BEAST
December 2024
Grow that mo, bro
Bronte Bliss, by Aisling Crosby.
Purple Patch
Words James Hutton - Publisher
Welcome to the December 2024 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s purple beaches of the east. This is a special time of year, and the Jacarandas have become an iconic part of this beautiful city - not a bad effort for a tree that’s not even native to Australia (the genus Jacaranda comes from South America, with the most common variety here, Jacaranda mimosifolia, originating in Argentina).
A big thanks to Bondi artist Svetlana Asatryan for this edition’s beautiful cover painting of the ‘big blue building’ at North Bondi. You can see more of Svetlana’s epic artwork on her Instagram, @azadrun_art_bondi, and you can see her paint at Art Battles, where she competes with other artists. Svetlana also has an account on the online art platform Bluethumb.
There’s a lot going on over summer, so be sure to make the most of what this incredible city has to offer and get amongst some of these epic events, whether it’s the cricket at the SCG, the multitude of free carols evenings in the local area, North Bondi RSL’s Christmas lunch, or the Lycée Condorcet French Christmas Market in Maroubra on Saturday, December 14.
One event I never miss is Wardy’s Christmas Presents for Sick Kids, in loving memory of Johnno Ward, which will be held at the Clovelly Hotel on Sunday, December 15. Everyone is invited to bring a present (the more the merrier) and help with wrapping. Wardy then loads up his van with gifts and delivers them to the kids who are spending Christmas in the childrens hospitals. I think the record is 1,765 presents, so it would be awesome to top that.
On a final note, if you’re heading down to the beach this summer, please be careful and
know your limits. The ocean can be extremely dangerous, and drownings are actually on the increase across Australia. If you get into trouble, conserve your energy, stop swimming and float. If you’re between the red and yellow flags, our highly trained professional lifeguards will have a far greater chance of spotting you, so please swim in the designated area and stay safe.
Merry Christmas! James
The Beast
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FREE EVENT
Sunday 15 December 6.30 – 8.30pm
Goldstein Reserve
Hosted by Amanda Keller and Luke Carroll
Arrive early and enjoy Christmas movies on the big screen from 1pm.
Bring a picnic blanket!
BYO food or get takeaway from local restaurants.
Keep an eye out for Santa!
Coogee Carols is an alcohol-free event.
Randwick Council is proud to support these community Christmas events
CLOVELLY CHRISTMAS STREET PARTY
Sunday 1 December 4pm Festival 6pm Carols St Luke’s Anglican Church, Clovelly
SOUTH MAROUBRA CHRISTMAS PARTY
Saturday 7 December 2 – 5pm
South Maroubra Village Green
MATRAVILLE CAROLS
Saturday 21 December 4pm Amusement rides 6-8.30pm Carols
Barwon Park, Matraville
randwick.nsw.gov.au/ christmas
Coogee is Already Great
Deeply Disappointed
Dear Pearl - I was deeply disappointed to see a red hat with the text ‘Make Coogee Great Again’ on display at the Coogee Bay Hotel’s Ek’sentrik Café over the weekend.
There has been some previous controversy around this café (Coogee Bay Hotel Screws Local Businesses, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, July 2024), and its decision to mimic and brand the primary identifier of America’s fascist movement is disturbing.
While it may have been intended as a marketing gimmick, a misguided business strategy or just a joke, the red hat and slogan carries meaning - it is a symbol of division, misogyny and hate.
As an American who is very grateful to live in Coogee, I am profoundly saddened to watch
the country of my birth rip itself apart. It is beyond disheartening that this business chooses to make light of Trumpism, or worse, align itself with it.
Will Coogee
There Will Always Be Coffee
Dear Will - Australia may be the United States’ greatest ally and imitator, but where we differ is in our passion for coffee and politics. For affluent Australians, coffee is an obsession, and in the Eastern Suburbs there is more than a whiff of snobbery and smugness over one’s preference for a ‘short macchiato topped up’.
And in this snobbery, there is also a fickleness; any loyalty to an established café is all but forgotten when the new, trendier kid in town arrives. FOMO
is all too real in Coogee, and although we might be doing it tough on our $100,000 per annum salary, we can still afford a daily $6 almond milk cortado at the latest hipster establishment.
As for politics, Australians are a bit ‘meh’. US-style tribalism has no place in our political persona. Provided that the two main parties keep spouting the ‘jobs and growth’ mantra and delivering low inflation and minimal interest rate levels, we really don’t care. Property developers can continue to destroy our living standards, monopolies can have total control over our spending habits and mining interests can decimate our eco-systems, but as far as the masses are concerned, it’s same old-same old.
With our political apathy and a preference for the status quo, I surmise most locals would view Ek’sentrik’s ‘Make Coogee Great Again’ display either as a MAGA piss-take or in support of the proposed CBH development, rather than an offensive missive. Unless one is a follower of American politics (like Americophile Pearl), it is easy to dismiss Trump and his cohort as cartoonish buffoons rather than dangerous anti-intellectuals with fascist and misogynistic leanings and dictatorial aspirations. Despite the national obsession with ANZAC Day, the hallmarks of Germany 1939 have faded in our psyche along with the knowledge that Australia’s wealthiest woman, Gina Rinehart, is a self-proclaimed Trumpette.
America went to the polls just before this edition of The Beast was sent off to print. I had hoped that Santa would deliver a blue America, but ‘The Don’ stormed to victory and is now the leader of the ‘free world’. Well, at least there will always be coffee… Pearl Clovelly
Words Pearl Bullivant Photo Freya Ryder
Donald enjoyiong a flat white in Coogee last month.
The Beast's Monthly Mailbag
Words The Lovely People of the Eastern Beaches
Mysterious Events
On three occasions recently I have observed a brush turkey strutting along footpaths in Bronte streets. Maybe I saw the same one three times, who would know? A long way from the rain forests.
Stranger still, a cyclist has reportedly been seen using the Birrell Street bike path between Bronte Road and Newland Street! Can anyone confirm this?
And then, this killer - electric scooters to be allowed to roam, with few restrictions that will not be policed, if the ebike situation is any indication. Maybe the government hopes that the resultant deaths of elderly pedestrians will alleviate the housing problem it has created.
Greg Maidment
Bronte
Ebikes Endangering Young Children
When will Rose Bay Secondary College, the local council, the police and parents take action against the dangerous behavior of students recklessly riding their ebikes through the Waverley Oval pathway without helmets? These teenagers are not only ignoring basic safety rules but are also putting young children and pedestrians at serious risk.
As a mother of a three-yearold and seven months pregnant, I’ve had several frightening encounters with these students. On a recent afternoon at the Waverley rocket ship playground, my daughter and I narrowly avoided being struck by a group of Rose Bay Secondary boys speeding down the path on ebikes. I had to pull my daughter off the path to avoid a collision. If she’d been a few steps ahead, she could have been seriously injured. Despite me (and several other parents) yelling at the boys, they simply fled, showing no remorse.
I reported the incident to the school principal, sharing photos of the students involved. While she responded politely, it’s clear no real action was taken. Weeks later, the same scenario unfolded - the students returned, doing usual teenage stuff, i.e. smoking, swearing and, once again, riding dangerously fast on ebikes. They almost hit a small child and several pedestrians. And these bikes are far from the standard ebikes you see for hire, resembling electric dirt bikes.
The council ranger (probably on the prowl for cavoodles offlead), when informed, offered nothing more than a weak verbal warning - a far cry from any real deterrent. Despite providing clearer, identifiable photos of the students to the school, I was
told it was beyond their control. The police and the council are aware of the issue, yet nothing is changing. Does it really need to take a tragedy, an injury or even worse, a child’s death, for something to be done?
I’m not a pearl-clutching, anti-youth NIMBY. I don’t have an issue with teenagers hanging out in the area or riding bikes at a safe speed. But I do take issue when my child’s life, and the safety of the community, is repeatedly put at risk.
This is not just a school issue either; it’s a broader ebike problem. With the growing popularity of ebikes, especially among food delivery riders, the council needs to enforce stricter rules in pedestrianised areas. Either ban ebikes from these shared spaces or introduce and enforce speed limits before someone is seriously hurt - or worse.
