Census results: who we are in North Sydney / Full local events and sports coverage
July/August 2022 Issue 15
News and views for North Sydney’s residential and business communities
www.northsydneysun.com.au
Councillor push to develop integrated tourism strategy for lower North Shore North Sydney councillor Godfrey Santer wants the district to develop a high level tourism strategy, preferably in conjunction with neighbouring councils such as Lane Cove and Mosman. “Tourism doesn't seem to feature very prominently in North Sydney's outlook towards life and business. And yet, is there a better view of the harbour than the one from North Sydney?,” he asks. “The Tunks Park walk, the Balls Head Point walk and Berry Island via Smoothey Park, all those walks, and they're absolutely magnificent. Smoothey Park, for example, has got remnant coastal rain forest and Aboriginal carvings underneath sandstone rock piles, which you’ve got to climb into to get to see and must be thousands of years old. They’re not sign posted or protected in any way.” Santer continues: “There’s not much of that rain forest left in Australia after 200 years of European settlement. And at the end there are mangroves. And you walk down a rocky path and they’ve got huge sandstone overhangs with beautiful ferns, and there are little waterfalls. You go be-
hind the waterfall and there these incredible rock carvings. Foreign tourists particularly would love to see that. We need to kind of develop that Aboriginal viewing experience, both to show the greater recognition of our Aboriginal heritage, but also to yield an economic return.” Santer believes that a North Sydney tourism push would get more bang for the buck if done as part of an integrated strategy with neighbouring councils, an example he said works in practice with Orange Council which joins with Cabonne and Blayney Councils on the Orange 360 tourism campaign, something he saw first hand at a recent LGNSW conference there. Santer said each LGA has “different things that are attractive and they complement each other. And by combining, they’re both able to develop a more comprehensive total tourism product to the potential consumer and the finance, they can pool their finances for their benefit.” Santer has extensive experience in the tourism industry as a former deputy CEO of the Australian Tourism Commission and says that key to a suc-
North Sydney councillor Godfrey Santer (inset) believe that the lower North Shore can capitalise on its views, its history and its infrastructure to develop a tourism strategy
cessful campaign is the “packaging” of tourism experiences to operators such as cruise lines and the like. One starting point is the view of the Sydney skyline from North Sydney, something he said is poorly catered for currently. In reference to the many high rises in the North Sydney CBD, Santer remarked: “At the moment what they’re doing with their top floors
is reserving it all for air conditioning equipment and microwaves and antennas. And that seems to be a terrible waste of the best view that Sydney has to offer.” He thinks the Council can play a role in encouraging the development of more high rise and rooftop bars and other venues with views of ConƟnued page 3
State MP Felicity Wilson seeks to clear up confusion over tree replacement at Warringah Freeway works By Grahame Lynch State member for North Shore Felicity Wilson has moved to clear up what she says is misunderstanding and misinformation about the removal and eventual replacement of trees to assist the development of the Warringah Expressway Upgrade and the Western Harbour and Beaches Link Tunnels. The removal of hundreds of trees from Cammeray Park is fuelling local opposition to the tunnels and threatening to become a major issue at next year’s state election. There are more tree removals slated for other upgrade zones including the High Street intersection at North Sydney. What makes the issue most vexing is that there is strong support for the upgrades as well as the third stage of the development—the Beaches Link Tunnel— in the Mosman half of the
North Shore electorate. According to Wilson, “I think people always have a point when trees are being removed because nobody likes it. Nobody likes to see it happen. And I think a lot of people are genuinely shocked when they see trees being removed and they question why? And that’s perfectly fine.” “But I know that we’ve done a lot to communicate everything that’s going on. So if you live near an area where the works are happening, you’ll have ongoing letter box drops about the types of work happening, the times those works are happening, some of the details around if there are services affected and if trees have to be removed. But we have really strict statutory approvals where we have to identify any environmental impacts, including tree impacts, and we have to
abide by the approvals we’re given.” Wilson said the key requirement is that removed trees are replaced at double the rate of removal within 500m. “The statutory requirement in the planning approval to replace any removed trees at a ratio of two to one. So I know that means that for a period of time, we won’t have those trees in place. But once the works are done, we’ll have a doubling of the number of trees that did have to be removed. And we’re also committing to make sure that we’ll either maintain or enhance the canopy across North Sydney,” Wilson said. REACTION UNDERSTANDABLE “So I can understand if there’s an emotional reaction to seeing a tree ConƟnued page 2
“Nobody likes it when trees are removed” - state member Felicity Wilson
Felicity Wilson talks roadworks and tree replacements ConƟnued from page 1 removed. Nobody wants them removed. But we have a commitment and a planning requirement to replace them at a ratio of two to one.” As to North Sydney Council’s campaign against the tree felling, Wilson points out that its own staff are involved in monitoring and supervising the process. She said the State project team has been working with “North Sydney Council staff, officers, arborists, the environment team, for a really long time on tree replacement. It’s a detailed consultation and plan around species, which trees can be retained, if any trees can be transplanted. And we’re also having long conversations about maturity with North Sydney Council, as in the maturity of trees that would be replanted.” “So Council knows full well about the two for one replacement and is very closely involved in discussions about what would be removed and what would be replaced and where and how much,” Wilson continued. “There is a constant collaborative conversation with council officers.” ROADS HAVE A PURPOSE Wilson also thought that the debate had somewhat missed the point as to why the roads were being built in the first place, which is to satisfy existing demand. “It’s designed to meet what the traffic needs currently are,” Wilson said. “So, Sydney Harbour Tunnel and Sydney Harbour Bridge are already at capacity and we need to relieve the valves of people utilising those roads.” “And we know that for 60% of people that use Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Harbour Tunnel, their destination is not the CBD. Their destination is Western Sydney, other suburbs, the airport.” “So it’s much wiser to have a motorway that bypasses the CBD for people who aren’t going to the CBD as that’s a better transport management solution. But what also happens then is all of the people who are trying to get to these roads are going through our local streets and our back streets.
