DO YOU HAVE UNWANTED ITEMS?
PLEASE CONSIDER:
SELLING
Sell your usable items on social media platforms such as Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace.
DONATING
Donate broken or unused phones, laptops and tablets to our Reconnect Boxes for repair and reuse. Located at most Randwick Council buildings.
REUSING & REPAIRING
Have your usable items collected by The Bower who will give them a new life!
RECYCLING
Take your old electronic waste to our Recycling Centre.
BOOKING A FREE COUNCIL CLEAN-UP
Each resident is entitled to five free clean-ups each calendar year.
Randwick Recycling Centre services and Council clean-ups are for residents in the Randwick LGA only.
Beautiful Homes. Beautiful Concrete.
If you Love concrete, you’ll love the Ablestone Facebook group
Dedicated to the transformative power of concrete for modern, stylish, and sustainable living. It’s free to join and open to anyone who loves concrete and its endless possibilities. As a member, you’ll be inspired with videos, new products, and stunning designs and applications. Share, connect or simply enjoy the visual feast.
Beautiful Homes. Beautiful Concrete.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Phone 02 9318 1722 or visit metromix.com.au/able-concrete/
Architect: MCK Architects.
Photography: Rethmeier Still Images.
Builder: Toki Construction
Our Year 6 students raised $25,500 for The Kids’ Cancer Project by writing and illustrating a book in a day with Sydney Grammar School. The books will also be gifted to children in hospitals.
Key events in Term 4:
• 2025 Orientation Day: 22 October
• Open Morning: 13 November
• Senior School Production: 14-16 November
• BTC Dance Showcase: 30 November
• Speech Day: 4 December
To contact the school or join our communications list, please email stcaths@stcaths.nsw.edu.au or call 02 8305 6200.
Our Community Consultative Committee (CCC) is looking for new members. If you are interested in joining our CCC, which typically meets four times per year, please contact our Independent Chair, Ms Roberta Ryan at roberta@forward-thinking.net.au.
Supersized spring squid, by Callum Mari.
Highs and Lows
Words James Hutton - Publisher
Welcome to the October 2024 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s blossoming beaches of the east.
Thanks to Randwick artist Patricia Reid for this month’s beautiful cover painting of the mysterious Mackenzies Beach. Patricia has lived in the Eastern Suburbs for over 90 years and has been heavily involved in the community throughout her life. You can see more of Patricia’s awesome art at Randwick Art Society’s website, www.randwickartsocietyinc.com, and at the Randwick Art Society Gallery in the Randwick Literary Institute, 60 Clovelly Road (on the corner of Market Street).
Another local artist, Joel Richard, is having an exhibition on Wednesday, October 2. If You Leave Can I Come will be showing at the COMA Gallery in Chippendale from 5-8pm. We look forward to featuring Joel’s art on the cover soon.
Local government elections are being held while this edition of The Beast is rolling off the printing presses, so there will be some fresh faces in the mix when you pull this copy out of your mailbox. Congratulations to all of the successful candidates, and respect to anyone willing to throw their hat into the ring to try and make our local area an even better place.
On a sombre note, the Eastern Suburbs has farewelled some incredible people over the last few months. We lost the beautiful and incredibly talented Alex Stamell in August, whose cheeky smile and vibrant energy will be sorely missed. It’s hard to believe she is no longer with us. We published Duncan Horscroft’s obituary about local legend Leo Lucas in the last edition, and Duncan has also written a piece on Bronte’s Mike Vesper (which will be published next month), who passed away after a long battle with cancer. Sadly, Leo’s son Ben also passed away last month. Ben Lucas taught at Maroubra Bay Public School and was an absolute legend of a bloke; a fun, happy, kind man who lit up
Become a mentor
a room and always made time for a chat. He was one of the first people to get behind Dan and I when we launched this little publication, and he will be missed by many.
On a happy note, congratulations to my awesome friends Gemma Shaw and Dalton Wills, who were married in the most amazing ceremony I’ve ever been a part of at the Tithe Barn in Skipton, Yorkshire in late August. In a life of highs and lows, their wedding was the ultimate high. Cheers, James
The Beast
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60,000 copies delivered every month; 2,000 in shops and 58,000 in mailboxes.
Are you over 25, passionate about your culture, and interested in supporting young people?
Culture Waves brings young people aged 14 -18 together to explore diverse cultures, express themselves, and create change in the community! Get in touch on diversity@waverley.nsw.gov.au or apply via the QR code.
No One Really Cares About the Cost of Living
Pretending to Care
Dear Pearlie - Firstly, thanks for your no-nonsense commentary on our local area. I look forward to your words of wisdom each month!
I’ve been hearing about some planning changes that are in the works, where parts of Sydney are going to have height and density limits increased so they can knock up high rises to accommodate the massive increase in population. I’ve heard that this will include the beaches of the east, and that our local councils will have no power to stop any of it.
Have you heard about this? Is it true what people are saying? Can you shed some light on how it will work? Why do politicians seem intent on ruining our beautiful city by cramming in more and more people without any infrastructure planning to ease the pressure on services, not to mention the impact
more people will have on the environment?
If it is true, this all just sounds like a scheme to appease property developers, who are probably my least favourite people in the world. If this is about cost of living, as they claim, wouldn’t politicians and planners be better off focusing on at least one or two of the other things that increase cost of living (limiting migration, housing tax reform, etc.) rather than pretending to care by focusing solely on the supply of housing?
Edna Bondi
Utopian Bliss
Dear Edna - Pearl is as much in the dark as you are regarding the changes to planning and density limits, and unfortunately being in the dark equates to ‘community consultant’ on the part of Sydney’s property
developers. While I am an advocate of apartment living as a means of housing large numbers of people in an economic and ecological way, this is not the outcome. The purpose of apartment construction is to maximise developers’ profits in an obscene way, resulting in poor quality, ugly development with zero concessions made to green space and the surrounding established communities.
High density apartment development in the Eastern Suburbs will focus on catering to wealthy buyers and tenants rather than addressing a housing crisis (keep note of the number of apartments that will contain entire floor penthouses). As such, the notion of thousands of affluent people residing in shoddily constructed, exorbitantly priced monstrosities with body corporates controlled by the developer (or those with the power and money to dictate the terms of reference of the strata) does not bode well for the future.
Apartment living requires resilience and mindfulness - qualities that the self-obsessed affluent do not possess. It will only be a matter of time before the exclusive enclaves touted by real estate agents morph into prosperous ghettos of concrete and travertine, with over-crowded schools, under-resourced hospitals and roads clogged with double-parked SUVs, all overshadowed by ticky-tacky concrete cancer-stained high rise apartments (with mission brown ornamental cladding) containing residents coming to fisticuffs over laundry hung on the balcony, prams in the hallways, garbage bins, parking spaces and noise. Sounds like utopian bliss to developers and their political toadies!
Pearl Clovelly
Words Pearl Bullivant Photo Mary Ton
What Campbell Parade could end up looking like.
The Beast's Monthly Mailbag
Words The Lovely People of the Eastern Beaches
A Very Special Sunrise
We farewelled beloved Maroubra Bay Public School teacher Ben Lucas last week, with a beautiful service today. Attached are a couple of ‘Lessons in Light from Mr Lucas’, found in the dawns following his departure.
Lots of people are looking lingeringly out to sea at this time (and diving in or paddling out) in awe and appreciation of what Ben brought to so many people. And a word of appreciation for The Beast - I really appreciate the magazine, especially the photos section. Ever since I told my young sons to maybe skip the Crime News for a while, they flip right to the middle and soak up the images of all the places that they recognise and love.
Thank you for connecting us and reminding us just how amazing our home is!
R Clarke Maroubra
Bronte Pool
Why is Bronte Pool closed so often? They used to clean the pool once a fortnight; now they do it once a week, and the pool is closed nearly all day. In addition, they are resurfacing the pool -
again. To my mind, this was only done two or three years ago. So, of course, the pool must be closed for most of July and August.