Lauren Bondi Junction
Annoyances
Hi Beast - I know many comments/complaints deal with local issues such as parking, lack of buses, council isssues, etc. As a resident of Bondi Junction I assume that my complaint about TV ads could have some relevance to others.
It seems that there is a paucity of clever ads on TV, most of which I find boring, repetitive and unimaginative.
Ads like ‘Can you hear me...?’ Old Gold, ‘Sitting on on a monster,’ and ‘Nothing special,’ all of which seem to be played too often. Others like ‘Love you dad’ are borderline.
It’s said that any publicity is good publicity. Well, in this case, not to me. I turn them off whenever they come on. And, no, I won’t be subliminally influenced to buy any of these. There needs to be a self-imposed limit by these products while newer ones can be commissioned.
How about cleverer ads like those Gruen shows, mainly made by younger creatives on much smaller budgets. Then I could be induced to pay attention to whatever’s being advertised.
Norman Bondi Junction
Will's Weeping Figs
In the late 1930’s the City of Sydney Council planted Hill’s weeping fig trees in Hyde Park. They line a grand avenue extending from St James Road to Park Street and continuing on to the Pool of Reflection.
These large, evergreen trees are native to the rainforests of coastal Queensland. A mature specimen of this tree may grow as tall as 15-20 metres and 12-15 metres in width. They have very vigorous root systems. If they are planted in the ground, left unpruned and allowed to grow to maturity the roots can
break driveways, crack paving and cause damage to nearby buildings.
The Daily Telegraph ran a report on 19 August, 2019 about the condition of the Hill’s weeping fig trees in Hyde Park. In June 2019, an 80-year-old fig tree of that species had fallen over. The City of Sydney Council immediately held an audit of all of the trees, fearing a heightened risk to pedestrians. Of a total of 145 trees in the original planting, 43 specimens of this fig variety were removed between 2004 and the time of compiling the article. Presumably, more will have been removed since.
Just after World War II, the chief engineer at Randwick Council decided that it would be a good idea to plant Hill’s weeping figs in several streets in order, presumably, to create a similar effect to that in Hyde Park.
Randwick Council published its ‘Street Tree Master Plan’ at the end of the 1990s. The plan is 119 pages in length. At page 118 it refers to the need to remove, within 3 to 5 years, trees that were causing severe and ongoing damage. Although Randwick Council has acknowledged in letters to residents the ongoing damage caused by fig tree roots since at least August 1995, to my knowledge it has only removed 13 trees in that period, and only one due to reasons other than aggressive roots.
Randwick Council pays emergency plumbers to clear blocked sewer pipes as a result of encroaching fig tree roots. The plumbers turn up on a regular basis every three to four months. In 2010, the council replaced footpaths and driveways damaged by fig tree roots. Some of these repairs have had to be done a second and third time because the roots simply regrow. For information on New Year’s Eve fireworks vantage points, local road closures and traffic management information, visit: woollahra.nsw.gov.au/nye
Scan for more info.
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Without knowing exactly in which year the Randwick plantings occurred, it is nonetheless possible to say that the Hill’s weeping figs in Randwick streets would be at least 70 years old. On that basis it would seem appropriate to call on the council to conduct an audit of the species and make the results public.
Brian Hudson Coogee
Tax
Settings
Enabling
the Great Australian (Pipe)Dream
Hi - I think Allegra is on the money to review our tax system, and the affordability of housing is prohibitive to the young (Tax Settings Enabling the Great Australian (Pipe)Dream, The Beast, November 2024). I do however think there is an elephant - or two - in the room.
For the government to fund programs to help reduce cost-ofliving issues and provide afford-
able housing, they need to start seriously taxing multinationals. Begone the premise, ‘They are providing jobs and therefore should not be taxed or pay more than the minimum their tax attorneys can creatively secure.’ They are more often generating strong profits and should be sharing this with the needs of the country they are operating and generating revenue within.
A second elephant is free tertiary education for Australians. The debt burden our young people bare is a large part of the housing affordability issue. Personally, as a single female in Sydney who had saved to buy a car and secured a building society loan for land, I could not have taken to the streets to secure a loan to build my own house without having had free tertiary education. As a ‘well’ paid 27-year-old, the big four in 1989 would not loan to a single woman. However, a smaller
Melbourne bank gave me the opportunity with an interest only loan (not the usual principle and interest). I built my house in December 1990, which started my journey to creating wealth. This young woman grew up in housing commission in Western Sydney, and without the opportunity to obtain free education, and the resulting ‘well’ paid job, wealth was a pipe dream.
Kim
Bondi Beach
Pub Wins Community Award
The Coogee Bay Hotel recently won the ‘Heart of the Community’ award at the AHA awards. This is a great achievement and acknowledgment of the work it does with charities and local sporting teams in the Coogee community.
However, the decision by the owner to put a café on the prime location straight across the road
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from the rainbow steps has left the majority of locals scratching their heads at the intention of the mega pub.
The operator has been given virtually a free ride, therefore offering the cheapest coffees in Coogee, in the best location in Coogee, effectively slowly strangling the surrounding cafés and businesses in its (the pub’s) local community.
Times seem extremely tough for local businesses, and this has heaped even more pressure on local family-run businesses, which are the lifeblood of Coogee. This winter alone, four shops went under. Surely the pub doesn’t need to have a noisy, poorly run café on its footpath? What possibly could this add to its bulging coffers?
The award was for ‘Heart Of the Community’; when, as the apex business in Coogee, will it start actually thinking about
on its community through its local businesses? ‘Heart of the Community’?! Certainly not showing it!
Beth Coogee
Don’t Get Me Started
Reading Sallyann from Maroubra’s letter regarding the circus that is now on the footpath out the front the Coogee Bay Hotel (I Don’t Drink Coffee, But... Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, November 2024), myself, along with the majority of true locals, totally agree that it’s a disgrace that there is a fully fledged café with all its bits and pieces on a busy thoroughfare corner.
Daily, you have to navigate past a great big yellow box with some poor staff member passing down hot coffees, a pastry display, signs everywhere, tills and chairs all over the place - not to mention the rubbish loud music they have blaring. To answer
Sallyann simply, Randwick Council changed all its regulations (now there’s a story for you, Beast), solely to accomodate the pub’s quest to have a café on the footpath. No rules any more, at least not for them! All the real local businesses are struggling with rising costs while the pub gives this guy a free ride. And don’t get me started on his ‘Let’s Make Coogee Great Again!’ hats. Who said Coogee isn’t great? What an insult from some bloke who has just walked into a free ride from Maroubra. You’re making Coogee a mess, not great, you imbecile!
Ollie South coogee
Please send your feedback to letters@thebeast.com.au and include your name and suburb. We try and publish as many of them as possible, but nothing too crazy please.
Local Artist...
Svetlana Asatryan from Bondi Beach
Local artist Svetlana Asatryan is the talent behind this month’s cover painting of the ‘big blue building’ at North Bondi. She shares her local favourites with The Beast
How long have you lived here?
I’ve lived in Paddington, Maroubra, Bondi Beach and Rosebery for ages. I had to move from Bondi because the studio I was renting went up in price, but my heart is still here. I love the ocean and the beach vibe, running barefoot at dawn on the sand and diving into the waves, drinking delicious coffee and drawing as the sun rises.
What's your favourite beach?
Bronte is my favourite. Every time I’m there I touch the stone heart with the inscription, ‘For eternal love,’ and at dawn it’s really cool to swim in the rock pool as the rays of sunshine hit the water.
What's your favourite eatery? I really like the pasta with prawn and bacon from Totti’s, the tuna pasta at Trattoria, snail raisin pastries at Sonoma, the ‘meal of
the day’ at the Broth Bar in Bronte and a vanilla milkshake from McDonald’s, of course.
Where do you like to have a drink?
I love the cocktail menu at the Glenmore Hotel rooftop bar in The Rocks, overlooking the Opera House. I don’t really drink much, but I love quiet spots overlooking the water where you can sip a glass of wine and chat in silence while listening to the waves.
Best thing about the Eastern Suburbs? The people. They create this unique vibe that makes this place the best on Earth. It’s never boring; there’s always something to see, fun to be had, meeting new people, playing sport... and the beaches from Bondi to Coogee are the jewel in the crown.
