was the part that was missing.”

Judy joined an area gym but found it didn’t suit her needs. After four pilates sessions, her instructors said her fitness level wasn’t conducive for group classes and she would have to pay a lot more for individual classes if she wanted to stay on. Back to square one Judy then saw a Facebook ad for Community Moves, Judy shot off a one-line email to founder Van Marinos saying, “think I need you.” Within half an hour Van called Judy to invite her in to check the place out. “It absolutely was a turning point for me. I realised then that maybe I can’t do what the other people do, but here is a guy who is so accepting of who you are and what your body is capable of.”

Community Moves is a health and fitness centre in Neutral Bay, that spe-

cifically caters to local over 50s and was established by Van Marinos who some may recognise from his time on popular ABC TV show ‘Old Peoples Home for Teenagers.’

Van had been working in the fitness industry and got to a point where he was ready to start his own company. He “wanted to do something that was meaningful, not just to me but to the people who I was working with.” Reflecting on his own parents and their needs, he felt that the demographic had been left out of the sectors. “There is a void in the fitness industry to address the needs of people like Judy.” Van said they didn’t need another F45 style gym with intensive classes and a potentially intimidating atmosphere. He added “I don’t want to talk about the things they can’t do, we talk about the things they can do.” Community Moves aims to meet members where they are, regardless of physical ability.

“Originally it was just about the exercise. But it quickly evolved into the direction that it’s not just about physical, but the social and mental is critical and that now almost drives the business. We’re almost a social club that exercises.” Van highlighted.

Ageing Australians are particularly susceptible to social isolation, which can be harmful to both mental and

physical health according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Judy said

“Suddenly you're finding you're not just doing a half an hour gym class together, you’re doing coffee afterwards, then maybe a dinner out later that week and yes, I can do movies on Tuesday night.” She found that she didn’t miss work at all and had instead found that satisfaction both socially and physically at Community Moves.

Back to the physical workouts, they have a specifically designed programs that tailored to their older member-

LOCAL ARTISTS

ship “We focus on strength and stability because these are the areas particularly with older adults that tend to be left behind.” Van said. This is designed more to help with everyday activities like carrying kids or walking up stairs, rather than aesthetic or athletic purposes. Classes can incorporate Zumba, mindfulness, pilates and many more different activities that cater to the individual's physical abilities.

The gym now has 170 members and continues to grow. In fact, Van is opening up a second site this year in the Northern Beaches.

One person’s trash becomes a Kirribilli artist’s prize work

By James Mullan

Kirribilli based artist Claire Engkaninan Low won the Recycled/Reused Materials Award at this year’s Hornsby Shire Council’s Remagine Art Prize for her Monsters Are Real—painted on a skateboard, Engkaninan Low has always had creative skills and a love of art.

“When I was growing up it was a passion. I was the kind of kid whose art gets pinned up at the front of the school…. It fell by the wayside as I got older and I focussed more on writing both fiction and journalism,” she told the Sun.

At the time Claire was the editor of Total Girl magazine but moved on from that career.

As Claire started her current job in communications, she had been doing a daily drawing book which kept that artistic fire burning although she was no longer in a creative industry.

She then found her skill and love of art returning.

“Suddenly it all comes back to you and you feel amazing. It’s like a light has turned on in a old house. I couldn’t stop after that.” And she didn’t, picking painting back up while rediscovering her love of art.

While walking around Kirribilli, Claire stumbled upon a skateboard that had been left out for council pick up. A light bulb went off as Claire had been watching popular YouTube artist ‘Ten Hundred’ recently repurpose skate decks.

Once home the wheels were removed, surface sanded and primed but the difficult part was what to create on the canvas. Claire’s first go at it was based on a phrase she had in her mind “enjoy your burning utopia.” which was originally a baptist pastor’s line but she thought of it more in relation to climate change. This design had flames and devils but not the approval of the artist herself. She didn’t like it.

Then one day in discussion with her partner hanging scrolls came up which inspired Claire.

“I’m from a Chinese family and part Thai. If you are familiar with their (hanging scrolls) one of the very few landscapes that exist that are a hard vertical.”

This provided an ideal inspiration for the skateboard canvas as it is a similar long composition.

