The Beast - August 2023

BEAST

August 2023

Become

yourOpenhome to the world

an EF Host and welcome students from across the globe into your home.

Host an EF student

Host an international student for 2-4 weeks or longer, year around. With EF’s over 55 years of experience in both language education and hosting, you will be in good hands.

EF offers

- Prompt weekly payments

- Flexible dates with students arriving throughout the summer

- 24-hour support from our local EF office 7 days/week

- Full 7-day activity timetable for students

- The opportunity to host up to 4 students in a house

- International students available from all over the world year round

- Invitations to special events and our EF Community card with local discounts

Hosts provide

- Minimum 2-week hosting commitment

- A welcoming and comfortable home

- Breakfast and evening meal

EF Sydney, International Language Campus

53 Balfour St, Chippendale NSW 2008

0283189776

housing.sydney@ef.com

Sign up today at ef-australia.com.au/hostform

You're The Voice

Words James Hutton, Publisher

Welcome to the August 2023 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s windy beaches of the east. I’m not a huge fan of the cold weather, but we really can’t complain about the beautiful blue skies and sunny days we’ve been gifted this year, especially compared to last year’s miserable, mouldy winter.

Coogee artist Alan Jones (not the radio personality) is the talent behind this month’s moody cover painting of Dunningham Reserve, Coogee. Alan has been working on a series of smallscale landscape paintings of the area around Coopers Shoot in the Northern Rivers for his latest exhibition, Paintings from Coopers Shoot, which will be running from August 2-26 at Olsen Gallery, Woollahra. You can also see more of Alan’s work at the Olsen Gallery’s website, www.olsengallery.com.

The debate surrounding the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament is well underway. The Voice will give Indigenous communities a route to help inform policy and legal decisions that impact their lives, leading to more effective results.

I struggle to understand why anyone would be opposed to the constitutional right of Aboriginal people to have a say in policies that affect them. Embedding it in the constitution will recognise their special place in Australia’s history and prevent it from being shut down by successive governments.

People ask, “Why should Aboriginal people be treated differently?” Well, life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is about 8 years shorter than for non-Indigenous people; their median gross weekly equivalised household income is over $300 less than that of non-Indigenous adults; an estimated 40 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults have minimal English literacy

(a figure that rises to as high as 70 per cent in many remote areas) and, although Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults make up around 2 per cent of the national population, they constitute 27 per cent of the national prison population.

All of this stems from the fact that colonisation has completely upended their lives. Their land was stolen, they were banned from speaking their languages (there were over 250 languages prior to colonisation), their culture was decimated and children were even stolen from their families. It takes more than just a few generations to undo this damage.

Giving the original custodians of this country a say in policies that affect them is a small but important step towards closing the gap. Please get behind this, and please don’t be fooled by the misinformation campaigns and fearmongering from politicians trying to sabotage this important reform for their own gain.

Cheers, James

Another Day in the Dog Park

Nervous Dog

Dear Pearl - My two-year-old Spoodle, Donna, was rescued from a puppy farm. Suffering from anxiety, she wears a ‘nervous dog’ vest for our daily walks. Recently, I was accused of ‘dog racism’ by the owner of an unleashed, aggressive looking dog that approached her as we walked through Burrows Park. I understand that the area is off-leash, but using the term ‘racism’ is a bit beyond the pale. Can you assist by weighing in on this issue?

Julia Bronte

Breedism Is Not Racism

Dear Julia - Dog ownership is a highly emotive issue in the Eastern Suburbs, with an inordinate amount of print space devoted to canine quandaries. As such,

Pearl is more than happy to contribute to a topic that keeps on giving, particularly when your issue is a novel one.

From Pearl’s understanding, ‘dog racism’ (also known as ‘dog breedism’) is a term emanating from the United States and Britain in reaction to breed-specific legislation impacting owners of dogs deemed as dangerous by the authorities, such as dobermans, rottweilers and pit bulls. Just as humans recognise unfair prejudices based on race, owners of these ‘dangerous’ breeds believe similar prejudices exist in the dog world; that people’s fear of these breeds is irrational and hurtful and is really a form of discrimination based solely on a dog’s appearance rather than its behaviour.

Being a cat owner, dog racism was not on Pearl’s radar

until recently, when I encountered a nasty exchange between a chihuahua owner and a pit bull owner on a Facebook page devoted to peace, love and kombis. On investigation, it appears that the anti-dog breedist lobby is a passionate one (despite evolutionary scientists proving that dog racism is not scientifically based and hence does not exist), and one can purchase “Breedism is racism” t-shirts adorned with a pit bull photo or join Citizens Against Breedism. As a Persian cat owner, I am dismayed to be missing out on such excitement and angst.

Unfortunately, the term ‘dog racism’ has been broadened to include dog size and breed ‘biases’ (discriminating against tiny dachshunds or disliking poodles, for example), and US veterinarians have been warned against preconceived ideas about specific breeds (assuming all chihuahuas are yappy, for example), lest they also be accused of dog racism. One’s dog can also be labelled ‘racist’ if they sidle up to labradors and flee from border collies, and I can clearly see how your pup’s yellow ‘nervous dog’ vest could be perceived as an act of breedism (or even elitism) by a dog owner not comfortable with personal boundary setting.

Drawing an analogy between a person’s personal preference for a dog breed and the act of racism is a terrible insult to those millions of people on the receiving end of real racism and shows the lengths people will go to in order to justify their actions in an increasingly individualistic world.

Leave the leash-free areas to the marauding mobs and be happy in the knowledge you have provided Donna with a safe space and a life free from suffering.

Pearl Clovelly

Words Pearl Bullivant Photo Malcolm Pitbull

Why on earth would anyone want an aggressive dog?

The Beast's Monthly Mailbag

Words The Good People of the Eastern Beaches

"Unpublic" Community Building

A community-owned building at Bronte Beach houses public amenities, Council lifeguards, the surf club, Council facilities and a kiosk. As the building is to be replaced, the surf club submitted a building design which, despite being excessive in size, received grudging community acceptance as history suggested it was the best we could expect from the club/Council officials.

As required of the Council, that design was considered by the Waverley Design Excellence Advisory Panel, which was so critical of the club’s grandiose proposal that I expect it is back to the drawing board.

The panel’s criticism adds significant weight to public concern, which has long been directed at the excessive nature of the club’s proposals. It provides our elected councillors with compelling reasons to rethink the scale and cost of the project.

The greatest extravagance sought by the club is a function centre-sized area with commercial quality food preparation facilities, which are clearly not necessary for beach patrols. As far as I know, the club has never explained the need for such a grand facility. The reality is that the existing and smaller function room is mostly closed and not accessible to members or the public except for a commercial fee.

The club has, I suspect, only about 400 active participants. During weekends and public holidays during the limited patrol season about 12 at a time perform patrol duty on the beach. They

don’t need much building space for that. It is quite difficult to justify the club’s existing share of the building, let alone expanding it.

The advisory panel findings as to the club’s plans include that; “justification for the scale of the building needs to be given ... the new building ... doesn’t justify the scale of build ... the extent of ‘publicly available area’ offered by the proposal is negligible ... The bulk of the building is for the SLSC only.”

The panel added, “For a public building in a public space, this proposal is distinctly ‘unpublic’.”

The panel also critically observed that, “Toilets and change rooms are duplicated, with club members getting their own facilities ... The panel questions this outcome,” and, “A public building on public land should be publicly accessible and provide a clearly understood ‘public benefit’.”

Club officials need to accept that it is not their building - it belongs to the public. Hence the advisory panel criticism of the duplication by way of two sets of toilets and change rooms in the same Council building. The Boardriders Club also deserves a look-in.

The latest available surf club figures assert about 1,900 members. The reality is that 755 of those are nippers and 462 are “general members”. Nippers are required to have a parent enrolled as a “general member”, and neither they nor their parents are provided with a club entry fob, nor are they afforded voting rights. Obviously, they are not even expected to use the club toilets and

change rooms, so it is a bit fictional to assert that they have club membership. Of the misleading 1,900 ‘members’, another 57 are associate members with no voting rights. Moreover, of the rest, a substantial number rarely, if ever, actually attend the club.

In addition to all that, a ‘Club & Community Room’ proposed for the new building is described by the advisory panel as being “inappropriate” and “creating a privatised space within public land”.

Waverley Council should ensure that instructions to whichever architects are now being engaged require a design of premises which are neither “unpublic” nor excessive and ensure that the club prove both to them and to the public the necessity of the space it asserts it requires.

Greg Maidment Bronte

The Rat 'Problem' is a Human Problem

As the article mentions, the ‘rat’ problem in Coogee is really a ‘human’ problem (Rats! Are Coogee’s Resident Rodents Here to Stay?

The Beast, July 2023). The issue that needs to be addressed is why so much food is being thrown away in the first place, and also why so many disposable single use items are being utilised in the first place?

Another attraction for these intelligent beings is dog waste. We should also address the issue of the amount of dogs being bred, especially when there are so many dogs being surrendered.

Lastly, poison is definitely not the answer. Not only do these poisons cause a horrible, painful death, but whoever ingests the poisoned rat - like a kookaburra or someone’s companion animalalso dies an excruciating death.

Marina DeBris Coogee

Agendas at Play

Dear Beast - I appreciate that the proposal for Burrows Park redevelopment has been getting a bit of airtime in your publication and others. We need to keep people informed. It is really important that the community of varied and

passionate users of this park are given the respect they deserve, to not see this ground monopolised as a pure ‘rugby only’ field. I use this gorgeous and unique space each morning or evening for exercise, as do many other visitors of various ages and physical capability.

Your recent article (Clubs Agree on Burrows Upgrade While Residents Fear Foul Play, The Beast, July 2023) citing the fact that the Clovelly Crocs years ago may have built the original amenities facilities is irrelevant to the current discussions, as is the red herring about dogs on or near the periphery of the field.

The recent Have Your Say survey by Randwick Council in May 2023 was an appallingly biased and offensive attempt to pit residents against kids’ sporting groups. It was only interested in knowing if you were a resident or a ratepayer and if you were in favour of kids playing sport! They are not mutually exclusive, and residents have supported - and will continue to support - kids sport of all codes in Burrows Park. What we wanted in the survey was an opportunity to comment on the refurbishment of the amenties block (which everyone is in favour of) and questions that moved the discussion forward, rather than delaying the process.

