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A Pluviophile's Paradise Words James Hutton @thebeastmag
An article in the November 2021 edition of The Beast concerning Ophthalmologist Dr David Robinson has been retracted, and The Beast apologises to Dr Robinson for the inaccurate statements made in the article concerning his professional conduct. Welcome to the January 2022 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s drenched beaches of the east. I don’t mind the rain, but last week’s deluge made my shitty old Subaru leak so much that the electrics got sizzled and she wouldn’t even start. Thanks to Brendan and the team from Coogee Auto for saving my arse yet again.
There’s a lot to be positive about as we head into 2022. It’s been a challenging couple of years for most people, but well over 90 per cent of New South Wales residents are now fully vaccinated and early data suggests that the existing vaccines will be effective against the new variant, Omicron. Things are certainly looking up. I hope everyone gets a bit of a break over Christmas and New Year’s to relax and spend time with family and friends. You’ve got to work pretty hard to be able to afford to live in Sydney these days, so time off is crucial for one’s sanity. I’m certainly looking forward to a spell down the South Coast at some stage. I hope you enjoy this edition. Cheers, James
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The Beast The Beast Pty Ltd ABN 32 143 796 801 www.thebeast.com.au Editor james@thebeast.com.au Advertising Enquiries advertising@thebeast.com.au Rates and Specs thebeast.com.au/advertise Circulation 60,000 copies are delivered every month; 58,000 are placed in mailboxes and 2,000 in local shops. PEFC Certified The Beast uses paper from sustainably managed forests. Letters to the Editor We want to hear from you! Please send your feedback to letters@thebeast.com.au and include your name and suburb.
CONTENTS January 2022 Issue 204
8 Welcome Note
28 Local Artist
42 Dave's Diary
9 Contents
30 Unreliable Guide
44 Dana's Recipe
10 Pearls of Wisdom
32 Kieran's Satire
46 Local Photos
12 Monthly Mailbag
34 Fishing Report
48 Brainteasers
18 Local News
36 Headnoise
49 Album Reviews
24 Police News
38 Money Matters
50 Beardy from Hell
26 Tide Chart
40 Marj's Musings
50 Trivia Solutions
Through the Golden Light at Clovelly, by Alan Wang.
Craig's cure-all.
Life Is Full of Inconveniences That Make Us Stronger Words Pearl Bullivant Photo Meryl Sheep In my role as self-appointed COVID ambassador, I genuinely envy the anti-COVID protestors with their self-assuredness and willingness to blatantly protest vaccine mandates and public health measures proven to save lives - how I wish I could be endowed with such bluster and naivety! I’m particularly in awe of (and absolutely fascinated by) the white, affluent, privileged ‘hippycrites’; those wellness warriors, replete with facial filler, fake tans, peroxide hair and adorned in activewear, who rant about discrimination, segregation and fascism, all the while keeping a straight face (perhaps the botox is to blame), unable to see the irony of their complaints.
It takes a brave person to possess the self-obsession and hypocrisy to be able to publicly declare ‘body sovereignty’ (such a wonderful word) at the same time as espousing peace, yoga, meditation and prayer flags in the global ‘villages’ of Bondi, Byron Bay and Brunswick. Seriously though, I should be pitying the self-delusion of anti-COVID protestors, not wishing for a glamorous life devoted to body autonomy. How embarrassing it must be for an anti-vax celebrity to admit to championing a ‘cause’ for which Craig Kelly is the poster boy, touting his worming tablet cure. Craig isn’t Instagram material, and Ivermectin is no substitute for Alfa PXP Royale Superfood Powder, which is also effective
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on wrinkles - something Craig could probably do with judging by the look of his big red melon. The lockdowns and restrictions have been a bit tiresome, but leftie Pearl supports health measures that support the collective. As any hippycrite worth their mantra knows, life is full of inconveniences that make us stronger. But as with the inconvenient truth of climate change, it is so much easier to act like a spoilt brat and pretend COVID doesn’t exist than face the consequences. Unfortunately, this selfish, whiny attitude is on display and openly endorsed by those who control Australia, the big business CEOs who regularly throw tanties every time they don’t get their own way, so is it any wonder that wellness warriors are modelling the same approach when it comes to vaccines, and ripping off the uneducated with $285/month COVID ‘cures’? This is where Aunty Pearl is here to help. It takes a lot of negative spiritual energy to support a cause as meaningless as anti-mask wearing, and it might be frustrating to be compulsorily vaccinated when one feels invincible due to a vegan diet and goat yoga, but imagine the frustration of medical staff putting their physical and mental health on the line every day. Get yourself a Pfizer shot and put those karmic qualities to causes more worthy, grab a pair of knitting needles and join Knitting Nannas outside a fracking site, brandish a placard, throw on a scanty NAGNATA crop top and shorts and protest ‘Freedom from Evil Property Developers’, and Insta yourself as you cycle naked through the Hunter Valley grape country in defiance of coal mines. You may find yourself in jail due to repressive environmental protest laws, but orange is the new black - and it’s very Instagram-able.
Engage. Inspire. Empower. Choose Waverley Applications closing soon for 2024 waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Beast's Monthly Mailbag Words The Emancipated People of the Eastern Suburbs Local Development Issues WAVERLEY PARK Dear Editor - Thank you for bringing attention to the proposed building of yet more cricket club facilities in Waverley Park. The Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club already has exclusive access to much of the park’s facilities including the oval, yet unfortunately it appears they feel entitled to more public land in Waverley Park. In addition to wanting to build on the flat grassed area above the indoor basketball court (with the terrific ocean views), they also want the strip of land between the oval and the sports field. Waverley Park is not that large and, according to Council, is above capacity due to use by the many sporting groups. I hope the cricket club appreciates the amazing facilities they already have and come to realise that no more land should be taken away from the vast majority of park users who will never use their facilities. Council needs to stop signing confidential agreements stating their intentions to hand over public land to sports clubs, particularly before entering into any community consultation. Interestingly Councillor Sally Betts sits on the club’s management team. Regards, B Hayes Waverley MARGARET WHITLAM RECREATION CENTRE Dear James - Thanks for the excellent article on the overdevelopment of Waverley Park. By now the election will have been decided; will we have councillors who stand up for residents and public open space, or councillors happy to do
secret deals with clubs? And then, when the deal is done, so-called public consultation? It’s ironic that council is refurbishing the Boot Factory and taking the bubble off the front of the Bondi Pavilion, yet it doesn’t see that it is bastardising a public architecturally designed building, the Margaret Whitlam Recreation Centre (MWRC), with a bit of additional plonk. What are they thinking, or aren’t they? The secret Heads of Agreement even calls for the ripping off of the front of the MWRC for access. I’m really not sure what access this would be for, or whose, as accessibility was designed in. The deal with users was that all goods and equipment were to be trolleyed in as the surrounds of the old ugly stadium had become a car park. This vehicle access and random car park was a danger to users, especially little kids easily lost among the large number of cars parked there. So it’s back to the past is it? As all past councillors, users and residents were intimately involved in the design, I am seriously disappointed. Kind regards, Ingrid Strewe M Env Ed Former Councillor and Mayor Bronte Mountain Biking in The East MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDING I was excited to read that councils are (finally) acknowledging the importance of building more mountain biking facilities. The track kids had built at the eastern end of Queens Park next to Carrington Road was very popular and my son loved going there and riding with the other kids. He was devastated when it was flattened
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(fortunately, we’ve found a new one in Bronte). Mountain bike riding has minimal impact on green space and bushland, and most cyclists are keen to protect the environment. Centennial Park would be a great place to enjoy BMX and mountain bike riding. Please make it happen! Urs Kemmann Bronte MOUNTAIN BIKING FEEDBACK Dear Nicola - As requested, here are my suggestions regarding mountain biking in this region. The Eastern Suburbs could really do with a dedicated mountain bike track. Currently we have to travel over an hour to get to any. Mountain bikes are a legitimate form of cycling! It engages young people and thereby helps to get them to do something other than watching screens, which is really important currently. The best places would seem to be one of the back hilly areas in Centennial Park, either in the pine tree area near Randwick Racecourse or over the other side above the dog off-leash area near the circular pavilion. If the park’s board say they can’t afford dedicating this space, then say that roads for the road riders take up considerable space also! We can’t just have facilities for the oldies! A dedicated track will likely reduce the ad hoc track making that currently goes on, so it will also be beneficial for broader park management. Regards and thanks for the opportunity to input, Richard Queens Park MOUNTAIN BIKE FACILITIES Dear Beast - Good article on Mountain Biking in the East. All the spirit shown by those kids escaping lockdown to meet up and build their own mountain biking tracks in our parks was great to see. It reminded me of all those childhood freedoms of the past now lost to screen time, and the insistence of us oldies that every piece of open space be for passive recreation and nothing more. By the way, the Centennial Parklands Trust can instantly permit biking in the parks by the simple step of putting up a sign - Clause 21 (2) (a) and (d) of the regula-
