The Beast - July 2023

BEAST

July 2023

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO REUSE

Thank you to the Bondi Beach businesses and customers who participated in the rePlated Swap and Wash trial.

Bangkok Bites, bRu Coffee, El Indio, Flave, Gertrude and Alice, Handmade Noodle and Dumpling Kitchen, Hong Ha Red Roll and Porch and Parlour have each made steps to reduce waste and litter from single-use takeaway containers in Bondi.

With reusable containers now in circulation, over the next year we will avoid:

5,350 single-use takeaway containers, this saves 164kg of waste, and 8 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions!

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Uplifted

Words James Hutton, Publisher

Welcome to the July 2023 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s uplifted beaches of the east. It’s pretty late, and I’ve just finished proofreading all the copy before I send this month’s PDFs across to the printers. I’ve got to say, Chris Enahoro’s story (page 24) has got me feeling pretty bloody good. If you read one thing in this publication, let it be that article (although I’d like everyone to read it cover to cover, of course).

Clovelly artist Bronte Goodieson is the talent behind this month’s colourful cover painting of Bronte Beach. I’ve been keen to get this talented young artist in the mag for a while now, so I’m stoked to finally be able to feature Bronte’s art on the cover. You can see more of her work at www.brontegoodieson.com, on Instagram @brontegoodieson,

and at Humble Beginnings up on Avoca Street, Randwick.

I regularly receive a heap of emails from residents worried about development applications and various other local issues. Two of the more concerning issues that have been on people’s minds for quite some time now are the Bronte Surf Club redevelopment and the Burrows Park upgrade. Both of these projects are nearing the ‘shovel ready’ stage now. Despite some fairly heated debate, I feel like we’ve been able to achieve reasonable outcomes that should suit the majority of stakeholders, thanks to a great deal of communication and compromise from all sides.

Thanks to journalists Anthony Maguire and Duncan Horscroft for putting these articles together. A lot of work goes into writing them. Even though we’re only an A5 format magazine, it takes bloody ages just to learn about the planning rules and fact check everything properly.

In other news, Randwick’s popular pop-up pedal parks are

back for winter. All three pedal parks will be up and running from the time you receive this in your mailbox until the end of August at Clovelly, Chifley Reserve and South Maroubra car parks.

I hope you enjoy this wintry edition of The Beast. Nick McKenzie for Australian of the Year! Oh, and you’ll be relieved to know that Pearl is back.

Cheers, James

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McGrath - Double Bay 20 Years at McGrath

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McGrath - Double Bay

“Selling Beachside Real Estate for Twenty Years”

Little Bronzey at Coogee (released), by Stephen Bargwanna.

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The Youth of Today

Thrifty or Thief?

Dear Pearl - I recently heard on the radio a 20-something saying, “I like to source my second-hand clothes sustainably.” What does that mean? That she spends little money, or she shoplifts? Or is this just a ‘senior’s moment’, and I am terribly out of touch with the jargon? Should I be saying, “I like to sustainably source my Weet-Bix?” Sigh.

Tim Bronte

Hope for a Brighter Future

Dear Tim - Congratulations on being one of those rare oldies who obviously tunes into ABC Radio (perhaps Triple J?) rather than squandering ones’ precious few years on this earth listening to the depressing dross emanating from the

likes of Ben Fordham and Ray Hadley. You may be having a ‘senior’s moment’ while scoffing down your Weet-Bix, but at least it’s an educated and enlightened one.

On the face of it, it does sound like the 20-something is indulging in shoplifting, or perhaps dumpster diving - I am a huge fan of the dumpster dive but I’m finding that arthritis prevents me engaging in rigorous sustainable activities - as a way of sourcing clothing, sustainably. Or perhaps she means, “I source my clothes sustainably by purchasing second-hand,” but forgot to use the Grammarly App? God knows how one finds ‘sustainable’ second-hand clothes, as Pearl knows that the quality, classic items only make their way to Salvos when one passes.

As an oldie, I don’t like to criticise the young. I love the earnestness of these young ‘woke’ people and their second-hand clothing, their keepcups, the way they are shunning the ritual of learning to drive for the convenience of Ubers and scooters, and their refusal to conform to the ridiculous gender stereotypes that have been forced upon us by marketers. I love their work ethic, their friendly demeanour and energy, and their chattiness and helpfulness from behind counters and over the phone. I look at the Kim Kardashian wannabe influencers who spend their precious money on false eyelashes and cosmetic injectables, and the Vin Diesel copycats with carefully curated biceps, and I sigh at the state of the world (the same way you sigh at the word ‘sustainably’, Tim). But all it takes is a visit to The Coop at Bronte Beach and I’m instantly uplifted by the positivity and kindness of the lovely young people who know my order and indulge me in chit-chat.

There are so many obstacles confronting young adults; life is not as easy as it once was. The greed, competitiveness and materialism of older generations have made the world a much harder place to navigate. Big business (with government assistance) is destroying our environment, and any form of dissent is deterred through undemocratic anti-protest laws that place the rights of corporations before citizens, ensuring the emerging youth toe the line. However, despite the obstacles and despite the reported rise in mental illness, I am viewing the young adults of today as a resourceful lot who give me hope for a brighter and sustainably sourced future (hopefully one free of shock jocks).

Pearl Clovelly

Words Pearl Bullivant Photo Reece Arkle

Sustainably sourced second-hand clothes.

The Beast's Monthly Mailbag

Burrows Park

Dear Beast - On November 14 last year, around a hundred Clovelly locals gathered at the Clovelly Bowling Club to discuss Randwick Council’s proposal to “upgrade” Burrows Park, on the northern headland of Clovelly Beach.

The meeting agreed that work is needed to improve the existing change rooms, toilets and storage facilities, and to provide a bubbler near the facilities building. All but two of the speakers were firmly opposed to other aspects of the plans displayed, especially plans to extend the size of the football field to “international” size to allow for senior NRL games and the proposed total expenditure$250,000 for a scoping study and $3 million for the work.

Understandably, Council required a formal consultation with the community. A survey was released, with responses due by May 29. However, the first question of the survey assumed that the respondent is generally in favour of the proposal. This is not the case.

The proposed extension of the football field would require the destruction of parts of the local vegetation, reduce the area of the lower southern section of the park and ultimately create traffic and parking problems even greater than those that already result from training and games by the various junior football clubs. The proposed changes would create a rugby league field capable of hosting first grade rugby league games.

The proposal is inappropriate to the existing nature and uses of Burrows Park - opportunities for quiet contemplation of the magnificent scenery, for passive relaxation, for picnics and the occasional wedding or kite-flying adventure, and for off-leash dog walking and

play. The plan is over-ambitious, inappropriate and at odds with everything the community values about Burrows Park.

Sandra Alexander Clovelly

Waste Not, Want Not

Dear Beast - I am writing to express my outrage that Randwick Council is spending ratepayers’ money scoping a proposal to turn Burrows Park into an international-sized rugby league field.

It is a ridiculous proposal that no one I know supports, and I understand the Clovelly Eagles and other rugby clubs don’t support it either.

What about the fact there is only one road into the park and one road out? Where are people going to park? Is the Council proposing to use the Clovelly headland, which is currently used by coastal walkers and off-leash dog walkers, to build a parking station?

It will create traffic jams and destroy parts of the coastal vegetation, transforming Burrows from a quiet, local ground for young kids into something capable of hosting first grade rugby league matches.

Randwick Council should be spending money upgrading the current amenities in the park if they have money to spend.

I encourage everyone to have their say about this. Unfortunately submissions closed on May 29, but Council should still consider them after the closing date. Please visit www.yoursay.randwick.nsw.gov.au.

Carolyn Odgers Clovelly

Population Growth

I was surprised and very pleased to see an editorial with comment about the elephant in the room - population growth. I commend

your bravery, very courageous publisher! I hope you don’t get a pile-on accusing you of being a NIMBY or a racist, even though, as you say, it will put downward pressure on wages, especially in the lower paid areas. Just after the wages commission gave a small wage boost to that area, this will take it away. And, at the other end, cashed up professional migrants will put upward pressure on housing costs and rent - the very reason Singapore has such hefty taxes on foreign purchases of land and apartments.

This is all true, but my worry is the impact on the built and natural environment. We can expect calls for the scrapping of height and coverage codes, and development on open space and natural habitat. The standard call from developers, who love nothing more than high immigration rates is, “We have to do this so we can house all these people.” Think 52-story buildings like the ones being proposed for Parramatta, and developments like Chatswood, Bondi Junction and Surfers ‘Paradise’ all the way along Sydney’s coast, so the rich can sit above it all and enjoy the view. And, no, there will not be any affordable housing.