Yes, there are other pools further away, but in the meantime our lovely pool sits empty. Surely we need to do all we can to encourage people of all ages to swim? And, the medicos say swimming is the best all-round exercise for all of us.
It’s nice that we’re providing work for the six or seven men who work on this project, but you’d think Waverley Council could manage its resources better. Has anyone noticed the lantana flourishing in Queens Park?
Peter West Bondi Junction
Bike and Bus
Dear James - Regardless of what attitude one has towards the Oxford Street bike path, it is obvious that the team that designed and approved the eastbound bus stop opposite the IGA store did not take the real-life situation at this busy interchange into account.
The barrier means that if you want to see if there is an approaching bus, and there is already even just one bus at the stop, you cannot see past said bus. It is a case of staying outside the barrier to see following buses and then racing around to catch the bus, or staying inside the barrier and risk not flagging down your bus at all.
And, is it just a case of ‘one size fits all’ with the small shelter,
with seating for only three people located at least 20 metres from the bus stop? If it is raining or you are incapacitated, good luck getting to the bus. It shouldn’t be so hard to design for the benefit of the bus-using public.
Lesley Spicer Coogee
Free Waverley Wi-Fi
Dear Beast - Treat this as an incoming letter. I love your magazine! What is wrong with the Waverley Wi-Fi? It doesn’t seem to connect. I thought it was meant to work, but it does not. In fact, it actually does worse - it confuses any signal on my iPhone. And, sometimes I have to turn it off in order to send a WhatsApp message.
I encourage you to try this when you are walking between Mackenzies Bay and Bronte - it is absolutely hopeless. Why can’t the council address this issue?
Tom Fielding Bondi
Teal Spiel
Hi James - It was kind of Allegra Spender to invite me to email her about the Teal ‘pet’ - their energy policy (In Response to Greg, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, September 2024).
I would have been more impressed by an apology to you and your readers for telling us that electricity prices had come down in the previous 12 months when in fact the ABS tells us that, not only had they gone up by 3.9 per cent, the actual figure would have been a whopping 17 per cent increase but for government rebates funded by our taxes. All we got was Teal spiel, being, ‘you can trust us, we use experts.’
Not much use being our MP if, by not knowing the facts about your pet platform, you not only mislead your electorate but also fail to call the government out for the debacle Albanese and Bowen are inflicting on us.
Greg Maidment Bronte
All 482 visas may now apply for PR, including cooks, café managers, hairdressers, marketing staff, etc. The qualifying period has also been reduced to two years Please call Brendan to discuss further
Brendan Muldoon
Reg. Migration Agent # 0742052
39 Gould Street, Bondi Beach Phone: 0404 552 322 brendan@bondimigration.com.au www.bondimigration.com.au
Energy Is Not the Same as Electricity
Dear Beast - I refer to Allegra Spender’s response to Greg Maidment’s letter in the most recent edition of The Beast (In Response to Greg, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, September 2024). If renewables are the cheapest form of new generation, as stated by Ms Spender, and their share of generation capacity is increasing, why are power prices increasing?
The answer is simple - energy is not the same as electricity. Despite what Ms Spender implies, the energy cost component of an electricity bill is relatively low in the case of baseload coal, so fluctuations in world commodity prices are not the cause of your power bills rising. The cost comes with the conversion of energy (from various sources) into electricity and making it available to all consumers at precisely the instant it is needed, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The analysis Ms Spender refers to that was undertaken by the CSIRO is called the GenCost Report. Her claim that renewables are the cheapest form of new generation is based on a measure called the Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE). The problem with using LCOE when it comes to renewables is that it does not factor in the cost of new transmission lines, costs to stabilise the grid or the cost of back-up power supplies that are required when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. It is very concerning that our local member does not understand this. More renewables will not only inevitably result in higher power prices for consumers but are also a dire threat to our energy security as a nation and also require a vast physical footprint that is visually polluting and a serious threat to productive farmland.
Ms Spender is a zealot when it comes to climate change. She doesn’t care about higher power prices, because Wentworth sure
won’t be getting any giant windmills, is relatively wealthy and has little to no manufacturing jobs that are reliant on cheap power. As for the poor in other parts of Australia, let them eat cake!
Michael Bronte
Fact check: The CSIRO’s Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) does include the costs referred to, such as transmission and ‘firming’. The CSIRO’s work includes different estimates based on 60, 70, 80, and 90 per cent renewables in the grid and provides a breakdown of how much these ‘integration costs’ are.
Greetings From a Warmer Sydney
James - As the Eastern Suburbs struggles through the worst parts of winter, we wanted to send along greetings from a recent holiday to a warmer SydneySydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Our brother moved to Coogee from the States over ten years ago. We discovered The Beast on our first trip to visit him Down Under, and have been avid readers ever since. From halfway around the world, we anxiously await the arrival of our next AusPost package, knowing that it will contain at least 3-4 recent editions of The Beast.
Over the years, we have been throughly entertained by parking plights, dog dramas and tree tragedies. We admired the bravery and courage of your brother Dan during his battle, and truly appreciate all of the charities The Beast supports.
Ala Shuman & Jon McCandlish Ohio, USA
Trash Talk
In response to a recent letter to the editor (Trash Talk: The Nightmare on Mount Street, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, August 2024), fundamentally speaking, why is commercial waste being moved from the business properties where it is generated on Clovelly Road and dragged down a purpose-built lane half
a block away to another street to be left in front of residential premises and serviced at dawn or earlier, 6 or 7 days a week?
For years now, compromises have been put to Randwick Council officers and elected councillors, but to little effect. If this has to be, then as a trade-off, please do the servicing at a reasonable time during the day rather than at the crack of dawn every day.
It is a seemingly simple request, but Randwick Council has arrogantly allowed this practice to carry on for years, despite reasonable appeals from residents for a compromise, making the residents affected feel like second class citizens.
Tim Coogee
Crime Column Criticism
Hi Beast - I love your magazine, I only wish it was delivered to Kingsford. One minor bugbear though - is it really necessary to publish the names of the suspects covered in Crime News each issue? It’s pretty tawdry and gossipy, and it demeans both yourself and the people you name.
A lot of the crimes you cover seem to be committed by people with addictions or who are suffering mental health breakdowns. Haven’t we moved on from the days when petty criminals were put in the pillory in the town square so all the villagers could mock, jeer and scone them with rotten fruit and vegetables?
C’mon Beast - let’s grow up!
Johnny Kingsford
Bondi Junction as a Hub for Diners and Artists
In the Monthly Mailbag of the latest edition of The Beast, mention was made of Bondi Junction becoming a hub for diners, artists and small clubs (An Honour and a Privilege and Working Together, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, September 2024). Unfortunately, Bondi Junction lacks the amenity of green space.
Bondi Junction could have been so much better. In the development of Bondi Junction, planners and developers have made no allowance for green space. Overdevelopment has meant that all available land in Bondi Junction has been used for buildings. Any potential views between buildings, or areas large enough for trees to grow, have been overtaken by closely abutted development.
There has been no consideration made for outdoor space, and as a result Bondi Junction is a wasteland of concrete and wind tunnels. But, wait a minute, what about turning Oxford Street Mall into parkland with deep soil, large trees and garden beds? Would a lush, green park in the middle of Bond Junction attract diners and artists? Maybe.
Mia Vaux Waverley
Sleepwalking Into a Nightmare
Dear Beastie - Thank you for being the grapevine on this one. The biggest changes to the amenity of Bondi ever are in the works courtesy of the NSW State Government, and what is really freaky is that very few residents actually know about it.
They are designating areas to increase housing targets, and in Bondi they have decided, on our behalf, that the increase will be up 300 per cent, from 760 to 2,400 new dwellings (interestingly, Woollahra only gets 500 under the proposal) - funny that, considering we already have one of the highest population densities in Australia.
What is most scary is height limits will be increased to six storeys, with an additional two on offer for ‘affordable housing’. These conditions are non-refusable, so councils’ ability to make regulations based on their own planning departments and what residents and tourists want and need has been totally usurped.