Worst thing about the Eastern Suburbs? Housing prices, and dog poo on the lawn where you want to lie down.
How would you describe your art? I would say that my art is mostly funny, it will definitely bring a smile to your face. I love drawing animals with human emotions, and I have a passion for experimenting with different techniques. Recently I have been drawing on T-shirts and clothing for myself and for friends.
Where can people see your work? @azadrun_art_bondi is my Instagram, and you can also see me at Art Battles, where I compete with other artists, painting a picture in 20 minutes. I have an account on Bluethumb, but there are very few works there yet. My drawings are also on the menu board in Chapter One in Bondi, and I have some artworks in Wayward Brewing Company in Camperdown.
What are you working on at the moment? I am working on sketches for a short film called Reason to Stay, which my friend is filming. There are several sketches of the main character I contribute to. She struggles with addiction - it’s great
to get a different theme to work on, outside of my usual genre.
When did you discover you had a gift for your craft? Back in my childhood, when my friend and I drew comics in a notebook. I was also included in a school competition - I had to draw a Birch Tree, and I didn’t really think it was very good, but I won!
Any other local artists to look out for? Katerina Apale and Yelena Revis - both great artists.
Any words of wisdom for young aspiring artists? Never doubt yourself, do what you love and always learn something new.
What do you get up to on the weekends? I work sometimes at drawing workshops, cook food at home, go swimming, walk to the ocean or go on a hike, meet friends at Carriageworks Farmers Market on Saturday mornings and hang with Peter, my favourite person.
What do you do for work? I work in TV production as an assistant director on the set of a standup comedy show in my home country, remotely coordinating the post-production of episodes. Recently I became one of the artists of the mobile events team, Arty Party.
What's your favourite thing about work? I like the team on the set of the stand-up show. They are smart and cheerful people and I love sharing experiences, collabarating together to produce a professional product for everyone to enjoy. I believe humour is very important in maintaining well-being.
Do you have a favorite quote? “Strength in truth.”
Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast? If you have never drawn before, but wanted to, then definitely try it. And go to galleries and exhibitions, it’s cool and inspiring. There is never a right or wrong in art.
Interview James Hutton
Photo Selfie Sunrise sessions.
Go with the Flow in Dangerous Rip Currents
Words Anthony Maguire Photo Tommy Woodriff
Don’t try and fight the current when you’re in a rip! That’s the key message from Waverley Council’s Lifeguard Services Coordinator and Bondi Rescue star Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins as the summer beach season gets underway.
“The idea is to float and go with the flow of the water,” says Mr Hopkins. “The majority of times, it will take you across to the sand bank where you can stand up.”
“People who try and swim are the ones who need to get rescued. They get exhausted and tired. Let the rip take you rather than fighting it.”
What about the traditional advice about raising an arm to wave for help?
“People trying to float find it hard to wave as well. Most people just yell out.”
He admits that floating when you’re in a rip goes against human instincts.
“The first instinct is to thrash your arms around and fight the current.”
That’s why Waverley Council will be continuing to push the Float to Survive message with fresh beach signage and social media messages this summer. The Float to Survive campaign was launched by Waverley and Randwick Councils two years ago in partnership with UNSW’s Beach Safety Research Group.
“From my 32 years as a lifeguard, I know that simple safety advice can save lives,” Mr Hopkins explains.
“Drownings are on the up across Australia and we must do more to turn this tide. If you get into trouble in the water, conserve your energy, stop swimming and float. If you’re between the red and yellow flags, we have a far greater chance of spotting you, so please swim and bathe in the designated area when you come to our beaches.”
Waverley Council lifeguards will be on patrol at Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte between 6am and 7pm this summer.
Come Along to Christmas Presents for Sick Kids at the Clovelly Hotel
Words Anthony Maguire
Photo Jasmine Billett
Want to play Santa to sick kids and their families? Grab a gift and come along to the Forever Johnno ‘wrapathon’ at the Clovelly Hotel on Sunday, December 15.
It has been a yearly Yuletide event since 2008 when nineyear-old John Ward lost his battle with liver disease.
Initially the presents went to kids in the Clancy Ward at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Now gifts are distributed to all patients at the Westmead and Randwick children’s hospitals, plus their families.
“I’d like to think that if John was looking down, he’d be very proud,” said his father Mal Ward, organiser of the Christmas present drive and the Forever Johnno fundraisers for young transplant patients.
Last year, volunteers wrapped 1,765 Christmas presents supplied by sponsors. This year’s sponsors include Laugh and Learn Randwick, Sydney Zoo, Merlin Events, Santa by the Surf and Leeton Community Christmas Lunch.
If you’d like to donate a gift or help with wrapping, come to the Clovelly Hotel from 1-5pm on December 15. There’ll also be finger food and face painting.
Wardy's little helpers.
Hoppo says floating is the best strategy when a rip takes hold.
All 482 visas may now apply for PR, including cooks, café managers, hairdressers, marketing staff, etc. The qualifying period has also been reduced to two years Please call Brendan to discuss further
Bondi Beach Phone: 0404 552 322 brendan@bondimigration.com.au www.bondimigration.com.au
Where there's a Will there's a way - the new mayor of Waverley has pledged there will be a fresh approach to Council.
New Mayor Spells Out His Vision for Waverley
Words Anthony Maguire Photo Will Hartl
Waverley’s newly-elected mayor Will Nemesh will be drawing on his extensive business experience as he steers Council down a path towards strategic management of assets.
The Liberal councillor has proposed the formation of two new committees aimed at ensuring that “Waverley Council and the community get bang for their buck.”
With more people in the community getting caught up in the housing squeeze, he wants a Strategic Property and Housing Committee to “look at the nexus between our property portfolio and housing delivery.” This may involve additional acquisition of new housing stock.
Secondly, he has proposed a Capital Works Review Committee to look at all of Council’s capital works programs on a strategic level.
“Some hard decisions may have to be made because there are a number of strategic assets such as the old Council chambers that are reaching or have reached their end of life,” the new mayor explains.
There’s also the challenge of managing pieces of infrastructure that have either been recently refurbished, such as the Boot Factory in Bondi Junction, or are part-way through an upgrade, like Charing Cross.
“Once we upgrade our infrastructure, costs increase,” he says. “We need to be very discerning about priorities and have firm strategies to deliver on time and on budget.”
And he pledges that this will be done without any financial stings for residents.
“There will be no rate rises,” he promises.
Mayor Nemesh has a Bachelor of Business degree and recently completed postgraduate studies in city planning. For the past four years he has worked at a commercial property company, and this background will no doubt stand him in good stead as he champions a Bondi Junction masterplan aimed at turning the district into a vibrant commercial precinct.
“I want to take a strategic approach to the entire Bondi Junction district, not just the mall. A lot of businesses have exited and there’s a need for a holistic plan.”
Mayor Nemesh sees Bondi Junction as the place for implementing the state government’s plans for more housing.
“This would be a key factor in creating a more vibrant precinct, but with more residential amenity. I’m hopeful that by looking at Bondi Junction we’ll alleviate the pressure to have additional density elsewhere. We’ll signal to the state government that we can deliver the housing targets they want us to deliver, but do it in a way where we can control the process.”
Brought up in Rose Bay, Mayor Nemesh attended Double Bay Primary School, then Sydney Grammar. Aged 34, he sees himself bringing a fresh perspective to council affairs.
“Council has often deprioritised policies for people aged under 40,” he says. “I want to provide vibrant areas where young people can congregate and enjoy our incredible urban landscape and environment.”
A prominent member of the Sydney Jewish community, he has been married for seven years to management consultant Nicole - no children yet. His parents are medical professionals. His father John was an intensive care specialist for over 35 years and his mother Ruth was a nurse and currently is a social worker.
How does he feel about being elected Mayor of Waverley?
“It’s incredibly humbling to have the opportunity to lead this wonderfully diverse community.”
The Times They Are A-Changin’ as Dylan Takes the Helm Again
Words
Housing affordability and choices will receive priority attention from newly-elected Randwick City Council mayor Dylan Parker.
“Councils don’t have a magic wand to fix the housing problem but they do play a role,” Mayor Parker told The Beast.
