North Sydney Sun August 2023

Minor premiers: Norths teams top the comps across winter codes

By James Mullan

The Northern Suburbs Shoremen have finished on top of the rugby union Shute Shield regular competition for the second year in a row, continuing one of their best purple patches in their 100 year participation in the competition.

And it’s not only the Shoremen who have topped their comp locally. The North Shore Bombers men have topped the Sydney AFL regular season, while the Norths’ NBL1 women’s squad is into the grand final this weekend against Manly-Warringah.

The North Sydney Bears are also looking strong, five points clear of the next team at the top of the NSW Cup second tier competition. If they can account for the Roosters, next week they are also guaranteed a minor premiership.

For the Shoremen, finishing top of the comp was far from certain at the midpoint of the season when they had won just four of their first seven games. Yet they came storming home to top the comp when they won nine of their next nine games.

Captain Harry Burey told the Sun they had learned from those losses and re-focussed.

“Shute Shield is a very tight competition. Those kinds of games you can turn slightly off, even the worst

teams in the comp can pull your pants down. At times, we were trying a little too hard and putting too much pressure on ourselves but it’s been a bit more of a relaxed environment for the last few months,” he said.

The Shute Shield competition is a semi-professional league, with the majority of players working as well as playing. Burey believes Norths’ ability to keep the majority of the roster consistent over the last few seasons has helped lead to success.

“90% of our players work full time and the other 10% are working part time or studying. Hats off to the boys' effort they put in over a long preseason and 18 rounds to consistently keep turning up to training and work

hard when some players have been on the tools all day or they’ve done a 10 hour day in the office,” he said.

Looking forward to the finals, Burey is not getting complacent.

“The six teams in the finals now could all beat each other. Those finals games come down to those small incremental moments. It’s about making sure we are at our best and focussed for Saturday,” he said.

First up in the finals they will host the Hunter Wildfires, whom they previously beat in the regular season round. In even better news, if they progress through every semi final will be hosted at North Sydney Oval.

A key part of the Shoremen’s success has been their coach Zak Beer,

who has taken the side to the finals in every season he has been at the club.

Captain Burey says his coach has brought much needed consistency

“We seemed like we were getting a new coach every year and starting from scratch but having Zak Beer over the last four years has helped with that consistency factor. He’s still such a young coach and aspirational, gives us a lot of energy to the role and is very detail oriented,” Burey said.

As for the style of footy they are playing, Beer is innovative.

“He watches a lot of footy and brings in elements of a few different styles or rugby, be it European, UK or even Japanese rugby, he seems to pick up details from around the world.” Burey added.

Godfrey Santer

Beer recently extended his contract with Norths through 2024.

"The success of the club is due to all of the great people we have involved here at Norths. This is a special place, we have an exciting group of talented players right throughout and I'm fortunate to work closely together with some of the competition's brightest and hard-working coaches coming through our club,” Beer said.

"Cohesion and stability are foundations of any successful organisation

Stage 1 of West St cycleway comes to life, bridging North Sydney, Cammeray

By James Mullan

Stage 1 of the West Street cycleway has officially opened, kickstarting a new connected route between Cammeray and North Sydney.

The 100m track runs between Ridge St and the Pacific Highway, along the back of the Union Hotel and North Sydney Police Station.

The project came to life after being identified as a key location in 2014. According to cycling group Bike North head Carolyn New it is the first North to South cycleway that has been built in the LGA for 15 years.

Construction was made possible by shared funding from North Sydney Council and the NSW Government. NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said: “the project will make it easier for people to walk and cycle, giving everyone the option to leave the car at

home and enjoy the fresh air as they wander through this beautiful part of Sydney. I’m pleased the NSW Government has been able to contribute $800k to get this project completed.” NS Council is contributing $50,000.

At the opening of the lane, North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker said “Council is pleased to finally have finished this section of the West St Cycleway which will ensure cyclists of all ages and abilities are kept safe on their journeys to and from work, school or other activities. The completion of Stage 1 marks the beginning of Council addressing the ‘missing link’ to connect North Sydney with Willoughby and beyond.”

Baker added that cyclists collectively make more than 400 trips along West Street each weekday, believing the new cycleway will only help to increase that number.

Bike North’s New told the Sun that this project has been decades in the making, delivering an upgrade from the existing shoulder lanes, which are more dangerous.

New said West St used to be more quiet from a traffic perspective due to factors like an increase in school number so “It’s got to be separated now. It would’ve been fine with the levels of traffic we had decades ago, but not now.”

She explained West St is an important cycling route as it runs parallel to the much busier Miller St and Pacific Highway plus is an intersection of several preexisting bike routes.

This includes Ridge St which connects to Neutral Bay and Mosman to the east, then Waverton and Woll-

stonecraft to the west, as well as north up to Cammeray onto the M1 cycleway.

The next stage of the West Street cycleway is currently in the works and will be considerably longer than stage 1.It aims to connect North Sydney and Cammeray, between Ridge and Amhurst Street.

Harry Burey

Zak Beer

North Sydney political leaders line up to support the Voice

By Hannah Wilcox

Local political representatives are campaigning for the Voice to Parliament in the face of national polls which suggest it may struggle to get a majority of votes in a majority of states.

Federal MP for North Sydney Kylea Tink invited Indigenous leader Noel Pearson to join her for a “public conversation” at North Sydney Community Centre recently.

Addressing close to 80 members of the community, specifically targeting parents with young children, Pearson said this referendum was going to be about courage.

“We need trust, we need friendship,” he told Tink. “We can’t do this if we’re fearful of each other. So yes, I agree—this has got to be about courage. And it's got to be about responsibility.”

“We [Indigenous people] are 3% of the vote. You guys are 97%. And we

need the 97%.”