Neither councils nor council planners support it, as they
will have little to no say in the approvals process. Although this is supposedly designed for ‘key areas’, the regulations apply to up to 400 metres of the surrounds. Let’s face it, that is pretty much the whole of Bondi.
Height limits and floor space ratios will be massively increased. I don’t have to bang on about the obvious drastic overshadowing, loss of privacy, lack of access to solar, loss of tree canopy and creation of wind tunnels.
There will be no change to Waverley’s infrastructure; i.e. roads, water pipes, internet, electricity, etc. So, imagine three times as many cars attempting to come in and out daily. Imagine the overshadowing down Bondi Road, Campbell Parade, Hall Street and Curlewis Street.
Our beautiful Bondi, loved by so many, will be destroyed and become like the Gold Coast.
A fledgling grassroots movement, Save Bondi Village, has already been formed.
Housing Minister Rose Jackson, who grew up here, should hang her head in shame.
We are sleepwalking into a nightmare. Seriously, it’s time to get active about this one.
Nicolette Boaz Bondi
Who Will Represent Us?
James - I was very disappointed with comments made by our elected representatives in last month’s edition of The Beast. It appears proving how green they all are is the only thing on their minds. Representing their constituents is a much wider subject than just that.
It is very concerning that the state government is demanding Waverley Council double its housing target to 2,400 new homes over the next five years. As one of the highest density municipalities in the country, surely we deserve some relief or exemption from the incessant statewide development demands. Most importantly, if the state is
intent on inflicting this on us, what are they going to do about the resulting increased congestion and loss of amenity that we will most certainly suffer?
It is now 50 years since major projects such as the Bondi Junction Bypass and the Eastern Suburbs Railway were built. The congestion on New South Head, Old South Head and Bondi Roads are already 24-hour bottlenecks. And, progressively we see areas previously zoned as community and outdoor space are being rezoned for development - facilities that cannot be returned to a community that is progressively being choked.
I recently attended a ‘meet and greet’ the candidates held by Bondi Heights precinct for Bondi Junction ward. I asked all the 11 candidates what they were going to do to protect us from this unwarranted encroachment. Their responses were either silence or avoiding the question.
The most notable response was from Labor candidate Keri Spooner, who said it was not an area that councillors are responsible for, which is technically true. The previous Liberal government took planning control from the councillors and handed it over to the councils’ bureaucrats. But to whom does she expect us to turn to defend unreasonable demands placed on our municipality?
One must ask whether their lack of interest is more to do with their obligations to their state and federally aligned political parties than the rights and needs of those who elect them.
Silence often says more than words.
Andrew Goldfinch Bondi Junction ¢
Please send your feedback to letters@thebeast.com.au and include your name and suburb. We try and publish as many of them as possible, but nothing too crazy please.
0407 033 143
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Local Artist... Patricia Reid from Randwick
Local artist Patricia Reid is the talent behind this month’s beautiful cover. Patricia shares her local favourites with The Beast...
How long have you lived here? Over 90 years. I grew up here, I went to school here, most of my friends live here and my interests are here. The area is familiar and it’s my community.
What’s your favourite beach? Clovelly. It was my second home when I was growing up. My four children all learned to swim at Clovelly from the legendary Tom Caddy.
What’s your favourite eatery? Clove Lane, The Cloey or The Dog Hotel.
Where do you like to have a drink? I enjoy my morning coffee with friends at either Clodeli, Cat & Cow or Sea Salt at Clovelly to enjoy the fresh air and beach views.
Best thing about the Eastern Suburbs? The proximity to all the amenities - the city, transport, shopping centres, schools, beautiful cliff walks, Centennial Park walks and beaches.
Worst thing about the Eastern Suburbs? Parking can be frustrating, and the high cost of homes and rental prohibit young people from moving into the area.
How would you describe your art? Traditional. I like to paint what I see, places that I like to visit and beaches.
Where can people see your art? On Randwick Art Society’s (RAS) website, www.randwick artsocietyinc.com, and at our RAS Gallery, Randwick Literary Institute, 60 Clovelly Road (on the corner of Market Street).
Who are your artistic inspirations? The Heidelberg School of Artists, particularly Frederick McCubbin and Hans Heyson for his beautiful watercolour paintings.
What are you working on at the moment? A snow scene, which is something different to what I usually paint and therefore quite challenging.
Do you have any exhibitions coming up? I had a solo exhibition on at Bendigo Bank Clovelly that ended in early September, and RAS will be holding a Christmas fair at the Randwick Literary Institute on Sunday, December 8 and Monday, December 9, where you can do all your Christmas shopping for beautiful paintings and lots of craft.
When did you discover you had a gift for your craft? I don’t know if you would call it a gift. I loved my colouring in books from early childhood, but any gift requires nurturing and learning.
Any other local artists to look out for? I love the works of John Wilson, Werner Filipich
and the many talented artists who are fellow members of RAS.
Did you study art? Yes, at both primary and high school levels. Then, after I resumed studying art in 1968, I joined a few different clubs and attended courses with several tutors and experimented with many mediums, but found that I loved painting with oils best.
Any words of wisdom for young, aspiring artists? Practise, practise and practise. Join a club and paint with other artists and you will develop your own style.
What music are you into at the moment? I love listening to the Golden Oldies, Roy Orbinson, Kenny Rogers, Patsy Cline, the Platters and more recently Olivia Newton John, Whitney Houston and Damian Leith.
What do you get up to on the weekends? Much needed rest after another busy week, and some gardening.
What do you do for work? I am now retired. I was a primary school secretary and a typewriting teacher to adults and loved both jobs when I did work.
What’s your favourite thing about work? I loved the interaction with young children, even though it was only minimal time. With the teaching, it gave me pleasure when my students graduated and entered the workforce.
Do you have a favourite quote? “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”Aesop.
Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast? Be kind to one another.
Interview James Hutton
Photo Alex Smith
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Come along to your local Resident Precinct Meeting
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 October, the following meetings are on:
Charing Cross – Wednesday 9 October, 7 – 9pm
Bondi Heights – Monday 14 October, 7 - 9pm
Dover Heights – Wednesday 15 October, 7 - 9pm
Bondi Beach – Monday 21 October, 7 – 9pm
Bronte Beach – Wednesday 23 October, 7.30 - 9.30pm
Rose Bay – Monday 28 October, 7 – 9pm
Bondi – Wednesday 30 October, 7 – 9pm
Visit waverley.nsw.gov.au/precinct to find out location of the above meetings closer to the date.
Not sure which Precinct you belong to?
Visit waverley.nsw.gov.au/findyourprecinct
Waverley Council proudly supports resident run Precinct meetings.
Food for Thought
Words and Photo Anthony Maguire
Meet three professional thinkers who are helping the Waverley community engage in a bit of regeneration.
Chiara Di Giorgio, Domenic Svejkar and Kiran Kashyap are co-facilitators at Regen Sydney, which has just won a $50,000 grant to convene Waverley Council’s Thinker in Residence program for 12 months.
Regen Sydney was formed three and a half years ago and its aim is to model a new economic approach called Doughnut Economics. Forget those past models from the likes of Milton Friedman and John Maynard Keynes - this new philosophy, some might say heretically, rejects the ‘greed is good’ and ‘bigger is better’ ethos of the past and embraces a holistic approach focusing on social and ecological wellbeing.
“We’ll be looking to improving the neighbourhood economy and examining whether some areas of it may need to actually shrink to reduce their impact,” says Dr Kashyap, 37, who has just completed a PhD in transition design and regenerative economics at UTS.
Ms Di Giorgio, 45, has a Masters of Economics degree, and 33-year-old Mr Svejkar has a Bachelor of Engineering degree plus a Masters degree in service design.
According to Ms Di Giorgio, Doughnut Economics is “not just regenerative, but also redistributive.” Sorry, corporate fat cats, but you may have to embrace a bigger vision and share some of those profits.
