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Welcome to the September 2023 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s summery beaches of the east. Spring seems to have arrived early, with a very welcome yet slightly unsettling burst of unseasonably warm weather.
Victoria Owens is this month’s local artist, with her awesome cover painting, Eguard. Victoria’s inspiration comes from all things tribal, including local surfing culture. Sometimes she will research artefacts and try to depict a contact point between primitive and contemporary cultures, other times she’ll wander around her own ‘tribal area’ in search of a strong image about how we live and what we believe in now, and “Bondi Beach never disappoints”.
“The unassuming Lifeguard tower is an international icon
owing to the globally recognised Bondi Rescue,” Victoria said.
“The flow of tourists to the tower is like a medieval pilgrimage driven by a fascination with television celebrity.”
Eguard captures the moment after a passing storm when the skies suddenly clear and the sun erupts into bright white light juxtaposed with crisp shadows.
“I was particularly drawn to the way the shadow of the promenade railing played across the base of the Lifeguard Tower,” Victoria explained.
“The scene is devoid of humans but we see the barriers, radio antenna and the tower required to keep them safe. On an empty beach the circular curves seem to stand watch like an ancient desert citadel.”
The Beast is excited to announce that Sydney’s favourite food and wine festival will be back by the beach this year. Taste In The City will be held at Bondi Pavilion from September 2-3, with something for everyone including the epic Fire Kitchen
food experience and live music all weekend. For more information and to book tickets, please visit tasteinthecity.com.au.
A local family is looking for a part-time cook to assist with the shopping and evening meals for approximately 16 hours a week across four days. They’re offering between $35-$45 per hour (including super). If you’ve got some ability in the kitchen and you’re interested, please call Laura on 0424 166 912.
Pearl’s been struck down with COVID so she’s taken the month off, but our Member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, has written an opinion piece about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament in her place. There are plenty of letters regarding the Voice in our Monthly Mailbag too. I’m yet to hear a convincing argument against this much-needed constitutional amendment. There’s still so much misinformation and ‘look over there’ nonsense to wade through. If you don’t know, find out!
Cheers, JamesBeachside Real Estate for Twenty Years”
Helping local business and skilled workers with immigration matters for over 14 years.
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SPRING 2023 25Sep–6Oct
Later this year each of us will be able to vote in a referendum - the first since 1999. This referendum is about two things: recognition and consultation. Recognition, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of Australia. Consultation, on the issues that affect their lives. I know many of you are thinking hard about this issue, but perhaps some haven’t yet had the time to really consider the detail. I wanted to help set out why I support the Voice.
This is the first referendum since social media, so there’s been a lot of misinformation going around. But the proposed change to our Constitution is simple. It will put four new sentences into our Constitution, and you don’t need a law degree to understand them.
The first sentence is recognition: “In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia.”
When our Constitution was written, Aboriginal people were deliberately excluded. This change recognises the fact that they were here and corrects that historical error.
The second sentence gives a guarantee that in future our government will listen: “There
shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.”
The Voice will be a committee of Indigenous Australians, chosen by Indigenous Australians to represent them. It won’t be part of Parliament or have the power to make or veto laws or policy.
The third sentence explains why: “The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
Indigenous Australians are the most disadvantaged people in Australia. For years governments have been making laws about them. Many are well intentioned, but the end result is a huge gap between Indigenous Australians and the rest.
We need to close that gap by making laws and policies with advice from First Australians. As a Member of Parliament, I want to hear the advice of an official representative body that can bring information from communities across Australia to policy makers.
The fourth and final sentence is about the detail: “The Parliament shall, subject to this Con-
stitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.”
This sentence makes it crystal clear that the detail is left up to the Parliament, because that’s how our Constitution works. There’s no detail in the Constitution about how to run the Navy or the Air Force (there were no planes) or the Treasury or the ABC or the Department of Environment.
If the detail was written in, our government would be frozen in time and couldn’t function.
The detail is up to Parliament. Australia’s Parliament, elected by all Australians, will decide the form of the Voice and decide when to accept its representations and when to ignore them.
The important thing is that the Voice will recognise our First Nations and promise them the chance to be heard.
And the first step is to listen to Indigenous Australians and support the Voice at this referendum.
The Voice has the support of over 80 per cent of Indigenous Australians and many people in Wentworth.
Others still want to know more, and that’s why I convened Wentworth for the Voice, a network of individuals, community groups and businesses dedicated to informing people in our area about the referendum. We’ve already had thousands of conversations with Wentworth residents - and we’re just getting started.
If you’d like to get involved, join our volunteer force of over 500 people to doorknock our communities, hand out flyers at train stations and bus stops, and answer questions about the referendum, please visit wentworthforthevoice.com.au/ volunteer.
Words The Good People of the Eastern Beaches
Dear Beast - Thank you for the entertaining juxtaposition in August’s Monthly Mailbag. First, Thomas with his polite request that people not behave like over-indulged prats when dealing with Council (good luck with that, Thomas), followed by Dale “writing to express [his] outrage” about bike lanes put in by Council. Good one, Dale! You should ring Council and say, “I‘m a car driver!” That is bound to get their attention.
Robert Parkinson Bellevue HillBronte’s Edition
Hi James - I just wanted to write a special thank you for featuring Bronte Goodieson in the last edition of The Beast. I have some of her artworks in my home and she’s an awesome local artist.
I thought the profile on her really made her shine. I’ve met her many times at different markets, and seeing her in The Beast really made me happy that even more people can enjoy her colourful, happy pieces!
Nicky RandwickDear James - You would expect every journal editor in Australia to have a strong view about the Voice, Yes or No. Problem is, when you write off one side as ‘misinformation and fearmongering’, as you did, then your readers are entitled to ask if you are fair-minded.
When stone-age hunter-gatherers met modernity, in the form
of ships, farmers and guns, the inevitable wholesale disruption to Indigenous tribes occurred.
Out of such ominous circumstances the great triumph of 21st Century Australia is that about 80 per cent of the over 800,000 Australians who now identify as Indigenous are doing okay in society at large. Significantly, about 70 per cent have partners or spouses who are not Indigenous. An effective integration into regular Australian society has occurred. We all know these people - they are household names in sport, government, universities and business. Some are our neighbours and colleagues at work. Some are Aussie battlers. They do not need a separate power of representation in the Constitution. The Burden of Culture by Gary Johns, a former ALP government minister, has the details.
About 20 per cent of Indigenous Australians are living mainly in rural and remote communities with lives blighted by abuse of women and children, low school attendance, obesity and diabetes, and high incarceration rates of men (mainly for abuse of women). These fellow citizens need assistance to succeed in contemporary Australia. We don’t need to attach a race label to them. We should resist the implication that would come from creating a permanent privilege in the Constitution, that these people are to ever remain powerless and dependent.
But how do we help these fellow citizens ‘close the gap’? The billions spent annually by Canberran bureaucrats advised
by committees of city Aboriginal elites is not working. The Yes case seems to rest on the untested assumption that changing the Constitution will fix this problem.
Famous Australian anthropologist Peter Sutton, author of The Politics of Suffering, writes: “To hold out to those suffering the grim realities of certain Indigenous communities the expectation that they will be safer, healthier, less arrested, because of the contracting of a formal Reconciliation package is to offer them goanna oil. Surely by now we understand that to peddle a grand national gesture as a cure for early renal failure and child abuse is not just whimsy-minded, it is dangerous mumbo-jumbo.” The answer is local initiatives, one community at a time.
Chris
I’m at a loss to understand the reasoning behind people voting Yes to the Voice because it makes you feel warm and fuzzy.
These people, the ones that have their head shaved up one side and a nose ring (you know the kind who I’m talking about), they should try and go further than 5km from their Single Origin coffee shop, have a trip to Darwin or Alice Springs and walk the streets after dark and tell me that another government body will be any different and improve the lives of these people.
We have Albo giving us little detail on what it means for the average Australian, he wants us to trust him. Since he came to power I’m waiting for my $275 discount on my electricity bill, which has gone up 30 per cent. Trust him I don’t. It’s divided this once great country.
Nathan
The Bra
Hi Beast - In last month’s edition I saw a couple of letters saying they can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t support the Voice. Therein lies the problem; are we supposed to support the Voice just because one person can’t understand why we wouldn’t?
No doubt there are some voters opposed to it who are motivated by nothing but prejudice towards Indigenous people. But what about those who don’t understand what the Voice is or how it will work, or want to know basic details like how many years individual members will serve for? How are you trying to persuade and explain it to them?