Pearson said non-Indigenous Australians were going to be the ones who ultimately decide the outcome of the campaign. “I applaud your courage because we have to take ownership of this,” he added.

The 1901 constitution was first handed over as a ‘work in progress’, Tink argued, and didn’t represent the diversity present within Australia.

“The original constitution that we now live under was brought to be .. by a very small group of people, and it was dominated by one sex, one type of person, the person that was present at all. To me, there’s an inherent responsibility as Australians to be constantly seeking to improve our constitution,” she said.

“This whole idea that the constitution shouldn’t be changed, to me, seems counterintuitive to who we should be as a nation.”

Voting yes was not about forming

Australia, Pearson agreed, but about completing it.

“It is really hard to be part of Australia and to achieve in Australia with the high levels of antipathy from people who have never met an Aboriginal person,” he said.

“We’re going to cross the river to another side where fear is reduced, there’s trust, there’s friendship, there’s belonging and mutual recognition.”

“We’ve got to be actually actively taking charge and taking responsibility rather than lamenting a bad situation,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, North Sydney Council is holding its own “free community information event” at the Independent Theatre on 10 August. It will feature Mayor Zoe Baker, TV personality Kerry O’Brien and Indigenous leader Thomas Mayo, under the moniker “The Voice to Parliament: Listen, Ask & Understand.”

State MP for North Shore Felicity

Wilson is also campaigning for the Voice.

She posted on her Facebook page that it is “the greatest chance we have had to date to extend the great promise of Australia equally to all— including our Indigenous peoples.”

She is an active member of the Liberals for Yes group and has appeared with Noel Pearson at a Voice event.

MANAGED ACCESS MODEL FOR NYE 2023

North Sydney Council has resolved to adopt a “managed access” model for harbourside parks this NYE.

It follows the debacle last time around, where a free ticketed model saw queues of up to 900m wait hours in the hot daytime sun for a 5pm entry time. That system was brought on by councillors who pushed back on council staff’s recommendation for a paid ticketing model last year.

According to Council, the managed access model is “fair and allows residents and others access to public land for free, disperses arrival times across the day, brings vibrancy to the area, and trade to local businesses. The model makes the reserves accessible to residents during the day and more likely to be fully utilised in the evening. This is the same approach as City of Sydney for NYE 2023.”

For NYE 2022, the parks were closed off and empty during the day and were considerably underutilised in the evening.

CYBERSECURITY INCIDENT AT NORTH SYDNEY COUNCIL

North Sydney Council said a routine external penetration test found an application programming interface (API) used to send information between the NSW Planning Portal and internal council systems did not have an adequate level of security applied. “There was a risk this data could have been intercepted by a third party, said Council. “On discovery Council shut down the API and contacted our insurance company for advice. Council’s Insurers recommended we engage legal firm Clyde and Co as advisors on mandatory reporting and other legal matters, and Triskele Labs as digital forensic specialists. On review of the data potentially exposed it was deemed to be low-risk publicly available data related to planning applications.”

When life gives you lemons.

Mayor Baker lists her achievements ahead of council vote for second term

By Grahame Lynch

North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker has listed some of her achievements in office ahead of what is expected to be her second term in office next month.

In a highly reflective interview with ABC Radio earlier this week, host Sarah McDonald asked what has been her “biggest moment” as mayor.

Baker replied: “I’d say the biggest thing is that this council collectively have welcomed the community back into real public participation. And there’s a commitment to it and that had been lost for a while.”

“Whether it’s that you can come and speak at a council meeting on any item that had gone, it was limited to two people,” she added. This is a reference to a time management system employed in the past when the public gallery was full and it was logistically difficult to let everyone speak.

Baker also namechecked the precinct system, now in its 50th year, which she described as “a groundbreaking initiative of community coming together to influence council policy.”

She then mentioned a second “moment,” namely the reconstruction of the North Sydney Olympic Pool, which is now over a year overdue.

“On the darker side, getting the pool project under control and back on track has been a really important achievement of this council.”

“It’s back on track and we are now engaging in the more positive part. The new general manager has engaged a new pool manager and he’s now working on the business plan. There will be big emphasis about community activities such as expanded Learn to Swim to meet the demand that’s across Sydney.”

Baker also said she was originally opposed to the $10 million federal government grant which is helping to subsidise the pool’s reconstruction.

“I was quite famously opposed to it because I didn’t see how a grant that we hadn’t applied for was granted to us from a regional sporting facilities that were meant to go to women’s change facilities in the regions,” she said. “And so, that’s something that has been inherited. My personal view

is it shouldn’t have come to North Sydney, but it did.”

This is a reference to the previous federal government’s Female Facilities and Water Safety Program which awarded a total of $150 million to a range of urban and regional pools, including elsewhere in Sydney.

In response to a reader question, Baker also cited her actions on the Warringah Freeway Upgrade and the Western Harbour Tunnel works that have “absolutely devastated Cammeray and the whole of the Warringah Freeway corridor down to the bridge.”

She said that more than 3,000 trees have “been lost.”

“And that is the big challenge. And now council and I’m committed to persuading the new (roads) minister, John Graham, to return one and a half hectares of Cammeray Park that is being lost permanently under the previous government’s plans to provide operational sheds at Cammeray,” she said. “At the other end of the project at Roselle, they under-grounded the sheds and they provided a park. And so, our strong position is why not

Zoe Baker

here? And particularly in a context where we have a very highly dense population. Public open space is precious and not only are we not increasing public open space, these state road projects have been diminishing it.”

Under a quirk of the local government election schedule designed to get it back on track after COVID, Baker faces another council vote this month to continue as mayor for the rest of the term. All signs are that she will continue to get the support of the two Labor councillors, two Sustainable Australia Party councillors and fellow Real Independent MaryAnn Beregi to muster the six out of ten votes necessary to continue in the role.