Mr Svejkar puts it this way: “We’re trying to find a balance between our social needs being met and not compromising the ecological limits of the planet.”
And that balance will be met in a collaborative way. Regen Sydney embraces collective decision-making and deep community consultation, which is why it is holding a panel discussion at Bondi Pavilion’s theatre from 6-8pm on Wednesday, October 16.
“The discussion will aim at highlighting three diverse perspectives on degrowth economics - an ingredient in regeneration,” Dr Kashyap says.
For more information, please visit regen.sydney.
Hannah’s ‘Wonderful Faces’ Design Wins
$1,000 Prize
Words Anthony Maguire
Photo Hannah Edmonds
Last month, Bondi designer Hannah Edmonds saw something in The Beast that caught her attention. It was a Waverley Council competition called Fill Your Boots, being run to promote the reopening of the Boot Factory early next year.
Entrants had to transform the outline of two boots into an artwork. She downloaded an image template, which she proceeded to fill with faces - over 20 of them, each representing a facet of Waverley. There’s a lifeguard, a smiling policeman and a tourist with a big Borat moustache wearing an ‘I Love Bondi’ sweater.
Competition judges loved the collage of faces so much that Ms Edmonds was pronounced winner in the adult section. And now she has a $1,000 voucher to spend at Westfield!
“I’m going to be sensible for the most part and use it for things I need, but with summer coming up, I’m going to treat myself to a swimsuit.”
Hannah designed the winning entry on her iPad.
Chiara, Domenic and Kiran are being paid to think.
Gardening at Waverley Cemetery
Join our volunteer team in beautifying Waverley Cemetery.
Help us plant a native corridor to provide vital habitat for local birds and pollinators, and make new friends in the process.
Scan to read more and to sign up to become a volunteer Waverley Council
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Randwick Council Initiative Really Hits The Spot
With a pair of street performers in alien outfits, live music and lots of good business for local traders, Randwick City Council’s ‘Spot On’ shopping strip activation is proving a success.
Following the launch ceremony on Thursday, August 22, it is now running from 6-10pm each Thursday evening until October 24.
Randwick Chamber of Commerce president Janet Alexander welcomed the initiative.
“It’s a fantastic boost for businesses at The Spot, many of which have been struggling and in several cases closing down since COVID,” she told The Beast.
At the opening, a large crowd milled in St Pauls Street, which was closed to traffic, and it was a full house at restaurants, a number of which extended their outside table space after being invited to do so by Council.
The activation initiative is being funded under a NSW Government program called Open Streets, which facilitates
temporary street closures. The grant from Open Streets was $150,000 and Council has chipped in a further $51,000. In addition, each Thursday night until the end of the activation Council is providing in-kind resourcing and infrastructure.
For the duration of Spot On, St Pauls Street is being closed between Perouse Road and Nancye Street. Chair of Randwick Precinct, real estate agent Carmen Avila, says non-hospitality businesses such as health clinics are facing inconveniences due to the closure.
“I’ve got one client who’s lost the Thursday night parking in front of their clinic and who feels outdoor dining is encroaching on their window space,” Ms Avila explained.
You can’t please everyone, as the saying goes, but the overwhelming feedback from business and the community is gushing praise, with Randwick City Council getting a big pat on the back for breathing new life into The Spot.
Three Decades of Local Portraits in Ged's Underground Bondi Gallery
Words
In his man cave facing out onto Glenayr Avenue, Bondi Beach, artist Ged Lardi displays photos of myriad people who, in his words, “have been inquisitive enough to step though the door.”
To earn a place on his wall, you must make a second visit.
“My main passion is trying to relieve the suffering of fellow-entities walking past this garage,” Ged told The Beast. Ged (pronounced ‘Jed’) started his photo gallery when he leased the garage as a studio in 1996. As well as his unique display of Bondi faces over nearly three decades, you can see artworks Ged has created out of Barbie Dolls, their bodies glittering with elaborate metal clothing he has painstakingly created. There’s a large chair of many colours mainly made from LEGO bricks, while other pieces are made from mirror balls, bird feathers and a host of other materials.
The garage is one big art installation - and a living chunk of Bondi history.
Ged will put you in his gallery after your second visit.
Words Anthony Maguire Photo Mark Bond
Daft Punk even popped by to check out the action.
Anthony Maguire Photo Tate Modern
Mr Quigley's passion and commitment to the local community has been the key to Symètrie’s success.
Symètrie Celebrates Ten Years in Clovelly
Words Anthony Maguire Photo Deb Quigley
Former Bondi Rescue star Ben Quigley faced a big challenge when he opened a fitness studio in Clovelly ten years ago. For the previous three decades, the Clovelly Road premises had been an auto repair workshop.
“It was a major effort cleaning up all the dirt, grease and dust,” he told The Beast
However, Mr Quigley and his helpers fought through it with good old-fashioned elbow grease, and it wasn’t long before the place was transformed, with exercise equipment in place and the studio, called Symètrie, taking in its first customers.
Mr Quigley, 46, has a Bachelor of Health Science degree and he’d emerged from his studies with a deep interest in exercise physiology. This is a fairly new area that combines exercise with disciplines like physiotherapy and chiropractic.
Initially he’d planned to operate the space as an exercise physiology studio where he’d be dealing with clients one-on-one. But the local community had a thirst for group exercise sessions, so Mr Quigley - a lifelong Clovelly resident - listened and today more than 500 people use the studio each week.
Meanwhile, Mr Quigley has been able to partially keep to the original plan. He and a number of other exercise physiologists, personal trainers
and pilates instructors conduct weekly oneon-one sessions with around 30 clients, many referred under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The work they do with these people can be life-changing.
There’s 19-year-old Clovelly resident Jessica, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident five years ago.
“We had to help her move again - to squat, walk, run,” Mr Quigley said. “To start with, there were simple exercises like stepping up onto a box. Now she’s back playing soccer and wants to become an exercise physiologist.”
Another NDIS client is a local retiree called Paul who has Parkinson’s disease.
“He needs help with his balance,” Mr Quigley said. “He says all he wants to do is play with his grandkids without taking a tumble.”
Talking of taking a tumble, four years ago Symètrie faced a challenge far more dire than cleaning up the accumulated grease from Nino’s Auto Engineers six years earlier. Like countless other small businesses, the studio had to shut down for over six months during the first lockdown, but was saved by community goodwill. There were many people who made a point of keeping their memberships running during this period even though the facility was closed. Mr Quigley strongly believes that community spirit was and is key to Symètrie’s long-term success.
This month, as the studio celebrates its tenth anniversary, the business is now more than just a fitness studio - it has become a Clovelly institution. Mr Quigley employs a team of eight passionate staff whose energy and dedication is all about helping others - when The Beast dropped by, there was a large group of people filing out the door after a 45-minute lunchtime workout.
“These have become popular with the post-COVID shift of working from home,” Mr Quigley explained.
“Our members are predominantly local families and young professionals who come because of the community and our trainers. It’s such an inclusive, welcoming environment.”
More clients equals more administrative work, so to help maintain his fitness, and to get out into the sun and surf in between long hours in the gym, Mr Quigley continues working as a Waverley Council lifeguard on a casual basis. He still does a 4-6 hour shift most weeks.
So what does the future hold for Ben Quigley and Symètrie?
“Looking forward, we’ll continue to build a community where fitness is not just about the destination but the journey we take together, every step of the way.”
Helping People With Connective Tissue Disorders
Words and Photo Anthony Maguire
Tamarama mother of two Janna Linke looks the picture of health. But her tanned face and slim figure mask a serious health condition.
Most mornings, Ms Linke wakes up in pain. And pain remains her near-constant companion for the rest of the day as she relies on the periodic use of a neck brace for relief.
“I’ve got a brain stem compression,” she says matter-of-factly. “My upper vertebrae are unstable and push into my brain stem. The neck brace relieves the compression.”
Ms Linke is one of an estimated 20,000-plus Australians who have a heritable Connective Tissue Disorder. And she is co-founder of a newly-formed national patient advocacy group raising awareness and working towards improved diagnosis and management.
