The Beast - January 2023

BEAST

Raise Your Voice

Words James Hutton, Publisher

Welcome to the January 2023 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s summery beaches of the east.

Local La Perouse artist Jordan Ardler is the talent behind this month’s beautiful cover image, titled Unseen La Perouse. The artwork is “a representation of the sounds, movement and all things unseen around the La Perouse Aboriginal community,” Jordan explains. “I formed organic lines, symbols and impressions made from how the wind creates shape on the ocean’s surface and forces movement within the natural environment, connecting to country in the deepest way possible to highlight the true beauty of a place we call home.”

You can see more of Jordan’s work on her Instagram account, @jordan_ardler. You’ll find more about Jordan in our article on page 18, which tells the story of

Jordan teaming up with Coogee creative agency Emotive to render the premiere work for an ongoing showcase called The Alfreda Street Project.

I attended the launch at Emotive’s Alfreda Street headquarters during the month - a top eveningand was captivated by Uncle Lloyd Walker’s Welcome to Country. Mr Walker is the Deputy Chairperson of the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council, an organisation set up to “improve, protect and foster the best interests of all Aboriginal persons within the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Council’s area.”

Mr Walker spoke about his family history and explained to the gathering how Aboriginal people of two clan groups - the Bidiagal clan group and the Gweagal clan group - had inhabited the Botany Bay area for thousands of years. They moved freely throughout the region, but this situation changed in 1883 with the establishment of the NSW Aborigines Protection Board. The first act of this new body was to round up every Aboriginal person living in places such

as the Sydney Boatshed, Elizabeth Bay, Rose Bay and numerous camps around Botany Bay and forcibly move them to La Perouse Mission on the northern head of Botany Bay, where the community has survived ever since.

The Beast supports an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. I hope everyone can learn what it means and help it become enshrined in our constitution.

Cheers, James

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'Economy at All Costs' Ends Up Costing All of Us

As we head into 2023, I would like readers to imagine a sacred place that allows us to look back at humanity 50,000 years ago, an ancient place that is literally an art gallery and home to the largest sequence of rock art in the world, depicting palaeolithic life (including the earliest depiction of a human face) and megafauna circa 47,000BCE.

If you are like me, you are probably imagining that such a place would be prized by the nation that houses this special work; that it would be protected for all eternity. Unfortunately, this special place - Murujuga (Burrup Peninsula) - is in Western Australia, sitting in a resource rich area that governments and mining companies have, over time, exploited and ravaged into an industrial development site, with no respect for the traditional custodians of the land nor its historical and scientific significance to the entire world.

Elsewhere, other nations are prizing their cultural and artistic history. Italy has recently hailed as ‘exceptional’ the discovery of 2,300-year-old bronze statues found in Tuscan mud. In France, the Lascaux and Chauvet caves are sealed off to

the public. But, in Australia, the Federal and WA Governments see only the economic value of Murujuga and the opportunity to make Woodside and a handful of foreign-owned companies (and their FIFO workers) even wealthier.

Murujuga should be part of Australia’s identity, a source of national pride, but instead it is one of the most threatened monuments on earth. Governments and mainstream media have conveniently ensured that there is little public awareness of the artwork and its spiritual and cultural value, just as we were unaware of the existence of the ancient Juukan Gorge Caves until they, and 46,000 years of “cultural practices, resources and knowledge systems of human life”, were blown to smithereens by Rio Tinto in an act of government sanctioned vandalism.

But this should come as no surprise to Pearl. Barangaroo skyscrapers are full of corporations ‘acknowledging country’ at the opening of board meetings in an act of hypocritical lip service to a people whose culture and natural heritage they have trashed, not treasured. The sacrifice of Murujuga to the

pollutants of a short-term gas project and a urea plant reek of colonialism and racism, but it is also reflective of the perverse ‘economy at all costs’ attitude that pervades Australian society. Everything is disposable, and the more disposable the better if it means lining the pockets of miners, construction companies and property developers (and their shareholders).

If, in the Eastern Suburbs, we are helpless to save our homes and local shopping strips from developers, and preserve our kids’ local playing fields and our surf clubs, then how the hell are we to save Murujuga, a place where humankind “pulled off” one of the “first open-water crossings” to get to Australia? The historical value, community value and environmental value of the things we hold as worthy is being weighed up against the economic value of tearing them down. That, yet again dear Beast readers, is why we can’t have nice things in Australia.

A few hours after Pearl sent through this column, an Indigenous female protestor at Murujuga was arrested by 12 police officers.

Words Pearl Bullivant Photo Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation

Is nothing sacred in Australia?

The Beast's Monthly Mailbag

Electricity Charges

Due to my administratively-challenged nature, my dear wife Kerry manages all our bill payments, and a few years back she mentioned that she was at her wits’ end dealing with our electricity provider, AGL.

We were normally billed around $150 a month, and on one occasion we received a huge bill of over $2,000. In back and forth dealings with the company over three months, they were absolutely intransigent in their refusal to properly re-examine the circumstance to the point where they were threatening to take recovery action.

Upon hearing of this, I was incensed and immediately thought, ‘ministerial complaint’ or ‘ombudsman’. But first I had an electrician come to examine our power usage to detect any leaks and he reported that we were using barely any power. Meanwhile, my wife collected our printed bill history.

I then phoned the NSW Energy and Water Ombudsman’s Office and spoke to a most methodical young man who promised to investigate, but with no promise of a satisfactory resolution for us. He was honest in not giving us false hope.

The next day he phoned us back to say that we would be contacted by AGL with a resolution in our favour. AGL told us it was a “meter reading error” and that our current bill would not require any payment.

This was despite our previous repeated representations to them, when they said they had investigated the account and that AGL’s billing was correct.

On another occasion, complaints to our local council about the ill-considered planting of, and request to remove, a tree right under power lines bore no fruit. A letter to the then Minister for Local Government, cc’d to the Council General Manager, resulted in the tree being removed two days later.

The moral of the story is not to muck around with minor functionaries, in whose interest it is to avoid work or save their businesses money they have attempted to misappropriate (for which they may even be promoted). At best, the reason is laziness, and at worst, it could be fraud.

Use the relevant ombudsman or the minister responsible to hold them accountable and resolve your issue. Many consumers just cave in and that just encourages suppliers’ repetition of such behaviour until it becomes the routine.

Marcus O'Dean Clovelly

Buses and Bondi Beach

Summer is coming and so is the seasonal nightmare for locals. I live near Bondi Road and last Saturday I was trying to catch a 333 bus to Circular Quay. As I was waiting, a neighbour came to the same bus stop and we watched in mounting frustration as seven full

buses passed our stop. We waited over an hour, and luckily we were both aware of the potential nightmare and had come early, but it was still very annoying. I have asked if, on summer weekends, one bus in five could start the trip up the hill from the beach to allow locals a chance, but was told that whoever is waiting at the beach has the right to get on.

While I love the beach and understand the attraction, I have been a Bondi resident for over 50 years and would still like to be able to catch public transport in my suburb.

Can Waverley Council and the bus company do anything to help me and other residents? So many times in the past I have been too late getting to the city and have missed catching booked shows and meeting friends.

Bondi is so frequently advertised and promoted that other great beaches which are also serviced by public transport are often forgotten.

We also have the Sunday parade of very loud Maseratis and Lamborghinis amongst a traffic gridlock down Bondi Road. At least the clearways for Sculpture by the Sea are finished.

Pam Ellis Bondi

(Some) Dog Owners

After reading the latest Beast (December 2022), I have to take side with the readers who take great umbrage to the people who leave their dog shit behind. Not all dog owners are responsible for this behaviour, but some among us just don’t seem to care.

I am a dog owner and twice daily dog walker, and I am lucky enough to be able to walk through the Waverley and Woollahra areas on a daily basis, taking a different route each morning. I live in Rose Bay (Waverley) which shares a boundary with Woollahra.

I have to say that the amount of dog droppings that are on footpaths and nature strips is downright disgraceful. Some residents in the Dover Heights and Vaucluse areas have put up signs

Words The Good People of the Eastern Beaches

to ask you to pick up your dog poo, likewise in Rose Bay North Shopping Centre and surrounding Vaucluse streets. Many houses also have security cameras.

Does it really matter that much that a person may be seen to be picking up after their dog? Are you really that worried that some may make you a social outcast because you have a poo bag with you? There are plenty of places to dispose of them. All you have to do is be patient until you pass a spot where disposal has been provided to you courtesy of your local council. Some even provide bags.

You will get respect for what you do if you pick up your dog’s poo. You will be seen to be making an effort in your community and showing respect for others.

In my opinion, it appears to be the same dog owners all the time doing this. Law enforcement seems to be at an all time low as well.

Finally, how would you feel if you walked out of your house every morning to a big pile of dog shit?

If you see someone with a dog and they don’t pick up, be diplomatic, don’t confront them, be nice, ask them if they would pick it up, and remind them that dogs must be on a leash in some areas.

Be the person your dog thinks you are!

Freddie Rose Bay

Bondi Pavilion

I have read the letter regarding the $50 million Bondi Pavilion and Waverley Council’s response. One cannot help notice that Council does not address the question of the source of funding - surprise, surprise. I can be sure that Council did not have a loose $50 million lying around

In relation to the project itself, it may well have some green credentials, but it is unbelievably difficult to work out how Council managed to spend that much money with such limited relative benefit. We continue to have a world class beach and an 1820s pavilion. Thanks Labor Council.

Max Bondi Beach

Waverley Cemetery

Is a Place for Dogs

Hi James - This is a response to Stephen Lightfoot’s letter about dogs in Waverley Cemetery from someone who lives very nearby and walks with our dog in the cemetery (Waverley Cemetery Is No Place for Dogs, Letters, The Beast, December 2022).

The cemetery is a rare, wonderful open space, which should be available to as many people as possible, with or without dogs. Dogs should only be banned if there are compelling reasons to do so. Despite Stephen’s argument, there are not.