The mining companies that want to develop open space and some of the last refuges of our native animals (see the current attempts to mine the habitat of endangered cockatoos in WA and Cape York, as well as multiple others) plead, “We need to mine, pollute and destroy these lands for lithium, nickel and bauxite so we can move to a carbon neutral economy so we can save the planet!” Does everyone see the irony in that? And, “We need to create jobs for all these people!” It’s always the same nonsense, “This will create jobs.” Adani loved that one.

Since successive governments have sold or closed down nearly every type of manufacturing or creative industry in the country, we now import nearly everything made, and export dirt from bloody big holes in the land (and our plastic waste to Third World countries), so increasing population is the only business they have left to create the never-ending growth that they seek. Corporations love it, developers think it’s Christmas. The health budget gets stretched,

Words The Informed People of the Eastern Beaches

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but they don’t care, they go to private doctors and hospitals. Further education gets more expensive, HECS rates go up as universities rely on paying overseas students because government budgets don’t cover tertiary education, and they have to make cuts to public school funding because there is “only so much money in the budget.” Anyone want to buy a submarine?

And I have heard the statement so many times since the 1980s, when we were sold globalisation and high population growth: “We need to bring in skilled migrants for the short-term until we train our own.” Well, that’s 40 years ago and it seems we still can’t train anyone.

This is the oldest and arguably driest land mass on the planet, with some of the most unique and amazing animals. When will we understand that we are only custodians of this land? It’s not ours to damage so much that it won’t recover. You don’t need to look after country; if you leave it alone it will look after itself. It did just that for over 50 million years.

Les Randwick

World Class Wastage

Sydney has its Opera House; now, Bronte might compete with an extravagant and architecturally egotistical surf club.

In October 2022 a Development Application for a replacement Bronte Surf Life Saving Club clubhouse was lodged with Waverley Council. Those expensive architect drawn plans resulted in such an outcry that they were abandoned. It is difficult to understand how they could have been considered even remotely acceptable.

Then, in April 2023, after another plan that was so monstrous it wasn’t even publicly released, even more plans emerged. This plan, designed by a member of the surf club, was promoted by the surf club and received general community acceptance. Importantly, it preserved The Cubes for our surfing community and those younger than me, and was ultimately approved by Council.

Additionally, senior members of Bronte Boardriders Club viewed the design and gave it their cautious endorsement, stating that it was clearly better than any other

design previously presented, despite still maintaining the position that a surf club building on a small beach like Bronte does not need to be so big and so expensive to build. I agree with that view.

Hallelujah! A consensus! But then something happened.

After external architects had a look at the design, we were informed to the effect that the contracted design team had been expanded to include a specialist planning consultant and an internationally acclaimed architecture firm, and expectations are now that “the building would be of a ‘world class’ design that sets a new benchmark for coastal architecture.”

I fear that important features underpinning the consensus will be scrapped, despite Club President Basil Scafiddi having happily told us that “we instigated a new design which was greatly accepted by the members and very importantly by the community and was then adopted by Waverley Council.”

How much more will this cost? I suspect that, so far, at least some $650,000 has already been committed for architects’ fees alone.

Why a club with, in reality, about 600 members, needs a building of “‘world class’ design that sets a new benchmark for coastal architecture” at considerable public expense is questionable. Also, I wonder why an additional architecture firm and specialist planning consultant are needed? What is wrong with the architect that produced the April 2023 plan, which was acceptable to the club, the community and Council, being asked to deal with any outstanding issues?

It would be a gross breach of faith if the next expensive proposal departs from those aspects of the April 2023 design, which underpinned the acquiescence of those of the community and of Bronte Boardriders who were consulted and given assurances.

Greg Maidment Bronte

Charing Cross

Dear Sir - The points made by Mora Main in The Beast (Charing Cross Heritage, Letters, The Beast, May 2023) concerning Waverley Council’s proposed Charing Cross changes are valid. There is simply no need to tamper with the road

lane widths as the existing footpath widths are perfectly adequate for the demand (existing and projected). The existing geometry has served the centre well as it permits both access and throughput in a classic high street environment. Reducing road lane widths here can have unintended adverse consequences, especially for the intensive bus services that operate through the Cross on a daily basis. The Cross works well just as it is. There is no need for any major road or footpath works. Save the money and use it elsewhere.

Robert Mills Randwick

Sandstone Steps Wreckstoration

Waverley Council repaired, or rather wrecked, sandstone steps on the coastal walk, Bondi, in the vicinity of the backyards of 64 and 66 Fletcher Street (photo below). The beautiful, possibly heritage listed sandstone steps, were wornout and needed repair, but slapping them with concrete completely destroyed their appearance.

I hope this is a temporary fix and that the steps will be properly restored to their sandstone glory, and that any other similar sandstone works by the Council will be made using sandstone and not concrete.

Darius Bronte

In Reply to Darius Council shares Darius’ commitment to quality maintenance outcomes in our parks and reserves. Our first priority is to ensure the

safety of users of our Coastal Walk and secondly to keep the walkway open for public enjoyment. The repair works to the sandstone stairs are a temporary make-safe solution only to keep this part of the walkway open until a permanent solution can be arranged.

Our Assest Team is auditing repairs to sandstone stairways at several locations along the coastal walk and will be seeking quotes from qualified professional stone masons to undertake permanent repairs. We ask for the community’s patience as we go through this process.

Waverley Council

Bus Shelters

Dear Mr Hutton - The topic of the JCDecaux-type bus shelter has been debated on a number of occasions in the last five years at Bronte Precinct. It is fair to say that the consensus of opinion is that they are “not fit for purpose”. As Nita succinctly points out (Bus Shelters, Letters, The Beast, May 2023), “… they DO NOT protect us from the baking sun, or the pouring rain or the chilly winds.”

As part of the debate of my motion on this topic at Monday evening’s meeting, it was revealed that decisions on matters such as bus shelters are made by officers under “delegated authority”. Councillors attending the Precinct meeting informed those present that this results in Councillors having little input into the decision process or outcome.

No doubt the relevant Council officers made their bus shelter decision based on established criteria such as cost. However, is this just another case of knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing? Nita asserted, “… because these people do not travel on the buses at all in the Eastern Suburbs.” There appears to be validity in this assertion.

What commuter values waiting for a bus in a shelter that is not fit for purpose? What will be the long-term impact by commuters on their transport choices? Was this a criteria included by Council officers?

So, what were all of the criteria employed by these Council officers operating under “delegated authority”? What was the outcome of their deliberations against each

of the criteria? Could The Beast pose these questions to Waverley Council? A little transparency would be nice.

Yours faithfully, Michael

Donnan Bronte

Gimme Shelter

In reply to Nita Marusich, North Bondi: Yes, I agree. A couple of years ago I wrote to Waverley Council with a comparison (made on one day of rain) of the old and the new bus shelters. Unfortunately I can’t find a copy of my letter, but the gist of it was that the old wooden shelters kept the rain off and the shiny new ones did not.

In fact, the seats in the new one on Birrell Street were full of water, and rain was driving into the ‘shelter’, which prompted me to walk in the rain to find better shelter, which I did across the park on Bondi Road - in the old structure near Paul Street, which was completely dry.

I was making a plea to keep the old wooden shelters and not replace them with useless new ones. The old ones are better designed, with large roofs that keep the rain off. The new ones have small roofs that are pretty much open to the elements; how can that be better design? And I think the old ones look nicer anyway!

I agree with all you have said about the uselessness of the new shelters. Please, could whoever approved this ‘upgrade’ actually come and try out a shelter - in rain, wind and baking sun? They don’t work!

Jennifer Waverley

Objections to Building and Extensions on Coogee Bay Site

I would like to formally state my objections to planning permission for the Coogee Bay site, referred to above. To consider this is an example of pure greed from all involved, with absolutely no thought or regard for the Coogee Bay community. I have been a resident of Coogee for more than 12 years and am one of many who can see the hugely negative impact this will have.

The key reasons for my objections:

● The proposed height exceeds the current limit for the foreshore zone. On top of this legality, it will stand out and be an eyesore

in Coogee. It will look out of place and ruin the picturesque scene that is currently, and could continue to be, Coogee Beach.

● The artistic representation does not clearly show all wings and levels of the proposed buildingan instant sign of deception and intention to change.

● Proposal of demolition of three buildings has not considered nor provided a plan for re-housing current residents. Nor have I seen data to confirm their age, and may be pushing elderly people out of the homes they have owned for most of their lives.

● There will be a removal of eight trees, some of which are 100 years old and of significant heritage value. Again, removal of these creates more of an eyesore along the main Coogee strip.

●The SEE refers to a threefold increase in size of the gaming room but with no increase in machines. This increase will make the gaming room more attractive to gamblers coming in from external suburbs and will impact the type of people hanging around the area, particularly at night, causing significant risk to everyone but particularly females.