The group is called Connective Tissue Disorders Network Australia. These disorders cover a ‘family’ of more than a dozen genetically-based syndromes such as Marfan Syndrome
and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Symptoms can vary enormously, from chronic pain and fatigue to dizziness, racing heart rate and spontaneous dislocations of joints.
The common cause is faulty connective tissue.
“Connective tissues are like the glue that holds your body together,” explains Ms Linke, a pharmacist and medical writer.
Women appear to form the majority of those affected by heritable Connective Tissue Disorders. All too often, conditions go undiagnosed, or worse, can be misdiagnosed for years.
“People go on a diagnostic odyssey,” Ms Linke says. “It’s frequently misdiagnosed and patients end up being referred to the wrong health professionals, such as psychologists.”
“The sad fact is that these patients are some of the most disenfranchised patient groups in Australia and the world.”
If you or someone you know is impacted by Connective Tissue Disorder, you can find out more or donate to the organisation by visiting www.ctdna.org.au.
Celebrating Waverley Public School's 145th Anniversary
Words Anthony Maguire
Photo Christina Rofe
Are you a former pupil or teacher of Waverley Public School?
There are lots of you out there, because the school has been educating generations of Eastern Suburbs kids since 1879.
To celebrate the school’s 145th anniversary, a reunion lunch is being held on Saturday, November 30.
Former alumni and staff will be able to swap memories - like being taught in the 1970s by deputy principal Frank Dwyer, who cut a dashing figure in shorts and long white socks.
“Sometimes he’d wear a safari suit,” says Christina Rofe, who is organising the event at Coogee Legion Club.
Sadly, Mr Dwyer is now in that classroom in the sky. Ms Rofe decided to stage the reunion now rather than waiting for the 150th anniversary, by which time other luminaries may have also left us.
The event isn’t just for those who went to the school back in the day either.
“Recent attendees and their families are welcome too,” Ms Rofe says.
Tickets are only $50. If you would like to book, please email waverleypsreunion@yahoo.com.
Safari suits are optional.
Pain is Janna’s unwelcome companion.
admin@cgsm.com.au
Navigating the Challenges of Neurodiversity
Words Anthony Maguire Photo Fred Hollows Foundation
Coogee mental health professional Max Hearn-Sarchfield is on the shortlist for the latest round of Fred Awards, run by the Fred Hollows Foundation. Launched in 2021, the awards celebrate the humanitarian spirit of Australians who embody kindness and compassion.
Mr Hearn-Sarchfield, 32, has been nominated for “changing the narrative for neurodivergent individuals,” according to a media release from the foundation.
At the age of four, he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
“I couldn’t switch off,” he told The Beast. “I was like a little Energizer bunny!”
He was placed on medication, and by the time he was six he was a lot less inattentive and hyperactive (the typical symptoms of the condition). He was taken off medication and went on to successfully complete school, then find work as a prison officer in the hospital wing at Long Bay. He found the challenges of this position suited his ADHD, which was still simmering away.
“Working with psychiatric and forensic patients tends to
keep you focused and level-headed,” he explained.
Meanwhile, he studied psychology and went on to take up another position with the Department of Corrective Services, facilitating programs and therapy for prison inmates.
Today Mr Hearn-Sarchfield is tapping into his own experiences living with ADHD by running a consultancy called Neuronavigators, which helps support neurodiversity in the workforce. People with neurodivergent conditions have tended to suffer a lot of workplace discrimination, but there can be big pluses for employers.
“Neurodivergent people tend to perform better in a crisis situation and are adept at thinking creatively outside the box. Also, their job retention rate tends to be a lot higher.”
Neuronavigators offers personalised coaching for neurodivergent individuals, plus workshops for managers who want to effectively lead neurodivergent team members.
If you’d like to find out more about Mr Hearn-Sarchfield’s incredible work, please visit www.neuronavigators.com.au.
Power to the People! Bondi Gets New Community Battery
Words Anthony Maguire
Photo Austin Powers
On a grass verge opposite Thomas Hogan Reserve in Bondi, Dharawal artist Shane Youngberry has created a vision of turtles and song lines. But wait a sec, what’s that mechanical humming sound coming from the two metre tall metal cabinet that’s the ‘canvas’ for this painting?
The art adorns the front of a community battery built by Ausgrid. The facility was recently officially opened by local dignitaries including the Member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender.
“The battery will help deliver cleaner and cheaper electricity for our community, reducing both power bills and climate pollution,” Ms Spender said.
Able to store 412 kWh of electricity (enough to power a house for up to a fortnight) the battery works by soaking up excess rooftop solar energy from around 1,000 homes in Bondi and Bellevue Hill during the day. During peak time at night, the power is distributed back to households.
Ms Spender says the battery will reduce power bills.
Max knows first-hand what it’s like to be neurodivergent.
Aaron Govendir’s story never washed with police.
Crime News
Words Jimmy Felon
Photo Fay Kinvader
Cold Case Murder Breakthrough
Police were always very suspicious about the ‘home invasion’ said to have claimed the life of 53-year-old Dover Heights woman Denise Govendir in 1998.
Her husband Aaron, who survived the ‘invasion’ with superficial injuries, said a man claiming to be a policeman broke into the family home on Dover Road late at night. He said the man knocked him unconscious. When he came to, his hands and feet were secured with cable ties.
He was able to phone 000, and when police and ambulance officers arrived around 2am, they saw that Mrs Govendir, also bound with cable ties, had been beaten to death.
No articles of value had been taken but the ‘invader’ had allegedly taken the couple’s car. The vehicle was found abandoned in Rose Bay eleven days later. Perhaps conveniently, it was undamaged.
Now, more than a quarter century after the death of Mrs Govendir, her husband has been charged with her murder. He was arrested at his home in Blaxland on August 15 and police held a press conference where they said the home invasion had been staged. New medical and forensic evidence strongly pointed to the guilt of Aaron Govendir, now 81.
Last year a $1 million reward was announced for information leading to the conviction of the
person or persons responsible for Mrs Govendir’s murder.
NSW Police Homicide Squad Commander Danny Doherty said the first people to be informed of the arrest were the couple’s son and daughter.
Coogee Fire Deliberately LitPolice
A man has been charged following a unit fire at Coogee. Police say the 31-year-old deliberately caused the blaze in the Malabar Road, South Coogee building.
Officers from Eastern Beaches Command charged him with damaging property by fire with intent to injure and custody of a knife in a public place.
Former Realtor’s Vile Acts
A former Eastern Suburbs estate agent has been exposed as a sexual predator who targeted young women walking alone in the early morning hours.
Facing justice in Downing Centre Local Court, Archie Anastasopoulos was jailed for 26 months after the court heard how, in three separate episodes, he preyed on women who’d gotten off buses at Bondi Beach.
The 36-year-old Randwick man’s first victim was walking along Campbell Parade near Bondi Beach Public School at 2am. Anastasopoulos got out of a car and walked closely behind her while masturbating. Then he grabbed her bottom, but she pushed him away and told him to “f*ck off”.
Anastasopoulos responded by saying, “Oh, I thought you were keen,” then made his exit. But around 24 hours later he was at it again, following another young woman in the same location at 2.30am while masturbating. When she screamed, he ran off.
The third episode took place the following week. And this time his behaviour became a lot more threatening as he followed a woman from Campbell Parade into the back streets at 3.30am. He groped his victim’s buttocks, then her breasts, before
pushing her up against a wall. Fearing she was going to be raped, the woman screamed - at which point Anastasopoulos covered her mouth with his hand. Then she managed to break free and ran home.
Describing Anastasopoulos’ acts as a “predatory campaign,” Magistrate Sean Hughes convicted him on numerous charges including sexual touching, stalking and obscene exposure. He set a non-parole period of 15 months.
More Caddick Loot Distributed - While Internet Abuzz With ‘She’s Alive’ Rumours
Investors ripped off by Dover Heights conwoman Melissa Caddick have managed to claw back some more of their money, with the Federal Court approving a $4.25 million payout - the largest distribution yet to victims of her scam.