New North Sydney writer in residence announced
North Sydney Council is campaigning against the tree removal at Cammeray Park: Picture supplied: Graham Maynard And that means obviously the rat runs for people from the beaches coming through Mosman, Neutral Bay and even Kirribilli. And then there can be a lot of queuing to get onto the freeway, so the backlog of getting onto the freeway through High Street or Ernest Street or Military Road. So having different, improving the intersections, improving the Warringah Expressway, will improve all those connections.” “But also having the relief valve of Western Harbour Tunnel will improve those. And then obviously when we get to Beaches Link, it’s going to put a whole pile of people underground and take them off our surface roads.” Wilson told the Sun that the current works necessitate an upgrade of the Warringah Expressway because its expansion is key to making the Western Harbour and Beaches Link tunnels work. The Western Harbour Tunnel follows next and then the Beaches Link last. “Work is happening currently predominantly along that Warringah Expressway corridor. We’ve seen works happening through Neutral Bay, along Alfred Street North for maybe about a year now. A lot of that’s the utilities work. We’ve seen the activity down towards North Sydney Station, Lavender Bay, Middlemiss Street area, and that’s been happening for about a year too,” Wilson said. “And a lot of these are the enabling work. So you’d recall back when we did the light rail in the city that that project was delayed because we discov-
ered how many utilities were under the ground that were there?” “So one of the reasons we do things, we call it enabling works and minor works and preparatory works, is because we know we need to check out all these things, do the underground works for these projects before we then kick off the major work.” PUBLIC TRANSPORT NEEDS Wilson also pointed out that the government was not pursuing just a roads policy but had also made a massive investment in the Metro through North Sydney, Crows Nest and Chatswood as well as the B-Line express bus service along Neutral Bay to the northern beaches. Wilson pointed to North Sydney Council’s desire to send back $1.9m allocated for the Young St Plaza as an example of a confused agenda given a near-clearway along Military Rd is integral to making the B-Line work. Wilson revealed she has asked the relevant state authority to keep Young Street closed anyway. This is “because I think it’s best for pedestrian safety, vehicle safety and the smooth, freeflowing traffic on Military Road, including the buses. It should remain closed because it was identified that it had a range of different hazards and it was better for Military Road and pedestrians and motorists and buses if it was closed. And equally, hopefully Council will reconsider their position about ripping out the Pplaza.”
North Sydney Sun | July/August 2022 | Page 2
A lover of storytelling in both the written word and visual arts, Kate Austin-Raffan is Council’s new 2022 Don Bank Writer in Residence. Kate is currently working on Strays, a novel about prolonged grief set in rural Australia. Kate was long listed for the First Five Pages award for All the Ghosts Call. Her short story Full Circle was shortlisted for the Asham Prize and her screenplay Three Small Pieces was long- listed for the First Film Development Competition. Kate said she is excited to be the 2022 Don Bank Writer in Residence. “It’s an amazing opportunity to work on my novel in such a tranquil and special place. I’m greatly looking forward to sharing my experience as a writer, as part of my program of events over the coming months.” Kate lives in Sydney with her husband, three children, cat and two rescue dogs. North Sydney Council offers writers the opportunity to pursue their inspiration in the tranquil, historic Don Bank Museum - a heritage home with a Victorian-remnant garden setting. Previous Writers in Residence include children’s writer Ursula Dubosarsky, playwright and author Justin Fleming and crime writer P.M. Newton.
Push for lower North Shore integrated tourism strategy ConƟnued page 3
SAINT MARY FEAST DAY: Mary MacKillop Place and the Sisters of Saint Joseph will celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop on Monday, 8 August. “We look forward to welcoming pilgrims and supporters to Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney,” says Sr Monica Cavanagh, Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Saint Joseph (above). Visitors will have the opportunity to visit the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel, attend Mass, pray at St Mary’s tomb, and visit the Mary MacKillop Museum.
the harbour. Santer also believes that locals likely under-appreciate the appeal of their area history to foreign tourists. “Let’s take the origin of how Neutral Bay came to be name,” he said. “I think it was Governor Phillip who allowed a French fleet, technically the French and the British were at war at that stage. This French fleet came in and it was absolutely down in the dumps.” “The people were sick with scurvy and the ships were leaking badly. So Governor Phillip said, ‘Just go over there. We haven't explored over there yet. Moor there
and we;ll send the doctors and food over and help you get on your way.’ And that was called Neutral Bay. That's the kind of a great story to tell and a great experience to show on a walking tour.” Likewise, North Sydney shouldn’t underestimate its appeal to sporting tourists. “North Sydney Oval, by taking those old stands from the Sydney Cricket Ground, is one of the most beautiful cricket ovals in the world,” he said. Santer is currently helping on preparing a council report on the best steps forward in establishing a feasibility study due in August on the idea, with a view to cooperation with Federal and State tourism marketing bodies.
