BEAST
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
The Bronte Cormorant, by Xavier Macartney
Do Your Research
Words James Hutton - Publisher
Welcome to the September 2024 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s creative beaches of the east. Thanks to Fran Connelley for this month’s awesome cover painting, ‘Bronte Pool in Winter’. This is Fran’s second Beast cover feature, and she’s been building her drawing skills with the help of Richard Byrnes at Waverley Woollahra Art Centre. You can see more of Fran’s work and read the story behind the cover at her website, www.franconnelley.com.au, or @franconnelleyart on Instagram.
The inaugural Stinkwater24! film festival will be held locally in September. Entrants get 48 hours to film and produce a short film, which will be played on the big screen at the awards night. Registrations close at 6pm on September 13, when the competition brief will be released, and entries need to be in by 6am on September 15. The awards night kicks off that
evening from 5.30pm at the Ritz. Please visit stinkwater.com.au.
BONDIWOOD film festival will be taking over the top floor of the Bondi Pavilion from September 26-29. For more information, please visit bondiwood.au.
Randwick artist Patricia Reid has a solo exhibition currently showing at the Clovelly Bendigo Bank branch until September 2. Pat is a legend of the local art scene and we love her work!
The Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize Exhibition will also be showing at Woollahra gallery from September 13-20. You can visit woollahragallery.com.au for more information on that one.
As many of you would already be aware, local government elections will be held on September 14. As a widely read local publication, we have a responsibility to maintain political independence and objectivity, so all politicians and political parties have the same access and opportunity to share their message in this magazine, whether that be through advertising, writing letters to the editor, or whatever.
My only advice is to make sure your vote counts. Make an effort to find out what the candidates stand for and how they’ve voted on various issues in the past. Visit their websites and email them your questions. I’ve met most of the candidates; they all have good intentions and ideas, but there are subtle differences in the way they plan to deliver the desired outcomes for our community. Please, do your research and make an informed choice.
Cheers, James
The Beast
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ECO LIVING FESTIVAL
SUNDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 9AM – 3PM
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• Eco workshops, innovations, and talks
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Pearl's Ponderings on Local Running Groups
Coogee Swingers Club
Dear Pearl - I noticed people have been writing letters to you asking your opinion on various local issues, so here’s mine...
I’ve been walking the coastal walk pretty much daily for over 30 years, and these bloody running clubs are really ruining the experience for me nowadays. There’s one at Coogee that must have over 100 people on some mornings, and they come hurtling down the path at full speed and scare the shit out of people using the path for its intended purpose, i.e. passive recreation.
Aren’t there rules against this type of group exercise in public places? I’ve heard half of them are only involved because it’s like a dating service. I’ve even heard it’s some sort of swingers’ club. I was hoping you could shed some light.
Bruce Coogee
don the Lululemon and meet a potential spouse without resorting to online dating. I admit to meeting my third husband while pounding the Clovelly footpaths back in the day.
As a runner, I also copped my fair share of abuse from non-runners (particularly during Sculpture by the Sea) and bizarre comments aimed at my sweaty body and red face. However, darling, I do understand your concern about the inattentive behaviour of these newbie runners.
If You Can’t Beat ’em, Join ’em
Dear Bruce - Despite my senior years, I can still remember a time when running was a solitary sport. Apart from shorts, a t-shirt and a decent pair of Mizunos or Asics, it required little equipment. Perhaps a couple of running pals were engaged for motivation and moral support, but mostly one ran for the headspace. There was no glamour, no makeup and certainly no swingers. In fact, The Sydney Morning Herald warned female runners that their sport of choice would eventually ruin their face and skin, rendering one desperate and dateless.
As a retired runner, I am delighted that so many young people have ignored the warnings of that formerly decent newspaper and taken up running with gusto, turning the huffy-puffy into a pleasant social activity where one can
Despite these large groups taking up the entire path and refusing to yield space, I doubt there is any malicious intent involved. Perhaps it’s ignorance of running etiquette? A misplaced enthusiasm to emulate the TikTok-inspired running resurgence, perhaps? Unless the participants are wearing ‘Disrupt Burrup’ t-shirts, in which case they would be facing government-sanctioned police brutality and long jail sentences, there is certainly no legislation to curb such group activities.
Unfortunately, it is wellknown that runners en masse lack any sort of spatial awareness, so may I suggest you take control of the situation by becoming more intentional on your daily walks. As one ages, one becomes invisible, so walk with purpose and keep to the left with elbows at right angles. Do not cede your position, do not make eye contact and, if need be, stop to take out your phone and pretend to be texting. You could also wear a duffle bag on your right shoulder for added protection. If all else fails, embrace the adage, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em,” because there may be a swingers’ club (or pastry shop) at the finish line.
Pearl Clovelly
Words Pearl Bullivant Photo Con Gested
It's getting pretty hectic on the coastal walk.
The Beast's Monthly Mailbag
Words The Lovely People of the Eastern Beaches
Get Out and VoteFor the Greater Good
With the looming local election, I write to encourage people to vote selflessly, not just so they can get a free car park, or make a quick buck from buying and selling local real estate.
As someone who fought hard to stop Bondi Pavilion from being privatised, I encourage scrutiny of which candidates and parties support keeping our lovely public buildings in community hands, and which would sell off the top floor and balcony to the highest bidder for individual personal gain.
To this day there are councillors who don’t believe in the community values that place the Pavilion in a separate category from profit making enterprises. It is there as our Town Hall and to date remains in public hands - but that is only ever an election away from change.
Nicolette Boaz
Bondi
An Honour and a Privilege
It has been both an honour and a privilege to serve our Waverley community as a Waverley Councillor for three terms, including the last five years as mayor. Community has been the guiding heart of all my policies and actions over these past 12 years.
Waverley has seen many improvements recently, with some of our key priorities being infrastructure and streetscape upgrades, beautification and planting; faster removal of
dumped rubbish; the introduction of online payments and bookings for services such as council rates, parking permits and household clean-up collections; the roll out of our EV charger network; the restoration of our much loved and historic Bondi Pavilion and Boot Factory as community facilities; and strong environmental initiatives to green, cool and beautify our suburbs and to help us reach net zero by 2035.
To achieve all of this, we presided over strong financial stewardship that has helped us rebuild post-COVID and ensure healthy financial reserves.
However, there is still much to do as we embark on developing Bondi Junction into a thriving ‘Eat Street’ destination where you and your family can share an evening meal together. We want to build a technology and innovation precinct in Bondi Junction and implement measures and programs that will continue to keep our community safe. That is why my team and I will be running for election. We are experienced and effective, and we have a track record of delivering for our local community.
Local government is very important. As the third tier of government, it is the one closest to the people and is best served to meet the immediate needs of our community. So, please remember to vote on September 14.