Operating as a financial adviser, Caddick cheated trusting investors out of $23 million. Then the morning after corporate investigators raided her luxury home in November 2020, she disappeared.
Three months later, her foot, encased in an expensive Asics sneaker, was found washed up on a South Coast beach. The popular theory is that, her web of deceit having been unravelled and facing disgrace, she’d hurled herself off a cliff down the road from her Dover Heights property, then become shark food, her remains drifting down the coast.
In May last year, a coroner ruled that Caddick was dead, but that hasn’t stopped speculation that she had her foot surgically amputated and, wearing a prosthetic, is still alive and kicking. A private group on Facebook dedicated to this theory recently reported the sighting of a limping Caddick lookalike in Bali. The ‘Alive and in Hiding’ group has 18,000 members and a blurb at the top of the page says, “This group is only for people who share the same view that Melissa Caddick is alive and in hiding.”
to mental health problems and medication once his book has been published and the hectic publicity campaign is in full swing.
Sometime you just never know. Even the toughest humans can suffer mental health issues. Yes, even the heroic warriors who chase pigskin suffer mental health issues, but if no one asks the question, the public is only told once they’ve been caught snorting cocaine, stalking young children, urinating in public, harassing a woman or decking a bouncer.
Our heroes are not OK.
It is imperative to ask because some people will do anything to escape their reality.
These people will shut themselves off from the world. They will go to such extreme lengths as to build a tunnel under their Vaucluse mansion at a cost of $2 million after forking out $25 million for the property. They will even endure the mental anguish of battling Waverley Council for the right to dig their tunnel designed to shield them from the cost-of-living crisis and the endless hardship of life in the Eastern Suburbs.
Did anyone ask this couple if they were OK?
Most of us seek solace in our family, but not everyone has that luxury.
Are your friends OK? Is your family OK? Have you asked them? And, even if you have, how do you really know they’re OK?
Sometimes they can surprise you. Some people will say they’re OK when, clearly, they’re not. One day they could be happily posing for photos, enjoying their popularity and earning a very healthy salary. The next minute they deceive a nation and sign themselves into five ministries while trying to hold down the job of Prime Minister.
They’re not OK, but you didn’t see the signs.
You should have guessed when they committed Aussie treason and switched footy teams midway through life in a desperate attempt to be more popular, but you didn’t. Perhaps you gave this person the popularity they so desperately craved and are thus an enabler.
Ask yourself, R U OK?
You might only find out when it’s already too late, when this once mighty man has already lost his job, his popularity and his relevance, and only admits
Some adults are clearly spurned by their offspring and are forced to find comfort in their pets. They are so desperate for love that they pamper their pooches with clothes, gourmet dinners, accessories and massages, and sometimes not even that will suffice. Thus, they build their pet a Versace-draped house, complete with an outdoor doggie shower and a pool.
So, when you see people caressing their canines, committing footy follies, vanishing from Vaucluse or sporting a smirk, don’t forget to ask them if they’re OK.
R They OK?
Words Kieran Blake - kieranblakewriter.org Photo Ruben Wiki
The Minister of Defence.
Not impressing the judges.
The Unreliable Guide to... Trolls and Keyboard Warriors
After the recent Raygun Olympics debacle, The Unreliable Guide has been thinking about why people feel entitled to be so mean online. Yes, Raygun’s performance was peculiar at best, but the zero she received from the judges was probably enough to let her know she’d missed the brief.
But thousands of people all around the world still believed they had the right to attack, vilify and demean every aspect of her life and work. This interests me, because it reveals a rising lack of kindness and empathy.
If you too have been concerned by why people feel like they have the right to be an obnoxious online bully, never fear, The Unreliable Guide is here to explain the difference between a ratbag, a troll and a
keyboard warrior, and how to deal with them all.
Identify Your Online Bully
In life, we all come across the odd ratbag from time to time. The kind of person who’s obnoxious to your face will almost certainly be the same online. Why would they change? For these people, bullying is in their DNA and dealing with them is a whole other article. So, professional ratbags aside, let’s take a look at why so many people are nice as pie and gravy to our face, yet total arseholes the moment they get their spiteful dabs on a keyboard.
Although many brave keyboard legends conceal their identity, there are plenty who are openly aggressive and rude online. Maybe they really want
to call us c*nts to our faces but are scared we’ll punch them. I reckon computer screens are like the windshield on a carthe safety of that barrier allows the rage to emerge. Either that, or these people are just pretending to be friendly Dr Jekyll while longing to be murderous Mr Hyde.
And Then There’s Trolls
Do you remember the fairytale troll in The Three Billygoats Gruff who asks, “Who’s that tip-tapping on my bridge?” Today, trolls are tip-tapping on their phone or computer at school, the office or at home on the couch. While most keyboard warriors believe what they are SHOUTING SO LOUDLY and reveal their emotions through threats and swearing, trolls don’t give a monkey’s ballsack about the topic. Trolls just want to piss us off and get a spicy reaction.
The anonymity of the internet allows trolls to sadistically ‘play’ with others’ emotions in a way that they could never do face to face without getting a smack in the chops. Unlike the keyboard warrior, trolls seldom use capital letters or vulgar language. They think of themselves as witty and in control - their aim is to make us lose ours. So, when we rise to their bait, they win, laughing at our gullibility before moving on to feed on their next prey.
Finally, The Unreliable Guide suggests that you never engage in an online battle. If you know your keyboard warrior, meet face to face - crazy Mr Hyde should turn back into civil Dr Jekyll. As for anonymous arseholes, report them if possible, delete and move on, dignity intact. And Raygun, if you’re reading, here’s a 2018 quote from Olympic American figure skater Adam Rippon: “Haters are fans in denial.”
Words Nat Shepherd Photo Em Barrassing
Upcoming Pop-Up Offices:
Paddington Pop-Up Office
Five Ways, Paddington 11th October
10am-11am
Vaucluse Pop-Up Office
Cnr Young St and Old Sth Hd Road, Vaucluse 17th October
9am-10am
Kings Cross Pop-Up Office
Kings Cross Station 18th October
7:45am-8:45am
Allegra.Spender.MP@aph.gov.au
Edgecliff Pop-Up Office
Edgecliff Station 1st November 7:30am-8:30am
Seeking Answers in Therapy
Words Jeremy Ireland
A common dilemma in psychotherapy is when clients seek advice to help them through a difficult period. Understandably, when considering therapy it’s often because of some situation where one feels incapable to make rational decisions for themselves. This lack of confidence can influence judgement and ultimately lead to an inability to cope, leaving one feeling vulnerable and at a loss. Unfortunately, the general rule is that therapists don’t give advice, but it’s not often understood as to why.
It’s worth considering what therapy actually is in order to help understand why giving out advice is often not the answer. Essentially, therapy is a tool to help us interpret and improve the way our emotions operate by challenging the way we think. We might face difficulties dealing with perceived inadequacy, low confidence and low self-esteem, all of which may hinder us in comprehending and trusting ourselves.
Reaching out to family and friends for help can be supportive but can also fall short, as they
often won’t directly challenge you. If they only tell you what to do, that they’ve heard it all before or, even worse, launch into their own similar subjective experiences without really hearing yours, it can leave you feeling worse. The confidentiality, understanding and unconditional positive regard we get with therapy gives us the opportunity for full disclosure in areas that we sometimes couldn’t get with people we know.
To give a client advice, there is real risk that the therapist could be making assumptions about their circumstance and undermine their independence and self-determination in how they choose to lead their lives. Furthermore, because of this lack of the full context of the client’s life there is no real way for the therapist to know the full repercussions that advice might have on the client.