Walking dogs there is not disrespectful. I’m old enough to know a good number of people buried there. I respect them, as I do everyone who is in Waverley Cemetery, as well as their families and friends. I’m quite sure that my old friends would prefer the place to be one for life, happiness and fun, as well as death, sadness and grieving. If I make it into that cemetery, I’d be happy to know that dogs are having fun nearby.

Dogs do defecate and urinate, but it’s only a fool who does not clean up after them - and will be told as much by other dog owners. Here, my main concern is respect for the living - it’s not fair on the gardeners to leave crap for them to discover with a whipper snipper. The council does a good job of providing bags and bins - there’s no excuse for not using them

To say that “at many times it is no longer possible to contemplate life and one’s departed friends in peace” is surely exaggerating. I rarely see people attending graves, but if I do I make sure the dog goes nowhere near them. It is a huge space with room for everyone.

“Impact on biodiversity” is a furphy. If there were native animals other than possums there I’d happily keep dogs out, but there aren’t. The main mammalian wildlife is foxes and rats - lots of them - which are more of a threat to birds than domestic dogs. Over eight years I’ve noticed no change in the wrens. You are very unlikely

to see a sacred kingfisher in the cemetery. There are some in the area - a young one was blown by a gale through an open window into our house - but their home is not in the cemetery and they are not threatened by dogs there.

Why are we so quick to tell people what they should and shouldn’t do? Surely there is room for ‘live and let live’ - why not in a graveyard?

wishes, David

Dixon Clovelly

Duckheads and the $50 Million Question

I suspect that the word “duckheads” (Duckheads, Letters, The Beast, November 2022), is either misspelt or the writer’s invitation to readers to coin their own description. In any event, the spectacle of joggers persisting with their use of the Bondi to Bronte path despite the multitudes attempting to enjoy Sculpture by the Sea was interesting to say the least.

I observed zig-zagging singles, doubles, trebles and quadruples all intent on maintaining their preferred speed and causing obvious angst to those wishing to enjoy a leisurely examination of the exhibits. I find difficulty accepting that it was even slightly enjoyable for the joggers, let alone their potential victims. Oh well, such is life.

Another thing: Charles Hunter (The $50 Million Question: Bondi Pavilion, Sustainable Development and the Concrete Council, Letters, The Beast, December 2022), complains about “the miserable state of our (Waverley) parks”. Contrary to his opinion, it is my view that those employed by Waverley Council to maintain the Tamarama and Bronte Beach parks deserve the highest praise for their efforts and dedication.

Year in, year out, they keep those areas in excellent condition despite the on-going crowds, celebrations such as New Year’s Eve and Christmas, as well as Sculpture by the Sea and the ravages of weather and exceptionally high seas. They are a credit to the

Best

o n t e M e d i c a l C e n t r e i s e x c i t e d t o w e l c o m e D i e t i t i a n K i m b e r l e y W e b b t o t h e p r a c t i c e

i m b e r l e y i s a n e x p e r i e n c e d a n d c o m p a s s i o n a t e A c c r e d i t e d P r a c t i s i n g D i e t i t i a n f o c u s i n g o n t h e s u p p o r t o f a d u l t s w h o w o u l d l i k e t o i m p r o v e t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h f o o d . S h e h a s a s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t i n b o d y i m a g e h e a l i n g , d i s o r d e r e d e a t i n g / e a t i n g d i s o r d e r s , g u t d i s o r d e r s , a n d c h r o n i c d i s e a s e m a n a g e m e n t K i m b e r l e y i s w e i g h ti n c l u s i v e a n d t a k e s a n o n - d i e t a p p r o a c h i n h e r w o r k .

council, which in turn deserves to be thanked for the continuing standard of maintenance.

Greg Madment Bronte

Duckheads

Dear Beast - It was nice to hear from ‘Annoyed of Bronte’ (Duckheads, Letters, The Beast, November 2022). I thought I was the only one to have similar feelings towards joggers. What a bunch of selfish pests they are. They are not interested in the beautiful coastline as us walkers are, just on their stopwatches.

I agree that something should be done. It would be such a nasty accident if one was tripped on their journey. I think they should think again about where they exercise, we don’t want blood on the coastal walks.

AP Bronte

Free the Horses

Dear Editor - Recently it has been proposed that a new Eastern Suburbs high school be built using the land currently occupied by the Waverley Bus Depot by Spender and Greenwich. There was a line in that proposal, quoted in the mainstream media: “‘Waverley Bus Depot and Edgecliff Commercial Centre should be considered as possible sites for a new high school’, Greenwich and Spender say, ‘with both locations near parks and public transport.’” Does anyone else see the irony in that quote?

Yes, Waverley Bus Depot is a place that is close to public transport, but using it for anything else but public transport would mean that another place would need to be found for those buses, further away and much less convenient.

I would suggest that the best available land for a new Eastern Suburbs school would be where the Randwick Racecourse is now situated. It would be a much more beneficial use of that land than what it is used for now. Free the horses, give the land back to the majority of people in the area and make parking easier for the locals.

The races are the modern day equivalent of Roman games; surely we can move past that now? If anyone still wants to have a bet then I am sure that local pubs and RSL clubs would love you throwing money at them.

Doug Richards Tamarama

Everywhere Is the Place for Dogs

Dog haters often begin by saying they are not, then demonstrate by the spurious reasons they give why dogs should be banned, that they indeed are. So it is with Stephen Lightfoot’s three reasons to ban dogs from Waverley cemetery, (Waverley Cemetery Is No Place for dogs, Letters, The Beast, December, 2022).

His first reason is respect for the dead. Who prescribes how respect is demonstated? In Korea I have danced on graves with relatives remembering their dead. In Russia I have drunk too much vodka with relatives for the same reason. In Chile I have attended protests against the Pinochet dictatorship in the central cemetery in Santiago (and been tear gassed for my trouble). At Botany Cemetery I regularly took my dog when I visited my mother’s grave. It didn’t help her but certainly helped me. None of these activities were disrespectful, except of course for the tear gassing. As for dog droppings, most are picked up and the few remaining blend with the much more plentiful bird, fox and rat droppings.

His second reason is that cemeteries are places of quiet reflection. Again, who prescribes this? In Korea, Russia and Chile that is certainly not the case. If dogs in cemeteries distract from quiet reflection, so do people walking there for pleasure or to birdwatch. In the 22 years I have walked through Waverley cemetery morning and evening only once have I seen any relatives at a grave and they were unaware of our presence.

As for the third reason about protecting biodiversity, that is not the purpose of cemeteries. Even if it were, the attribution of the

disappearance of the fairy wren in the last year to the presence of dogs might be convincing if dogs first appeared there last year.

We live in a city, which means we need to share the space and not banish dogs (usually to the most unpleasant small patches) on spurious grounds. Dog owners pay rates, they are entitled to free space at least in proportion to their numbers, and considering the joy and health benefits they bring to dog owners and the joy to most non-dog owners (there isn’t a day that goes by without my dogs being admired and patted by strangers, something which oddly never happens to me), I would argue they merit a far greater proportion.

John Acton Bronte

Randwick and Yale

In the twisted imagination of the Liberal Party, this should not exist. Yet it does. For a very long time, the federal arm of the Liberal Party has systematically over-funded so-called ‘private’ schools with taxpayer money, camouflaging their failed educational policy through their ideology of the free market and hard work. Meanwhile, their ideologically motivated bedfellows at state level have thoroughly underfunded public schools like Randwick Boys High School - just a look at the building itself confirms that. Evil heretics call this socialism for the rich and capitalism for the poor!

Yet despite all this, three boys from Randwick Boys High - a public school, not a private one - won the national level of a prestigious championship in ‘higher order thinking’. Despite being deliberately disadvantaged by funding cuts, making their contest look like a boxing match against Mike Tyson with their arms tied behind their backs, they won!

Now, these three Randwick boys are attending the global championship at Yale University (USA) to compete in the World Scholar’s Cup against rafts of other nations. Randwick Boys High School is representing Australia!

Perhaps overfunding private schools does not quite translate into creating the likes of Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking, capable of higher order thinking. But good public education - even when systematically underfunded - does. Congratulations Randwick Boys High School. Well done!

Thomas Klikauer Coogee

Extra Colours are Offensive

Dear James - I wish to state my strong objection to the planned addition of extra LGBTQA+ flag colours to the current rainbow which is painted on the Coogee Beach steps. Coogee Beach is a public space, it is a space for all people of all genders, all nationalities and of all creeds.

Painting a rainbow is one thing, putting up a plaque which talks about representing the diversity of Coogee is one thing. Blatantly painting colours from flags which do not represent a majority of people in our community is not appropriate. It does not represent me - in actual fact it would be offensive to me and many others. Coogee is my home, the beach is a place of natural beauty and it’s a place for everyone.

What if a huge crucifix - that is, a cross with Jesus - was planted in the middle of Coogee Beach for all to see every time they went to the beach? People would not be happy. I would not expect them to be happy - it does not represent them and they shouldn’t have to have it in front of them in a public space. They’re not choosing to see it. Straight people don’t have a flag (could someone please design one!) and if they did I wouldn't expect it to be painted in a public space. In the same way, I do not wish or choose to have to look at the myriad of colours on LGBTQA+ flags every time I go for a jog or whenever I want to admire the stunning natural beauty of where we live.

This is not about being anti-gay or not inclusive or not accepting. As a practising Christian, my respect for every other fellow human

being is the same way I respect and treat myself as a person. At the very least there should be community consultation regarding this plan for extra colours.

Liz Coogee

Uluru at Bondi Pavilion

Dear James - There has been a great deal of hype about the Pavilion, and most of what is there - already opened (lest patience is further tried) is incomplete, imperfect... but promising. Too many gestures though, and this one hit me in the eye.