● The traffic study does not include data from the summer months. Again, another sign of clear deception and proof of intention moving forward. For the Council to approve this knowing that it is based on dishonourable data gives a clear idea of the integrity and the the ethics from those who approve.

● The new food and retail outlets will impact local business owners. On top of that, the Miami style retail centre will remove charm from the area and Coogee will begin to look as tacky as Bondi currently does.

● There will be unacceptable noise and air pollution to the community while this goes on.

The Council should consider this application for the deceptive trash that it is and put the needs of the community first, as opposed to lining the pockets of another greedy investor.

Laura Coogee

Toll Charges

On each occasion over two recent months when obliged to travel the M5 to the Wild West, I found ex-

cessive deductions from my E-Toll account when my standard size station wagon was charged triple the normal rates in being recorded as a heavy vehicle. Enquiries resulted in suggestions that (a) I was tail-gating an oversize truck or towing a trailer (no to both), and (b) “Sometimes roof racks cause an incorrect reading.”

Drivers required to go beyond the civilised East and traverse these increasingly ubiquitous payroutes are thus advised to regularly check their E-Toll accounts as errors are invariably in favour of the toll operators, there being no record of a B-Double semi being charged sedan rates.

John Murray Coogee

I Support the Dive Wreck

Hi James - I’d just like to express my support for the dive wreck plans off Coogee. As John Rowe has said, such articial reefs improve biodiversity and have not had adverse environment impacts when the ships are appropriately decommissioned. From an economics perspective, the project

stacks up too, with the costs of decomissioning more than offset by the boost to the local economy from recreational diving.

As a long time recreational diver and snorkeller, and a Coogee resident, I look forward to exploring the wonderous world of an undersea shipwreck in my backyard.

Russell Standish Coogee

Sinking Ship Off Coogee

James - Thank you for the piece about creating a new marine habitat off the Coogee coast (Plan to Create Diving Haven by Sinking Ship Off Coogee, Anthony Maguire, The Beast, June 2023). These carefully chosen wreck sites offer so much more to the environment than simply an interesting site for divers.

When a ship sinks (deliberately or not) in an area where there is not much natural structure, it becomes a garden in the desert for marine flora and fauna. A great example is SS Yongala, which sank to a barren sea floor south of Townsville in 1911. All these years later, the Yongala is regarded as

JANACZEWSKA

a marine reserve and dive site of world significance.

With a bit of political foresight and local determination Coogee could have a sunken treasure housing marine life and driving tourism for many generations to come.

Cameron Williams Coogee

Wreck Dive Site

Yes to Randwick Councillors: vote to approve the wreck dive proposed by Gordons Bay Scuba Diving Club. I’ve logged more than 400 dives including those of planes, ships and tanks around the world. I intend to snorkel above the wreck once it’s down there. Maybe for my 80th birthday in 2027. Please, Randwick Council, make it happen.

Pat Woolley Publicist

for the World Record Dive at Gordons Bay, 1996 ¢

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

Randwick Girls' High School

We

•

Local Artist... Bronte Goodieson from Clovelly

Interview James Hutton

Clovelly artist Bronte Goodieson is the talent behind this month’s awesome cover painting of Bronte Beach. She shares her local favourites with The Beast...

How long have you lived here?

My whole life. I’ve live in Randwick, Coogee and now Clovelly.

Why do you live here? I love the ocean air and stunning walks, and I have so many good friends within walking distance.

What’s your favourite beach?

Gordons Bay has my heart. We have a special rock called Barley’s Rock, named after our dog, and on a summer’s afternoon it’s a vibe.

What’s your favourite eatery?

I’m a regular burger connoisseur at Out of the Blue, and I’ve been loving Wagyuto, the new Japanese restaurant on Clovelly Road. It’s a mix of modern Japanese and Australian cuisine, it’s delicious and the presentation is art.

Where do you like to have a drink? Lately I’ve really been frequenting the rooftop at the Colombian on Oxford Street, there’s a cocktail lounge on the

second floor that’s great for a dance. The Cloey Bowlo is a flawless spot for a Sunday session.

Best thing about the Eastern Suburbs? I’ve recently taken up running and have been running from Clovelly to Bondi at sunset. I’m still fascinated by the breathtaking views - even when it’s raining it’s glorious. I don’t think you can get bored here, because there is always something to do.

Worst thing about the Eastern Suburbs? Definitely parking, school time congestion, and I recently saw a rat in Coogee which was a shame.

How would you describe your art? I like to brighten up a space with my paintings. I have a playful, soft, decorative style. I am obsessed with trying out new colour schemes and seeing what tones will work together to create vibrant work for beautiful homes.

Where can people see your work? My Instagram account, @brontegoodieson, my website, www.brontegoodieson.com, and at Humble Beginnings, Randwick.

Who are your artistic inspirations? Alexander McQueen, Joseph Lorusso and Vivenne Westwood.

What are you working on at the moment? I’m working on four commission pieces of Bronte, a family portrait for mum and a new greeting card and print range.

Do you have any exhibitions coming up? I have just booked an artists’ residency in the High Coast of Sweden for a month in September and will have an exhibition there of the body of work I create during my stay.

When did you discover you had a gift for your craft? I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t painting, drawing or sewing. I was about 13 when I sold my first painting and I just knew it was what I was going to do.

Any other local artists to look out for? Shout out to illustrator Yiscah Symonds, paper artist Benja and painter Tyrone Layne.

Did you study art? Yes, I studied Graphic Design and Illustration at the Enmore Design Centre.

Any words of wisdom for young aspiring artists? Being an artist and a small business owner can be isolating, so be sure to surround yourself with good people, and try and mix up your day so you don’t get too bored or burnt out.

Who is your favourite person?

My baby niece Maddie, she’s just turned one and she’s the best.

What do you get up to on the weekends? I coach netball, I’ll try and hit the gym, I walk my labradoodle Alfie, then I’ll usually go to dinner and drinks with friends and dance until the venue closes, then spend Sunday recovering and watching reality TV.

What do you do for work? I’m a full-time artist, so I work on my website and orders, and I wholesale my print and card range. As well as commissions for clients, I also create graphics for a few different companies, and I like to have the occasional pop-up store, which keeps me busy.

What’s your favourite thing about work? I love that I can constantly create new work and see a progression in my style. I also have the most amazing clients that have become some of my closet friends and I get to collaborate with them and have the best time doing it.

Do you have a favourite quote?

“Whoever said that money can’t buy happiness, simply didn’t know where to go shopping.” - Bo Derek.

Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast? Invest in good art.

Photo Goodie Bronteson

Maroubra's Gentle Giant Given Second Chance at Life

From first grade rugby league player to hospital patient fighting renal failure, gentle giant Chris Enahoro has had to tackle massive health challenges while battling to follow his chosen path as a professional athlete.

Throughout his adult life, the 40-year-old former Souths centre has been plagued by kidney disease. It was diagnosed shortly before his 18th birthday, when his legs swelled up with fluid.

“The boys were calling me Elephant Man,” Mr Enahoro told The Beast, “It was pretty distressing.”

Since then, he has been in and out of hospital, while maintaining a career as a rugby player in NSW and Queensland, and then, in more recent years, as a personal trainer.

A few years ago, Mr Enahoro was due to receive a kidney transplant after his sister Elizabeth agreed to donate one of hers. Then, at the last minute, the specialists ruled the organ wasn’t a perfect match, which

meant more dialysis and relentless medication regimes.

“At one stage I was on 18 tablets in the morning and 17 at night,” he recounted.

And all of the medication that Mr Enahoro required had terrible side-effects.

“I’ve had shingles, an abscess on my neck, pneumonia - just about every complication you could think of.”

At one point, Mr Enahoro’s strapping 195cm (6'5) frame ballooned in weight and he put on 35 kilograms. But he maintained a strict training regime, which helped him to shed the flab and stood him in good stead in his early thirties when he retired from professional rugby and moved on to his new career as a personal trainer (he now runs Training Collective in Potts Point).

Mr Enahoro credits his partner Megan as being instrumental in helping him survive his health dramas. The pair married in 2013 and have two

daughters, 7-year-old Thea and 4-year-old Matilda.

But it is an anonymous person from Western Australia who, probably more than anyone, has played the most pivotal role in his survival.

On May 11 this year, Mr Enahoro received a phone call from St Vincent’s Hospital, which has been his home away from home throughout his illness. A kidney from a deceased donor was available. Was he in good health, with no hint of COVID or other issues, and could he come in immediately? Yes, yes and yes.

Only hours later, after multiple blood tests, X-rays and dialysis, Mr Enahoro was on the operating table. Wielding the scalpel was renal transplant specialist Professor Jacob Sevastos. The operation took six hours and was ultimately successful, with Mr Enahoro making a swift recovery.

“The very next day, I could smell better, see better and generally felt like a new person,” he told The Beast.