The Sun Says...

The North Sydney Council precinct committee system turns 50 years old this year.

Anything that improves feedback mechanisms for councillors and council staff is to be commended. But there are signs in its 50th year that the precinct system needs a rethink.

Of the 23 precincts in the local government area, seven are completely inactive: Anderson, Bradfield, Bridgeview, CBD, Hayes, Kurraba and The Plateau.

Others have merged or are merging in order to maintain viability. For example, the Harrison and Bennett precincts in Neutral Bay merged just last month. Edward and Union precincts in North Sydney and Waverton merged earlier this year.

Precincts typically require inperson presence at a weeknight meeting. This weights the process towards the time-rich, and sometimes, politically obsessed. The time-poor who cannot attend may appreciate and endorse these efforts of others, or maybe they don’t. We don’t really know.

One can make a genuine observation, though, that the precinct roll-ups don’t look particularly like the communities they represent. They are older, less likely to rent and more likely to come from an English as a first language background.

As Cr James Spenceley observed when he came to office last year, there are some neat ways to technologise democracy through mobile apps and the like. A 21st century precinct system might want to embrace them.

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Council to fund Miller Street Plaza

Talk of the town

North Sydney Council wants to pledge $9 million to make the long-planned Miller Street plaza a reality.

Council first proposed the idea in 2018, which would see Miller St outside the planned Victoria Cross metro station closed to traffic and turned into a plaza.

In a mayoral note, Baker said “Miller Place seeks to transform Miller Street from a busy four lane street to a new high grade activated public space providing a space to gather, host events such as outdoor concerts and markets and a place for public art. With large canopy trees, lawns and access to sunlight for most of the day, this new “place” will establish a much needed civic heart for the North Sydney CBD.”

She said it will also accommodate tens of thousands of commuters, students and visitors arriving via the new Victoria Cross Metro Station and the North Sydney Train Station portal from Greenwood Plaza each morning

“However, in order to be realised, the project requires support and funding from Transport for NSW as it requires network and bus route changes around the CBD. TfNSW has been considering the initiative and the required changes for years,” she added.

With the Metro construction underway, Baker said there is a finite window in order to ensure the Miller Place initiative is delivered with the least additional cost, disruption and inconvenience to the CBD and Miller Street, in particular.

Not all councillors agreed, with Crs Jilly Gibson and John Lepouris arguing that the state government should fund the project as part of the adja-

cent Metro development. $9 million would likely fund most of the project but not all of it.

RE-DISTRIBUTIONS EXERCISE LOCAL LIBS

A likely redistribution of North Shore federal electorate boundaries is focusing the attention of local Liberal luminaries presently. The issue is local electorates are up to 10% too small, compounded by the water boundaries to the north, east and south.

This has led to speculation that the boundaries of electorates on the beaches such as Mackellar and Warringah will need to move westward. In turn, this could put pressure on North Sydney to move to the north to replace what it loses in the east, perhaps inducing the abolition of Bradfield, centred between Chatswood and Hornsby.

Liberals are trying to figure out what this may all mean. Would Bradfield incumbent Paul Fletcher leave parliament or seek preselection elsewhere? What would it mean for independent Zali Steggall’s chances if swathes of North Sydney, Cammeray and Kirribilli were added to her seat?

And who would the Liberals run in what becomes of North Sydney with changed boundaries against incumbent Kylea Tink?

Previous MP Trent Zimmerman has settled into corporate life as a policy director for a pharmaceutical life and appears reluctant to return to the fray. And we hear from multiple sources that Gladys Berejiklian should be counted out as she is apparently enjoying her Optus gig.

What is more intriguing is that two well-regarded former MPs—Wyatt Roy and Fiona Martin—have moved into the electorate recently. Both have their local champions. Former state treasurer Matt Kean may also seek to make a move to Canberra.

It’s all an issue for another day as the immediate challenge is what to do about the local government elections. Should the Liberals emulate Labor and run a direct ticket for North Sydney Council? Opinions are apparently divided, paving the way for the Zoe Baker team, Labor and the Greens and/or SAP to likely muster the six requisite seats for a majority at the next poll and maintain the status quo for another few years.

An artist’s impression of how Miller St Plaza might look

Could it be? Clearing the HighLine for high rise?

The Sydney Harbour HighLine is the repurposing of Waverton to Lavender Bay rail corridor - it is 3.3km long largely street and harbour fronting; covers 3.77 hectares; runs through a 310 metre tunnel and ends in a harbour fronting 2 hectare field.

CLEARING OBSTACLES TO DEVELOPMENT

In 2011, the state government moved to have the Waverton pedestrian underbridge and John Street overbridge removed from the Heritage Register.

In 2012, the Minister for Transport reported on the “Lavender Bay railway”: As one of 12 key bottlenecks “on the western line” where trains have to merge tracks with other lines, wait for opposing trains to cross or face delays due to slow boarding and alighting at key stations.

In 2013, a developer appears. Luna Park Sydney Financial Reports to 30 June 2013 (filed with ASIC on 1 September 2014) reported:

The loans from related entities … repayable on the successful development and sale of development sites adjacent to the Park.

This fuelled concerns that the rail corridor was being set up for development as it is adjacent to Luna Park.

Concerns about what was to happen to the land led to the formation of the Sydney Harbour HighLine Association – inspired by the New York HighLine, it launched a campaign to repurpose the rail corridor to a recreational walking track.