I believe that Bondi Pavilion is a public place of great significance - an agora of sorts, and a major thoroughfare for locals and visitors of every kind. To have the Uluru Statement from the Heart presented in such a careless and demeaning fashion undermines the very moment itself. Whatever happens in future legal process, that document remains, and stands as a cornerstone in the quest for national identity. It deserves a scale and presentation that dignifies the great sentiment that it embodies.

Nicholas Pounder Bondi

Mailbag Response to Burrows Park Upgrade

Dear locals and Beast readers - I am writing to respond to objections by the ‘Concerned Residents’ to the proposed upgrade and increase size of the football field (Burrows Park ‘Upgrade’, Letters, The Beast, November 2022).

The comment, “This will completely change the quiet, local natural beachside area we all grew up with or moved to Clovelly to enjoy,” is clearly not correct at all. The objector also refers to the impact of crowds, traffic, noise, loss of natural views and quality of life and - the big one - property values. This comment reflects their lack of knowledge of current usage and the actual history of Burrows Park.

Burrows Park has in fact been a rugby league playing field since the early 1950s. At that time, with the efforts of surf and league club

members, including Keith ‘Pops’ Goodsell, approval was granted to convert the windswept rocky sandy area just below the Clovelly Bowling Club, into a sorely needed home ground field. This provided facilities to play and train on a full-size rugby league playing field frequented by both locals, youth and weekend games.

Funding only allowed for a small changeroom/toilet amenity which barely facilitated the players and public when watching the weekend games. The playing field was used by all grades up until the early 1990s when the field size was reduced to suit only junior grades. It has been since that time a unique link with the Clovelly Rugby League Football Club, as well as the Clovelly Eagles Rugby Union Club.

The proposed development merely reinstates the original size fields and upgrades facilities to better address urgent current needs, especially for the burgeoning female Crocs rugby league teams and locals who want to play and train there. It is a vital asset to the community.

So, to say, “The field needs only a simple upgrade,” is simply not true, and it is elitist to not want to allow the public to enjoy the Clovelly environment.

Nic Carroll Clovelly Crocs Club Historian Bondi

Different Rules for Developers

Dear Beast - I am writing to you with what I perceive to be a worrying future trend for unit owners in the Waverley LGA.

We are the owners of a small unit in what is termed an ‘Inter-war block’, that is typical of many Bondi units in style. The block of eight units is now approaching its 100th year and, like all buildings of that age, needs some capitial works.

To finance this work, it was proposed by the stakeholders that the common areas of the building be sold by the strata to the individual owners and thus finance the works. It was my understanding that this was a common way for ratepayers to finance work in ageing buildings.

After architect’s plans and town planning reports were done, we, in good faith, submitted our Development Application and waited. After considerable expense and a good deal of waiting, we received a letter from Waverley Council informing us that the Area Planning Management at Council’s Internal Development and Building Unit Meeting will not support the development.

One of the reasons given was that the building next door would lose mid-winter sun. We could work with that, but the next sentence had me incensed. It quotes section D of the council’s development standard that requires “environmental amenity for neighbours to be preserved, and therefore any impact on neighbours is unacceptable, so this makes the Development Application fundamentally unsupportable.”

The other reason given was they “could not support significent alterations to roof form, bulk, and appearance of the existing building,” and that, “the existing roof

should be retained.”

I am 61 years old and have lived in the area all my life, as did my parents and grandparents. I have watched with disgust and sadness as swathes of ‘Village Bondi’ has been wrecked!

In the same street, local residents fought a losing battle as an enormous development went through against their wishes. In the same street, at least a dozen Inter-war buildings have gone under the wrecking ball in one fell swoop to add to another large development in an already congested area. Hall Street Post Office, a landmark building of the same era as our block, now has a swathe of modern units heaped on top of it. How’s the “form, bulk and appearance” of the existing building going guys?

I know of at least half a dozen local residents who are fighting developers “to preserve the environmental amenity for neighbours” that the council seems to hold so dear, but has abandoned the residents I mention.

Now, here is the danger for the future of local residents who live in units, who do not have the resources of Mirvac, etc. - you will have to fund any capital works without the sale of common areas. “Can’t afford it?” they say, “Well, sell the block to a large, well-resourced developer.” They will get it through, and the handing over of Bondi to the developers continues.

Charlie Mac Bondi Beach

P.S. The residents in our block have been fighting a developer whose DA would have taken the sun from most of the backyard in our block. It is only because the house next door to this development collapsed due to dodgy excavating, and thus has stalled the development. ¢

Please send your feedback to letters@thebeast.com.au and include your name and suburb.

Coogee Wall Is New Showcase for Local Artists

Take a stroll down Alfreda Street in Coogee and you will now see vivid images jumping out at you from a corner wall next to a previously dull alleyway. A new mural by local Aboriginal artist Jordan Ardler, rich with ocean imagery, from the waving fronds of sea grasses at the base, to the whale floating atop the aqua sea, has breathed some life into the strip.

Jordan, 27, is a member of the La Perouse Aboriginal community and runs a youth haven there. Outside that day job, she has carved out a profile as an artist, and her work can be seen on the walls of local cafés and schools. She also holds art workshops in local schools.

Sea images are a favourite subject of Jordan’s. In the Coogee mural, there are culturally and spiritually significant mullet, a traditional staple food for the local Indigenous community. The sea imagery is combined with dot designs, plus Jordan’s own hand prints

in the ‘Greetings from Koojay’ lettering (Koojay is the original Aboriginal name for the bay).

The aqua colour of the sea is inspired by a distinctive feature in Jordan’s family.

“Our eye colour changes from green to blue,” she said, “and I’ve got a twin brother who has one blue eye and the other eye is green.”

Previously, there was just a blank wall where the mural is. Then the recently arrived building lessor, creative agency Emotive, teamed up with Jordan to render the premiere work for an ongoing showcase called The Alfreda Street Project. The mural will remain on the Alfreda Street wall for six months before it is replaced with a work by another artist. Like Jordan’s work, it will feature on the cover of The Beast Meanwhile, inside the Emotive offices, the artist’s work will be on display, showcasing it to the clients who come through the doors of the agency, which spe-

cialises in brand strategy and big ideas for blue chip clients. Current examples of Emotive’s work include an Audible campaign starring Josh Thomas and Miranda Tapsell, with guest appearances by Marc Fennell and Adam Liaw, and the We Worship Food campaign for premium restaurant delivery service Providoor. Emotive was established in 2015 and now employs 53 staff. Before replacing ProDive as long-term lessor of the Alfreda Street building, the company was in Tamarama.

“When Emotive moved to Coogee it wasn’t just so we could work by the beach,” explains Simon Joyce, CEO and founder. “The move connects us to a cultural energy and a freedom of expression that sets us apart from the predictable city workplace. And we believe being a part of a unique community should be a two-way street. So, for all that we get out of being here, we want to give something back. The Alfreda Street Project has been created to act as a beacon of creativity in Coogee, inspiring and attracting more creativity and creative businesses to the area.”

Simon said it felt right to start with an Indigenous artist as “a way to pay respects to the traditional custodians of the land we are fortunate enough to work on.”

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Jack Bennett Insta @jackowenbennett

Paul, Jordan, Simon and Pia in front of Jordan’s awesome artwork.

Greetings from Koojay!

Flickerfest Returns to the Pavilion With Dazzling Array of Short Films

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Brendan McKinnon

Flickerfest is returning to Bondi Beach from Friday, January 2029, screening 200 of the world’s best short films over ten days.

Now in its 32nd year, the short film festival is staged in partnership with Waverley Council and the venue for the event is the newly renovated Pavilion.

“It’s great to be returning to the Pavilion after holding Flickerfest in Bondi Park for the past two years,” Festival Director Bronwyn Kidd told The Beast. Program highlights include The Overthrow, a 15 minute film by Sydney writer-director Phoebe Wolfe about two young women who set off on roller skates from Sydney to Canberra’s Parliament House in a protest against climate change.

Also watch out for The Fritz, from South Australian filmmaker Conor Mercury. It’s a comedy featuring a cast of First Nations actors. Audiences will also get a chuckle out of White Lies, featuring hilarious cameos from Channel 7 Morning Show favourites Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur. And anyone who has

ever had to queue up outside a snooty nightclub will identify with Too Many Ethnics, from Sydney writer-director Vonne Patiag.

Filmmakers are competing for a number of prestigious prizes including the Flickerfest Award for Best Australian Short Film, the Flickerfest Award for Best International Short Film, the Yoram Gross Award for Best International Animation and the Flickerfest Award for Best Documentary.

The festival program includes a number of special showcases such as FlickerUp, for junior filmmakers, and Rainbow Shorts, featuring LGBTQI films.

Flickerfest started out as a low-key event held at a school in Balmain but soon moved to Bondi, which has been its home for the last 28 years.

Following the Bondi event, a selection of films will go on tour to capital cities and regional centres around Australia. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit flickerfest.com.au.

Relieved Residents Celebrate Industrial Rubbish Incinerator Victory

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Glenn Duffus

The local community held a victory gathering following the scrapping of plans to build an industrial rubbish incinerator at Matraville that would have had dire consequences for the air quality of the entire Eastern Beaches.

Held in Purcell Park, near the site for the proposed incinerator stack, the event was hosted by Randwick City Council, which laid on barbecued sausages and soft drinks. Plus there was entertainment from musos Anthony Cianci and Lawson Doyle, and children’s fun with Yabadoo Kids Entertainment.

The event was attended by Federal Member for Kingsford Smith Matt Thistlethwaite, State MPs Marjorie O’Neill and Michael Daley, and Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker.

Mayor Parker told the crowd of 300, “Our community has sent a strong message that big industry can no longer ride roughshod over our community. This is a community victory. It’s a win for people power. To everyone who put up a poster, wore a T-shirt, wrote a letter, signed the petition, turned up to a rally, took part in a video or spread the word - thank you.”

People power.

Back to its spiritual home.