A keen surfer, Mr Enahoro is eager to get back in the water and try out the two custom Sparrow boards he received from his mates shortly before the transplant. But for now, he’s happy to take it easy on the sidelines, sitting on the Maroubra Beach steps as he waits for the 24-staple operation scar across his lower belly to heal.

But the healing process is not just a physical one. There’s also been an overflow of emotion.

“I’ve cried every day since the operation,” Mr Enahoro told The Beast

“I’m so grateful for the love and unwavering support from my mates and the community. It’s really helped me stay positive through some dark times.”

“I have to isolate for the next few months, but I can’t wait to give them all a big hug and thank them. I feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life.”

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Megan Enahoro

The clouds have lifted.

Planning Panels vs The People

The wheels are starting to turn again for the redevelopment of the Bronte Surf Club, but no one seems to know which way they are turning.

After much deliberation and multiple objections from the local community over the initial design, as well as a follow-up plan from the same architect that was never released to the public, a new design concept by a local architectural firm was shared with - and ultimately endorsed by - key stakeholders.

In reference to this design, the August 2022 edition of The Beast reported, “...the latest design appears to have ticked all the boxes, with both the local community and Waverley Council agreeing the new concept design is a winner.”

But now the process is being stymied by a bureaucratic labyrinth of planning panels that want to take things in a different direction.

In an email sent to members in May, Bronte Surf Club explained, “We are liaising with, and responding to the Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel and the Design Excellence Advisory Panel (DEAP) feedback and requests for further information to address a number of design issues.”

Sydney and regional planning panels were introduced by the NSW Government in 2009 to “strengthen decision-making for regionally significant development applications.” Council is required to go to this panel on the basis that it can’t approve its own proposal, i.e. to avoid a conflict of interest.

As for the DEAP, Waverley Council’s website explains that, “The Waverley Design Excellence Advisory Panel undertakes reviews of development applications ... and provides advice to Council staff regarding the design quality and excellence of a proposal.”

This panel is made up of a pool of professionals, independent of Council, with expertise in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design and heritage.

The need to go to this panel is triggered by design departures from the planning controls as laid out in the Bronte Plan of Management (POM). The design that was endorsed by the community only had minor departures from the POM controls.

As part of its feedback on the Bronte Surf Club plans, the DEAP says it expects the new building to be “world class.” Whatever that means is any-

body’s guess, as all the community wants is a workable surf club and a building that provides what the community needs - not an exclusive club like those at many of our other local beaches.

As part of their response to the panel’s feedback, both the surf club and Waverley Council, though the Project Control Group (PCG), have expanded the contracted team to include a specialist planning consultant and enlisted the help of architects Warren and Mahoney, who were recently involved in the completion of the Mona Vale Surf Club and Council Amenities. The group is now liaising with the various panels to iron out a number of the issues.

“We are still working towards a determination of our DA towards the end of August/ September, and anticipate the additional specialist resources will help us to achieve a positive outcome,” a Bronte Surf Club spokesperson told The Beast.

“That being said, the DA process is active and fluid and we are in the hands of the planning authorities. This is a finely balanced project, within which the PCG are at all times taking into account, and making fair and balanced representation for, club needs, community concerns and Council requirements, within a rigorous application review process involving numerous State Government planning panels to bring this together.”

“We are excited for what the future holds for the club and look forward to a new sustainable building that meets the needs of Council, contemporary surf lifesaving and the wider community.”

Another problem is the project’s cost, which is now estimated at around $13 million. The building will be funded by a Federal Government grant of $2 million and a State Government grant of $300,000, with the remainder to be contributed by Waverley Council, the surf club and additional grants.

Words Duncan Horscroft Image Bronte Surf Club

The community's favoured design is being butchered by bureaucracy.

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

Rats! Are Coogee’s Resident Rodents Here to Stay?

Words

It’s a crisp autumn evening at Coogee Beach. There aren’t many people around, but the promenade and grassy reserve are far from deserted. Something scurries across the pathway near the garbage bins - a rat! From inside a bin, a scratching sound emanates from two more rodents feasting on leftover takeaway. Whiskers bristling and eyes glowing pink in the moonlight, they show no fear at the sight of the human looking down on them.

Rodent encounters like this have become common around Coogee, so much so that Coogee Precinct recently passed a resolution stating, “Council to be asked if there is an eradication program to address the current problem of the increasing rat population in Coogee.”

Randwick City Council’s answer, tabled at the next Precinct meeting, stated that the Council’s rodent control team (a

firm of outside contractors) is “deploying new technologies to test their effectiveness. Council will monitor the effectiveness of these changes to our control program and make changes as required.”

In addition, a Council spokesperson told The Beast, the number of rat baiting stations in the Coogee area has been doubled and “we have increased the servicing and inspection of these stations from fortnightly to weekly.”

The prevalence of Coogee’s rats has been a burning issue on social media since January this year, when Philip Jajou, who’d recently purchased a Coogee mansion, posted a TikTok video of rats near an unidentified reserve.

“When you buy a $3 million home in Coogee but no one told you about the rat problem. Why didn’t anyone warn me?” the post said.

The video went viral and the story of Coogee’s rats travelled across the world. Meanwhile, the rodents have been widely discussed on local social media platforms such as the Maroubra Community group on Facebook.

“Omg it’s disgusting one HUGE one ran across the stairs at around 7pm the other night then about 40 of them running all over the grass,” said a post from Sarah Nicholls.

The Beast sent photos of the bin rats we encountered in Goldstein Reserve to a scientist who has spent much of the past three decades studying rats, Professor Peter Banks. He is Professor of Conservation Biology at Sydney University and the author of scholarly works such as Impacts of black rats (Rattus rattus) across an urban bushland interface at Sydney’s North Head (2007).

Professor Banks told The Beast that these are black rats, distinguishable from the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) by their smaller size. And, yes, they can carry a number of diseases, notably salmonella and leptospirosis.

Unfortunately, said Professor Banks, rat baits won’t control them when there’s an abundance of free tucker in and around garbage bins.

“If you don’t manage the amount of free food available it’ll make it harder for the baiting program to work well.”

He added that black rats can be particularly hard to manage because they have been co-existing with humans for thousands of years. They’re not dumb, and they can be as cunning as the proverbial rat - with or without a gold tooth.

The good news - if you can call it that - is the fact that it is currently what Professor Banks describes as “peak rat season” and numbers will start to taper off further into winter.

Anthony Maguire Photo Rowena Dent

Living like kings.

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

Ausgrid 'Community' Battery Plan Fails to Electrify Waverley Council

Waverley Council has rejected a proposal by Ausgrid to install a giant battery in Thomas Hogan Reserve, Bondi. The ‘community battery’ would have boosted solar generation capacity around the park in Francis Street. The problem is, there aren’t actually a lot of solar panels in the area.

“The buildings surrounding Thomas Hogan Reserve are mostly older multi-unit dwellings, which don’t have solar panels installed, so we don’t see a community benefit in having a community or shared battery in this location,” Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos told The Beast.

“We are looking at other potential locations such as a road reserve or within an existing Ausgrid asset and we are very much committed to working with Ausgrid to find a suitable location where there will be a public benefit.”

The Mayor stressed that Waverley Council was not opposed to community batteries and saw them as an integral component in the community achieving net zero emissions by 2035.

Ausgrid wanted to put the battery near the entrance to

Thomas Hogan Reserve, alongside a children’s playground. Standing three metres tall, four metres long and two metres wide, it would have displaced an existing tree.

As well as the undesirable aesthetics, the installation would have emitted a loud hum. A report tabled at a recent Council meeting said the noise would be 50-70 decibels at a distance of one metre.

“This noise is similar in volume to a conversation or, at the louder end, a vacuum cleaner,” the report stated.

Hundreds of these batteries are being installed across the country under federal funding. Ausgrid describes them as “a shared asset that offers the local community a stronger network and better solar hosting capacity.”

Waverley is not the only Sydney council opposed to having a battery in a park. Across the harbour, North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker has told Ausgrid that the community does not want a proposed battery in a Cammeray park and that it should go on private land.

Winter Dreams Exhibition

Randwick Art Society is holding an art exhibition at Bendigo Bank, 222- 226 Clovelly Road (near the intersection of Mount and Fern Streets) from June 20 until August 7. Winter Dreams will be open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays and everyone is welcome to call in and view the work of these talented local artists. Randwick Art Society is a not-for-profit association founded in 2009 to promote art and local awareness of art. For more information, please visit www.randwickartsocietyinc.com

Cruise Ship Terminal Plan Dead in the Water

In a big win for people power and common sense, the NSW Government has announced it is rejecting the controversial mega cruise ship terminal proposed for Yarra Bay. The proposal has been a dark cloud hanging over the local community since it was first mooted in 2018 as a potential location to dock mega-sized cruise ships visiting Sydney. “I would particularly like to commend our local community, particularly the Save Yarra Bay group for their ongoing work to preserve and protect this special place,” Mayor Dylan Parker said.

