MAY 2014

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MAY 2014

www.2508mag.com.au

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DISTRICT NEWS

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SIVELE U L C EX REDIB UE INCP RESC RI

mission kokoda the ex-soldiers trekking for a great cause

Helensburgh | Otford | Darkes Forest | Stanwell Tops | Stanwell Park | Coalcliff

2508 CONTENTS LETTERS 03 well done to our Letter of the Month winner NEWS 08 In brief Workers Club votes, swale outrage, JRPP 17 Leading lady School student inspired BUSINESS 20 10 minutes with Illawarra Credit Union branch manager Gabriella Maguire 21 trade secrets How to shoot a great portait LIFESTYLE 10 Cover story The ex-soldiers trekking for charity 13 What mums want A little time for self care 14 exclusive Stories from

Stanny’s incredible rip rescue 18 Gardening You don’t need deciduous trees for gorgeous autumn colours 19 Worst Weeds A local expert picks her top six 22 award nominated The photographer famous for his over/under ocean shots 24 What’s on Motherlove retreat, Shakespeare medley 39 Clubs Reports from Probus and VIEW SPORT 40 Ironman triathlon The big challenge for blind athlete Nathan Johnston 42 Tigers Match reports 44 SLSC gold! Club triumphs at the Aussies 48 junior surf champ Well done, Billie!

Cover image by Anthony Warry Photography; www.anthonywarry.tumblr.com

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS Dr Rob Brander LOUISE – aka ‘Dr Rip’ – is a CHARMAN-JAMES coastal geomorpholo-

gist and Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. A resident of Stanwell Park, he’s been studying beaches for 25 years, starting in Canada where water temperatures convinced him come to Australia to do his PhD. He is an international expert on rip currents and runs a beach safety education program called The Science of the Surf (www.scienceofthesurf. com). He wrote Dr Rip’s Essential Beach Book. Read his column on page 16.

SARA NEWNHAM

is a passionate horticulturist with nearly 20 years’ experience. Starting as a landscaper, she soon discovered a love for plants and design.

She has managed many nurseries, retail and wholesale, around Sydney.

While raising four children, she worked and studied subjects such as natural area restoration. Sara now runs Creativescapes, a garden design and maintenance business (0451 196 646, creativescapes@iprimus.com.au). Read her column on page 18.

lives in Helensburgh and runs meditation classes and retreats through her business, Soul Signature.

She also offers individual Empowerment Sessions to clear personal blocks and create more success and happiness in life. A former TV producer and copywriter, she is currently at work on her first novel. Contact: louise@ soulsignature.com.au, 0417 244 978.

Read her column, “What Mums Want”, on page 12 and find details of Louise’s Motherlove retreat on page 25.

PROF. KRIS FRENCH

is the Director of the Janet Cosh Herbarium at the University of Wollongong. She has been undertaking research on weed invasions for over 20 years. Her work has mostly focused on weeds in coastal areas. She has also worked extensively on how various habitat changes (urbanisation and plantations) influence our native flora and fauna, and undertaken research on endangered birds. She teaches ecology and biodiversity at the university. Read about 2508’s worst weeds on page 19.

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DISTRICT NEWS Editors

Genevieve Swart, Marcus Craft

Art director Brendon Wise

Consulting editor Angela Fagerstrom

Ad design Wendy Gergos

Regular contributors

Rob Brander, Sara Newnham, Natalie Cattley, Anthony Warry

Printing

Snap! Wollongong

Contact

PO Box 248, Helensburgh, 2508 editor@2508mag.com.au www.2508mag.com.au www.facebook.com/2508mag There is a contributor’s drop box at Helensburgh Newsagency on Parkes Street.

Advertising

See www.2508mag.com.au for rates, specifications and deadlines. Terms and conditions apply. Email editor@2508mag.com.au 2508: District News is published by The Word Bureau Pty Ltd. ABN 31 692 723 477 Community participation in this monthly magazine is encouraged. Please contact editor@2508mag.com.au with story ideas. Letters should be a maximum of 200 words. The editors reserve the right to edit submissions. Contributors should include contact details for clarification. Email correspondence is preferred.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the letters in this issue do not reflect those of the editors. All content and images remain the property of 2508: District News unless otherwise supplied. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

The magazine’s paper is sourced from sustainable forests.

2508 LETTERS

have a say LETTER OF THE MONTH

Having watched Black in Time, it brought back a lot of memories. Bill and I were married in the old Catholic Church which doubled as a school room then, 73 years ago, at 19 and 21, so have seen many changes.

Bill was actually born here and worked at the mine for 10 years before he was the local bus driver, known as Smiley. We are, I think, the oldest married couple in Helensburgh at 91 and 92 this year.

Years ago you put the milk Billy out for milk from the local dairy, the money on the kitchen table for Baker and the Butcher came with his meat in a basket when the mine was on strike, which was quite often.

The local store gave you credit, which you paid later. We had a picture show, dry cleaner, furniture shop, even a maternity hospital, where

my four children were born. I consider we came into the world in the best era as it’s not now the safe place it was years ago to raise children.

Helensburgh is a wonderful place to live.

Thanking you, Bill and Jessie Smith

Congratulations, Bill and Jessie. You win our Letter of the Month! The prize is a DVD of the mining documentary Black in Time, which is back by popular demand at the Workers Club on Friday and Saturday, May 30 and 31.

COMMUNITY NOTICES THANK YOU, EVERYONE

Ruth, Tracy, Deb and Family would sincerely like to thank everyone for their support, care and love in our sad loss of John. Also a big thank you to everyone who came to celebrate John’s life. It was amazing. A very big thank you to Corrina, Kristy and Bede for all your help.

Also the Centennial Hotel’s Ronda and Bernie, thank you. 2508

1/2 ad Cambrai Stables, Helensburgh 2508

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2508 SOCIETY Wayne and Jane Teal

BLACK IN TIME FILM NIGHT Last month’s screenings of the Helensburgh coal mining documentary were a sell-out success at the Workers Club. So much so that director Georey Sykes has arranged two more screenings this month (see ad below for details). Some of the special guests who attended were (top left, from left to right) Allan House, Merilyn House, Jim Powell and Jenny Donohoe of the Helensburgh and District Historical Society.

FREE

Website Evaluation worth $350!

At Snap Wollongong we are offering a free website evaluation (valued at $350) for the first 20 businesses who respond to this offer. We will provide valuable feedback on how your website is performing and offer suggestions to help you improve your on-line pressence.

Contact Snap Wollongong 02 4228 8411 james@gong.snap.com.au

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2508 SOCIETY

SURF CLUB BOOK LAUNCH

On Sunday, April 13, about 100 people gathered at the Workers Club to celebrate the launch of Vigilance and Service, a book chronicling a century of achievements at Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club. The book’s editor is club historian Evan Griffiths OAM, a lifesaver for more than six decades. Pictured top left are (from left to right), Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery, MP Sharon Bird and HSPSLSC Club President Steven McDonald. Photos: Brett Dainty

HARDWARE & BUILDING TRADERS

New store NOW OPEN 193 Parkes Street

(next to the smash repairs) *Glass Cut *Key Cutting *Trade Facilities *Timber Cut To Size *Personalised Service from Mike, Gail & James

Open 7 days Ph: 4294 1007 Fax: 4294 1488

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2508 NEWS

funds for farms Preschoolers donned their finest check shirts to help our farmers, writes Sarah Fitzgerald.

During the week of April 7-11, Robertson St Kindy held a fundraiser to support the national campaign “Buy a Bale”, which aims to buy bales of hay for Australian farmers in droughtstricken areas.

At RSK we aimed at educating our children about the drought, farms, how farmers work the land, farm animals and how as a community we can save water to save Australian farms. The children, their families and the RSK teachers got behind this worthy cause each day by dressing up as a farmer or an animal, and showed their generosity by donating a gold coin and more. With the support of the centre’s children, teachers,

family and friends, Coles Helensburgh, Grima Bros Fresh Market, Movie HQ and Cronulla RSL we were able to raise $360, which will allow us to buy 18 bales of hay for farmers in need.

Robertson St Kindy children and teachers would like to thank everyone who helped to raise this amount of money, as the children are very proud with their effort. 2508

Dance Academy Dance and drama classes in our purpose built studio!

Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary & Hip Hop. Tiny Tots to Adults, all ages are catered for.

Our Showgroup performs on stage!

Contact Fleur on 0448 425 594 fleurdelisdance@hotmail.com Dance Studio located at, 26C Walker Street ~ Entry from Club Lane ~ Helensburgh, NSW 2508 Private lessons available. All ages and levels welcome.

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2508 NEWS

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2508 NEWS

in brief

what’s making local headlines.

SPEAK UP ON DEVELOPMENT

The Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel is holding public meetings to listen to the community’s views on two hotly debated planning proposals for Helensburgh and Otford.

The meetings will be at Helensburgh Workers Club on May 6 at 4pm and May 7 at 10am.

Register to speak before 4pm on May 2 via 02 9228 2060 or jrppenquiry@jrpp.nsw.gov.au (subject line: Helensburgh). More info on the planning proposals at www.jrpp.nsw.gov.au.