In November and December last year, in an attempt to help Randwick Council get across all of the Community’s views, over 60 people chose to attend two town hall-style meetings to express their views and provide ideas so that when the official Have Your Say consultation was sent out it would be meaningful. The survey made a mockery of their time and contribution.

There appears to be an agenda at play here where the plans for the park are already determined, and they are to widen and lengthen the ground to allow for senior rugby to benefit, which will then lead to requests for new lighting, longer periods of play (which excludes other park users) and club activities spaces in the new block which will widen the footprint further. It is worth noting that the Clovelly Bowling Club

has already kindly offered their facilities free of charge to any of the rugby groups to hold events or meetings, so we do not need an alternative larger space built at Burrows Park.

Parking, built-in seating... what next? Randwick Council is budgeting $3 million-plus on this upgrade and is intent on listening to only one stakeholder group.

Leanne Clovelly

Burrows Park Upgrade

As a resident of the area, I am appalled at what is going on regarding Burrows Park. Last year, the decision was made not to expand the size of the footy field, and now it seems that has changed. I have lived in this area for 40 years and the field has always been substantial for kids to play football. We all use the area - we walk our dogs, we sit on the benches, we use the outdoor sport facility, we do yoga. Upgrading the amenities is fine, but extending the field is not necessary.

I bring to your attention now that this week we can see some trees have been poisoned to the north of the football field.

As a resident, I have watched the build-up of traffic to our little corner. It will only get worse as more kids and parents use an upgraded field and there is nowhere to park. I have had people parking across my garage so I cannot get out. They park in the bus stops and anywhere they can find. If more traffic comes our way, where will they park? The 360 bus terminal is in Ocean Street and the buses often have problems because of the build-up of cars.

My main reason for writing is because of the trees being poisoned. That is the final straw in nastiness.

Lyn M Clovelly

A Different Perspective

Dear Beast - I’m writing to put another perspective to that given by two of your correspondents in last month’s edition of The Beast regarding the proposed extension of Burrows rugby field. I think they have both distorted the intent of the proposal so they can

express “outrage” at such a “ridiculous” use of ratepayer’s funds.

The correspondents claimed that the proposal was to turn Burrows Park into an “international sized rugby league field” to allow for “senior NRL games” and “first grade rugby league matches”, with the suggestion that Council might be thinking of using Clovelly headland as a car park. They are concerned about the resulting traffic congestion and parking problems.

If you took their claims at face value it would seem they’re suggesting the Roosters will be re-locating their games to Burrows, and probably the occasional international test match would be played there as well. Of course, that would be outrageous.

But the facts are less spectacularly objectionable. Burrows is currently ten metres shorter than the regulation size rugby league field. Once the kids move past under 12s they can’t play on it anymore.

The extension of the field is primarily so junior teams can use the field rather than needing to find another field in another area to use. Senior/adult teams will also probably use it, but this is going to be just the local community sport competitions.

My understanding of the proposed extension of the field at the southern end is that it will just take the space currently occupied by an earth slope down to the dog park and won’t take any substantial amount of “flat” space from the dog park.

I’m not sure the proposal would lead to any more congestion when games are on than is there already - after all, it’s just local people coming to watch their kids play, mostly. They might get traffic for a bit longer, because more age groups will be able to play (the games scheduled for Burrows this Sunday go from 8am until 2.15pm, so you might fit two more games in while it is light), so the correspondents do have a point there that they could make. But it’s a coastal region, near the beach, and always seems pretty busy no matter what the season; it’s part and parcel of what you get living by the beach or living

More Information: Credit criteria, fees and charges apply. RAMS home loans are not available for foreign borrowers residing outside Australia. Offer is current as at 1 March 2023 and may be varied or withdrawn at any time. For new refinance applications received between 1 March 2023 and 31 August 2023. Settle by 30 November 2023. Min Loan $250k per property refinanced. Offer available on the Essential Home Loan, Full Feature and Fixed rate home loan products (excludes Line of Credit) Owner Occupier with Principal and Interest repayments and Investment Loans. Only 1 rebate per settled application with the predominant purpose is refinance will be paid regardless of the number of loans involved. This offer is not available in conjunction with the New Purchase Buyer $1,000 Rebate. Excludes Line of Credit Loans, switches and refinances of home loans within the Westpac Group which include St. George, Westpac, Bank of Melbourne, BankSA. Offer not available for Owner Occupier Interest Only loans or residential lending originated under family or company trusts. Not available to company and trust borrowers. The offer is limited to one rebate per eligible application. Split loans are counted as one settled home loan regardless of the number of splits. Rebate will be automatically deposited into the home loan account within 60 days after settlement. If the home loan has a fixed interest rate, the rebate will count towards the prepayment threshold. Tax consequences may arise from this promotion for investors and customers should seek independent advice on any taxation matters.

We are proud to provide the community with outstanding care and customer service for all your eyecare needs.

by an existing sports ground. As for the suggestion the proposal is inappropriate to the existing nature and uses of Burrows Park - “…scenery, passive relaxation, picnics, the occasional wedding, kite-flying, off-leash dog walking...” - I don’t think the proposal would compromise those in any way since it’s really not taking any usable space. Oh, and they forgot one of the current uses of Burrows Park, one that possibly involves more people and enjoyment hours than all of the others combined - kids training for and playing sport.

And just to declare my interests, my son plays in the Clovelly Crocs in the under 12s and he’d still like to play at Burrows as he gets older, and I’d like to watch him there.

Roger Harris

Maroubra

Thank You

On Saturday morning, July 1, near Charing Cross I slipped and badly cut my head. To all the anonymous angels who came to my assistance, may I extend a huge thank you. I am particularly grateful to the nurse who was passing by and gave expert attention. Thanks also to the kind person who called for an ambulance. I am also indebted to the young lady who drove my car home for me. If my faith in human nature needed restoring it is now restored!

Robert Sharpe

Bronte

Listening to Indigenous People

I don’t get it when non-Indigenous people say they are voting No to The Voice. What does this mean? No, I don’t want Indigenous people to be heard? No, I don’t want to listen to First Nations people? No, I don’t want the original inhabitants of Australia recognised in the Constitution? No, justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people doesn’t matter to me?

You hear all sorts of BS, like The Voice will give First Nations people too much power - really? Read the words of the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart, where Indigenous leaders and elders

talk about the “torment of our powerlessness”.

The Voice is a modest overdue reform providing a pathway for Indigenous Australians to have more control over their lives. Vote Yes in the referendum and help change Australia’s history for the better.

Robyn Edwards Bronte

Cats in Waverley

There used to be an extended family of beautiful Australian magpies in Macpherson Park, Bronte (located at the crazy corner of Arden Street and Macpherson Street where pedestrians and cars struggle to cross each day).

One by one these magpies vanished. My slightly older (she’s 73 and I’m 45) and lovely friend on Baglin Street, which borders the poorly maintained park, told me two cats decimated the local population. She witnessed their demise - she sits in a sunroom facing the park each and everyday.

I’ve also seen these cats, owned by a vet, as I live around the corner. They chase cheeky magpie larks (who outsmart them), they try to pounce on the kookaburras who perch on my fence, and not a lizard is left in my garden. The fairy wrens come no more.

Sydney University published a paper in 2020 that stated roaming domestic cats kill on average 186 reptiles, mammals and birds each year, and my friendly neighbour and I have seen this killing first-hand. There are five million domestic cats in Australia and fifteen million feral cats across our vast land. Do the maths on how many native animals are killed each year by cats.

We need to do something. I’ve approached the cats’ owner (who lives in a nearby street) and politely requested a collar and bell be attached to his pets. He refused, even after I explained what had happened with our beloved magpies. We miss their beautiful calls, we miss their swooping in the spring.

Many councils in Australia, like Fremantle in Western Australia, Bass Coast Council in Victoria and dozens of other sensible councils,

have placed fair restrictions on cats such as just keeping them inside at night.

When will Waverley Council start caring about the limited native fauna we have in this community? Is it always people (and cats) first? I love all animals, but cats should just stay inside.

Charles Hunter Bronte

To the Grunting Tennis Champ

From all residents on Dolphin Street, Coogee - we can appreciate your enthusiasm for late night tennis, however, hearing an ear splitting “YAAAH” and “GRUGGH” every Tuesday to Thursday night makes it hard to get to sleep. Please tone it down after 9pm fellas.

Sleepless Dolphin Street

Residents

Coogee

Society Dos and Don'ts Councils - the arm of the State Government that covers the local level. It’s not just rates, roads (most), rubbish and rangers, but the many services and business units that are there for the community and other stakeholders to deal with. But those in the community are still blithely unaware of what councils are there for. The State Government may be taking over some of the planning with DAs and complying developments, but councils are still in the driver’s seat with the other issues and services.

But sometimes people do need an education when dealing with councils in 2023. So, here are some things that can help you in dealing with the council...

1. Please do not say, “I am a ratepayer.” There is nothing special about being a ratepayer. You do not have any magical powers to behold. It does not give you prestige. It may get you an eye roll when you say it over the phone.

2. When there is clear running water, or a sewage smell along the street from an assumed leaking pipe, please call Sydney Water.

3. Please do not ever block someone’s driveway. We have a word for that, and it is often heard in a kennel. We are baffled by why people do that in the first place.

ANSWERS

Which of these go in the FOGO bin?

Raw or cooked

Fruit & vegetable scraps

? ?

Meat, bones & seafood

Plastic bags

? ?

?

Branches Grass Leaves & prunings Tissues & paper towel

Eggs & dairy products ? ?

? ? ? ? ?

Paper & cardboard

Large logs

Thank you for using FOGO. Together we have diverted more than 30,000 tonnes of organics from landfill

Your green lid FOGO bin is just for kitchen food scraps and garden waste.

YES - these can go in FOGO: Meat, bones and seafood, Raw or cooked leftover food, Eggs & dairy products, Fruit & vegetable scraps, Grass, Leaves, prunings and branches.