Strength and Resilience Highlighted at Business Awards

The outstanding services and products of local businesses were recognised at an awards ceremony in the newly-renovated Bondi Pavilion.

Eleven businesses were winners at the Waverley Brightest and Best Business Awards. The theme of the evening was the resilience of the business community in weathering a challenging few years. Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos told the gathering of 200 that commercial occupancy rates remained more than 90 per cent during this time. And the number of businesses in Waverley grew by 10 per cent between December 2020 and December 2021.

“Waverley business is really strong and it’s growing,” she said.

The event was staged by Waverley Council and supported by local sponsors. Each winner received a trophy plus a tangible prize. The prize pool included a night’s penthouse accommodation plus dinner and breakfast at The Blue Hotel in Bondi, a $2,000 advertising campaign on Eastside Radio and a six month desk at the

WOTSO workspace in Bondi Junction.

And the winners were: Sweetheart Florist won the General Retail category. Cathy Levins-Byres, MC at the awards ceremony, said this businesses had been “commended by the judges for exceptional customer service.”

Little Feet Early Learning and Childcare was winner in the Childcare Services & Education category, while new age barber shop and salon AC FLO took out the Beauty Services prize.

Winner in the Hospitality category was Gertrude & Alice Café Bookstore. The judges were particularly impressed by the “bibliotherapy sessions” the Bondi business has been conducting.

Another popular Bondi business, Hong Ha Red Roll, was winner in the Artisan Food and Beverages section. This category was sponsored by The Beast, which came in for an honourable mention from MC Cathy as “the only independently owned magazine in the Eastern Suburbs.”

The winner in the new Sustainability category was bRU Coffee in Bondi, which has declared war on throwaway cups, encouraging customers to bring their own or choose from the café’s second hand mug collection. Another new category at this year’s awards was Digital & Online, and here the winner was Music Health, an app being harnessed by carers to help people with dementia. Technology was also forefront in the Innovation category, where the winner was online grocery marketplace toget.com.au.

Two architectural firms won awards, with Lockhart-Krause Architects taking out the Creative Industries category and Archi-QS the Professional Services category.

And last, but not least, there was Let’s Go Surfing, which won the Health, Fitness & Wellness category. When this was announced, event guidelines were broken as a contingent of half a dozen Let’s Go Surfing staff got up to receive the trophy from the mayor and pose for pics, as opposed to the principals who had been receiving the awards up until then. Not that anyone minded. It was an entertaining end to a well-run ceremony.

Before and after the awards, guests mingled in the bar next to the theatre, serenaded by a jazz trio. Many strolled out onto the long balcony outside the bar to admire the 180 degree vista as they sipped their drinks and nibbled at tempura prawns and other tasty finger food.

Well done, Waverley Council, for organising a successful evening in the revamped Pavilion! And congratulations to our wonderful local businesses - not just those who won awards, but all businesses in the Waverley LGA that have emerged stronger than ever after a very challenging time.

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Candice Epthorp

Waverley's brightest and best.

French Fare Pops up in Coogee

25 years ago, a young Australian from Clovelly, Andrew ‘Brew’ Robinson, was hitch-hiking on the side of the road in the French Alps. Broke and jobless, a Countess in her silver Audi stopped to pick him up.

As fate would have it, the Countess and her husband were looking for someone to work in their mountain chalet. “A turning point for the next 12 years of my life,” Andrew told The Beast.

Working for the Count and Countess de Forges in Méribel, a ski haven in the heart of the Alps, Andrew learned about the simplicity of aperitif dining and how to pair wines to cured meats and cheeses. Now he is bringing this experience to Coogee diners with his pop-up Coogee Bay Road restaurant, Encore Bottles & Boards.

Encore runs out of the Courtyard Café on Friday and Saturday nights. Here you can enjoy a relaxing aperitif experience, nibbling at delights like French saucisson, produced in Queensland by a French family

who have relocated from the Ardèche - the French birthplace of this type of cured pork - with their secret family recipe that is over a century old.

Another favourite is the Cognac chicken liver pâté, made by Andrew’s mother Jill from her own mother’s recipe, which is also coming up to a 100-year anniversary.

They offer a revolving selection of cheeses - Australian and international - from the Victorian Oak Blue cheese to truffle pecorino from Tuscany. The cheese and meat boards are perfectly paired with carefully selected grades of wine - Italian Prosecco, French Rosé, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir and Shiraz.

Encore Bottles and Boards is truly about sharing, reconnecting with friends and family over some wines and boards in a relaxed setting where communication is easy again. Andrew has chosen to simplify his menu by narrowing it down to a cheese board, meat board or mixed board with a few sides and great wines.

Bondi Dog Park Strongly Supported Despite Community Concerns

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Eastern Suburbs Mums

Waverley Council is deferring its decision on calls to make North Bondi’s Barracluff Park an official off-leash dog area. The proposal received overwhelming support in a recent Council survey, with more than 80 per cent of respondents agreeing that dogs should be allowed off-leash in the park.

However, there were also opponents to the idea. A report tabled at a meeting of Waverley’s Finance, Operations and Community Services Committee said it could have “significant impacts” on the adjacent synagogue. “Respondents noted it would impede access, be disrespectful to Jewish culture, and take away two open areas that are currently used to socialise before and after services.”

Another concern is attacks on small dogs by their larger unleashed brethren. One option investigated by the council has been two separate off-leash areas, for big and small dogs.

Councillors decided further discussion is needed, and agreed to hold a “councillor workshop” at a future date.

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Isabelle Saxton

Sisters Phoebe & Thea with Brew and a mouth-watering mixed board.

Our Underwater Wonderland

Just north of Coogee, a blue dragon spreads its wings. The size of a 50 cent piece, it is a soft-bodied mollusc that drifts on the ocean surface in a bubble of air, living off jellyfish fragments. Nearby, a few metres below the surface, there is a flash of yellow-green as a moray eel bursts from its rock cave and snaps up a passing fish.

Welcome to the undersea world of the Eastern Suburbs. From the wave-lashed rock platforms of The Gap to the calmer waters of Malabar, Little Bay and La Perouse, local diving spots offer a wealth of spectacular sights. And increasing numbers of snorkelers and scuba divers are capturing magical moments through the camera lens.

Two leading local lights in underwater photography are Vanessa Torres Macho and Talia Greis. The two currently have an exhibition of their works at Bellagio Café in Bronte Road, Waverley. Spanish-born Vanessa has a shop on Bondi Road, Aquatic Imaging Aus-

tralia, that sells underwater photography gear and she has won international recognition through prestigious awards and magazine spreads. Talia was raised in the Eastern Suburbs and was one of the winners in the Ocean Art underwater photography competition in 2019. This year she was placed as runner up Nature Photographer of the Year by the wildlife photography site Nature TTL.

The underwater photography exhibition is called Symbiosis. It features 32 works and runs until the end of January. Most of the pictures were taken locally and prints from the show are on sale from $110. The exhibition builds on the collaboration between Vanessa and Talia in creating their website Liquid Lens a year ago.

Liquid Lens is a showcase for women in underwater photography.

“It is a field which has traditionally been very male-dominated at the competition level,” said Vanessa, 43. “So we thought,

why not start something that champions the cause of women who take pictures underwater.”

Works from a female photography competition run by Liquid Lens were recently shown at the OZTek dive conference in Sydney.

According to Talia, underwater photography can easily become a consuming passion.

“It now defines who I am,” said the 34-year-old, who started diving seven years ago and got her first underwater camera in 2019.

The starting price for a simple point-and-shoot underwater camera is around $1,000. But the elaborate rigs used by Talia and Vanessa have much higher price tags. There are wide angle zoom lenses, a pair of strobe lights for stills, plus a video light powered by a large rechargeable battery. On land, the gear is heavy, but in water it has neutral buoyancy thanks to four float chambers.

Armed with their professional gear, the two are able to capture sharp, vivid images of everything from very small creatures like the blue dragon to large ocean dwellers like the grey nurse sharks which are common off the rocks of Bondi and Maroubra.

Vanessa also accepts commissions for underwater portrait shots of people. And if you are interested in venturing into the ocean to take your own pics, she runs weekend underwater photography courses at local dive locations such as Clovelly.

Words and Photo Anthony Maguire

Vanessa and Talia with their camera rigs at Gordons Bay.

Vanessa's blue dragon.

Expert Eastern Suburbs property manager

Jillian Wills has just joined the team at Wills Property, a boutique real estate agency based in Bondi Junction. Jillian has managed countless properties in the Eastern Suburbs over a 30-year career, formerly at Wills Brothers. "Once you've lived in the East you tend to stay in the East. It has everything you need and the locals are great to work with. It's a pleasure to continue doing the job I enjoy, in the area I call home, with family again!" - Jillian

The Wills family have been working in property, offering personal client-based service in the Eastern Suburbs since 1934. PHONE 02 9387 1700 EMAIL jillian@willsproperty.com.au

Protect your income.

No One Likes Paying Insurance

Words Rob Shears Photo Robyn Rihanna Fenty

Insurance is one of those things that you think you don’t need, until you do. Sadly, over 17 years, and having advised hundreds of clients, I have seen my fair share of insurance claims. Fortunately, after millions of dollars of payouts, we have put our clients in a good position due to having the right protection.

The crazy thing about insurance is that we all insure our $50,000 car for a few thousand dollars a year yet most don’t insure (or underinsure) their largest asset - the ability to produce income for the rest of our working lives.

The net cost of insuring your income is often not that much more than insuring your car as the insurance premiums are tax deductible. While car insurance may pay out a one-off $50,000, income protection can potentially pay double that each year for decades. It makes income protection look cheap in comparison. You can probably afford to buy a new car if you had to. Most can’t afford to be not working with no income.

If you have a decent mortgage and a few kids, then your insurance needs are likely substantial. It’s important that you

get onto covering your family if something untoward happens.