You’re more than welcome to despair that anyone could be ‘undecided’ or want details, but do you want their vote, or don’t you? Yes or no? Because answering that question in the affirmative is the only way this will get up.
Nicholas BondiThank you to James and Marjorie for their thoughtful contributions to the Yes vote in August’s edition of The Beast.
I feel the same way and sent away for my Vote Yes corflute, which is now proudly up in my window (www.voteyes.com.au).
Ignore the mud being thrown by the No camp, they have nothing to offer, only hate and division. I would urge people to vote Yes because it’s the right thing to do.
Regards,
Andrew Worssam BondiHi James - I read you’re Welcome Note, You’re the Voice, in the August edition of The Beast tonight. As a volunteer and neighbourhood team leader with Wentworth for the Voice, and someone who got piled-on on Twitter over the weekend for one of my tweets in calling out the threatening behaviour of a No supporter while I was handing out Vote Yes flyers on the weekend, I wanted to reach out and say, thank you!
Words like yours in The Beast give me heart and steel my resolve to keep campaigning on behalf of Australia’s Indigenous peoples. And I will be sharing them with my fellow volunteers.
Despite the frustration caused by a misleading No campaign, I am constantly buoyed while handing out flyers because I so
often hear the three words I’ve come to love: “I’m voting Yes!” Regards,
Robert Fairhead BondiThank you for your words. I hate to admit I rarely read The Beast, but seeing who the local artist was led me to your great piece. I have just returned from working in the Central Desert Region, where male life expectancy is perhaps 65 if you’re lucky and people in their early 30s look 50, and I don’t understand the difficulty people are having with all this.
I liken it to the fruit table at preschool (although I’m probably insulting preschoolers by drawing an analogy with government), it’s like a child having to sit in the corner, not bring their chair up to the table and be included in the sharing of fruit and stories. Honestly, that’s all this is, a permanent seat at the table that can’t be kicked away by a thoughtless child (incoming or outgoing governments).
The issues surrounding Indigenous communities result from years and years of powerlessness. We would have exactly the same problems if an alien race landed tomorrow and moved us from our homes, work, food, etc. If people are so fearful of letting them have a voice, then what does it say about us?
Sorry to rant, but I just shake my head in disbelief at all this extrapolating of what it will lead to!
Kind regards,
Dr Sarah Cooper BondiIn the last three months of the year 2073, the Asian Republic of Australia plans to hold a national referendum to recognise the minority Australian whites (aka the white trash of Asia) in the Constitution of The Asian Republic of Australia.
The traditional mass media, the traditional opposition parties, and the traditional No case political lobby recommends a No vote.
In Australia, the No case has beaten the Yes case in 72 per cent of referenda ever held, whether it
was Aboriginal Australia before 1788, white Australia from 1788 to 2048, or the Asian Republic of Australia from 2048 onward.
Australians have had American negative pessimistic propaganda conditioning from films since Boxing Day 1903 (43,667 days), from television since September 16, 1956 (24,409 days), and from the Internet since June 23, 1989 (12,441 days) as at July 16, 2023.
The traditional mass media, the traditional opposition parties, and the traditional No case political lobby would like to firmly point out that the white Australians refused to recognise the first Australians and the Aboriginal peoples in the former White Australia Constitutional Monarchy Constitution by referendum in the final three months of 2023.
The traditional governments and the traditional Yes case political lobby have an uphill battle to convince negative and conservative Australians and Asians to back their Yes case as they have failed to convince Australians and Asians about “what is in it for the man and the woman in the street.”
When it comes to Aussie referenda, the No case nearly always beats the Yes case.
Jane Wallace RiverwoodDear Beast - For many years now in Ireland and the UK, and in fact in many places around the world, there is a growing movement for wildflower diversity. It started in country towns on roadsides and laneways, and it’s made its way to cities, where people are urging councils to allow grasses to grow long, wildflowers to pop up and vital habitats for butterflies and bees to flourish.
This has been on my mind lately as I see Randwick Council out with their herbicides everywhere, Yarra Bay in particular. Do we really need bowling green grass in our parks and reserves? Couldn’t we allow the flowers to poke through and give the native grasses their chance?
If councils can lead by example, we will see more natives successfully do their thing for
our local wildlife, particularly for important insects, of which we see less and less every summer. Stop cutting grass to within an inch of its life in reserves and put away the chemicals. There are better ways.
Jess Lombardo Little BayDear readers - I am writing to share my deep concern about the recent occurrences of very dangerous driving in the Coogee and Maroubra area. In the past four weeks alone, while out running in the late afternoon I have witnessed two car crashesone at the roundabout at Oberon and Arden Streets, and another at the junction between Malabar Road and Fitzgerald Avenue. Both incidents appeared to be the result of excessive speed and a lack of concentration from at least one driver.
Having lived in the Eastern Suburbs for the past five years, I have noticed a worrying trend of drivers speeding through
populated suburban streets, often disregarding safety measures like roundabouts designed to control and slow traffic and prevent accidents. It is essential that we all realise our responsibility on the road - no one’s destination is more critical than the safety of others, whether it’s fellow drivers, pedestrians crossing the street or cyclists using tokenistic bike lanes.
I urge everyone to prioritise safety over urgency. Taking a few extra minutes to reach your destination could save lives and prevent needless accidents. If, unfortunately, an accident does occur, please remember to immediately activate your hazard lights to warn other drivers (so that I don’t have to tell you to).
Let us work together to create a safer environment for all road users. Slow down, pay attention and make our community a model for responsible driving. Stay safe and vigilant on the roads.
Sincerely,
Sam Cornell UNSW
Hi James - Whoever thought of a ‘pocket park’ must be totally unaware of the traffic build-up that will occur on the corner of Clovelly and Carrington Roads. And, who in their right mind wants their kids to play in a small park with all the fumes from traffic, especially bus fumes?
There are plenty of parks for kids to play in. What is more important is keeping the traffic flowing. There will be long lines of traffic waiting to turn left, and there will only be two lanes - one for turning left and one for turning right. Those going straight will be stuck behind all the cars turning off. Council just don’t have a clue.
Lyn M Clovelly ¢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.
Local artist Victoria Owens is the talent behind this month’s cover painting of the Lifeguard tower at Bondi. She shares her local favourites with The Beast
How long have you lived here? 68 years and counting. I came here from Glebe when I was 3, but my ancestors lived in the Eastern Suburbs from 1841. They had a dairy at Bronte Beach from the 1880s and I have a photo of my dad on Bondi Beach in 1928, so it’s in my genetic memory. I say this with apology to the traditional custodians, whose presence I felt here from a young age: I took home chunks of sandstone from the cliffs and copied traditional art onto them - a very ignorant appropriation.
What's your favourite beach?
It was Belongil Beach at Byron where I’ve disappeared into the sunset on many a long walk.
What's your favourite eatery?
The Spruce Goose food van in Centennial Park. I get a New York hot dog with the ducks.
Where do you like to have a drink? I had my first drink at the Royal Oak in Double Bay. I was not quite 18, so a crème de menthe was brought out to the car
by a private school chap - very sophisticated. After that I drank at the Cask Wine Bar on Bondi Road. The last time I had a drink was at the Sheaf.
Best thing about the Eastern Suburbs? The proximity to water and, until recent years, the slower pace of urban development and preservation of sky views and green spaces.
Worst thing about the Eastern Suburbs? High-rise residential development without any thought as to the traffic gridlock that the increased population causes in relation to the area’s primary intersections.
How would you describe your art? Acrylics inspired mainly by tribal art, the work of a hobbyist and dilettante (one who cultivated an interest in art without any real commitment or knowledge).
Where can people see your work? Apart from on this cover of The Beast, I was twice a finalist in the Waverley Art Prize, so maybe on their website.
Who are your artistic inspirations? Magritte was my first, followed by Frieda Kahlo, then Geoffrey Smart, Brett Whitely and Wendy Sharpe.
What are you working on at the moment? I just finished a memoir with twenty co-writers about living in a creative share house in Woollahra in the ‘70s. I was the facilitating editor.
When did you discover you had a gift for your craft? When I won the Woolworths Bondi Junction Draw Your Dad Competition - I was 11 years old.