Sincerely,
Paula Masselos Waverley
Teal Tripe
Our Teal MP, Allegra Spender (We Are Heading in the Right Direction on Climate ChangeLet’s Stay the Course, The Beast, August 2024), alleges without evidence that “reducing emissions and cutting power bills go hand in hand” and tells us that the jump in our power bills was caused by a spike in coal fossil fuel prices between 2021 and 2022.
In pointing her finger of blame for the increased power bills, our Teal relies upon an asserted increase of 500 per cent in coal prices between 2021 and 2022.
Our Teal misleadingly fails to disclose that the Global Price of Coal Australia fell sharply from $447 US per metric ton in August 2022 and was $137 US in April 2024.
Despite the massive government subsidies in its maniacal pursuit of providers of dubious renewable energy proposals, our electricity prices have fluctuated inexorably upwards. On the Teal assertion, those prices should have significantly fallen along with the price of coal.
The Teal article asserts that “In the last 12 months we have added more renewables to the grid, and we are seeing prices come down as a result.” To the contrary, the ABS, March 2024, tells us that “electricity prices have risen 3.9 per cent since the June 2023 quarter. Excluding the Energy Bill Relief Fund rebates, prices would have increased by 17.0 per cent since June 2023.” Those rebates, funded from our taxes, were intended to hide the reality of the failure of the Government energy policies such as disclosed by the 17 per cent.
Assuming the Teals can provide us with some useful and honest information, they might inform your readers of the dollar cost of installing, servicing and replacing wind and solar farms, their life span, and the cost of the associated energy transmission infrastructure. Perhaps their
thoughts on the impact on the environment, food production and on the mental health of farmers would also be worthy of disclosure.
It is the idiocy of rushing to prematurely shut down reliable coal fired power plants, not the price of coal, which is causing power bills that are “hurting Australians”. Misinformation from the Teals aids and abets the idiocy.
Greg Maidment Bronte
In Response to Greg
A lot of people are feeling the pain of higher power bills and the rising cost of living, but we need energy policy that’s based on the facts. The price of coal, oil and gas fluctuate with world markets that are out of our control. In contrast, if you’ve got solar on your roof, you’ve got permanent price stability.
Our leading scientists and engineers at the CSIRO have
done the analysis and confirm that renewable energy - backed by transmission and storageis the cheapest source of new generation.
The alternatives like coal, gas and nuclear are more expensive. The Australian Energy Market Operator has made clear that our current coal fired power stations are breaking down and will close over the next decade.
When I’m considering policy in this area I don’t make my own calculations. Rather, I rely on the scientists, the engineers and the economists who have the expertise.
Their conclusions are clearwind, solar, transmission and storage is the low-cost road to reliable power in the future.
If ever you want to talk about energy policy or share your views with me, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing allegra.spender.mp@aph.gov.au.
Allegra Spender Member for Wentworth
The Ordeal of an Abandoned Microchipped Cat
I couldn’t believe I’d see such a pathetic ginger cat on a Coogee street. Elderly, skin and bones, every vertebra sticking out, but he was happy to be stroked. A local told me he’d been abandoned and hung around the nearby pool to drink and sun himself.
A kindly local took Ginger to see his vet, who said that because Ginger was microchipped they could not treat him. Allegedly, the vet contacted the owner’s number to leave notification, but got no response. He was told to return Ginger to where he had found him - the street. So, a cat bed was set up in a downstairs public toilet.
Ginger devoured the food I brought him regularly that week. Then the weather turned bitterly cold and wet, and someone shut Ginger out on a stormy day, so I left the toilet door open and checked that night. He had returned, and lay in the breezy
Exhibition 13 Sept–20 Oct 2024
woollahragallery.com.au
Open Wed–Sun. Free admission. Accessible location. Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf, Double Bay.
NSW Local Government Elections
are on Saturday 14 September 2024
On election day, you will be asked to vote in a local government election for Woollahra and respond to a Constitutional Referendum question:
Woollahra Municipal Council currently has 15 Councillors. Do you favour reducing the total number of Councillors from 15 to 9?
You will be prompted to vote Yes or No. Any changes would come into effect in 2028.
For more information, visit: yoursay.woollahra.nsw.gov.au/ referendum-election
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toilet room soaking wet, his skinny body was freezing cold.
I decided he had suffered enough of the cruelty of homelessness. As I have two cats, I couldn’t risk taking him in, but kindly neighbors did so. He arrived disoriented, wet and ravenously hungry.
As the bad weather blew outdoors, he spent a warm indoor weekend with a soft sofa, lots of food, warmth and affection. For a bag of bones, his loud purring was a surprise. He even licked his whiskers. For a few days his dignity was restored.
On the Monday I took Ginger to my vet, willing to pay for treatment. A large, elderly tomcat, he weighed 2.5kgs. The vet said she couldn’t treat him as he was microchipped, and the clinic again phoned the owner’s number, with no response. She said they could keep him overnight and the pound would take him the next day, to be held for 14 days pending the owner collecting him.
The next day the vet clinic called me. The council pound refused to take him. I phoned the council and was told that the vet had to treat him and that it was policy they don’t accept cats. The vet clinic already held five injured strays. I’d have taken him in if the vet could treat him so my cats wouldn’t be at risk.
An impasse for sick, old, abandoned Ginger. A ranger went to the address on the microchip. The miscreant owner said he was old and couldn’t care for Ginger and asked he be put down.
How many lost, abandoned cats are denied shelter and treatment? The cat and dog home is a charity and not obliged to take in cats or dogs, nor is the RSPCA. The local councils are expected to, but Randwick and Waverley Councils advise to leave the cats where found.
So, what happens when owners leave their pets behind and don’t update the microchip information? They become starving, homeless pariahs who won’t
be taken in by Council, and vets cannot treat them.
Owners who want to do the right thing when they can no longer keep them can’t surrender them, as there is nowhere that will take them either. The Cat Protection Society has an 18-month cat surrender waiting list. We assume councils have an obligation to fund taking in lost and injured strays, whether microchipped or not.
It is unfair to leave prior loved pets homeless in the cold, with instruction to the public who want to help them to leave the animal where it was found.
Marg Coogee
To the Brainiacs at Australia Post
Dear Beast - I found out this week that Bondi Beach Post Office has run out of storage space for actual post, so all my missed deliveries will now go to Bondi Road Post Office.
The issue I have is that I live on Hall Street, 30 seconds’ walk from Bondi Beach Post Office. The Bondi Road Post Office is a 20 minute walk up the hill.
What brainiac at Australia Post has decided this is a good idea? On the subject of how they have run out of space for actual post at the Bondi Beach Post Office, which is a new building built just a couple of years ago; why have they purposed more than half of the space for an elaborate entrance and shop selling curios, tea towels and teddy bears? I’ve personally never seen anyone purchase these things, so is it really necessary? Can the space at Bondi Beach Post Office be better utilised for actual post?
Clearly Australia Post needs to get its act together.
Cheers, 'A' Bondi Beach
Working Together
I was one of your Waverley councillors for many years, including time as mayor. I am
standing again for Lawson Ward in the September 2024 council elections. This time we are facing some of the most potentially damaging new state government planning laws. Climate warming and the environment continue to challenge us.