“As a young mayor who is also a renter, I recognise the importance of this issue, particularly in planning future growth so the next generation can continue to live and raise their families in the area they grew up in.”
He said an important part of the housing challenge would be “partnering with the state and federal governments for affordable key worker housing plus improved social housing.”
Mayor Parker is 32 years old and this is his second term as mayor (the first was in 2021-23). He was previously the youngest Randwick councillor, but that distinction now goes to his Central Ward ALP stablemate Dexter Gordon, 26.
He says another key priority is building on Council’s environmental record.
“In the next decade, many within our community will be switching to electric vehicles. Council is in the front seat
of driving that change. We’ll be putting more EV charging stations in high density areas and encouraging them in private developments.”
Meanwhile, there will be a focus on increasing tree canopy cover and plantings of native shrubs in parks and street gardens.
Mayor Parker also plans to provide increased support for the “community sporting groups which do a great deal to nurture active and healthy lifestyles.”
A keen volunteer lifeguard at Maroubra, he’ll be overseeing surf club upgrades, improvement of amenities at Heffron Park and investment in outdoor gyms at locations like Coral Park in Maroubra.
Arts and culture are also high on the agenda and he wants to see more live music at both indoor and outdoor venues. He’d also like an expanded presence of markets such as the Maroubra Beach Markets.
He says he loves working as mayor and is looking forward to the next two years.
“One of the great privileges of being mayor is working with staff and community members who are committed to improving our area.”
Flash New Staircase for South Coogee Rockpool
Words Anthony Maguire
Photo Fred Astairecase
It’s now a lot easier and safer to access Ivo Rowe rockpool following the completion of a $500,000 staircase.
There are 42 steps made from reinforced polymer minimesh, with stainless steel handrails. The structure is supported by steel girders, with a platform where people can take a breather or admire the view.
Previously there were concrete and sandstone steps that could get dangerously slippery.
“Good news, no more injuries,” said local resident Donna Stone in a Facebook discussion about the new stairway.
The Ivo Rowe rockpool is a shallow, natural rockpool below the Coastal Walkway. It’s named after a local who maintained the pool in the 1930s by keeping it clear of rocks. In 1965 Randwick Apex Club made it a bit bigger without adversely affecting its natural look.
You can access the stairway from Bunya Parade or walk there from Coogee along the Coastal Walkway.
A feat of modern engineering.
Anthony Maguire Photo Clancy McNamara
Mayor Dylan Parker at Randwick Council’s food drive last month.
Precincts
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Bondi Beach – Monday 2 December, 7 – 9pm Bronte Beach – Wednesday 4 December, 7.309.30pm
Mill Hill / Bondi Junction – Monday 9 December, 7 - 9pm
Visit waverley.nsw.gov.au/precinct to find out location of the above meetings closer to the date.
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Waverley Council proudly supports resident run Precinct meetings.
Women of influence: Paula (speaking) with Marj, Kellie and Allegra at the Bondi Junction memorial.
Ex-mayor Reflects on an Eventful Five Years
Weeks after being elected mayor in September 2019, Paula Masselos faced a challenge far greater than the traditional concerns of local government. It was called COVID-19.
The beaches were shut down, businesses were closing left, right and centre and vulnerable members of the community were struggling to access services.
“We worked with the Bondi & Districts Chamber of Commerce during lockdown to start the Keep it Local Campaign,” Councillor Masselos says. “People were encouraged to shop local by going to a website to find out what local businesses were offering in a bid to help them stay afloat.”
Council revenue had been impacted at this time as a number of income streams, such as parking meters, were stopped to help the community. This meant financial belt-tightening so essential services could continue to be delivered during COVID, while extra funds were found to support businesses and the community. The public health orders (PHOs) at the time also required councils to think creatively about how people could be kept safe. Waverley Council hit upon the idea of beach ambassadors to enforce social distancing at Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte once they’d reopened.
Against this daunting backdrop, Councillor Masselos started steering Council through an ambitious public works programs that included the restoration of the Bondi Pavilion, the much loved Boot Factory and the Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club. And there were streetscape upgrades too such as Glenayr Avenue in Bondi Beach. Funds for these projects had already been planned for, but at that time the state and federal governments were encouraging infrastructure projects as a way of keeping people employed.
“In spite of the then state government encouraging councils to spend their cash reserves, we were careful, managing our budgets prudently”.
This prudence came in handy when the commercial building firm Lloyd Construction went belly-up in March 2023. The company was the lead contractor for the restoration of the Boot Factory and Tamarama SLSC. Council successfully saved both projects with the Boot Factory recently opened to the public.
In addition to those accomplishments, Councillor Masselos has addressed crucial environmental issues.
“Council declared a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency and worked on strategies to achieve Waverley’s emissions targets. We’ve increased tree canopy in the LGA, FOGO recycling is under trial and transition to electric vehicles is being well-managed.”
The arts has been high on the agenda, with the restored Pavilion becoming a popular hub for music and the visual arts. Councillor Masselos has also strived to honour Indigenous culture and issues. For instance, putting forward a proposal for a First Nations Keeping Place.
Empowerment of women has been another passionate cause. Councillor Masselos established a Women’s Council to address local issues - affordable housing and a women’s refuge have been under discussion. Women’s histories have been documented and Council launched its International Women’s Day Award.
Then came a tragedy which shocked and frightened local women, plus the broader community, to the core - the Bondi Junction stabbings, where a mentally ill man killed six people, five of them women, in the aisles of Westfield in April 2024.
“It was so important to be seen as the voice of calm when speaking with the media as so many people were in shock and grief,” she says.
Councillor Masselos did the same as she talked to mourners who left tributes outside the centre, tapping into her skills as a university-educated social worker and professional communicator (she runs an agency specialising in multicultural communications).
In the days following the attack, Councillor Masselos worked closely with state member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill, officials from the Premier’s Department and others to set up the tributes in the mall and the vigil at Bondi Beach.
Speaking of the mall, the transformation of the tired pedestrian precinct into a late-night eating hub is now under way following an extension of business hours and a design competition initiated by Councillor Masselos.
Her heart has always been in the right place.
“I’d like to think I was a mayor who had compassion and understanding,” she says.
Oh, and this daughter of a Greek café owner has proved to be a shrewd financial manager, holding on to most of Council’s cash reserves. At last count almost $100 million was in the coffers, and at the end of the 2023-4 financial year there was a budget surplus of almost $2 million.
Words and Photo Anthony Maguire
Randwick Council Listens to Local Stakeholders
Randwick City Council looks like shelving plans to build a pocket park at the corner of Clovelly Road and Burnie Street after local businesses gave an emphatic thumbs-down to the project.
Shopkeepers near the intersection raised strong objections about the loss of parking under the plan, which would have seen the slip road at the intersection disappear when the current small traffic island was expanded.
Another factor seems to have been a very mixed reaction from the community to the creation of another pocket park up the hill at the Carrington Road intersection. Here, reduced parking has also been an issue, along with the over-arching question, why?
Why spend massive amounts on tinkering with the streetscape when the funds could be better-spent on upgrading existing parks or other projects?
One answer to this question could be the fact that the NSW Government is making funds available for such projects under its Public Spaces Legacy Program. And the amount of money flowing from the state coffers appears to be considerable.
“The budget for the Burnie Street pocket park was going to be $1.2 million,” says John Halkitis, owner of Rhino Mouthguards, which sits on the corner of the slip road that was earmarked for demolition.
Recently Mr Halkitis and other business owners at the intersection received a visit from Randwick City Council’s general manager, Ray Brownlee, and half a dozen councillors.
“They graciously listened to what we had to say about parking and traffic flow issues. We also told them it would take away the village feel in this part of Clovelly.”
A short time after that, Clovelly Precinct received news from Council’s Technical Services Manager, Joe Ingegneri.
“The project is currently on hold following representation from local businesses with very strong concerns about the impact the project will have on the area,” Mr Ingegneri explained.
Clovelly Precinct chair Bill Brennan believes this is a clear signal the project will be completely shelved.
“No-one wanted it,” he says.
Diva Charity Scores Sick
New Ute
to Help the Needy
Words Anthony Maguire
Photo Jenna Russ
Local organisations have reached into their pockets to fund the purchase of a $49,000 ute for good Samaritans Diva Charity.