Further inspiration came from yet another council clean up find; an 80s magazine about the arts of Asia. In it was Ming Dynasty master Qiu Ying art work “Fording the Stream, After Liu Songnian”, a landscape piece featuring trees, a village and waterway.

Using this as a base she added monsters which “refer to the destructive forces around us that are so familiar they are part of the landscape.”

In her piece description Claire explained “To me, a monster is excessive consumerism that thrives on cold indifference to the fact that many of the things we buy are slave-made. The waste generated when

these things are discarded - that’s another monster.”

You can understand why this work won the recycled art prize as not only were the materials recycled, but the art itself comments on the wasteful nature of modern society. Claire is passionate about reducing the negative impacts of over consumption.

“I want people to look at their waste and the items they don’t want and think ‘one more use, just one more use, what could that be?’”

Community Moves

WORDSTEP

Complete the list by changing one letter at a time to create a new word at each step.

SPINE

QUICK CROSSWORD

CHOPS

There may be more than one possible answer.

CODEWORD

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

WORD FIND No. 029

1 In which decade was Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building built?

2 What are the first names of ice-skating partners Torvill and Dean?

3 What is the term for an animal’s ability to severe an appendage, usually as a form of self-defence?

4 What was the 1920s slang term ‘Chicago typewriter’ reference to?

5 Who was US actor Humphrey Bogart married to at the time of his death in 1957?

WHAT’S ON IN NORTH SYDNEY

North Sydney Community Centre open day coming

By Hannah Wilcox

The North Sydney Community Centre’s highly anticipated Open Day is just around the corner, with an action-packed itinerary running from 10am to 3pm on June 24.

Foodies can treat themselves to the food corner, with freshly brewed tea and coffee the perfect accompaniment to an iconic sausage sizzle. An array of snacks including gluten-free donut and dehydrated fruit slices will be sold by Northside Produce Market regulars Donuts Lower North Shore & Pure Fruit Slice.

To keep the good vibes flowing, entertainment will continue throughout the day. Dare the Magician will bring his magic touch, manipulating cards, performing mind-boggling mental tricks and even including mobile phones into his act.

Live music will accompany the day’s festivities with performances by the centre’s guitar and choir students.

For the little ones, playdough and big Lego blocks will be provided by Explorers Playgroup while those are a little more artistic, the After School Care team will be face painting all day. Plus, a real Fire Truck (sirens and all!) staffed by community firefighters will visit for children and the young at heart to see how our local heroes work.

A community art exhibition, displaying artworks by community centre teachers, will be run with an opportunity to buy a piece if it catches your eye. The centre will also be running a range of free workshops with activities such as yoga, zumba, photography, drumming and meditation.

“North Sydney Community Centre offers a wide range of classes and workshops designed to help people enhance their skills in various areas,” a spokesperson said.

“It is a fantastic place to connect with new people, explore personal interests, and learn new talents. We welcome people of all age groups, ensuring there is something for everyone.”

“The Centre has a strong sense of community and belonging, where everyone feels welcome and valued.”

The classes and workshops are run based on participant feedback, the spokesperson added.

“We value our students' feedback and recommendations, which is why we make it a priority to listen to their input,” they said. “Our commitment is to continuously improve and adapt to ensure our students have the best possible experience at North Sydney Community Centre. It’s always based on our student’s needs & feedback!”

Saturday 24 June, 7:00PM

Pole Icon

Venue: Big Top, Luna Park

Pole Icon is a spectacular annual championship featuring Australia’s best pole dancers.

Saturday 1 July

Canada Day

Winter Wonderland

Venue: Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney

Time to celebrate all things Canadian with $25,000+ in prizes & giveaways including a return trip to Canada. Play free STREET HOCKEY TOURNAMENT or trivia, enjoy Canadian & RnB DJs plus gauge on Caesars, Poutine, Perogies, Wings & more.

Thursday 6 July, 11:00AM

Jonas Jost: The Ultimate Magic Show

Venue: Norths Cammeray

Legendary multi-award-winning magician and illusionist Jonas Jost hits the stage these school holidays. Jonas performs in an action-packed show, featuring hilarious comedy and magic for kids and parents alike.

Saturday 8 July, 8:00PM

Les Divas: An All Male Revue

Venue: Norths Cammeray

Australia’s six-foot something songstress Prada Clutch plays the Goddess of Pop; Cher in her new show set on

AROUND THE GROUNDS

the Las Vegas Strip featuring an allstar line-up of her most famous friends. The ninety-minute revue includes some of the world’s greatest divas including: Barbara Streisand, Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Diana Ross & Cher.