MUDDY GROUND

As promised, protestors had their cameras poised when – despite a period of heavy rain – Council pressed ahead with the construction of a controversial swale in Henry Halloran Park at Stanwell Tops. Sue Murray, of the Henry

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Halloran Park Residents Group, provided the above picture of parkland “churned up by diggers and trucks”. In a March 26 emailed letter to the Lord Mayor, Sue described the damage to the park as “disgraceful”. “If only Council had listened to the residents who have first hand knowledge of the conditions,” she wrote.

Grand Pacific Walk work begins

Construction of the Grand Pacific Walk has begun. First up: the building of a shared pathway next to Stoney Creek road bridge in Coalcliff.

This will make it safer to walk along this part of

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2508 NEWS the route. Stage One of the Grand Pacific Walk, from Coalcliff to Stanwell Park, is particularly challenging because of the steep terrain and narrow roads. Council information: 4227 7111.

future of the workers club

It is crunch time for the Workers Club in Helensburgh.

At press time, two groups were due to vote on an amalgamation with the Tradies Group that could save our ailing local club. Helensburgh Workers Club members were set to vote on May 4 and the Sutherland District Trade Union Club members on April 29.

Tim McAleer, CEO of the Tradies Group, said: “My view is that should either group go against it [amalgamation], the prospects for Helensburgh Workers Club are extraordinarily gloomy.

“I think the vast majority of Helensburgh people are excited about Tradies going there and I think the vast majority of the 48,000 Tradies members are very positive about the ability of our management team to make a success of that club.”

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Auction of 30 Robertson Street

HOT PROPERTY

A century-old cottage has set an auction record in Helensburgh.

Seven bidders registered for the March 22 auction of 30 Robertson Street, a three-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage on a 1016 sq m block.

“We had a terrific day,” says estate agent Russ Sergeant, of Century 21 Caringbah. ”Auction went for 40 minutes. Reserve price was $620,000, property sold for a massive $801,000.00 ($181,000.00 above reserve), a record for the area.” The property sold to a family. 2508

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2508 REPORT SPECIAL

FE AT URE

Photos by Anthony Warry Photography; www.anthonywarry.tumblr.com

on track for kokoda

A Helensburgh man is leading a Kokoda record attempt to raise money for charity.

The mission is clear – walk the 96km-long Kokoda Track unassisted in six days carrying up to 30kg packs. The target is locked - raise $100,000 for the anti-violence charity Enough is Enough. But the team needs corporate sponsorship, help and support to raise funds for the trek.

Operation Peace Warriors will attempt to complete the Kokoda Track Army ‘hard routine’ style, in six days, with minimal support and carrying all of their equipment, food, water and safety gear. The blokes Simon Reynolds, Neil Wilcock, Andrew Lloyd and Simon ‘Archie’ Reynolds - are scheduled to start the walk on July 23, the same date as Aussie diggers faced their first ‘contact’ on the track during World War II. “Following in the steps of the Australian soldiers remains a physically challenging task, to be attempted by only the fittest of bushwalkers amongst us,” according to the Australian Government’s Department of Veteran Affairs. “The 96-kilometre Kokoda track wanders along narrow crests offering spectacular views, and falls into deep dark gorges where the thick green vegetation blocks out the daylight.”

But if anyone has the mettle to tackle the Kokoda in record time, it’s these blokes.

Group leader Simon served in the British Army for 16 years, mostly with Commando and Airborne (Parachute) units. He served in arctic, desert, jungle and mountainous

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areas all over the world. He left the army in 2001 as a staff sergeant with an exemplary record. Simon lives in Helensburgh with his wife Collette and three daughters.

Simon’s 2IC for the trek, Neil Wilcock, a former Aussie Commando, is his training and fund-raising partner. Neil’s wife Alissa is also helping to raise funds.

Andrew Lloyd won gold in the Men’s 5000m at the Auckland Commonwealth Games in 1990. He’s also supplying the team with GU energy gel.

Archie, Simon’s nephew, is an athlete and personal trainer from the UK. He’s flying over to help and take part in the last month’s training prior to the trek.

The biggest challenge has been locking in fundraising for the trek, Simon said.

“Yes, exactly that, raising funds and getting sponsorship. Time is a huge issue too as I have three businesses (thebritstop.com. au, high risk consultancy and hostile environments training work and Viafix.com. au) … plus my three daughters.”

A normal week of physical preparation includes a mix of training, he said.

“I run and trek as much as my time allows. I quite often, say twice per week, do the Burgh to Bundeena and back along the coastal route with a heavy pack and an overnight camp-out. I will aim to average 100km per week with a pack at a strong pace to start off ... then build up from there.”

To donate, visit give.everydayhero.com/ au/peace-warriors-for-michael-marslewtrek-against-violence. See enoughisenough. org.au. 2508

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2508 REPORT The men behind the mission: Simon Reynolds and Neil Wilcock (camo shirt)

SIMON’S FAVOURITE ’BURGH BUSHWALKS

1. “The Burgh Track from home to Bundeena is the best distance one, with lots of big hills and beach sections.”

2. “Up and down the mountain five to 10 times on the Wodi Wodi Track for a ‘ball-buster’ session.”

3. “There’s a great 10km track around the ’Burgh that’s good for a quick heart and lungs session.”

4. “The Palm Jungle Loop Track from Otford to Burning Palms Beach is also a good one for a fast lungbuster and gets you used to the tricky, wet track.”

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2508 COLUMN

what mums want

by Louise Charman-James On Mother’s Day, mum might expect breakfast in bed, handcrafted cards, perhaps flowers or chocolates. Then she’ll probably get up, make breakfast and do the washing up.

Caring for others is implicit in “mothering”.

But caring for themselves seems to be harder for many mums. It is too easy, in the whirl of work and family demands, to find the little acts of self-care women enjoyed before having children have disappeared, and fatigue, resentment and ill-health are creeping in.

Reading a book, going for a walk or sitting down for breakfast instead of eating it on the run – these small acts of self-care add up to a happy mum. Unfortunately, often they are missing from the mothering equation. Many women feel guilty or selfish about taking time for themselves; others simply can’t see how to fit it into an already exhausting schedule.

Yet self-care is the foundation of great mothering. Flight attendants advise parents to put on their oxygen masks before assisting children: self-care is the same. Taking time to replenish the self ensures the fuel tank of giving doesn’t run dry and leave mum stranded. No good to anyone, least of all herself.

So if you’re a busy mum, take a moment to consider, “What three simple self-care practices could I do every day?” It might be getting up five minutes earlier to do stretches, sitting down to drink a cup of tea (all of it!) or doing deep breathing before you go to sleep. It’s the little things that nourish and keep you buoyant.

By regularly performing these acts of self-kindness, you will build emotional stamina and resilience, even become a more positive person. When you feel good, you are able to share more of yourself with your family, so everyone wins. Self-care for mums really is “the gift that keeps on giving”! 2508

A.Francois A.K.A. @DocSketchy

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2508 NEWS

mother’s day deals it’s spoiling time. That means, gifts, time off and definitely no dishes.

On Mother’s Day, Red Nectar restaurant will give all mums a free glass of bubbles and a special gift. There will also be lucky door prizes and a set menu of modern cuisine. Level 1, 121 Parkes Street, Helensburgh, 4294 9361.

Hosted by Sharon Longridge and Louise Charman-James, Motherlove is a yoga and meditation retreat at Govinda Valley. It’s on the Sunday after Mother’s Day. Call 0417 244978.

Helensburgh’s Sammy Mahler, of Little Miss Boo Personal Styling, is offering 15% off her “Mother & Daughter” package, including a

“wardrobe audit”. Contact 0418 344 714.

Head Quarters is a Helensburgh salon owned by sisters with a flair for hair and make-up: Sharlene Baker and Monica North. They’ll be using their expertise to beautify mums. Shop 6, 114 Parkes Street, 0411 258 046.

Treat mum to a rockin’ time on May 11 when Powderfinger’s Darren Middleton drops by Coalcliff’s Bombie Bar to promote his solo album in an intimate, acoustic gig. From 2pm.

Tickets www.trybooking.com/ENKO. Not quite a mum yet? Flourish clinic in Helensburgh specialises in remedial massages for pregnant women. Contact 0449 518 110. 2508

Find the perfect gift for mum this Mothers Day

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2508 REPORT

SURF RESCUE! About 5pm on March 31, a Stanwell Park resident went for a swim.

What happened next is incredible …

remember was just this constant … white water … smashing down on my face.”

Ion Pearce, 58, swims in the ocean two to three times a week. “I don’t go in over my head … and on that particular day … I looked at it and I thought … ‘It’s not too bad’ …

“I could see the surfers out there, I saw Ben [Rennie] standing there, talking to somebody …

I took the dogs about 30m north and then I just decided I’d jump in and I did something a little unusual, I went through the first channel, which was close to the shoreline, over the first sand bank and I struck out … 10m or 15m and I was in the second channel that obviously had been carved out by the storms … and almost immediately I got to the second channel … I felt this huge volume of water moving sideways … it kind of felt like a locomotive … and I thought ‘This is not good’ … I signalled first after I’d been struggling for about five minutes.