The GWM ute will be used for Diva Charity’s distribution of free food and other essentials in the Housing Commission district of South Maroubra. In addition, it will transport local elderly folk on regular outings.
Funds for the ute purchase came from Lions Australia, Westfield Local Heroes, Maroubra Seals, the Clovelly branch of Bendigo Bank, Patrick Terminals, United Football Club and Supercell Australia.
“I’m over the moon about the way these organisations rallied to the cause and made the ute purchase possible,” said Diva founder Christina Iskander, who earlier this year was local winner in the NSW Government’s Women of the Year Awards.
Diva Charity is currently gearing up for its Christmas Toy Drive, where it plays Santa to disadvantaged kids. You can drop off toys at First Grade Fitness in McKeon Street, Maroubra Beach.
Christina looking pretty stoked with her new wheels.
Words and Photo Anthony Maguire
Plans to expand this island into a pocket park have been put on hold.
Crime News
Words Jimmy Felon
Photo Tom Smith
Police Investigating Boat Vandalism
Local fisho and emergency services worker Steve Najdovski saved for years to buy his $40,000 boat. But now his beloved craft, and the trailer it sits on, have been targeted by a cruel vandal - perhaps a nearby resident upset about boat owners taking up parking spots.
Mr Najdovski learned of the attack on the morning of October 22 when he went to Boundary Street, Clovelly - the vessel had been parked there for the past three weeks, on the verge next to Waverley Cemetery.
The wheels to the trailer were standing on their rims.
“The tyres had been slashed,” Mr Najdovski told The Beast.
Then he saw that inside the boat, the electrical and fuel lines had been cut.
“It broke my heart,” he said.
His boat wasn’t the only craft targeted by the vandal - two others nearby also had their trailer tyres slashed.
Officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command are investigating the damage to the boats parked near the intersection of Boundary and Campbell Streets, Clovelly. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Randwick Siege
Police surrounded a Randwick unit block following reports a man was holed up inside with two guns.
The drama erupted after police made a welfare check at the Dudley Street flat. However, it seems the man didn’t greet the officers with open arms.
Within a short space of time, police from the Public Order and Riot Squad were swarming outside the building and a section of the street was closed off.
The occupant of the flat refused to budge, only darting out of his flat very briefly to take a pic of a policeman in body armour coming up the stairs. That photo and others were posted on social media. Meanwhile, a specialist police negotiator was brought in.
After a stand-off lasting almost ten hours, officers arrested a 31-year-old man. They also seized two allegedly unauthorised firearms and a ballistic vest.
The man was taken to Maroubra police station and charged with a number of firearms offences.
Former Councillor Put the Boot Into Godmother
A former Waverley councillor who viciously assaulted an elderly woman in a home invasion has walked free from court after the judge heard he was in the grip of a prescription drug addiction at the time.
High as a kite, Sam Einfeld, 45, rammed his car into the garage of his godmother Margot Pridday. Then he entered the Surry Hills home and chased the 82-year-old around the house. Once he caught up with her, he kicked her in the legs, causing severe lacerations and bruising. His victim was badly traumatised, especially since she’d known Einfeld since the day he was born and had been best friends with his mother.
Police arrested Einfeld at the scene and his recent appearance in the District Court marked a tragic decline for the one-time youngest ever Waverley councillor - he was elected in 1999 at the age of 18 and went on to work for top tier law firm Minter Ellison.
Judge Jennie Girdham SC took into account the time Einfeld had spent straightening himself out in a residential rehab unit plus a spell in custody. She sentenced him to an intensive corrections order of one year and nine months.
Drunken Car Keying Rampage
Bondi man Shane Partridge displayed a distinct antipathy to a couple of German car brands after an ANZAC Day drinking session at numerous Eastern Suburbs pubs.
The 57-year-old was caught on camera in Bondi Junction at 7.47pm walking up to a parked Audi - and wrenching off its right windscreen wiper. Then he turned his attention to another car parked nearby - a black Porsche.
Partridge made a beeline for the Porsche, reaching into his pocket to take out a key or coin. He then proceeded to scratch the bonnet of the luxury vehicle before moving on to the driver’s side and leaving his mark - several marks in fact. After that he keyed the rear of the car before going back to the bonnet and applying some finishing touches to his handiwork.
Facing property damage charges in Waverley Local Court, Partridge claimed he had absolutely no recollection of the episode.
Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge described his actions as “shameful.” She sentenced Partridge to a two and a half year community correction order and ordered him to pay $47,782 compensation to the Porsche owner.
Clovelly fisho Steve feels gutted after the attack on his boat.
Waiting for Greatness
Lovers of Nielsen Park know that greatness can’t be rushed. They know that Rome wasn’t built in a day and that the Great Wall of China took 2,000-plus years to construct.
That’s why they’re willing to endure summer upon summer without access to one of the most beautiful bays in Sydney Harbour National Park, while contractors replace the seawall with an edifice more impressive than any colosseum or structure visible from space.
Beachgoers don’t know how many dead bodies lie within the communist-era concrete monolith, or why authorities won’t issue a Stalinesque response to the contractor’s excuses.
They’re just happy to wait. They’ll swelter through another Sydney scorcher without enjoying the tranquil waters, and content themselves with peering longingly though wire fencing as tide after tide carries more sand away from their beloved beach.
They will wait, for they know what awaits them if the seawall is ever completed.
They can look forward to being enthralled by Theatre of the Drowned, at which audience members can BYO cushion and sit on the communist concrete, or BYO Lilo and surround waterborne thespians as they deliver an aquatic version of Shakespeare’s classics.
Theatre goers will shout, “No, it’s a garfish,” when Macbeth asks, “Is this a dagger which I see before me?” while highschool students past and present will rejoice as the Bard’s baffling banter disappears beneath the surface, rendering it even more incomprehensible than it is in print. The more macabre among us will rejoice as the tragedies end with every character floating face-down in the bay.
The wall will create ‘Un Arena sin Arena - A Sandless Arena’, which will prevent entertainment companies from staging land-based gladiatorial battles. Thus, the masses will enjoy visceral reenactments of the naval battles of Leyte Gulf, Jutland, Lepanto and Water-
loo. Bacon and egg rolls will be served during the re-creation of the Bay of Pigs invasion, and, if Johnny Depp’s dog is granted a visa, locals might even land a role as an extra in the next instalment of Pirates of the Caribbean. Nielsen Park regulars are also willing to wait because they feel safe at night knowing that northern hordes will never breach a wall of such imposing scale and brutal strength. Furthermore, before departing his many ministries, local boy Scott Morrison ordered the installation of anti-submarine defence systems within the seawall to protect Australia from regional players outside of the AUKUS pact.
The closing act of the greatest show to hit our shores features Waiting for Godot. Vladimir and Estragon will take to a tinny to present Samuel Beckett’s tragicomedy in two acts. Residents will empathise greatly with the characters, who wait for the promised Godot, who never arrives.
Words Kieran Blake - kieranblakewriter.org
Photo Neve Rending
Shark Beach at Nielsen Park, Vaucluse, circa 1930.
The latest from Randwick City Council about living in this great city
Randwick News
It’s an honour to return as the Mayor of Randwick. I look forward to working alongside our community to continue improving our area.
Summer is an exciting time to live in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and Randwick City Council is gearing up to launch our biggest, best and brightest Christmas program yet.
From Coogee Carols, decorations in our town centres –including a nine-metre interactive tree at Coogee Beach – and our ‘Summer Sounds’ pop-up music series, there’s so much to see and do in Randwick City this December. You can also check out the fabulous community Christmas events in Clovelly, Matraville and South Maroubra.
We’ve extended the popular Maroubra Beach Markets until August 2025, moving the monthly event to the first Saturday of the month to avoid clashes with surf life saving nipper events. Head down to Broadarrow Reserve in Maroubra on Saturday 7 December to support local stallholders and get ahead on your festive season shopping!
As the days get longer and the temperatures rise, make sure to ‘slip, slop, slap’! If you’re heading to any of our beautiful beaches, remember to only swim between the red and yellow flags. Council Lifeguard patrols of Little Bay and Malabar Beaches recommence on 1 December and Coogee, Clovelly and Maroubra are patrolled year-round.