ArƟsts impressions above: Credit: Ivolve Studios
North Sydney Sun | June 2022 | Page 3
Who we are in North Sydney Households in North Sydney earn 45% more than the Australian average but pay 61% more on their monthly mortgage repayments and 55% more on their weekly rent. These are the findings of the first release of results from last year’s national census from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The North Sydney local government area’s population increased by less than 2% over the previous 5 years, to 68,950 people. Other indicators were also relatively static: members per household remained steady at 2.0, compared to a national average of 2.6. North Sydney is also more female than the national average at 52.9% compared to 50.7%. Local household incomes increased 7% over the five years to 2021, far outpaced by the growth in mortgage repayments by 32%. An increase in average rent of just 1% provided relative relief by comparison. What was most curious was a surge in unoccupied dwellings on census night to 5,201: nearly 1 in 7 of all dwellings. There was a clear misalignment between supply and demand with 3,590 more dwellings recorded compared to 5 years before against a population increase of just 1,292 over the same period. This cannot necessarily be solely attributable to high rise develop-
ment as the stock of flats and apartments in the area increased by 2,154 over the same period. The percentage of North Sydney residents who claimed no religion also jumped dramatically, from 37% to 46% in just five years. Of those who cited a religious group, Catholics had the biggest representation at 20.4%, followed by Anglican at 10.9% and Buddhist at 2.6%. In terms of ancestry, 34% of North Sydney residents cited England as one of two ancestries possible under the survey, 23% Australian, 13% Irish, 11% Chinese and 10% Scottish. Just 33% of North Sydney residents said both their parents were born in Australia, with England, China, New Zealand and India ranking as the top nations of origin for overseas born parents. Around 56% of North Sydney residents themselves were born in Australia, with 6% born in England, 4% in China, 3% in New Zealand, 2% in India and 1% in South Africa. 72% of households speak only English. Of the 28% who speak another language, 4% speak Mandarin and 3% speak Cantonese. The next highest ranked languages were Spanish, Japanese and Portuguese. Indigenous people constitute just 0.4% of North Sydney’s population, or 278 individuals.
Census findings
2016 2021 2021 North Sydney North Sydney Australia
Population
67,658
68,950 (+1.9%)
25.422m (+8.6%)
Female %
52.8%
52.9%
50.7%
Median age
37
38
38
Avg no per household
2
2
2.5
Median weekly household income
$2360
$2524
$1746
Median monthly mortgage repayments
$2600
$3000
$1863
Median weekly rent
$575
$580
$375
Not married (excluding registered/defacto)
42.3%
43.6%
41.9%
Born in Australia
54.2%
56.0%
66.9%
No religion
37.3%
45.6%
38.4%
Occupied dwelling count
30,066
32,395 (+7.7%)
9,275,217 (+11.9%)
Unoccupied dwelling count
3,940
5,201 (+32%)
1,043,776 (0%)
Flats/apartments as % of
74.4%
75.7%
14.2%
Renters as % of whole
50.8%
51.9%
30.0%
No long term health condi-
N/A
66.7%
60.2%
Indigenous people as % of whole
0.3%
0.4%
3.2%
Chef and wait staff wanted for Thelma and Louise cafe at Neutral Bay wharf
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North Sydney Sun | July/August 2022 | Page 4
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The Sun Says… In just over a year of publication or so, we believe the North Sydney Sun is making a difference to the community. We featured in-depth coverage of the candidates contesting the intriguing local government elections last year, followed up by incisive coverage of this year’s milestone federal election, and was the only publication to interview every candidate. We intend to get immersed in the coming state election, especially with speculation that some significant local government independents of yesteryear may run along with a teal independent insurgency. If it’s anything like federal and local, it could be a wild campaign. We are also taking a break for a month to reflect on what we are doing right and where we can do better. As the only publication with a focused footprint in North Sydney, we aim to reach new heights. Copyright Decisive Publishing. All rights reserved. ACN 065 084 960 Responsibility for election comment taken by G Lynch Office address: Unit 3 20 Cliff St Milsons Point NSW Australia 2061 Phone: 02 9061 7048 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 Printer: Spotpress, 24-26 Lilian Fowler Place Marrickville NSW 2204 15,000 copies circulated to homes and businesses in the North Sydney electorate. Printer statement available on demand
North Sydney NYE viewing areas to be ticketed but free
North Sydney Council has resolved to keep major harbourside spaces ticketed and free for New Year Eve. The idea of ticketing to cap numbers at vantage points such as Blues Point Reserve, Lavender Bay Parklands and Bradfield ParkMary Booth Reserve has been in place for years, alternately with a charge and then moving to a free model last year. The original motivation behind ticketing was for crowd control. NSW Police and the state government had requested that the council be responsible for crowd numbers in key areas. Yet at Council’s June meeting a recommendation to council from staff suggested reinstating paid ticketing for NYE events. This would help cover costs experienced by the council from the management of the event. The report, authored by Joanna
Gibson, North Sydney Council’s Events Team Leader stated: “The total overall costs for NYE 2022 was $446,235.55 (exclusive of internal and agency staffing). The net budget allocated for the management of the NYE 2022 was $266,584 (exclusive of NYE Officer salary). Additional income of $340,000 was anticipated from ticket sales and stallholder fees, bringing the budget to an expected $606,584.” Council administration therefore proposed the reintroduction of a $10 ticket with children under 5 let in free system for the aforementioned vantage points as a means in which to cover costs associated with the night. The motion also sought a memorandum of understanding between the council and state government about the roles and responsibilities of each entity re-
garding NYE festivities. An amendment put forward by Councillor Mary-Ann Beregi essentially struck down a charge for the tickets, instead proposing that bookings remain essential yet free of charge. Councillor Georgia Lamb then tabled a modified amendment that proposed a $10 charge for outsiders and free entry for residents of the North Sydney Local Government Area. Lamb’s amendment was ultimately voted down with only the two Sustainable Australia Party councillors voting for, while Real Independents, Labor, Cr Gibson and Cr Mutton voted against (2 councillors were absent). This was somewhat significant as the first time the majority bloc of six made up of Labor, Real Independents and Sustainable Australia have not voted in unison on a significant motion or amendment.