NO - these cannot go in your FOGO bin: Plastic bags, Pet waste, Paper & cardboard (Newspaper, brown paper and paper towels can only be used to line your caddy), Tissues and paper towel, Large logs

Scan for a comprehensive list of what goes in your FOGO bin

4. Don’t always trust your neighbours. They blab. So don’t blame the council for what your neighbours have said. We all wish life was like Ramsay Street, but it can be more like Elm Street.

5. With parking permits, deal with it, you do not own the road. Every year you may have to apply for one. Yes, you must show ID and registration papers. It’s your neighbours that wanted these.

6. When there is a fire alarm that is too noisy, please don’t call the council, call the fire brigade.

7. Please do not contact the council because a waste truck collected your rubbish from 5.30am. At least your rubbish does get collected.

8. Most of the world does not live like we do in the Eastern Beaches (Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra). We need to be grateful for how good we have it. Please stop complaining about the littlest things that mean nothing.

9. Please never park your car in a No Standing or No Stopping zone. Expect a fine if you do. Please don’t use victim mentality if you get a fine. If someone is having a baby, or having to park to control their children, the rangers have a right to book you.

10. The road rules that council’s rangers use are from Transport for NSW. They are not technically council rules.

11. Don’t get annoyed with the waiting time for your DA or other applications you may have lodged. Councils are finding it difficult to keep staff, due to the State Government offering a better salary and benefits, or having staff leave due to burn out. The pay structure seems to be from 2005. Most staff should be on at least $20,000 more for what they have to do.

So, local councils have a lot to do. But please help them by being courteous and helpful - not a hindrance. Please don’t expect the world. They do so much for you, even though you don’t often see it.

Thomas Cornwall Randwick

Birrell Street Cycle Lanes

Dear Beast - I am writing to express my outrage at Waverley Council having installed bike lanes using concrete bollards

from Bronte Road down to Newland Street on busy Birrell Street, Bondi Junction.

These concrete bollards are placed at intervals of 1.8 metres from the pavement, meaning entering or exiting your vehicle now becomes a very dangerous exercise, especially if you are elderly or are parents with young children in the rear seats.

It is only a matter of time before a major accident occurs and Council will have blood on its hands!

Obviously the so called ‘brains trust’ haven’t put much thought into this planning and are merely pandering to the minority. Like my late father used to say, “Common sense is not very common.”

While we’re on the topic, where was the community consultation on this? On a more positive note, I have witnessed three cyclists using this bike lane in the past week.

Dale Jones Bondi Junction

You Ought to be Congratulated

I would like to congratulate the wonderful staff at the Prince of Wales Billington Centre. I had a small day surgery procedure in May, and they were all very kind and polite.

B. Willemsen Bondi

Homelessness

Dear Beastie - We all know how the community and governments come together when people are rendered homeless due to bushfires or flooding. Temporary spaces, generally community or public spaces, are quickly made available to provide shelter, and we are all proud of such efforts and praise our sense of community in hard times.

Yet, particularly in urban centres, we pass homeless folks sleeping in doorways and huddling against the cold, wind and rain while so many buildings remain empty over night. Many of these buidlings are schools or libraries that, with some effort on the part of our own communities, could provide proper shelter for the increasing numbers of our homeless. These are as much refugees as the refugees we see

fleeing war zones across the planet. What about the corporate executives that spend a night in the streets to show their care and compassion with the homeless? How many of them work in buildings that remain empty at night?

Yes, it would take a lot of thought and effort to plan a way of opening up buildings at night and have them ‘restored’ again in the morning for their normal use. There are many factors to consider, but are we not capable of solving any associated problems or issues? This is an emergency situation that exists in our midst yet we so often walk by, feel sorry but do little. Let’s start with our local government public buildings and show the way. Corporate benefactors might follow.

Byron Comninos Bronte

Genetic Testing to Enforce Dog Poo Collection in Our Parks

Hi Beast - lots of poos in and around Bronte today. I picked up three in spots people are going to step in them, when walking my dog. Is it time for Council to bring in some mechanism to shift people’s behaviours? I’d be supportive of a Tel Aviv-style genetic test warning and fines system (visit www.theguardian.com and search ‘Tel Aviv Dog Poo’).

I would be happy for you to make an article or satire on this instead of a letter to the editor if it fits the magazine.

Reid Bondi

Putting Lives at Risk

Dear James - I am writing to draw urgent attention to the deplorable state of the roads in Bondi Beach, an issue that has been neglected for far too long. As a concerned resident and frequent user of these roads, I believe it is crucial to highlight the dire situation and the lack of accountability from our local and state governments.

Bondi Beach, an affluent area renowned for its natural beauty, vibrant community, and recreational activities, should also be known for its well-maintained infrastructure. Unfortunately, this is not the case. While the local and state governments continue

to engage in a futile blame game regarding road repairs, our community suffers the consequences of their inaction.

To emphasise the gravity of the situation, I was recently struck by the remarks of a cab driver from Rwanda who commented on the appalling condition of our roads. It is disheartening that someone visiting our supposedly developed and prosperous neighbourhood would be astonished by the poor state of our infrastructure. The irony of our relative affluence juxtaposed with the state of our roads is indeed striking.

Despite being heavily taxed by all levels of government and being constantly bombarded with initiatives such as bike lanes and encouraged to adopt alternative transportation methods to alleviate traffic congestion, public safety is only mentioned when convenient for our various representatives’ next speech. The roads, with their potholes, cracks and crevices, have become perilous for all users, including cyclists.

Yesterday (May 30, 2023), on the corner of Curlewis and Wellington Streets in Bondi, I witnessed a distressing incident that further underscores the urgent need for road repairs. A cyclist, unfortunately, fell victim to a crevice in the road and suffered significant injuries. The impact of the fall resulted in the loss of at least one front tooth, profuse bleeding and a likely concussion at the very least. Prompt action from the paramedics of Hatzolah, who arrived within minutes, was crucial for the victim. It is crucial, however, to acknowledge that such an incident could have been fatal. And it would be because of inaction.

It is outrageous that no responsible authority has taken ownership of the deteriorating state of our roads. The lack of accountability is not only frustrating but also endangers the lives and well-being of our community members. We cannot stand idle while our roads resemble the surface of the moon, and everyone (that we pay!) passes the buck.

It is imperative that the focus be shifted from constructing new bike lanes to fixing our existing roads and ensuring the safety of all road users.

I implore you, as the editor of our local paper, to use your platform to shed light on this matter and rally support from the community. We need your help in amplifying our voices and holding all levels of government accountable. It is high time for a unified effort to rectify the state of our roads and ensure the safety and well-being of our residents.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I eagerly await your response and any assistance you can provide in addressing this critical issue.

Gary Bondi ¢

Please send your feedback to letters@thebeast.com.au and include your name and suburb. We try and publish as many as possible, but nothing too crazy please.

b o o k e d y o u r f l u s h o t y e t ?

n t o w i n t e r , f l u s e a s o n i s w e l l a n d t r u l y

t h a n e v e r , i t ’ s i m p o r t a n t t o p r o t e c t

o u r f a m i l y f r o m t h e i n f l u e n z a v i r u s

e c t i o n f r o m i n f l u e n z a i s t o g e t a a c h y e a r . V a c c i n a t i o n i s a v a i l a b l e t o n t h s a n d o l d e r , a s l o n g a s t h e y d o n ’ t a l r e a s o n t h a t p r e v e n t s t h e m f r o m y h a v i n g a f l u s h o t , y o u a l s o h e l p t o a r o u n d y o u w h o a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y i t s l o w s t h e s p r e a d o f t h e v i r u s

a l i s c u r r e n t l y o f f e r i n g f l u v a c c i n a t i o n s B o o k y o u r a p p o i n t m e n t t o d a y !

A p p o i n t m e n t s A v a i l a b l e :

w w w b r o n t e m e d i c a l c o m P h : 0 2 9 3 8 9 4 4 2 2

Local Artist... Alan Jones from Coogee

Coogee artist Alan Jones is the talent behind this month’s moody cover painting of Coogee’s Dunningham Reserve. He shares his local favourites with The Beast...

How long have you lived here? We moved to Coogee from Bondi ten years ago. Once our son came along we needed a bigger place and we liked the Coogee family vibe. There’s a real sense of community here and we’ve met some great people.

What's your favourite beach? If I’m looking for waves I’ll head to Bondi. If I want to go snorkelling with the family then it’s definitely Coogee.

What's your favourite eatery? Brunch at Barzura and an early dinner at Four Frogs Creperie at The Spot never disappoint.

Where do you like to have a drink? I’m not much of a drinker, however the Coogee Wine Room always has that gorgeous, cozy feel. And it’s just across the road from Gusto, for my must-have morning coffee.

Best thing about the Eastern Suburbs? Living close to the beach during summer when the days are long. I typically get home from work at 6pm, in the water by 6.10pm for a quick swim, then home cooking dinner by 6.30pm. I love it!

How would you describe your art? My work is largely autobiographical; I like to paint people, places and things I have some personal connection to. This way my exhibitions can be read as a ‘visual diary’. Some people feel their own visual diary relates to mine, others simply like to come along for the ride.

Where can people see your work? The Olsen Gallery in Woollahra represent my work (www.olsengallery.com).

Who are your artistic inspirations? Inspiration for me comes from anyone who is willing to go out of their comfort zone and put their heart on their sleeve and have a go. Inspiration is all about having the right attitude.

What are you working on at the moment? I’m working on a series of small-scale landscape paintings that look at the area around Coopers Shoot in the Northern Rivers. It’s a special place I’ve been escaping to with my family over the last few years. The exhibition, Paintings from Coopers Shoot, will run from August 2-26 at Olsen Gallery, 63 Jersey Road, Woollahra.

When did you discover you had a gift for your craft? From around the age of nine. As a kid, drawing, creating characters from my imagination and making things out of wood was my happy place.

Any other local artists to look out for? Our good friend Laura Jones lives just up the road. Laura has been killing it in the studio. Her painting of actor Claudia Karvan was in this year’s Archibald Prize.

Did you study art? In 2000 I graduated from the National Art School (BFA), then in 2004 I worked in Paris on a Brett Whitely Travelling Art Scholarship.

Any words of wisdom for young aspiring artists? Have fun. Experiment. Explore everything. Be persistent. Be patient. Keep going.

Do you have a favourite sporting team? We follow the Swans. In 2014 I painted Adam Goodes’ portrait for the Archibald. That was definitely a career highlight.