Did you study art? In the time before we had a TV, my mum subscribed to the Brodie Mack Correspondence Art School. A thick brown envelope of lessons would arrive every month and I’d spend hours doing per-
spective and shading exercises instead of watching Annie Oakley and I Love Lucy. So, ‘home tutored by a floral artist (mum)’ would be my response.
Any words of wisdom for young aspiring artists? Just do it. Anyone can create art; it’s a basic human skill that sets you apart from other apes - although some apes, like Koko, have been known to paint when given the right tools.
Who is your favourite person? I admire Marcia Langton. Generally speaking, Homo sapiens have a lot more evolving to do in terms of emotional intelligence and selfless concern for the greater good. My favourite people are creatives like Baz Lurhmann and Catherine Martin, and any doctor or dentist who is genuinely committed.
What do you get up to on the weekends? I’m retired, so every day is a weekend. I try and stay away from crowds, other than shopping at Birkenhead Point for jeans and runners.
What do you do for work? I worked in arts administration as a career. These days I write history stemming from ancestry research and dump it on unsuspecting local libraries. I paint, but only when the muse descends. I love being engrossed in the process of creation.
Do you have a favourite quote? “The highest purpose is to have no purpose at all. This puts one in accordance with nature and her manner of operation.” - John Cage.
Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast? Life can feel like you’re going to hell in a handbag when too many people take their stress out on you or treat you as nothing but a cash-dispensing consumer. Create your own realm of creativity with a high fence.
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Randwick City Council is out to catch and prosecute a tree poisoner who has been trying to kill off magnificent old Moreton Bay Figs in a residential street.
Householders in Centennial Avenue, Randwick, say the poisoner has been seen at work in the dead of night. In recent weeks one particular tree has been repeatedly targeted, with hundreds of holes drilled into the lower trunk and above-ground sections of the roots. Herbicide is then applied before the tree killer melts away into the darkness.
An officer from Randwick Council has stenciled ‘POISONED’ on the footpath and the tree, which remains healthy-looking despite the toxic onslaught, at least for the time being. But across the road, another Moreton Bay Fig (pictured above) has not fared so well - it is devoid of leaves.
Randwick Council says four trees in Centennial Avenue were targeted in August 2022, when officers found approximately 40 drill holes in four separate fig trees. The holes were flushed out and residents
received letters from Council requesting information or video evidence which could led to a prosecution. Now the poisoner is back to their old tricks.
The street is a quiet cul-desac near the edge of Centennial Parklands and the lower end is lined with half a dozen fig trees that were planted almost a century ago. They tower above the houses, forming a leafy canopy, while at ground level, mighty roots spread out like the tentacles of a giant octopus. And that could be what is motivating the tree poisoner.
Most cases of tree poisoning around the Eastern Suburbs and other parts of Sydney are carried out by people who want to preserve or enhance the views from their homes. But the Centennial Avenue Poisoner is thought to have a different motivation. The roots of Moreton Bay Figs often damage building foundations and underground piping. Residents in the street believe the offender is a house owner concerned about future maintenance bills and renovation challenges.
Standing beside the tree that is currently under attack, Centennial Avenue resident Peter Berckelman told The Beast, “These are beautiful trees and they’ve been here longer than we have. It’s terrible to think that someone is doing this because the roots have gone under their property or for other selfish reasons.”
Another resident, who did not want to be identified, told of how one night recently he heard the whirring of a drill in the street.
“When I opened the door to investigate, I saw a guy dressed all in black leaning over the tree. When he saw me, he stopped drilling and jogged away round the corner. I couldn’t see his face because he was wearing a hoodie.”
Despite being disturbed that night, the poisoner has since been back. On the morning of Thursday, July 20, there were fresh holes and a scattering of sawdust attesting to a brazen return visit by the environmental vandal.
Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker told The Beast, “It is very concerning to learn that somebody is attempting to poison fig trees along Centennial Avenue in Randwick again. These trees are close to 100 years old and contribute significantly to the streetscape and offer a range of environmental benefits.”
“Following this recent new poisoning attempt, Council will again write to residents seeking information and continue with our ongoing investigations to find the culprit.”
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Island benchtop by Concreative. Brett Boardman Photography.It’s not the Parthenon, but a 77-year-old toilet building in North Bondi is seen as having enough heritage value to be retained when Waverley Council embarks on a multi-million dollar makeover of the area.
The toilets are accessed with a key by drivers of the buses that begin and end their journeys at the North Bondi bus terminus. Originally the facilities were designed for drivers and conductors of the trams that used to rattle up and down Campbell Parade. The building went up in 1946 when part of the hillside was excavated to create a level tram terminus. Then, in 1960, the trams stopped and were replaced by bus services. The tram cutting was filled in and regraded to create a bus terminus.
Now Waverley Council is floating the idea of shifting the bus terminus further up the hill to Military Road, south of Blair Street, as part of an upgrade of the North Bondi shopping strip
area. A report tabled at a recent meeting of the Strategic Planning and Development Committee stated, “This relocation provides greater space within the Campbell Parade streetscape to utilise as footpath, park and general public space.”
Council told The Beast that the upgrade ideas being looked at were first canvassed several years ago, but not proceeded with at the time, and that it will now develop what it describes as “updated versions of the early concepts,” but only after extensive consultations with community representatives and other stakeholders.
Creation of the new terminus up the hill would involve resuming a roadside slice of Williams Park and building a new roundabout at the Military Road intersection with Blair Street to facilitate bus turnarounds.
While the bus terminus would move from its present site under this scenario, the
toilet block, euphemistically referred to by Council as the ‘tram shed’, would remain. However, it would be used for other purposes. In a concept development document released by Council, a firm of landscape architects retained to identify upgrade options for the area recommends “adaptive re-use of the heritage tram shed.”
This is welcome news to local historian Peter Kahn, an expert on the history of the Bondi and Bronte trams.
“The building has heritage value and should be preserved - it’s an important link with the history of the Sydney Tramways,” explained Mr Kahn, a Clovelly resident and Public Relations Officer at the Sydney Tramway Museum.
Meanwhile, the bus drivers who find the building a very welcome comfort stop, especially when they’ve just driven a 333 all the way from Circular Quay during rush hour, are hoping their needs will be taken into account if the terminus ends up being shifted.
“We’d be very upset if a new terminus is built without staff toilets,” bus driver Garry told The Beast.
Relocating the terminus to create a leafy pedestrian haven is one of two broad options being canvassed by Waverley Council for the North Bondi makeover. It has released details of an alternative, much less expensive option where the terminus is retained. Both options involve upgrading the shopping strip with wider footpaths, vegetation and pedestrian seating.
Council hopes to reach a consensus on parking, landscaping and other core issues after extensive consultations with community stakeholders.
“No decisions have been made whatsoever about design elements,” a spokesperson said.
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Hollywood, Shmollywoodmove over baby, we’ve got BONDIWOOD! Bondi is still the entertainment capital of Australia, so it makes perfect sense to us.
Despite all the gentrification over the last couple of decades, there are still more actors, writers, directors and musicians in Bondi than you can poke a stick at. Bondi is still the creative heart of Australia’s film and television industry, with more feature films and hit TV shows coming from the residents of this beautiful little bay than anywhere else in the country. From global film festivals like Cannes and Sundance, to smash hit television productions seen all over the planet, the wonderful creatives in our little corner of the world have elevated us to the level of Renaissance Florence and Paris in the 1920s.
‘Hyperbole’, you ask?
‘Showbiz’, says local filmmaker and Festival Director Haydn Keenan, who’s stepped up and launched our very own film festival, BONDIWOOD.
“We’ve decided to showcase this treasure trove of talent,” Mr Keenan told The Beast
“Come early October, we’re going to take over the newly renovated Bondi Pavilion to
celebrate the creative spirit of this place.”
BONDIWOOD is a four-day festival of films by localsfeature films, documentaries, shorts, surf films, music videos and kids movies. There will be something for everyone.
Mr Keenan told The Beast he’s been overwhelmed by ‘film people’ willing to put something back into their own community.
“This is just for us locals to celebrate the history and fun that has always been Bondi,” he said.
“Every film will have the creatives behind it doing a Q&A, and we’ll be running a number of panels, with actors giving young people dos and don’ts of the business, producers explaining how to get your film idea going, and historians talking about the incredible legacy of creativity in our area.”
There will also be heaps of door prizes, awards and meat trays to be won.
“No highbrow stuff for us; this is Scum Valley and that’s how we love it!”