Waverley is home to many lifelong residents and businesses, others choose to settle in our area for its ocean breezes and sought after amenities. As an old municipality, its characteristics are informed by history. The small subdivision patterns date from a time before cars, when everyone walked or took the tram. Hence its walkability. A good mix of housing types and commercial activities make for delightful streets. Welcoming beaches and parks are enjoyed by residents and a multitude of visitors. These qualities can be lost without careful stewardship.
Waverley values its talented arts community. Saving Bondi Pavilion as a public arts space with affordable community access has added continuity to Bondi’s established world class events like Sculpture by the Sea, Flickerfest and Festival of the Winds. These events have flowon benefits to local businesses.
I see opportunities to expand this rich arts culture in Waverley by recognising potential for Bondi Junction to become a creative hub. At present, Bondi Junction is a transit point, regional shopping and medical services hub. It is also seen by government as a population growth centre, with high rise development dominating the skyline. People are expected to travel to visit the CBD’s night time economy, as it lacks its own cultural and recreational facilities.
Bondi Junction’s existing strengths would be complemented by a new focus as a creative hub and meeting place, a centre for local film makers no longer accommodated at Fox Studios, with workshops, editing suites and cosy theatres for live music
and performance. These drawcards for local audiences will attract diners to local cafes and restaurants.
Seamless pedestrian access to trains and to Centennial Park, potential for a town hall, public urban open space and active recreation will also be explored. Increased affordable housing supply will be key to sustaining Bondi Junction as a vibrant centre.
Waverley’s historic villages are important to local character and convenience. Restoring and adapting existing buildings - not demolition - will be key to sustainability and to emissions reduction targets. In Charing Cross we will reassess streetscape plans for likely impacts on businesses and heritage.
Our coast is magical and we love the ocean creatures. We need to look after water quality and will examine and address the problem of overflowing drains and sewers in climate change
downpours, which happen mainly in summer and pollute the ocean for days, just when we need to swim. The infrastructure is already unable to cope, even before the state government overrides Council and adds its thousands of new residential toilets to the disposal system.
Waverley’s parks are well used, climate refuges on hot days, and biodiversity reserves. We will focus on quality of maintenance and repair for their continued enjoyment by residents and visitors, as well as the wildlife they support.
It is time for all footpaths to be checked for pedestrian comfort and mobility access. Blockages which exclude prams, people with injuries, the mobility challenged and wheelies can be identified for removal. Laneways can be better maintained as pleasant pedestrian and bike routes.
Affordable rental housing is needed now more than ever. We will energise and identify oppor-
tunities to expand Waverley’s affordable housing portfolio so nurses, teachers, firies, cleaners and police can live where they work.
So much can be done to improve quality of life while managing Waverley’s future sustainability including rooftop solar energy, green rooftops, community batteries, reduced overdevelopment pressures, reduced waste and by capturing community wisdom through revised consultative processes.
Together we can make this happen. Please feel free to write to me any time at mora.main@ waverley.nsw.greens.org.au.
Mora Main Waverley ¢
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.
Who Needs Artificial Intelligence?
Words Deborah Grant Photo Monty Patterson
Two young high-school leavers have harnessed the trials and tribulations of their own HSC journeys to set up an Eastern Suburbs-based tutoring business called Future Focus.
Guy Hammerschmidt and Max Barber, both 20 yearsold, began by reaching out to teachers from their alma mater, Waverley College, advertising on social media and spending their Friday nights putting up posters from Rose Bay to Maroubra, hoping they’d make it to Sunday before they were removed.
Since then, they have grown Future Focus into a thriving business with 12 tutors that cater to all ages and major subjects. They provide comprehensive assistance with everything from Extension Maths and English down to early primary.
“We place a strong emphasis on finding tutors who are high achievers in their own studies and, most importantly, have a passion for their students to succeed,” Max told The Beast.
“All of our tutors are less than two years out of school, meaning they’re still really familiar with the curriculum and can relate to the kids.”
The lads also provide optional one-off sessions in time management and study skills.
“The hardest part of studying is knowing how to start, so these can be really helpful to some students,” said Guy.
“We focus on goal-setting, establishing positive study habits and managing time effectively.”
When they’re not busy with Future Focus, Max and Guy can be found on campus at Sydney University studying Engineering/Commerce and Medical Science respectively. In their holidays and during any downtime they love a surf at Bronte and they both still play football competitively. One thing’s for sure though, the future is looking bright for these two.
To get in touch with the boys and for more information, please visit futurefocustutoring.com.
Local Artist’s Works Lifted from Underground Public Art Gallery
Words Anthony Maguire
Photo Francis Edwards
Running between Edward and Francis Streets in Bondi is a laneway that has become a public art gallery.
Around 80 works adorn the sides of the unnamed laneway. Inside a plastic box is a visitors’ book. “Thank you for this delightful, fun, interesting Bondi space,” says one recent comment.
Most works are by artists happy to keep a low profile. For instance, there is ‘Gasp,’ who makes wall-mounted installations from pieces of wood.
One high-profile artist whose works have been on display in the laneway is Elizabeth Skelsey, who lives just around the corner.
Sadly, a thief appears to be a fan of Ms Skelsey’s paintings. Four have been stolen, including a Bondi Road street scene that appeared on the cover of the July 2024 edition of The Beast. Ms Skelsey is taking a forgiving attitude to the thefts.
“I hope the person responsible can get in touch with their own inner artist and create some works of their own,” she says.
Security cameras are being considered.
A light-fingered art enthusiast has nicked Ms Skelsey’s works.
Guy and Max have carved out a niche for young tutors.
Let’s Go Surfing won the Fitness & Wellbeing category in 2023.
Entries Are Open for Waverley’s Brightest & Best Business Awards
Attention business owners in the Waverley LGA - entries for this year’s Brightest & Best Business Awards 2024 are open. But you’ve got to be quick, because entries close on Monday, September 9.
To enter, visit www.waverley. nsw.gov.au/community/awards _grants/awards/business_ awards. Finalists are selected by a panel of Council, business and community representatives. If your business is short-listed for the awards, you’ll then get an anonymous visit or call from a ‘mystery shopper’ appointed by Waverley Council, which runs the awards.
The mystery shopper gives a rating based on marketing and communication, community engagement and customer service to determine the winners.
And on the evening of Monday, November 25, the winners will step up to the stage of Bondi Pavilion’s theatre to receive their awards from the mayor.
This year there will be 14 award categories, including a new People’s Choice award, which will be voted on by members of the public once the finalists are announced in October.
The categories are Retail & E-Commence; Hospitality & Entertainment; Professional Services; Healthcare & Medical; Fitness & Nutrition; Beauty & Wellbeing; Creative & Digital; Childcare & Education; Sustainability Excellence; Construction & Trade; Tourism & Leisure; Young Entrepreneur of the Year; Business Woman of the Year; and People’s Choice.