What music are you into at the moment? I recently rediscovered the 1996 soundtrack to William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, directed by Baz Luhrmann. I forgot what a great soundtrack it is.

Who is your favourite person?

In 2022 I judged the Remagine Art Prize, and Professor Veena Sahajwalla (2022 NSW Australian of the Year) was our guest speaker at the opening. Listening to Veena talk about her work and achievements in recycling and the building industry was truly inspiring.

What do you get up to on the weekends? For the last few months I’ve been working every day preparing for my August exhibition. When I’m not working, the walk from Coogee to Bondi is definitely a massage for my soul.

What do you do for work? I work for myself as a visual artist. Art and ideas are my passion, and anyone who makes their living from their passion has the key to happiness. I’m also a parent. Both are full-time jobs!

Do you have a favourite quote?

“Every day is a school day.” I’m not sure who came up with this one first, but they were spot-on.

Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast? Follow your passion, and be kind to your mum.

Interview James Hutton

Photo Daniel Shipp

Art and ideas are Alan's passion.

Counting Whales

Words Stephen Lightfoot, Convenor

One sunny Sunday in late June, a group of 80-odd Eastern Suburbs locals joined Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) Eastern Sydney at the Kamay Botany Bay National Park to count whales. We were taking part in the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) whale census. Kingsford Smith MP Matt Thistlethwaite, Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker and Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos accompanied their constituents and, if you will forgive the pun, we all had a whale of a time.

It was a cracker of a day on the spectacular clifftops of Cape Banks and the whales didn’t disappoint, with about twenty humpbacks breaching and blowing their way past us on their long journey from the cold waters of Antartica to their breeding grounds in the warmer north.

The event was hosted by ACF to highlight the nature crisis facing our planet. ACF has been championing nature for over fifty years. It was formed when the whales we love to watch from the cliffs of our coastline here in the east were hunted in Australian waters, and one of our first successes as an environmental group was the Save the Whales campaign of the 1970s.

Now, more than ever, nature needs all of us to stand with ACF and fight for nature protection, because we are currently moving headlong into a wave of extinctions. The record on extinctions in this country is already appalling and habitat destruction, together with feral species impacts, are decimating Australian wildlife. This dire situation led Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to state last year, as she pledged to end extinctions, that “the need for action [on extinctions] has never been greater.”

ACF is building a network of people, communities and political leaders around the country who will champion nature. Local groups such as ACF Eastern Suburbs have adopted a local threatened species to champion - we have chosen the southern right whale. This magnificent creature can be seen off the coast at Malabar and Kamay but you have to be lucky.

The southern right whale gets its name from the unfortunate reality that is was the ‘right’ whale to hunt, mainly because of its slow swimming speed and high oil and baleen (bone) yields. Southern rights were almost hunted to extinction during the height of the whaling industry in Australia and the species is listed as threatened in NSW. Now it is making a very slow recovery, but you have to be fortunate to spot one off our coast in amongst the seemingly hundreds of humpbacks.

ACF seeks a better future where both nature and people thrive; a future where our kids and grandkids can spot a southern right whale off the coast from all of our local beaches. For this to happen we need strong laws to protect nature and we need to stop habitat destruction. We need our political leaders like Matt Thistlethwaite to stand with us and champion nature. There is a nature crisis and we need to do something about it, now.

Local Councils Say 'Yes'

Randwick Council has formally thrown its support behind the Yes campaign for constitutional change for an Aboriginal Voice to Parliament. Council’s position echoes the view of the La Perouse Aboriginal Land Council, who consulted with their local community and in May reached a position to support The Voice. Council will support the Land Council in running a local event and support the Yes campaign through communications campaigns including street banners and social media. Waverley Council announced its support for the Yes vote in October last year, with Woollahra Council confirming its support in March.

Inspiring Future Artists

‘To share and inspire local creativity’; that’s the mission of Emotive Agency’s The Alfreda Street Project. Alongside the mural commission on its Alfreda Street headquarters, Emotive have purchased a number of original works from artist Renny Pike, which are currently for sale with all proceeds going to Clovelly Public School’s new art space. As well as contributing financially towards the school, Emotive will be inspiring the kids with a creative workshop and art competition based on Renny’s colourful and free-forming character art. So, please loosen those purse strings for the future of our local creativity! To express your interest in any of the art, email hello@emotive.com.au.

Plenty of colour.

of ACF Eastern Sydney

In search of Southern Rights.

Game On - Seeking 50 households to play

Join 50 families competing together over three months to win great prizes, protect the environment and help prepare our community for climate change.

Spaces limited, so get in quick. To enter scan the QR Code or contact

secondnature@waverley.nsw. gov au

This program is supported by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust

Little-Known Resource Provides Lifeline for Small Businesses

Words Anthony Maguire Photo John Appleyard

During the COVID pandemic, small businesses were able to stay afloat through a loan guarantee scheme and other support measures put in place by the Federal Government. These are no longer available, and countless small businesses, still impacted by the financial ravages of COVID and the more recent increases to living costs, are struggling, faced with a mountain of debt.

But as Bondi businesswoman Jane Turner recently discovered, there is another relief measure, put in place by Canberra in 2021, which is available. Small Business Restructuring (SBR) is a government initiative to help businesses struggling to pay debts to the Australian Taxation Office and

other creditors. It is designed to enable them to stay open, reduce the debt and structure a manageable payment plan. And it has turned out to be a lifeline that helped keep Jane in business.

Jane is the owner of Gertrude and Alice Café Bookstore on Hall Street, Bondi. The pandemic restrictions meant that it had to shut its doors and just serve takeaway customers from a window. Debts mounted up and once the support payments ran out Jane was faced with going into liquidation - until someone suggested that she investigate the opportunities presented to ailing businesses under the SBR regime.

Small Business Restructuring Practitioner Thomas

Dawson, also a Bondi resident, turned out to be Jane’s saviour, restructuring Jane’s debts into a 24 month reduced and manageable payment plan.

Today the much-loved café bookstore is trading in the black again and Jane says she is having no problems keeping up the payments.

“It’s been a huge relief, like being able to breathe again,” Jane told The Beast.

“We wouldn’t have been able to survive without this option.”

Mr Dawson, a business owner himself, has been helping small enterprises for decades.

“SBR is a scheme that, first and foremost, prevents liquidation for 99 per cent of our clients. The process is designed to be straightforward, taking just seven weeks from start to finish, allowing the business owner to maintain control, continue to trade and focus on running the business,” he explained.

To be eligible for restructuring, a business must meet a number of criteria outlined by the government.

“While the scheme’s eligibility is quite broad - this is so that it has the ability to help as many businesses as possible - there are obligations that businesses need to have met in order to qualify,” Mr Dawson told The Beast.

“We’ve created a quick questionnaire for business owners online where they can easily check whether or not it’s an option available to them.”

To learn more about business restructuring, visit asic.gov.au and search ‘Restructuring and the restructuring plan’.

If you’d like to speak to Thomas or one of his team about whether SBR might be suitable for your business, email consult@smallbusiness restructuring.com.au or phone 1300 947 465.

Bondi's marvellous matriarch.

Key events in Term 3:

Madagascar – 31 July and 1 August

Open Morning – 29 August

Back to St Cath’s Day – 2 September

Music Showcase - 16 September

To contact the school or join our email list, please email stcaths@stcaths.nsw.edu.au or call 02 8305 6200.

Our Community Consultative Committee is looking for new members. If you are interested in joining our CCC, which typically meets four times per year, please contact our Independent Chair, Ms. Roberta Ryan at roberta@forward-thinking.net au.

Exploring Your Family History

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Stephen Lightfoot

Interested in finding out if you’re descended from a famous historical figure? Maybe you’d like to confirm your worst fears and verify whether you’re really descended from a notorious murderer, as your uncle tells everyone over Christmas dinner.

Waverley Genealogical Group may be able to help out. Formed in 2019, the group is an offshoot of Waverley Historical Society, with the two organisations having reciprocal membership. Since its inception, it has helped scores of people discover their family histories - and to lift the veil on stories previously hidden in the past.

Greg Ross, the group’s convener, told The Beast how research recently revealed that a Bondi woman was descended from a white Fijian ‘princess’.

“Back in the late 1800s, her great grandmother had the title conferred on her because she was the only white child in a remote Fijian village,” Mr Ross explained.

The Waverley Genealogical Group meets every second month at Waverley Library and helps local people create family trees and write family histories.

“It’s all about uncovering stories,” said Mr Ross.

“What we’ve found is that if the stories of your family are not told within three generations, they will be lost. There should always be someone in a family who is the keeper of stories.”

The group also digs up (not literally) a lot of information in cemeteries.

“They’re a good starting place for family histories.”

Other vital information can come from sources like the Australian Dictionary of Biography, online research portal Trove, or just clever use of Google.

“DNA is another significant area of research,” Mr Ross said.

For more information about the group, please flick Greg an email at gregoryrossgenealogy @gmail.com.

Savour More, Spend Less

The Organic Buyers Group system offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with a community of individuals passionate about organic and sustainable food. Every Monday in Randwick and every Thursday in South Coogee, like-minded people gather to collectively purchase high-quality produce. Members enjoy the benefits of wholesale prices and savings, as well as supporting local farmers and fostering a sense of camaraderie and togetherness. Come and be a part of this vibrant community, nourishing yourself and the environment, one purchase at a time. Please visit www.organicbuyers.group.

A Healing Palette

Bronte Artist Anna van der Gardner has been selected to exhibit alongside 50 prominent botanical artists from Australia and beyond in the upcoming Botanica de Materia Medica exhibition at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. The free exhibition, which will run from July 29 to August 13 at Lion Gate Lodge, focuses on medicinal plants used for treatment and healing. Anna’s intricately detailed botanical watercolour paintings capture the beauty and therapeutic qualities of various plant species and highlight the role of plants on our well-being.

Cossie Call-Out

Bronte local Colette Reynolds is currently researching and planning a vintage swimwear exhibition to be held in the Eastern Beaches. The exhibition will span at least eight decades, beginning in the early 1900s when there were some huge changes taking place. If anyone has any fabulous pieces of vintage swimwear in very good condition that they can loan her, please call 0414 671 184.