The power of print. The power of local The North Sydney Sun media kit for 2022/23 is out soon. Email grahamelynch@northsydneysun.com.au for your personal copy
North Sydney Sun | July/August 2022 | Page 6
North Sydney Wharf reopens
As part of rolling wharf upgrades on the North Shore, North Sydney Wharf has reopened after a $7.5 million renovation. Central to the project was making the wharf more accessible with a new accessible path leading to a gangway and covered floating pontoon. Additionally, there is now a new accessible parking space. Improvements not only benefit those with mobility issues but new seating and weather protection also feature. Getting to the wharf has also improved with a new ‘kiss and ride’ zone as well as bicycle hoops for parking. The North Sydney Wharf upgrades are a part of a wider scheme to improve wharfs around throughout the Harbour. Other sites soon to receive upgrades in the area include Taronga Zoo and South Mosman Wharfs. For the Zoo’s wharf works won't be as wide scaled but will feature installing a new wharf ramp and gangway access. Amenities will also be improved
with a cafe, office, information boards to safety measures like security cameras and lighting. Works are expected to start soon and take six months to complete. Over at Mosman South the structure will be totally replaced with a new floating pontoon wharf, similar to the new North Sydney design. Previously Cremorne Point (2015), McMahons Points (2016) and Milsons Point (2017) wharves were transformed as part of the state governments wharf access program. All three projects saw dated wooden structures replaced with a more standardised floating pontoon style wharf. Meanwhile on the train line, $20 million Wollstonecraft Station upgrade works have finally finished. The project installed two new lifts to the station platforms, new station entry ramps from Shirley Road and Telopea Street, platform raising work to bring platforms level with train carriages, new toilets and improved boarding and parking accessibility.
Soul Music: St Joseph’s Neutral Bay home to pipe organ once again
one is the voice. That’s the natural voice, the breath going through the vocal cords. The organ is also wind, so there’s the connection. We talk about the breath of the spirit, it’s a very natural instrument and the organ is nearest to the voice.” Built in 1985, the organ has two manuals and pedals with 10 steps. It is made from primarily mahogany wood with tin, zinc and wooden pipes. Impressively the organ is mechanical, not electrical, which provides unique sound qualities. “The voicing of this one is light, it’s not a heavier instrument as a lot of the other ones are, so it has a clearer voice. One rod pulls another and the organist has total control of what's being played. You are pulling stops out not pushing tabs, so things actually move inside the instrument,” Pastor said. “It’s like a clock, the organ is like a watch face. You see everything there but behind it there are a lot of things you don’t see which are really important. It’s real air going through real metal pipes and making real sounds. As opposed to electronic sounds that are synthesised.” Displayed on the front of the organ is the motto “magnificat anima mea dominum” which means “my soul magnifies the lord”, a quote from Luke’s gospel. Both Pastor and Christine agreed the organ’s nickname will be ‘Magnificat’. James Mullan
When Christina Caruana started attending mass at St Joseph’s, Neutral Bay she had heard whispers, perhaps even legends, about the church’s old pipe organ. It had been years since the parishioners had experienced the gusto of a traditional organ, instead relying on a trusty CD player. An attempt to use a small choir and a guitarist didn’t feel right, especially compared to a pipe organ which has a strong tradition in the Catholic faith. “I just got this sense that it was really important that we have a pipe organ knowing that it is better for the voice and is more natural.” Christina told the Sun. When the opportunity came up to acquire a Marc Nobel crafted pipe organ, the parish felt it was a perfect fit for their needs and to provide the best ceremony. Thanks to donations, the organ, which was previously kept at Nobel’s home in Melbourne before moving toa cemetery chapel in Liverpool, southwest of Sydney, will now be located in Neutral Bay. Resident St Joseph's organist; Pastor de Lasala has an OAM for his service to the craft of organ restoration. He explained to the Sun the significance of the instrument to the faith. “The Vatican documents talk about the instrument of the church. The first
Service Please! Service NSW North Sydney Opens
For North Shore locals renewing a licence, doing rego or picking up a new licence plate they needed an inconvenient journey to the busy Wynyard or undersized Chatswood Service NSW site. Now with the opening of a new site, locals and workers have easier access to Service NSW in the heart of North Sydney. The new site at 213 Miller Street, North Sydney, near the Rag and Famish and just up from where the new Victoria Cross Metro Station will open. Customers can complete 1000 NSW government transactions at the newly opened centre. Once upon a time the district was serviced by a road transport office but that was closed during the government’s transition to the new service centre model. In an interview with the Sun, State MP Felicity Wilson explained, “We haven’t really had a local centre in the history of Service NSW. We had to get rid of the old RTA because it wasn’t a good model. Now we finally have Service NSW and people love it. People love having the centre close to home, so we can do all the things we need to do without having to queue up outside Chatswood or make trips to the city.” Customers will be able to renew a driving licence, do a driver knowledge test, get a Working with Children Check, a vehicle registration, apply for NSW photo identification and organise license plates. Wilson believes the opening of the centre is another reminder of the significance of North Sydney CBD. “We are a major commercial CBD here in North Sydney. I think sometimes people overlook that fact, sometimes people think we are just an off shoot of Sydney CBD, but North Sydney itself is a power house of a CBD. It’s got significant growth; commercial office growth, education, with the universities and schools here. The Metro coming to North Sydney and connectivity that brings to the North West and then through the city to the South West. This is a hub and hive of activity.” According to the North Shore MP this was a key factor in the selection of North Sydney as one of 113 Service
North Sydney Sun | July/August 2022 | Page 7
NSW sites across the state. “The number of people that are drawn to North Sydney for work, retail, education and all different types of services, this is a perfect location to have this kind of service for our community. Chatswood is a CBD, it’s got a lot of retail and residential, but Kristen Locknear the kind doesn’t have anywhere of commercial office space that North Sydney does and therefor the draw of people from all across Sydney. Wynyard, not everyone is going into the city, but those are two closest locations. Here, we are right near the bus stop, the metro, the train. It means that people can get here easily by public transport, and it’s our own centre.”
