The Beast - February 2026

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CONTENTS February 2026 Issue 253 8 Welcome Note 10 Pearls of Wisdom 12 Monthly Mailbag 18 Local Artist 20 Local News 32 Crime News 34 Local Photos 36 Tight Lines 37 Unreliable Guide 38 Angus Abroad

39 Kieran's Satire 40 Allegra's View 42 Marj's Musings 44 Headnoise 45 Tide Chart 46 Dana's Recipe 48 Brainteasers 49 Reviews 50 Beardy from Hell 50 Trivia Solutions

Subject Morning People Location Coogee Photographer Kim McCarthy

Issue 253 February 2026 The Beast 7

Welcome Note

Shining Bright Words James Hutton - Publisher Welcome to the February 2026 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s mourning beaches of the east, where we are still trying to make sense of the senseless attack that shook our beautiful home to the core.

Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh and his council, along with our state and federal members, have shown incredible leadership through what has been a very difficult time for many. Marjorie and Allegra have both dedicated their columns to sharing important messages of healing and unity, and Will has asked me to pass on his heartfelt words, so I will sign off now and trust that in time we can reflect on what has happened and make the right decisions so we emerge from this tragedy a stronger, safer and more unified community than ever before.

James Hutton Publisher

Thank You The tragic events of the past month have shown that even in the darkest of times the spirit of Waverley shines bright.

Amid unimaginable grief, pain and shock, I have witnessed countless instances of our community standing up - and standing together, shoulder-to-shoulder - in a show of strength and resolve.

From the thousands of people who visited the temporary memorial at the back of the Pavilion to the surfer paddle-out and guard of honour by lifesavers and lifeguards, we have banded together to support one another through this horrific time.

And, of course, the heroes of December 14 - the lifeguards and lifesavers, police and emergency services, and members of the public who ran towards danger - have become enduring symbols of courage and selflessness.

We are blessed to live in such a beautiful part of the world, but what makes Waverley so special

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are those who call it home. That has never been clearer.

Thank you to everyone who has done what they can to help their friends, families, neighbours and even strangers get through this unprecedented challenge.

All those small and big acts of kindness are what makes Waverley the incredible place we know it to be.

Will Nemesh Mayor of Waverley

The Beast

The Beast Pty Ltd ABN 32 143 796 801 www.thebeast.com.au Editor james@thebeast.com.au Advertising Enquiries advertising@thebeast.com.au Rates and Specs thebeast.com.au/advertise Circulation 60,000 copies delivered every month; 2,000 in shops and 58,000 in mailboxes.

Pearls of Wisdom

"...then he asked if we could lend him some money to buy a house!"

Don't Judge a Boomer

by Their Age Words Pearl Bullivant Photo Dianne Verse Maintaining the Gen X Façade Dear Pearl - Why has it suddenly become fashionable to hate on Baby Boomers? During Christmas lunch my niece launched into a passionate rant blaming Boomers for the housing crisis and various other evils, like hogging Australia’s economy and resources, and destroying the environment.

I surmise she is oblivious to me falling into the Boomer category, as she is aware that I am a life-long renter, having missed the home ownership boat years ago, and that I will be dependent upon an aged pension once I can finally afford to retire.

As you are a fellow Boomer, Pearl, should I lay low and continue the Gen X façade?

Greg Bronte Not All Boomers Are Wankers Dear Greg - Just as Halloween is synonymous with yummy

mummies roaming the streets of Clovelly grasping bottles of Veuve Clicquot and a tribe of ghostly children, Christmas day in the ’burbs is synonymous with family angst fuelled by cheap sparkling wine.

Regardless of whether your niece knows your age, sweetie, I doubt she is hating on you.

Rather, it is highly probable that she endured a bad experience with an old person Christmas shopping in Bondi Junction and is taking it out on anyone over 60.

Pearl also finds the Double Bay matriarchs and the arrogant Audi SUV-driving, Cranbrook-alumni grandfathers that populate Westfield Bondi Junction extremely annoying; certainly annoying enough for me to rant about them to anyone who is sober enough to listen.

When it comes to ‘ Baby Boomer hatred’ the phenomenon is cyclical - one minute

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Boomer hatred is all the rage, then it abates for a few years, only to be resurrected by the mass media. Ironically, this media is controlled by conservative Baby Boomer males who have indeed helped propagate the neoliberalism that is behind Gen Z’s woes, and they seem to delight in revving up youngsters and creating scapegoats on News.com.au. Sickos.

Like all generations, Baby Boomers are a diverse lot, and unfortunately younger people judge us by the ‘soft shoe set’ - those early retirees who fly business class, own holiday homes and investment properties and maintain a thriving trust fund to pass down to their equally obnoxious Millennial children who can afford to buy houses for cash. Their behaviour exudes entitlement and, being self-funded retirees, they are focussed solely on maintaining their lifestyle via stock and property market highs that are continually enabled by government policy.

However, for most Baby Boomers this is not the reality.

Contrary to media opinion, there are many Boomers who do not own a home, let alone an investment property, and don’t have a healthy superannuation balance either, so they will be relying on the aged pension.

Many took up higher education at a later stage and had to pay for it. Poverty amongst the elderly, particularly divorced women and migrants, will continue to rise - a world away from the affluent Boomer we know and hate.

There are wankers across all generations, and if Gen Z hates on Baby Boomers now, they are absolutely going to despise their affluent Gen X and Millennial beneficiaries.

Happy New Year!