There are four different types of insurance that can provide protection, depending on your specific circumstances. Death cover, total and permanent disability cover and income protection can be held through your superannuation if you have cash flow issues. This means that despite large mortgages, there are ways to afford insurance during these tough times of rising rates. Trauma insurance is the only one that can’t be held in your super and is to pay out for the nasties like cancer, heart attack or stroke.

It is important to get yourself covered early as it is either very difficult or very expensive after any medical issue to get insurance.

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.

The Gym That Changes Lives

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Jim Nasium

At a gym in Bondi Junction, people with disabilities are going through life-changing exercise programs. Participants are gaining not only healthy bodies, but boosts to their confidence and social skills.

Located in Spring Street, Fit n Able is funded under the NDIS and has around one hundred clients going through its doors each week. Some have autism or intellectual disabilities such as Down Syndrome, while others have disorders like bipolar and PTSD.

Sessions are one on one by specially trained coaches and the positive changes are remarkable, according to managing director Jason Critelli.

“We have participants who are really shy and timid to start with, but they quickly come out of their shells,” he said. “One of the major benefits is the ability to focus on tasks for a long time.”

The gym recently had a visit from Coogee MP, Dr Marjorie O’Neill, who said, “A mainstream gym can be daunting to people with a disability. This provides a space where they can increase their fitness in a supportive, non-judgemental environment.”

Fighting fit.

If you earn $90K pa and have 30 years to go before you retire, your working life is worth over $4.2m*. For many, that is their biggest asset. Is it insured?

If you became ill or injured and you couldn’t work for a while, what would be affected? Your kids’ schooling, your mortgage or car loan? For most of us, our income feeds everything in our life. Protect your future with income protection insurance.

Act now and save: Call 8013 5205 or scan the QR code Contact us before 15 Feb, 2023 to lock in a limited time 50% rebate of our commission for the first year, potentially saving you thousands.

Valor Private Wealth Pty Limited is a Corporate Authorised Representative (Corporate Authorised Representative No. 409498) of Valor Financial Group Pty Limited, AFSL No. 405452, ABN 81150590453. Valor Private Wealth is an authorised representative of Valor Financial Group. *Calculations based on 3% inflation per annum, salary starting at $90K pa and increasing by the rate of inflation over 30 years.

Crime News

Serial Rapist Unmasked

A notorious serial rapist who preyed on multiple women in the Eastern Suburbs has been identified by police using the latest DNA technology. But the predator has escaped justice because he died from kidney failure aged 66 earlier this year.

Police say Keith Simms of La Perouse attacked at least 31 women in Bondi and nearby suburbs between 1985 and 2001. He broke into their homes or set upon them when they were out walking or jogging - Centennial Park was a favourite hunting ground and he also targeted women on the Bondi to Coogee coastal track. His victims ranged in age from 13 to 55.

Last Supper

Narelle Smith cooked her neighbour Peter McCarthy a meal in his Coogee home - then battered him to death with a frying pan.

Smith, 46, has been found guilty of murdering the 77-yearold retired lawyer after the Supreme Court was told her blood was found all around Mr McCarthy’s unit. Next to his body was a frying pan with its handle broken off. The court heard there had been a disagreement about borrowed money and CDs. Smith will be sentenced in February.

Plastic Surgeon on Child Sex Charges

A top Eastern Suburbs plastic surgeon has been charged with child sex offences. Double Bay practitioner Dr Richard Sackelariou, a specialist in breast reconstructions and rhinoplasties, is alleged to have groomed girls as young as 13 for sex sessions in motel rooms.

Sackelariou, 68, of Vaucluse is charged with a string of child sex offences. Waverley Court was told four female witnesses will be giving prosecution evidence. He was refused bail, with his stonyfaced wife sitting at the back of the court refusing to make eye contact with him.

Suspicious Blaze at YouTuber’s Home Police are investigating a suspected firebombing at the Bondi home of YouTube political commentator and satirist Jordan Shanks. The fierce blaze at the front of the house followed another suspicious fire at the same property six days earlier.

With almost 650,000 subscribers, the 33-year-old YouTuber has carved out a strong online profile through his friendlyjordies channel. In the process, he has made powerful enemies, with a number of his targets launching legal proceedings against him. His lawyer Mark Davis told reporters the list of suspects was “considerable”.

Trickster Jailed

A woman who tried to pass herself off as a teenage sex trafficking victim has been jailed for making false representations to police. Samantha Azzopardi spun her story to a Bondi Junction-based charity, then police and other authorities. Speaking in broken English, she claimed to be French.

She is a notorious trickster with mental health problems who has wasted the time of authorities many times before in both Australia and overseas with similar ruses. Appearing in

Waverley Court via videolink, the 33-year-old was convicted of her 100th Australian offence and sentenced to 17 months jail.

Burglary Warning

There was a weekend rash of burglaries in affluent suburbs, with break-ins at two homes in Bellevue Hill and two others in Woollahra and Darling Point. All the burglaries took place between 2.30am and 3am on a single weekend.

In a Facebook posting, Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command urged householders to keep their homes secure and consider installing CCTV cameras that allow you to remote view. Another tip: “Don’t leave garage door remotes in your car if parked outside.”

Bronte Boofhead Stole Taxi - Police

A drunken Bronte businessman stole a taxi in the CBD, then abandoned the vehicle in Woollahra. That is the allegation of police, who would appear to have a strong case because the events were captured on CCTV.

Dressed in a business suit, the 42-year-old can be seen lurching up to the cab and pulling at its front passenger door handle so forcefully it broke off. He then fell backwards onto the footpath. As he got back up, the cabbie leapt out of the car and there was a discussion about the broken handle - before the man ran off.

Despite being drunk, he pelted down Hunter Street like Usain Bolt. He then reappeared beside the cab a few minutes later. It was unattended with the keys in the ignition. The security footage shows him getting in and driving away, with the cabbie running alongside trying to stop him.

The next morning, the cab was found abandoned in Woollahra. Five days later, the man gave himself up to police after a social media appeal. He was charged with taking a vehicle without consent, reckless driving and driving under the influence.

Words Gary Larson

Predator Keith Simms.

Subject

Winning.

The Unreliable Guide to... Work-Life Balance

I love the French. Don’t get me wrong, as a Pom I’ve faced my shares of snooty Parisians, sneering at my daggy attire and pretending not to understand my nervous attempts at their language. It’s not that I’m a huge fan of French food either. Apart from French cakes (which are actually so good there’s probably a law against them somewhere) I’d choose Italian cuisine over French every time. No, the reason I love the French is because they fight to the death for their right to relax. They fight for the freedom of leisure, pleasure, relaxation. In 2000, the French passed a law stating that the working week should not exceed 35 hours - if it does, those hours must be paid back to the worker in the form of holiday. French law already requires a minimum of five weeks annual leave, but because of this pay-back scheme, many workers get double that. Compare this to the US - who have no laws about maximum hours or paid leave - where the median number of paid holidays per year is just six measly days, and working more than 50 hours a week is not unusual.

That barely leaves them time to do anything else - no wonder they eat so much fast food. In Australia, thankfully, full-time employees are entitled to a minimum of four weeks off per year, but I think we should go further. After all, we’re a long time dead. Why are we all slogging our guts out to buy things we don’t need? Luckily, The Unreliable Guide is here with some tips and tricks to help you escape the rat race.

Four-Day Week

Aussies love a long weekend, but how good would it be if every weekend was a long one? In the UK, a hundred companies have just signed up for a permanent four-day working week with no loss of pay. This only affects 2,600 workers, but the 4 Day Week Campaign Group hopes it’s the start of a major social shift. The campaign intends to “build a society where we work to live, rather than live to work”, a sentiment with which it’s hard to argue. And research suggests it’s better for employers too. A survey conducted by the Universities of Cambridge

and Oxford revealed 95 per cent of companies trialling the scheme had either improved or retained productivity levels. In 2021, a Henley Business School study estimated implementing a four-day week across the entire workforce would save UK businesses a combined £104 billion a year. So why aren’t we all doing it?

Leisure is Pleasure, Not a Sin

It is no coincidence that the establishment of Protestantism (from 1517) was swiftly followed by the Industrial Revolution (from around 1760). The Protestant/Calvinist/Puritan work ethic focuses on diligence, discipline and frugality whilst declaring that anything fun must be sinful - an ideology custom designed to brainwash an obedient workforce into spending long hours on some unrewarding job. Now, keeping up with rampant mass consumption, the latest manifestations of Protestantism in the US is the prosperity gospel favoured by some evangelical nutjobs. They promote the idea that wealth and possessions are a blessing from God. Thus, the poor are not pitiable victims of unequal opportunities, they are sinful, lazy ratbags, because if God loved them, he’d have showered them in dollars (can I have an A-MEN?!) - total, dangerous bollocks that has arguably infected the structure of US laws and values.

Finally, until we get a legislated four-day week here, The Unreliable Guide suggests you chuck a sickie, grab some mates and take the day off. On your deathbed you won’t be looking at your bank balance or your collection of fancy shoes, cars or houses, you’ll be thinking about all the fun you either did orand this will break your heart - didn’t have time to have.

Words Nat Shepherd Photo Holly Day

and float to survive.

Mayor's Message

On behalf of Waverley Council and my fellow Waverley Councilors, I would like to wish our community a happy and safe 2023.

Waverley Council is delighted to be progressing several exciting projects this year including our Float to Survive water safety pilot campaign with Randwick City Council and UNSW. Float to Survive promotes floating as the best chance of survival for swimmers who get into trouble in the water and is aimed at reducing the record number of drownings in Australia We are testing the memorability of the Float to Survive message in ou r research to help keep our swimmers safe. When visiting our beaches, please remember to always swim between the flags and follow instructions from our lifeguards. If you become caught in a rip or encounter difficulties in the water, please signal for help

Our Major Projects continue with the restoration and upgrade of the heritagelisted Boot Factory building in Spring St, Bondi Junction and Mill Hill Community Centre The Council is transforming the building into our first Innovation and Knowledge Hub where we can nurture ideas to further transform Waverley into a smart city of the future and ensure that neighbouring Waverley Library keep s pace with the knowledge economy. Restoration works are expected to be completed in autumn so please see the Major Projects page on our website for updates.