Perhaps the most important reason advice is not given in therapy is that ultimately therapists don’t want clients to feel dependent on them to make decisions. This can be quite a difficult one to process for those who are stuck and have trouble making sense of their situation and can’t move forward. The main goal here is to help clients understand this and work with them in feeling confident in their ability to take charge of their lives and the decisions that guide them. If a client has been in a controlling relationship and has been influenced by others making decisions for them, for the therapist to then also advise only reinforces the belief that they can’t make decisions for themselves.
If a therapist is good, they will listen - actively listenproviding empathy and giving minimal gestures to keep the client talking. This helps develop a real relationship and trust. Over time, the therapist should offer alternate ways of thinking, asking questions to help shed
light on different ways to handle situations that the client may not have considered. But ultimately the therapist will never know the client as well as the client knows themselves, even if the therapy has been ongoing for some time. This may sound obvious, but it is something we often don’t consider when seeking therapy.
For the therapist, resisting the urge to give advice can be hard, but the more the client talks through the situation, the more they come to terms with it and make their own realisation, taking responsibility and ownership of their choices. To break through and find your own solution is empowering, helping in ways that have often not been anticipated.
Consider this simple scenario... When you go shopping for clothes, how do you feel when the salesperson tells you what to buy? Are you inclined to want to buy the product because they told you to, or are you more inclined to go with what feels right for you? At the end of the day, the reality is that most people don’t like being told what to do. Direct advice feels disempowering. What people generally want, often unknowingly, is self-directedness and self-sufficiency.
It’s the therapeutic relationship that heals, not merely information. Direct advice takes this away from you.
So, next time you’re doing the crossword in the back of this magazine, consider what gives you more satisfaction - going straight to the answers or working it out yourself? That said, if the crossword is just too hard and you’re feeling stuck, finding help so you become ‘unstuck’ without being told the answer is always the better option.
Jeremy Ireland is a local psychotherapist. Have you got a question? You can get in touch with Jeremy by calling 0400 420 042.
Photo Amber Heard
It's nice to be heard.
In Praise of Wind
Words Dr Marjorie O’Neill - Member for Coogee Photo Megan Gale
Well, the October winds are here! They arrived early this year and we witnessed their force in September, with many people experiencing hay fever, sore eyes and throats, with a fair bit of local damage to lighter structures and vehicles as branches came down and leaves littered our streets and gutters. As the wind swept through our neighbourhoods, smashing down streets, roaring against our windows and roofs, blowing clothes off our Hills Hoists and being a general nuisance, we could also smell the scent of the ocean and the promise of warmer days.
As a whole, the Sydney region is generally the windiest from October to January and calmest from March to June. Afternoon windspeed recorded at Sydney Airport averages at 24.3 km/h on an annual basis, making Sydney the windiest capital city in Australia. The October winds are more than just a weather pattern; they are a part of our coastal experience, a seasonal rhythm that connects us to the natural world around us. These winds create
an ever-changing landscape of sound and movement, adding a dynamic and unpredictable layer to our daily routines.
Our winds bring a level of disorder. If you’re like me and often keep your windows and balcony door open during the day, you may be met by the familiar experience of coming home to having half of the outside trees’ twigs and branches inside your home, Hermes the dog cowering under the dinner table, not knowing what’s going on, and more mess than my little robo-vac can handle. As the allergies hit, it is tempting to close the doors and escape inside, but when we do we miss so much. Wind is both a friend and a foe to humanity. While it can be inconvenient and occasionally dangerous, wind is an essential element of our world, and its benefits far outweigh its drawbacks.
The winds transform our coastal environment into a fresh canvas every day. As the winds whip through the trees they create a symphony of rustling leaves, while the waves at our
beaches rise and crash with renewed vigour. For surfers, these winds often mean better waves, as the offshore breezes sculpt the swells into perfect, rideable peaks. It’s not uncommon to see surfers waxing their boards with an extra dose of excitement during this time of year. There is something undeniably uplifting about these winds. They bring with them a sense of renewal and vitality, shaking off the last remnants of winter and encouraging us to spend more time outdoors.
As we grapple with the challenges of climate change, wind energy offers a clean, sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Unlike coal, oil and natural gas, wind energy produces no greenhouse gas emissions or air pollutants, making it a key player in the fight against global warming. The wind will never run out, does not leave behind hazardous radioactive waste and, as a natural ventilator contributing to the circulation of air, it reduces our need to consume man-made energy. It is a pollinator and promotes biodiversity. For all its messiness, inconvenience and even dangers, it is a friend.
In addition to these broader environmental roles, wind has a more personal, almost intangible value. The feeling of a gentle breeze on a warm spring day, the rustling of leaves in the wind or the sight of a kite soaring in the sky - these are small, everyday pleasures that wind brings into our lives. Wind connects us to nature, reminding us of the forces that shape our world and the delicate balance that sustains life. Whether it’s a brisk walk along the coastal trails of Bronte and Coogee or a leisurely stroll through Centennial Park, the winds add an invigorating element to our outdoor activities. They seem to carry away the stresses of everyday life. They also bring our community together as we clean up from their mess and prepare for our spring cleaning and planting!
The iconic shot from the set of The Seven Year Itch.
So pretty on the plate.
Spring Squid and Ruby Salad
Words Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine
This Italian-inspired salad is a celebration of spring, using only the freshest seasonal produce and with little cooking required. It’s light and punchy - a real winner for entertaining. The squid is perfect for a quick sear on the barbecue, pairing so well with the acidic and slightly bitter ruby grapefruit, which also looks so pretty on the plate. Make use of abundant spring herbs, salty green olives and shavings of pecorino, and toss together this simple dressing with a hint of sweetness for balance, and this salad will be ready to wow.
Ingredients (serves 2)
500gm fresh Australian squid (buy whole and cleaned) - cut into 5cm pieces
Squid Marinade
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
½ long red chilli, very finely diced
Juice of ½ a lemon
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
Salad
1 small bunch fresh basil, leaves picked
1 handful fresh Italian parsley, leaves picked
1 ruby grapefruit, skin peeled, segments separated, pith and seeds removed
½ raddichio lettuce, leaves separated, cut into large pieces
6 green olives, pitted and quartered
¼ cup shaved pecorino
1½ cups roughly torn Italian ciabatta for croutons
1 tbs extra virgin olive oil (for croutons)
Dressing
1 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 tbs red wine vinegar
1 tsp honey
½ long red chilli, finely chopped
Sea salt
Cracked black pepper
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180℃.
2. Marinate the squid for 20 minutes.
3. To make the croutons, place the torn ciabatta on a lined baking tray. Toss in olive oil, season with salt and pepper and place in the oven for 10 minutes until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
4. Strain the marinade from the squid. Heat the barbecue or griddle pan to high, then sear the squid for 1 minute each side. Remove and set aside.
5. Assemble all the salad ingredients on a large serving plate. Add the squid and the ciabatta croutons, then generously pour over the dressing and toss to coat. Season with sea salt and 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. 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.
Location
Subject
Location
Subject Visibility Location
Gordons Bay Photographer Sofia Echesortu @atlasoutdoorclub
Overflow
Clovelly Photographer Col Blake
Subject Willow Pond Location Centennial Park Photographer Juan A. Rojas
Subject Illumination
Coogee Photographer Chris Payne
Subject Big Dreams Location Maroubra Photographer Brody Vancers
Subject Beach Scenes Location Bondi Photographer Wil Larcombe @willarcombe
Subject Magpie Man Location Heffron Park Photographer Rob Pringle
Subject Bloomin' Galahs Location Clovelly Photographer Jules Rumpf
Subject Emerald Green Location Bondi Photographer Michael Marren
Subject Pink Sky Blue Mind Location Bronte Photographer Bec Adams
Bass en Masse
Imagine you are floating on a shimmering turquoise lake. There’s not a puff of wind; just you, your kayak and the warmth of the afternoon sun on your skin. Lush green hills stretch to the horizon, surrounding you and your mate. Back on the bank, a few icy beers wait patiently in the esky, accompanied by a couple of succulent porterhouse steaks. Next to your swags, a generous pile of timber lies ready for the evening’s campfire as the sun starts to disappear over the hills...