40-Year-Old Popstar at Bondi Festival for One Night Only

Ex-nurse Alli Butler has left prescriptions for punchlines and morphine for melodies to become a 40-year-old popstar. Launching her career from her flat in Bondi (where everyone is a star already), Alli sings, strums guitar and raves on about her life as an ex-nurse, mother, occasional wife and imminent superstar. You can join this awesome stand-up comedian and singer on June 30 at the Bondi Bowlo as part of the Bondi Festival. To grab tickets, please visit www.bondifestival.com.au.

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Elle Ectric

Plans to put a battery in Thomas Hogan Reserve have fallen flat.

Saturday 1 July 11am – 3pm

Heffron Centre

Bunnerong Road

Heffron Park, Maroubra

• Meet the South Sydney Rabbitohs players

• Sporting demonstrations and clinics

• Live music and DJs all day

• Food trucks

• Kids activities

• And much more, scan the QR code for all the details

Clubs Agree on Burrows Upgrade While Residents Fear Foul Play

The battle for Burrows Park may nearly be over, with local sporting clubs seemingly close to reaching agreement over the future of the Clovelly green space and sporting field. However, many residents remain suspicious about plans to upgrade the area.

The Clovelly Crocodiles Rugby League Football Club has stepped back from a plan for a field expansion that would have involved substantial earthworks. Now it is looking at increasing the size of the field by a “relatively modest” two metres in length and another two metres in width.

“It will just involve a change in line markings,” said Ryan Mangan, Registrar and Executive Committee member with the Crocs.

Meanwhile, the Clovelly Eagles Junior Rugby Football Club has dropped its previous opposition to a new amenities block at the edge of the oval. The current building is half a century old and badly dilapidated, with a leaking roof and badly rusted iron girders.

“After hearing Randwick Council explain regulations around accessibility for all users of the facility - not just us footy clubs - we agree that a knockdown and rebuild may very well be the best way to go - and most cost effective,” said Eagles Vice President Jack Singleton.

He added that it was important that the building remains within its current footprint so it doesn’t eat up extra park space.

Bondi United Rugby League Football Club and Paddington Colts Sports Club are also stakeholders in the upgrade, with both clubs using Burrows Park as their home ground.

The concessions follow a recent meeting between stakeholders at Clovelly Bowling Club, located next door to the playing field and its important remnant coastal vegetation. In attendance were representatives of the Crocs and Eagles plus two other teams that regularly use the field - Maccabi Rugby Club and the Randwick Magic female rugby club. Also taking part in the meeting were

representatives of residents’ group Friends of Burrows Park and other concerned stakeholders.

While the sporting clubs seem to have found some common ground, residents still feel their voices are not being heard.

Leanne Warner, spokesperson for Friends of Burrows Park, told The Beast, “From our perspective, the consultation has been wasted. The upgrade proposals remain over-ambitious and will put the park off-limits to many current users.”

She also feared the field extension would end up encroaching on the dog off-leash area on the lower ground at the southern end of the park.

There were two dog owners exercising their pets right at the edge of the field when The Beast arrived to meet Mr Mangan and Mr Singleton. One dog was leashed, while the other much smaller dog ran loose. Both men said that having dogs at the very edge of the field like this, even outside the line markings, was a no-no.

“Ideally they should not be going within five metres of the line markings,” Mr Singleton explained.

Issues like this are likely to keep some local residents at odds with the plans for the popular park, which has history as a sporting field going back many years. The Clovelly Crocs, who landscaped the field and whitewashed the first line markings back in the day, have played a central part in that history - the club also built the amenities block, comprising toilets, change rooms and a storage room - but the number of residents in the area has steadily increased since then and they feel that they also have a right to decide the future of this unique and important public green space.

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Lorna Mower

The grass is always greener at Burrows Park.

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Crime News

Stop, (Alleged) Thief!

Do you know the man behind the mask? Police want to talk to him about a stealing offence in Bondi Junction. If you have any information, please call Rose Bay Police on 9362 6399 or CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.

Former Politician’s Son Accused of Dark Web Drug Supply

The son of former NSW Liberal leader Kerry Chikarovski has landed in extremely hot water, accused of running a dark web trade in cocaine and other illicit drugs.

Police say they caught 37-year-old Mark Chikarovski packing up drugs in a Bondi Junction apartment where he has been living with his young family while their Vaucluse home is being renovated. A simultaneous raid took place on the Vaucluse property.

Chikarovski was led out of the apartment block in handcuffs and taken to Waverley Police Station. He was charged with 31 offences including drug supply and dealing in the proceeds of crime. Police say he sold cocaine, meth and MDMA over the dark web, with his clients paying him in cryptocurrency. He then sent out the deals by Australia Post.

After spending a night in a cell, Chikarovski appeared in Waverley Court where he was allowed $500,000 bail. He must abide by a number of strict

conditions, including not going online or using Australia Post services. Meanwhile, police have seized two Porsche SUVs, more than $269,000 in cryptocurrency, $30,000 cash, electronic devices and other property.

Girlfriend Killer Gets Parole

A man who strangled his 18-year-old ex-girlfriend, then dumped the body in a Queens Park apartment complex, has walked free after being granted parole.

William Matheson, now 40, murdered Disney animator Lyndsay van Blanken in 2003, bundling the body into a cricket bag which lay undiscovered in a storage room for three weeks.

He has been freed under strict conditions including staying on anti-psychotic medication, wearing an electronic ankle bracelet and residing at his parents’ Eastern Suburbs home.

Caddick Disappearance Still Shrouded in Mystery

Mystery continues to surround the disappearance and presumed death of conwoman Melissa Caddick after an inquest failed to reach any concrete conclusions.

Deputy Coroner Elizabeth Ryan concluded that Caddick was dead. However she could throw no further light on the theory that the Dover Heights woman had thrown herself into the ocean from a cliff the day after a raid by corporate investigators. Three months later, her dismembered foot was found encased in a designer sneaker on a South Coast beach.

Caddick’s husband Anthony Koletti came in for a harsh serve from Ms Ryan, who indicated he knew more than he was letting on and that he had not given a “frank account” to police. After the hearing, Koletti barged through a media scrum outside the court. Nearby, Caddick’s brother Adam Grimley sat in a car with the horn blaring so it would ruin the audio in news reports. After shoving a TV

reporter, Koletti got in the car, slamming the door violently shut before the vehicle sped away. But it does not close the door on the Caddick case, where investors in a Ponzi scheme were left almost $24 million out of pocket as Caddick and Koletti led indulgent lifestyles. Civil proceedings are going through the courts.

Uneasy Rider

A 56-year-old Bondi man found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time when he took an illegal trail bike for a spin in Clovelly.

It was 8.30am and cops from Botany Bay Highway Patrol were visiting Clovelly Public School with Coogee MP Marjorie O’Neill for National Walk

Safely to School Day. Seeing a Highway Patrol car outside the school with lights flashing, the rider stopped the bike at the intersection of Arden and Varna Streets, then got off and walked it around the corner. But he’d been spotted, and when officers ran down to the corner they found him standing beside the bike using his phone.

“Checks revealed that the registration of the bike had expired in March 2021 and the bike had no number plate, indicators or headlight assembly,” police reported in a Facebook post.

The bike was seized and the man will be appearing in Waverley Court to answer a string of charges.

No Birds for Bin Chicken Man

A man who grabbed an ibis and tried to stuff it into a shopping trolley faces unusual bail conditions after appearing on animal cruelty charges at Waverley Court.

Tom Quach, 60, will have police paying a visit to his Maroubra home up to three times a week to check that there are no ibises or other protected birds destined for the dinner plate. He was also ordered to undergo mental health treatment at Prince of Wales Hospital.

Words Gary Larson

Photo Robert Berr

Subject Morning Swim Location Maroubra

Photographer Hassan @hassanzaheer_

Subject Fire in the Sky Location Dover Heights

Photographer Dov Frazer @dovman

Subject Privileged Location Bondi

Photographer Amaury Treguer @morningbondi

Subject Dog Tired Location Coogee

Photographer Brody Vancers

Subject Moody Location Coogee

Photographer Michael Stewart

The Beast Magazine wants your local photos!

Subject Santa Sees a Rainbow Location Coogee

Subject Let There Be Light Location Dover Heights

Photographer Dov Frazer @dovman

Subject Morning Stretch Location Gordons Bay Photographer Victoria Gilmore

Subject Jumping Jack Hawkins Location Tamarama

Photographer Mark Hunter @bondihunter

Subject Point to Point Location Maroubra

Photographer Kyan & Rio Abrams

Photographer Brody Vancers

We Need to Chat About ChatGPT

The future is now, people, and The Unreliable Guide is not at all sure about it. Like me, you’ve probably just about got your head around the fact that the latest generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT use natural language processing to create freakishly human conversational dialogue.