We are also continuing to work with businesses and residents in Charing Cross to discuss our proposed streetscape upgrade of Waverley’s oldest village centre We have very well thought-out and developed concept design for the Charing Cross Streetscape Upgrad e which includes new trees and street furniture, the introduction of a 40km/h area, footpath widening and undergrounding of overhead powerlines. Our concept

design for the Charing Cross streetscape upgrade aims to preserve and celebrate the traditional village look and feel of this much-loved neighbourhood area while making it more sustainable and safer for pedestrians, motorists and those using public transport. The Charing Cross community is passionate about their village which we want to improve for the future

Bondi Pavilion continues to delight this summer with exciting live events from music and films to kids activities, exhibitions and classes. New events are being scheduled each week, so visit the What’s On page at bondipavilion.com.au for the latest updates. The Bondi Pavilion Welcome Centre is also open 10am to 4pm, seven days a week, for all your Waverley Customer Service and Box Office needs.

And for more events and news, look out for your copy of the summer edition of Waverley News, our community magazine celebrating all things Waverley!

Paula Masselos Mayor of Waverley

Like walking on air.

You Probably Think This Thong Is About You

Words Jeremy Ireland Photo Carly Simon

After a long hiatus, the annual The Beast staff Christmas drinks was back - no masks, no QR codes, no nothing. I was surprised to learn that the majority of the crowd were the foot soldiers that pound the pavement and put the mags in letterboxes. I never realised what a mission it actually was, an army of people literally walking the streets making sure each letterbox gets its issue tucked safely inside. As I was listening to the importance of sturdy footwear to get the job done safely, the lady explaining everything to me pointed towards our illustrious editor and said, “James here, he’s known to deliver in bare feet.” I looked straight at his feet; they weren’t bare, but looked quite comfortable wedged in a pair of well-worn rubber thongs that probably cost five bucks. Being known to wear thongs around the clock myself, I showed him my pair, “Mine only cost $1.25 from Kmart!”

Thongs, flip-flops, slides... whatever you want to call them, essentially James’ pair were the same as mine. So what was the difference, apart from $3.75? On returning home, I started thinking, why do people choose to dress and look as they do, and how does that appearance influence how one is perceived? Well, if you live in the Eastern Suburbs, especially around Bondi, there’s plenty of fodder to chew. You tend to see it all around that famous piece of sand, but watch for a while and you’ll start to notice trends or patterns around what people wear and how they wear it.

Essentially, appearance is a form of non-verbal communication, and it is a fast and effective way to get a message across. Western culture

tends to place a high value on how we look - how much we weigh, the style of our hair and, most importantly, what we wear. As much as I hate to say it, studies do show that attractive people are perceived as more credible, popular, social, prosperous, adventurous and, believe it or not, happier. The crucial word here is ‘perceived’.

With attractive people being splashed all over reality TV, advertising and social media, you can appreciate the power of influence and how a stereotype develops - think Beauty and the Geek. Looks sell, and if you’re following a social influencer the subtext they rely on is you’re not too happy with yourself and you want to be like them.

But let’s get back to clothing... it really is the fastest non-verbal way to communicate to others how you want to be treated. If I, for example, walked into a boardroom meeting wearing my $1.25 thongs it sends a quick message to the board how I want to be treated. Wear these same thongs in court, however, and I’d probably get a different result. Unfortunately though, like Roxette, if you’re trying to dress for success, sadly the data shows there’s no real magic formula.

If we do get caught up in the ‘what is beautiful is good’ stereotype, is this such a bad thing? Well, there’s nothing wrong with trying to look your best. It certainly seems important if we go on a first date, for example, but there is a definite cost - not just financial - in the pursuit of trying to look like someone else because they made it look good on Instagram or, even worse, being told what to wear if you are trying to fit in with a certain geographical demographic.

Remember, if we’re consulting the likes of Vogue to achieve the ultimate ‘Bondi’ look, it’s worth asking what are we really wanting here. Following a trend is one thing, but if we all do it then it is no longer a trend and it becomes a cliché. May I suggest if we are a little uncertain about how to be seen around Bondi, before rushing out to buy that essential little white dress, grow a hipster beard, buy a Range Rover or even be tempted to purchase a $30 pair of thongs made of crap rubber, may I encourage brushing up on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes

If you’re still unsure, try this experiment: buy a plain black pair of $30 rubber thongs and a similar looking pair from Kmart for under $5, put one from each pair on each foot, then walk along the promenade at Bondi and see who notices!

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

The

latest from Randwick City Council about living in this great city

Randwick News

It’s that time of year when we all pause for a while to reflect.

This year there’s been so much to be grateful for. Summer’s finally here and our favourite festivals and outdoor events are returning. What a change to 2020 and 2021! I’ve really enjoyed getting out and meeting our local community groups, residents and visitors to our area.

It’s been a whirlwind, it’s been busy – and like every year, there have been ups and downs. Something I never take for granted is the privilege of being Mayor of this wonderful City – the place I call home. It’s an honour. So, in my last Beast column for the year, I’d like to say: Thank you!

Thank you to my fellow Councillors and thank you to the wonderful Randwick Council staff who work so hard to serve the community. Thank you to the local businesses and thank you to everyone who lives, works and plays here – you make Randwick City the diverse, multicultural place that it is!

Just a reminder Coogee Sparkles NYE fireworks are at Coogee Beach at 9pm and we’ve got Australia Day activities at Kensington Park. There will be alcohol restrictions at all of our beachside parks this holiday season, and our beaches have permanent alcohol restrictions – so make sure you check the signage.

Stay safe at our beaches and on our coastline. If you rock fish or know people who do – remind them that lifejackets are compulsory. And if you’re swimming, make sure you swim between the flags and if you get into trouble, remember – float to survive!

Have a safe and happy summer, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and Happy New Year to everyone.

What’s On

SATURDAY 31 DECEMBER

COOGEE SPARKLES 9pm, Coogee Beach

MONDAY 9 JANUARY BLIMEY SLIME-EY FOR KIDS 1pm – 2pm Lionel Bowen Library

TUESDAY 10 JANUARY BABIES LOVE BOOKS IN SPANISH 11.15am – 11.45am Lionel Bowen Library

MONDAY 16 JANUARY SHOWTIME IN MAROUBRA FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL KIDS 10.30am – 11.30am Lionel Bowen Library

SUNDAY 22 JANUARY DROP-IN AT THE BAYVIEW WITH ANGELA NASHAAT 12.30pm – 3pm The Bayview Gallery, La Perouse Museum

THURSDAY 26 JANUARY AUSTRALIA DAY 12pm – 4pm Kensington Park

1300 722 542 randwick.nsw.gov.au

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker

Councillor Dylan Parker Mayor of Randwick

Hot Privilege

There is lots of different privilege going round these days. It’s become quite a hot thing recently. In fact, it’s so hot that I’m tentative to even use the word privilege. It seems naughty.

But there is one kind of privilege we don’t talk about. There is a super class ruling our culture. Everyone instinctively and intuitively knows about this class yet fails to acknowledge it because they’re too busy being dumbfounded and awestruck. This class is made up of hot people. Being hot provides you with privileges many of us average-looking chums couldn’t dream of.

The main symptom of hot privilege is that it magically enhances your other qualities. Your hotness makes your jokes funnier, your annoying traits more bearable, your opinions more valid, and your supply chain of options, for just about anything, more comprehensive. It transforms your meanness

into personality, your arrogance into ambition, your rudeness into something that just goes hand-in-hand with being such a highflyer. There are studies now on attractive people which show how markedly better their lives are (better relationships, higher pay, more positive emotions, etc.). But you really don’t need studies to prove hot privilege exists. You just need common sense and some hot friends.

Now, just because hot privilege exists, we should, under no circumstances, dispense with it. That would be a bad idea and it would be boring too. We should instead try and make sense of it. This is about accepting the fact that we can’t help but judge on hotness, and that’s okay so long as you admit that’s what you’re judging off, or the extent to which it is affecting your judgement of someone. I know I become a little jelly baby when faced with hotness. I can’t really help it, I’m always willing to elevate hotties in any way I can.

There is nothing superficial about admitting the sole reason you have an affinity toward someone is because they are hot. That’s just being honest. It’s just the truth, and if the truth is superficial then we are all in trouble. Deliberately pretending you’re not taking looks into account means hotness comes into play even more sosome might even steer clear of hot people because they want to prove a point, and thus they’re judging on hotness.

Imagine asking your friend why they are dating that tool, and they unashamedly say, “They’re hot, that’s why. Maybe I’ll get sick of it soon, but right now, hotness is the glue that holds this relationship together.”

Ah, the poetry! How can one hate such beautiful honesty? Wouldn’t it be worse to lie about it, or pretend you like them for some other reason? That doesn’t help anyone.

We need to accept that, paradoxically, the most thoughtful we can possibly be is to understand how superficial we can be at times. Just like we are all so hell bent on calling out other privileges with such indignance, we should also be cognisant of hot privilege. Just like other privileges, no one expects you to give away all your possessions and live in squalor to account for the fact you’ve had advantages over others, but they expect you to know that you’re a lucky sod and to not block your eyes to the fact that you’ve got it good. That’s all.

All that being said, if I see a hot person today, I am going to feel absolutely no shame in saying for whatever reason, whatever strange force has taken hold of me, that I think I love her. If I’m not at that stage yet, I know that I’ll have no trouble in getting myself there, eventually.

Public schools are so random.