PART-TIME PERSONAL TRAINER NEEDED SHAiPE Smart Fitness studio is a startup Fitness brand with the first studio having opened April 2022 in the Landmark St. Leonards. Gyms have been the same for 50 years... until now! Become part of a new fitness trend. High Technology paired with sport science backed training methods and personal care. SHAiPE is your small and intimate fitness experience. Benefits of joining the SHAiPE team: - Competitive salary - Work in an agile start-up that values inputs and new ideas - The opportunity to grow with us and be part of a fitness new trend - Free use of all high-tech equipment in the brand new studio - Opportunities to climb the ladder with company growth Job responsibilities: -1 on 1 training sessions with customers -Training platform supervision - motivating and guiding members -Creating personalised training plans for members -Customer scans and review sessions Necessary skills: - Team player - Great customer service - Great communicator - Good organisation skills - Excellent understanding of the human body - Interest in technology Contact: daniel@shaipe.com.au
Sing and Sip at the Greenwood The Greenwood Hotel has teamed up with professional musician and teacher at North Sydney Academy of Music; Louise-Marie McDonald to bring a choir together every Monday at the historic venue. Originally built in 1878 as a public school, the site became The Greenwood Hotel in 1992. It is no coincidence that the choir chose this venue as the old chapel space has ideal acoustics and is the perfect size for the choir. Before lockdown disruptions, she had led choirs in the area. With many gatherings returning Louise felt it was time to try a new way of sharing her passion with others. It turns out the chapel’s acoustics isn’t the only advantage to hosting the choir at the pub. “The pub one I thought because they have a drink. What I had before when I had my choir was that a lot of people wouldn't come along because they were nervous and scared to sing in front of people, even though it was in a group. I had quite a lot
of people who were hesitant and even when they did come it would freak them out. You could see and tell. But you know with a little bit of dutch courage…… As they call it at the Greenwood; sing and sip, so that helps them to relax. It's also a social thing to do, bringing two social methods together.” For the venue they are excited to welcome the choir to boost activity during quiet times, revive business in the post COVID era and to support the local community. Greenwood’s Functions Manager Miline Gatshine told the Sun “When she (Louise) told us about bringing the community together, we were really keen to contribute to that. Especially during the week, we are a big venue and spaces are unused at the beginning of the week. So we are happy to open one of the spaces for Louise to bring in a kind of crowd that may have been isolated during COVID and do something good for them.” As North Sydney CBD’s resi-
dential population grows the Greenwood Hotel may look to offer different experiences at the venue on top of their regular business and music crowds. When we talked with Louise it was clear she wanted the choir to not only be about the music but to be welcoming, positive and a safe space for people. This will also be reflected in the music with which the choir will perform, preferring upbeat songs and classic hits as opposed to more slower traditional pieces. To begin a piano will be the accompaniment but there are
plans to expand the ensemble. “Once the numbers are up, get a drummer, a lead guitar, bass guitar so they can have that experience of performing with a whole band. But to start with because of the costs I’ll just start with a pianist.” There is free parking at Greenwood for choir participants and a $10 cover charge to participate. If you are interested in joining or are looking for more information, call Louise on 0452006693. It will run every Monday from 7:30PM to 9:30PM.
WHAT’S ON IN NORTH SYDNEY Tue 19 July - Sat 30 July Snow Festival Venue: Greenwood Hotel Free skating, 100 tonnes of real snow, figure skating performances, winter inspired drink specials, hot chocolates, live music and much more. Sat/Sun 23/24 July, 7:00PM Moein Venue: Big Top, Luna Park Moein is an internationally acclaimed Iranian singer. Beloved by millions of fans throughout the world, Moein has inspired a new wave of Iranian music centered around authentic love and romance. Combining traditional and pop music, Moein has pioneered his own genre of Iranian music. Sat 6 August, 8:00PM JPY - 50 Years Young Venue: Norths Cammeray John Paul Young’s Anniversary Tour, will take you on that jour-
ney in songs and stories from Glasgow, Scotland to the shores of Australia and back around the world again, as John performs the songs that brought him national and international stardom. Sat 6 August, 12:00PM ShoreShocked 2022 Venue: St Leonards Park The North Shore infamous free, all ages, smoke and alcohol-free music festival is back! There’ll be rocking Triple J favourites, food, community stalls, and other activities at this awesome venue that’ll make this an event to remember. The lineup of musos feature Brissie coastal punk rockers Beddy Rays who will be headlining the festivities, with support from alternative rockers RedHook, triple j Unearthed High winners The Rions, Brissie punk VOIID, and blues rockers Koda, plus two local bands -
ShoreComp Winners. Sun 7 August, 8:00PM This is Elvis Venue: Norths Cammeray Ben Portsmouth is undoubtedly the best Elvis tribute artist in the world. In August 2012, Ben Portsmouth made history when he won the Elvis Presley Enterprises “Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest” in Memphis, Tennessee, crowning Ben as the “Worldwide Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist”. Wed 10 Aug, 8:30PM Orpheum Comedy Club Venue: Hayden Orpheum 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!