The field of forgotten fables.

ALL ASPECTS OF TREE WORK

 Fully qualified

 Fully insured

 Free quotes

 Reliable service

 Local business

 Competitive pricing

Member of the NAAA

Born in Bondi

Experts in helping SMEs

Practical and straight-talking

100+ 5* Reviews on Google Services

Trade marks

IP and Commercial Law

Dispute Resolution / Debt Recovery

Employment Law

Structure / Corporate Law

Privacy Law

p 1800 820 083

e admin@progressivelegal.com.au w progressivelegal.com.au

National Tree Day: Native Plant Give Away

Grab free native seedlings for your garden or balcony and help create habitat for our local wildlife.

When

Sunday 30 July, 9am–12pm

Where

Waverley Park, Bondi Rd

Scan for more info

Mixed Feelings Towards Clovelly Pocket Parks

Community opinion towards Randwick City Council’s imminent creation of a ‘pocket park’ at the corner of Carrington and Clovelly Roads appears to be divided.

On the one hand there are people like Dan McCartin, who works in the framing shop on the corner. He is concerned about the loss of eight parking spaces next to the shops on that side of the intersection.

“It won’t be fun carrying a big mirror in or out of the shop if you have to park across the road,” Mr McCartin told The Beast. “There’s going to be a loading zone on the Carrington Road side of the shop, but there’ll be a lot of competition for it.”

Randwick Council received extensive community feedback during the obligatory community consultation process. The Pocket Park Project’s page on Council’s website summarises the sentiment:

“You told us it was important that we create a pedestrian-friendly experience while minimising impacts on traffic flows, bus routes, and on-street parking,” the page explains.

Council’s website also states that, although the existing slip lane road will be reclaimed to create a public space for the community, “the parking spaces will be relocated, ensuring there is no net loss in parking at the intersection.”

Leaving aside parking, there are concerns about the loss of the left-turning lane from Clovelly Road. Mr McCartin fears it could make the intersection more dangerous.

“My car was written off here in February and there have been heaps of other accidents,” he said. “When I’m working I’m always worried a car will come crashing through the shop window.”

Also firmly in the ‘park off’ corner are John and Reeva Lloyd, who live in the house opposite the bushy traffic island destined to be expanded into the pocket park.

“I’m not sure who the pocket park will be catering to,” mused Mr Lloyd, a retired management studies lecturer. “It’s not as though you’re going to get kids playing in a small area like that next to an intersection.”

A different view came from Ferdinando Fernandez, man-

ager of the popular local café, A Man and His Monkey, just across Clovelly Road opposite the Lloyds’ place.

“I like the idea of a pocket park,” Mr Fernandez told The Beast. “It would be a great frontage for a café or restaurant and would give this area a bit of atmosphere at night - a European feel.”

Randwick City Council is looking at a number of other potential pocket park locations in the Clovelly area, including a ‘mini pocket park’ at the corner of Clovelly Road and Burnie Street. The results of community consultation over that site have just been reported to Council and again there are divisions.

Some residents welcomed the idea of an oasis for people walking up the hill from the beach, while others expressed safety concerns about loss of the slip road at the busy intersection, parking and other issues.

The Pocket Park Project is being delivered in partnership with the NSW Government’s Public Spaces Legacy Program. For more information, please visit www.randwick.nsw.gov.au.

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Dane Jerass

The location of one of Clovelly's planned pocket parks.

Col and His Trusty Red Tracksuit

Clovelly fun runner Col Blake will compete in his 50th City2Surf on August 13, and the same red tracksuit will accompany him to the start line yet again.

The Waverley College old boy won the tracksuit as a prize just before his first City2Surf in 1973. He was galivanting around Europe in 1971 and ‛72, but has finished every race since.

The tracksuit is older than his two boys, with whom he won the Father and Two Sons category back in 1991, and the classic three-stripe design is so retro it’s back in fashion.

“They don’t make things like they used to,” Col told The Beast.

The same could be said of him and his generation, who felt no shame in prancing around William Street in garbage bags once they’d thrown off their warm clothes, as well as his trusty red tracksuit, which has been shoved into a bag and thrown onto the back

of a truck headed to Bondi each year before Col slipped his arms through his own bin liner.

Back in his prime, Col could reach Bondi in an impressive 53 minutes, but these days he’s happy to take his time and enjoy a scenic stroll with his wife, Shirley.

Col hopes to mark this year’s milestone with family and friends, so if you see a contingent of walkers dragging him up Heartbreak Hill, be sure to give them a wave.

Col will also be lending his support to Sophie Smith and her local charity, Running for Premature Babies.

A Guide to Ageing Well

81-year-old Coogee author Dr Anne Ring’s new book, Engaging with Ageing: What matters as we grow older, challenges the stigma of old age, with a fresh and positive approach that acts as a reader’s travel guide to navigating how they choose to age. With real world stories and cutting edge research, its topics range from staying healthy and alert to retirement, sex, looks, lifestyle and planning for a good death. It empowers its readers to explore how they will be old, rather than how old they are. Grab a copy at annering.au.

Bondi Family’s Bamboo Adventure

It’s no secret Aussies love Bali, but did you know there’s a bamboo school located in the heart of Bali’s jungle? When Bondi local Sandra Radice heard about Green School, she and her husband took their daughter out of Bondi Beach Public to test-drive one of the most unique and sustainable learning environments on the planet. The result is Our Green Change: A Journey to Green School, Bali & Beyond, an insider’s guide capturing the trials and tribulations that came with uprooting their lives. To get your hands on a copy please visit www.ourgreenchange.com.au.

Coastal Poetry

Local writers Libby Hathorn and Elizabeth Cummings’ new book, Coastal Poetry - From Yarra Bay to Watsons Bay, is a tribute to our local beaches and coastal pathways, offering readers fresh perspectives on familiar landscapes. The poetry, accompanied by Elizabeth’s photography, captures the people and the ever-changing skylines and tides of our local area. It’s a beautiful book to keep and share, an ideal companion for the coastal walk or a timeless gift. You can grab a copy from all good bookstores.

Words Kieran Blake Photo Shirley Blake

They don't make them like they used to.

Back in the glory days.

Crime News

Underworld Identity Shot Dead in Bondi Junction

Police are hunting two men who murdered crime figure Alen Moradian in the basement carpark of a Bondi Junction unit complex.

Moradian, 48, was ambushed at around 8.15am on Tuesday, June 27, just after getting into his car at the Whitton Lane apartments in Spring Street. Seven bullets were fired through the driver’s side window of the hired Audi.

Two men were seen fleeing the carpark. A partially burntout Porsche SUV was found in nearby James Street and police are forensically examining a gun that was left inside the vehicle. Another car, completely gutted by fire, was found in the inner-city suburb of Zetland.

The head of the NSW Police Homicide Squad, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, told reporters that Moradian was a “high-level criminal identity” who had served a prison sentence for importing cocaine.

Bikies Fired Rifle at Unit Block - Police

A pair of Hells Angels bikies fired several shots from a high-powered rifle into a unit block in Gregory Street, South Coogee, according to police. The bullets hit the outside of the building and no one was injured.

One week after the attack, police swooped on a flat in Wauchope Crescent, South Coogee, where they arrested Meyez Elkerdi, 31. Around the same time, James Scicluna, 41, was arrested in Campbelltown. They have been charged with a string of serious offences and refused bail.

Warrant Issued for Upskirting Perve

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a man who filmed up the skirt of a young mother in an Eastgardens store.

The warrant was issued after Kaiwen Thompson, 25, was a noshow for his sentencing at Waverley Court. An earlier hearing had been told how the UNSW psychology student sidled up to his victim in the craft section at Target and filmed up her skirt with his phone. After the woman’s daughter saw what was happening and raised the alarm, he fled the store, but was found cowering in the men’s toilets by a security guard. Police were called and a cache of upskirting material was discovered on his phone.

Gay Hate Killer Convicted

Three and a half decades after Raymond Keam was found bashed to death in a Randwick park, his killer has finally faced justice.

Stanley Early, 77, was found guilty of the 1987 murder of Mr Keam in Alison Park - which at the time was a gay beat. The Supreme Court heard that Early lived in a boarding house in The Avenue, on the eastern side of the park. He and fellow members of the ‘Alison Park Gang’ would attack men they believed were in the park at night for homosexual liaisons. Early will be sentenced in September.

Mr Keam’s death is one of a number of 1980s gay hate killings currently being revisited. A man was recently jailed for manslaughter over the fatal cliff plunge of Scott Johnson at North

Head in 1988. And the Special Commission of Enquiry into LGBTQ+ Hate Crimes is looking at the deaths of three other men believed to have been hurled off a cliff at Marks Park, South Bondi in the 1980s.

Do you have any information about past LGBTQ+ murders or assaults? Get in touch with the commission on 9228 4855 or contact@specialcommission. nsw.gov.au.

Floor Cleaning Machines

Held Dirty Secret

Australian Federal Police arrested a Randwick man over the importation of 137 kgs of methamphetamine hidden in commercial floor scrubbing machines. The 38-year-old has been charged with importing a marketable quantity of border controlled drugs.

Pitch Invader Faces Court

A 19-year-old from Maroubra who ran onto the pitch at Allianz Stadium during an NRL game has been let off lightly by a magistrate.

Scaffolder Kurtis Quealey was given a 12-month good behaviour bond when he appeared in Downing Centre Local Court and re-lived the moments when his alcohol-charged brain told him it was a good idea to become part of the on-field action at the Dragons v Roosters game on Anzac Day.

Match footage was shown of Quealey vaulting the fence, tearing off his shirt and running to the centre of the pitch, where he hugged Dragons centre Zac Lomax.

He was found guilty of assaulting Lomax and was given a dressing-down by magistrate Michael Barko, who said his actions had been idiotic and dangerous. Meanwhile, Quealey won’t be running onto any NRL pitches, or even watching from the stands, any time soon - he has been slapped with a twoyear ban from Allianz and other stadiums.

Words Gary Larson

Photo ABC News

Police swarm Spring Street.

are meetings of residents who get together regularly to discuss local matters or issues of concern in their neighbourhood Waverley is split into 13 Precincts and meetings are open to any person living within the

Photographer Emerson Adcock @_untitledfilm

Photographer Graeme Bogan

The Beast Magazine wants your local photos!