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tions. There is nothing in section 8 of its governing act that prevents the trust putting up that sign, and doing so would encourage the use and enjoyment of the parks. During lockdown we often noticed a group of youngsters, some would say a ‘gang’, digging jumps behind the trees at the western edge of Queens Park. They were causing no harm to anybody else and making use of much neglected parkland. I’ve never seen so many smiling happy faces. As a group, their co-operation and camaraderie would put us adults to shame. We’ve lost a lot of that fun, adventurous spirit. Give them space, let them build, and they’ll surprise us with how good they are. Regards, Mark Paul Queens Park MOUNTAIN BIKING Hi this is Seong. I started mountain biking when I was 5 years old. However, I only became super interested during the lockdown recently. I have enjoyed this sport from day one, venturing to each park in the Eastern Suburbs. My friends and I go out mountain biking 3-5 times a week. It would be amazing if you could make us a bike park. This would be a great option for young teenagers like us to have somewhere to go. Rather than the possibility of damaging parkland, a designated bike park makes a lot of sense. The only reason why the mountain bike riders ride in the park is because they have nowhere else to ride. Please make a mountain bike park. This would be awesome and would make every rider in the area happy, and even more, it might make your job easier in the coming years. This is a smart idea and would really make a difference to this community. This has been a long awaited dream for us bikers and would not only make us kids happy but all the adult bikers we have seen out in the trails would benefit too. They would also truly enjoy this new mountain bike opportunity. Many of us have tried starting petitions but our ideas have sadly been ignored. Mountain biking is a healthy activity for people of all ages and it is a particularly good activity for young teenagers who might otherwise be
getting into trouble. This is what we have wanted for ages. If we had a designated bike park, there would be fewer complaints from the non-biking community and the council would no longer have to fix grass land that might otherwise be accidentally damaged due to riding on the grass. I urge you to take our pleas seriously. Thank you for listening. Seong Heimann Bondi Junction Other Local Government Issues ARTWORK PAINTED OVER SOUTH BONDI AMENITIES BLOCK Hello James - On Tuesday this week, the amenities block at South Bondi was painted. Unfortunately, the stencilled artwork of the indigenous surfer has been painted over. It was a very well done piece of work. Would you put out a call through your magazine for the artist who did it to come and replace it, if possible? Regards, Paul Boric Bondi
REGULATING OUR LIVES! Local government should not be intruding into our lives. They should be looking at local issues of service and amenities. Unfortunately, the new Waverley Local Environmental Plan 2022 is encroaching politically into our thinking with their introduction of a new climate resilience clause. How far should we let them affect our lives, and how much power should they wield? We have state and federal governments to influence our legal obligations and that is enough. Sadly, hefty council levies imposed on residents have given local
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governments the money to build up their staff and exceed their charter. With each new plan they formulate, it is frightening how much power they wield to change our environment. Regards, Georgie Bronte State Government Issues KEEP THE BUS ISSUE ALIVE Wednesday, November 24, a demonstration held in front of NSW Parliament to protest the impending radical dismantling of the bus system in the East received no media coverage, despite the December 5 start date of the ruction. The government claims to have compromised after listening to the public, and pushes the line that the new system will improve the frequency, efficiency and connectivity of the system. A fine example of how they compromised is the 373 route from Coogee to Circular Quay. Formerly destined for the chop, it is now retained, but only as far as Museum Station. They suggest that if you deign to want to travel further then you should either get off in Oxford Street and catch another bus (probably having to stand up) or walk through to the light rail at Town Hall some 500 metres away across three busy roads. That’s connectivity for you. The city centre is crying out for a return of public activity. Why is it then that Sydney must be the only city in the world that has removed bus stops from its heart? It is no wonder bus users don’t patronise the Market Street retail hub when there are no bus stops along Elizabeth Street between Bathurst Street and Martin Place, nearly 1.5 kilometres apart along a noisy, stinking “traffic sewer”. Why would you do this, unless it is just to increase traffic flows with no regard for pedestrians and bus users? What are the plans for Circular Quay that require the removal of buses like the 373 from servicing the area? If the “increased services” promised in the government blurb is to be believed, there will still be as many buses at The Quay, just not the ones we want. The former minister Constance said that the purpose of the changes to the bus system
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was definitely not to push us into using the light rail, yet here we are having to transfer to it either near the start of our journey or half way through. But use it you must. The 372 service is to be rebadged as the 374, meaning a longer, slower journey to get from Coogee to Central via Cleveland Street. It seems there will no longer be a fast route to Central. The compromised 370 route, originally to terminate at Darlington, will now extend to Glebe Point. A slight improvement, but it diminishes what is one of the most enjoyable bus journeys for those with a spirit of adventure, meandering across the city, linking the Inner West with the beach, accessing two universities, two hospitals, four shopping precincts and four cinemas. A good day out by any measure. Bus users in the East need to keep this issue front of mind. Simon Bartlett Coogee Federal Government Issues SUBMARINES The “deal” we had with the French was mind-boggling. 12 standard submarines at $4 billion a pop, delivered sometime in 2035. $48 billion which had somehow escalated, at last count, to $90 billion, with a questionable delivery date. The Chinese navy has 66 submarines, 11 of them nuclear, and functioning. Looking at our weaponry, my impression is that we have warplanes that can’t fly and warships that can’t float, all paid for up front. They saw us coming. We have some old Collins class subs, probably not functioning. At least the trusting French can’t have been paid much up front or they wouldn’t be so upset. Scott Morrison is behaving like the kid in the playground taunting, insulting and vilifying Bully One in the fond belief Bully Two has his back and approves it. China appears now to be the most powerful nation in the world. How long does he think it would take China to completely destroy us from a safe distance if he keeps this up and they have a mind to? With the horrifying prospect that seems to be looming of a 2022 return to Republican power in the US, with their isolationist poli-
cies, and in any case Biden very cross with ScoMo, the little boy is prancing around in the schoolyard exposed and vulnerable. That means the people he “leads” you and me - are in deep trouble. Pamela Young Maroubra Other Local Happenings RUNNING FOR PREMATURE BABIES Hi James - I wanted to say thank you for your article in the November issue of The Beast on the Running for Premature Babies marathon challenge. I’d never heard of the charity before, and coincidentally my brother Max and I had been training to do a marathon as an end of year challenge. As a result of your article, we signed up to the challenge and managed to raise just under $500 for Sophie’s great charity. The cause also helped with motivation through the last, painful few kilometres of the run. We started in Bondi and finished at the Bay Run in the Inner West. Attached are some photos. Thanks to our support crew. Love your magazine! Jules Smith-Ferguson Maroubra
DR PHOEBE WILLIAMS It was refreshing to read the interview with Dr Phoebe Williams in your November 2021 edition. (Kids, COVID, Vaccines and School - Q&A With Dr Phoebe Williams, The Beast, November 2021). Personally, I found this article very interesting and informative. Could we please have more from Dr Williams (or a similarly qualified and informed medical professional)
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on this subject, and specifically on the pros and cons of getting vaccinated? Charlie Bondi ‘FACTS’ I tried to eat my lunch and read the article by Jeremy Ireland (And on the Seventh Day, The Beast, December 2021), with its assertions that “religious people are less prone to depression”, and then this gem, “It is also known people of faith behave more pro-socially towards others.” You asked at the bottom of the article, Jeremy, “Have you got a question.” Well, yes, two... Firstly, where did you discover either of these ‘facts’? I did some cursory research into studies and they unilaterally said that, due to so many variables (age of subject, amount of religious energy expended, amount of depression, country of origin, economic variables, not to mention methodology and the necessity for a sizeable control group), it is impossible to say. And, secondly, regarding the apparent pro-social benefits of religion, you must have forgotten the vicious Crusades spanning hundreds of years; the Inquisition, infamous for the severity of its tortures and its persecution of Jews and Muslims; Pakistani Muslims vs Indian Hindus, almost leading to nuclear war; the Bosnian War, where the term ‘ethnic cleansing’ first came into being (Muslims vs Christians); the massacres of perhaps 8 million Indigenes of South America committed in the name of Catholicism; the massacre and forced Islamisation of a million Armenians in 1915; the ongoing current Islamic Jihad leading to wars all over the world; and, one surely close to your heart, the Protestant and Catholic Irish conflict. The list goes on, and on. It certainly put me off my lunch. Nicolette Boaz Bondi AMEN Oops, Jeremy Ireland, your associate’s Lords Prayer bears more resemblance to the Prayer of St Francis of Assisi - have a check with the beauty of that humanitarian environmentalist’s words. Susan Macleod Clovelly ¢
New Year’s Eve 2021 Coogee Beach, 9pm The popular event is back for 2021! There will be roving music and entertainment in the afternoon. See our website for road closure information and best viewing spots.