With the generous help of Waverley Council and the awesome people of the bay, BONDIWOOD will run from October 5-8. For more information, visit smartstreetfilms.com.au.
The ‘Float to Survive’ campaign, run by Waverley and Randwick Councils on our local beaches last season, has been deemed a success.
Beach signage, outdoor advertising and other promotions complemented the traditional beach safety message of swimming between the flags. Rock fishers were also targeted. An evaluation of the program by the University of New South Wales Beach Safety Group has just been published by Waverley Council. Nine out of ten people surveyed said they liked the message and found it easy to understand.
The UNSW team has suggested a number of refinements.
“Float to Survive could be improved by incorporating additional text and information relating to what a person should do after floating, such as signalling for help, and why floating would result in a positive outcome,” their report stated.
Waverley Council wants to continue the campaign and is in discussions with Randwick Council about the possibility of relaunching it this coming spring and summer.
Floating can save your life.
A growing number of Clovelly locals are concerned for the survival of the area’s eastern blue groper population after a number of larger fish were reportedly taken by fishermen off the rocks just outside of the special groper protection zone at Shark Point.
Regular swimmers at Clovelly Bay have noticed a decline in the numbers of groper in the area since COVID lockdowns lifted, particulary over the past month. Sightings increased during lockdown, possibly due to reduced fishing in the area, but this trend has seemingly ceased.
The blue and brown groper of Clovelly are in fact the same species, but the brown fish turn blue and become male if there is a shortage in the population.
“I swim in Clovelly Bay nearly every day and I haven’t seen a big blue groper for weeks,” one local swimmer, who asked not to be named, told The Beast.
“I used to see at least one or two every morning, so there’s definitely something going on.”
Another regular swimmer, Chris, shared a similar story, explaining that, “The numbers of mature blue groper seem to be in decline, especially since winter.”
We spoke to numerous people for this article and everyone shared a similar story. One local fisherman, Justin, told
The Beast, “I’ve noticed a lot of fishermen targeting groper over the last few months. It didn’t seem to happen so much before, but word has gotten around that there are plenty of them here and the opportunistic fisho’s have followed.”
“They target groper using live crabs and heavy gear, so despite their reputation for putting up a decent fight, even an adult male wouldn’t stand a chance against 100lb line on an 18,000 sized reel and a 12-24kg rod,” he said.
Another local resident, James, who regularly fishes from Shark Point had seen multiple juvenile groper being taken from the rocks, as well as a photo of a mature male that had been caught from the same spot. He told The Beast that he had noticed fishermen targeting the species using crabs and believes the local population is under pressure.
“One Saturday morning in mid-July I was fishing here [Shark Point] and saw one guy had captured a small brown groper, which was floating in the rock pool. It had been caught just outside of the special zone, so he was within his legal rights to keep it,” James explained.
“I asked him if he caught them often, and he showed me a photo of the biggest blue groper I’d ever seen, caught off the back
of Clovelly two weeks earlier. I asked the bloke if he let him go, but he said he took it home and ate it. If they don’t do something about it soon there’ll be none left because they’re so easy to catch.”
So, it seems that ‘Bluey’ has been caught, killed and eaten, by someone who came here to do exactly that.
It is currently illegal to spear eastern blue groper in NSW, and even stricter rules apply to spearfishing and collecting within the Bronte to Coogee Aquatic Reserve, which extends from the southern end of Bronte Beach to the baths at Coogee Beach and out to 100 metres offshore - an area of approximately 40 hectares including 4,000 metres of coastline.
Line fishing and spearfishing are permitted inside this area, however an additional zone exists within the reserve (basically Clovelly and Gordons Bay) where it is illegal to spearfish at all or to line fish for groper. So, although groper are protected inside the bays, they can be taken by line just outside of the area, which seems ridiculous.
The Beast would like to see the special protection zone expanded to include the entire Bronte to Coogee Aquatic Reserve, and Randwick Council has been supportive.
“The blue groper is a fish synonymous with the Clovelly and Gordons Bay area, and I am concerned to hear anecdotal reports of a decline in numbers,” Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker told The Beast.
“Snorkelling with ‘Bluey’ is one of the iconic Sydney coastal activities and I’m supportive of measures to protect and preserve this valuable species. I have written to the NSW Minister for Agriculture, who is responsible for the Department of Primary Industries that administers the Bronte to Coogee Aquatic Reserve, asking them to investigate this issue as a priority.”
We will keep you posted on our progress. In the meantime, please report suspect fishing activity to your nearest Fisheries Office or use the Fishers Watch Phoneline, 1800 043 536.
Would you like to get fit, have fun and contribute to something bloody good? Well, the Premmie Marathon Challenge could be right up your alley. Held each November by Running for Premature Babies to coincide with Prematurity Awareness Month, the challenge invites participants to choose their own distance of either 21km, 42km, 100km, 200km or 300km to complete throughout the month. It’s then up to each person to choose how they clock up their kilometres.
The challenge is free to join and fundraising is optional. However, anyone who raises (or donates) $75 will receive a very cool medal and create some bling-envy among their mates. Participants can register as an individual or a team, so there’s plenty of opportunity for healthy competition between colleagues, friends and family.
Since the charity’s inception 16 years ago, over $6 million has been raised, enabling it to provide over 120 pieces of life-saving equipment to hospitals around Australia and directly benefitting approximately 9,000 babies. One of these babies is Nix McWilliam, who was born on World
Prematurity Day, November 17, 2017. Little Nix spent his first six weeks using equipment donated by Running for Premature Babies at the Royal Hospital for Women. Now his dad, Stu, takes on the Premmie Marathon Challenge each year with extra gusto, knowing that without this charity his son might not be here today. This year he is stepping his Premmie Marathon Challenge up a notch, aiming to run on a treadmill in Westfield Bondi Junction for 24 hours straight from midday on Saturday, November 4 until midday Sunday, November 5.
The charity’s founder, Coogee woman Sophie Smith, lost her own prematurely born triplets back in 2006.
“Whether or not you’ve been personally touched by prematurity, please join the Premmie Marathon Challenge so we can ensure babies born prematurely in Australia have the very best start to their lives possible,” she said.
“You’ll get fit, have fun and, most importantly, you’ll feel amazing knowing you’ve given premature babies a better chance of survival.”
For more information and to register to compete, please visit premmiemarathonchallenge.com.
Since 1788, Australia has lost 39 mammal species alone. All of these unique animals have gone the way of that most famous of tragically extinct creatures, the dodo. It’s an appalling record, unmatched anywhere on Earth in the last 200 years. Sadly, this sobering wave of extinctions is far from over.
Nature needs us, now. The Australian Conservation Foundation is inviting kids around Australia to enter Wild at Art, a creative competition seeking to raise awareness of the threats facing our unique wildlife while at the same time providing an engaging way for kids to unleash their artistic creativity.
Australian Conservation Foundation Eastern Sydney is encouraging the kids of the Eastern Beaches to draw or paint the southern right whale, a threatened species that can be seen right here along the coastline of our neighbourhood.
Submissions will be accepted until September 7, and an exhibition featuring local entries will be held at the Bondi Pavilion from November 4-5.
So, what are you waiting for? Pick up your pencils, paints and crayons and start making your canvas sing! For more information, please visit acf.org.au.
Back in the early 2000s, two Eastern Suburbs mothers with children at the same primary school found they had some things in common. Both were teachers interested in building on their education careers to start a business.
Chatting at the edge of the playground, Anne-Maree Keogh and Tanya Brabrook started hatching a model for a business that would specialise in children’s toys and books that were fun, educational and environmentally-friendly. After some brainstorming, they came up with the name Laugh and Learn.
The entrepreneurial pair started the business in 2002 and initially it operated without a bricks and mortar shop.
“We based it on a party plan model,” Tanya explained to The Beast.
“We would load up our cars and have toy demonstrations at people’s homes, but then it got a bit hectic and we decided we needed retail premises to operate on a daily basis.”
In 2003, they opened the Laugh and Learn shop at Randwick Junction. In fact, it’s more than a shop. The business takes up three floors, with a preschool music and movement program (Ukubebe) and singing lessons for all ages (Unlock Your Voice) operating out of the lower level, while the floor above the shop is given over to a phonics program called Letterland, which teaches early reading skills to children the
year before they start school. There is also a specialised teacher who tutors primary school children in numeracy and literacy.