Subject Early Bird Location Bondi Junction

Subject High Tide Location Clovelly

Photographer Andrew Iredale

Subject Baby Blue Location Bondi

Subject Boy's Bogey Location Bronte Photographer Mark Hunter @bondihunter

Subject Rainbow Reflections Location Coogee Photographer Lyn Wallace

Subject Learning to Fly Location Ben Buckler

Photographer Mahsa Hashemi

Subject Eti at Splashers Location Bronte

Photographer Mark Hunter @bondihunter

Subject Night Lights Location Coogee

Photographer Lee Charles

Subject Golden Hour Location Bondi

Photographer Lyn Singer

Subject Pink Glow Location Bronte

Photographer Jules Breese

The Unreliable Guide to... The Mystery of Murder

The Unreliable Guide loves a good murder. I’m not alone in this - whether it’s bloody true crime horror in Belanglo State Forest or cosy crime and crumpets in the Cotswolds, watching or reading about murders is our go-to form of entertainment. One sniff of a serial killer and a newspaper/movie/TV show will sell like an icy pole in midsummer. Chuck a talented yet dysfunctional detective somewhere interesting and we will watch a dozen series of them shouting at their long-suffering sidekick before finding the clue that finally reveals the identity of the murderer. But why do we find murder so fascinating? Does it make us bad people? Never fear, The Unreliable Guide is here to give you the lowdown on our lust for blood.

Murder and Shiraz

I think it was the comedienne Judith Lucy who confessed that her favourite night in consists of murder and shiraz. I agree, a glass or two of shiraz accompanied by a true crime doco, or a murder mystery binge, makes for a great winter’s night in

(FYI, there is actually a McLaren Vale shiraz called The Murder!). But why do we find murder a relaxing entertainment? Psychologists suggests it stems from our most primitive instincts for survival. We want to know the ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘when’ and ‘where’ of crime so we can protect ourselves from the baddies. That makes sense, but I also think we enjoy the thrill. Crime as entertainment is a vicarious danger; we experience the excitement of survival without any real threat.

On a darker level, watching the bad guys is a way to observe the darkest side of human nature. We explore the worst that humans are capable of without actually breaking any laws or having to face any moral or physical consequences. Pour me another glass!

Whodunnit

In 1892, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s enigmatic Sherlock Holmes first declared, “The game is afoot,” and we’ve been fascinated by the mental challenge of solving crimes ever since. Holmes was also a huge inspiration for the Queen

of Crime, Agatha Christie, who is still the best-selling novelist of all time (and that includes J.K. Rowling). The whodunnit is nothing new, but these kinds of classic, detective-led murder mysteries are currently making a massive comeback. Kenneth Branagh’s 2017 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express was a huge box office success - despite the fact he was a rubbish Poirot with a face like a muffin.

Murder mysteries regularly top the list of best-selling novels and TV shows. It’s not hard to understand why. A good murder mystery has twists and turns that keep us guessing. We love playing detective, looking out for the clues, figuring out the plot. Philosopher Alan Harris Goldman asserts, “Like the detective hero, the reader must pay close attention to even seemingly insignificant details.” Murder mysteries activate our minds because we are involved - we are given clues and expected to interpret them. Then, when we finally solve the mystery, we get a rush of satisfaction at our cleverness. We are empowered because we feel as if we’ve played a role in bringing justice to the world. In my book, that deserves a drink.

Finally, The Unreliable Guide suggests it’s the chaos of our real world that has encouraged this trend in murder mysteries. They acknowledge today’s violence and offer a solution - a heroic Holmes, Poirot, Marple, Miss Fisher, Vera, etc. who will bring order to our chaos. They will make sense of all the clues we’ve been gathering, reveal the bad guy and make sure he’s locked up. Writer David Evans suggests crime shows are ultimately “fairy tales for adults” because good always wins over evil in the end. And who doesn’t want that?

Words Nat Shepherd Photo Dee Tective

You know my methods, Watson.

Waverley Council Update

Mayor's Message

Charing Cross Streetscape Upgrade

I am delighted to announce that our Charing Cross Streetscape Upgrade along Bronte Road is now in d etailed design phase In late August, the community will be able to provide further feedback about the project when the Review of Environmental Factors opens for public exhibition. Preliminary electrical works are expected to begin in October and we hope to appoint a contractor by December via a Request for Tender Construction for the civil works will then start early next year Our streetscape project will hig hlight the important heritage features of Waverley’s first village and improve safety and experience for pedestrians and all other road users. We will continue to keep the community informed at every stage of the project which includes new street furniture, trees and landscaping; footpath widening; undergrounding of overhead powerlines,

improved sustainability and stormwater infrastructure and the introduction of a 40km/h area. For more details, see the Major Projects page on our website.

Club upgrade. Both sites have now been handed over to Schiavello and we will continue to provide updates on these exciting community projects as they come to hand.

Festival of the Winds

We recently celebrated the completion of our streetscape upgrade works at the intersection of Macpherson Street and St Thomas Street, Bronte Highlights of the upgrade along this beau tiful neighbourhood café strip include a new raised pedestrian crossing, kerb extensions, new garden beds and provisions for future lighting improvements Our Council is committed to ensuring local roads and other assets are operated, maintained, renewed and upgraded to meet the levels of service set by the community as per objectives in the Waverley Operational Plan 2022 2023

Macpherson Street Streetscape Upgrade Boot Factory and Tamarama Surf Club

I am delighted to announce that Sch iavello Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd was successful in their submission to complete the restoration of the Boot Factory building in Spring St, Bondi Junction and Tamarama Surf Life Saving

Ph: 9083 8000 | waverley.nsw.gov.au

The world-famous Festival of the Winds returns to Bondi Beach on Sunday 10 September with spectacular kite-flying demonstrations, kite-making workshops and music and food from around the world from 11am to 4pm. This free event has a strong sustainab ility focus and is hosted in partnership with the Australian Kite Flyers Society Special event clearways will be place and parking will be limited, so please use public transport For traffic info, visit livetraffic.com.

City2Surf

The world’s largest fun run returns to Waverley on Sunday 13 August. Special event clearways and road closures will be in place along the 14kilometre route from Sydney’s CBD to Bondi Beach, so please check signage before parking your vehicle. Visit livetraffic.com for updates or to donate, visit city2surf.com.au.

Paula Masselos Mayor of Waverley

Stay in touch: waverley.nsw.gov.au/subscribe Follow us

Woollahra’s War on Youth

The Woollahra establishment has rejected yet another project aimed at the young and mobile. Locals are now opposing the construction of a skate park at Rushcutters Bay Park, not long after ridding the area of kayaks and rejecting a local cycle path.

Opponents object to the loss of green space, as well as graffiti and excessive noise, while claiming the amenity will attract paedophiles and drug dealers.

“Paedophiles will now haunt the park, because young people don’t go to church anymore,” warned a spokesperson for Wealthy Old Woollahrans Steadfastly Eroding Rights of Skateboarders (WOWSERS).

“Also, kids should never take drugs. They should wait until they’re working in finance - the quality is far superior.”

WOWSERS are adamant that they have no issue with skateboarding.

“We love Tony Hawk, and we all watched The Search for Animal Chin a thousand times on VHS. It’s the fine print we object to.”

Skaters will be required to register their visit via an app, and to boast a minimum number of combined followers across multiple social media platforms in order to skate. Increasing said number of followers must also be the sole intention for undertaking the session. In addition, they must wear a helmet, knee guards, elbow guards, wrist guards, a mouthguard, sunscreen, repellent and a personal locator beacon, as well as a GoPro mount.

They must also bring a signed permission note from a parent or guardian and a waiver from their lawyer absolving Council of any liability in the case of an accident which results in physical, mental or emotional harm.

Before so much as an ollie can be performed, users must also promise not to bring any snacks containing nuts, lactose, gluten or other allergens, and must instead bring their own medication.

“There’s also a rumour that the park will be an AIS satellite

training facility for future Olympians, so that rules out anyone over 13.”

Woollahra Council is concerned that further delay tactics could see WOWSERS’ tombstones replace the halfpipe, and thus responded with a number of suggestions in the spirit of compromise.

During school days, safety, technology, allergy and social media regulations will be waived. Eastern Suburbs councils will provide free seniors transport to the park, as well as endless refills of coffee and softserve ice cream.

Tuesday will be Ladies Day, and ladies can drop in from the small ramps, while one suggestion will surely placate every current opponent.

Wealthy Woollahrans can buy the facility, negatively gear it against existing investment properties and charge young people to use it, thus ensuring local youth never enjoy harbourside views from atop their skateboard or from the comfort of their lounge chairs.

Words Kieran Blake, kieranblakewriter.org

Photo Elle Eatist

Things you won't see in Woollahra.

The latest from Randwick City Council about living in this great city

Randwick News

As winter draws to a close, so does the 2023 pop-up pedal park season! I hope you’ve had the chance to visit the pedal parks this year. If not, they’re open until Sunday 27 August and located at Chifley Reserve, Clovelly and South Maroubra Beach carparks. Get there before they close with your bike, scooter or skateboard.

July was a real buzz as the community came together to watch the Matildas live and free on the big screen at Heffron Park for the 2023 Women’s FIFA World Cup. It was awesome to bring the excitement and anticipation of international sport to Randwick City. On Sunday 20 August we’ll be streaming the World Cup grand final live to the big screen. Don't miss out – get your free tickets through our website.

Celebrations are in order as the Des Renford Leisure Centre turns 10 years old! Much-loved by the community for its facilities and programs, it’s also about to have a brand new splash park, which is set to be completed in time for summer.

I hope you’ll all save the date for our annual Eco Living event coming up on Sunday 10 September. This year we'll be focusing on what matters most, with handson workshops and a speaker series, featuring Craig Reucassel from ABC’s War on Waste. There will also be an electric vehicle display and an e-bike to be won! Everyone is encouraged to walk, ride or catch public transport to the event, not only for its environmental benefit, but also because parking will be more limited than previous years.

Hope to see you there!