Please visit our website for details and updates. randwick.gov.au/sparkles
Peter and Joseph at Bondi Beach.
The Land Speaks in Brilliant Countryman Documentary Words Nicola Smith Photo Peter Pecotić Bondi local Peter Pecotić explores European and Indigenous ideas of ancestral lands in his new documentary, Countryman. The film premiered at the Croatian Film Festival in November and charts Mr Pecotić’s relationship with his ancestral lands in Croatia alongside the Indigenous relationship to country of Warumungu man Joseph Williams. “I was first introduced to the idea of ancestral lands as a child when my father showed me two jars. The first was filled with sea water and the second with soil from the island of Korčula in Croatia. When my father left to come to Australia his mother gave him the jars as a reminder of his home.” Mr Pecotić’s family can track their history on Korčula back to the 1200s. While Peter typically spends four months of the year on Korčula, COVID kept him in Australia in 2020, so he decided to retrace his father’s steps from a road trip to Far North Queensland in 1958. “I got to meet the descendants of Croatian migrants that my father had met back in 1958.
Then I was able to cross the Queensland-Northern Territory border and meet Joseph in Tenant Creek. I quickly realised that he was another descendant but coming from a different context,” Mr Pecotić said. Mr Williams has Warumungu ancestry on his mother’s side and Yugoslavian ancestry on his father’s side. He told The Beast that, as co-producer of Countryman, he was pleased to be able to share indigenous relationships to land in the film. “I’m sharing a bit about country and my mum’s people from up here [Tennant Creek], trying to show that we’re well connected to our lore and our country,” Mr Williams told The Beast. “I think people could learn a lot from the film, that we’re still practising our lore, and I hope people respect us more for doing that.” Mr Pecotić learnt the craft of filmmaking through producing smaller corporate films for his event clients while working for an event management company in China. Countryman is his first documentary.
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The comparison between European and Indigenous concepts of ancestral lands surfaced during the film’s development. For Mr Pecotić, the film explores the connection to family, identity and memory that is found in his family’s land in Croatia. “It’s like congregating at the grave of a family member - memories surface and conversations start,” he explained. “The mountain your mother grew up on or the sea your father learnt to swim in can operate in the same way. Time is just a construct, and you and everyone who came before you are all there at the same time.” In collaborating with Mr Williams, Mr Pecotić found not only a new way of considering country but a new perspective on Australia itself. “Migrants come to Australia and they want to do their best and survive, and so land here can be seen as a commodity. You want to get a farm or a house because that means security, and it’s the land back home, the old world, that is sacred. What I’ve learnt is that the land here is sacred too. For people like Joseph, Australia is old world.” The filmmaking process also revealed the interconnected experiences between Indigenous Australians and Croatian migrants, particularly with Mr Williams beginning the search for the Croatian side of his family and identity. “For me, I learnt to never give up if you’re lost,” Mr Williams told The Beast. “If you’re trying to find your people or your parents, keep looking, because I found mine.” Countryman will be playing at several community screenings in Sydney, Melbourne, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs in 2022. You can follow @countrymanmovie on Instagram for more information.
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Issue 204 January 2022 The Beast 19
Everyone's favourite film festival is back.
Flickerfest Returns in 2022 Words Nicola Smith Photo Shane Rennie Australia’s favourite short film festival, Flickerfest, is back in Bondi in January with another line-up oozing local and international talent. The festival, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2021, is returning to its outdoor setting adjacent to Bondi Pavilion to show 200 short films over 29 different programs in January 2022. Bronwyn Kidd, Flickerfest festival director, told The Beast that she is pleased with the selection of films that have made it into this year’s festival. “Many months have gone into curating the best of the best to get it down to that 200,” she said. “For me, it was really important again to focus on upbeat films, for people to come along and celebrate some fun and hopeful stories, because I think that’s what people need looking to the future.” The festival received record entries this year, with over 3,150 submissions. Among the local talent at this year’s festival is Bondi filmmaker Madeleine
Gottlieb, whose film You and Me, Before and After will mark her second appearance in the festival. Ms Gottlieb’s film explores the strained relationship between two sisters going to get their first tattoo, and she told The Beast that her film was inspired by, but not a recount of, her relationship with her younger sister. “There’s definitely a movement at the moment in filmmaking to speaking from personal experience and authenticity as an artist,” she said. Ms Gottlieb added that this extends to considering her Bondi upbringing in her films. “For a long time I tried to distance myself as much as possible from it. More recently, because of that instinct to tell the stories that only you can tell, I found myself drawn more and more to leaning into that. I try to playfully critique it but also celebrate it,” she explained. Our local area is also heavily featured in Luke Cartwright’s The Home Team, a space-cult comedy shot at Waverley Cem-
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etery and Clovelly, starring Tara Morice and Paul McDermott. Mr Cartwright, a Melbourne to Sydney convert, relished the opportunity to shoot around the Eastern Beaches. “I don’t know if I subconsciously wrote the script thinking of these locations, but if you have a graveyard scene and Waverley cemetery is available to you, you’ve just got to take it,” he told The Beast. “They’re so cinematic, you walk through them and feel like you’re already in a movie.” Due to the renovations to Bondi Pavilion, the festival was hosted in a COVID-safe outdoor setting at Bondi Beach last year in partnership with Waverley Council. The glamorous spiegeltent, outdoor lawn cinema and beer garden atmosphere will return in 2022, ensuring another fun celebration of summer and cinema under the stars. The 2021 lockdowns also impacted the filmmakers, which is reflected in their approach to their films. “COVID was a bit of a monkey wrench, so I wrote the limitations of it into the script. The characters aren’t allowed to be intimate, and it just so happens that they have to stand 1.5 metres away from each other,” Mr Cartwright explained. After another tough year for the arts, filmmakers believe Flickerfest is the perfect place to come and enjoy the homegrown talent. “It’s home turf, so it’s always the first festival where everyone that I know and who are special to me can come and see the film. The programming is so considered, and to be by the seaside is just the best,” Ms Gottlieb said. Flickerfest returns to Bondi Beach from January 21-30, 2022. For more information, please visit flickerfest.com.au.