THE LINE AS THE HIGH LINE

A walking track that links a grand mosaic of gardens, parks and Sydney icons ending in playing fields on the harbour’s edge. Sites linked include: Ball’s Head Reserve and the Coal Loader, Waverton Park, Sawmiller’s Reserve, Wendy’s “Secret” Garden, Lavender Bay Parklands and Harry’s and Northcliff parks. Also the great icons of Sydney that are Luna Park, the Olympic Pool, the Harbour Bridge, against the backdrop that is the Opera House and Sydney Harbour itself.

The High Line Association set about introducing the concept to Government –then, in June 2017, the Minister for Transport advised:

Sydney Trains had agreed that work to create a walking path along the Lavender Bay Spur can commence on the side where tracks have been removed before the active rail line is closed on the other side of the spur.

In August 2017, the state government established the Sydney High Line Committee to report on the feasibility of the HighLine – the Committee chaired by Felicity Wilson MP had representatives from: Sydney Trains, Office of Environment and Heritage, Destination NSW, Sydney Heritage Trains, North Sydney Council, Waverton and Lavender Bay Precincts and the Federal Government.

The Committee confirmed to the Government that:

> The pathway construction will be constructed and operated in parallel with Sydney Train’s diminishing use of the current rail corridor and will meet the safety requirements of Sydney Trains and current planning codes.

> The pathway may be operated in conjunction with the ongoing operation of Sydney Trains.

> Stage 1 of the pathway will be built from Union St to Wendy’s Secret Garden.

> Stage 2 from Wendy’s Secret Garden to Luna Park will be built once Sydney Trains cease to use the corridor.

> A strategic link will be created between Lavender Bay and Waverton accessing the parklands and tourist features of this important precinct that is rich in aboriginal and maritime history.

The report included design and cost estimates completed by Sydney Trains. In 2022, the HighLine Association resumed working with Sydney Trains to update the costing.

In 2023, the state government advised that the trains stabled at Lavender Bay could be stabled elsewhere on the network and announced … The Lavender Bay high line project would start with a 300 square metre expansion of Wendy’s Secret Garden, followed by a strategic business case to canvas options for converting the 3.3-kilometre-long disused rail corridor along the Milsons Point foreshore.

In July 2023, the new Minister for Transport, Jo Haylen, announced: proceeding with the Lavender Bay High Line project would have a serious

impact on the operations of the T1 North Shore Western Line. Turning the tracks into a pedestrian path could have further “implications for service reliability for passengers across the rail network including western Sydney residents.

I’m non-plussed given:

> The state government’s earlier advice that the rail line is one of the 12 bottlenecks on the western line,

> That from the outset, Sydney Trains and the HighLine Asssociation agreed on the joint use of the corridor. There has never been a suggestion that “the (rail) tracks are to be turned into a pedestrian path” – the path is to run parallel to the tracks.

What has happened? Is the site being contemplated for development?

We have asked the Minister for a meeting. We are still waiting. Visit the HighLine’s website at https://www.sydneyharbourhighline.org.au/

Ian Mutton President of the Sydney Harbour HighLine Association

The freshest kicks are at The Back Wall

By James Mullan

The Back Wall is Crows Nest’s newest retail hotspot sporting a range of the hottest sneakers on the market.

At just 23 years of age, owner Jack James opened the store – sporting a bright orange exterior - just off Willoughby Road in Ernest Place after showing a lifelong passion for fresh kicks.

The Sun sat down with James to find out how he’s done it and what the community can expect from this exciting new shop front.

“I’ve always been into sneakers,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed the sneaker scene, the fashion, the style. My interest and love of sports can be mixed in with business.”

“I’ve been selling them since I left school and did it part time while I was at Uni.”

Once James was finished with his studies, he had saved up enough to open up a physical store just up the road from where he’s living in North Sydney.

But selling shoes hadn’t been his plan from the start, getting involved in the business whilst also coaching cricket to make ends meet.

“It was always a side hustle but one of my friends was selling them.”

Not long into balancing both the sneakers took over due to the quick success he experienced, he added.

Surprisingly, James has no experience working in customer facing retail but he told the Sun the response was immediately positive.

“The community was fantastic, it was a great opening on Crows Nest festival day and up until Christmas we had really strong sales with everyone getting around us,” he said.

“There’s nothing like this sneaker store on the North Shore.”

The Back Wall’s main customer base are indeed locals, perhaps indi-

cating the want for casual, lifestyle sneaker stores in the area outside of Chatswood.

Excitingly, James managed to land a contract with Veja, a French sneaker company that makes their product out of organic cotton and recycled plastic bottles primarily for Women in March.

“People love the fact that we’ve got them here because they are a really tough brand to get in,” he said.

Even bigger chain stores like Platypus, JD and Footlocker don’t stock them, he said, with Veja stock flying off the shelves.

The Back Wall has positioned themselves as a unique store, be it colour or styles.

“No matter the brand, we are always trying to get shoes that the big players aren’t,” James explained, with American sports footwear company Saucony being the first brand they stocked.

“Everyone loves them, our first best seller was the Saucony 6000 cheesecake that had a strawberry tongue,” he laghed.

For any sweet tooths, they have a Saucony coffee pack coming in soon featuring mocha colour schemes whilst the more standard Saucony 5000s have been very popular.

While interviewing James he pointed out his quite unique Saucony Hare collaboration he had on which featured fluffy shoe laces that he was rocking.

Another big seller is Doc Martins, including the rather bold and unique pink fluffy Docs, classic Nikes and Adidas shoes are also available for those who haven’t had their pink punk phase yet and Nike Air Force 1s are a classic make that James says everyone loves; whilst the Air Max 27 has been selling fast of late.

The Back Wall is also a family affair with James’ mother helping on weekends as well as his wife giving hands on the deck too.

Looking forwards he hopes to expand the business into other areas of Sydney, taking the approach of setting up on high streets as opposed to in shopping centres.