“I gave it a good shot, I probably waved and yelled and then gave it another shot but I don’t think I struggled for longer than 10 minutes … I was actually exhausted … sheer exhaustion …

“I actually did make a conscious decision that I wasn’t going to panic but I did think that I was going to die …

“By this stage I must have been 30m out and I was on my back and this set came in and pounded the hell out of me … the last thing I

Chris Parker, a year 12 student from Bosco, was up in the carpark on the hill. He saw Ion in trouble and raced down to assist, grabbing a surfboard and yelling about a man drowning ...

When Stanwell Park resident Ben Rennie became aware someone was caught in a life-or-death struggle just off-shore “everything slowed down for me – in the moment it was all pretty clear”.

“At the point I saw him, he [Ion Pearce] was 50m out and 50m north of me.”

Ben was quickly in the water. As he closed in on the struggling man “he went under about 20m away from me”.

Ben desperately tried to look beneath the waves but “there was no way I could see anything under water, it was all chopped up because of the surf. I was about 60m out. I stood on a sandbar to try to see over the waves.”

Amazingly, Ion popped up only a few metres from Ben. “He was purple, eyes rolled back in his head, unresponsive, his mouth was open and he’d taken in a lot of water. I didn’t recognise him at first.”

Ben and surfer Toby Bishop carried Ion on their shoulders or backs as they fought desperately to get him to shore.

raising the alarm

This photo shows two rips at Stanwell Park beach, the day after Ion’s near drowning.

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2508 REPORT “When we grabbed him, we had no footing and he was a dead weight. We got about 10 or 15 metres in and two guys helped us; one, an older man, the other a younger bloke – the young guy powered Ion into shore.”

Once they’d got Ion to the beach, things still looked bleak. “He was a GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) score of three: unresponsive, no signs of life, so we moved him further up the beach and began CPR.” It was only 15 minutes later, after Ion had been resuscitated and was resting in the recovery position that Ben knew he “was going to be okay because he was conscious and aware and was able to talk to us”.

Ben said that among all of the many people who assisted in the rescue, Beau Vandenberg, a former emergency ward nurse, also deserved special mention. He had made “a huge difference”, Ben said; he was a calm, level head in a high-stress situation.

but IT’S NOT OVER...

When the rescue began, at about 5.30pm, Stanwell Park resident Ian Pepper was surfing at the north end with his children and a few of their friends. He continues the story: “I noticed someone being helped to shore and paddled over to assist. It was one of my neighbours who was ... unconscious, no pulse and not breathing.

“Two of my friends [Ben Rennie and Chris Farmer] were assisting from Coalcliff Surf Life Saving Club and we commenced CPR. “Miraculously, the man was revived after a few minutes. He was flown to Wollongong by the Westpac chopper. The man had been caught in a rip while having a short swim close to shore … He swam out a bit further than normal

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into the channel where he was swept north towards the Pinnacles in a rip. He lay on his back … and let the rip take him out but the waves kept pounding him. He put up his hand...

“The man was bobbing under water for long periods ... He was then swept 100m south underwater and suddenly came to the surface near [Ben Rennie]. As he was being taken to shore he was assisted by other surfers, including me. “[Then] one of the kids noticed another man waving for help in the rip. It was the year 12 boy [Chris Parker] who had lost the surfboard and was now in trouble himself.

“I saw the surfboard on the shore that he had lost and paddled out to his assistance with the board. He was exhausted … and had swallowed a lot of water but was okay.

“The heroes from Coalcliff were Ben Rennie and Chris Farmer. The surfer who gave the life-saving heart pumps was Craig Bruce.

Jo Riley and Tanya Pepper ... assisted the victims and communicating to 000.

“Many kids from the area all witnessed the event and hopefully learned why surf club is so important. I know mine did and will never forget what they witnessed.”

THE AFTERMATH

Ion has met with Ben since that day and he plans to thank all of his rescuers in person.

“I just want to personally thank all of the people involved, each and every person … I am actually very lucky to be alive.”

Ion would also like to thank the ambulance services and Wollongong hospital recovery and ICU personnel who were all “very attentive and professional”. 2508

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2508 COLUMN

Dr Rip’s Science of the Surf along the beach. So what should you do if you get caught in one?

The best thing to do is not panic. Rips don’t pull you under, they don’t take you to New Zealand and there’s a good chance they will re-circulate you back into shallow water. But that’s easier said than done when the beach is rapidly disappearing! Please don’t swim against them, that will only tire you out.

We’ve done research testing whether people So how much do you know about rips? If should just float or swim parallel to escape you’re a surfer, you probably use them to help them and found that no single message works you get out the back. If you’re not sure, then the for every scenario. Every situation and person only thing keeping you safe on unpatrolled is different. beaches is often just luck. Rips are the main The best advice is don’t get in them in the cause of drownings and rescues on our beaches; first place. Always swim between the flags or they cause an average of 21 confirmed rip within sight of lifeguards. If you’re not a good current fatalities each year. That’s more than the swimmer, don’t go in past your waist on an average number of people killed each year in unpatrolled beach. Most importantly, start Australia by bushfires, floods, cyclones and thinking about rips and learn how to spot them. sharks combined.

Most look like dark gaps, or paths, heading Rip currents are rivers of the sea that carry offshore between the breaking waves. Rememwater brought to the beach by breaking waves ber this saying, “white is nice, green is mean”, back offshore. They flow fast because and spend at least five minutes checking most are squeezed in deep channels the surf for dark gaps before going in. between shallow sandbanks or If in doubt, don’t go out. Please did you know? against headlands or rock reefs. check out my “Rip of the Month” Most rips look like dark Rips are anywhere from 5 to 50m page on www.scienceofthesurf.com gaps, or paths, heading wide, 1 to 10m deep, and occur to educate yourself on rip spotting. offshore between the approximately every 150m or so It may just help save a life. 2508 breaking waves.

last month’s near-drowning at Stanwell Park was a wake-up call to take rip currents even more seriously now that lifeguard services have finished, writes Rob Brander.

When it comes to rip spotting, white is nice, green is mean.

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2508 NEWS

leading role A 16-year-old Stanwell Park student has taken her first steps to corporate success.

Elle Montgomery, a Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts student, was one of only 50 students selected to attend the prestigious Young Women’s Leadership Academy last month. The 10th annual academy, run by UBS financial services firm, involved a residential program at Sydney University’s Women’s College and meeting business luminaries.

Elle is an all-round high achiever. “At school, I am the president of the student representative council, I compete in mock trial competitions, I am currently completing my Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award and last year I was the only person in my year to get straight A’s on my Record of School Achievement (ROSA). I am a figure skater and I travel all around Australia to

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Elle Montgomery, right, with Dr Amanda Bell, principal of The Women’s College at Sydney University.

compete in competitions.”

Her principal encouraged her to apply for the leadership academy. “I met so many inspirational people!” Elle says. “I met the managing director of UBS, the principal of The Women’s College and many other role models.

“The academy has taught me to see the bigger picture in life and leadership skills that I will use for the rest of my life. There was a focus on cyber bullying which taught me that as a leader I need to stand out and speak up.”

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2508 OUTDOORS

Gardening with sara For lovers of autumn colours, Sara Newnham recommends natives that bask in stunning shades all year round.

The leaves they are a-changing.

As the cool May winds turn the last deciduous leaves glorious tones of red, orange and gold, it saddens me that these colours couldn’t stay a little longer. Lovely though deciduous trees are, most are too large to grow in the average yard; they make a big mess and some, such as Sapium, Chinese tallow trees; Liquidambars and willows, even pose a threat to our bushland by self-seeding.

The great news is you can have stunning foliage colour all year round with native plants.

Heathcote’s Sydney Wildflower Nursery has a large selection of natives and, for a stunning yellow statement, Melaleuca ‘Revolution Gold’ is hard to go past. It’s fast growing, as is the new weeping Acacia ‘Limelight’ or, if you are after a glossy green multi-coloured hedge there are many lilly pillies to chose from. Most have contrasting new growth in pinks, reds and oranges. These can grow in sun or shade and the berries are good bush-tucker.

For burgundy foliage in the garden, look out for Breynia ‘Ironstone’ or Dodonaea viscosa

‘Purpurea’. Both are cultivars of plants that grow naturally in our area. They make a great feature when planted near silver foliage plants, such as Acacia baileyana ‘Purpurea’, a lovely wattle with grey foliage and burgundy tips. It looks so delicate – as do flannel flowers and the irresistible-to-touch woolly bush ‘Silver Streak’ – but all are very tough and drought-tolerant.

Helensburgh’s Sunrise Nursery has a kaleidoscopic range of exotic foliage colour plants – also sure to brighten your day.

tricks of the trade

Cyclamens are in flower now. They do very well in a semi-shaded spot in the garden, but will die down over summer. Or they make a great indoor plant – the trick is to have them in a well-lit spot, always water them under their leaves or sit them in a saucer of water, and feed them with a liquid fertiliser, such as Thrive every two weeks for flower and fruit.

They love the cold; it helps them flower longer, so be sure to put them outside each night before bed.

Chrysanthemums are traditionally Mother’s Day flowers. Instead of buying cut flowers, give mum a pot of them to keep inside for a few weeks. Then, as the flowers die off, cut them back and plant in a sunny spot in the garden.