Prevention is part of the cure.
Call-In Culture - Not Cancel Culture - The Way Forward in Tackling Domestic Violence Words Nicola Smith Photo Domenic Svejkar A research team from the Design Innovation Research Centre at the University of Technology Sydney is looking for new ways to prevent domestic violence before it starts through community intervention. Rather than working with domestic violence survivors or in rehabilitating perpetrators, the team hopes to work with men and broader communities to open up conversations about ‘relational health’. While calls to care for physical, emotional and mental health are common in mainstream dialogue, reflecting on and caring for ourselves and our relationships with those close to us, as well as the broader community, is discussed less often. The project, Preventing Domestic Violence in the East (PDVE), was sparked by fears of rising domestic violence rates during COVID lockdowns in early 2020 with uncertainty around the effects of social isolation. Supporting people to reflect on
the beliefs and behaviours that can lead to violence can also help manage other social problems such as suicide, mental illness and social isolation. The researchers are seeking to generate avenues for community conversations around domestic violence in which men can be vulnerable about stressors in their lives, as well as any issues they may be facing. Conversations around domestic violence prevention are often stigmatised, with men not wanting to be perceived as potential offenders, particularly with high profile perpetrators of domestic violence often condemned under ‘cancel culture’. Instead, the PDVE program seeks to use ‘call-in culture’, a phrase coined by academic Loretta J. Ross, to start conversations within communities about how they can care for one another and create healthy views of masculinity that can help prevent domestic violence before it starts.
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Social Design Researcher Domenic Svejkar explained that calling people out can create barriers rather than change. “Cancel culture can be dangerous if people and communities can’t discuss how they can change and move forward. We really hope call-in culture will be the next stage in our post-Me Too world,” Mr Svejkar explained. One prong of the project is the #nowthatsstrength campaign, a poster and advertising campaign set to target public spaces where men of different generations and life stages interact such as pubs, RSL clubs and gyms. The campaign materials seek to challenge traditional notions of masculinity by reconceptualising and broadening what masculine strength is in our community. The research shows that domestic violence is strongly linked to gender inequality, and that many gender stereotypes can be unhealthy for both men and women. However, researcher Mariana Zafeirakopoulos explained that the PDVE project pursues a communitybased approach, where men are supported by other men as well as the broader Eastern Suburbs community. “It’s about opening up the conversation around domestic violence with men and community in a safe and supportive way,” Ms Zafeirakopoulos said. “For community change to happen, we need to consider the expectations we have of ourselves - our roles and identity - and how these expectations impact and interplay with others.” The PDVE team would love to hear from readers of The Beast about their thoughts on domestic violence prevention and a community-based approach. If you have anything to share, you are invited to register your feedback by visiting bit.ly/nowthatsstrength.
Issue 204 January 2022 The Beast 23
Anyone seen this bloke?
Alleged Crimes of the East Words Gary Larson
In the November 2021 edition of The Beast, an article was published concerning Ophthalmologist Dr David Robinson. The article has been retracted, and The Beast expressly apologises to Dr Robinson for any assertion or inference that he carried out an examination on a patient for a non-medical purpose. Violent Robber Stalks Female Light Rail Passengers Police are hunting a thug who has been targeting women walking to their homes after getting off the light rail. Two women were attacked within the space of a fortnight after disembarking from the rail at night in Kensington and Randwick. In the first incident, the victim was a 39-year-old woman who got off the rail at the Marks Street stop in Anzac Parade just before midnight. She was followed by a man to her unit complex. At the unit entrance, “he grabbed her from behind, pushed her to the ground and attempted to steal her handbag,” according to a police press release.
The woman held onto her handbag and the male fled the scene, leaving his victim with scratches and bruising above her left eye. In the second incident, a 27-year-old woman disembarked the light rail at Wansey Road in Randwick and walked to Cowper Street, where she was set upon from behind. A man punched the left side of her mouth, then fled the scene after the woman’s screams alerted residents. She sustained swelling and bleeding to her jaw and was treated by paramedics at the scene. The man police are hunting is young and around 180cm tall. He is said to speak with a European accent. Police have released an image of him on board the light rail before trailing the first victim. He was wearing a face covering, a black hooded ‘Everlast’ jumper, black pants and black and white sneakers. New Leads in Revelle Case Police have searched three properties in the Eastern Suburbs as they follow up fresh leads in the 1994 disappearance of escort Revelle Balmain. Officers searched a room in the former Swiss Grand in Bondi, the 22-year-old’s former flat in Bellevue Hill and the Potts Point premises where the escort agency Select Companions was based. Days after those searches took place, police raided the Maroubra home of the former owner of Select Companions and arrested him over unrelated crime matters. A Randwick man was also arrested. The pair face drug cultivation and stolen goods charges. Ms Balmain disappeared after keeping an appointment with a client in Kingsford on November 5, 1994. Her body has never been found. There is a $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for her disappearance.
24 The Beast January 2022 Issue 204
Bondi Woman Faces Dog Cruelty Charges A 35-year-old woman has been arrested after being reported for punching and kicking her dog. The incident is said to have taken place on Bondi Road, Bondi. After speaking to witnesses, officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command attended a Bondi Beach property alongside an RSPCA inspector. The dog owner was taken to the police station and charged with animal cruelty. Her dog was taken into the care of the RSPCA. Sea Patrol Actor Told To Dry Out After Drunken Crash A local TV and theatre star (whose name we’ve chosen not to publish) went into an alcoholfuelled rage after crashing his Vespa scooter while carrying a bottle of vodka, a court heard. He screamed abuse and threats at an ambulance crew called to the accident scene in Abbey Street, Randwick. Then when police arrived, there was a violent struggle. The man had to be forcibly secured in an ambulance gurney before being taken to hospital. In Waverley Court, the 52-year-old pleaded guilty to several charges including assaulting police and highrange drink driving. His lawyer claimed the violent behaviour resulted from previously undiagnosed bipolar disorder. But that did not wash with magistrate Carolyn Huntsman, who sentenced him to an 18-month community correction order and a six-month driving ban. The magistrate recommended that he refrain from alcohol under a medically-managed treatment program. The offender starred in the Nine Network drama series Sea Patrol and in the past few years has performed in musical theatre productions such as the national tour of Mamma Mia!
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January 2022 Tide Chart Numbers Bureau of Meteorology Tidal Centre Monday 31 0144 0820 1508 2103
0.45 1.97 0.20 1.42
3 0246 0923 1610 2207
0.41 2.06 0.14 1.42
10 0323 0921 1518 2145
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Moons
Moon • New Quarter • First Moon • Full • Last Quarter
•
4 0340 1015 1701 2300
0.41 2.07 0.15 1.41
5 0433 1106 1752 2352
0.43 2.02 0.19 1.40
1.39 0.73 1.33 0.57
•
11 0417 1033 1620 2231
1.43 0.74 1.23 0.61
12 0511 1145 1727 2319
1.47 0.72 1.19 0.63
17 0215 0849 1533 2126
0.58 1.75 0.41 1.29
18 0254 0927 1608 2201
0.55 1.78 0.38 1.31
19 0332 1004 1644 2238
24 0127 0715 1324 1954
1.41 0.61 1.55 0.45
25 0218 0816 1418 2042
1.45 0.64 1.44 0.49
26 0315 0929 1524 2137
•
•
Saturday
Sunday
1 0100 0736 1421 2015
0.42 1.91 0.27 1.41
2 0153 0830 1516 2112
0.41 2.01 0.18 1.42
6 0527 0.48 1156 1.92 1841 0.27
7 0044 0621 1245 1929
1.38 0.54 1.78 0.36
8 0136 0716 1333 2015
1.37 0.61 1.62 0.44
9 0229 0815 1424 2059
1.38 0.68 1.46 0.52
13 0601 1.53 1248 0.65 1829 1.18
14 0007 0647 1338 1922
0.63 1.59 0.58 1.20
15 0053 0730 1420 2008
0.62 1.65 0.51 1.24
16 0135 0811 1458 2048
0.60 1.70 0.45 1.27
0.54 1.80 0.37 1.33
20 0411 1041 1718 2316
0.53 1.80 0.37 1.34
21 0451 1118 1755 2356
0.53 1.77 0.37 1.36
22 0534 0.55 1157 1.72 1831 0.39
23 0040 0622 1238 1911
1.38 0.58 1.65 0.41
1.50 0.64 1.35 0.53
27 0417 1050 1642 2239
1.57 0.60 1.28 0.54
28 0522 1209 1800 2344
1.67 0.51 1.28 0.53
29 0625 1.77 1317 0.39 1910 1.31
30 0045 0724 1415 2010
0.50 1.88 0.28 1.36
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26 The Beast January 2022 Issue 204
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ing. Mia Oatley and Helena McConochie-MacInnes are inspirations too. Where can people see your work? On my Instagram at @Ruthschneider_art, or in my studio by appointment. What are you working on at the moment? I’m always working on something new, and have been working on some abstract pieces that have been received warmly. This is so humbling and encourages me to continue in my art practice. Be like water, my friend.