Shoremen are minor premiers for 2nd year

From page 1 and our club is no different. It’s pleasing to continue to build our legacy into the coming years, however, all focus from myself and the entire playing and coaching group is firmly on this season, making history together in 2023.” Beer added.

The challenge now for the Shoremen is bringing home the Shute Shield for the first time the drought breaking 2016 premiership. Last season, the side bowed out in the Preliminary Finals after winning the Minor Premiership, so they will definitely be wary of repeating the same errors. Randwick, Eastwood, Manly and Gordon also made the finals and provide serious competition for the title with only four wins separating the 6th placed Hunter with the top placed Norths.

Margaret Taylor wasn’t always an artist, but had always had a passion for the rhythm and colourway of landscape paintings.

Growing up in rural New South Wales, near the Blue Mountains area, she has lived in Sydney’s North Shore for most of her adult life balancing full time work and raising a family.

10 years ago Taylor found herself an empty nester and thought it was time to tap back into her lingering passion.

“I’d been painting in my head for years”, she told the Sun.

“It goes back to my school days, it's just a love that I've always had but I didn't grow up in an era when schools had fantastic art departments.”

Her works are heavily influenced by places she has resided in, she said, with inspiration ranging from her childhood roaming the Australian bushland, to visits overseas and now her harbourside Sydney home.

“I had a son who lived in NY for over 10 years, so I got to go to New York and over dose on all the fantastic art,” she said.

“I love the MOMA, Guggenheim, The Met, and The Whitney.”

“Exposure to all those fantastic mid-century abstract artists like Willem De Kooning and Joan Mitchell, all those artists that you really didn't see here,” she added.

This exposure helped to shape Taylor’s unique, abstract visuals; with no desire to paint hyper realistic.

“I’ve always liked a looser style,” she explained.

“What interests me is how we in-

Sunday 13 August, 2:00PM

Top Dog Film Festival

Venue: Cremorne Orpheum

Celebrate the canine connection through this carefully curated collection of heart-warming stories about dogs and their people at the 2023 Top Dog Film Festival.

Thursday 17 August, 8:00PM

A Night with The Late John Cleese

Venue: The Concourse, Chatswood Legend of comedy and founding member of British comedy troupe Monty Python, John Cleese is on his way to Australia. John will be reporting on his experiences in the afterlife, and what the audience can expect when they get there.

Saturday 19 August, 8:00PM

Oh What a Night!

Venue: Norths Cammeray

A blockbuster musical revue conceived and directed by award-winning Broadway producer/director Michael Chapman, written by Motown producer George Solomon, with choreogra-

ternalise that experiential response to being in a place.”

“Just by walking around the harbour and observing some of the maritime structures, the activity, even the reflections in the bay or just lights, shapes and shadows,” she spoke of her inspiration.

Interestingly, Taylor often won’t plan out her new pieces but just begins to paint and allows the work to develop off feel and intuition.

“Often the painting will take you in a totally different direction,” she said.

There is no standard formula with some paintings taking days, she added, while others will develop over years.

The McMahons Point local credits her time at art school for the ability to grow outside of her technical capabilities, with the school teaching various artistic disciplines which Taylor has found to be quite helpful in expanding her range of expression.

As a retiree she might not appear to be the most stereotypical art school student, but contrary to this assumption is actually one of many students who chose to pursue art seriously later in life.

Her works have been exhibited in several shows as well as featured in many art prize shows such as that in Mosman and Muswellbrook.

Most recently, Taylor’s works were shown in the Far and Near exhibition in Glebe, showcasing works from the past eight years.

“It was really my response to the world we move through, places I’ve been overseas, places I’ve visited,” she

said. “It’s about interpreting that visual information that we take as we move through a place.”

“I’m not trying to reproduce what I see, it’s more a response to the feeling of being in place,” she explained.

“It’s abstract meeting the ob-

WHAT’S ON IN NORTH SYDNEY

phy by Paul Holmquist. ‘Sherry,’ ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry,’ ‘Walk Like A Man,’ ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,’ ‘My Eyes Adored You,’ ‘Working My Way Back To You,’ ‘Let’s Hang On’ and ‘Who Loves You’ are just some of the many hits you’ll enjoy from the dynamic songbook of those boys from Jersey, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.

Saturday 26 August, 6:00PM

Sam McNally Group featuring Eric Rasmussen & Sheena Wilbow

Venue: Northside Performance

Space, Crows Nest

Sam McNally was a member of the hit group Stylus, and has been in successful bands behind Tommy Emmanuel, John Farnham and Doug Williams while Eric Rasmussen was a member of Heatwave, whose main songwriter Rod Temperton wrote three giant hits for Michael Jackson! Both join Sheena Wilbow, one of the best in the soul / funk and R&B genres, for a night of great food and music.

Thursday 31 August, 7:30PM

We Don’t Have Time for This Live

Venue: The Concourse, Chatswood

The girls from the runaway hit podcast We Don't Have Time For This are going on tour with an all-singing, alldancing, "dilemon" filled evening celebrating motherhood, female friendship and what it means to be a woman. Grab your besties and join Gem and Revz for the ultimate Mum’s night out (and miss bedtime to boot!)

Saturday 2 September 8:00PM

The Martini Lounge

Venue: Cremorne Orpheum

A live music & dance extravaganza featuring legendary Sydney blues and soul band, Nicola-Jayne Campbell & The Hanged Men with burlesque artists, Leopard lass, Arizona, Eva Devore, Sheena Miss Demeanour and many more!

Wednesday 6 September, 12:00PM

From Vienna With Love - Live at Lunch

served.”

With many pieces being snapped up by art lovers during the exhibition, observers commented they loved the colours, with pink being particularly popular whilst others commented her art is positive and vibrant.