No matter what or how you celebrate at this time of year, I wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy festive season.
What’s On
MAROUBRA BEACH MARKETS
SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER 8am – 2pm
Broadarrow Reserve, Maroubra
SATURDAY CIRCLE
SATURDAY 14 DECEMBER
Randwick Sustainability Hub
COOGEE CAROLS
SUNDAY 15 DECEMBER
6.30 – 8.30pm
Goldstein Reserve, Coogee
COOGEE SPARKLES
TUESDAY 31 DECEMBER 9pm
Goldstein Reserve, Coogee
Councillor Dylan Parker Mayor of Randwick
Randwick Mayor
Dylan Parker
The Unreliable Guide to... Extreme Weather Events
The Unreliable Guide recently had a holiday up in the green and leafy boondocks of Byronshire. It cost a motser and should’ve been chilled to the power of Mullum, but we experienced an extreme weather event that closed roads, turned off the power and left us up in the hills with no water for three days.
It was hectic, but while I gathered rainwater in a saucepan so I could flush the loo it wasn’t, ‘Oh no!’ that I was thinking, but rather, ‘Here we go again…’ Because we’ve had a lot of these weather events lately. It seems like every time we go away there’s a flood, fire or some other kind of biblical-level natural disaster.
Crazy weather is becoming the new normal - Mother Earth is cranky and she’s letting us know it - big time. Just ask Florida. Imagine booking in for two weeks there at the end of September this year. First course, Hurricane Helene, followed by main course, Milton, and if you stay on an extra week, a dessert of red tides with flesh eating bacteria. Yum. And according to
climate denying Florida senator Rick Scott, it’s all perfectly natural. But if you’re getting hot under the collar about this crazy weather, never fear, because The Unreliable Guide is here to give you some tips and tricks on how to keep your cool while Mother Earth loses hers.
Isn’t Climate Change Just a Greenie Hoax?
Yeah… nah. Turns out the hippies have been right all along, damn their patchouli-scented protest banners. According to a report from UNSW, 2023 was the hottest year on record for our precious little blue green planet. Prof. Pitman, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, states, “There’s plenty of places around the world where events are becoming hard to survive.” Remember our terrible bushfire season back in 2019/20? That felt like Armageddon and it burnt a record-breaking 16.9 million hectares. At the Olympics we got twice as many golds as Canada, but they’ve beaten us at bushfires, losing 18.4 mil-
lion hectares in June 2023. And these pesky stats keep piling up. We have a reputation for being the sunburnt country, but my pale Pommie relatives have booked a holiday here next August because their European summer is now too bloody hot. Increasingly unbearable heatwaves over Europe are killing upwards of 175,000 people a year, including the brilliant Dr Michael Mosely, who in June this year famously died of heat exhaustion while on holiday. I thought power cuts and an unflushable loo was bad enough, but dying? That really spoils the holiday vibe.
Country Roads, Take Me Home
But we Sydney folk don’t need to worry about these holiday destinations, do we? If Byron gets washed away we can just book a week in the Gold Coast, and when that finally loses its overpriced, overshadowed strip of beach we’ll go to Bali… unless a pesky tidal wave has wiped out all the good beaches.
We don’t need to support renewable fuels or go crazy and trade in our dinky-di petrol-head ute for some nambypamby electric number. After all, we can pretty much ignore climate change in our city. Too hot? Flick on the AC. Too wet? Catch an Uber. Millions of hectares of pristine bushland on fire and the air a toxic, asthma inducing smog? Close the window, turn on the TV and pretend it’s not happening. Too easy, mate.
Finally, The Unreliable Guide knows you are bored to the back bollocks with people bleating on about climate change, but really, we are f*cked unless we do something. To quote the most marvelous Alan Bennett, “Sometimes there is no next time, no time-outs, no second chances. Sometimes it’s now or never.”
Words Nat Shepherd Photo Rod Evans
Lake Lismore after the downpour.
Matt Thistlethwaite
Your Local Member for Kingsford Smith
I am able to help you with a range of matters including Centrelink, pensions, aged care, immigration, NDIS and Telcos.
My office will be closed from 22 December 2024 to 6 January 2025.
Office: Shop 6, 205 M
Maroubra NSW 2035
Mail: PO Box 895, M
Email: Matt.Thistleth
Phone: (02) 9349 60
www.mattthistlethwa
Matt Thistlethwai @MThistlethwait @thistlethwaitem
Regrets, he had a few.
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda…
Words Jeremy Ireland
Photo Barbara Sinatra
Have you ever done something you wish you hadn’t? Is there something you wish you’d done but decided not to at the time? Have you ever put off making a decision in case you made the wrong choice? There’s a solid chance the answer to all three questions is ‘yes’.
Considering the average person makes somewhere between 20,000 to 35,000 decisions a day, unless your brain’s processing power is equivalent to the robot TARS from the movie Interstellar, there’s a 99.95 per cent chance there’d be one decision you wish you hadn’t made. Despite the fact that TARS was programmed to be as human as possible, at the end of the day he’s a machine and machines don’t have emotions. If TARS made a wrong decision do you think he would regret it? Even if he said he did, would you believe him? I think not.
Regret is an emotion only experienced by humans. Essentially it’s a response to the realisation that a different choice or action might have led to a better outcome. The emotional responses we get with regret pivot around how a decision might impact our-
selves or indeed others. We may get feelings of disappointment, sadness or missed opportunity, all of which have potential to funnel towards shame, guilt or remorse, which can lead us into the territory of depression and anxiety if left unchecked. Despite the justifiable feeling that regret and guilt are magnetically intertwined, they are in fact different. Unlike regret, guilt is targeted towards the ‘self’ and is often open to cognitive distortion, whereas regret is primarily aimed at behaviour, i.e. what we ‘did’ do, ‘didn’t’ do, ‘should’ do, etc. It is distinct from other related and often guilt-laden emotions like anger, envy and disappointment. This is why regret is a tricky emotion. Regret can be both retrospective and anticipated, tending to bridge the past and the future into the present. With retrospective regret, one is understandably led to mentally replay past scenes, ruminating on the leftovers, trying to make sense of what went wrong or reconcile what was left undone. It can be complicated, as regret is often unavoidable and sometimes out of our control.
Anticipated regret is slightly different. Studies in regret theory state that people often anticipate regret, sometimes resulting in us getting stuck when making decisions or choosing something. It might be as simple as choosing red or black, chocolate or vanilla, deciding what to wear on a first date, what course to pick at university, whether to sell a kidney to get a housing deposit... It’s worth knowing that anticipated regret is a future state where anxiety lies, hence the uncomfortable feeling. However, this fear of regret can also act as a protective barrier, making us consider all options before deciding. Either way, anticipated regret can feel quite debilitating, especially if we place high stakes on what we might lose.
Despite regret being mostly a reflective and backward looking
emotion, it’s not always a bad thing, as we can always learn from mistakes. In this sense regret can be useful. If we regret something we have done in the past it might encourage us to choose a different future pathonce bitten twice shy. That being said, humans overall are averse to loss. Weirdly, we equate a loss at around twice the change in value as an equivalent gain. In other words, we tend to attach twice as much meaning to losing something as gaining something, and overall we have a general reluctance to make choices that lead to loss. Losing $10 in a bet has a higher emotional impact in terms of overall value than winning $10.
If you are anticipating regret there are some things to consider that may help. Goals are shaped by expectation, so by keeping the expectation bar moderate, or at least realistic, we can minimise the chance of regret, especially when it comes to an economic decision, because we have a natural tendency to lean towards the forgone rather than the attained. For things in the past, sometimes we get caught up in hindsight, forgetting we made the choice for the best reasons that were appropriate at the time. If this resonates, it’s worth knowing that regret is natural, normal and even healthy. Forgiving yourself, making amends and trying to find the positives of the situation are useful strategies. Unless you’re like TARS, regret can have a capacity to lower life satisfaction, self-esteem, confidence, motivation and increase feelings of hopelessness and anxiety. The good news is that regret does fade over time, but if you’re feeling stuck, professional assistance can help.