Simple chatbots have been answering questions about delivery times, etc. for years, but these new AI chatbots interact with you on a much more sophisticated level. They have the entire internet to draw upon and they learn from you while you chat.

If you think this sounds like the start to a dystopian movie, you’re not alone. Even AI experts, plus investors like Elon Musk, believe we should put this tech on hold for a while so we can evaluate its potential. But for now, never fear, The Unreliable Guide is here with some tips and some tricks to keep you safe in this brave new world.

The Allure of Laziness

I’m as lazy as the next person, and using generative AI like ChatGPT is temptingly easy. Put in the right prompt and within seconds it will write you a poem about pink cats, a short story in the style of Tim Winton, or offer up a simple, bullet point summary of Einstein’s theory of relativity. As the tech improves, writers like me could be out of a job, but currently, while these chatbots always respond with the greatest confidence, they sometimes get the answer hilariously wrong. I asked ChatGPT to tell me some of its recent mistakes and they ranged from the assertion that an octopus has six legs, to naming George Orwell’s iconic novel 1989. These mistakes are an issue for lazy students who think AI can successfully do their homework for them. Apparently, approximately 30 per cent of university students are already using AI to write their essays, with 60 per cent stating they see no issue in using the technology.

But is that a problem? If you check your facts, an interface like ChatGPT is a great tool to improve understanding and fluency. UK professor Mike Sharples believes the technology “could become a gift for student cheats, or a powerful teaching assistant, or a tool for creativity.” The trouble is, right now we have no idea which.

Who Can You Trust?

Lazy students are one thing, but there is a far darker side to this technology. We have no firm idea of where it’s taking us, and the law is hopelessly behind. Generative AI is already being used to create highly believable deep fakes. A picture of the Pope in a puffer jacket is funny, but what if hackers stole your image, generated a porn clip and sent it to all your contacts?

Hany Farid, professor at UC Berkeley’s School of Information believes, “It’s just a matter of time” until “there’s a website where you can say, ‘Create me a video of Joe Biden saying X’.” That video could allow the orange peril we know as Trump to get back into office. Worse still, once we all know how easy it is to create fake images, audio and video, we aren’t going to believe any legitimate news. Which, as Farid points out, “provides a really useful excuse if something inconvenient comes out featuring you. You can dismiss it as fake.”

Finally, AI is here to stay. How it will change our world and our minds is hard to say, but we need to be aware of it’s potential. Are we, as some argue, programming ourselves out of the future?

Farid sums up the current issue neatly: “You can’t release a product and hope it doesn’t kill your customer. But with software, we’re like, ‘This doesn’t really work, but let’s see what happens when we release it to billions of people.’” Only time will tell.

Bing's response to "Robot surfing at Bondi Beach".

Waverley Council Update

Mayor's Message

Make Music Day, 21 June

Celebrate Make Music Day on 21 June at Bondi Pavilion and nearby locations with a free jazz concert, artist talk and outdoor performances. Enjoy a Classic Hits concert with jazz singer Greg Poppleton at the Bondi Pavilion High Tide Room and a free artist talk with f amed Kenyan singersongwriter Lisa Oduor-Noah and local artist Miriam Lieberman in the Pavilion theatre We are also holding an additional event that evening Music Night @ the Pav with Oduor-Noah and Lieberman in concert at the Pavilion following their talk See the Pavilion and Council's websites for more.

Bondi Festival returns

Bondi Festival returns to Bondi Pavilion and surrounds from Friday 30 June— Sunday 16 July 2023 with world-class theatre, comedy, cabaret and interactive experiences. This 17-day, allinclusive festival transforms our home by the sea into an eclectic, intimate and welcoming arts precinct with family-friendly shows and grown-ups' options. Visitors can also enjoy the our famous iceskating rink and the Bondi Vista Ferris Wheel. To book, visit bondifestival.com.au

School holiday program

Waverley Council’s winter school holiday program 3—16 July is all about kids having fun and learning new skills along the way. We offer everything from sports and dance at Margaret Whitlam Recreation Centre and workshops at Waverley Library to family experiences at Bondi Pavilion, the heart of community, culture and events in Waverley. Highlights of the Pavilion’s winter program include Bondi Festival events Ants, Werewolves, Marang, Pavilion Paw Parade, Pottery Studio workshops and more. For more information or to book, visit the What’s On page on Waverley Council’s website

NAIDOC Week, 2 9 July

Waverley Council invites you to celebrate NAIDOC Week (2-9 July) at Marang (Sand Dunes), a deadly celebration of local First Nations knowledge and culture on Saturday 1 July at Bondi Pavilion. Marang delivers an incredible day of workshops, performances and stalls to kick off Bondi Festival 2023 in the Pav’s Garu [northern] courtyard. The event pays respect to the Country on which the Bondi Pavilion now stands, traditionally a place of sand dunes. Following a Welcome to Country from local Elder, Uncle Lloyd Walker, and performance a from the incredible Jannawi Dance Clan, book in for several free workshops over the day – including special shell-art and weaving workshops with local knowledge holders from the Gujaga Foundation, and bush tucker talks and food demonstrations from the

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horticulture team at Bush to Bow. Gather in the Garu courtyard to enjoy music from local First Nations artists, check out the variety of First Nations market stalls, and enjoy a meal from Wilka Thalta, the Plate events food truck. This year’s NAIDOC Week theme For Our Elders is an opportunity for the Waverley community to acknowledge the important role and prominent place that our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders hold in our communities and families. For more, visit bondifestival.com.au. To learn about the upcoming Voice to Parliament Referendum, and the Waverley says Yes eduction campaign, visit the Uluru Statement From the Heart page on our website.

Birrell Street Renewal

Construction is underway on our Birrell Street streetscape improvement project between Newland Street, Bondi Junction and Bronte Road, Bondi. Highlights of the project include 22 new parking spaces, improved bike routes, new road surface, landscaped intersection treatments and improved stormwater drainage. Works are expected to be completed late July and will be staged to minimise disruption. Funding for the project was received from the NSW Government’s Regional Roads Program. See our website for details.

Paula Masselos Mayor of Waverley

Hey Siri, Bake Me a Cake...

Words Jeremy Ireland Photo Margaret Fulton

Over the years, I’ve made my son quite a few birthday cakes from the The Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book. One year he chose the ‘swimming pool’, a classic. We decided to customise it using Tim Tams for the pool’s fence rather than the recommended biscuits. So, off to Coles I went. Within an hour, I started receiving adds on Facebook for Tim Tams, and I must admit, this kind of freaked me out; how did Facebook know I’d bought them? I’d never received Arnotts adds before and, more importantly, the microphone in my Facebook settings was off.

Intrigued, I did some research and discovered how social media uses algorithms. It didn’t quite answer the question as to how they knew I’d bought Tim Tams, but it did shed some light on how a computer program can start to ‘profile’ a person and tailor what you see on social media. The idea of profiling has been around well before the internet, but this incident did open my eyes to the dangers that can lurk in the bowels of these giant social media tech companies when they start to ‘profile’ the user and funnel a particular type of content onto the consumer.

An algorithm is basically a set of rules to be followed in a calculation or problem-solving operation. Doing a puzzle, putting on the washing or even following a birthday cake recipe are all types algorithms, but more commonly they are seen to be associated with some form of computer platform. As computing processing power goes up, so does the ability of an algorithm to handle more data. Fast forward to today and there is genuine concern surrounding how these algorithms have produced products such as ChatGPT and the like.

ChatGPT is basically a machine simulating human intelligence; it’s predictive text on steroids. In other words, it’s a form of artificial intelligence, or AI.

AI’s a hot topic at the moment, but again, the concept is not new - machines have been replacing human labour since the industrial revolution. It’s more the ‘intelligence’ side of AI that’s creating the biggest fuss. When we think AI we might be forgiven for thinking of the terminator, or the matrix, where the AI is something of an evil physical force taking over the world and needs to be shut down. But what happens when AI starts to infiltrate language, i.e. how we communicate or get understanding through text and images? Worse still, what happens when we start to form a relationship with a ‘bot’ because we’re lonely, or we get advice from one because we’re not sure what to do? It’s happening now, and the catch is the more we interact with these ‘language-based’ platforms the faster they learn and work out what to say (or not say) to us. The algorithms they use teach themselves and the more we interact the faster they learn. The adjective ‘expediential’ gets bandied around when describing AI, and for good reason; algorithms in language-based social media can be practical and convenient despite having overtones of being improper or immoral, leading to unintended consequences like creating bias, compromising choice, opportunity, creativity and perhaps even democracy.