Wednesday 12 July, 8:00PM

Hayden Orpheum Comedy Club

Venue: Hayden Orpheum, Cremorne Expertly curated by the World-Famous Comedy Store, and lovingly Presented by the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, this is a match made in heaven with the perfect combo of chuckles, choc-tops, and all-star line-ups!

Rugby League: North Sydney Bears off to a flying start but troubled by a mid-season slump

By James Mullan

As they head into the business end of the NSW Cup rugby league season, the North Sydney Bears are in finals contention but have been experiencing a slight back slide after topping the table for the majority of the season.

However, after a disappointing end to last season with back to back losses in the finals, Norths are looking like one of the top sides in this year’s competition.

The season didn’t start the way the Bears would’ve hoped as they faced defending premiers Penrith in round 1, losing narrowly 18-12. Jesse Marschke scored the first try of the season in that game and has been one of the key players behind Norths’ subsequent success. The five eighth is in his 3rd season at Bear Park after previously playing for the Newtown Jets and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He has registered 79 points so far this season, including a crucial try and 4 goals in a round 2 victory against Canberra for a 18-24 win.

Norths were just getting started as the next game was a 12-20 win over New Zealand which saw second rower Dane Aukafolau bagging a hat trick.

Unfortunately, he has since transferred to the Newcastle Knights. It was Toa Mata’afa the week after scoring a hat trick against his junior club Wests to add to a thrilling 26-36 win at Lidcombe Oval.

Round 5 was an intriguing matchup against their soon to be former NRL feeder club Sydney Roosters. This season is a cooling off year where the Roosters are transitioning to their own NSW Cup team and letting the Bears go. Little brother outplayed their big brother winning 24-14.

Recently, Norths announced that next season they will be the NSW Cup feeder club to the NRL’s Melbourne Storm.

A loss to the Dragons the next week halted the Bears’ momentum, but only temporarily, with the squad bouncing back in their first home game of the season for a huge 40-14 drubbing of Souths. This was followed by a 32-6 win over Newcastle and a narrow escape at Henson Park with a 28-29 win against Newtown thanks to a Marschke field goal.

The Warriors were next up in round 10, but were easily taken care of, 30-12. In this four game stretch,

Bears’ centre Junior Pauga, incredibly, scored a double in every game.

Originally from Otahuhu, New Zealand he debuted for his hometown Warriors in 2016. After three seasons there, he spent two with Wests before joining North Sydney this year and has become a super star.

The centre leads the competition with 14 tries as well as topping line breaks. But if you thought that was impressive, in Norths’ next game, a round 12 match up with the Bulldogs, Pauga went on a scoring spree scoring 4 tries to get the win in a tight 24-22 contest.

Bruising winger Alfred Smalley returned to the line up and scored a double in the Round 13 loss to Parramatta, then bagged a hat trick the next week against his former club Blacktown Sea Eagles. Despite this, and a double from Zac Docker-Clay, Norths lost by a tight 30-36 margin.

Docker-Clay is a journeyman who previously played for Wests, Wentworthville, Penrith, Blacktown and Canterbury. His versatility playmaking, as well as sitting fourth in the league in line engagement (hit ups) and third in offloads, has spearheaded

Norths’ attack.

In Round 15, old friends Newtown visited Bear Park for leg 2 of the Frank Hyde Shield and Bears Legends Day. In front of a massive crowd and club greats such as Gary Larson, Greg Florimo, Mark Graham, Mark Soden and many more, winger William Fakatoumafi scored a hat trick.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough as the Bears fell 20-36, handing the Frank Hyde Shield to Newtown plus knocking the team out of the top 3 for the first time since round 9.

The downward trend continued the next week with many key players missing; they fell short 24-16 to Souths at Coogee Oval. There was a constellation as on aggregate points from the two games played between the clubs this season, the Bears won the inaugural Mario Fenech Cup.

They cannot afford to continue this form slump with New Zealand, Blacktown, Souths and Canberra hot on their heels.

Despite this, the Bears are still in a good position with under 9 games remaining before finals start and the added advantage of having 6 of those games at home.

Artists impression of the Victoria Cross development