Jeremy Ireland is a local psychotherapist. Have you got a question? You can get in touch with Jeremy by calling 0400 420 042.
Bridging the DivideAddressing 'Wicked Problems' in Our Local Community
Words Dr Marjorie O’Neill - Member for Coogee
Photo Dorman Long
The complexity of the issues we need to deal with as a community have grown substantially in recent decades due to such factors as globalisation, technological advances, population growth and environmental pressures. These complex issues can be referred to as ‘wicked problems’ - i.e. difficult to resolve, do not have a clear or single solution, and attempts to resolve them often create new problems. It is somewhat inevitable that wicked problems have a polarising effect because they impact upon differing values and interests, which is obviously harmful to our community’s cohesion and to our ability to respond effectively to the challenges that we face.
It’s no secret that our community is facing a growing problem with polarisation. Whether it’s heated debates about local development, differing opinions on social justice or clashing views on climate action, the tendency to see others as either ‘with us’ or ‘against us’ is increasingly driving a wedge between us. As the divide grows deeper, we’re finding it harder to talk about important issues without the discussion turning into an argument about
who is right and who is wrong. If we want to tackle the problems facing our community, we need to find a way to talk to each other with respect and a genuine willingness to listen.
At a personal level, polarisation can leave us feeling disconnected from our neighbours. If we view those who seek outcomes in apparent conflict with our own as ‘others’, our sense of community and recognition of shared identity that binds us together is eroded. Worse still, polarised views breed hostility, making us feel like we’re living alongside opponents rather than friends and allies. The impact of this polarisation does not just result in uncomfortable dinner conversations or social media spats. It affects the very fabric of our community and how we move forward and address our biggest challenges, our wicked problems. When people dig their heels in, compromise becomes difficult, if not impossible. This can lead to stalled decision-making on important issues, as those with opposing views refuse to budge and make space for those with differing options.
Right now in our community there are at least four very impor-
tant and divisive issues that we must deal with as a community: Housing, and particularly the need for more housing, including affordable housing; bike lanes on our roads to facilitate more active transport; EV chargers on our streets to assist in the migration from petrol to electrical vehicles, especially for those who do not have garages; and of course trees, both essential to our environment and a source of damaging roots, leaves that litter and even safety concerns.
These important issues are wicked problems. We seek to preserve the character of our beautiful suburbs and fight increased population density while wanting our children to be able to live locally and our need for essential workers to be housed. We understand how active transport assists our environment and our health while reducing the number of cars on our roads yet are inconvenienced and even worried by the implications of bike lanes on our busy roads. We recognise the environmental need to move to electric vehicles and provide charging facilities for the many in our area who do not have garages, which reduces the already short supply of parking spots on our streets. We all love trees and know how important they are to our environment yet their roots, leaves and over-shadowing are matters of concern.
Wicked problems require collaborative, adaptive and innovative behaviours. Solutions often require our managing or reducing the problem rather than simply solving it. Trade-offs and compromises are usually required. It begins with respectful conversations, when we take the time to listen to others and acknowledge their perspective of the issues. Respectful dialogue is an antidote to the negative effects of polarisation. It provides a pathway to our solving our wicked problems and offers our best chance of achieving an optimal outcome. Let’s make the decision, for all of our benefit, to do it!
Building bridges.
Pork, Fennel, Green Apple and Parmesan Meatballs With Sumami
Italian Chilli Paste
Words Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine
Along came a new chilli sauce, too good not to add to your favourite dishes, and these pork meatballs are no exception.
Sumami Italian chilli paste (Instagram @sumami_co) is the hit to take this recipe to new heights. The meatballs are melt in your mouth and full of complimentary flavours of fennel, green apple, parmesan and the chilli paste, and the best part is you can create these meatballs in one big savoury bowl!
There’s a bit of rolling by hand, assembling rustic spheres, a fry and toss until golden and they are ready to plate. You should definitely apply more Sumami chilli heat and flavour by using it as a dipping sauce on the side when you serve. Just add a little fresh green salad using flat leaf parsley, more of the sweet green apple, shaved fennel and a zingy lemon and olive oil
dressing and this deliciousness is ready to share around your summer table.
This recipe makes 26 meatballs, and you can purchase Sumami Italian chilli paste at www.sumami.com.au or from Maroubra Beach Markets on the first Saturday of each month.
Ingredients
750gm pork mince
1/2 small fennel bulb, outer layer, stems and end removed, finely grated or chopped
1 large green apple, peeled and grated
½ cup parmesan, finely grated
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
2 tbs Sumami Italian chilli
paste
¼ cup olive oil, for frying
For serving
¼ cup Sumami Italian chilli
paste
1 lemon cut into wedges
Salad
1½ cups flat leaf parsley
1 green apple, (skin on), sliced thinly using a mandolin
½ small fennel, sliced thinly using a mandolin
¼ cup fennel fronds, picked
Dressing
Juice of ½ lemon
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
¼ tsp sea salt
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180℃.
2. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, except the additional Sumami Italian chilli paste that is reserved for serving.
3. Mix thoroughly with clean hands to combine all ingredients. Roll small amounts of the pork mince mixture into approx. 3cm sized balls. Use all of the mixture and set the meatballs aside.
4. Heat a large frypan to medium heat and add the olive oil for frying. When the pan is hot, add the meatballs, allowing space between each one, and fry for 3 minutes, turning occasionally to brown on all sides. Transfer the pan to the oven and cook for 6 mins. Remove from the oven and transfer from the pan to a serving plate.
5. Assemble the salad and dressing and serve in a separate bowl. Add the Sumami Italian chilli paste to a small bowl and serve on the side.
Dana Sims is a Sydneybased food and prop stylist who has grown up in the Eastern Suburbs and loves to create delicious food. 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.
Melt in your mouth goodness.
December 17 - January 23
A SYMPHONY OF COLOUR
Randwick Art Society Exhibition
An explosion of colour and energy as varied and unique as its artists. Be captivated a variety of themes
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR SICK KIDS
Official present drop-off & wrapping station Sunday, December 15th, 1pm-5pm Bring the kids for FREE face painting, and help wrap a Oceanview Room
For kids like Leni, Christmas is a time for toys and fun.
For the seriously ill and injured children staying at Ronald McDonald House in Randwick, they just want their families close as they battle childhood illnesses and injuries
On average, it costs Ronald McDonald House Charities $160 to support a family for one night so they can stay for FREE
We need to raise 625 nights to provide a home-away-fromhome for kids undergoing life-saving treatment this Christmas.
Subject My
The
Tribe Location Coogee Photographer Kim McCarthy
Subject Ploughing Pigeons Location Bondi Junction Photographer Graeme Bogan
Subject Adorable Nudi at Wylie's Location Coogee Photographer Susan Elliott @ocean_pool_octopuses
Subject Crazy Swing Location Coogee Photographer Béatrice Bathany
Subject Magpie's Eye View Location Tamarama
Subject Northerly Aspect Location Bronte Photographer Theresia Hall @theresia.g.hall
Photographer Simon Bartlett
Subject Chilled Location Bronte Photographer Béatrice Bathany
Subject Handball Champion Location Coogee Photographer Brody Vancers
Subject Deep Purple Location Clovelly Photographer Amelie Fletcher
A Snow to Sea Adventure
The car purred in the mountain air as Charlotte and I descended down from the slopes. Snow patches became fewer and farther between until there were none at all, as I thought about how many people would have surfboards packed into their cars around these parts. We washed off three days of snowboarding with an icy plunge in Lake Jindy before boiling up a coffee and striking for the coast.
Leaving the rugged mountains behind, we traversed a vast and featureless plateau before plummeting down a long and windy descent. Below, plump green hills dotted with chubby cows welcomed us as we crossed quaint bridges over cobblestone streams. The warm glow of the sunset bathed us in golden light as we edged closer to the coast.
We were headed for an old weatherboard house that has been in the family for close to a hundred years. Perched on the riverside and just a stone’s throw from the ocean, it’s the ultimate refuge from any South Coast winter, provided you know how to keep the fire going.
The following morning we rose early to make the most of a small
long period swell with an early surf in the winter water. Despite thick rubber suits and booties it was a race against time, surfing until you couldn’t feel your hands and feet before racing back to the car. We defrosted with a hot brekkie and a game of scrabble in the morning sun before boredom struck and we went searching for our next activity.