Local Artist... Ruth Schneider from Bondi Beach Interview James Hutton Photo Rob Schneider Local artist Ruth Schneider is the creative talent behind this month’s cover painting. Ruth shares her local favourites with The Beast... How long have you lived here? I’ve lived in the Eastern Suburbs most of my life. I enjoyed the beach as a young girl, then I got married and had three children, and now my grandkids all enjoy the beach lifestyle. Why do you live here? I love living in Bondi, as most of my art inspiration comes from my surroundings. If it’s not Sydney Harbour then it’s our beautiful Bondi Beach. What's your favourite beach? I love all the beaches. The water soothes my soul and enlightens me from within. A lot of my art has blue in it, my brush just seems to go there. What's your favourite eatery? I love Bondi Trattoria, Pompeii Italian and Wet Paint in Bronte.
Where do you like to have a drink? I don’t really drink much, but in summer my husband and I go to the North Bondi RSL. It’s been nicely renovated and has a spectacular view. Best thing about the Eastern Suburbs? The variety of people, the cafes and the Icebergs, where we spend a lot of time. My husband swims across the bay all year round with a great bunch of people. How would you describe your art? I paint very intuitively, meaning it often comes from within. I have a few different loves, like water, swimmers and flowers, so I don’t like to stick with one subject. I love to bring colour to my work. Who are your artistic inspirations? Tracey Sylvester Harris, Elizabeth Lennie from Canada, and a local favourite is Martine Emdur. They all paint water subjects, which I find so inspir-
28 The Beast January 2022 Issue 204
When did you discover you had a gift for your craft? As a child I always drew any time I had the chance. Did you study art? I went to The National Art School in Sydney, where I studied fashion design and worked in the industry designing and creating fabulous wedding gowns. We did a lot of painting, fashion drawing and life drawing. I’ve always done different courses to extend my knowledge and techniques. Any words of wisdom for young aspiring artists? I’m not a philosopher, but regarding art I say paint what you love and it will be seen and felt in your artwork! Do as many classes as you need and keep painting any chance you get. Who is your favourite person? My husband and our three adult children, who are very supportive of my art, and our two grandchildren who give us so much joy. Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast? Do what you love and you’ll never feel like you’re really working. The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain.
Issue 204 January 2022 The Beast 29
These creatures are part of our lives for however long we are lucky enough to have them, but research suggests many people feel foolish for grieving for their pet and hide their feelings. Maybe that’s because the usual social mechanisms, such as community and social support, are not offered when a pet dies. That can be an issue, as symptoms of grief commonly last up to a year and hidden grief is even harder to work through.
Farewell, my fluffy friend.
The Unreliable Guide to... Saying Goodbye to Furry Friends Words and Photo Nat Shepherd Our twenty-one-year-old cat died this month. Some cats are bastards, but he was a top lad. He really changed my idea of what a cat can be. Some cats are no more attached to you than an Airbnb guest, but he was a loyal, funny, sociable, affectionate, communicative legend. He travelled all over Australia with us in our van and we had some wild times. Two decades is a long time to spend with anyone. Even if I live for a hundred years, he was there for a fifth of my life. And now he’s not. There are empty spaces where he used to sit. He’s become a shadow in the corner of my eye. Shoes, left in a corner, pretend to be him. A branch tapping on the window is the sound of him asking to come in. It’s a massive loss and, despite
his age, I wasn’t ready for it. Our society has not prepared me to take his death as a natural part of life and it’s got me thinking. Grief is a Many Furred and Feathered Thing To admit you are grieving for a pet, especially a cat, is often frowned upon, even though two thirds of Australians have a pet and two thirds of them view that pet as a family member. Statistics reveal that more of us live with a cat and/or a dog than with a child. There are around 4.8 million pet dogs in Australia and 3.9 million cats. Allowing that two thirds of these animals are viewed as part of the family, the death of any one of those six million animals will cause grief.
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Rituals of Death Many experts suggest the use of rituals, such as funerals, help us to process grief, and the death of a beloved pet can be the first experience of that for many people. A funeral is expected when a person dies, but in Australia pet funerals are not very common. But following the lead of the US (as we often do) that could soon change. Americans spend around $100 million a year on pet funerals and around 15 per cent of funeral directors in America offer pet services. In China, a funeral costing almost one million dollars was held for a Tibetan mastiff, who was placed in a jade coffin at the foot of a beautiful mountain range. Cats in ancient Egypt were sacred and held in such high regard that when they died they were mummified like their owners so they could hang out together in the afterlife. That is a serious commitment to Mr Fluffy, so if you’re sad after the loss of a beloved pet, trust me you’re not alone. Finally, The Unreliable Guide suggests that the next time someone tells you their pet has died you take it seriously. Give them a hug, buy them a drink, let them have time off if they need it. All grief is valid. RIP Mr C.
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Issue 204 January 2022 The Beast 31
Back in the days before development controls.
COOGEE Goes Big! Satire Kieran Blake, kieranblakewriter.org Photo Skye Scraper The renovation of the COOGEE BAY HOTEL will see the entire suburb of COOGEE engorged and expanded in order to complement yet another Sydney developer’s great compensatory phallus. As the COOGEE BAY HOTEL swells upwards and outwards, so will all of the buildings within a five-kilometre radius, creating a renovation boom that will attract more tradies than an anti-lockdown protest. The vainglory erection will usher in a host of other improvements sure to enhance the life of every resident and visitor in the coming years. A giant shadow will stretch from the beach all the way to Wedding Cake Island as the sun heads west. The red and yellow flags will be bigger than the national flag in Mexico City’s Zocalo, and will fly on poles which double as wind turbines. The tranquil waters of COOGEE Bay will become a terminal for cruise ships full of humongous Trump supporters carrying bleach and COVID-19.
Subsequently, registered voters across the Eastern Suburbs will soon find themselves choosing between Clive Palmer, Craig Kelly or George Christensen. The beach will become the exclusive backdrop of big, buffed, bronzed bodies. Don’t even think about stepping on to the sand unless you can bench 200kg, or boast 1 million Instagram followers. Away from the golden sands, the colossal calamities continue. Fish and chip shops must replace hake and whiting with whale shark and beer-battered manta ray, with a side of wedges big enough to be towed behind a boat at Club Med. And if you swing by Maccas on the way to the beach, you’ll definitely be supersized. COOGEE residents will be forced to phase out their small city cars for Monster Trucks, Chevrolet Suburbans and Dodge Rams, and can house them in the world’s biggest underground carpark. Every resident will be obliged to own at least one St Bernard,
32 The Beast January 2022 Issue 204
English Mastiff and Great Dane, and to tell every passing jogger, “…They won’t hurt you, they’re just playing…” Family homes will make way for apartment towers rivalling the residential structures of Hong Kong and Singapore, and the Burj Khalifa will lose its status as the world’s tallest building. The COOGEE Palace will be renamed Nurul Istana Iman II in honour of the Sultan of Brunei. COOGEE Oval will be developed in the style of Rio’s Maracana, and will make the upgrade of the SFS look like a year 7 design and technology assignment. Galloping Greens fans will be cheering for a team whose scrumhalf dwarfs Will Skelton, and sporty juniors will represent the COOGEE Krakens Rugby League and Netball teams, or play football for COOGEE Inflated. COOGEE will retain the title until a neighbouring developer feels compelled to overcompensate, and the only thing that won’t get any bigger is the surf.