The likes of Yuval Noah Harari, author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind , Tristan Harris from The A.I. Dilemma and tech guru Elon Musk are all very concerned, not so much about the advance of AI technology, but more about the speed of this self-learning technology in an unregulated arena that can have devastating consequences. AI doesn’t need consciousness or feelings, only the ability to manipulate our feelings through fake imtantcy via language in order to influence our views on things.

Personally, I’m not concerned about self-driving Ubers, bumping into Robocop or even the possibility that a humanoid might one day be checking my prostate; the sky is not falling in just yet, and there are plenty of useful applications for AI. What is far more dangerous, however, is the potential psychological harm it can do in influencing how we think, feel and ultimately behave due to its ability to communicate with us. Oh, and I’m pretty sure an AI robot won’t have as much fun and fill a birthday cake with as much love as I did! “I’ll be back...”

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

Childhood memories.

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

Randwick News

The planning, designing, and building of a centre like the Heffron Centre doesn’t happen overnight – it takes years of hard work by countless people. With two indoor courts for basketball, futsal and volleyball as well as a gymnastics centre and a dance program, there’s so much on offer for the whole community.

Having the Rabbitohs call our City home gives us great pride. The centre allows the whole Club to be under one roof, including their operational staff and community outreach arm, South Cares.

We’re excited to be officially opening this facility with a big party on Saturday 1 July. We hope you come along and enjoy the day. There will be entertainment (our City’s very own Kobie Dee will be the headline act) as well as fun activities, plenty of sports and food trucks all day. Come along!

Later this month, Beach Breaks is back on Sunday 23 July. This is a special event that shines a spotlight on the brilliant surfing culture at Maroubra Beach. Each year, we induct new recipients into the Surfing Walk of Fame. The Walk of Fame began in 2006 and honours those who have competed in world-class surfing events or who have strongly influenced the local surfing culture at Maroubra. It’s a one-of-a kind walk of fame – come and check it out. And finally, if you haven’t heard, we will be screening the Matilda’s World Cup Soccer matches live on a big screen at Heffron Park! We’ll be sharing all the details on our website – what to expect, how to get tickets, where it’ll be held – so stay tuned!

What’s On

SATURDAY 1 JULY

HEFFRON CENTRE

COMMUNITY CELEBRATION

11am – 3pm

Heffron Centre, Bunnerong Rd

Heffron Park, Maroubra

MONDAY 3 JULY

BLENDER BASICS

(AGES 12-18)

2pm – 4pm

Lionel Bowen Library

TUESDAY 11 JULY

SLOW FASHION AND TEXTILES GROUP

9.30am – 11.30am

Sustainable Classroom

Randwick Sustainability Hub

27 Munda Street Randwick

WEDNESDAY 12 JULY

FRED HOLLOWS RESERVE

BUSHCARE

9am – 12pm

At the end of Bligh Place

WEDNESDAY 12 JULY

SCHOOL HOLIDAY EVENT: TOY SLEEPOVER!

3.30pm – 5pm

Lionel Bowen Library

SUNDAY 23 JULY

BEACH BREAKS

11am – 4pm

Maroubra Beach

1300 722 542

randwick.nsw.gov.au

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker

Councillor Dylan Parker Mayor of Randwick

If you’e not familiar with this awe-inspiring gully, nestled in between the hustle and bustle of Alison Road and Clovelly Road in Coogee, well, you have really been missing out. This pleasant 20-30 minute walk features a footbridge that crosses a flowing freshwater creek and spans unique native vegetation along a deep gully. The footbridges and boardwalks in the two-hectare reserve are made from new recycled plastics.

Talk a Walk on the East Side

We are coming into one of my favourite times of the year, when the days get a little cooler and shorter and the crowds thin out a little on the coastal walk. For most of the year the Bondi to Coogee walk is outstandingly beautiful as thousands - at varying speeds - enjoy the views, fresh air and the opportunity to exercise. The coastal walk is wonderful in its egalitarianism and diversity; it is enjoyed by literally all walks of life - local mums with prams, young folk with their fitbits, retirees enjoying their well-earned dose of fresh air and people from all over the world experiencing our lovely area, saying g’day as they pass each other by.

While our coastal walk is amazing, and enjoying the sunrise on an early morning walk along the boardwalk past Waverley Cemetery never gets old, I want to share with you a number of other great walks around the Eastern Suburbs. These include a few hidden gems that you may not be aware of, right under our noses. At the top of my list is Fred Hollows Reserve.

As you transition between the canopy, mid-storey and gully floor you’ll get the chance to appreciate different perspectives on the vegetation, while viewing platforms and benches allow you to take in the beautiful surrounds. When walking through this reserve, formerly known as Glebe Gully, you almost forget that it’s hidden away in the middle of densely packed suburbia, and for a moment you can even get a sense of what the natural world would have been like around here pre-1788.

Exploring the Artillery Track in Malabar Headland National Park along Boora Point walking track is a another hidden gem. While the Malabar Headland National Park, accessed through the Byrne Reserve carpark, offers dramatic coastal views, the Artillery Track extends for almost 600 metres through one of the largest surviving areas of endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia scrub, protected within the park. The trail features historic World War II gun emplacements built in the 1940s to defend Sydney. And here’s a fun fact... this command post was for a time served by members of the Australian Women’s Army Service.

Further north, Cooper Park features an enjoyable, easy hiking 3.2 kilometre trail. Once you are in the middle of the park you’ll find yourself totally surrounded by native trees and shrubs - a world away from city life. In addition to the trail, Cooper Park has a variety of amenities including play-

grounds, public toilets, picnic areas, playing fields and a kiosk. An enchanting parkland filled with ponds, secret grottoes, gazebos and sandstone staircases, the tranquillity of Cooper Park really is quite exquisite.

Even further north towards the harbour, we are very fortunate to have the Hermitage Coastal Walk not too far away, which essentially connects Nielsen Park to Rose Bay. This stunning walk, which takes about an hour, will lead you through remnant natural forest, offering stunning views of Sydney Harbour and its hidden beaches.

Down the other end of the Eastern Suburbs peninsula, tucked away between Sydney Airport and the South Eastern Suburbs, you can also find Sir Joseph Banks Park with its hidden picnic areas and stunning lakes with water features, only disturbed by the occasional Airbus A380 passing overhead.

Fortunately, here in the Eastern Suburbs we don’t even need to take the main established walking trails to enjoy a good walk. Many people love simply getting out in our local streets for a stroll, taking in the unique streetscapes, surviving heritage homes and terraces, as well as (some) beautifully designed modern buildings, through streets lined with stunning trees and canopies of green. Some of the best suburbs for a walk include Bronte, Queens Park, Clovelly, Randwick and throughout Centennial Park. A walk along the promenade at Coogee Beach is also hard to beat!

Great for physical and mental health, easy on our bodies and joints - even as we get a little older - and a great way to socialise or relax while we listen to our favourite tunes and podcasts, walking is free, fun and very beneficial. So, people of the east, let’s all rejoice in how easy it is - and how fortunate we are - to be able to get outside in the fresh air and participate in the easiest form of exercise.

Words Dr Marjorie O’Neill, Member for Coogee

Photo Julian Scott

Fantastic Fred Hollows Reserve.

Marjorie's Musings

Straylining Sydney Snapper

It’s winter, and the thought of venturing outdoors is further from your mind now than ever. In all likelihood, you probably haven’t been entertaining the idea of braving single digit temperatures, bitter winter westerlies and rough swells to chase fish recently, and who would blame you? The perception of most, including myself until just recently, is that winter fishing is tough, slow going and ultimately not worth the effort. However, I’ve come to learn that winter is a time that should bring excitement to the avid fisho and can easily produce some exceptional fishing with a bit of know-how.

At the top of most winter fishos’ target species list would have to be snapper, an aggressive and hard fighting quarry known to unapologetically snatch lures and slurp baits. Throw in the fact that most fish are a pan-sized nugget of sweet white flesh, and you’ve got a

fish that will make getting out of bed on even the coldest of winter days worth the effort.

Catching this species on lures is an exciting and rewarding method, but if you are after a feed then you can’t go past the simplicity and effectiveness of straylining baits. This technique involves slowly wafting baits down through the water column before a hungry snapper runs off with it. Burley is your best friend in this scenario, and you will be rewarded for producing a consistent trail of oily fish baits - any old fish offcuts, deceased live baits, pilchards or anything oily and smelly will do the job. I usually focus my efforts on kelpy, reefy areas in around 10-20 metres using an anchor to hold my position. The presence of baitfish is a helpful ingredient but not essential as the burley inevitably brings the bait fish under the boat anyway. Allow plenty of time to set a burley trail before the peak bite

times of early morning or late afternoon. An arvo session into dark is usually the best way to maximise the bite period and is my usual go-to. At least 30lb leader is essential if you want to maximise the number of fish landed, as snapper will pick up your bait and head toward the reef before you are even aware that you’re on, as opposed to fishing with lures where you can feel exactly when they bite. So you need some stopping power in your gear to be able to turn them away from the reef before they bust you off.