With very little swell around and light offshore winds all day, it was the perfect opportunity to take the little 4 metre tinnie through the river mouth and out wide. Armed with some frozen pillies and a fresh tank of petrol, the open ocean was our canvas for the day’s adventure. We bobbed around next to the seal colony that hangs off the headland first before pointing the bow to the horizon and letting the two-stroke rip. With no sounder or any specific spots to hit, I stopped when it felt right and we dropped baits to the bottom, drifting for a while and picking up a few blue spot flathead. The distant Araluen mountains had a commanding energy as they stood on the horizon, reminding us of the past few days at the snow.
Driving to the next spot, we intercepted a pod of bottlenose dolphins that tailed us, surfing the boat’s wake for a few hundred meters before peeling off. I’ve always said that I would come back as a dolphin if I had the chance, they seem to have it all pretty worked out.
Next we spotted a small figure flying through the air in the distance before splashing back into the water. As we neared, we saw a big old seal violently tossing its fish dinner through the air. Apparently they do this when their meal is too big to swallow so that they can tear off edible chunks. Seals are so dog-like, and it didn’t surprise me when I learned that they are closely genetically related. We left the seal to enjoy his meal and came back in close to shore, zipping up the beach only meters from the sand. It was funny to think that on any normal day we would be copping a 4-foot shorey into the boat in the same spot.
The conditions were still pristine, with the wind easing back to a complete glass off as we tried for snapper at another spot to no avail. In the distance, we saw a plume of mist shoot into the sky and pulled up our lines to go and have a look. We arrived to see a humpback whale the length of a bus cruising north. Keeping our distance, it was amazing how fast we had to go to keep up with the whale who seemed to move effertlessly. We marveled in the presence of the gigantic mammal for a while before leaving it to finish its mating migration north.
We had a few pillies left and were determined to catch something decent before heading back into the river. Stopping over a patch of reefy outcrop, I hooked something that pulled a bit of string and quickly boated a good sized blue morwong - a favoured eating fish of mine. Ending on a high, we cruised back through the river mouth and upstream to the house where we cooked the fish for lunch.
Words and Photo Lewis Kennedy-Hunt
Lewis and his lunch, a beautiful blue morwong.
December 2024
The Beast Supercross
ACROSS
1. Network 10 newsreader (6,5)
7. Albo’s job (1,1)
9. Remains of a living thing in a rock (6)
10. Inflates when a vehicle collides (6)
11. Large-leafed succulent (5)
12. Make minor changes to (5)
14. Nota bene (1,1)
17. Spanish party island (5)
19. Score that measures intelligence (1,1)
21. Wraparound skirt with Pacific origins (5)
23. Miniature tree (6)
24. Armenian flatbread (6)
25. Energetic person (6)
Trivial Trivia
DOWN
1. Daughter of The Godfather director (5,7)
2. An American stock exchange (6)
3. European river (5)
4. ... bookie (1,1)
5. Cricket official (6)
6. Brazilian dance (7)
8. A person unreasonably attached to a belief (5)
13. A medical imaging test (1,1,1)
15. Remove tissue to test (6)
16. Phonetic B (5)
18. Polish currency (5)
20. Capital of Ecuador (5)
22. Largest continent (4)
1. Name the most successful player in Chelsea FC history?
2. Norwegian artist Edvard Munch is famous for painting which iconic piece?
3. When was the first issue of Vogue published; 1892, 1960 or 2000?
4. What animal is used to make calamari?
5. What role did Imelda Staunton, Olivia Colman and Claire Foy share on a popular Netflix series?
6. Kiwifruit is indigenous to what part of the world?
7. What city is in both Asia and Europe?
8. What accessory was deleted from Mr Potato Head in 1987?
9. Globe and Jerusalem are types of what?
10. What is someone who shoes horses called?
Heretic
Genre Thriller, Horror
Reviewer Linda Heller-Salvador
What you see and what you believe could be two different things in long-term writing and directing collaborators Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’ (A Quiet Place) deliciously dark psychological cat-and-mouse thriller that prompts viewers to question their belief systems and how they come to acquire them. It’s time for enlightenment!
Sister Paxton (Chloe East) and Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) are two young Mormon missionaries on a quest to share their faith. When they visit the seemingly charming Mr Reed (Hugh Grant) for a candid discussion about theology, they gradually realise unexpected dangers are lurking behind his polite facade that will have them confronting the true nature of faith and the hazards of making assumptions.
The film effectively blends dry humour with psychological horror, enhancing Grant’s brilliantly unsettling performance of a middle-aged man who seamlessly flips from charming to psychopathic in the blink of an eye. This dynamic elevates the film’s creepiness factor, resulting in a devilishly entertaining experience that leaves us questioning the unsettling aspects of belief and blind faith.
Clay J Gladstone Is This How I Die?
Label Def Wolf Records
Reviewer @aldothewriter
Rating
These guys may be my new favourite band. I’m not ready to commit to them though. They have an insane energy, and every song is basically a self-confessed red flag, so if it were to blow up in my face, I’d only have myself to blame. I tell you what though, I’m six to eight drinks in at the bar, they’re eyeing me across the room, and I’m starting to pop buttons and sit up straight. It’s emo with a mullet and Merv Hughes’ moustache. Violent Soho crossed with My Chemical Romance. If they’re second album is this good, I’ll be ripping the shirt off and squeezing my nipples.
Nick Ward House With The Blue Door
Label EMI
Reviewer @aldothewriter
Rating
I’ve always dreamed of owning a house with a blue door, but perhaps the fantasy doesn’t match the reality. Nick Ward paints a complex upbringing behind that door. A half hour deep dive into the challenges of a conservative suburban upbringing, paired with a funky beat. Contemporary indie-pop at its finest. Dominic Fike with substance. No songs about chicken fingers and Hollywood parties here, rather deeply personal tales of struggle and perseverance through a tangled web that you know was woven with love but ultimately ends up suffocating you. Strewth, perhaps I’ll just get a bloody green door instead.
Tyler, The Creator Chromakopia
Label PaulFigga
Reviewer @aldothewriter
Rating
Hip-hop and rap have been in a weird stage of late. The golden age has well and truly degraded into an age of meh. If I am comfortable playing your rap album to my mother, you’re not a gangster, you’re an idiot. Ironically, Tyler, The Creator has never really positioned himself as gangster, but I am happy to say my mother would be absolutely horrified if I played this to her. Her loss. Amongst the obscenity is some beautiful artistry and top tier songcraft. Chromakopia is the album Kendrick could have released if he wasn’t too busy picking fights with a pop star.
Star Signs
Visions Beardy from Hell
Aquarius Jan 21-Feb 19
Calling in sick at work because you’re tired is a waste of a good sick day when you’re generally asleep at work anyway.
Pisces Feb 20-Mar 20
If you’re struggling to fit in around the Eastern Suburbs, just mention that your DA is taking ages and you’ll be instantly accepted.
Aries Mar 21-Apr 20
Making a porno is like watching your video footage after a session at the wave pool, i.e. you’re not as awesome as you thought you were.
Taurus Apr 21-May 21
Don’t lose sleep over the fact that your mates don’t have any respect for you - at least they still like getting drunk with you.
Gemini May 22-Jun 21
The only thing that’s going to get you into shape at this time of year is a tapeworm and a shitload of Semaglutide.
Cancer Jun 22-Jul 22
Downplay your most successful friends’ achievements in subtle ways to chip away at their confidence and bring them down.
Leo Jul 23-Aug 22
There’s not much point fighting a battle you’re guaranteed to win if there’s nothing to be gained from winning it.
Virgo Aug 23-Sep 23
The majority of the crap in your wardrobe needs to go. It wasn’t cool back when you bought it and it certainly isn’t cool now.
Libra Sep 24-Oct 23
If you’re keen to hook up with your mate’s partner, get them both over for dinner and float the idea. Anything could happen.
Scorpio Oct 24-Nov 22
A fancy new air fryer has the potential to completely change your life, despite the fact that it’s just a small oven.
Trivial Trivia Solutions
Building a community, together.
Independent Wentworth.
Authorised by Allegra Spender,