“The competition and awards night bring together the Waverley business community to recognise and celebrate business excellence, and the vital contributions businesses make towards creating a vibrant community to live, work and shop,” Craig Gill, Waverley Council’s Business Liaison Advisor, told The Beast.
In the last financial year, Waverley businesses conducted more than 40 million transactions, representing a total of $3.1 billion spent. The awards are a well-deserved accolade.
“This event gives our local businesses a platform to showcase the very best of what they do,” said Mr Gill.
Finalists for the awards (last year there were 62) are invited to the ceremony at the Pavilion and the list of winners is kept secret until being announced on the night. Winners receive trophies made from crafted timber, plus both winners and runners-up receive in-kind prizes and cash vouchers from event sponsors and Waverley Council.
There are drinks and nibbles in the Pavilion bar and adjacent terrace looking out onto the beach before and after the awards ceremony and, according to one of last year’s winners (who has also won four previous awards), it’s a great networking opportunity.
“It’s great to meet other business owners, because all too often we tend to work in a bit of a bubble!” Junia Kerr from Sage Beauty said.
Confirmed event sponsors as this article was going to press included The Ascott Limited, Westfield Bondi Junction, Richardson & Wrench Bondi Beach, Bondi & Districts Chamber of Commerce, Bondi Innovation, Eastside Radio, Bondi Golf Club, Dive Centre Bondi, Lets Go Surfing, The Roosters, Service NSW and The Beast.
Words Anthony Maguire Photo Candice Epthorp
Teen Titans of the Surf
Local teenagers Fred Carmody and Poppy O’Reilly are riding a wave of success on the Australian competitive surfing circuit.
Bondi born and bred Fred, 17, is ranked third in Australia’s under 18s. In July, he was runner-up at the NSW State Titles and days before, won the Skullcandy Pro Junior at Lennox Head, taking home a nice skull and headphones trophy.
Bronte girl Poppy, 15, also came second in the State Titles. Plus, earlier this year she won the under 16s girls’ title at the Youth Slash n Bash, Caves Beach and the Sanbah Cadet Cup at Newcastle. She is consistently in the National Junior rankings top 10.
Their success at the State Titles means both have qualified to represent NSW at the Australian Junior Surfing Titles in Wollongong this November. Meanwhile, they’re getting in lots of
surfing at club level. Poppy is a member of Bronte Boardriders and Fred is with Bondi.
Fred caught his first wave on a boogie board at the age of four while on holidays at Noosa with his family. He enjoyed the experience so much, his parents got him a foamie and soon he was riding waves at Bondi. But his commitment to competing as a North Bondi nipper meant he didn’t start surfing seriously until he was 15.
Poppy was also a late starter. While she’d been in Nippers at Bronte since she was five, she only got into boardriding when she was eleven and got a foamie. The catalyst for her surfing was the dreaded lockdown.
“Some of the beaches were closed for the first lockdown, but they were open for the second one and I just surfed every day for about five hours,” Poppy told The Beast.
“I love being in the ocean because it’s kind of protected from everywhere else - you get these quiet moments when you can reflect on things and flow with the ocean.”
Fred says he has been drawn to surfing because of the challenges.
“You’re always chasing the next wave, and the great thing is that it’s free and open to everyone.”
Mind you, there are expenses like boards and wetsuits, and competing can be costly because of the travel. Fred has managed to offset some of those costs by attracting a couple of sponsors - O’Neill Wetsuits and surfing accessories supplier Creatures of Leisure. But he says making a living as a surfing pro could be elusive.
“If you look at a sport like golf, there are more than 150 professional players on the PGA circuit. In pro surfing it’s a much narrower field. There are just 32 surfers on the international tour and some of the best surfers in the world are scrambling financially to make each event.”
Poppy is also philosophical about the future, saying, “I’ll just go year by year and do the best surfing I can.”
But at the same time, she relishes the idea of becoming a professional surfer.
“My goal is to get on the Championship Tour and make a living out of it. Some sponsorship would be welcome!”
Words and Photo Anthony Maguire
Fred and Poppy about to hit the waves at Bondi.
Fred's Skullcandy trophy.
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
Empty Homes Levy Proposed to Combat Housing Crisis
Words Anthony Maguire Photo James Hutton
Around the Randwick Local Government area, there are thousands of homes sitting empty. Many of these properties belong to owners who are leveraging tax advantages through ‘land banking.’
But now Randwick Mayor Philipa Veitch is leading a push to create financial disincentives for owners who leave properties unoccupied. She wants to introduce an empty homes levy under which councils would increase rates on properties that have stood vacant for 12 months or more.
Mayor Veitch tabled a Mayoral Minute on the plan at the July meeting of Randwick City Council and moved that
it be submitted to the Local Government NSW 2024 Annual Conference in November. The motion was supported by a majority of councillors.
“We’re in the grip of a housing crisis which has reached such chronic levels that many people can’t even afford rental properties,” the Mayor told The Beast. “Yet there are landlords sitting on properties for years or even decades without leasing or selling them.”
The most recent local occupancy figures come from the 2021 census, which identified almost 6,000 empty homes in the Randwick LGA.
“That was during COVID, so the figure may not be quite
as high now,” Mayor Veitch explained, “but I am aware of substantial numbers of homes currently empty on Anzac Parade in Kensington, while in Randwick there are concentrations of vacant properties in Belmore Road and around The Spot.”
“We have a large university and hospitals in this LGA and it makes me angry to think of the teachers, nurses and students struggling to find affordable accommodation.”
Under the motion to be put to the local government conference, the NSW Government will be urged to allow the empty homes levy through changes to the Local Government Act. Owners of properties that have been vacant for a year or more could be hit with a rate increase of up to 300 per cent.
“Special circumstances exceptions will be applied if the property is vacant due to death or illness,” Mayor Veitch stated in her Mayoral Minute. It would be up to individual councils to decide whether to impose the levy. For those that opt in, the extra income stream could be channelled into “a trust that can only be used to build genuinely affordable public, social and community housing.”
Meanwhile, by bringing more homes onto the market, the levy “may contribute to more affordable rental pricing and consequently more affordable housing.”
Mayor Veitch says the package she has put forward would discourage ‘land banking,’ where homes can be deliberately kept vacant to capitalise on capital gains tax breaks and negative gearing. In tandem with state government action enabling the empty homes levy, there needs to be “significant reform of our federal tax regimes,” she added.
Randwick Mayor Philipa Veitch wants to see policy changes to prevent residential properties sitting vacant for years.
Girls Don't Like Cricket... They Love It!
Cricket isn’t just a bloke’s game these days. In fact, female participation in the sport has grown so rapidly that there are now over 50,000 female players in Australia - a whopping 24 per cent increase in one seasonaccording to Cricket Australia’s official census numbers for the 2022-23 season.