With feeding, they will grow a flush of flowers again and be enjoyed for seasons to come. 2508

buy mum a pot of Chrysanthemums, so these traditional mother’s day flowers can live on

Send questions or pics to Sara at Creativescapes consultancy (creativescapes@iprimus.com.au, 0451 196 646).

Tough and droughttolerant woolly bush

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2508 OUTDOORS The rapidly increasing Asparagus fern

worst weeds invasive species expert Professor Kris French picks the worst of the bunch in our area.

There are lots of weeds that occupy roadsides and disturbed bush in the district; so many it is hard to find just the few really bad ones. But I have a few that I particularly dislike because they are on the increase.

Surprisingly my list doesn’t include lantana, although it is most likely the most common destructive species and it is worth mentioning in passing. I actually think we could get rid of lantana easily. While it is difficult to remove the plants as they are spiky and sprawling, they do not replace themselves with seedlings quickly – so they become easier to manage once the initial hard work is done.

The important thing to remember is to replace any removed plants with a native shrub, so wildlife doesn’t miss out on the cover.

Having said that, here’s my list of my “most hated” weeds that are on the increase.

1. Asparagus fern Asparagus aethiopicus.

Originally from Africa, this plant is rapidly increasing in 2508 not only along roadsides but also disturbed bushland. The fruits need to be removed from the site, but cutting the stems off is all that is needed as the plant can’t resprout from the roots. This plant is spread by birds, so it crops up all over the place.

2. Crofton weed Ageratina adenophora is from Central America. I notice it along roadsides where it is slowly infiltrating into the bushland.

Given its toxic properties for horses, this plant is well worth removing. Hand pulling is most effective and there is often lots and lots of it!

Plant a replacement species to slow reestablishment.

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3. Senna glabrata is obvious currently as its bright yellow flowers stand out in the bush. It is from South America. Cut and paint big plants, handpull seedlings and put all seeds in the garbage – they are viable for quite a few years.

4. Moth Vine Araujia hortorum is from Brazil.

It is currently releasing its seeds, which are white and fluffy and travel long distances on the wind. Its fruits resemble a choko. Cut the stems and pull out roots, and definitely remove any fruits that might open and release hundreds of seeds!

5. Morning Glory Ipomoea cairica and I. indica are very fast-growing vines from tropical Asia and Africa. Hand remove roots. Canopies can be left to die, but any material near the ground will sprout. In my garden I had to work for eight months every second weekend to get it under control. Spraying with glyphosate can be partially effective but nothing beats hard work!

6. Formosan lily Lilium formosanum is from Taiwan. Perhaps this shouldn’t be on the list but it is just finishing flowering and every year it is getting more and more common. I notice it on the road from Stanwell Tops down to the Park.

It looks pretty and I often wish I could walk along the road and just snip it off. One needs to remove all parts of the plant and follow up each year. I think there is starting to be a considerable seedbank along the road for this species!

Overall, nothing beats a few hours with the gardening gloves, removing these increasing species. Replacing with natives that belong in the area will always help prevent reestablishment and make our roadsides and disturbed areas look more attractive. 2508

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2508 BUSINESS

Q&A WITH...

Gabriella Maguire, Illawarra Credit Union’s new Helensburgh branch manager How long have you lived in Helensburgh?

Twenty-seven years. I consider myself local – some of the people who have come in here have gone, hmm, not quite sure yet (laughs).

Realistically, I’ve only slept here for the last 15 years, since I’ve been working fulltime. But people know your face: I come out and the girls go, “Well, this is Gabby”, and they go, “Ah! You’re so and so’s mother or so and so’s sister.”

Have you always been at the credit union?

No, I worked at Westpac for 35 years, commuting into Wollongong, I spent about eight years travelling to the Shire.

After working at a big bank, what brought you to a smaller one?

My role, I was assistant bank manager, was made redundant ... I decided I didn’t want to go with a big bank again, I wanted to look for a smaller community organisation.

So what’s your commute like now?

Two minutes!

As a local, what do you bring to the role of manager?

Stability. Because they haven’t had stability here for a little while ... people’s first question is, “How long are you staying for?” Well, I’m staying. I don’t have any plans to move on. And they are reassured by that.

Why should people bank with a smaller organisation like the credit union?

We can offer them all the banking services.

Originally we were set up for the miners and we were just the payroll office, I believe. So a lot of people out there still have that thinking, that that’s what we are and they are quite surprised

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when the find out that we do home loans and insurances and credit cards. We offer all the financial services of the big banks. In Helensburgh, we are the only bank and we are very community involved. We have set up partnerships with the local football clubs, like the rugby league and the soccer, and the surf club. If you come to us for a home loan and you are associated with that club, we then pay the club a small percentage of that loan amount as an income, for the life of the loan.

What might that mean in monetary terms?

For a loan of $250,000, which is really conservative, they would get something like a $600 income for the year, every year. Now it does decrease as the loan goes down, but that takes quite some time.

We have quite a strong relationship with Symbio as well. That’s through our Wildlife saver account – it’s a trustee account that parents set up for their children. They receive a lanyard that entitles them to free things when they go to Symbio and for every dollar in the account, one cent gets donated to Symbio.

Any new tech initiatives?

The moneytree app – you can do your banking on your smart phone. We have just started a new “plant a tree programme”, if you move to e-statements, the credit union will plant a tree for you.

How is your customer base changing?

We have this vast community of commuters who are not here during the day, so we are looking at extended hours on a Thursday night.

We are also open Saturday mornings.

What do you love about living in this area?

The community spirit. We all know each other, but it’s not like we live in each other’s pockets. We are just there for each other. 2508

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2508 BUSINESS

TRADE SECRETS

… of a portrait photographer

Terri Ayliffe (www.teaa.com.au, 0431 488 914) has been a photographer for 30 year, at times running studios and now capturing life and families in natural settings.

What’s the secret to shooting a great portrait?

Photography is the capture of light. Mornings and late afternoon, when the sun sits at a low angle, is ideal for photography. Face your subject on a slight angle toward the sun. Look at where the light falls on their face if you are happy take your image. Cloudy skies are referred to as nature’s soft box, this filtered light

works well for softer images. If taking head and shoulder shots, the cut-off point is just below the shoulders or at the waist. If shooting full-length images, keep the feet in. The soles of feet should be tucked away if the subject is sitting on the ground. Posing someone for a photo can lead to strained facial expressions.

Help them relax with conversation or shoot without structure. Happy shooting. 2508

Open 7 Days

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2508 REPORT

double take Stanwell Park’s matt smith is up for some big awards, including BBC wildlife photographer of the year.

What kindled your love for photography?

I have always had an attraction to the water and the tricks it plays on light. Some of my earliest memories are of my brother and I snorkelling on family holidays to France and the Mediterranean Sea. I bought my first film SLR camera in my teens and used it to shoot the coastlines of my home country of the United Kingdom. I saved and bought a waterproof housing for my camera so I could explore further. Trips abroad to far-off countries followed. I now live in Stanwell Park after emigrating in 2007 and I have the world’s biggest playground at my feet, the Pacific Ocean. And I have truly fallen in love with it!

What do you love about this area?

After returning home to the UK I made it my goal to come back. I did so with a job in mining engineering in 2007, which brought me to Wollongong. I instantly fell in the love with the area for its diversity in underwater environments and quality surf breaks.

What is your specialty?

Ocean wildlife and surf are definitely my target subjects. Recently I have been working on a half over, half underwater portfolio of images using a specialised waterproof housing which I designed and built myself. Over/under images can be quite tricky to do well and require patience and practice and careful underwater lighting. They are also quite unique and can really have a wow factor that captures the viewer’s attention and imagination.

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None of my images are Photoshopped. What I really love about an over/under picture is that it gives an underwater part of the image a sense of place. It marries the underwater world with our own familiar world; it links the unknown with the known.

What awards have you been nominated for?

This year so far I have made two finalist spots in the BBC Veolia International Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards with over/ under shots in the “Earth Environments” category. I also have two images in the Australian Geographic Photographer of the Year Awards and one image in the Sydney 2014 Head On Landscape photographer of the year awards. All the final results are out later this year, so a few months of nail-biting lie ahead!

Tell us about the pictures...

All the nominated pictures are from my over/underwater portfolio and were taken around the Wollongong area this year.

They include pictures of illuminated blue bottles (Physalia physalis), which pop a brilliant cyan blue against the dark water when lit with my high-powered fibre-optic lights.

Also nominated is an image I took at sunrise of some Waratah anemones in a rock pool at Port Kembla.

Is photography a passion you’d ever leave your day job for?

Love too! My photography does occasionally earn me a few interesting professional assignments. Next month I’m off to the Great Barrier Reef with a team of scientists to document environmental changes on the reef.

So, if these opportunities keep gaining momentum, you never know... 2508

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2508 REPORT

monkey biz

Brave mum Dora, with her third pair of twins ‘Marmoset’ comes from the French word ‘marmoset’ meaning ‘dwarf’, or ‘little’.

Symbio’s common marmosets have been getting busy – again, writes Michelle Aldred.

We are happy to report that proud Mum Dora and Dad Smokey have welcomed their third litter of twins in less than 18 months.