As anyone who has ever been to the Avoca Street shop will know, the offerings on its shelves are vastly different to what you find in the toy sections at the shopping centre retail giants. There’s an emphasis on European brands such as Djeco, Maileg, Corolle, Playmobil, Grimms and Janod. These are the kind of toys that get adults playing together with their children.
“We love quality brands that can be passed down to the next child or even the next generation,” Anne-Maree told The Beast.
“The focus is on imaginative, open-ended play and toys with a purpose.”
Books are a huge part of what Laugh and Learn offers, and there are books for all ages, from babies right up to young adults.
Meanwhile, the business has become deeply involved in local community endeavours, such as playing Santa to sick kids at the Sydney Children’s Hospital each Christmas through the Forever Johnno charity.
“Small business helps a community thrive, and we are truly grateful to our local community for supporting us over the years” said Tanya.
“We also wouldn’t be able to do what we do without our wonderful staff - we are so lucky.”
Readers of The Beast are invited to join Laugh and Learn’s 21st birthday festivities on Saturday, September 2 in the shop at 207 Avoca Street, Randwick. The event will run throughout the day, with face painting, entertainment, giveaways and of course plenty of cake. Please come and celebrate!
Expert Eastern Suburbs property manager
Jillian Wills has just joined the team at Wills Property, a boutique real estate agency based in Bondi Junction. Jillian has managed countless properties in the Eastern Suburbs over a 30-year career, formerly at Wills Brothers.
"Once you've lived in the East you tend to stay in the East. It has everything you need and the locals are great to work with. It's a pleasure to continue doing the job I enjoy, in the area I call home, with family again!"
The Wills family have been working in property, offering personal client-based service in the Eastern Suburbs since 1934.
PHONE 02 9387 1700
EMAIL jillian@willsproperty.com.au
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Jillian
The upgrade of Bondi Junction’s Boot Factory building and Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club is now back on track with the signing of a new construction company, Schiavello Constructions. Work on both projects ceased in March 2023 when head contractor Lloyd Group went into voluntary administration. The Schiavello team began work on the sites on July 3, commencing detailed clean-ups and site audits. Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos said that Council is not only committed to ensuring the upgrades are completed but also excited that the facilities can soon be enjoyed by the community.
Blake Thornton, Brenda Miley, Lisa McGuigan and Australian surfing icon Layne Beachley were inducted into the Australian Surfing Walk of Fame at Randwick City Council’s annual Beach Breaks event on July 23. The new inductees will be recognised with bronze plaques along the Maroubra Beach promenade as part of an annual tradition honouring well known surfers and lifesavers dating back to 2006.
The Beast would like to congratulate Bondi Junction’s Graeme Bogan on winning the major event in tenpin bowling last month, claiming victory in the scratch with handicap in the NSW Maccabi President’s Cup. Graeme set the tone with scores of 201 and 215 in his first two games, wrapping up the final week with a winning 705. Well done, Graeme!
Being an international actress was Randwick author Amanda Lieber’s favourite career, alongside English and drama teacher, fairy (with lots of sparkles), very bad coffee maker and early childcare teacher. Now, Amanda is hoping that writing stories for children will be her new favourite. Her debut picture book, My Giant Sea Shell, deals with a serious theme in a gentle way for children and carers to understand. It opens the topic of discussion through exquisite illustrations by Kathy Creamer. Published by Little Pink Dog Books, you can grab a copy from littlepinkdogbooks.com.
North Bondi resident Donna Randall is starring in the true-crime theatre show, Razor Gang Wars, which is being staged in a 200-year-old crypt beneath St James Church from August 31 to September 16. Razor Gang Wars is set during the late 1920s when crime queens Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh ruled the underworld. The audience will be guided through the eerie rooms and tunnels to witness the story come to life around them. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit deadhouse.com.au.
Max Doughies at Maroubra
Randwick Council has once again put its support behind the 2023 Maroubra Charity Car Show to be held at Maroubra Beach on Sunday, September 17. The show will feature more than 100 vintage and hot rod cars and will raise funds for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation. The event was last held in 2019.
The one-day whale census conducted by ‘citizen scientists’ at seventy New South Wales coastal locations including Bondi has reported record numbers of the cetaceans migrating north.
Conducted by the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA), the census reported sightings of 5,092 whales, predominantly humpbacks - an increase of 1,847 over last year. This year, there were more observers than ever perched on rocky headlands along the coast for the one-day census, counting blows and breaches using an ORRCA app.
Macquarie University marine scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta says that as well as the flotilla of humpbacks, other less commonly sighted marine mammals such as Southern Right Whales and False Killer Wales have been spotted occasionally this whale season.
“Just yesterday a Southern Right was seen off Bondi,” Dr Pirotta told The Beast. She says Southern Right Wales are “generally a bit tricker to spot, and they are large, dark in colour and don’t have a dorsal fin”.
It's been a good year for whales.
Three men have been charged over the theft of an expensive 12-week-old French Bulldog from a pet store at Eastgardens.
The shop released video footage of a group of men in the store interacting with the pup, called Frenchie. One of them is seen snatching Frenchie - reportedly on sale for $6,995 - and dashing out of the store.
Then the crime took an intriguing twist. Two days after Frenchie was dognapped, police arrested a man for the offence in the NSW/Victorian border town of Albury - almost 500 kilometres away! The 31-yearold was charged with shoplifting. Then, a further two weeks down the track, another two men, aged 23 and 21, were nabbed in Albury and also charged with stealing Frenchie.
The pup was found at an Albury address and the shop owner went south to collect him. Now he’s with a new owner in Sydney.
Latest NSW statistics for cocaine use and possession have highlighted the large numbers of people being prosecuted in the Eastern Suburbs.
Figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) compare the rates
of what it classifies as “persons proceeded with” over cocaine use and possession in different Local Government Areas around the state.
Coming in at first place between April 2022 and March 2023 was Sydney City, with a rate of 366 per 100,000 people. Waverley LGA came second, at 265 per 100,000 people. In third place was Woollahra (146), with Randwick placed fourth at 117.
According to a BOCSAR spokesperson, these four LGAs “account for 46 per cent of the total number of incidents of use/ possess cocaine in NSW in the twelve months to March 2023.”
There has been a dramatic turnaround in domestic violence allegations involving boxer Harry Garside and his Eastern Suburbs ex-girlfriend Ashley Ruscoe.
Originally the 25-year-old Olympic medallist was charged with assaulting his ex at her Bellevue Hill unit when he went there to collect belongings in March. Two months later, he was arrested at Sydney Airport after stepping off a flight following a stint in South Africa appearing on Network Ten’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
But on June 7, when he appeared in Downing Centre Local Court, the charge was dropped after his defence team cited video said to show that Ruscoe was the alleged aggressor. And on July 12, Ruscoe, a 35-year-old personal trainer and wellness coach, was arrested at her home.
She was taken to Waverley Police Station and charged with assault and stalking. Then it was her turn to face court, where defence counsel Brian Wrench entered a not guilty plea. The case will be heard soon.
A man was stabbed in the back and a woman had part of a finger cut off when an argument in a
South Maroubra unit turned ugly.
Eastern Beaches Police are hunting the man they say was responsible, dumping a knife in the rear of the premises before fleeing over the fence. He is said to have stabbed the other man, aged 31, in a bedroom of the unit.
When the 63-year-old woman intervened, she suffered a serious hand injury. Police say part of a finger on her right hand was amputated. The two were rushed to hospital and both were reported to be in a stable condition.
Bondi financial planner Hilton Woolf has pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening to destroy, damage or endanger the safety of a Commonwealth aerodrome.
Downing Centre Local Court was told the 65-year-old’s wife had been on the phone to an airline call centre when Woolf was heard in the background making threats against Sydney Airport. Details of the threats were not revealed in court. But they were so concerning that the call centre reported them to Australian Federal Police. Sentencing was deferred pending reports.
Police have issued an arrest warrant for Jason Carroll, aged 54, over alleged domestic violence offences. He is known to frequent the Maroubra, South Coogee and Bondi areas. If you have any information about his whereabouts, phone CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
Subject Bedazzled Location Coogee Photographer Brad Smith
Subject Circle Work Location Coogee
Photographer Yajun Wang
Subject Electrified Location Bondi
Photographer Richard Maleszka
Subject Twilight Crew Location Bronte
Photographer Neil Grace
Subject Pigeon Porn Location Bondi Junction
Photographer Graeme Bogan
Subject Paperbark Pose Location Coogee
Photographer Brody Vancers
Subject All-nighter Location Maroubra
Photographer Theresia Hall @theresia.g.hall
Subject Bin Chickens Location Bronte
Photographer Alan Henderson
Subject Reflection Location Bondi
Photographer Michael Marren
Subject Night Stripes Location Coogee
Photographer Deborah Corbett
Loyal subjects of the East have vowed to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games after the treasonous Victorians failed to show two ancient British institutions the respect they deserve.