This growth was driven by the amazing success of Alyssa Healy and the Australian women’s team (who are currently ranked number one in the world in all three formats), the expansion of the Women’s Big Bash League and the introduction of more programs and opportunities for girls to play cricket in schools and clubs.
Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club has lots of opportunities for girls to get involved in cricket. The local organisation runs a series of one-hour Woolworths Blast programs at Waverley Oval for 5to 10-year-olds to introduce girls to the basics of cricket in a fun and social environment, as well as a junior competition for the U11-17s to build on those skills.
When girls get serious about their cricket, there are also pathways in place to allow them to take their game to a higher level in state teams. One of Easts Juniors’
girls, 15-year-old Emily Powell, is well and truly on her way on a promising cricketing journey and was recently awarded Player of the Series at the National Championships, playing U16s for NSW.
“We are so proud of Emily’s achievements - she is an inspiration to so many young female cricketers,” Easts Girl’s Cricket Coordinator Jerome Harris said.
Mr Harris, who wasn’t a big fan of the sport when he was growing up, has a daughter currently playing with the club.
“I was never a cricket fan growing up,” Mr Harris told The Beast, “and I always thought games were too long and dull, but my daughter Poppy has been playing U11-13s for two years and she absolutely loves it.”
The great thing about cricket, according to Mr Harris, is that it’s very equal, and each girl oversees her own destiny.
“If a girl puts the practice in, she can be the star bowler or batter on the day. You don’t need to be super-fit, there’s always time for fun and chatting, and games are only a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon.”
For more information and to register, please visit the website at eastscricket.com.au/juniors.
BONDIWOOD Film Festival Back By Popular Demand
Words Mel Gibson
Photo Cate Blanchett
After a successful launch in 2023, BONDIWOOD Film Festival is coming back to the Bondi Pavilion by popular demand.
“I don’t know whether it was the homemade feel, the high quality of the films or the meat tray door prizes, but everyone seemed to have a fantastic time last year,” Festival Director Haydn Keenan told The Beast.
“So, we’re doing it again!”
From September 26-29, BONDIWOOD will take over the top floor of the Bondi Pavilion, opening with a 30th anniversary screening of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert hosted by Director Stephan Elliot, who will also be discussing the recently announced sequel.
This year’s programme will include Academy Award nominees, international box office smash hits, Australian premiere screenings, surf movies, Kylie Minogue and shorts by up-andcoming locals. Every film will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.
“We’ve got panels with top talent passing on career gems to young filmmakers and actors, a trivia contest with sick prizes and opportunities to network in the bar with Australia’s leading creatives,” Mr Keenan said.
“Nothing highbrow for Scum Valley, just local talent and local people.”
For more information and to book, please visit bondiwood.au.
Australian cinematic genius.
Words Don Bradman Photo Sydney Cricket Club
Emily Powell sending one onto the neighbour's roof.
Leo Lucas - A Local Who Lived Life to the Fullest
More than 300 people packed the Mary Immaculate Church at Charing Cross to pay their respects at the Mass of Thanksgiving for the life of Leo Lucas, who passed away on July 10.
Leo was well known in the Waverley community, not only because of the quality meats from his Macpherson Street butcher shop, but also for his love of life and family.
His father was a Greek refugee who came to Australia after the First World War and met his wife before opening a fish and chip shop in Charing Cross where Leo and his two brothers and three sisters all worked.
Leo was a student at St Charles Catholic Primary School in Waverley, and upon completion of his studies he began a butcher’s apprenticeship at WA Grubb & Co in Kings Cross. When his time there was finished he took off and worked at a uranium mine in Rum Jungle in the Northern Territory, part of a trip around Australia in an FJ Holden.
He came back to Waverley after his big adventure and opened his first butcher shop on Carrington Road in 1962. This was the beginning of the great ‘pork empire’ when Leo realised the demand for bacon and hams was not being met among the many other butcher shops in the Eastern Suburbs in those days.
“Dad set up a smoker in the garage and that was nearly his undoing,” Leo’s son David, who now runs the family business, told The Beast.
“One night he went in to check it and saw the flame was out and re-lit it, not knowing the gas was still on. The only thing that saved him when it blew was the old woollen dressing gown he was wearing.”
Leo moved to the existing premises on Macpherson Street in 1978, where he installed ‘professional’ ovens and smokers and rapidly became the ‘Prince of Pork’, supplying hundreds of outlets throughout Sydney with his hams, bacon and pork products.
When Leo retired in 2001 he handed the reins over to David so that he and his lovely wife Ruth could finally do some travelling around the world.
“Dad hadn’t been out of Australia until then,” David said. “He was at home in the country, but when he and mum started their journeys, they were hooked.”
Even though Leo had hung up his apron, it didn’t stop him from regularly overseeing operations at their Botany cold storage facility, where he would sit on his chair and make sure every delivery was up to scratch.
Leo Lucas was the consummate local. He played footy for St Charles, rowed for the Bronte Surf Club and was a life member of the Bronte RSL Club. He supported multiple community organisations including schools, charities, sporting and surf clubs. His life was lived to the fullest in the Eastern Suburbs.
He will live on through his wife Ruth, five sons and one daughter and ten grandchildren.
Vale Leo Lucas.
Words Duncan Horscroft Photo Chris Martin
Leo with his grandson Jono and son Dave, who has the best forearms in Sydney.
Dementia Friendly Double Bay
North Bondi's Flooding Nightmare
Words Anthony Maguire
Sandy Lawns
Every time it rains, the residents of three properties in North Bondi get extremely nervous. They fear a torrent of water flooding into their back
yards - allegedly courtesy of the landscaping work at the neighbouring Bondi Golf Course.
The three affected properties are 146, 148 and 150 Hastings Parade. Number 146, a block of six flats, is the worst affected. Here the resident of the rear flat has sand bags in permanent place at the base of back doors to guard against the effects of the next downfall.
“A river is created and it runs straight into the rear garden of 146 Hastings Parade and then moves onwards to 148 and 150,” a report to Council explained.
The occupant of the rear flat in 146, retiree Jeanette, says the flooding problem began about three years ago. Not only water gushes into the back yard, but foul-smelling sewage and tonnes of sand.
“It’s an absolute nightmare,” she told The Beast. Flooding isn’t the only thing for residents to worry about.
Sinkholes have formed along the course of the river, destabilising a Norfolk Island Pine that, according to the Council report, “could become a significant safety hazard if it fell in the rear yards of the affected properties.”
The river has been made possible by a questionable landscaping decision on the golf course - the creation of two little hills, referred to by Council as “berms.” Water flows between these into the properties.
Waverley Council is now planning to mitigate the flooding problem with major works at the southern end of the golf course. At its July meeting, it was agreed that a report be prepared on landscaping options that would redirect water over the cliff which runs along the eastern edge of the course. The report should include “costs and time frames for a quick solution” and be ready in time for the next monthly meeting.