It is not unusual for common marmosets to give birth to twins – in fact, about 80 per cent of births will result in twins. Common marmoset’s can have two litters a year, and it’s safe to say that Mum and Dad have their hands full now.

Dad Smokey will carry the babies around for the majority of the time, which makes life a little easier for Mum. What a guy!

The breeding frequency of our common marmosets is a testament to the care Symbio’s passionate keepers give to all of our wildlife.

The common marmoset is originally from the north-eastern coast of Brazil. Weighing an

average of 256g for males, and 236g for females and an average height of 188mm, they truly are one of the world’s tiniest monkeys.

They have very sharp teeth, which in the wild are used to gnaw the bark of trees to extract the sap and gum that they feed on. 2508

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www.symbiozoo.com.au 23

2508 EVENTS

What’s on! send your listings to editor@2508mag.com.au

CHURCHES H’burgh & Stanwell Park Anglican Church Regular Sunday services, 8.15am, 54 Stanwell Ave, Stanwell Park; 10am and 6pm, 75 Parkes St, Helensburgh. Call 4294 1024.

Helensburgh Baptist Church Community Centre, Walker St, Helensburgh.

Call 4294 8459.

Holy Cross Catholic Parish Weekend Mass: Sunday 8.30am. Reconciliation: Sunday 8am.

Hope Church 2508 Sunday services, 9.30am, 6/17 Cemetery Rd, Helensburgh. Call 0404 803 055.

Hillcrest Christian Fellowship Sundays, 6pm, Hillcrest House, Railway Crescent, Stanwell Park. Call 4294 3153.

CLUBS 06 Fellowship of First Fleeters, South Coast Chapter, 10am, Laurel Room, Ribbonwood Centre, Dapto. Refreshments. Entry: $2.

Call 4271 3762, 4261 6893.

20 VIEW 23rd Birthday luncheon, 11am for 11.15 start, Centennial Hotel. “Outback” theme, with bush poetry and songs. Phone Nerida on 0429 004 298.

PLAYGROUPS Mondays 9.30am-noon, Stanwell Park Children’s Centre, Stanwell Ave. Call Penelope, 0431 593 118.

Tuesdays 10am-noon, H’burgh Community Centre, Walker St. Call Rosemary, 4294 1290.

Tuesdays 9.30-11.30am, Helensburgh Anglican Church, 75 Parkes St. Call 4294 1024.

Wednesdays 9.30am-noon, Stanwell Park Children’s Centre, Stanwell Ave. Thursdays 10am-noon, H’burgh Community Centre, Walker St. Call Rosemary, 4294 1290.

Fridays 9.30am-noon, Stanwell Park Children’s Centre, Stanwell Ave. Call Gerri, 0402 477 898.

MARKETS 04 10am-3pm, Stanwell Park Village Market, CWA Hall, The Drive.

11 10am-3pm, Helensburgh Village Market.

Stalls in front of Centennial Hotel on Parkes St.

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HAPPY 40th, SPAT! Enjoy a taste of Shakespeare (and complimentary gluhwein) thanks to Stanwell Park Arts Theatre (SPAT). To mark the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth and SPAT’s own 40th birthday, the local actors (pictured above) are presenting a “Best of Shakespeare Playlist”, from May 17. Two hour-long Saturday matinees with younger cast members will be in modern language and include an unmissable remake of Romeo and Juliet played out as Kevin Rudd, Tony Abbott, and Julia Gillard. Three “adult” evening performances will include scenes from two histories, two comedies and two tragedies: Richard III, Henry V, Hamlet, Macbeth, Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night. As part of their 40th birthday celebrations, SPAT is inviting anyone with photos, film or stories of SPAT events to contact spartstheatre@gmail.com or 0414 380 224. The plan is to use the documents in a celebration later this year. www.spat.org.au ENTERTAINMENT 04 May Blues Stomp – Big Erle, The Blue Ruins, Genevieve Chadwick @ the Bombie Bar, Coalcliff SLSC, 2-5pm 11 GIG OF THE MONTH In November 2013, Powderfinger’s lead guitarist and songwriter Darren Middleton released his debut solo album Translations, which includes the song One Thing, about our desire to feel connected.

Catch him on his stripped-back acoustic tour, playing songs from Translations and past bands. @ the Bombie Bar, Coalcliff SLSC, 2-5pm. Tickets: www.trybooking.com/ENKO and at the door.

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2508 EVENTS 17 SPAT’s Best of Shakespeare, 4pm, younger cast; 7.30pm older cast. CWA Hall, The Drive, Stanwell Park. Tickets $7-$15, 4294 4060.

18 Declan Kelly And The Rising Sun Supported

by The Kava Kings @ the Bombie Bar, Coalcliff SLSC, 2-5pm 23 SPAT’s Best of Shakespeare, 4pm, younger cast; 7.30pm older cast. CWA Hall, The Drive, Stanwell Park. Tickets $7-$15, 4294 4060.

24 SPAT’s Best of Shakespeare, 7.30pm. CWA Hall, The Drive, $7-$15, 4294 4060.

30 & 31 Following on last month’s sell-out success, the Black in Time documentary is back at Helensburgh Workers Club, 8pm, all tickets $10.

NORTHERN ILLAWARRA NEIGHBOUR AID Regular outings, including C.A.F.E. Club on Thursdays at the Workers Club, from 10.30am to 2.30pm. Contact: 4294 1900, nina.org.au HELENSBURGH LIBRARY 57 Walker Street; 4294 2185 6 What’s On Tuesday? 4-5pm, free program for primary school children 14 Storytime for pre-schoolers, 10.30am 28 Storytime for pre-schoolers, 10.30am

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Motherlove: Yoga & Meditation retreat

Sunday, May 18 at Govinda Valley.

Local yoga and meditation teachers Sharon Longridge and Louise Charman-James have teamed up to offer a unique retreat day for mums, one week after Mother’s Day. As busy mums themselves, they were inspired to offer a day of self-care practices to support mothers to feel energised and nourished on an ongoing basis. The retreat includes yoga, meditation, laughter yoga, music, healthy pamper products, lucky door prizes and delicious vegetarian food. A nurturing gift for mum this Mother’s Day. More information: www.motherlove. eventbrite.com or 0417 244 978.

BOOK OF THE MONTH An enjoyable story about accepting individuality and finding a wife. Quirky characters and giggle outloud moments make this an intelligent romantic comedy.

– selected by Renee Benn, senior library officer at Helensburgh Library.

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2508 REPORT

TUNNEL VISION open on both sides, threads will be shorter to prevent them from becoming tangled by the wind. “Similarly,” says Martyn, “caves that have got bats in them, the wind from the bats flying to and fro will also mean the glow worms have got shorter sticky threads. So ... by the Helensburgh’s old train tunnels are back in length of the threads you can tell whether use – this time by glow worms. Because the there’s bats or not.” damp, dark tunnels are like caves, they have Glow worms grow into gnats, a type of proved an appealing home for the larvae of a long-legged fly, which also glow and flash, but luminous fly. So much so that a short have a sticky relationship with their walk inside will bring you to a roof offspring. “The gnat can also be did you glowing like the night sky. accidentally caught by some of its know?

Their constant tiny, blueish glow own grubs and then it will just be Animals produce is a cunning ploy. It mimics moon hauled up and eaten along with a very effective cold light; humans have and starlight to fool insects that everything else. So it’s a bit of a never managed to navigate by light, says Australian precarious existence.” invent lighting Museum naturalist Martyn Photographers should tread quite as good as Nature’s.

Robinson. carefully. “If you produce anything that Moon and starlight strikes the earth makes a loud vibration or knock against almost at right angles to the ground, the side of the tunnel with the tripod or Martyn explains, so as long as insects keep that something like that, they are quite likely to all distant light striking their backs at that same shut off,” Martyn warns. “They have got a little angle, they will fly in a straight line. Closer sheath that they can run over their little light sources confuse the insects, which will glowing organ in the abdomen which shuts off keep correcting their path (which is why moths all the light instantly.” and beetles fly in a spiral path around the THE FIRE FLY outdoor lighting).

Fire flies live in rainforest, are actually beetles Martyn says: “Insects do the same with the and glow as part of the mating game. light of the glow worms. They fly in and get “Fire flies produce the flashing signals that trapped into that spiral round and end up look a bit like a distant bicycle headlight,” getting caught in the sticky threads. Then they Martyn says. “The females have got one little get hauled up and eaten by the glow worm.” glowing abdominal segment and they tend to To catch their prey, glow worms produce sit on the ground. The males have got two long, sticky threads that may hang down to glowing abdominal segments and they flash 20cm or more, if the air is still. If a tunnel is

If you go down to the woods tonight, you’re in for a big surprise... glow worms, fire flies, luminous fungi and earthworms are some of nature’s night lights.

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2508 REPORT while they are flying.” They signal to each other with the flashes (the tempo is species specific), then the male will fly over, fold his wings and drop. “So accurate is the drop that you can actually have a female in a jar with the lid off and have that on the forest floor and when the male folds his wings and drops, he will actually land in the jar. It is quite impressive.”

The larval stage of this beetle is a “very strange-looking flattened grub”. It feeds on tiny snails so is usually found in among damp leaf litter. “When it glows, it glows to frighten off animals, to make it obvious that it tastes unpleasant.” To find the grubs, go to the forest at dead of night – a moonless one is best – and sift through leaf litter.