North Sydney Sun | July/August 2022 | Page 8
Thu 11, Fri 12 & Sat 13 August, 7:30PM Spacey Jane Venue: Big Top, Luna Park With the release of their second album Here Comes Everybody fast approaching, ARIA Award winners Spacey Jane reveal new tour dates across Australia. The album features recent singles It’s Been A Long Day, Sitting Up, Lots of Nothing which landed at #3 on the triple j hottest100. Fri 19 Aug, 8:00PM Sydney’s Legendary Piano Men: John Watson & Scot Finnie Venue: Norths Cammeray Hear John’s many fabulous medleys and the unforgettable nostalgia of the 60’s TV Shows themes plus Scott’s beautiful style and sophistication, together bringing their amazing talents mixing it up with all the favourites, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, Elton John and Billy Joel.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
Why Mr Yip’s dumplings are the best thing out there By Jilly Gibson
By Jilly Gibson “Good taste comes from tasting good things” my dear old mum used to tell me. I listened. Also “don’t smoke and stay out of the sun or you’ll get wrinkles.” Your scribe sits here typing - with brown crinkly skin – a devout foodie and anti-tobacco crusader. Hey mum ‘Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad’ (apologies Meat Loaf). My girls also happen to be nonsmoking foodies - either by genetics, osmosis, tiger parenting or sheer good luck. Please join the three of us for lunch at Mr Yip’s, 240 Military Rd Neutral Bay. THE CHEF: Kirk Yip trained in the ancient art of dumpling making in Hong Kong. Still in his thirties, Kirk is a master of his trade. Awake bright and early every morning Kirk makes his dough from scratch. Other establishments buy in their dough. Or even – shock horror - buy in the dumplings frozen. Kirk is a perfectionist and eager to make high quality, authentic dumplings available to North Sydney locals at a reasonable price. Kirk lives with his wife and first-born dumplingdevotee and has cooked at Star Casino and Lotus. We are lucky Kirk chose Neutral Bay as the site for his eponymous restaurant. Kirk has been refining the art of dim sum for almost twenty years but tells us he is still learning. He wants to bring awareness to how varied Chinese cuisine can be, and train a new generation of creative chefs who will bring their own take on traditional dishes. THE DUMPLINGS: If I were forced to eat one type of food for the rest of my life it would be dumplings. I reckon Kirk Yip makes Sydney’s best. Yes, yes, I know it’s a big claim but I’m standing firm. Kirk handmakes his dough using a mix of wheat and potato flour. Special ingredients are lots of love and experience. I adore his description of the finished product – “crystal” as in
crystal clear. Poor quality commercial dumplings have thick dough and are stodgily opaque. This dumpling dough is thin enough to glimpse the filling but strong enough to hold up to enthusiastic chopsticks. We’re on to the third basket of Prawn, Scallop & Asparagus – bursting with fresh, plump chunks of seafood and offset with al dente pieces of tasty veggies. At $10.80 for three dumplings, we don’t hesitate to order a fourth serve. I douse mine with soy and fresh sliced chilli (I put chilli on everything but porridge). Alanya whips out her phone to take a close-up shot of the tasty morsels but the image comes out blurry. We try again, same result. Then the penny drops that the steam from the deliciously hot dumplings was fogging up the camera lens. A good problem to have. The food from Mr Yip’s is kitchen-to-table, chefto-diner. No food queues under heat lamps, everything is served the moment it’s ready. THE REST: Did I just say the dumplings are the best thing I’ve ever eaten? I’m lying! I have just tasked General Tso’s Prawns ($25.80) and it is even better. Prawns in tempura-thin batter are flash fried and combined with crisp
Above right: Jilly Gibson with Kirk Yip. Below: Jilly Gibson with daughters Alanya and Maija.
greens and dried chillies. The sweet/ salty/hot combo is seriously yummy. The veggie dishes are simple and perfectly cooked. The freshness of the raw produce shining through. There are lots of dishes to keep vegetarians and vegans smiling. For carnivores, the Snow Mountain BBQ Pork Buns are a must ($8 for 2). The traditional dishes like friend rice are top notch. The space is simple but comfortable The service is fast and friendly. And the value? Extraordinary.
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B.Y.O only $5. If it’s dry-July for you, indulge in the fragrant China Rose Black Tea, also $5. If good taste does come from tasting good things, and you are keen to spread my mum’s philosophy, I encourage you to take your family, friends, lovers or even strangers to Mr Yip. Mr. Yip Dumpling 240 Military Rd, Neutral Bay NSW Phone: 0422 949 251
NORTH SYDNEY WELLBEING
Benefiting from physiotherapy By Living To Thrive’s Chuck Anderson I am pretty sure that anyone over the age of 30 has experienced some sort of injury that required them to see a physiotherapist. During the first lockdown, I broke my ankle after falling down a set of stairs at Town Hall station. During the third lockdown I tore the meniscus in my right knee while doing high intensity training at home. It was a year full of doctor visits and becoming close friends with physiotherapists. Having a physiotherapist that is supportive, knowledgeable and empathetic can make all the difference in our recovery as all injuries have a psychological impact that each of us must work through as well. In this article I interviewed Bill Kagaras who is the owner and head physiotherapist of the Physio Inq. in McMahons Point on Blues Point Road. I have been treated by both Bill and his associate physiotherapist James Cooper and they both do fantastic work! Sun: If you could be one superhero, which superhero would you be? Bill: Superman, so our clinic wouldn’t need to refer people for imaging. Xrays on us! Sun: What is physiotherapy and what are its top two benefits? Bill: Physiotherapy comes under the umbrella term of “allied health”. As physiotherapists we focus mostly on the musculoskeletal system, and any disorders or injuries that may arise in all types of people. We help to diagnose and treat these issues, although our boundaries are blurring more and more over the years beyond helping your average sprained ankle, to cardiovascular physiotherapists in hospitals, and even specialised physiotherapists that only treat jaws!