Photo
Jeanette in her new sandpit.
n Barrister & local Legal Centre volunteer
n Community activist
n Pro-community and better council services
n Opposes overdevelopment
n A new voice for Randwick
n Sustainability and governance professional
n Employment lawyer for Nurses and Midwives
n Active community volunteer
Crime News
Words Jimmy Felon
Bungled Assassination?
A well-known Sydney identity appears to have been targeted in a brazen assassination attempt on an Eastern Suburbs residential street.
The name of the intended victim has been supressed by a magistrate. But the two men who allegedly terrified people in his normally quiet cul-desac have been charged with conspiracy to murder.
Police said the drama unfolded at 8.20am when a man wearing a mask and brandishing a hand gun approached a resident’s car that had just backed out onto the street. He locked eyes with a mother who had her child in the car with her. But then the gunman retreated. It appears he’d targeted the wrong car.
The gunman got into a stolen rental car being driven by an accomplice and they sped away. But police from Eastern Suburbs Command were soon in pursuit, following the high performance Cupra along OId South Head Road, Bondi. The car was finally forced to stop in Bellevue Hill.
One man was arrested at the car and the other was nabbed in Banksia Road, Bellevue Hill after a violent struggle with a police officer. Inside the hot hire car police say they found two hand guns and a pair of balaclavas.
Two men aged 20 and 24 have fronted Waverley Court charged with numerous offences.
PNG Pollie DV Charge
A senior Papua New Guinean minister has been charged with assaulting a woman at a home in Bondi.
Police were called to the Imperial Avenue property on a Saturday night after reports of a domestic disturbance. They say they found a 31-year-old woman with facial injuries. PNG Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina, 58, was charged with assaulting her and the following week appeared in Waverley Court represented by high-profile barrister Margaret Cunneen, SC. A plea of not guilty was lodged and the case was adjourned.
Maladina was allowed bail subject to a number of conditions including staying away from his alleged victim.
Drug Sting in Maroubra Carpark
A public carpark in Maroubra was the collection point for a $7.3 million drug deal, according to Australian Federal Police.
A van supposedly containing 30 kg of ketamine was left parked there. However, the AFP had foiled the plan and the packages hidden under the seats contained a harmless substance. When a man turned up in the dead of night to unlock the van, officers swooped and arrested him. The 23-year-old and an alleged associate have been charged with a string of offences.
Ex-TV Presenter in Hot Water
Troubled former TV star Andrew O’Keefe has ended up on the wrong side of the law again.
O’Keefe was stopped by police on Cranbrook Road, Bellevue Hill following a triple zero call alleging he’d threatened a
man in Point Piper. After testing positive for drugs, he was arrested and officers allegedly found an ice pipe in the jacket he was wearing.
The 52-year-old spent a night in custody before facing Waverley Court charged with stalking, breaching an AVO and driving under the influence of drugs. He was allowed bail on the condition he undergoes daily drug tests.
Then two days later, he was back in court appealing domestic violence and drug convictions that date back to early this year. That case has been listed for judgement on September 9 and the court hearing on the latest charges is expected to take place early next year.
Affair Was Trigger for Domestic Assault
HR consultant Sophie Boddington hit her partner in the head after he revealed he’d had an affair while on holiday in Thailand, a court heard.
Waverley Court was told the man suffered bruising to his right temple after Boddington lashed out at him in their Bondi home. Magistrate Michael Barko dismissed the case on mental health grounds.
Intimidation Suspect
Recognise this bloke? Police want to talk to him about an intimidation incident in Bondi Junction. Call Waverley Police Station on 9369 9899 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, quoting reference number 24/23.
Photo NSW Police
Dramatic scenes in the east. Accused
Managing Stress
Words Jeremy Ireland
Photo Anne Ziaty
The last few months have dished up a good dose of major sporting events including Wimbledon, Le Tour de France and the Olympics, just to name a few. It’s been a real showcase of how athletes at the top level deal with nerves, pressure and the overall stress of competing. With stress, what we’re essentially looking at are feelings of anxiety. Imagine serving for the match in tennis; you know you have to win to progress to the next round, your first serve is a fault, the pressure is on, your concentration is waning and your stress levels start to peak.
Feeling stressed can be downright awful, but what we often overlook is that stress is a natural and normal emotion. When we encounter a stressor, the body’s response is typically a ‘fight or flight’ reaction. This response prepares us for some kind of action for self-preservation, i.e. you either stay and fight or run away. Initially the stress induced from the presenting danger involves some physiological change that helps the mind become alert, to identify the danger and prepare us for what to do.
We all need a certain amount of stress to perform at our best, whether it be in sport or otherwise. In the short-term
this stress response is useful - it can help us focus when giving a speech or help us fight if we are being attacked. The problem is that if the stress becomes longterm or excessive it can actually start to work against us and hinder our performance, mood, physical health and relationships. Much research indicates that when stress levels are moderate we tend to perform at our best, but when stress is high our performance is pushed down into the low range. In other words, high stress means low performance. It is this chronic and high-end stress that has the largest impact on our health and mental wellbeing.
A basic example of how stress tends to be triggered is when we feel we don’t have the time or resources to meet the demands placed upon us. Such demands (or stressors), perceived or otherwise, could be work, money or relationships, so the higher the demands and the lower the resources (time, help, etc.), the more stress goes up.
The cycle of stress has three main components - feelings/ physical sensations, thoughts and behaviours, including what we do or don’t do. For example, John is worrying his life is getting out of control. He’s irritable, tired and stressed. In response, he either compensates by overworking and taking on extra responsibilities or goes the other way by procrastinating and avoiding. This in turn triggers more stress-related thoughts, pushing the whole process into a vicious cycle.
Generally, there are two types of coping styles when it comes to stress - active and passive. Active coping is to be proactive and do something to directly solve the problem, either by getting extra help or to effectively support yourself through a tough time. Passive coping is to procrastinate, avoid
and worry, hoping things will fix themselves or improve with time. This is often associated with soothing behaviours like drinking too much or comfort eating. Passive coping is the one that gets us into trouble because although it might help us in the short-term it doesn’t really help address the problem.
If we are stressed, looking at our own stress cycle is the best way to start fixing the problem. Are we coping passively or actively? How are we interpreting stressful situations and are they realistic? How does our way of coping make us feel and what do we do in response?
Once we have a handle of how our stress cycle works we can look at how we can change it. First we identify our sources of stress (our demands). It might be time, a large workload, hassles from friends or family, money, health... Then we look at things that help to manage stress (our resources). Things like family, partners, skills, personal attributes, habits, hobbies, assets or all of these. Once identified, we put our demands on one side of the scale and our resources on the other. In an ideal world we want to have less weight in the ‘demands’ and more in the ‘resources’. To do this we prioritise, delegate, outsource, delete unessential tasks, reduce perfectionism, limit overtime, apply structured problem solving and, above all, learn to say no!
Doing the above may not stop you from hitting the net on your second serve, but it might just help you to win the next match and improve your overall game.
Jeremy Ireland is a local psychotherapist. Have you got a question? You can get in touch with Jeremy by calling 0400 420 042.