The sporting homage to the Empire will begin with a Welcome to Country at La Perouse. The fashionably late French delegation will arrive just in time to watch the English representatives endure the smoking ceremony with colonial contempt, before the final leg of the baton relay travels from Kingsford to the Sydney Football Stadium. Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has been appropriated for the baton relay to ensure an audience.
A $3.5 billion opening ceremony will feature cringeworthy performances by Her Excellence Mrs Linda Hurley, and the extravaganza launches the following unmissable sporting contests to be held throughout the region...
• Marathoners will run the City2Surf in the elite group, the B group and then the back of
the pack club. In order to level the playing field, and to honour Prince Phillip (RIP), African runners will be forced to wear Havaianas.
• Athletes will run, jump and throw at Queens Park, once the Waverley boys have been dispersed, and loud speakers will broadcast the late Doug Ricketson yelling, “…this one’s for the money.”
• Divers will hurl themselves off the square at Clovelly Beach, or the rocks between Bronte and Tama after pushing the grommets out of the way, while synchronised swimmers will return to their birthplace of Bronte Pool. Swimmers will race at Cloey and will be disqualified unless they can return to the concrete using only the swell.
• Cyclists will force a car-free fortnight in Centennial Park and social media pages will prove a correlation between cycling haters and monarchists.
• Netballers will fight for gold at the Heffron Centre, once the Rabbitohs have finished their training sessions, and barefoot
bowls at Clovelly will attract the likes of Greg Norman and his fans, after which the friendly local club will be converted into an oil-funded monstrosity.
Athletes will be housed in the Duke of Gloucester, or any hotel with a royal moniker, while team officials can erect a cabana on one of our beautiful beaches.
Our own plastic-wrapped Murdoch mouthpiece can spend 14 days lambasting Dictator Dan, while running gushing wall-to-wall tributes to both anachronistic British institutions.
A $3.5 billion closing ceremony will feature artists who refused to perform at Charlie’s coronation, as well as a rousing rendition of Royals by Kiwi vocalist Lorde. It will finish at 9pm in order to disperse the crowds and ensure the SFS neighbours can enjoy a good night’s sleep.
We of the East will thus have saved these two ailing institutions and will have seen off those nasty republicans for good.
Australia’s biggest professional kite flying festival returns to Bondi Beach and Park on Sunday 10 September from 11am to 4pm with kite flying, kite-making and cultural food and entertainment from around the world. Bring your own kite or create your own sky-high creation at one of our workshops, enjoy community stalls, delicious food offerings and all-day entertainment on the main stage. Festival of the Winds is proudly hosted by Waverley Council in partnership wit h the Australian Kite Flyers Association and has a strong focus on sustainability. Special event clearways will be in place, so leave the car at home or visit livetraffic com to plan your trip.
Waverley Council is continuing its education campaign about the upcoming historic Voice to Parliament referendum. How
you vote is up to you, but Council is proud to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the ‘Yes’ case for the referendum through a community education strategy If the referendum is successful, there will be a consultation process with Aboriginal and Torress Strait Islander communit ies and the broader public to design the Voice The Voice won’t exist until legislation is enacted, and it is the Parliament that decides if it becomes law. Once Parliament approves the legislation to establish the Voice, the legislation comes into effect and the work to set up the Voice begins Visit voice.gov.au for more information
Waverley Council has unveiled Bondi Pavilion The atre’s first spring season under Artistic Director, Chris Bendall. The impressive lineup features more than 10 exciting productions, including Coil (7-8 September); Jude Perl is So Fresh (15 September), Ursula Yovich (22 September) and Children are Stinky (23 September). Our beautifully restored Bondi Pavilion Theatre is the new home of live performance in the east with something new to
Ph: 9083 8000 | waverley.nsw.gov.au
Stay in touch: waverley.nsw.gov.au/subscribe
discover each month across a range of genres. Details: bondipavilion.com.au/whats on.
I am delighted to announce that Waverley Council is establishing its first ever Council of Women to advise the Mayor on matters that are important to women in our local government area, including but not limited to girls’ empowerment, local leadership, sex discrimination and family and domestic violence Subject to further consultation, this Council, to be made up of 20 female members, will identify issues of re levance to women in Waverley and meet twice yearly to discuss our progress
Enjoy a cuppa and a chat with our amazing volunteers, community contributors and organisations at the Waverley Volunteer Expo on Saturday 16 September at Bondi Pavilion's Garu Courtyard from .11.30am to 2pm. Learn how volunteering can help grow friendships and improve your professional skills and job readiness.
Paula Masselos Mayor of Waverley
The Unreliable Guide recently had an age crisis. Having reached a significant milestone birthday, I decided to stop dying my hair and let it go grey. This felt like a mature, wise, sensible decision. I’ve seen people with grey hair who look fantastic - stylish and sophisticated. I assumed I’d be the same, but after six months of trying I looked like a scarecrow coming down after a festival weekend. I looked so bad that even casual acquaintances felt compelled to give me hair advice. I took to wearing hats and avoiding eye contact.
Finally, after a close friend told me my hair made me look like a mad professor, I put myself in the hands of a professional hairdresser. Once she’d recovered from the shock of seeing what I was hiding under my beanie, she took me in hand. When I walked out of that salon I felt reborn. But why does hair matter so much? And why do we have such strong
opinions about going grey? If these questions have bothered you too, never fear, The Unreliable Guide is here with some tricks and tips to navigating fifty shades of grey.
Most men don’t mind being grey because it culturally signifies wealth, status and wisdom. George Clooney’s career really took off when he went silver, but few women feel like they have the same freedom. For many women, going grey makes them feel socially marginalised. US presidential wannabe, Hillary Clinton, is well aware of this. At a Yale University address she advised students, “Your hair will send significant messages to those around you… Pay attention to your hair, because everyone else will.”
She wasn’t wrong. I’m not a celebrity, but people still felt compelled to tell me how shite I looked. When UK celebrity stylist Nicky Clarke saw a few
strands of grey on the head of Kate, now Princess of Wales, he held up his hands in horror, declaring, “Kate is such a style icon that even a few strands of grey would be a disaster.” No pressure then, ladies.
Part of the problem is that we’re all living longer. The average lifespan in the 1800s was about 40. That doesn’t give you long to worry about going grey. But now, with many people living well into their 90s and beyond, 40 isn’t even half way to the finish line. That’s a long time to feel old.
Professor Nichola Rumsey, co-director of the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England, believes there is a “tremendous pressure to cover the grey and you need to have huge self-confidence to stand up to that.” Similarly, celebrity hair colourist Jo Hansford believes, “People perceive you and speak to you in a different way when you’re grey. I meet women who say their (naturally) grey hair meant they were spoken to as if they were old, and deaf, and an imbecile.”
Personally, I don’t need any more people thinking that about me. But not all cultures think like this. In many parts of the world (notably those who still suffer from low life expectancy) signs of old age are highly respected. White-haired artist Yasmina Rossi notes that, “When I travel around Africa, or Arabic countries, white hair is a sign of wisdom.” Perhaps we should hold our culture - not our hair - up to a mirror.
Finally, The Unreliable Guide suggests we all do whatever makes us feel good and be grateful we have the luxury of living long enough to dye another day.
The latest from Randwick City Council about living in this great city
It’s time to spring into action and join in on all of the awesome eco-activities on offer this September!
The hero event will be Eco Living on Sunday 10 September at the Randwick Sustainability Hub. There will be free hands-on workshops and speaker series, featuring Craig Reucassel from ABC’s War on Waste. Check out Council’s website for registration details.
We’ll also be offering some awesome eco prizes, including an e-bike, an eco-getaway for two, a fresh produce box subscription and more! You have to be in it to win it – so I look forward to seeing the lucky winners take home their prizes on the day. Everyone is encouraged to walk, ride, catch public transport or make use of our free shuttle bus services to attend our signature sustainability event. There is no parking onsite this year.