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Issue 204 January 2022 The Beast 33
Lewis with a nice tailor, caught on a 95mm Bassday Sugapen.
Things Are Really Heating Up Words and Photo Lewis Kennedy-Hunt With the water temperature increasing rapidly, thanks to the East Australian Current, the bait fish are beginning to stack up everywhere. This can mean only one thing for keen fishos it’s time to rip in to some hard fighting, drag pulling, lure stealing pelagic species. Forget Chrissy and New Years, it’s the hot fishing that makes this time of year so exciting.
have also been frequenting my Instagram feed, caught mainly on live baits like yakkas, tailor or squid fished unweighted around heavy structure. Summer is also a great time to catch blue swimmer crabs. A fish frame presented inside a witches hat-style trap will work perfectly - a relatively inexpensive and easy way to catch a feed.
The Harbour Is Alive Right now the harbour is teaming with kingfish, tailor, Australian salmon and the odd bonito. The telltale sign of circling and diving birds, accompanied by the severing of the water’s surface while these predatory pelagics chase their dinner, gives away their location. Rat kingfish are beginning to plague the harbour and can be caught under feeding pelagics and on surface lures, as well as traditional live baiting methods. Myself and fellow fisho Rhys enjoyed some nice kingfish up to 70cm on soft plastics just last week. Consistent catches of kings in the 90-100cm range
Plenty of Inshore Action Winter, arguably the best time for the bigger snapper in the wash, is now long gone, but spring presents an opportunity to catch pan-sized snapper up to around 50cm in the wash zones around the local headlands. Lightly weighted (¼oz) soft plastics up to 5 inches, or lightly weighted fresh squid or pilchard baits, can easily catch you a feed of delicious snapper. I prefer fishing in low light periods and when there is a swell of over 2m as this really fires up the bubbly wash zone that the snapper like to sit in. If you are heading out in a boat, my advice is to leave the boat idling in neutral, just in case things go
34 The Beast January 2022 Issue 204
south and you need to send it away from the rocks quickly. A notable catch this month was by Maroubra local Richie Vaculik and his mate Stephen Oh, who speared two monster kingfish over 20kg with Stephen’s handcrafted spearguns during a dive off Maroubra. With water temperatures increasing towards the annual maximum, dolphinfish will become more prevalent around the fish aggregating devices (FAD) a few nautical miles offshore. You’ll need live baits or lures, as well as a slightly bigger boat and a ballsier skipper! Some of my diver mates have been getting into sizeable bonito around the inshore reefs, although they are yet to migrate into the harbour in numbers. Although it is the back end of the lobster season, there are still reports of them being caught by divers and in traps. Fishing the Rocks and Beaches A host of winter and summer species are being caught off the rocks at this time of year. Reddam teacher Justin Compton and James Hutton, publisher of The Beast, have been getting into a few eastern groper (all returned), black drummer and luderick from the rocks, as well as plenty of bream and blue spot flathead from the beach using traditional Alvey reels. Just last week I spotted a bloke fishing at one of the local beaches with live nippers catching a bag of horse whiting. Bronte elder Mark McGuire has also been on fire with the ludes. A few of the hardcore landbased game guys are starting to pick up some solid kings off the stones using surface stickbaits and live baits under floats. For those heading up or down the coast with a fishing rod these holidays like I am, best of luck to you. Merry Christmas and tight lines!
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Bloody hilarious.
Mr Personality Words Jeremy Ireland Photo Roger Hargreavess Who doesn’t love council chuck-out day? The trash, the treasure; the strategy and stealth; the steely resolve required to avoid jumping the gun and putting your stuff out too early, lest people add to it overnight, making you look like some sort of crazy hoarder. Oh, how you can be judged, your life on the lawn for all to see. The problem I have, being of Scottish ancestry, is not only that it’s impossible for me to chuck stuff out, it’s even more difficult for me not to stop and check out other people’s junk. It’s part of my DNA, a trait that I’ve inadvertently passed on to my son. Last chuck-out day, we came across the complete set of the Mr Men books. You know, Mr Happy, Mr Strong, Mr Grumpy... We flicked through them, working out which ones best described us. My son’s pile included Mr Happy, Mr Cheerful, Mr Tickle and characters of that ilk. Mine, well I might keep that to myself. In essence though, what the Mr Men books
do is present little ‘vignettes’ on traits that make up one’s personality. So, what is personality? Well, it can actually be quite hard to clearly define. Technically, it’s the behavioural and mental characteristics or qualities, if you like, that are distinctive to an individual. Basically, we all have different character traits or behavioural propensities that would lead us to say we have a particular kind of personality. These are personal qualities that, in an informal sense, could be seen to make one socially popular. If we look to someone like ‘The Rock’ Dwayne Johnson, Princess Dianna or anyone who cracks it big time on Instagram we might say they have a big personality, but in reality to actually define what personality is can be something of an elusive construct. Before I get too bogged down in psychological jargon I’d like to say right off the bat that our personality is sort of something we are born with, mostly set in stone from a fairly young age. That’s not to say it can’t vary or morph as we develop and get older, but as a rule, by the age of ten the framework of one’s personality is pretty much set. It’s that classic combo of genetics and environment, or ‘nature and nurture’, that shapes personality. Things like parenting style, social environment and siblings, just to name a few, all help shape the personality we end up having. In the psychological arena the word personality is used to convey a sense of consistency or continuity about a person. It is this consistency over time that is looked at when assessing someone’s personality, i.e. consistency over time across similar situations. For example, an extrovert, an enigma, a Pollyanna, or even an axe murderer, will show consistencies
36 The Beast January 2022 Issue 204
in behaviour regardless of when or where they are. Further, the term personality helps indicate a sense that whatever the person is doing, thinking or feeling is originating from within them. From this perspective you can see how looking at or trying to understand someone’s personality can help us to try and predict or understand their behaviour. This is the key if, for example, we are wanting to employ someone, choose a roommate or even a romantic partner. It’s worth stressing though that no two people will have the same personality; there might be similarities but ultimately they will be different, even for identical twins. What does this mean if someone is said to have a personality disorder? Does it mean their personality is better or worse than anyone else’s? Not necessarily. What it does mean is that their patterns of thinking and behaviour might possibly be seen to deviate from what is considered a cultural norm, ultimately leading to distress and impaired functioning of that individual - think Ivan Milat or Amy Winehouse. The take-home message is that, despite there being some overarching concepts and consistent theories on what personality is or isn’t, it’s worth remembering that each person’s perspective on personality, including your own, will be different. Oh, and next time you meet someone for the first time, try and come up with a set of words that describe that person, Mr Men-style, then ask yourself, what are the chances that your words will apply in all situations? You might be surprised. Have you got a question? Please contact Jeremy at bondicounsellingservices.com.
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D o n' t m o v e o u t , M o v e u p ! Issue 204 January 2022 The Beast 37
Who's flying your plane?