Ariarne and Marvellous Mollie.
The Unreliable Guide to... The Cult of Subscriptions
Words Nat Shepherd Photo Jeff Bezos
A friend recently complained to The Unreliable Guide about the inordinate difficulty he’d had in extricating himself from an online subscription to The Australian newspaper. He said it was like trying to leave a cult. While subscribing was an easy, one-click situation, to unsubscribe he had to call during limited, weekday work hours and explain himself to an overly friendly ‘retention officer’, trained in the prevention of cult desertion.
After repeatedly ignoring my friend’s requests to unsubscribe, the retention officer moved from extolling the joys of Murdoch’s propaganda pamphlet to offering huge discounts and delayed payments. It took twenty minutes of enduring the hard sell before the retention officer - who by now was much less friendly - finally deigned to unsubscribe him. Shaken and very cross, my friend vowed never to subscribe to anything ever again.
But that isn’t easy in today’s paywall world. Everything from TV shows to the gym seems to require a subscription these days. But never fear, The
Unreliable Guide is here with some tricks and tips to keep you safe from the happy clap-trappy subscription psychopaths.
Think Before You Click
As it turns out, we are way behind Europe in keeping an eye on dodgy subscription practices. At the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC), CEO Erin Turner keeps an eye on subscription practices in Australia and has investigated the global, online mega-mall known as Amazon.
According to Ms Turner, Amazon are abusing our lax consumer protection laws and have been getting up to all sorts of tricks that would be forbidden in the EU. In particular, Ms Turner called out Amazon for deliberately making it very difficult to unsubscribe.
“You typically can sign up in one click, and until recently, Amazon Australia had a multi-step, hard-to-find process to stop paying them money. Amazon has been treating its customers as cash cows.”
I’d agree with that. A few years ago, I bought something on Amazon, subscribed without
even realising I had done so, and spent months trying to unsubscribe myself. I’ve never used them again.
Check Your Credit Card
But what if you’re paying for subscriptions you don’t even know about? Keeping track of this stuff can feel like a full-time job. We sign up for Stan, Binge, Britbox, Prime, Netflix, Foxtel, Disney, etc. to watch a certain show and then forget all about those monthly debits. And they can add up.
A mum I know, whose kids have left home, realised she had a bunch of streaming apps she never watched. It took a day to cancel them all, but she saved herself a cool $125 a month, which is $1,500 a year. That’s a lot to pay out for something you’re not using.
The best way to find out what you are paying, and to whom, is to check your credit card statements for recurring payments. That way you’ll know exactly how much of your hard-earned cold hard is slipping through your fingers. Play the system, get organised and keep track of discounted or free trial periods. Once you’ve signed up for a subscription, set a calendar alert for five days before the next payment date. That way you’re in control, not them.
Finally, The Unreliable Guide
suggests you never, ever subscribe to a gym. In a New Year’s fit of enthusiasm, I signed up to our local buff-barn. Six months later, no progress. I’m going to have to go there in person to complain… I love that joke. Actually, I’ve been twice. Once to tear a muscle and the second time to try and cancel my membership. But to quit the Cult of the Iron Dungeon, I have to write a grovelling apology, hand over my first-born child and give them the deeds to my house. Just don’t do it.
Why Local Government Matters
NSW local government elections will take place on Saturday, September 14, and voting is compulsory if you are eligible. These elections provide an important and exciting opportunity for residents to choose their representatives, who then make decisions that directly impact daily life, influencing everything from public services to urban development and the environment. Understanding the significance of these elections can help foster greater civic engagement and ensure that the voices of Sydney’s diverse communities are heard.
Local government elections provide a mechanism for representation and accountability. The councillors elected represent specific wards or divisions, giving residents a direct line to decision-makers who understand their local issues. This local representation ensures that the unique needs and concerns of different neighbourhoods are addressed, not only resulting in
improved and needed services but also fostering a sense of community and belonging. Our parks, community gardens, sporting facilities and support of community groups all contribute to building social cohesion and quality of life.
Local government plays an important role in ensuring the well-being, development and sustainability of local communities by providing a wide range of services and acting as a bridge between the community and higher levels of government. The progressive local councils of Waverley and Randwick have worked closely together alongside the NSW Government to improve important local services but also to address and enhance our area’s environmental sustainability.
These councils have implemented several progressive and advanced initiatives to promote environmental sustainability, including the ‘Sustaining Our
City’ programs, which include a range of projects and policies aimed at improving the local environment. Some key initiatives include investment in solar energy installations on council buildings, reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Our councils have also implemented water-saving measures including the use of stormwater harvesting and recycling systems in parks and public spaces to reduce the demand on potable water supplies. Their ‘Zero Waste’ strategies aim to reduce waste generation and increase recycling rates through community education, improved waste collection systems and support for composting and other waste diversion programs.
Randwick and Waverley Councils have also undertaken projects to restore and protect local biodiversity such as dune rehabilitation, native planting programs and the creation of wildlife corridors to support local flora and fauna. They have actively promoted and worked with the NSW Government to ensure sustainable transport options, including the development of cycling infrastructure, walking paths and public transport improvements to reduce car dependency and associated emissions.
Our councils’ commitment to environmental sustainability and the role of our elected councillors as leaders in promoting progressive environmental policies is something that we should all be proud of and I would love to see continue. I urge you to engage with the coming council elections and support those progressive and community engaged candidates who will work to build upon and improve current services and critically important environmental initiatives.
Words Dr Marjorie O’Neill - Member for Coogee Photo Elle Lection
Don't take democracy for granted; get out and vote!
Subject Balcony Hangs Location Randwick
Photographer Jim Watson
Subject The Bathtub Location Clovelly
Photographer Mel Noonan
Subject Rainbow Rise Location Clovelly
Photographer Tom Norman
Subject Claws Location Tamarama Photographer Wil Larcombe @willarcombe
Subject
The
Tightrope Walker Location Ben Buckler Photographer Natasha Burton
Subject Peelers Location Bondi Photographer Michael Marren @phat_meek
Subject Winter Picnic Location Clovelly Photographer Zac Frazer
Subject Beached Location Gordons Bay Photographer Tommy Dalton
Subject Winter Weekends Location Bronte Photographer Sofia Echesortu @atlasoutdoorclub
Subject Wylie’s Warmups Location Coogee Photographer Justin Williamson
Subject Thrill Seeker Location Bronte Photographer Jonty Booy @booyancy_
I can almost taste it through my laptop.
Crumbed Lamb Cutlets, Mint Basil Pesto and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Words Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine
Lamb cutlets are a real treat and a genuine family favourite in our household. The golden brown crumb creates pure mouth-watering indulgence, and although they’re delicious just on their own with fresh lemon, how could I stop there when spring is offering up such an abundance of fresh herbs ready to be transformed into the brightest pesto and paired with roasted cherry tomatoes to bring some sweetness to the lamb.
This perfect little combination is guaranteed to impress family and friends, and it should serve 3-4 hungry humans.