Venue: The Concourse, Chatswood

Paci c Opera’s great Live at Lunch success in 2022, sees a superb new vocal quartet of rising opera stars return with works by Strauss, Kreisler, Mozart, Beethoven, Stolz, Schubert, Richard Strauss, Salieri and Lehár. Joined by popular pianist John Martin and utist / artistic director Jane Rutter, this concert is a further tribute to Live at Lunch patron, conductor Maestro Richard Bonynge.

Artists impression of the Victoria Cross development

“I’d been painting in my head for years”: the artistic journey of Margaret Taylor

The definitive guide to the area’s best happy hours

Times are tough and with the cost of living rising to higher and higher levels, local residents are understandably on the hunt for the best local specials and discounts when they hit area bars and clubs for a night out. After all, if saving money is wrong, who wants to be right? This guide to the best happy hours and promotional discounts was compiled by North Sydney Sun’s Amy Carswell.

Wylde Bar (View Hotel), North Sydney

$7 Until 7pm

Beers:

> Great Northern Super Crisp (Schooner)

> 4 Pines Kolsch Draught (Bottle)

> 4 Pines Pacific Ale (Bottle)

> Heineken Zero 0.0 (Bottle)

Wine:

> Sunset Terrace Sparkling (Riverina NSW)

> Sunset Terrace Pinot Grigio (Riverina NSW)

> First Creek Chardonnay (Hunter Valley NSW)

> Sunset Terrace Rosé (Riverina NSW)

> Hesketh Pinot Noir (Limestone Coast SA)

> Sunset Terrace Cab. Merlot (Riverina NSW)

Food:

> Fries (aioli, truffle sea salt) (v, df)

> Hummus & Pita (v, df)

Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney

Friday 4-6pm Happy Hour (for members): Happy Hour is available every Friday from 4-6pm. Sip your way into the weekend with $7 house spirits, all tap beers and house wines. Simply become a member of the Greenwood Family. Download your membership card to your digital wallet, and flash it at the bar to redeem. Easy as! LINK: https://lp.intaloop.com/VvEPfDzZkB

2 For 1 Pizzas available every Thursday from 5 pm.

The Botanist, Kirribilli

Happy Hour: Weekdays 5pm-6pm Mon & Tues, 4pm-6pm Wed-Fri.

> Selected house beer and wine $7.50

> Selected Gin&Tonic $7

> House Seasonal Spritz $12

Locals Lunch Weekday set menu. $45pp. Min 2 persons

Union Hotel, North Sydney

Drink specials: Happy Hour runs from 5-7pm, Monday-Thursday and includes house wines and selected taps all going for $6 a glass/schooner.

Tempus Two Silver Range

$6 Wines

> Cabernet Sauvignon

> Merlot

> Chardonnay

> Pinot Grigio

> Rose

> Sparkling

> James Squire Orchard Crush (Cider)

$6 Schooners

> Reschs

> XXXX Gold

> Tooheys New

> Tooheys Old

> VB

> Carlton Draught

> James Squire Orchard Crush (Cider)

Food Specials:

Monday: $12.50 Schnitzel

Tuesday: $15 Rump Steak

Wednesday: $12.50 Burger selection –Cheeseburger / Cajun Chicken Burger / Battered John Dory

Thursday: $18 Sirloin

Friday: $22 full rack of Bourbon BBQ Ribs

Saturday: 2 for 1 Chefs Selection (cheaper item free)

Sunday: $28 Sunday Roast

Minsky’s Hotel, Cremorne

Monday-Friday from 4-6pm: $7 house wine, house spirits and schooners

Monday: Pie & Pint $30 (chef’s homemade pie & mash, house beer)

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday, $15 tacos (3) & $10 Margs Wednesday: $20 Steak Frites

Sake Bar, Neutral Bay

All drinks have a 20% discount between 6-8PM

The Hayberry, Crows Nest

$5 beer, wine, spirits and snacks deal from 4-5:30 every day

$1 wings on Wednesdays

Blues Point Hotel, McMahons Point

Drinks

Mon-Thur, 4-6pm: $6.50 House

Schooner & $7.50 Stone & Wood

Friday 5-7pm: $9 Red, White & Sparkling

Saturday, 5.30 – 10pm: Pints for Schooners of Superdry and Stone & Wood

Food

Mon Night: $29 Pasta and Wine (glass of red, white, sparkling)

Tues Night: $17.50 Chicken Schnitzel

Mon-Thur Lunch: $15 Tacos

The Stoned Crow is one of several local drinking spots offering great Happy Hour deals

Rag & Famish Hotel, North Sydney

> Cocktail happy hour, $12 cocktails Wednesday- Friday from 4-7pm (available at the upstairs lounge)

> Tuesday: $25 pasta and wine night (choice of 3 pastas and a glass of wine— available in the upstairs restaurant)

> Friday all day: $25 steak frites with bottomless frites (available in the upstairs restaurant)

Kirribilli Club, Lavender Bay

> $8 Schooners & $10 Pints (Monday – Friday 4-7pm)

> $9 Regional Wines (Monday – Friday 4-7pm)

> $14 Cocktail Craze (Friday 4-7pm)

> $14 Cocktail of the Week (Monday – Friday 4-7pm)

> $12 Spritz Weekend (Saturday & Sunday all day)

Kirribilli Hotel, Milsons Point

> Tooheys New Schooner - $7

> Mt Franklin Sparkling 750ml Bottle - $5.50

> Suntory 196 Lemon - $11

> Pepperjack Shiraz: Small $9, Large $13.50, Bottle $36

RAFI, North Sydney

RAFI offers happy hour drinks Monday to Friday 4pm-6pm, with offers of $15 cocktails and $8 draft beers. It also offers The RAFI Drop, a wine club, giving access to rare and premium wines from RAFI’s extensive wine list at a reduced price. Each month Applejack Group Sommelier Amandine Rouviere hand selects two wines to try from 4pm – 6pm Mon-Fri.