Bill: Walking, walking, walking. Most people don’t realise there is shockingly little difference in calories burnt between a jog and walk when you cover the same distance. Calories aside though, consistent, outdoor and unplugged walks are one of the best exercise options for mental health. No matter how you get your steps up, aim for 10,000! The other is resistance training. Notice how it isn’t weights. Our muscles are blind. They don’t care whether you’re in a platinum membership gym, or at home on a yoga mat with no equipment. As long as you’re working relatively hard 2-3 times a week, your body will reward you for it (you can thank us later when you live longer). Sun: What is the top most avoidable injury that clients get treated for? Bill: Repeated ankle sprains. Rolling your ankle is often more serious than most people realise, not because of the injury itself, but because of your increased risk of doing it again. And again. Undoing it just takes a little diligence after that first sprain, building up balance and strength. If you can’t balance on one leg with your eyes closed for 30 seconds, you might need to work on it. Sun: What advice do you have for someone with a chronic pain condition due to injury, but struggles to find the right treatment? Bill: If you were to see a specialist physician for a health condition, and you didn’t like their answer, wouldn’t
Bill Kagaras you seek a different opinion? For some strange reason, people often don’t do this with physiotherapy, and instead either give up or try a different, more passive style of healthcare. Sometimes it just isn’t the right match of physio to patient, although we all do try our best to fit the needs of our clients. Back yourself, and tell a professional exactly what you want, and you’re much more likely to see the results you came to them for in the first place. Sun: What piece of advice you would give to someone that feels hopeless about recovering from chronic pain? Bill: Focus on the positives. You don’t have to make leaps and bounds every day, and there will be setbacks, but never lose sight of those 1% improvements made every now and then. Fighting chronic pain is always a marathon, not a sprint, regardless of if you have a physiotherapist on your side or not.
Sun: How is our physical health related to our mental health? Bill: Physical health is the manifestation of our mental health. We don’t need scientific papers (although we have plenty) to prove that people that are happier and calmer exercise more, and vice versa. All forms of exercise including Pilates, weightlifting, cardio and even stretching have been proven to reliably improve mental health, as well as help people prevent and recover from injuries. Sun: What are two simple activities we can do to reduce the potential for injuries? North Sydney Sun | July/August 2022 | Page 10
James Cooper Sun: Tell us about Physio Inq. and the services that you provide. Bill: Physio Inq. McMahons Point is a clinic right in the heart of McMahons Point. We pride ourselves in being community members and would hope by now with our first birthday coming up that you’ve seen either myself or James grabbing coffee at one of the local cafes! We treat all ages, activity levels and lifestyles with a smile and expertise. We provide physiotherapy, dry needling, massage, workers compensation, telehealth sessions, cardiorespiratory services and more. Injury or not, pop on into the clinic, either to meet the team or to have a free functional assessment performed, on us! Head on over to Physio Inq. McMahons Point to get a free functional assessment and book a refreshing massage as well. I guarantee that you will enjoy it!
AROUND THE GROUNDS
How the Sirens built up North’s Women Rugby from nothing Not that long ago Norths Rugby had no women’s teams. As recently as 2018 the club managed to put together a sevens team but struggled to retain the players for the following season. When former Shoremen front rower and Neutral Bay local Geoff Wells took over as head coach in 2019 there were only six players. Yet now the club has improved to 30 open age female players, two rugby sevens squads and a 10s squad. We sat down with Wells to get the full story of women’s footy at Norths and how their season is going. Although, the women’s squad is part of Norths Rugby they are far from Shoremen. To differentiate themselves from the boys they play under the name ‘Norths Sirens’. The name is associated with women who are alluring but dangerous. In mythology, Sirens would sing to lure unwary sailors onto rocks. The Sirens are currently in the middle of the Sydney Rugby Sevens Competition. The season consists of fortnightly sevens tournaments on Sundays with 3 to 4 games in a day followed by a final. The season goes over 7 rounds after starting back in May and running until late Au-
gust. Norths field two squads, one in 2nd and 3rd division. There have been mixed results this year as Geoff Wells explains. “Our second division side is sitting in 4th place out of 13 teams. Our third division side is mid table. Just last tournament we hosted up at Bon Andrews Oval. Our Div 3 side stepped up into Div 2 and did alright, winning a couple of games.” Yet for Wells, results are not the most important focus. “Overall the whole idea is as long as we are seeing constant growth and improvement of the whole squad we’re very happy. That’s what we are doing and we’re seeing that. At our home tournament for both sides we’re playing in Division 2 we had a mixture of our Div 2 and Div 3 players and we saw all our girls step up to the plate. A lot of Div 3 girls who hadn’t touched a footy before this year or ever stepped across and made a tackle, stepped up to the plate alongside girls who had been playing for many years. It was really impressive!” The Sirens are a relatively young program in comparison to neighbouring clubs: “We started off without having jun-
iors coming through. Most players were going to clubs with stronger women’s programs like Gordon or Manly, but now we finally have a name for ourselves to get girls from our catchment area. We are an established side with a junior pathway we can push that now.” With the Women’s program still building, the club hopes soon to be able to play in the Jack Scott Shield, the top 15 a side competition in NSW. “Within Sydney rugby they want to build up every Shute Shield club to have the 15s. We’re trying to make the necessary steps to get that up and running in the next year or so.” “I’ve done a number of surveys of our players and coaches. What I found was the fastest growing part of the female rug-
by sphere is the sevens game. So there’s a lot of players who don’t want to make the step across to 15s.” Sevens popularity cannot be underestimated as a form of Rugby with many players specialising in and preferring to play the shorter form of the game. Until the club can fill in a 15s squad, female players will have to stick with 10s rugby as the closest version to traditional rugby. A lack of players, specifically players for certain positions, is currently the main obstacle to a full squad. Regardless, Norths Rugby’s Women’s program has come a long way in just a few years. The Sirens will play in sevens tournaments on July 24, August 7th and 21st. Visit www.northsrugby.com.au/
Women’s basketball legend Lauren Jackson comes to Crows Nest Four time WNBA MVP, two time WNBA champion and four time Olympian Lauren Jackson visited Crows Nest for a table topping clash with the Norths Bears. Earlier this year the sporting mega star came out of retirement to sign for her hometown team Albury-Wodonga Bandits. This was a massive boost for the debut season of NBL1 East, the state based division below the NBL. Every time she plays, massive crowds pack in to catch a glimpse of the four time WNBL MVP. All season, the Bears and Bandits have traded top spot on the competition ladder, which only added the hype surrounding the game.