Ingredients
10 trimmed lamb cutlets, flattened with a mallet
1½ cups extra virgin olive oil for frying
1 cos lettuce, core removed, leaves separated 500gms cherry tomatoes Lemon wedges to serve
Crumb Mix
2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 cup plain flour
2 eggs, beaten
Mint Basil Pesto
1½ cups fresh mint leaves
1½ cups fresh basil leaves
¾ cup parmesan, chopped
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
½ tsp sea salt
½ tsp cracked black pepper
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180℃. Roast the cherry tomatoes for 20 minutes.
2. To crumb the lamb, place the flour, egg wash and breadcrumbs, in three separate bowls. Crumb the lamb cutlets in that order and set them aside.
3. To make the pesto, combine all ingredients in a blender and blitz to combine well. Scrape down the sides and remove into a bowl.
4. To fry the lamb cutlets, heat olive oil in a large fry pan set to medium heat. Fry the lamb cutlets for 2-3 minutes each side (just turn the heat down if the crumb is browning too fast). Drain on paper towel and set aside.
5. Remove the tomatoes from the oven.
6. To serve, arrange the lamb cutlets on a large plate with the mint basil pesto, roasted cherry tomatoes and fresh cos lettuce leaves and generous wedges of lemon.
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.
The Beast Supercross
ACROSS
1. Language spoken in Austria (6)
4. Level of rank (5)
8. Someone in a position of trust (7)
9. Strike or bite with a beak (4)
10. Emotion caused by threat of danger (4)
11. Ability to make good judgement (6)
12. An adopted person (7)
14. The sun rises here (4)
18. Reuse old ideas (6)
20. Our largest artery (5)
21. Ryan Reynolds owns this soccer club (7)
23. Awesome swimmer, ... McKeon (4)
Trivial Trivia
1. Where will the 2028 Summer Olympics be held?
2. What country has the most islands?
3. Cillian Murphy stars in which 1900s English mob streaming series?
4. What is the name of Elvis Presley’s Memphis home?
5. Which writer holds the Guinness World Record for the most translated works?
6. Which Italian town is the setting for Romeo & Juliet?
DOWN
1. Hinged barrier (4)
2. Course taken in getting to a destination (5)
3. Joint inflammation (9)
5. Feeling of intense joy (7)
6. Wife or widow of a Duke (7)
7. House of review (6)
10. Short-lived craze (3)
12. Fired from bows (6)
13. Yellow orange colour (5)
15. Central hall with a glazed roof (6)
16. Drink of honour (5)
17. Australian cracker (3)
19. Malicious deception (4)
22. Spicy seafood sauce (2)
7. What mineral makes things float easier in water?
8. Which astronomer is called out in Bohemian Rhapsody?
9. What are baby rabbits called?
10. Who is Barbie’s little sister?
Millionaires Row.
Words Lisa Anderson Photo Wil Larcombe @willarcombe
Strange Darling
Genre Thriller
Reviewer Linda Heller-Salvador
The tables keep turning in this cat-and-mouse thriller with a difference that will keep you on your toes with its unpredictable twists and turns.
Strange Darling is American writer-director J.T. Mollner’s (Outlaws and Angels) skillfully designed second feature film that unfolds in six unchronological yet cohesive chapters which, once pieced together, portrays a day in the life of a guilefully cool yet disturbed serial killer.
What appears to be an innocent one-night stand for ‘The Lady’ (Willa Fitzgerald) quickly turns into a terrifying fight for survival when the maniacal ‘The Demon’ (Kyle Gallner) targets her as his next victim.
Strange Darling is best viewed without too much prior knowledge, and with Mollner’s stylistic choices of using 35mm film, saturated colours and the powerful dynamics between the two lead characters, it makes for a relentlessly edgy and visually captivating thrill ride that will keep you teetering on the edge of your seat.
GLASS ANIMALS
I Love You So F***ing Much
Label Polydor
Reviewer @aldothewriter
Rating
The tall poppy slayers have been sharpening their scythes for these guys of late. It’s like Children of the Corn out there. They need to sheath their decrepit little keyboard tappers into their slimy pockets though, because they’re embarrassing themselves. Glass Animals have traditionally been more about the singles than the album, but ILYSFM may be their beautiful transition into the real deal, like when a politician with a soul decides to turn teal. Give it a few listens. It won’t instantly grab you like ‘Heat Waves’, but when it does, you’ll start craving it like a rat does the worms in your compost.
FLOYD IVES
THE ADULT WORLD
Label Independent
Reviewer @aldothewriter
Rating
The debut EP from this talented local lad is a bit like going to a winery serving turn of the Millennia indie band drops, but you are the designated driver. Only three drinks from the cup? Come on, Floyd! I want to take the courtesy bus home and get a look of resigned disgust from the babysitter when I stumble through the door and ask if she’s heard your music. The three tastes we do get are full-bodied reds, with a hint of Silverchair’s Frog Stomp, a subtle suggestion of early Green Day, and a gentle hum of The Strokes. I’d buy the bottle, if I could.
ELSY WAMEYO
Saint Sinner
Label Impressed
Reviewer @aldothewriter
Rating
I’ve been listening to a lot of introspective hip-hop recently, so the algorithm slippery slid this into my suggested music like an NRL player into an OnlyFans model’s DMs. And I couldn’t be happier - it certainly makes a nice change from all the sad and angry punk bands. Wameyo is a Kenyan born Aussie rapper, and it’s hard for me to write a review about Saint Sinner without either sounding like an out of touch white bloke walking on egg shells or a second year Arts student trying to seduce his crush over a few apple ciders, but trust me, it’s really bloody good.
Star Signs
Visions Beardy from Hell
Scorpio Oct 24-Nov 22
The myth of manifestation has rendered all forms of proactive activity redundant, so sit back and wait for things to happen.
Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21
Before you accuse your bank of letting you get scammed, think very carefully about who has access to your credit card.
Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 20
If your partner thinks you’re selfish, you can always prove how selfless you are by giving them away, for free.
Aquarius Jan 21-Feb 19
Your shopping habits have developed into a means of numbing pain and coping with difficult memories and emotions.
Pisces Feb 20-Mar 20
Your business ideas would be really wonderful if businesses weren’t supposed to generate a
Aries Mar 21-Apr 20
Stop playing so hard to get and just give your needy friend what it is that they’ve been craving for so long.
Taurus Apr 21-May 21
One innovative way to combat cost of living pressures is to stop hiring a taxi to deliver your takeaway.
Gemini May 22-Jun 21
A random glass with lip gloss mysteriously left on the rim has the potential to cause problems in your relationship.
Cancer Jun 22-Jul 22
Once you hit 25 you become incrementally less attractive every day, so factor that in and adjust your expectations accordingly.
Leo Jul 23-Aug 22
Taking a friend’s crazy relative under your wing at their family gathering is one of the most selfless acts a person can perform.
Trivial Trivia Solutions