Cynic

Cafés Replace Churches as Arbiters of Morality

Popular cafés with inviting décor, sumptuous menus and the intoxicating aroma of coffee are offering moral sustenance to residents of the Eastern Suburbs after plastering their walls with positive affirmations, while local religious organisations struggle to retain their flock.

Artistically crafted messages in on-trend fonts and curated colour schemes comfort diners as they seek physical, emotional and spiritual nourishment in their new sanctuaries of soul.

Brenda is a long-time local who lives her life according to the carefully selected messages adorning the walls of her favourite cafés.

“I believe in me,” she affirms, “and I believe in the person I dream of becoming.”

She also finds solace in the quotes:

‘If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you,’ and ‘I am perfect just the way I am,’ despite the fact the adjacent quotes appear to contradict each other.

AJ lives according to the hand-painted edicts at the café where he is given his daily bread. He finds as much inspiration in a café as he does from his favourite social media influencers, and his most beloved quote among many is:

‘Don’t be eye candy, be soul food.’

Why? “Because I haven’t eaten candy for seven years, that’s how I keep my beach body.”

Friend Siiy agreed, and pointed out a quote beside their favourite table, which read, ‘I am a magnet for true success.’

“After all, why do we go to cafés in the Eastern Suburbs, if not to flaunt our success and be surrounded by it?” he chuckles.

Chris, meanwhile, was similarly inspired:

‘Be around those who feed your soul, not eat it,’ he read aloud, before explaining that pious baby-boomers do not feed his soul. “…and this sauce is so delicious I feel my soul uplifted already. It’s so much better than that tiny wafer you

get at mass, and the church still doesn’t offer a vegan option.”

Daisy and Patrick find sufficient guidance over Sunday brunch, and have no plans to return to religion.

“The church still has its role, don’t get us wrong. It reminds our kids why we pay a fortune for their private school. Plus, the entertainment at the Easter and Christmas kids’ mass is much cheaper than taking the whole family to the movies,” they explain, before adding, “We’ll go back to church when we’re allowed to take our dogs.”

For Shar, forgoing the church for the café is a question of space.

“How can I let God into my life when Marie Kondo is already telling me to declutter?” Shar asks, adding that he is “eternally nourished” by the quote:

‘Beautiful things happen when you distance yourself from negativity.’

“And it’s not as if the ten commandments spark joy!”

Satire Kieran Blake, kieranblakewriter.org Photo Sol Berenson

"You guys feed my soul."

The Crisis in Education in NSW

The simple fact is that education in the state of NSW is desperately in need of government intervention and good public policies. Throughout the entire state, we are experiencing critical problems associated with lack of government investment. A shortage of teachers and, in the case of public education, both declining infrastructure and inadequate access to placements, are just the tip of the iceberg.

There are also fundamental failures in our education system to evolve to meet contemporary concerns and needs, including the growing demand for co-educational schools. If government does not invest in our schools and TAFE, we will not have an adequately educated population and the standard of living of all Australians will continue to decline.

Our entire education system is under threat due to a shortage of teachers. There is a shortage of five to six thousand teachers. The state expects to run out of teachers in the next five years, and almost half of all early career teachers are leaving the profession every year. The working conditions of teachers,

including not just wages and hours but also administrative requirements and other accountability responsibilities, as well as developmental opportunities, are in need of both serious review and investment. It is time to invest appropriately in our teachers, unless we can see a future without them!

Here in the east, we are experiencing the same challenges of attracting and retaining school teachers but we are also facing major school infrastructure and accessibility issues. An under-funding of our public schools is of particular concern. Despite amazing teachers, there is a continual drain from our public school system into the private system because of inadequate public school funding.

Let’s be clear about this, many residents of the east choose to send their children to religion-based systemic schools or more elite private schools - that is their choice and it is respected. These schools are also impacted by the challenges associated with attracting and retaining quality teachers and by government funding policies. All children in NSW are entitled

to adequate funding for their education.

The provision of an excellent public education system available to all is the measure of a society’s capacity to meet the needs of its citizens. In NSW, we are not meeting this requirement on several fronts. Our public schools have not been receiving the investment needed for essential upgrades and we do not have the capacity to meet current or future needs.

In particular, there is an urgent need to prioritise the upgrades to Randwick Girls High School and Randwick Boys High School and to address co-educational high school capacity issues. Ensuring fair funding for public schools in line with the Gonski recommendations is a high priority. Of particular concern for me is that Randwick Boys and Girls High Schools have been waiting for more than four years for their promised upgrades, but the Perrottet Liberal government has failed to deliver.

I have campaigned and fought for these issues for the past four years and I am very pleased to state that, if elected to government in March 2023, a Labor Government has undertaken to fund a new high school for boys and girls in the Eastern Suburbs. All students in NSW will have guaranteed access to a co-educational public high school if Labor wins the March election under a plan to give thousands of parents in single-sex school catchments more options as demand for co-ed surges.

Education is a key determinant of individuals’ life opportunities. I hope you join with me in placing accessible quality education as a key priority for government policy as we move forward to building a better, fairer and ultimately more prosperous future.

Words Dr Marjorie O’Neill, Member for Coogee Photo Ed Ucation

Without education there is no future.

Happy, Healthy New Year

As we enter 2023, I’m filled with a sense of optimismthere’s goodwill and positive energy all across our community. Thinking about the year ahead, I look at my three daughters and wonder what it will bring for them - I hope that it is one full of reward.

We are immensely fortunate to live in such a wonderful community. However, as a working mum I know that our families are facing many challenges, especially the rising cost of living, access to important services and the need to preserve our environment for future generations.

That’s why I’m standing as Coogee’s Liberal candidate.

Here in Coogee, we have beautiful beaches and parks, world-class health care, and quality education for our kids. But we can’t take these offerings for granted.

The NSW Liberals have managed our state’s finances and have a plan to ensure NSW

continues to move in the right direction. With your support, we will continue to meet the challenges before us and deliver the services and infrastructure our community deserves.

One exciting investment by the NSW Liberal Government is the $1.5 billion Randwick Health and Innovation Precinct, which will co-locate clinical, research and education facilities. This will bring world-class healthcare to the people of Coogee and the broader NSW community. Having worked in hospitals as a speech pathologist, I know the importance of ensuring everybody has access to quality healthcare when they need it.

I recently toured the soonto-be-opened Acute Services Building at Prince of Wales Hospital and was in awe of this state-of-the-art facility. I know that both patients and staff will benefit enormously from this investment.

I am passionate about health, and while delivering exception-

al health services for people is foremost, healthy places and a healthy environment go handin-hand with healthy people. Summer means people from all over Sydney, and the world, will flock to our beaches.

Our beautiful ocean is the hallmark of our community, and we need to do all we can to preserve and protect it. As an active patroller and former board member at the Bronte Surf Life Saving Club (and someone who is in the ocean nearly every day), I have been devastated to see plastics in the water and washed up on the beach, particularly after intense storms last year. On almost every lifesaving patrol, I and other patrollers will fill a bucket with all sorts of rubbish, most frequently - and concerninglyconsisting of plastic bags, cups and water bottles.

The NSW Liberal Government has acted on this issue, introducing new laws to reduce plastic waste. Our reform has phased out many single-use plastics, including plastic bags in June 2022 and plastic cutlery, straws and bowls in November 2022. This is in addition to our well-established Return and Earn program that encourages recycling. Nonetheless, we all have a part to play in preserving our environment and we can make good personal choices such as using our own keep cups and water bottles.

I’ll be seeking your support to represent our great community, and I know that by working together we can deliver cost of living relief, continue to protect and enhance our local environment and ensure that everyone has access to worldclass services and facilities. I look forward to meeting as many locals as possible over the coming months and having conversations about the things that matter most to you.

Words Dr Kylie von Muenster, Coogee Liberal Candidate

Photo Noel McLaughlin

Kylie and the von Muenster clan.

Hi, I’'m

Kylie

Kylie and her husband love raising their three girls locally and want to ensure their children and other local families can enjoy the opportunities and character of our community. That’s why Kylie is standing as Coogee’s Liberal candidate.

With a doctorate in speech pathology, Kylie has worked in regional and city hospitals, and specialised in helping children with a hearing loss develop listening and communication skills. This experience inspired Kylie’s commitment to ensuring everybody has access to quality, affordable healthcare when they need it.

Kylie’s passion for our area has always inspired her to give back to her community, especially through local organisations, including as an active patroller and Board Member at the Bronte Surf Life Saving Club.

As a Coogee local and working mum, Kylie understands the opportunities and challenges for local families, especially the rising cost of living, the importance of good services and amenities, and the need to preserve our environment for future generations.

Dr KYLIE VON MUENSTER Liberal for Coogee

Kylie will use her local passion and professional experience to give Coogee a strong voice in our Parliament. She is someone who can get things done to deliver the services, schools, health care and cost of living support local residents and families deserve, and will fight to protect our community’s unique character for future generations.

The Most Expensive Way to Get a Free Chrissy Lunch

The other day I decided to change things up and go fishing. The session involved casting overpriced pieces of plastic at the pristine hulls of superyachts, eyes glued to the glaring sounder screen, while my ears were subject to the obnoxious ‘doofdoof’ of a nearby booze cruise. A quick argument with some punter at the boat ramp on the way in and half an hour battling weekend traffic to get home, it’s safe to say I was off it after having not even caught a fish.

Accordingly, I decided I needed to re-evaluate, to cleanse my palate of this metropolitan headnoise and get back to a form of fishing that is more relaxing and easy-going. That’s where ‘bottom bashing’ comes in, because sometimes jumping in your boat and sending it a couple clicks offshore until there’s not a soul in sight is the perfect remedy for any disgrun-

tled fisherman. No, ‘bottom bashing’ isn’t a euphemism for some cheeky pastime, although most sport-minded fishos seem to turn their nose up at the phrase as though it is. Rather, it’s one of the more core fishing techniques - stupidly simple and just as effective - and the perfect tactic to fill an esky for Chrissy lunch. It strips back a lot of the overwhelming complexities of fishing and gets back to the more primeval hunter-gatherer beginnings of the sport.