Celebrate National Biodiversity Month with us and take part in our Plant With Us event on Friday 1 September. Get your hands dirty at Maroubra’s Heffron Park and make our City a little greener! We had an awesome time at our July event, with over 100 people coming along to plant 800 native plants.
Another way you can get more involved with sustainability is to become a bushcare volunteer! Join one of our bushcare groups and take part in our wonderful bush regeneration program. We have numerous dates and locations on offer each week in September, including Gordons Bay, Randwick Environment Park, Malabar Wetland and more! Find out more on Council’s website.
Lastly, the spring edition of SCENE is out now! It’s blooming with good news so I hope you all take the time to give it a read. Look out for it in your mailbox.
FRIDAY 1 SEPTEMBER
PLANT WITH US
8.30am-10.30am
11am-1pm
Heffron Park, Maroubra
SATURDAY 2 SEPTEMBER
LET’S CHAT: MEET YOUR LOCAL COUNCILLOR
10am-12pm
Two locations:
1. Cnr Clovelly Rd and Mount St, Randwick
2. Randwick Community Centre
WEDNESDAY 6 SEPTEMBER
POP-UP COMMUNITY SUPPORT HUB
11am-1pm
Lionel Bowen Library
FRIDAY 8 SEPTEMBER TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT
1-3pm
Lionel Bowen Library
FRIDAY 15 SEPTEMBER
PERMABEE COMMUNITY GARDENING PROGRAM
9am-12.30pm
Randwick Sustainability Hub
THURSDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
STORYTOWN (3-5Y)
10.30am-11am
Malabar Community Library
1300 722 542 randwick.nsw.gov.au
Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker Councillor Dylan Parker Mayor of RandwickIt’s hard to imagine that, in a world of over eight billion people, anyone can feel lonely. However, it appears that we are currently in the midst of a loneliness epidemic. According to a 2021 survey, about 50 per cent of adults reported having fewer than three friends. Compare this to the same survey done in 1990 and those with three or less friends was only around 27 per cent. Even more alarming is the drop in time spent face-to-face with friends amongst adolescents and young adults, which has fallen a whopping 70 per cent from just twenty years ago.
But what does this ‘loneliness epidemic’ actually mean?
In a basic sense, loneliness is a feeling of being isolated, that you’re not able to connect to another person, people or indeed the community. We know that loneliness leads to poorer health outcomes and diminished life expectancy, and it’s linked to a decrease in mental well-being and associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, stress, low self-esteem and sleep problems. From a physical standpoint, there is some suggestion that it’s also linked to heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Like many mental health concerns, loneliness can
work in a bit of a loop - ‘my mental health has made me lonely, feeling lonely has damaged my mental health...’ - and can have a cyclonic effect, ramping up as one feeds the other.
I need to stress that loneliness is a feeling, which doesn’t make it a fact. It’s a hard call, but in no way does this suggest feeling lonely is not a valid emotion. The idea that feelings are not facts can be hard to break down, but it is a common theme with what may affect our mood. As a basic example, if you are feeling hot from sitting in the sun it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a hot day, or if someone is angry at you it doesn’t always mean you are a bad person. In real terms, we process an event by thinking about it, which in turn affects how we feel and ultimately how we behave. So, it is our thinking we need to look at.
Self-esteem and the need for approval can play a big role in feeling lonely. If someone doesn’t approve of who you are or what you are doing it can wreak havoc on self-esteem, especially if you’re already a bit fragile and feeling isolated. You might start questioning yourself and your self-worth, leading you to feel bad. The reality is, if someone disapproves of you, there’s a good
chance that it’s their problem rather than yours. Disapproval often reflects other people’s irrational beliefs, not yours - if someone doesn’t like your new hair cut, whose problem is it?
The same approach can be used if we are feeling lonely. Boosting your own self-worth and self-respect is the key and a good pathway to independence. This is hard to do at first, but if we are looking for approval from others to feel good, we should ask ourselves why. Being dependent on others is a trap, and often we cling to dependency because we think that if we do achieve independence then others may see us as a rejecting person and we end up being alone. Again, this fear is an emotion, which does not make it a fact. The combination of being lonely and dependent can lead you to anger and resentment, both of which stem from the notion you feel deprived of the love or friendship you believe you are entitled to receive from others. This belief has the capacity to drive you into further isolation. The truth is, the more independent you are, the more secure you’ll be in your feelings. By loving ourselves first, we give ourselves the opportunity for greater independence, allowing a far more dependable and continuous source of self-esteem.
There is a difference between loneliness and being alone. Learning to be comfortable with being alone is the first step, which is easier said than done if you are feeling down. It might feel unrealistic at first, but the more we can get comfortable within ourselves the better chance we have in keeping loneliness at bay. Give yourself permission to love yourself, learn to be comfortable with it and you will be well on your way.
Jeremy Ireland is a local psychotherapist. Have you got a question? You can get in touch with Jeremy by calling 0400 420 042.
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 September and October, the following meetings are on:
Vaucluse / Diamond Bay – Thursday 21 September, 7
9pm
Bondi Beach – Monday 9 October, 7 – 8.30pm
Bondi Heights – Monday 9 October, 7 – 9pm
Charing Cross – Wednesday 11 October, 7 – 9pm
Bronte Beach – Wednesday 18 October, 7.30 –9.30pm
North Bondi – Wednesday 25 October, 7 – 9pm Rose Bay – Monday 30 October, 7 – 9pm
We all know that sporting events are so much more than just humans competing against each other. For at least three thousand years, people have engaged in competitive sports for self-enjoyment, entertainment and even preparation for warfare. At the individual and community level, a game of sport provides a rich variety of opportunities ranging from improved fitness to the galvanising of community spirit and pride. At the macro, national and international level, a game of sports can even influence global politics. The physical, psychological, sociological and political implications of a sporting match can be truly amazing.
I have always been a sport-focussed person. I love my rugby, surf life saving and other physical activities. After a long day in parliament, when it is too late to join a sporting team, I will walk the streets of the Coogee electorate, but I love my competitive sports the most. During COVID I came to understand even more how important
sport is to our community. So many people expressed the sense of loss and isolation they experienced when we were cut off from our sporting teams and events.
How fortunate are we that there are so many sporting games now occurring in the East, in Sydney and around Australia? How fantastic has it been to see so many local residents, including those from the Irish diaspora, show their colours in our East? It has not been difficult to get caught up in football fever with Australia and New Zealand hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the many games being played locally. In reflecting on how phenomenal our Matildas are and how far women’s sport has advanced, I think it is fitting that we reflect on where the sport has come from.
The history books tell us that women’s football has been played in Australia as far back as the 1920s, however the first Australian women’s team was established in 1978 to take part
in the first World Women’s Invitational Tournament in Chinese Taipei. The team of 1978 were not paid and they had to pay their own way, with many a chook raffle and lamington drive to assist in raising funds. While our international football team continued to play throughout the ‘80s, it wasn’t until the introduction of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and women’s football at the Olympic Games in the 1990s, combined with a surge in participation levels throughout the country, that renewed interest was sparked in the national women’s team, now known as the Commonwealth Bank Matildas.
It’s important to remember that these women played on in the face of sexism while fighting for recognition, validation and respect within the sport. Our Matildas continue to be vocal about equal prize money. During the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup the Matildas climbed to fourth on the world stage, captivating audiences, reaching the knockout stages and outperforming the Socceroos. While the Socceroos failed to win a single match, they received $8 million for simply qualifying while our Matildas received just $1 million. The overall prize pool for the women in the 2023 World Cup is $110 million, while the prize pool for the men was $440 million. While this is three times more than what was allocated in 2019, the women still only receive 25 per cent of what the men get. So, while we have come a long way, there is still much to do. Play on.
I love the Matildas and I am so grateful that we can enjoy their wins and their losses. I see that there is a surge of young women passing a ball around their school playing fields and I feel so much joy.
These past two months I took it upon myself to take a swift hiatus in the wave and fish rich regions of remote Sumatra. With all the hype of scoring perfect barrelling waves and catching exotic fish there seemed no better location to visit. I had a seven-week canvas to work with and four different locations to hit along the way, giving me plenty of time for waves and fish while immersing myself in the Indo culture. Armed with a plentiful five-surfboard quiver, a robust box of lures and fishing rod, along with a few pairs of boardies, Indonesia was my oyster.