What’s On

WEDNESDAY 2 AUGUST

POP-UP COMMUNITY SUPPORT HUB

11am-1pm

Lionel Bowen Library

THURSDAY 3 AUGUST

ANIME CLUB (12-18YRS)

4pm-6pm

Lionel Bowen Library

WEDNESDAY 9 AUGUST

FRED HOLLOWS RESERVE BUSHCARE

9am-12pm

At the end of Bligh place

TUESDAY 15 AUGUST

SLOW FASHION & TEXTILES GROUP

9.30am-11.30am

Randwick Sustainability Hub

SUNDAY 20 AUGUST

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2023 GRAND FINAL LIVE SCREENING

Heffron Park, Maroubra

UNTIL SUN 27 AUGUST

POP-UP PEDAL PARKS

Chifley reserve carpark, Clovelly Beach carpark, South Maroubra Beach carpark

Councillor Dylan Parker Mayor of Randwick

1300 722 542

randwick.nsw.gov.au

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker

The Dark Triad

Mental health awareness has no doubt increased in recent times. With the fall out from natural disasters such as the floods, bushfires and COVID still fresh in our minds, never before have we been so actively encouraged to seek out help for our mental state if we aren’t coping. In a general sense, these campaigns are aimed at the individual - if someone is struggling to manage then we are informed that help is available. This may be true, but I’d like to stress from the outset that it is the individual that is coming to some sense that they need help, often brought to their consciousness from an outside force.

But what happens if there is a different kind of external force being applied that is affecting our mental state and we just can’t put our finger on it, a type of force that may not be as obvious as COVID or a natural disaster? Allow me to introduce what is known as the ‘dark triad’. It sounds like something from a sci-fi movie, sinister perhaps, lurking unseen in the depths. The dark triad is made up of three personality traits; Machiavellianism, psychopathy and narcissism. Big words indeed, with narcissism possibly being the most well known. Machiavellianism equates to power - think Donald Trump or the Lannisters in Game of Thrones. Psychopathy is applied to someone who is a sociopath or psychopath - I can’t help but think of Norman Bates and the shocking shower scene in Hitchcock’s Psycho. Narcissism, however, is probably more well known and deserves further attention.

Narcissism is a personality disorder and is diagnosed through clinical evaluation. The disorder was first identified by Havelock Ellis back in 1898 and is named based on the mythological figure Narcissus who fell in love with his own reflec-

tion. This is way deeper than just some guy who liked what he saw in the mirror. The disorder is characterised by an inflated self-image, addiction to fantasy, unusually cool and composed, and only shaken when narcissistic confidence is threatened. A narcissist loves status and uses it for its own sake. They are low in conscientiousness and take others for granted. They ‘gaslight’ and are happy to exploit and look excessively at others for the regulation of self-esteem. There are many other characteristics, but the big ones are manipulation and a lack of empathy, which are usually shared by all three personality traits of the dark triad.

Unfortunately the internet, especially social media, has enabled such traits. Trolling is widespread and even encouraged. We can say whatever we want on these platforms without repercussion. A cauldron it may be, but what do we actually do if we feel we are being manipulated by someone who is a member of the dark triad? Well, here’s the rub; due to its very nature, someone with narcissistic tendencies is unlikely to be aware, let alone acknowledge, that they have such tendencies. It’s a genuine catch-22; a double edged sword. Usually only those on the receiving end can see it. In other words, a narcissist would not necessarily realise they are a narcissist as they don’t have honesty and humility. That said, a narcissistic person might admit to being more self-centered, but it often stops there and, perhaps unsurprisingly, can undermine romantic, familial and professional relationships.

The take-home message is that if you feel external pressure from someone with narcissistic tendencies it is important to acknowledge your frustration and not lose your own sense of self. The longer the behaviour goes unchallenged, the stronger its grip, and over time it can be quite detrimental. If you’re brave enough, ask them, “Are you a narcissist?” You might be surprised with their answer, or not. As charming as a narcissist may seem in the early stages, it can be a trap often recognised too late and difficult to remove yourself from once ensnared.

But, ‘buyer beware’! Proceed with caution before you slap the ‘narcissist’ label on someone. It’s a complex issue, not to be taken lightly. Look inward before you look outward, and seek professional help if you’re struggling. For some lighthearted relief I suggest watching “Kristy Best - How to know if you’re dating a narcissist” on YouTube.

Jeremy Ireland is a local psychotherapist. Have you got a question? You can get in touch with Jeremy by calling 0400 420 042.

Words Jeremy Ireland Photo Marcel Ciolacu

Narcissism personified.

wide vote, spoke volumes on how we had grown as a nation and a spirit of reconciliation was born.

Since then we have had the Mabo and Wik decisions on Native Title, and major land rights advances for First Nations sisters and brothers. Our nation has come a long way, but there are many challenges on the path to reconciliation and we still have a long way to go.

Let's Make Our Voices Heard

Among many other notable shifts in society this year, 2023 marks a moment in Australian history that will (we hope) be a major turning point in the history of this nation that will be remembered for generations to come. Before the end of the year, we will face a nation shaping referendum regarding an Indigenous Voice to the Federal Parliament. We don’t hold many referenda in Australia; when we do, some momentous ones are successful while many others don’t get up.

In 1967 there was a referendum of national significance when Australians overwhelmingly voted for Australian citizenship to be granted to First Nations peoples. Yet in 1999 the majority of voting Australians at the time elected for us to remain tied to the British monarchy, rejecting the chance for us to become a parliamentary republic with an Australian head of state.

On the successful referendum in 1967, it’s hard to believe it took so long for Australians to recognise First Nations peoples - the oldest living culture on Earth - as ‘Australian citizens’. The response to the referendum, winning in all six states with around 90 per cent of the nation-

Australia’s First Nations peoples are deservingly over-represented on our sporting fields due to their hard work, talent and skills. Just look at iconic athletes like Catherine Freeman, Adam Goodes and the first Indigenous captain of an Australian national sporting team, the late Arthur Beetson.

More and more, as our nation has grown we have also started to delight in the cultural contributions to Australia from First Nations artists, musicians and thought leaders, including Christine Anu and the late Archie Roach in the field of music, the amazing Albert Namatjira - possibly the most famous Australian artist of all time - and the thought-provoking and eloquent intellectual Marcia Langton. We have been enriched and we are blessed with these fellow Australians.

At the same time - and this is the crucial point - First Nations peoples are still massively under-represented in the decision-making processes and the machinery of governments. Many feel that decision-making, shaping our nation and, most critically, shaping their own self-determination, is hard to achieve when there is a lack of voice and sovereignty in decision-making.

Overall, our public servants, public advocacy bodies and parliaments do their best when it comes to providing a stable and prosperous society, but at the same time many are left behind. None more so when looking at statistics around health, education, economic opportunities

and even basic life expectancy of First Nations peoples in Australia.

The Voice to Parliament is long overdue. It will establish a viable and much-needed mechanism for First Nations people to contribute to their own destinies and to enrich our overall Australian way of life. Yet it is also an exciting opportunity for us each to play a part in creating an important moment in our history if you support The Voice, regardless of your background or culture.

Not every generation gets the opportunity to shape and change a nation for the better. We live in a time when we do have that opportunity. The Voice referendum is really quite a simple concept. A Yes vote simply means the Australian constitution will be amended to create a body known as The Voice, which will be able to make representations to government on matters affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. That’s it.

In 1967 we found it hard to believe that First Nations people were not regarded as Australian citizens and we voted overwhelmingly for change. Can you believe in 2023, as it stands, First Nations people do not have a guaranteed constitutional pathway to make representations about their own lives to our nation’s parliament?

Going back in time again to the 1980s when I was a kid, like most Aussies, I loved that John Farnham anthem, You’re the Voice. It was, and still is, an inspiring song. In thinking about The Voice referendum and what it means, I think about that song. This referendum really does give all Australians the opportunity to have their voices heard. Your voice can advance and shape our nation’s future.

I’ll be very proudly and enthusiastically using my voice to vote Yes, so that all of our First Nations sisters and brothers across Australia can finally have their voices heard.

Words Dr Marjorie O’Neill, Member for Coogee

Photo Johnny Farnham

Marvellous Marcia.

Marjorie's Musings

Hunting in the High Country

There’s no doubt that we are all living in an age of debilitating convenience, a time where as little as the press of a button will bring practically anything you could desire right to your door. Combine this with our incessant digital addiction, where scrolling through kilometers of content is the daily norm, and you can begin to question whether humankind is such an intelligent species after all. But don’t get me wrong, that late night pizza I got delivered the other night tasted bloody beautiful as I scoured my Instagram feed. But, refreshingly, there are still ways to seek some wholesome refuge from all of this modern day noise.

Perhaps one of the better examples of this more primal way of life is North Bondi’s Ethan McDonald, aka the trout guru. Give this bloke a fishing rod and bow, then drop him in the bush, and not only would he find his way home, but he’d have a month’s worth of fish and meat filleted and ready for his family when he got there. When Ethan isn’t fishing the local rock platforms for a feed of drummer and blackfish, or

casting in the harbour for kingfish and flathead, he’s usually off somewhere remote on a strike mission. He recently set out on a solo adventure to the High Country in pursuit of his beloved trout, taking advantage of the annual spawn run. I was lucky enough to receive a detailed account of his antics over a few post-trip beers in his backyard in Bondi.

The spawn run is a time when brown trout chase the incoming freshwater up through feeder streams to lay their eggs, and it can make for some epic fishing. Using the standard (but deadly) euro-nymph rig on his fly rod, Ethan set about peppering every bend and hole the river had to offer. After catching a handful of smaller browns and rainbows he suddenly came tight on something big and heavy. Initially it felt like one of the many snags that had been pestering him all day, but once the ‘snag’ started pulsing through his rod in a series of textbook trout rolls he knew he was into a proper one. In a matter of seconds, the repetitious calm of fly fishing gave way to chaos as the fish forced Ethan

to scramble down through the river rapids in pursuit. He’d lost a fair few bigger fish in the late stages of some previous fights and this time he was adamant he was not going to fall victim to the same fate. Following a lengthy struggle, the fish finally tired and he was able to net a huge brown he’d only ever dreamed of up until this point. In the trout world a fish of 8lb is a genuine trophy and many anglers never get the chance to hold one. He savoured the experience by holding the trout in the water within his net while he set up his tripod to capture the moment. When Ethan finally sought refuge by the campfire after the day’s fishing, he said the beers certainly tasted all the sweeter.