Anyway, enough theoretical wish-wash... bottom bashing involves fishing over sand, gravel or reef, usually in water 20 metres-plus, where a heavily weighted sinker is used to plummet bait vertically to the bottom - that’s pretty much it! Servo bought pilchards and squid are great baits to use due to their oily nature. Slightly heavier gear is preferable for

this technique due to the sheer weight of the sinker you have to pull from the depths.

Perhaps the greatest calling card for this technique is the exceptional eating quality of the fish you can expect to catch while bottom bashingflathead, snapper, morwong, nannygai, pearl perch, pigfish, teraglin, kingfish, amberjack and many more. This is a true lucky dip form of fishing and the mystery of what that next fish will be is enough to keep you captivated for hours.

Many fishos who use this technique simply drive out to a nondescript patch of ocean before dropping their lines without any sort of measure or reason. Alternatively, by using a sounder, as well as some topographical maps, you are able to target specific patches of ocean floor with characteristics such as reef or gravel that will significantly increase the diversity of species and the caliber of fish that you might catch.

Summer is a great time to get offshore in any sized boat, with the swells generally being smaller. However, do watch out for southerly trade winds as they can quickly turn a calm ocean into a dangerous one, especially in a small boat. If you are planning to head offshore, pick a calm day and try to head out early when the winds are at their calmest. Make sure to keep checking the conditions up to and during your session, as bad weather can and will pop out of nowhere (and it is not pleasant when it does).

So, if you have access to a boat and are keen to catch some fresh fish, give bottom bashing a crack. There’s a reason that so many charter companies use this technique exclusively. Anyway, I better stop waffling on and go and pack for a two-week mission I have in the works. Cheers for reading!

Words and Photo Lewis Kennedy-Hunt

A solid pearlie off Long Reef.

2 0551 1.58 1231 0.62 1815 1.23

New Moon

First Quarter

Full Moon

3 0000 0.58 0640 1.64 1329 0.56 1912 1.22

10 0440 0.58 1111 1.74 1750 0.43 2349 1.29

4 0045 0.59 0725 1.69 1415 0.50 2001 1.23

11 0520 0.61 1146 1.69 1826 0.45

17 0445 1.53 1117 0.65 1704 1.26 2259 0.56 •

18 0543 1.64 1229 0.54 1816 1.27 2359 0.54 •

25 0530 0.39 1156 1.93 1831 0.23

Last Quarter

5 0128 0.59 0806 1.73 1456 0.46 2044 1.25

12 0030 1.29 0602 0.64 1224 1.62 1902 0.48

19 0640 1.77 1331 0.40 1922 1.31 •

6 0208 0.59 0845 1.75 1532 0.43 2123 1.27

8 0324 0.57 0959 1.78 1641 0.41 2236 1.29 9 0401 0.57 1035 1.77 1715 0.42 2312 1.29

13 0113 1.31 0650 0.68 1303 1.54 1941 0.50

7 • 0246 0.58 0922 1.77 1607 0.41 2200 1.28

14 0200 1.34 0744 0.71 1349 1.45 2023 0.53

15 • 0252 1.38 0846 0.73 1444 1.36 2109 0.55 16 0346 1.45 0959 0.71 1549 1.29 2201 0.56 Moons •

26 0037 1.50 0627 0.45 1245 1.77 1916 0.33

27 0129 1.50 0725 0.53 1335 1.58 2000 0.44

28 0222 1.50 0829 0.61 1429 1.39 2045 0.54

21 0153 0.45 0830 2.00 1519 0.18 2115 1.41 Waverley Council has developed an easy to understand recycling guide for residents This digital guide highlights what can and can’t be put in your recycling bins, provides tips to recycle more and better and guidance on what to do with problem waste.

22 • 0247 0.40 0924 2.07 1609 0.13 2206 1.45

29 • 0317 1.50 0941 0.67 1530 1.24 2134 0.62

20 0057 0.50 0736 1.90 1427 0.28 2020 1.36 Tide Chart DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE TODAY!

Chilli, Garlic and Lemon Calamari with Salad of Pea, Mint and Feta

Words Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine

This is fresh calamari prepared and cooked simply. We want it to be tender and flavourful. In this recipe, the oil is infused with chilli, garlic and lemon, and the calamari is flash fried and then brought together so the oil coats the calamari in the bowl. Adding some charred sourdough on the side is the perfect vehicle for mopping up the intensely flavoured oil along the way.

In the interest of keeping it fresh and light for summer, make a quick, green salad of pea, mint and feta to serve with the calamari.

This recipe serves two and is perfect for summer and those that love the idea of a super

quick, delicious plate. A glass of crisp, chilled white wine will add to the experience!

Ingredients

200gm whole calamari (you can have the fishmonger clean it) 4 small red or green chillies, finely chopped Juice of half a lemon

⅓ cup olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped Wedges of lemon to serve Salad

¾ cup frozen peas ¼ cup fresh mint leaves 100gm Greek feta, crumbled 3-4 slices of sourdough ½ tbsp olive oil for brushing the sourdough

Method

1. To prepare the salad, cook the frozen peas for 1 minute in the microwave, then transfer to a strainer and place the strainer in a bowl of iced water to keep fresh and stop cooking further. Strain well and add to a small serving bowl. Add the fresh mint and crumbled feta. Set aside in a cool place.

2. Heat a frypan on medium heat, brush the sourdough with olive oil before placing it in the frypan and cook for 1-2 minutes either side. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. Pat the calamari dry with paper towel and slice it thinly.

4. In a frypan set on low heat, add the olive oil. When the oil heats a little, add the chilli, garlic and lemon. Cook gently for 3 minutes to let the oil infuse, ensuring the garlic does not burn.

5. Meanwhile in a separate frypan set to very high heat, add a drizzle of olive oil and fry the calamari quickly. Toss to separate the pieces and cook for approximately 1½ minutes. It will have a bite to it, but it shouldn’t be chewy.

6. In a large serving bowl, add the calamari, then pour in the chilli, lemon and garlic infused oil and toss to coat the calamari. Squeeze extra lemon over the top and add the sourdough on the side.

7. Eat while hot, with the fresh pea salad 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 in Sydney. For ideas, recipes and styling inspiration, check out her Instagram, @stone_and_twine.

Summer never tasted so good.

ACROSS

1. Merriam Webster’s word of the year (11)

7. Protection (6)

9. Argentinian footballer (5)

10. More than one ovum (3)

11. Aussie hat (6)

13. Dishonest acts (5)

14. Abbreviated disco biccies (1’1)

15. Landing place of Noah’s Ark (6)

16. Any beer other than lager, stout, or porter (3)

18. Tin’s chemical symbol (1,1)

20. Opposite of days (6)

23. Donkey (3) 24. Pig sound (4) 25. Liquid preparation for the skin (6)

27. Piece of metal used for locking and unlocking (3)

28. Long limbed (5)

DOWN

1. Socceroos coach (6,6)

2. Anise-flavoured Italian liqueur (7)

3. Hospital unit for seriously ill patients (1,1,1)

4. Gluten free soy sauce originating in Japan (6)

5. External opening of the nasal cavity (7)

6. Slightly intoxicated (5)

8. Expose to dry heat (5)

12. Respond (6) 17. Festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus (6)

19. Household employee (5)

21. Frozen rain (4)

22. A set of words set to music (4) 26. 15th and 5th letters of the alphabet (1,1)

Lisa Anderson Photo Stephen Lightfoot Instagram @lightfootsj

Winston Surfshirt is so smooth, listening to Panna is like sliding down a mental slippery dip. Close your eyes and you’re floating in a pool, sipping on a fruity cocktail, with zero cares and a watermelon on your head. It is impossible to listen to the entire thing without drifting off into daydreams full of sun and happiness (whatever you do, don’t listen to it driving). ‘There’s Only One’, featuring Genesis Owusu, is the closest I’ve come to meditation in a while. They need to do an entire album together, so we can all achieve nirvana.

Andy Bull makes me feel old. I remember when he first burst into our ears and now I consider him a stalwart and veteran of the local scene, yet I’m pretty sure he’s younger than me. It’s kind of like when you realise you are now older than every professional sportsperson in the country. On People You Love, Bull once again proves he is an undisputed master of songcraft. I would love to see him perform completely stripped back though. Just him and an acoustic guitar. Clothes as well, I guess. It would be weirdly intimate if he didn’t at least wear pants.

It is astonishing that NOFX haven’t burnt out yet. Not only that, in their latest band photo they look healthier than ever! Punk rock truly is humankind’s is not a double album (as far as I know), but it is a very good album, and could have been released at their peak twenty years ago, such is the energy. Sure, they’ve been smashing out the same Spag Bol for thirty-odd years, but we don’t go to Nonna’s for her take on Asian fusion, do we? A welcome addition to an epic discography, and one for the grey heads with the fading tattoos.

Pisces Feb 20-Mar 20

Summer is here and COVID is over, but you’re a shadow of your former self. Get out of the house and stop being a hermit.

Aries Mar 21-Apr 20

Stay still! If you lose too much weight your boney arse will start to hurt while you’re sitting around on it doing nothing.

Taurus Apr 21-May 21

If you haven’t slept head-to-toe for a while, you really should give it a go. Nothing says ‘I love you’ like dinner for two.

Gemini May 22-Jun 21

Stop designing your holidays around your friends’ itineraries when they’re actually trying to get away from you.

Cancer Jun 22-Jul 22

Continue to mislead and deceive gullible people with inaccurate advice on important issues you know very little about.

Leo Jul 23-Aug 22

Take time to experiment on yourself. You won’t make any groundbreaking discoveries, but you’ll enjoy it nonetheless.

Virgo Aug 23-Sep 23

Stop worrying about China taking over and imposing its ways on us. The biggest threat to your