For Ethan and myself, this was just another afternoon exploring inland New South Wales on our next fishing adventure. On this trip the name of the game was the Australian bass, a rugged and hard fighting freshwater Aussie native. Their aggressive nature and willingness to smash all types of lures makes them a favourite target species for many aussie anglers including ourselves. We had heard whispers that a certain system just west of Newcastle could offer us a good chance at catching them in big numbers,
hence we found ourselves immersed in the beauty of yet another new fishing location. Funnily enough, this body of water didn’t even exist 60 years ago. It only came into existence when the government damned a small river to create a reliable water source after years of brutal drought. These days the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) consistently stocks thousands of bass at a time for both conservation and recreational purposes. With the impoundment only measuring around 2km² with a maximum depth of 30 metres, it forms the perfect playing field for the keen fisho to catch some big healthy bass.
For Ethan and myself the approach was simple - troll deep diving lures from behind our kayaks until a bass crash tackles it and the reel starts zinging. This approach is very straightforward and quite achievable, even for the most novice anglers. Despite its simplicity, it is important to try to mentally calculate a combination of the water depth and lure depth so that your lure is in the strike
zone. Getting fouled up on weed is a giveaway that your lure is running too deep, and catching no fish might mean your lure is running too shallow.
Another approach is using a sounder to find schooling fish, a common method for anglers with small tinnies that is particularly effective during winter. Unlike the rivers, where there is a strict closed season for bass fishing between June 1 and August 31, the impoundments are able to be fished all year round. During the winter months the bass tend to school up in huge numbers due to their natural urge to spawn. Once you find the fish, lures such as small vibes, micro-jigs or soft plastics can be deadly if they are hopped vertically through the school. It is in these scenarios that anglers can consistently catch numbers in the double digits.
If you don’t have a boat or a kayak, you can still fish the system by foot. Casting lures from the edges where the dropoff gradient is steeper is a tried and tested approach. Vibes or soft plastics will work in the deeper areas, and you can even use surface lures during the warmer months when cicadas are more abundant. With the DPI proposing to stock another 15,000 fish over the next two years in this system, there is certainly no shortage of fish to catch. I honestly can’t think of a more friendly fishing location to get people involved in the freshwater scene, so I encourage everyone to have a crack if they are interested. Please feel free to hit me up for the exact location if you are keen, and tight lines!
Words and Photos Lewis Kennedy-Hunt
Lewis with a healthy specimen.
Bassmaster Ethan.
The Beast Supercross
ACROSS
1. Bobby Fischer and Magnus Carlsen are both chess … (12)
7. Alan Rickman’s character in Harry Potter (7,5)
8. Sick (3)
9. A way of writing with symbols (8)
12. Wish-granting lamp apparition (5)
14. Skin around nipple (6)
15. ... Bradman (3)
18. Substance from trees used in art (5)
19. Contact team sport added to the 2028 LA Olympics (8)
20. Famous Blue Mountains rock formation (5,7)
Trivial Trivia
1. What is tattooed on Popeye’s arm?
2. A famed bank robbery in Sweden in 1973 led to the name of which psychological condition?
3. What is the currency of South Africa?
4. Who wrote Oliver Twist?
5. Who created the TV show 30 Rock?
6. What term applies to space devoid of matter?
7. Which band comprises siblings Andrea, Sharon, Caroline and Jim?
DOWN
1. Young goose (7)
2. Item that often fell on Wile E. Coyote (5)
3. Insane (8)
4. German Shepherd (8)
5. Christopher Nolan movie with time warping (5)
6. Australian auto parts retailer (5)
10. 1960s cop drama about an inspector in a wheelchair (8)
11. Cleanliness (8)
13. American motorsport (6)
16. Reunited English band (5)
17. Pokies, ... machine (4)
18. Queensland rugby union team (4)
8. What is the body’s resistance to changes in motion or speed called?
9. Which nuts are used to make marzipan?
10. Prosophobia is the fear of a) noses; b) escorts; or c) progress?
Words Lisa Anderson Photo Wil Larcombe @willarcombe
The Substance
Genre Drama Horror Reviewer Linda Heller-Salvador
In an increasingly judgemental and image-focused world, what extremes would you go to in order to make yourself more acceptable, younger, beautiful and perfect in every way?
These are the questions that director, writer and co-editor Coralie Fargeat (Revenge) satirically poses in her delightfully twisted and thought-provoking second feature film that has won Best Screenplay at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a once-famous Hollywood star, has apparently lost her sparkle and has thus been unceremoniously terminated from her daytime aerobics show. Now feeling her self-esteem plummeting and a desperate need for validation within her industry, Elisabeth decides to delve into the darker side of medical procedures to retain her youth and relevance with all too devastating consequences. If you’re not averse to a little blood and looking for a weirdly satirical film that delves head-on into a scathing social commentary on ageism and sexism with an outrageously over-the-top ending, then look no further than The Substance.
FONTAINES D.C.
Romance
Label XL Recordings
Reviewer @aldothewriter
Rating
Fontaines D.C. may just be the gravy we all need on the Sunday roast that is life. Dark post-punk isn’t usually my go-to condiment, but Romance is served so seductively I can’t help but slather it on. Normally, if I can’t get past the second song on an album it’s because I’m bored, but ‘Starburster’ is now my obsession. The streets of Dublin ooze out (sniff a Coogee gutter and you’ll probably get a whiff). There have been essays written about this album already, and I love the fact it’s become a Sao for an intellectual wank, but it’s also just class, innit?
DICE
MIDNIGHT ZOO
Label Tone City Records
Reviewer @aldothewriter
Rating
West isn’t best - that’s a myth perpetuated by rhyming sandgropers. Never trust rhyme, that’s my advice. Sandgropers are alright though. They certainly have some good bands, and Dice are the latest addition to strum so beautifully their music carried across our great continent. 75 per cent moustachioed and 100 per cent vibing. FACTS. I suspect Midnight Zoo is one of the best albums for a forty and twenty-year-old to sit around a bonfire with a case of beer and crank, but I can’t find a twenty-year-old to hang around with me long enough to test that theory. Probably for the best.
PEOPLE IN CUSTODY
Songbirds 4
Label Independent
Reviewer @aldothewriter
Rating
We’re all in prison in some way. As soon as you read that, something popped into your mind, didn’t it? Work, kid’s sport, your spouse’s obsession with trivia nights... These guys are literally in prison though, and they are an inspiration to break free from the fluffy handcuffs that confine us all in our minds. Songbirds 4 is an eye-opening collection that highlights the beauty in struggle and how lucky we all are to have our physical freedom in a world that isn’t always so kind. Unless, of course, you’re reading this in actual prison, but it’s worth a listen regardless.
Star Signs
Visions Beardy from Hell
Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21
You’ve survived another Sydney winter, now you need to start planning ahead so you never have to go through it again.
Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 20
You are under no obligation to keep your friend’s secret when they shouldn’t have burdened you with it in the first place.
Aquarius Jan 21-Feb 19
You’re not a hypocrite; there’s a disparity between your words and deeds, which is situational irony - you’re situationally ironic.
Pisces Feb 20-Mar 20
Your healthy eating is a psychological attempt to gain control over yourself, because you have no control over anything else.
Aries Mar 21-Apr 20
The more money you get your hands on, the more you seem to focus on yourself and lose empathy for anyone around you.
Taurus Apr 21-May 21
It’s a worry when those who don’t know you very well at all seem to like you, but those who do know you think you’re a dickhead.
Gemini May 22-Jun 21
You need to seek professional help for your phone addiction. You literally look at a screen more than you look in the air.
Cancer Jun 22-Jul 22
The easiest path to gaining social status is to just be a nice person. Social status is your reward for treating others well.
Leo Jul 23-Aug 22
Failing to attribute pretty much all of your success to pure luck is going to result in your wealth disappearing very quickly.
Virgo Aug 23-Sep 23
Waking up after a night out worrying about what you said or did isn’t an alcohol problem, it’s a you problem, so keep drinking.
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