After a few days of plucking various brown and rainbow trout from the freezing cold stream and camping in sub-zero temperatures out of his Hilux, Ethan decided to make a move. With the esky chocked up with fillets, his next mission was to harvest some wild caught venison using his compact bow on a mate’s farm. Deer are an invasive species in Australia and cause a lot of damage to the native flora and fauna and, although I am not a hunter myself, I can definitely support humanely taking a deer for its meat. The property was a huge, barren expanse that would take multiple days to traverse on foot. Peppered with large boulders and studded with dilapidated trees, it was a very harsh landscape. There’s no doubt that the deer had the upper hand against his two legs, and that’s where the finesse and skill of a hunter comes in. After clocking up countless miles across the land, he departed less than a week later with a stack of fresh meat, headed for home feeling an unwavering sense of renew.

Words Lewis Kennedy-Hunt Photo Ethan McDonald

Adventurous Ethan with a thumping 8lb brown.

August 2023 Tide Chart

Roast Tomato and Italian Sausage Risotto

Words Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine

Risotto will never go out of style. Its ability to draw you in with comfort and deliciously flavoured al dente rice makes this dish perfect for winter and adaptable to enjoy in the warmer months also.

There are too many versions to count and I’m hoping you will put this roast tomato and Italian sausage risotto on your list to try. I wanted each grain of rice to be coated with tomato, and by adding the Italian sausage and beautifully paired aromats the flavours really intensify. With a little therapeutic stirring, hot stock at the ready and plenty of time to build the flavours, you’ll be able to turn out this risotto with ease.

Ingredients

1 leek, finely chopped

4 tbs olive oil

1.5 cups Arborio rice

25gm butter

1.2 litres chicken stock, heated

200ml white wine

700gm truss cherry tomatoes

4 Italian sausages

1 tbs rosemary, finely chopped

1 tbs thyme leaves

50gm parmesan, grated

Sea salt

Ground black pepper

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees celsius. On a large tray lined with baking paper, place the tomatoes in an even layer and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and season lightly with sea salt. Roast the tomatoes for 25 minutes, then remove from the oven. Place half the tomatoes in a blender and blitz until they become a liquid tomato sauce. Set aside.

2. Gently squeeze small pieces of the Italian sausage out of each casing onto a board. In a frypan, set to medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Fry the pieces of sausage lightly and add the rosemary. Cook for approx. 2 minutes only as

they will continue to cook when added to the risotto. Remove from the heat and set aside.

3. In a cast iron pot, set to medium heat on the stove, pour in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and then add the leek. Cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, and turn down the heat if the leek starts to brown - it should just be translucent.

4. Add the Arborio rice to the pot, along with the butter. Stir for 1 minute with a spatula or wooden spoon, ensuring the rice doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.

5. Add 2 cups of the hot chicken stock to the rice and stir through. Add the white wine. Continue to cook the rice and gradually add the stock, ensuring there is a good amount of liquid in the pot. Stir occasionally until the rice is al dente (approx. 15 minutes) and has absorbed the stock, and ensure the rice does not stick to the bottom of the pot. Have a small taste of the rice as you go to check it’s consistency.

6. Add the tomato sauce, the remaining roasted tomatoes, Italian sausage and thyme to the rice. Stir gently until combined, then season with sea salt and plenty of ground black pepper.

7. Remove the pot from the stovetop and spoon into bowls immediately. Sprinkle grated parmesan over each bowl of risotto and serve while hot.

Dana Sims is a Sydneybased food and prop stylist who has grown up in the Eastern Suburbs and loves to create delicious food for entertaining and family. She is inspired by the fresh produce we have access to in Sydney. For ideas, recipes and styling inspiration, check out her Instagram, @stone_and_twine.

Italian style nasi goreng.

The Beast Supercross

ACROSS

1. She caused a meltdown at the box office (6,5)

7. A colloidal suspension of particles dispersed in air or gas (7)

8. Infectious lung disease (1,1)

9. Double reed instrument (4)

10. Greek goddess of peace (5)

12. Not occurring very often (4)

14. A planned public or social occasion (5)

15. Bitter or pungent (5)

18. South American garment (6)

19. Gas company (1,1,1)

20. Portable camera brand (5)

21. Informal thank you (2)

23. Said suddenly to surprise (3)

25. Artist who introduced

Trivial Trivia

1. What is the most costly spice by weight?

2. Who was Pistol & Boo’s male owner?

3. As of July 1, 2023, what is the superannuation guarantee percentage?

4. Where does a ‘purser’ usually work?

5. Which Tuscan table wine was originally placed in straw covered bottles?

6. What is the Roman counterpart of Eros, the Greek god of love?

7. Who wrote the music and lyrics for the musical 9 to 5: The Musical?

impressionism to Australia (7)

26. Flame-loving insect (4)

DOWN

1. Blink 182 drummer (6,6)

2. Ball bowled at batter’s feet (6)

3. Salt-water bivalve (6)

4. Hairdresser’s office (5)

5. Unable to pay debts owed (9)

6. Dwarven god of greed (8)

11. City on Fiji’s main island (4)

13. 1980s alien movie (1,1)

16. Alter a soundtrack (5)

17. Capital of Senegal (5)

18. Commoners (5)

22. Do something (3)

24. The primordial sound of creation (2)

8. The ‘boneshaker’, ‘dandy-horse’ and ‘penny farthing’ were all early examples of what vehicle?

9. The Glen Eagles Hotel in Torquay, Devon, was the inspiration for what British sitcom?

10. Which chemical element is also a term for a police officer?

Words Lisa Anderson Photo Caitlin Judd Instagram @caitjudd

Sisu

Genre Action, War Reviewer Linda Heller-Salvador

Sisu is definitely not for the fainthearted when it comes to ludicrously large body counts and relentless carnage, but for those of us who giggle at the audacious tongue-in-cheek genre of pulp fiction and gratuitous violence, then this film will bring a gleeful smile to your face.

If you have seen writer-director Jalmari Helander’s film titled Rare Exports then you will have a rough idea of what you are in for. Except, in his latest film, he has dialled up the gore and outrageousness to a piercing eleven.

Aatami (Jorma Tommila) is unassuming and resilient. He lives a simple reclusive life prospecting and minding his own business. That is until he crosses paths with a platoon of Nazis who try to steal his gold, and they find out, when pushed, he is an army of one, reminiscent of Rambo and The Terminator.

You’ll need to be an adventurous film-goer with a dark sense of humour for Sisu. Hilariously gruesome and absurdly enjoyable, it will leave you gasping with shock and shrieking with laughter.

TROPHY EYES Suicide

and Sunshine

Label Hopeless Records

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating 

Yes, yes, yes! I am Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally listening to Suicide and Sunshine, but I ain’t faking, baby! Admittedly, it is peak emo and comes with one massive trigger warning - if your teenager is into these guys, I recommend checking on their mental health regularly - but strewth, it is exceptional. If they came out in the early 2000s, they’d be one of the biggest bands in the world. Imagine Michael Hutchence fronting Unwritten Law and you’ll have yourself Trophy Eyes. Now, excuse me while I go dig out my old Dickies shorts and fall off my wife’s skateboard.

FOO FIGHTERS But Here We Are

Label RCA Records

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating 

A confession: this is the first time I’ve listened to a Foo Fighters album in full. I’ve always felt they’re like Fireball Whisky - great for a party pick me up, but if you stick with it too long your eyeballs start rolling around your head. Obviously, the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins hangs heavy overhead But Here We Are, and you can feel the sadness and tenderness in that regard. There is more intimacy than their usual stadium rock bluster. Dave Grohl is not just a rockstar, he is a human being, who once sat on couches by campfires and drank cheap liquor, I assume.

MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO

The Omnichord Real Book

Label Blue Note Records

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating 

First things first, this is not barbecue music. This is for sipping on a nice wine and cooking from a cookbook. To call it ‘background music’ would do it an injustice, but you know what I mean. It is intricate jazz, with more layers than a kueh lapis and just as likely to impress the in-laws. Perhaps you could even pop it on when you have casual company? I know most of my friends would just ask, “What the hell are you listening to? Play Chisel!” but your clique may be a little more cultured than mine.

Star Signs

Visions Beardy from Hell

Libra Sep 24-Oct 23

Everyone has a friend who complains about the cost of living while driving around in a fancy car. It’s okay to steal from them.

Scorpio Oct 24-Nov 22

Knowing a little bit about something important is way better than being an expert on something that nobody cares about.

Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21

You need to start wiping your bum more carefully, before passers-by start catching a waft of your leftovers.

Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 20

If you’re thinking about moving out of Sydney, you must first accept that once you leave you will never be able to return.

Aquarius Jan 21-Feb 19

Everyone has a Triple J Hottest 100 top ten song hidden somewhere inside them; it’s time for you to start digging yours out.

Looking for a different VIEW on Life?

VIEW Clubs is a national women’s organisation supporting The Smith Family.

Women join VIEW to form lasting friendships and to support children experiencing disadvantage to make the most of their education and create better futures for themselves.

Sydney Eastern Suburbs VIEW Club is looking to welcome new members to their monthly meetings held every fourth Wednesday from 11am at Coogee Diggers, 2 Byron St, Coogee - with guest speaker followed by lunch.

Call Jan on 0422 922 095

Email nettiet@bigpond.com view.org.au

Pisces Feb 20-Mar 20

Exercising once a week while gorging on rubbish every day is not going to deliver you the rig required to get laid.

Aries Mar 21-Apr 20

No one really needs their friends, until they do, so you should start treating yours with a little more love and respect.

Taurus Apr 21-May 21

Instead of enjoying what you’ve got, borrow heaps of money and buy a bigger place so you can fill it with stuff you don’t need.

Gemini May 22-Jun 21

If you haven’t got anything nice to say, just make sure it’s something offensive yet highly amusing.

Cancer Jun 22-Jul 22

Try not to let your little insecurities expose the twisted and sometimes terrifying flaws of your character.

Trivial Trivia Solutions

1. Saffron 2. Johnny Depp

3. 11 per cent 4. A ship 5. Chianti

6. Cupid 7. Dolly Parton 8. Bicycle

9. Fawlty Towers 10. Copper