Billy Barry’s, North Sydney

Tues & Thurs 5-7pm: $5 schooners (Carlton, VB) & $5 glasses (McWilliams house wines & bubbles)

Fri 5-7pm: $10 cocktails (Aperol spritz, cosmo spritz, negroni and daiquiri) + free popcorn from 5pm

SoCal, Neutral Bay

Weekdays 5-6:30pm: $5 prosecco & wine (house white, rose or red), $7 house beer and $12 frozen cocktail slushies

Terrace Hotel, North Sydney

Thurs 5pm onwards: $12 cocktails

$7 house schooners, wines and spirits from 10am-7pm everyday

Commodore Hotel, North Sydney

> Monday-Thursday 5-7pm: $6 selected beer, wine and cider

> Various deals like $12.50 schnittys on Mondays, $15 rump steak on Tuesdays, $12.50 Aperol Spritz on Friday

The Stoned Crow, Crows Nest

$6 house beer, spirits and wine Mon-Thurs 5-7pm

Small Bar, Crows Nest

HAPPY HOUR WYLDE BAR meet me at WYLDEBAR.COM 17 BLUE ST, NORTH SYDNEY

Finding the best therapist—and type of therapy

By Living To Thrive’s Chuck

Anyone who has sought out therapy to help them through a difficult life circumstance understands the challenges with finding a good therapist.

The next challenge is finding the appropriate type of therapy that best suits the issues you’re working to address.

In my experience, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been the most impactful and useful when working through difficult life issues. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing the creator of ACT, Dr. Steven Hayes. Dr. Hayes is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno and President of the Institute for Better Health, a 45-yearold charitable organisation dedicated to better mental and behavioural health.

In the world of psychology, and more specifically, behavioural science, he is known as the driving force behind the development and of ACT. His work has been celebrated with several awards, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies and the Impact of Science on Application Award from the Society for the Advancement of Behaviour Analysis.

ACT is scientifically proven to be effective in treating a myriad of psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression and mood disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, addiction, eating disorders, chronic pain and more.

Sun: What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?

Hayes: I sort of came to it 1981, the first ACT workshop was in October of 1982. So, it's just a little bit past 40 years old.

ACT itself is a collection of mindfulness and acceptance processes, commitment, behaviour change processes that are designed to produce psychological flexibility, which essentially is being engaged in life through thoughts, feelings, memories, bodily sensations, emotions, urges.

As an example, a person practicing psychological flexibility encounters a setback at work. Instead of dwelling on self-criticism, they acknowledge their disappointment but choose to reframe the situation positively. They accept their feelings, understanding that setbacks are a part of life, and focus on learning from the experience.

They don’t suppress emotions but respond with self-compassion and a growth mindset.

To act in line with their values,

they seek feedback, work on improving their skills, and show support to their colleagues. Embracing uncertainty, they view the setback as an opportunity for personal growth and future success, fostering resilience.

Sun: What can you tell us about the research showing the efficacy of ACT?

Hayes: When it started getting popular, it was written up in Time magazine in February 2006. We had only six randomised trials at the time and now we have over 1,000 with a new one every three days worldwide.

It’s usually best not to rely on a single study, but to rely on meta-analysis of whole sets of studies that can incorporate thousands.

Right now, we have approximately 350 meta-analysis or systematic reviews of act and at least a dozen each on anxiety and depression. Looking at all the results, ACT is just as effective, and at times more effective, than any other therapy out there.

Sun: You wrote the book, “Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life.” What can you tell us about it?

Hayes: Essentially, it is a book that offers practical insights for dealing with life’s challenges. The book focuses on accepting one’s emotions without judgment and aligning actions with core values. By illustrating reallife scenarios and providing actionable strategies, it empowers individuals to

break free from the hold of negative thought patterns and unhelpful behaviours. Ultimately, the book emphasises the importance of living in the present moment, fostering resilience, and creating a fulfilling life that aligns with one’s true desires.

Sun: In the book you discuss “experiential avoidance.” Can you explain what it is and its impacts on a person?

Hayes: It is the process of avoiding or suppressing uncomfortable emotions, thoughts or experiences which ultimately leads to increased distress and hinders personal growth. Avoiding or pushing away unwanted thoughts and emotions might offer temporary respite, but it traps us in a cycle of suffering. However, ACT encourages us to let go of struggling against our inner experiences and instead learn to swim in the ocean of life. By accepting our feelings and taking meaningful actions, we can embrace the full richness of our human experience, both the good and the bad.

Temporarily avoiding a circumstance that brings you suffering is understandable and sometimes more practical. However, the key word here is “temporarily”. If we are going to take a step back to avoid feeling the painful thoughts and emotions in our lives, we must have a plan in place to address

those emotions and thoughts within a reasonable timeframe.

Sun: In Chapter 11 of your book, you discuss the importance of values. Can you explain that in a bit more detail?

Hayes: Values are the guiding principles that define what is most meaningful and important to an individual. They represent the deep desires and aspirations that drive us, reflecting our authentic selves. Values are not specific goals or achievements; rather, they are the qualities we want to embody and the ways we wish to contribute to our lives and the world around us. By connecting with our values and aligning our actions accordingly, we can find purpose, fulfilment, and a sense of wholeness, even amidst life's challenges and uncertainties.

In ACT, identifying and living our values is essential as they guide us in the direction of what is meaningful in our lives even when the world around us seems chaotic and overwhelming.

Sun: Where can people find out more about ACT and its invaluable practices?

Hayes: They can visit my website (https://stevenchayes.com) where they can find my books, online courses, audio courses and several free resources accessible to the public.