Unfortunately, burleying over reef comes with the inevitable disasvantage of attracting a host of undesirable fish in addition to the target species, which can prove frustrating at times, especially when pesky red rock cod and Sergeant Baker steal every bait. Using bigger baits is an effective way to weed out the bycatch and target only the snapper, who are able to scoff bigger baits more easily.

Recently while straylining, I hooked a small bronze whaler that had me fooled for a sizable king before snapping me off just under the boat. You really never know what you might catch!

A good time to fish for snapper in close is right after a big swell when the water is still slightly discolored. This is a time when there are a lot of nutrients in the water and the snapper seem to feed harder. Also, be sure to use a reef anchor if you choose to drop the pick, as a regular sand anchor will most likely get stuck and you’ll end up losing it.

Targeting snapper is definitely one of my favorite types of fishing, and taking a feed home to the family is a great added perk. So, if you can bear the thought of braving the cold this winter, then I can assure you that a good session on the snapper will be well worth it.

Words and Photo Lewis Kennedy-Hunt

Lewis lining up a few strays.

July 2023 Tide Chart

Cauliflower, Potato and Smoked Bacon Soup

Words Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine

This delicious soup is the epitome of simplicity, warmth and flavour. Few ingredients are required, the process is relatively simple and it will allow you to serve up a hearty mid-week dinner in very little time and with minimal effort.

Cauliflower is such a versatile vegetable and when paired with the potato forms the body of the soup. The addition of the bacon elevates the soup with a subtle smokiness. Then all you need to finish is some sharp parmesan

and cracked black pepper just before serving.

Winter is the perfect time to have a few delicious soups on high rotation!

Ingredients

1 tbs olive oil

250gm smoked bacon rashers, finely chopped

1 large onion, finely chopped ½ a large cauliflower, trimmed and cut into small florets

400gm potatoes, peeled and chopped

1 sprig of rosemary, finely chopped

3 sprigs of thyme, leaves picked 6 cups chicken stock

Sea salt & cracked black pepper to taste

Grated parmesan to serve

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, for around 4 minutes until it’s just crisp.

2. Transfer ¼ cup of the bacon onto paper towel and reserve for serving on top of the soup at the end.

3. Add the onion, thyme and rosemary to the remaining bacon and cook for a further 5 minutes, stirring as needed.

4. Add the cauliflower, potato and stock to a large pot and season with salt and pepper. Cover and bring to the boil.

5. Reduce the heat slightly and cook, stirring occasionally for 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

6. Transfer the bacon and onion mixture to the vegetables and stock and stir through well.

7. Using a hand blender, blend the soup until it’s nice and smooth. Keep the soup warm over low heat and ladle into bowls.

8. Sprinkle over the bacon pieces you set aside earlier, along with a generous amount of grated parmesan and plenty of cracked black pepper.

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.

The perfect hearty mid-week meal.

The Beast Supercross

ACROSS

1. Sports comedy starring Jason Sudeikis (3,5)

7. Indian side dish with yoghurt, mint and coriander (5)

8. Inner layer of the two main layers of skin (6)

9. Fine-grained sedimentary rock (5)

10. Steffi Graf’s hubby (6)

11. Thick noodle used in Japanese cuisine (4)

14. Elongated fish (3)

15. Express dissent (2)

17. Sweet meringue-based confection (7)

18. Rich layered cake (5)

19. Carried, formed, eroded or deposited by the wind (6)

20. Someone

Trivial Trivia

1. What novel inspired the Starbucks name?

2. What does the acronym POTUS stand for?

3. Usain Bolt trialled with which A-League soccer club?

4. What is the world’s south-

ernmost national capital city?

5. Ingvar Kamprad founded which business in 1943?

6. What trade name comes from combining the French words for velvet and hook?

7. How many hearts does an

who acquires an excessive number of items and stores chaotically (7)

DOWN

1. Roosters and NSW captain (7)

2. Upper side of an animal (5)

3. Liquorice flavoured seed (7)

4. A fruit and a colour (6)

5. Sparkling wine and citrus juice cocktail (6)

6. Game using shuttlecocks (9)

11. Northern Ireland (6)

12. Habitually organised (6)

13. A breed of small hound (6)

15. Someone who doesn’t stay in the same place for long (5)

16. Hosts the Sundance Film Festival (4)

octopus have?

8. Who was the lead singer of Culture Club?

9. What animal is on the Levi Strauss & Co. logo?

10. What is another name for a footrest?

Ivo Rowe Gold.

Words Lisa Anderson Photo Theresia Hall Instagram @theresia.g.hall

The New Boy

Genre Drama

Reviewer Linda Heller-Salvador

The New Boy is writer, director, cinematographer Warwick Thornton’s (Sweet Country) second film to be selected for the prestigious Cannes Film Festival; his first being Samson & Delilah, which won the Caméra d'Or in 2009. It has been 20 years in the making and is a deeply personal film inspired by his childhood experience of being sent to a remote boarding school run by monks.

When an enigmatic young Indigenous boy (charismatic newcomer Aswan Reid) is left at an isolated Christian orphanage, which is run by the devout but unorthodox Sister Eileen (Cate Blanchett), mystifying events occur that lead to a questioning of her faith.

Visually stunning in its starkness and embellished with an expressively powerful score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, The New Boy is not only an unsettling glimpse into a part of Australian history but is also a beguiling story of survival and acceptance. It’s one you'll either love or hate. Lightly layered mystic dreamtime symbolisms may be unsatisfying for those who prefer their films straight-forward and easy to process.

ALEX LAHEY

The Answer Is Always Yes

Label Liberation Records

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

Unlike Australia Post, Alex Lahey rarely fails to deliver, and The Answer Is Always Yes is full of countless delightful packages. The Aussie singer-songwriter somehow manages to go from sounding like Bob Dylan to Death Cab For Cutie and then punk band FIDLAR without missing a beat. This sort of alt-indie-pop-folk is very much in at the moment, but I find Lahey far more accessible than a lot of her contemporaries. She seems genuine, less cynical, and more likely to paint her fingernails black because she wants to do it, not because she thinks it’s cool.

BOY & BEAR Boy

& Bear

Label Island Records

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating 

I’ve always had a love/meh relationship with Boy & Bear, but now I might be ready to take them home to meet the parents. They suddenly seem so interesting. Perhaps because they’ve shed the label and they’re all grown up. The blood suckers and perverts no longer guide their every move and they’ve finally come into their own. Weirdly, the two bands that I kept thinking of while listening were The Verve and the Bee Gees. It’s a strange cocktail, but it kind of works. Sip it down, like you might a ginger and whiskey sour, while staring into the eyes of a complicated lover.

SNAKEHIPS never worry

Label Helix Records

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating 

I gave up being one of the beautiful people many years ago. It was quite liberating. I stopped looking in the mirror or buying new underpants. It doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate that world from afar though, and Snakehips are clearly making music for beautiful people. On the surface, this is music for pool parties with young influencers, who have big ‘feels’, bigger egos, and short attention spans, but I can also vouch for it being perfect for sitting in your torn underpants in a suburban backyard with a Queenslander’s Cocktail (two litres of Bundy and Coke served in the plastic bottle).

Star Signs

Visions Beardy from Hell

Virgo Aug 23-Sep 23

Setting your goals high and failing above everyone else’s successes isn’t as good as actually succeeding.

Libra Sep 24-Oct 23

The lack of punishment for white collar crime in Australia makes it a pretty attractive prospect. Career change, anyone?

Scorpio Oct 24-Nov 22

A gastroscopy will do more than just prolong your life; you’ll get a day off, shed a few kilos and get a rare win over your health fund.

Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21

The slow descent into winter is always a challenging time. Consider some extra help from big pharma to get you through it.

Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 20

Can’t afford to go overseas? You can always post a few pics from your last trip so it looks like you’re still killin’ it.

Aquarius Jan 21-Feb 19

Do you have something to say, or do you just want to say something? The difference is really not that subtle.

Pisces Feb 20-Mar 20

Embrace your existing bad habits rather than risk forming new, more destructive ones that could end up completely ruining you.

Aries Mar 21-Apr 20

Stop choosing your words so carefully. In order to be able to think, you need to risk offending people.

Taurus Apr 21-May 21

Your arse isn’t going to get any smaller when you’re sitting on it all day. It’s time to get up and shake it off.

Gemini May 22-Jun 21

Blaming the Reserve Bank for your financial woes is like blaming Scott Morrison for the bushfires.

Trivial Trivia Solutions

1. Moby Dick 2. President of the United States

3. Central Coast Mariners 4. Wellington

5. IKEA 6. Velcro 7. Three 8. Boy George 9. Horse 10. Ottoman