Safety First Investing Words Rob Shears Photo Frank Abagnale Jr. Pilots are trained to put safety above all else. A safety first mindset is ingrained in their DNA. Sadly, attitudes to risk in investment markets are more like the Wild West when compared to aviation safety. We are currently witnessing a significant shift in markets, where a large number of speculative companies are under pressure. Two thirds of the Nasdaq is in a bear market and over a third of these businesses have lost over 50 per cent of their market capitalisation. A number of retail investors are
realising that investing is a more difficult game than they thought. During times of easy money, as the last few years have provided, valuations can climb to absurd levels. Being exposed to these pockets of excess can be hazardous to your wealth. What Does ‘Safety First’ Mean and Who Is It Important For? ‘Safety first’ is about avoiding permanent capital loss, before considering gains. While I highlighted the above stock market falls, it is not the ups and downs
38 The Beast January 2022 Issue 204
of these stocks that is concerning, but rather the fact that many, if not most of them, have no earnings and need to continually raise money to keep the lights on. It is this dependence on capital that can makes these falls permanent. But what if there was another way? As an international pilot and financial adviser, I have developed a unique perspective of risk. I am far more worried about getting our clients’ wealth to their destination safely than the little pockets of mild inflight turbulence. 87 per cent of our growth portfolio has zero net debt and is earning significant and resilient profits (this is compared to the ASX50, with only roughly 17 per cent of companies having zero net debt). There is almost no scenario where these companies will ever be forced to raise capital under duress. In fact, it is often in times of distress that the powerhouse companies with spare cash, like Berkshire Hathaway for example, allocate capital and make considerable gains. This style of investing is far more important for people who are already wealthy and wish to have permanence in their wealth. Remember a quote from investment guru Warren Buffett, “It doesn’t make sense to risk what you already have and need for what you don’t have and don’t need.” Rob Shears is an Authorised Representative of Valor Financial Group (AFSL 405452). This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is suitable for you and your personal circumstances.
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Big Dave, a.k.a. Mr Networks.
Proper Funding for Our Public Schools Words Dr Marjorie O'Neill, Member for Coogee Photo Con Nected Providing education is one of the single most important jobs a government has responsibility for doing. As a former educator, I have witnessed firsthand the transformational power of education. That is why I am a firm believer and advocate for equal access to education. Sadly, one of the many things the pandemic has taught us is that not every school student in New South Wales is set up to succeed. The New South Wales education system is deeply divided, with very different levels of access, support, facilities and technology offered to students in our public education system compared to our private system. The divide between our public and private schools has never been as stark as it is today.
Across the state, and right here in the Coogee electorate, public school P&Cs are forced to raise funds for badly needed and well overdue infrastructure upgrades - upgrades that should be funded by the New South Wales Government - including upgrades to bathrooms, libraries, playgrounds and school halls. This year a record number of public schools in my electorate submitted applications to the Community Building Partnerships (CBP) grant program to fund essential upgrades. I saw firsthand how P&Cs have worked tirelessly throughout the lockdown to find new ways to raise funds outside of their usual fundraising events. The projects that these local parents are trying to fund are
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not creature comforts, they are bare necessities. Some of these include funding for upgrades to student bathrooms, benches for students to sit on, increased shade to play in, improved library facilities and even disability access. Earlier this year it was revealed that the New South Wales Government has intentionally and continually underfunded public education in our state. It was exposed that the government has been using an accounting trick to underfund public schools in this state to the tune of $600 million per year, compared with the original Gonski plan. At a federal level, a Productivity Commission review revealed that just over the past decade, spending per student in non-government schools increased by 3.3 per cent per year, compared with just 1.4 per cent for government schools. The lack of investment in our public schools is clear in the growing dependence on P&Cs to fund basic needs and infrastructure upgrades at our public schools, but it can also be seen in our dire teacher shortage, the never-ending delays on already long-overdue and essential upgrades and the reliance on demountable classrooms as key learning spaces. Our kids deserve better than this. At the last election, Labor committed to funding our public schools up to the full Gonksi recommendation level. Two years on, it has become even clearer that this funding increase needs to happen, and it needs to happen now. This is why I am a proud sponsor of the campaign being headed by our local public schools calling on the New South Wales Government to fully fund our public schools in line with the original Gonski plan.
Fair Funding for Public Schools Our local public schools are being seriously underfunded! More than $600 million that should be going to public schools is being stripped away. This underfunding leads to... • Further delays in already long overdue and essential upgrades • A continual reliance on demountable classrooms, taking away precious playground space • A growing dependence on P&Cs to fund basic needs and infrastructure upgrades • A failure to properly invest in public school teachers, resulting in teacher shortages and declining results That is why I am sponsoring a petition calling for our schools to be fully funded in line with the original Gonski agreement. You can add your support to our local public schools by scanning the QR code and signing the petition here...
Dr Marjorie O'Neill MP Member for Coogee If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office and follow my social pages for regular updates. Phone (02) 9398 1822 Email coogee@parliament.nsw.gov.au Address 15/53-55B Frenchmans Road, Randwick NSW 2031 Facebook MarjorieONeillCoogeeMP Instagram marjorieoneillcoogee Twitter marjorieSONeill Authorised by Dr Marjorie O'Neill MP. Funded using parliamentary entitlements.
Dave and the fam at Bronte.
Plenty of Reasons To Be Positive Words Dave Sharma, MP for Wentworth Photo Robert Bruns 2021 has been a tough year, especially for small businesses, school students and those with family in aged care facilities or with family and loved ones beyond their reach overseas, not to mention our healthcare and frontline workers. I expect that many of us are looking forward to a restful break as we approach Christmas and the New Year. As we look towards 2022, there is reason for optimism. Our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is well underway. Life is returning to normal, with public health restrictions easing, businesses trading again, major events taking place - such as the cricket and musicals - and the warmth of family gatherings possible. Regional and international travel is also resuming. The successful rollout of vaccines in Australia and the very high rates of vaccination have made all this possible. In New South Wales, 92 per cent of our over-16 population is now fully vaccinated, and 95 per cent have received a first dose. Across Australia, more than 88 per cent of the over-16 population is fully vaccinated,
and 93 per cent have received their first dose. Booster shots are now being rolled out. All this means that Australia is on target to achieve one of the highest vaccination rates of any nation in the world, which will give us a greater level of protection against future outbreaks and variants. The economic support measures we put in place to support businesses and households during the pandemic have primed the economy for a swift recovery. We are one of only a handful of economies around the world that has been able to emerge largely intact. Our economy grew by 3.9 per cent over the past year, and there are more people employed now than there were prior to the pandemic. Job advertisements are 30 per cent higher than pre-pandemic, and business and consumer confidence are higher. High vaccination rates and a strong public health system are allowing us to open our borders and resume international travel. Fully vaccinated Australians are now able to travel overseas and return without quarantine. From December 15, students,
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working holidaymakers, skilled migrants, family visa-holders, plus tourists from Japan, Korea and Singapore who are fully vaccinated, will be able to enter Australia. This will help our tourist and travel sector back to its feet, support our local universities and alleviate those workforce shortages that have emerged as major challenges for so many industries. If it’s been a challenging year, we can take pride in how well the nation has emerged from the pandemic. We are in better shape than practically any nation in the world, so we can look forward with a reassuring optimism for the year ahead. That is not to suggest that there aren’t those among us this Christmas who will struggle with uncertainty and anxiety in the weeks and months ahead. For instance, the incidence of domestic violence has markedly increased, with more women needing support to leave violent and abusive relationships. This year I am running a Christmas appeal to support three invaluable local organisations, Lou’s Place, the Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre and the Run for Good Project, who do much vital work in this area. My office in Edgecliff will be taking donations of essential goods for these organisations to supply women and children who are in need. If you are able to contribute, the shelters are in need of shampoo and conditioner, body wash, sanitary items, women’s undergarments and socks. Please drop them to my office at Level 3, 179-191 New South Head Road and we will arrange delivery. If you are a business that is able to make a sizeable contribution, then we can arrange collection. My best wishes to you and your family for a merry Christmas, a peaceful New Year and a restful holiday period.
Synonymous with summer.