I began my travels on an island known intimately by thousands of Aussies - Bali. The surfing bug took over and I surfed hard for ten days with no time for any fishing. Over a few cliffside Bintangs at Uluwatu, I listened in on a cracking yarn about a local Indonesian surfer and fisherman. This particular bloke was known to routinely paddle out on his surfboard through the famous Uluwatu lineup with his fishing rod to catch fish for his family. He also happened to be a semi-professional surfer and a well respected and equally feared Uluwatu local. On one particular day he lucked out on a handful of fish and strung them to some cord around his waist like he normal-
ly would. When going to paddle his catch back in, the wave of the day loomed in the distance and, just like any self respecting surfer would, he turned and paddled for it, pulling straight in to a six-foot barrel with his fishing rod in one hand and a string of fish hanging off his body before racing the section and straightening out over the reef back to the caves to walk up the cliff. Aussie core lord and Bali resident Bobby recited the story to me, saying that it was ‘the single greatest thing’ he had ever seen. I couldn’t help but think something like that would have to be the pinnacle of my life.
Sunburnt and surfed out, I left Bali for South Sumatra, thankful for having dodged the dreaded Bali belly and keen to uncover the true colours of Indonesia beyond the chaos of Bali. South Sumatra’s Krui was the next stop and we arrived after an arduous seven-hour taxi ride, with five surfers and twenty surfboards stuffed into a very ill-equipped car. We were cooked by the time we arrived. I was woken at 5am by the call to prayer thundering through loudspeakers, which was novel at first but quickly became the bane of my existence after hearing it five times a day. We spent the next week screaming around on scooters with local legend and filmer Nana chasing
waves along the coast. On multiple occasions I witnessed the locals bring in huge sailfish on their small wooden boats, whetting my appetite for some fishing.
The Mentawais was the next and most highly anticipated stop on the trip. The ‘Ments’ are widely regarded as the Mecca of the surfing world, with most keen surfers making the pilgrimage there at the very least once in their life. We locked in a threeweek stake-out on a remote island where we lived with a local surfer, Hibear, in his home. The area boasted a plethora of world class waves, pristine jungle and aqua blue water. Being so remote, any sort of protein came at a premium and, as a result, the servings were conservative to say the least. Once the swell dropped after a few days I decided to take matters into my own hands and catch some fish to supplement our meals. Starting out shorebased, my efforts were fruitless and I knew I needed to get out into deeper water for a better chance.
Taking inspiration from the story of the Uluwatu core lord, I paddled out from the beach on my longest surfboard with my rod tucked into my boardies and headed for the reef’s edge. The fishing offered a handful of small cod that confidently smashed my lure, most likely having never seen one before. Eventually I hooked onto a better sized fish that surfaced as a small emperor with good eating prospects. Back on the beach, I heard whistling and screaming and saw that I was providing some entertainment for the Aussie crew over their arvo beers. I dispatched and bled the fish as I sat on my board trying not to think of the sharks that I would be attracting and paddled for the beach where Ballina local Jade threw me a cold Bintang like some sort of medal for my efforts. That night we enjoyed a hearty fish curry and I felt a sense of resourceful satisfaction.
SUNDAY 10 SEPTEMBER
11am – 4pm, Bondi Beach, Bondi Parks & Bondi Pavilion
WWW.WAVERLEY.NSW.GOV.AU/RECREATION/EVENTS/FOW The best way to get to and from Bondi Beach is public transport. Please plan ahead and prepare for delays. Plan your trip at transport.nsw.info
It's nearly that time of year again.
Words Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine
I have been thinking about making this recipe for a while. It’s a great starter for about four people, so full of flavour and perfect to eat in anticipation of the warmer months to come.
Octopus and potato pair so well together; it’s something the Italians created long ago, and it matches beautifully with the other ingredients I’ve added here. So, don’t be put off by the thought of preparing and tenderising the octopus; it’s actually very simple, especially if the fishmonger cleans it for you!
Octopus
1kg baby octopus, cleaned
1 long red chilli, halved
4 strips lemon peel
4 parsley stalks
1 spring onion, halved
Sea salt
750kg kipfler potatoes, peeled and kept whole
1 spring onion, finely chopped
1 handful flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Zest of 1 lemon
Dressing
60ml olive oil
3 tbs red wine vinegar
Juice of ¼ lemon
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp manuka honey
Sea salt
Ground black pepper (serves 4 people)
1. To tenderise the octopus, place it in a large pot with the chilli, parsley, lemon peel, spring onion and some sea salt. Cover with cold water and bring to the boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook the octopus for approximately 45 minutes.
2. While the octopus is cooking, place the potatoes in a large saucepan of salted water and bring to the boil. Cook for approximately 25 minutes until tender, then drain and set aside.
3. When the octopus is tender, remove from the pot and drain, allowing it to cool slightly, before cutting it into large bite size pieces. Heat a griddle pan to high heat on the stove (or use the barbecue), drizzle with olive oil and add the octopus, cooking for 2 minutes to get a nice char on the outside. Remove from the pan.
4. Cut the potato into 3cm pieces.
5. Combine all ingredients for the dressing and whisk well together.
6. Place the octopus and potato on a large serving plate and sprinkle over half the spring onion, parsley and lemon zest. Add the dressing and toss gently, then add the remaining spring onion, parsley and lemon zest and finish with sea salt and ground black pepper to taste. Serve while warm.
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.
ACROSS
1. Current Wallabies coach (5,5)
7. Jealous, covetous (7)
8. Uttered at the end of a prayer (4)
9. Bitter leaf vegetable (6)
10. A daughter of one’s brother or sister (5)
11. A pace faster than a walk (4)
12. Person who Jesus raised from the dead (7)
14. Headgear used to control a horse (6)
15. Anointed Jewish leader (5)
18. A type of sweetened, flavoured cream (9)
19. A network of fine threads (3)
1. Highest mountain above sea level (7)
1. In the nursery rhyme, what does Jack jump over?
2. What do they call fairy floss in the USA?
3. What sauce is typically served with roast pork?
4. Which television family lives at 742 Evergreen Terrace?
5. What is the name of Australia’s highest ranking military award?
6. By what name did Westerners formerly know Beijing?
7. Which two terms meaning ‘lively party’ include parts of the human leg?
2. Singer whose final album was called Blackstar (5,5)
3. Develop gradually (6)
4. Expel (4)
5. Matildas captain (3,4)
6. ... and mash (7)
10. ‘A town of Galilee’ in Luke’s Gospel (8)
12. The amount of freedom to move (6)
13. Technology used to connect computers with peripheral devices (1,1,1)
14. To move and make currents of air (4)
16. A cream or liquid used to heal or soothe skin (4)
17. A short poem descriptive of rural or pastoral life (4)
8. Bruce Springsteen won an Oscar for his theme song for which 1993 film?
9. Musician Gordon Sumner is better known by what name?
10. Powerful, boobook and barn are a type of horse, chicken or owl?
Rockhopping.
Sunburn
Label Columbia Records
Reviewer @aldothewriter
Rating
Dominic Fike strikes me as one of those frustratingly cool people, who the jaded cynic in me wants to distrust and dislike, but I have to admit is just really
Visions Beardy from Hell
Scorpio Oct 24-Nov 22
Doing favours for people is a sign of weakness and only invites them to take advantage of you. Just look after number one.
Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21
Neglecting to do some fairly standard paperwork will end up causing you all sorts of problems. You’ve been warned.
Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 20
A heated discussion about the Voice will make you realise that some of your friends are sickeningly entitled, heartless bigots.
Aquarius Jan 21-Feb 19
You’re lucky to have such awesome friends. Someone else with your morals and values would struggle to win anyone over.
Pisces Feb 20-Mar 20
Venture out of the Eastern Suburbs every once in a while so you can appreciate that Sydney actually has some life and culture.
Aries Mar 21-Apr 20
The only way you’re going to get ahead is by scamming someone who trusts you. Choose your victim wisely and don’t get too greedy.
Taurus Apr 21-May 21
Pretending to be busy all the time is not going to fool anyone into thinking that your time is of any material value.
Gemini May 22-Jun 21
It’s okay to interrupt and talk over people, because what you’ve got to say is more important and everyone needs to hear it.
Cancer Jun 22-Jul 22
You’ll suddenly realise that your mates’ ‘family commitments’ are perfectly correlated with your availability.
Leo Jul 23-Aug 22
In the best interests of all stakeholders, always remember to pre-heat the oven prior to inserting the roast.