ACT is an incredibly valuable resource that anyone can learn and apply its teachings and practices. To do this, you must commit your time and energy to making positive changes in the way you think, feel and act each day. It’s not easy, but it is well worth the effort.

Anderson

Dr Steven Hayes

WHAT’S ON IN NORTH SYDNEY

Mr Bailey’s Minder comes to Ensemble Theatre

bit sad.”

“The basic thing is: if a man is a great artist, and produces great work, does that give him permission to be a horrible human being?”

“Clearly it doesn’t, but that’s sort of the basis of the play and what the minder does is bring the terrible old drunk back to some sort of humanity. I think that’s a very universal kind of story,” he said.

Gaden believes an actor’s most powerful tool is his imagination, and

has put that skill to good use in time for the opening night of Mr Bailey’s Minder.

“A bit of research is useful.”

“So much of it is in the writing and how that affects your imagination as an actor and I’m a great believer in an actor’s imagination as the thing that informs how you do it,” he explained.

“You go to the play and you look very precisely at what you’re saying and what you’re doing, and then you try and find ways to present that.”

“Other people can look at it and say look, drunks aren’t like that and dementia isn’t like that and you can alter it,” he added.

“Basically, it’s all there if you just research the text carefully.”

A connoisseur of all Australian TV, film and theatre, Gaden was most recently spotted playing Anthony Fisk in seven episodes of ABC’s comedy hit Fisk, written and directed by comedian, writer and actress Kitty Flanagan.

By Hannah Wilcox Kirribilli’s

own Ensemble Theatre is back with another poignant and beautiful tribute to the experience of being human. Mr Bailey’s Minder, written by acclaimed Australian playwright Debra Oswald, is being brought to life by a talented cast and directed by Damien Ryan.

The Sun spoke to lead actor John Gaden on his complex yet loveable character, his return to the Ensemble and what to expect from this rich and layered storyline.

Worn down by years of alcohol abuse, self-loathing and indulgent misbehaviour, artist Leo Bailey meets his match in his new carer Therese (Claudia Ware) - fresh out of prison and optionless.

“It’s a beautifully written role, it’s all there, so it really wasn’t all that difficult,” Gaden said.

“And I’m quite old, I’m in my 80s, so I know a little bit what it’s like to be old, forgetful, a bit frail - and sometimes not very nice.”

“He’s an old drunk with dementia and a number of other things so really it was just me, basically,” Gaden joked.

It was with a lot of help from the rest of the cast, Gaden said, that brought together the piece.

“It’s a terrific piece, really, really beautifully written and some of it’s very funny, some of it’s quite sad.”

“You get a lot for your money on this one,” he added.

The actor has performed on stage at the Ensemble previously, sharing the stage with John Bell in the theatre’s showing of DIPLOMACY in 2018.

“[The theatre] is great,” he said. “We have a wonderful stage manager and crew - they’re very efficient.”

“You’re very close to the audience. Sometimes too close when they fall asleep in the front row! But luckily that doesn’t happen very often,” he laughed.

This time around, he’s looking forward to telling the story of Leo, describing the show as an ‘emotional rollercoaster of a good kind’.

“Some of it’s very funny, some of it’s very human and some of it’s a little

North Sydney Oval the stage for the AFLW Derby and International Cricket

By James Mullan

The Sydney Swans are due to take on bitter cross town rivals Greater Western Sydney Giants at North Sydney Oval next month.

Kicking off at 3.05pm, not only will the September 3 game be the first time the Oval has hosted the derby but it will also be the Swans’ opening home game for the season.

The Swans are gearing up for their second season in AFLW after finishing with the wooden spoon in their debut season.

Last season on August 29 North Sydney Oval hosted one Swans game against St Kilda, with a fantastic turnout of 8200 leaving the oval at 83% of capacity.

Despite going down 27-56, another huge crowd is expecting with this time round seeing two Sydney sides facing off.

On September 9 a grudge match will be settled with Geelong coming to North Sydney Oval to go up against the Swans, stemming from last year’s AFL Grand Final between the two clubs.

The oval is gaining a reputation as a quality venue for AFL, especially the women’s competition. It started off hosting the Sydney Swans preseason games during the mid 2000s but due to growth in crowd sizes and the field dimensions the men’s game was moved to another location.

“The size of the oval suits the AFLW games as it’s a little shorter than your standard oval,” Sydney Swans Academy Head Chris Smith told the Sun.

They would love to use the Oval more often, Smith said, but demand from other sports can get in the way.

“We know North Sydney is a prestigious ground, quite iconic and there

were other tenants there that had first dibs, being rugby and cricket,” he explained.

“It’s a beautiful surface, the ground itself is quite picturesque and it’s an iconic area.”

During training and feedback from previous games was always been overwhelmingly positive from players, he added.

However, as the AFLW season is kicking off a month later, in September, the Swans are able to play at the ground in the time between the end of

rugby season and start of cricket season.

The Australian Women’s Cricket team will also move in for two series at North Sydney Oval, facing Pakistan in back to back T20 games on the 1st and 2nd of October.

Earlier this year the venue hosted the same match up, with the Aussies winning by eight wickets as star Ellyse Perry posted 57 runs, not out.

Cricket fans will also have to keep an eye out when South Africa comes to town for two One Day Internationals

on the 7th and 10th of February 2024.

Last summer, the Oval hosted 8 WBBL and 3 Marsh Cup State One Day matches as well as a Sydney Sixers Big Bash game which drew a crowd of 8,300 even in wet conditions.

North Sydney Oval has been long touted as the potential, if not the, home of women’s sport in NSW; and with a packed schedule in the upcoming matches, its reputation only continues to grow as locals are treated to top notch professional sports on their doorstep.