Glowing fungus

It is pale and fleshy, produces a purply-green glow and grows on eucalyptus stumps. “The glow is bright enough to read a newspaper by.

You can pluck off one of the little glowing fruiting bodies of the fungus and hold it over the newspaper to actually read the print.”

It’s all thought to be part of a spore dispersal

PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT REGISTERED TAX AGENT REGISTERED ASIC AGENT ATMA MEMBER REGISTERED SMSF AUDITOR

mechanism: the glow attracts insects that pick up fungal spores and spread them to the next rotting eucalyptus stump. “Autumn is a good time for the luminous fungus, particularly after a spot of rain.” Martyn’s tip: cover your torchlight with red cellophane so you don’t swamp the relatively dim light of the fungi.

Glowing earthworm

Warm weather brings them to the surface to mate, they glow quite brightly and can occur in very high numbers. “There was a property up around Peats Ridge … the fellow in the plant nursery used to patrol the spaces in between the plant rows on his motorbike at night, just to make sure there weren’t animals in there eating the plants, and when he got back to the house, the tyres of the motorbike would be glowing because he had run over so many of these earthworms; it had all the glowing juice.”

Their glow is thought to be protective, to scare off the myriad things that like eating earthworms.“But I don’t know if anybody’s actually eaten any to see whether they are more or less tasty than ordinary earthworms.” 2508

NOW AT 9 Walker St Helensburgh (next to Civic Video)

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27

business directory art & about

ADVERTISE HERE For a limited time only, only $38 per month!

PLUS take 5% off if you pay for 12 months in advance. Book online at www.2508mag.com.au

accommodation

Rojo’s Riding 4 U! Walker Street, Helensburgh • riding tuition • beginners to intermediate • ponies supplied

AIR CONDITIONING

Robyn Johnson 0411 147 643

Call STEVE on

AUTOMOTIVE Solar and Traditional Systems Lic #227582c

Helensburgh Car Services Tune & Service • E Safety Checks • All Makes & Models •Child Restraints Fitted John Hine (Proprietor)

4294 2930

187 Parkes St Helensburgh 2508

2508 local directories

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JJ’s CAR DETAILING

0413 991 532 Mini Details | Full Details & Steam Cleaning

antfarm projects

BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION new homes interiors outdoor play spaces home extensions site planning gardens

architecture landscape architecture interiors first consultation is FREE call Chaya Bratoeva 0428 chayab@tpg.com.au

964 705 stanwell park

Pickering Constructions P/L New homes, renovations, decks and pergolas

‘Committed to providing quality building and carpentry services’

Call Gavin 0407 105 969 Lic# 228720C

Wilson’s Concreting & Resurfacing Lic No: 221563C

All general concreting Stamp – Stencil – Pebble – Excavation Council approved

Shane Wilson 0416 162 401

MARK JONES BUILDER • New Homes • First Floor Additions • Decks & Pergolas

Trading as M&B Jones Building

0419 448 696 or 42942078 Est. 1985 Lic No. 143571c

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child care

FUN 4 U

CARPENTER Specialising in Decks, Pergolas, Renovations, Gyprock & Plastering, Maintenance, Ins. Work.

J & D CARPENTRY John McKinlay Lic No: 46961c

K- Year 6 On site at HPS!

HELENSBURGH PTY LTD Before & After School Care 7 - 9am & 2:30 - 6:30pm Vacation Care 7.30am - 6pm

Part of the CCM System!

annette.potter@bigpond.com

0431 099 608 | 0431 199 150

COMPUTING & DATA SERVICES

Ph: 0419 970 902

0

STANWELL TOPS TECHNICAL SERVICES

BRAD MCNALLY

Home and Small Business Systems Local Support

Carpenter/Joiner Ph: 4294 3347 Mob: 0418 430 901

0419 413 935 L/N: 870C

• Reconstruction • Decks • Renovations • Alterations

2508 local directories

Microsoft Small Business Specialist Microsoft Certified & Microsoft Partner

30

COMPUTING & DATA SERVICES

DOMESTIC SERVICES Kristy Klean Pty Ltd All commercial and domestic cleaning

0402 962 222

HIGH PRESSURE WATER CLEANING

Water blast, seal and colour seal Driveways, footpaths, patios, Roofs, pool and pavement & exterior House cleaning & minor roof repairs www.jetblastsolutions.com.au

PEST CONTROL Specialist in the management of all pests, weeds and termites • Free quotes Pre-purchase & termite inspections 18 yrs industry exp • Authorised exterra installer • Lic No. 1277

2508 local directories

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Fully Licensed

ENGINEERING

DRIVING INSTRUCTION AROUND TOWN DRIVING SCHOOL 0404 361 744

Stephen Potter

spotter73@bigpond.com

B.S.S. ENGINEERING 0418 406 279

No Job Welding & Machining General Machinery Repairs Too Small

Unit 14/17 Cemetery Road Helensburgh Business Park 2508 OPEN 7 DAYS

Driving Instructor

entertainment

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

esoteric

firewood

FIRE WOOD

Tradespeople required to hold a licence to practise must include this on all advertising. More info: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

MIXED HARDWOOD FREE local delivery - 7 days Bill & Stuart McWilliam 0429 942 864 4294 2864

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firewood

GARDENING & PROPERTY

Marty Parker 0400 052 508 |4294 9998

- Lawn/garden care & maintenance - Council approved irrigation systems - Retaining walls & paving - Pergolas & decking - Ponds & water features

R.P.M

ryan's property maintenance •Lawn Mowing•Gardens • Rub b i s h Remo v al •

“For a Professional Cut”

0421 730 271 www.r yan s p m.co m

ECA Tree Services

Specialising In: *Tree Removal & Trimming - Tall & Dangerous *Fully Qualified & Insured

188 Parkes St, Helensburgh

For a free quote call

0424 637 247

2508 local directories

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GARDENING & PROPERTY

health & beauty N URTU RE R EFLEXOLOGY

WITH

CLARE BOWLEY

Reflexology Treatments & Ear Candling Balance your mind, body and spirit.

Call: 0405 810 168

www.facebook.com/NurtureReflexology

GAS SUPPLIES

find us on facebook

(formally Laurem's Beauty and Day Spa) Offering a wide range of services including beauty treatments, massage, manicures, pedicures, ear piercing, waxing, spay tans & wedding make up.

phone : 02 42944611 | shop 2 & 3 12 walker st h’burgh

hairdressing

Jane Graves

B.Sc.(Anatomy), M.Chiropractic)

We guarantee 100% all our services or your money back.

At Helensburgh Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic

heyHAIR beautiful SALON ph 4294 1985 14a Walker St Helensburgh

02 4294 1487 “the best in the ‘burgh” 3/115-119, Parkes Street, Helensburgh

Thats Reflexology!

Works on your whole body to Relax muscles Balance Hormones

Ring Val Wallington

0418 603 009

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painting

health & beauty

Relax

Unwind

Rejuvenate

Indulge

jewellery Appointments now available in local studio Quality Handmade Jewellery, Repairs or Sydney & Restorations Ph: 02 4294 9242 CBD Suite

Alt Ph/Fax 02 9233 6847

PO Box 57 Helensburgh

www.jpowelljewellery.com.au

painting Ruth Walker

P.O. BOX 343 HELENSBURGH 2508

50 DIFFERENT SPECIALS WEEKLY QUALITY ONLINE BEAD SUPPLIER

ruth@beademporium.net.au| www.beademporium.net.au

PH: (02) 4294 3333 DISCOUNTS & WHOLESALE PRICES

MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS Mick’s Painting Solutions Licensed Painter & Decorator > Interior > Exterior > Residential > Commercial

Mick O’Brien

0408 874 982

Lic# 24852BC

0418 262 925

2508 local directories

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MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS

PLUMBING & ROOF PLUMBING

Terri Ayliffe Photography

www.teaa.com.au, 0431488914, tea@teaa.com.au

pet care Feeding, Walking & Other Services Available

Call Karen 0419 432 482

Quality Roof Gutters Supplied & Fitted

kpetcare@tpg.com.au

PLUMBING & ROOF PLUMBING Lic 226808c

PLUMBING & GASFITTING

Plumber, Roof plumber, Drainer Gasfitter and Emergency repairs Free quotes and advice

Call James 0409 875 391 2508 local directories

36

SPORT & FITNESS

PLUMBING & ROOF PLUMBING

Call or SMS

0421 566 312

PROFESSIONAL & FINANCIAL FULLY EQUIPMENT GYM WEIGHTS, CARDIO, BOXING PERSONAL TRAINING OUTDOOR FITNESS GROUP CLASSES

All Ages, Genders & Fitness Levels Welcome

CALL 0417897473 // 120 Walker Street Helensburgh Party Yourself Into The Best Shape Of Your Life!

Tues: 7pm-8pm Helensburgh Public School Thur: 7pm-8pm MacKillop Hall, Helensburgh Sat: 9am-10am Helensburgh Community Centre Cost: $10 per class with discount cards available

Zumba - its fun, its fantastic, its fitness!