Also drawing crowds in was the exhibition of the FIBA Women’s World Cup. Fans had a chance to take pictures with the cup that will be contested in late September with Australia hosting the tournament. Jackson is likely to feature in the squad despite being 41 years old, a true testament to her talent, athleticism and longevity. This skill was well and truly on show as Jackson took to the North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre floor. Unfortunately for the Bears, many key players were missing including WNBL talents Emily Seebohm, Maddie O’Heire and Emily Simons. Norths desperately missed O’Heire and Simons’ defensive presence in the paint as Lauren
Jackson and former American College star Unique Thompson combined for 55 points. Jackson was unstoppable, despite the textbook defence of New Zealand international Jess Bygate.
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This was to be expected with Jackson averaging a league high 32 points per game. The Bears stayed competitive but the Bandits star duo were simply too good winning 87-78.
AROUND THE GROUNDS
BEARS WOMEN WIN MINOR PREMIERSHIP By James Mullan It’s been a while since a North Sydney Bears squad took home silverware but that drought is over, with the NSW Women’s Premiership taking out the Minor Premiers trophy. They were clearly the form side in the competition only losing one of their eight games. Unfortunately, the team was unable to progress to the Grand Final after a 10-24 loss in the semis to the Wests Tigers. The Bears had topped the Tigers earlier in the year with a 34 -6 win in round 4. Despite Raecene McGregor and Jamilee
Bright both scoring, Wests and NRLW star Tess Stain’s hat trick was too much to overcome. A statement from the Bears summarised the game and season “Not the way we had wanted to finish, and a shame the competition ends in a knock out and not the three week final’s series like the men’s comp, but what a season these girls had! We are so proud of all they achieved and the dedication, passion and fun they brought to every game and every training session.” Since the inception of the
Women’s premiership in 2018 results have improved yearly. Their first year they ended second last before finishing in the top 4 for every year since. With
a lot of attention paid to the men’s NSW Cup team and the Bears bid to return to the NRL, the Women’s program has been a somewhat overlooked success.
Norths hires former US NBA executive as new CEO Norths Basketball have scored a coup with the hiring of new CEO Bret Mactavish. The American comes into the role with an impressive wealth of experience in basketball administration. His resume spans back to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics where he ran basketball operations before spending 3 years as the head of basketball operations for the WNBA. Notably, Mactavish ran international basketball operations for the USA’s NBA for seven years then was the interim CEO and GM of operations for Australia’s NBL from 2014 to 2016. Since then he has been a consultant for basketball’s international body FIBA, where he worked mainly in player experience management. The move comes after CEO of six years, life member Graeme Reid came to terms with the board to move on from the role. Reid has been involved with
Norths for 35 years and previously served as president of the club. NSBA President, Dr Vik Kortian believes the new CEO is the right person for the job “The board is very excited to have been able to secure someone of Bret’s calibre to lead the next phase of our development. We look forward to working with him as we plan for continued success and growth in the years ahead.” “A huge thank you to Graeme from everyone at Norths Bas-
ketball. Our club is forever indebted to you for all the hard work and dedication. You will be greatly missed, and we wish you all the best in your future adventures.” In an interview with the Sun, Mactavish told us of his impressions of the club prior to joining. “I knew Norths as a great association with a lot of tradition, a winning tradition.” “I was well aware of the fact their teams were always competitive, they appeared very professional, the coaching seemed to be top notch and their players were respectful. Norths have this sort of aura of prestige around them.” These factors were key to his decision to join the club. The new CEO has highlighted facilities as a key issue he would like to address. “A big challenge for basketball in NSW is gaining access to more courts. Here at
Norths we are at capacity without local competition. So that makes it very difficult to expand our programs, offerings and local community competitions.” NSISC was constructed in 1999 and is owned by the council but operated by Norths Basketball. Across the North Sydney, Mosman, Willoughby and Lane Cove LGAs, there are only seven indoor sports courts. Bret also hopes to improve the club by creating a stronger community that offers more than just basketball and is unique to the area. “Norths have a great community feel. It’s more than just basketball, it’s a community hub. I want to build the club to where not only members but the community are proud of Norths. I really want to create a hub where you don’t just go for a game then go home, but you want to hang out. There is tremendous potential.”
The power of print. The power of local The North Sydney Sun media kit for 2022/23 is out soon. Email grahamelynch@northsydneysun.com.au for your personal copy