Plum and Raspberry Crostata With Mascarpone Cream Words and Photo Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine The colours alone should be enough to make anyone want to create this delicious Italian pastry! Stone fruit is synonymous with summer and these plums and raspberries are a perfect blend of tartness and sweetness, with a jammy texture once cooked. This sweet pastry is rustic, simple and fun to make. I added accents of fresh thyme leaves and lemon zest to the fruit, all sweetened with some sugar for a delicious filling. Try draining a little of the juice from the fruit when you’ve mixed it together in the bowl so it doesn’t create too much moisture as the pastry bakes, and be sure to get good colour on your pastry. Here’s to an impressive, entertaining recipe!
Ingredients Pastry 1½ cups plain flour 125gm chilled butter, cubed 50gm caster sugar 1 egg yolk 1 tbs iced water (egg wash and 1 tbs raw sugar for brushing pastry before cooking) Filling 4-5 firm blood plums, cut into segments and deseeded 1 punnet fresh raspberries 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, extra for garnish 2 tsp lemon zest 1 tsp plain flour 40gm caster sugar Mascarpone Cream 150ml thickened cream 2 tbs marscapone cream 2 tbs icing sugar
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Method 1. To make the pastry, place butter, flour and caster sugar in a food processor and process until mixture is the texture of breadcrumbs. Add egg yolk and water and combine. 2. Turn the mixture onto a floured surface and knead until it’s smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour. 3. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius, fan forced. 4. Place all ingredients for the fruit filling in a mixing bowl and toss to combine. 5. Roll out the dough between two sheets of baking paper into a circle approximately 1cm thick, then transfer onto a lined baking tray. 6. Place the plum and raspberry mixture in the centre of the dough, leaving a 3-4cm border. Carefully fold in the edges of the dough up and around the filling. 7. Brush the pastry with some beaten egg and sprinkle with the raw sugar 8. Bake for 50-55 minutes. The crust should be golden brown. 9. For the mascarpone cream, whisk the cream until thickened well, fold in the marscapone and sift in the icing sugar. Gently combine well. 10. Remove the crostata from the oven, sprinkle with some fresh thyme leaves and serve with the mascarpone cream 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 for entertaining and family. She is inspired by the fresh produce we have access to here in Sydney. For ideas, recipes and styling inspiration, check out her Instagram, @stone_and_twine.
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Subject Sydney Spring Shower Location Coogee Photographer Michael Cummings
Subject Hot Laps Location Bronte Photographer Walter Kennard
Subject Sun Worship Location Bondi Photographer Graeme Bogan
Subject Reflection Location North Bondi Photographer Stephanie Leslight
Subject Sunrise Bub Location Coogee Photographer Honey Skinner
The Beast Magazine wants your local photos!
Subject Awakening Location Coogee Photographer Honey Skinner
Subject Little Nipper Location Bronte Photographer Gemma Baker-Finch
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Please send them to photos@thebeast.com.au
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ACROSS 1. 2021 word of the year (9) 6. Abbreviated term used on price lists (1,1,1) 7. New variant (7) 10. Acidity or alkalinity of a solution (2) 11. Rideshare company (3) 12. A person who is uninterested in intellectual pursuits (10) 14. US football league (1,1,1) 15. A narrow brimmed hat (6) 17. Driving while impaired by alcohol (1,1,1) 18. First dynasty in Chinese historiography (3) 19. Noise of a crying cat (8) 22. Name of board through which spirits supposedly answer questions (5)
24. Television (1,1) 25. Large flightless bird (9) DOWN 1. Heavy round ball event (4,3) 2. Japanese energy healing (5) 3. Dunny (3) 4. World forum (1,1) 5. Spanish clay court specialist (6,5) 6. Imaginary bird that burns itself to ashes (7) 8. Arch of colours in the sky (7) 9. Young form of a louse (3) 13. Deep purplish blue (6) 16. Injury from repetition (1,1,1) 19. A widely held false belief (4) 20. Killer whale (4) 21. Bin chicken (4) 23. ... Thurman (3)
Trivial Trivia Words Lisa Anderson Photo William Wall 1. What Caribbean country recently cut ties with the British monarchy? 2. Which planet in the solar system is not named after a Greco-Roman god? 3. From which plant is tequila derived?
4. What is the name of the plantation in Gone with the Wind? 5. In what year was the fall of the Berlin Wall? 6. Who has replaced Tim Paine as wicketkeeper in the Australian cricket team? 7. How many legs does a prawn have?
Olli Don't Know Art. 48 The Beast January 2022 Issue 204
8. Name the health minister who will not contest the next federal election? 9. Who is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr better known as? 10. George R R Martin wrote a best-selling series of fantasy novels that became what television series?
BIRDZ Legacy Label Universal Music Reviewer @aldothewriter Rating Turns out the NT is more than just crocs, short shorts and catchy slogans, with Birdz part of a growing list of young artists emerging from the humidity. He kind of sounds like Drapht teamed up with Dominic Fike; awesome, basically. Legacy is short and sweet, but by no means to be dismissed. There are some heady themes and deep introspection here, served on such a palatable platter that you could easily miss it all. ‘Aussie Aussie’ is one of the best protest songs out there. Missy Higgins makes an appearance too, which is cool.
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TINY LITTLE HOUSES Misericorde Label Ivy League Records Reviewer @aldothewriter Rating This is very depressing music. I love it. Sharp lyrics with grungy guitars, all tied up in a very lo-fi package. Think early Death Cab For Cutie and Weezer, but with more punch. These aren’t merely sad love songs, there’s a little bit of salt and vinegar here too. Shoegaze! That’s the genre. It escaped me for a minute there. If shoegaze is coming back, I’m all for it. Time to dust off those Converse All Stars. If you need to buy a pair, make sure they’re high tops and not too clean. I’d also recommend a good podiatrist.
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Bloody hell. This is intense. I’d just sat down to my mid-morning coffee and a muffin (I don’t usually have the muffin, but was treating myself) when I put it on, and cripes, this sent my mood on a different trajectory than expected. Imagine a darker version of Joy Division. It made me want to walk down some dirty alleyways and swear at trash cans. I also had an incredible desire to buy an acid wash denim jacket. “Are you ready for the storm?” lead singer, Joe Talbot, chants at the end of the first song. I most certainly wasn’t. Issue 204 January 2022 The Beast 49
Pisces Feb 20-Mar 20 Your workplace is a selection of the worst people on the planet, all shoved into one organisation to ruin each other’s lives.
Leo Jul 23-Aug 22 Always assume that your partner is annoyed with you about something, because at least then you’ll always be right.
Aries Mar 21-Apr 20 Lucky you didn’t put any effort into getting your rig into shape for summer, because there will be no summer this year.
Virgo Aug 23-Sep 23 You need to start looking after your skin properly, before your face starts to resemble a crocodile’s forey.
Visions Beardy from Hell
Taurus Apr 21-May 21 It’s time to brush up on your lovemaking skills. The old repertoire from back in the glory days isn’t impressing anyone.
Libra Sep 24-Oct 23 A call from an old friend will make your day. It only happens when they want something, but at least they’re thinking of you.
Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 20 Don’t bother trying to save. You’ll never accumulate a nest egg, so enjoy your money and spend like there’s no tomorrow.
Gemini May 22-Jun 21 2022 is going to be the best year of your life so far, and possibly forever. Be sure to really rip in and make the most of it.
Scorpio Oct 24-Nov 22 Make urgent adjustments to your morning routine so you can actually get out of the house. You stuff around way too much.
Aquarius Jan 21-Feb 19 You’re way too accepting of arseholes. Don’t judge people by what’s inside, judge them on what they put out.
Cancer Jun 22-Jul 22 The power struggle you’re currenlty involved in needs to be taken to the gutter and fought to the death.
Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21 The local garbo has a crush on you. Make sure you’re out the front of yours at sparrow’s fart on bin day to put a spring in his step.
Star Signs
Trivial Trivia Solutions 1. Barbados 2. Earth 3. Agave 4. Tara 5. 1989 6. Alex Carey 7. 10 8. Greg Hunt 9. Snoop Dog 10. Game of Thrones 1
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