Enquiries: Nicole Hoffmann | 0433 777 943

security

RESTAURANTS

2508 local directories

storage

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Classifieds BAZZA’S HANDYMAN SERVICES: All handyman repairs. Decks, pergolas, tiling, fencing, plastering and all other timber work. Local, reliable, quick and fully insured. Free quotes. Ph. Barry [Bazz ] 0414 492 509 or 4294 8164.

BRICKLAYING: All brickwork, block work, extensions, retaining walls, repairs. Ph 4294 3741 or 0413 323 629 Lic. No. 35124C. CARPENTER: Friendly, Honest, Reliable service where manners comes standard. From doors to decks and everything in between.

Fully insured. Call Kelvin for a free quote on 0421 952 100. Lic No. 253680C CLOTHING ALTERATIONS: Zippers replaced, hems taken up, minor repairs fixed.

Reasonable rates. Ph Melinda 0419 977 658 or 4294 1619.

GARDEN SERVICE: Rejuvenate your garden: pruning, weeding, hedging, clean ups, rubbish removal. Regular mowing, edge trimming and gardening service also available.

Call Stewart 4294 9726 or 0429 035 192.

HANDYMAN: Local service offering a friendly service for all aspects of home

improvements, maintenance, construction and repairs. Fully insured. Call Kelvin for a free quote on 0421 952 100. Lic No. 253680C KIMMY’S CLEANING SERVICES: Reliable, professional, friendly & personal.

Domestic & commercial cleaning, fully insured with attention to detail. Weekly, fortnightly or a one off. Mention this ad for a 10% discount on your first clean. Ph. Kim 0405 950 464.

RAELEEN’S FANCY FACES: Face painting, glitter tattoos, balloon twisting & special effects makeup. Bring the ‘wow’ factor to your next party, fete, christening or corporate event. Local business (will travel), fully insured, exceptional hygiene standards, professional cosmetic-grade face paints used.

Ph. Raeleen 0413 291 843.

SOUTHERN MATHEMATICS TUTORING: Real Tutoring, Real Results.

Combined 45+ years of teaching and lecturing experience. Qualified Maths Teachers/ Lecturers only. Max of 6 students per group session. Individual sessions by appointment.

Contact Gavin 0459 550 452; Shaun 0407 213 622. References & information, www. southernmathematicstutoring.com.au SUSAN’S JUST DANCE: Great fun, no pressure, fantastic environment to learn to dance. Jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop, boys only hip hop crew. Ages from 3 to adult.

Latest music, great teachers. Concert each year at the Sutherland Entertainment Centre. For registration Ph. Susan 4294 8366.

TUTORING: Maths, Physics, Chemistry.

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38

2508 CLUBS

probus report

By Mark Henderson

Combined Probus Club of Helensburgh and District has commenced its 11th year from April 1, with the new committee and sub committees, all eager to ensure this year is as enjoyable as the previous 10 years.

Forty one members started the month with our yearly coach trip to Bellingen. This became our base for day trips to Dorrigo, Grafton, South West Rocks and Coffs Harbour. It was most enjoyable and even included a ride in a school bus when our coach had two large side windows shattered by rocks thrown up by a ride-on lawnmower. We had a two-hour wait until the local school bus finished its normal duties to take us the 40 minutes back to the motel. The next morning a replacement coach

News from the View Club VIEW (Voice, Interests and Education of Women) is one of Australia’s leading women’s volunteer organisations, and whose members come from all walks of life.

They help to contribute significant fund-raising and support to the Smith Family. VIEW is always looking for new members 18 years of age and up.

At our April luncheon, entitled “War Stories”, some of our members read a poem, and told stories of experiences during World War II, or handed down stories from relatives about World War I, with memorabilia consisting of photos and medals to illustrate sometimes emotional ANZAC memories. “The sun will never set on

had been delivered from Port Stephens.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and names are already being listed for next year’s trip to Griffith and the Riverina.

Next month, 23 members are leaving on our 2014 overseas holiday, which is a tour of Europe and includes a Mediterranean Cruise.

Future club activities include a luncheon at Sydney Rowing Club in May and a tour of the Capitol Theatre in June. Christmas in July is being organised to be held at Berowra Waters Waterview Restaurant.

We have limited vacancies for membership; contact Elaine Smith on 4294 1023 for details. If you are retired or semi-retired you are invited to attend two of our meetings at the Helensburgh Workers Club at 10.30am on the second Thursday of the month. The cost is $3 for the morning tea and guest speaker. The May guest speaker is Chris Lloyd, who will be talking about Southern Ocean Bird Life. 2508 the story of their deeds” – a quote from Julia Gillard.

Bookings for Strictly Ballroom the Musical are closed, being fully booked, but Beauty and the Beast is cancelled. Please phone Chris on 4294 1103 for details of reservations for The King and I at the Sydney Opera House, 1 November, at 1pm matinee, pay by August 25.

Our next luncheon is Helensburgh VIEW’s 23rd Birthday on Tuesday, May 20, at 11am for 11.15 start. The theme is “The Outback”, so wear your casual gear of denims, check shirts, big hats, etc., and be ready for bush songs and poetry, with possibly a gum leaf or two, lucky door prizes, and raffles. Please phone Nerida on 0429 004 298 by Wednesday, May 1, for new bookings or cancellations. New members welcome.

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39

2508 SPORT

TAKING ON IRONMAN Blind triathlete Nathan Johnston is ready to tackle his second Ironman triathlon.

The total distance and sheer volume and consistency of pain involved in training for, and completing, an Ironman triathlon is beyond the comprehension of mere mortals.

The Ironman kicks off with a 3.8km swim, switches to a 180km bike ride, and is capped off with a 42.2km run.

Blind triathlete Nathan Johnston, who will do this year’s Ironman Australia Port Macquarie with well-known Cronulla triathlete Glenn Gorick, completed last year’s race in a little over 14 hours. It was his first Ironman. He hopes to reach the finish line in under 14 hours at this year’s event, scheduled for Sunday, May 4. He will swim with Glenn tethered by a rope to his foot, bike on a tandem and do the

marathon connected by rope on their hands.

There are four Burghers doing the 2014 Ironman: Nathan, Nathan Shoemark, Karen Dutton and Mel Whiteside. All of Nathan’s training partners/coaches have plenty of experience in endurance sports: Karen ran the Melbourne to Sydney with the two Nathans; Nathan Shoemark has completed, among other things, the 2012 Port Macquarie Ironman, the Melbourne to Sydney marathon, five ultra marathons and about a dozen triathlons; Mel Whiteside completed the Forster Ironman (1993, 1994), did about 10 Half Ironmans (“20 years ago!” she says) and has been competing at surf carnivals for Helensburgh-Stanwell Park for the last four years, as well as ocean swims,

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2508 SPORT and a Half Ironman in February of this year. There are no couch potatoes in this group.

The crew had been training since before Christmas, Nathan said.

“The last three months have been pretty hard,” he told 2508 in late April. “Couple of hours a day, four times a week: riding three or four times a week and swimming a couple of times and running three times a week, so doing about nine or 10 sessions a week.

“Some weeks I hate the swimming, some weeks I hate the running.”

Nathan said he’d been clocking up “a 30km run … anywhere from 150km to 200km on the bike, and, in the swimming pool, 7km or 8km a week” on average, in preparation for the Ironman.

He said on race day, as triathletes jostled for position at the start of the swim leg, it became quite intense in the water.

“People kick you in the head, swim over you

– you’re just all starting together, so, 700 people starting together, it’s pretty full-on. Last year I almost lost my goggles, I got kicked in the head.”

He said his best leg of the Ironman was, in fact, two legs. “Probably my running, or riding – those two are the most fun.

“All three legs are different; riding, you know, you’re sitting up, eating, drinking and pedalling hard for six hours. The run is the same sort of thing, so you get to feel the crowd and that sort of stuff.”

Was he nervous before the big event?

“Probably the day before or the morning of … it depends, you know … by the time you start swimming it’s alright.”

The Burgher bunch will have a large support crew accompanying them this year.

Nathan Johnston thanked all of his training partners, as well as Crawchy’s Swim School, Paul Smith and Trevor Kissell (of Trevor Kissell’s Lifestyle Health and Fitness). 2508

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41

2508 SPORT

JUNIORS NEWS

More players are needed, Julie Wilson reports.

Helensburgh JRLFC has hosted a hugely successful trials day at Rex Jackson Oval against teams from Corrimal, Gymea and St Pats.

More than 34 games were played, followed by the U/14 Rep trials, hosted by the Juniors.

Congratulations to standout player Alex Sargeant for making the U/14s Country side.

In a tough U/16s trial, Shea Innes and Dave Lawrence made it into the CRL side.

Phil Astill, Chris Slater-Raptis, Dylan Issa and Chris Philpott made it into the CRL U/18s.

The inclement weather cost us our first two

rounds leading into Easter. With U/6 to U/17s, but no U/12s, we have had a great increase in players, but the U/15s need more. Keen to play?

Go to our website or Facebook page or email registrarhjrlfc@hotmail.com.

This year we have five young ladies playing our great game, and enjoying every moment.

On May 25 we will hold the Spud Coman U/8 Knockout. Every year about 30 teams from the Illawarra, Cronulla, St George, Lidcombe, Bankstown and the South Coast take part.

A huge thank you to Paul Hoffmann, Chris Reilly, Mark, Julie, Dave, Nathan, Ian, George, Shane, Nicole, Scott M, Scott B, Cath, Cassie, Trevor, Matt and the executive. Our fields are looking the best they have in years.

To Will Canavan and his boys: thanks for the work and donated soils and canteen amenities.

A huge thank you to our sponsors Sada Coal Preparations, Peabody Metropolitan Collieries, Dorian Cobb Photography + Design, Excel Lockers, Will Canavan Building and Helensburgh Premium Liquor. With your support our juniors are able to play league with their friends. Go the mighty Tigers! 2508

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2508 SPORT

tigers OFF TO STRONG START All teams recorded wins within the first two rounds, reports first grade captain Steven McCallum.

After the first round was washed out, the season finally got under way with the Tiger Lillies posting a great 28-10 win over Port Kembla.

Best were Sam Hammond and Kasey Apps.

Colts (U/19) notched a big win over Thirroul 42-18. Best were Ridge Barredo and Dylan Issa.

Reserve grade, reigning premiers, looked a bit rusty in their 24-10 loss to the Butchers. Best were Ben Ryan and Jye Scott.

First grade put on first points through a Jordan Tencate try. The Butchers hit back with two of their own out wide and took the 8-4 lead into the break. The Tigers were next to score through Azan Turoa and took the lead 10-8 with a great conversion from Eamon Hillen.

The Butchers were in again soon: 12-10. The Tigers pressed the Butchers’ line and Turoa put

AD

Taylor Fepuleai over for Hillen to convert: 16-12.

The Butchers scored on the siren for 16-16 and had a kick for goal to win. It sailed wide as the Tigers held on for a draw. Tigers’ best were Tommy Carr and Azan Turoa.

The Tigers travelled to Dapto on Good Friday to take on the Canaries. The Colts lost 50-28.

Best were Dom Scipione and Toby Lea. Reserve grade won 40-10. Best were Jordan Hay and Dane Grove.

First grade recovered from a slow start in their clash, and lead 10-6 into the break after tries from Jarrod Boyle and Eamon Hillen.

The Tigers looked sharp in the second half, with tries to Azan Turoa (2) and Abe Attalah.

Hillen added the extras and the Tigers won 28-6.

Best were Jarrod Boyle and Abe Attalah.

Big thanks to our sponsors: Peabody Energy, Transition Automotive, Luke Jones Electrical, Menai Civil Contractors, Helensburgh Premium Liquor and Metal Exchange. 2508

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43

2508 SPORT

GOLD RUSH H-SP wins big at the Aussies, Daniel Robberds and Mark Lea report.

The Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club’s beach team, the “Sandrats”, won four gold and three silver at the Aussies in WA. In the water, the Open Women’s surfboat crew won silver and the U/19 men’s crew finished fifth – the club’s best ever results in these surfboat divisions and the first time two crews from the club made the Aussie finals.

The seven-day, 382-event 2014 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships were staged at Scarborough Beach from March 31 to April 6.

The weekend started brilliantly with Yvette Avery, Emmett Gray (U/15), Keeleigh Mccauley (U/17), Alana Humphries, Siobhan Dibley, Katie Mott and Daniel McKellar (U/19) making it to the Beach Sprint finals. Katie won gold.

The Sandrats featured in several beach-relay finals, including the U/15 Male, U/19 Female, Open Female and Open Male. Our U/15 Male

2508

The Open Women’s surfboat crew on their way to silver

team – Brock Scrivener, Adam Newey, Emmett Gray and Dom Keegan – had to settle with 4th.

The U/19 Female Beach Relay team of Keeleigh McCauley, Katie Mott, Siobhan Dibley and Alana Humphries won gold – the club’s first medal in this event. The Open Female team - Keeleigh Mccauley, Katie Mott, Siobhan Dibley and Laura Shorter – won gold. The men – Blake Drysdale, Daniel McKellar, Cameron Baillie and Tom Dewey – finished 5th.

There were nine Sandrats – Adam Newey (U/15), Keeleigh McCauley, Avalon Punch (U/17), Alana Humphries, Siobhan Dibley, Katie Mott, Daniel McKellar (U/19), Cameron Baillie and Blake Drysdale (Open) – in the Beach Flag finals.

In the U/17 Female Beach Flags, Avalon Punch won gold; Siobhan Dibley (U/19) won silver; Daniel McKellar (U/19 Male) won silver.

Well done to all Helensburgh-Stanwell Park competitors on another successful Aussies campaign. Bring on 2015!

In the water, the U/19 crew – Toby Lea, Taz Gilmore, Mitch Baillie, Josh Lea and sweep Mark Lea – battled through seven elimination rounds to make the junior final. It was the first time a junior crew from H-SP made an Aussie final. The boys rowed strong to nab fourth.

After qualifying through eight rounds to reach the final, the Open Women’s crew of Georgia Leach, Stephanie Barlow, Courtney Overell, Brooke Dent and sweep Mark Lea rowed exceptionally well in strong choppy seas but were pipped at the end by Tugan (Qld).

We would like to thank our sponsors Peabody Energy, Westside Petroleum and Tri Clark Bros. We wouldn’t be anywhere near as competitive without their support.

Thanks to Daniel Robberds and his beachies for their support and also to club officials – Bobo White, Jeff Lucke and Mark Thompson – who made the trek over to WA so we could compete. 2508

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2508 SPORT

winter swimmers Stanwell Park Sea Eels – Welcome Back! winter swimming season is upon us again, writes Karl Weber.

The water is still a nice temperature and, believe it or not, it usually stays pretty warm for a few months to come. We will start to see the whales swimming up along the coast around this time of the year, and there is no better vantage point than poolside on a Sunday morning.

The Sea Eel’s first swim back at Coalcliff Pool was on April 27 and it was followed by our annual general meeting at H-SP Surf Club.

We are a social club who like sharing a few

2508

laughs and we raise money for our charity group, the CRAM Foundation, an organisation which caters for severely disabled people who enjoy a Sea Eels extravaganza day through the season.

To participate all you have to do is be capable of swimming 50m unassisted, and the club is open to female and male competitors, whether members of a surf club or not.

We start at 9am for the kids and 9.30am for adults. If you are late, expect to be fined.

If you want to take part as a social member, then come on down and join in. The more the merrier!

See you at Coalcliff pool. 2508

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2508 TIDES

port kembla tidal chart  

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2508 SPORT

Sunday Social golf club Even a bit of rain – again! – didn’t spoil the fun, reports Vicki ‘The Hair’ Little Déjà vu! (You didn’t know I could speak French) Why does it seem that when our social club walks on Boomerang the heavens open up? Give us a break.

We had 28 brave starters pushing through the rain, fog and wind, all thinking: “What in the hell are we doing?”

It was matchplay that kept us going. There are things in life that you have to finish and matchplay is one of them, unless you’re getting your arse whipped, then you can skulk off and dry off. Ha! Ha! Rob Miller must be part duck

as he had a lucky day, coming first with 35 points and also took out a few other prizes.

Mark ‘Chucky O’ O’Connor sloshed in second place on a count-back.

Pete Dancer and Singer Sullivan had a grand 34 points, coming third.

The gossip of the day was that Dave ‘Irish’ Morris took out the Strike it Lucky hole, winning himself a pot of gold. Everybody has been trying to beat that bloody hole for months.

I feel we all did pretty well – who could concentrate with wet hair and looking like we did. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!

We know the year is passing by, but if you’re thinking about a game of golf at least once a month, turn up on the first Sunday of the month or call Tony ‘Prez’ Gersbach or me (at Hey Beautiful Hairdressers). We had three young fellows last month. Nothing like a new bit of young flesh. Ha! We’d like to send Rossco Fagerstrom a get well greeting. Hope to see you soon!

From the Confused Golfer: Hit them hard.

They’ll land somewhere. 2508

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2508 SPORT

Photo by ISA/Rommel Gonzales

well done, billie!

Billie Melinz nabs ninth place in U/16 division at world titles.

Coalcliff’s Billie Melinz is “stoked” to have won a ninth place in her age group at her first World Junior Surfing Championship.

“Yeah, I’m pretty happy with it,” Billie told 2508 in late April. “It was a big event.”

The International Surfing Association (ISA) event was held at La Fae Beach, Salinas, Ecuador, from April 5 to 13.

Gold medallists were crowned in four divisions – U/18 Boys, U/16 Boys, U/18 Girls, U/16 Girls – and an overall Team Champion.

Billie scored two of the top 10 wave scores of

the comp, but failed to record a back-up score of 1.9 that would have lead to her progress in her final heat. This was, according to Billie’s supporters, partially due to a Hawaiian competitor pulling her off one wave by the leg, then grabbing her leg rope as she went to paddle into another.

Fickle conditions and foul play aside, Billie was surfing with the world’s best.

After such an impressive performance on the world stage, she isn’t resting on her laurels; she’s back surfing and training.

“I surf a lot – focus on my surfing, and then occasionally I’ll do some training through the week – a bit of running, a bit of gym work.” 2508

Billie Melinz shows off her world championship moves

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