Pearl Clovelly

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Monthly Mailbag

The Beast's Monthly Mailbag Words The Wonderful People of the Eastern Beaches From a Member of Coogee's Jewish Community I write this Christmas Day morning with emotions still raw following the devastating antisemitic atrocity carried out by Islamist-aligned terrorists on Bondi Beach 11 days ago. And I write as a member of the Coogee Synagogue Jewish community, whose outdoor Chanukah celebrations at Grant Reserve by our own beautiful beach, were abruptly ended that very evening ‘for our own safety.’

Many of your readers may not even know there is a synagogue in Coogee. That is partly because our community will not put a sign up on the front of the building, out of fear of being targeted. A fear that I had hoped, prior to the Bondi attack, was unfounded.

Imagine if your church or mosque, or even your footy club, felt the need to hide behind anonymous walls and fences. If, despite being proud of your identity, you hid it, for fear of attracting the wrong kind of attention. But this is how we live and have lived for years. With security guards at every Jewish event, with armed guards outside our Jewish schools and synagogues.

We know we are not alone in feeling appalled by this situation.

That this affects us all. Coogee’s Bali Memorial and the tragic murder of Adam Smyth on Bondi Beach are jarring reminders of that. But we also know that we cannot change things alone.

Therefore, on this Christmas Day, I ask - no, I plead - that the ‘silent majority’ now takes a vocal stand, calls out the politics of division in our community and voices their outrage. Please, do this now, before it is too late for all of us.

Dr David Graham Proud Local Resident for 15 Years Coogee Guns On Our Beaches Guns in our city are not welcome.

Likewise neither are the gun clubs.

Remove all from our midst.

The Bondi shooting demonstrates training facilities are not required for gun lovers. There is no need to perfect their skills.

South Maroubra has a huge tract of land, reserved for a gun club, which closes the beautiful coastal walk with regularity.

The land could be developed purely for community housing as a memorial to those lost at Bondi. It would be a perfect tribute.

Maroubra would welcome those people currently on the ten-year waiting list for such accommodation. Not low-cost housing community housing.

Margie Coogee Bondi Beach Tragedy Sunday, December 14 - the most evil, despicable day. Many innocent lives were lost. What started out as a fun day for families on the first day of Chanukah, the festival of light over darkness, bacame a

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massacre. Two gunmen from ISIS terror group shot at and killed anyone in their path. We saw adults and children running for their lives.

It was sickening to watch this unfold. I was angry, and I believe that capital punishment should be implemented by the government.

I applaud Josh Frydenberg for speaking up and pushing for a Royal Commission, with plenty of people agreeing.

There were plenty of heroics, especially Ahmed, who risked losing his own life and managed to wrestle the gun from the shooter.

Thank you Ahmed, who saved many lives. Thank you also to police, paramedics and healthcare workers. Some had the day off but still rolled up their sleeves and gave up their time.

The 42 injured were transported to eight different hospitals.

Every second was critical to keep them alive. Ahmed the hero was at the hospital and was visited by politicians and dignitaries.

He gave a little wave, stated he would do it again and pointed to his heart.

It’s hard to believe this occurred at the iconic Bondi Beach. I have walked on that bridge many times and it sent shivers up my spine just thinking about it. There was a sea of flowers at the Bondi Pavilion. The victims ranged from 10-year-old Matilda to an 87-year-old man who survived the holocaust.

I was emotional when we farewelled the victims. I cannot understand how this could’ve happened. This will bring us all closer together. Let us stamp out the haters, never to be seen again on our streets.

God bless the victims. Amen.

Graeme Bogan Bondi Junction Where Was Security?

Much has been said about the horrendous attack on the Jewish gathering at Bondi on Sunday, December 14. Accusations have been flying thick and fast about

Monthly Mailbag the failure of government authorities, most pointedly the Albanese Government, to protect the Jewish community on this occasion and generally.

Little has been said, however, about what measures the organisers of this gathering took to ensure its own security for this very public event. With such a large gathering in the park, surely it would have needed its own security personnel? Where were they, and what steps did they take to protect the crowd on this occasion? Was anyone on the lookout for potential trouble?

While it is understandable that people want somebody to blame after such an event, and without wishing to minimise the gravity of the tragedy, I wonder if some self-reflection by the organisers might now be in order.

Lesley Spicer Coogee The Waverley Whinger Have you come across the Waverley Whisperer on Facebook? More like Waverley Whinger, I’ve found since it popped up three or so months back. What’s intriguing is that the anonymous council critic only seems to rant about local politicians of a certain party, and despite posting unhinged attacks several times a day about their any and every apparent indiscretion, had absolutely nothing to say about a certain Labor Councilor’s coriander-related meltdown at a Christmas party. Intriguing.

Anyway, the Waverley Whinger just couldn’t wait to make the horrific Bondi terrorist attack a political point-scoring exercise.

Hours after the tragedy, they were busy trying to pin the blame on Council, as though Waverley has its own police force, or like Chanukah by the Sea was a council event.

Since then the page has been on a posting spree, shamelessly painting the Jewish mayor as the sole person who should be answering questions. Not a peep about the Labor prime minister or Labor premier. Funny that. Also not a

word for the victims or the heroes who stood up on that terrible day.

Whoever is running that page should be ashamed of themselves.

The worst terrorist attack on this soil and the worst mass shooting since Port Arthur is hardly an opportunity for partisan politics.

How pathetic and desperate to try to take an event that has traumatised Bondi and make it all about their bizarre and frankly loony obsession with bashing the mayor and the council.

Edwina Bondi Lehosif Ohr On the weekend of December 6, some of our community gathered in the Yalagang Room at the Bondi Pavilion. It was the opening of the ACF Eastern Sydney Wild at Art exhibition and the room was filled with the colour and wonder of children’s Australian wildlife art.

The kids were so happy and proud to see their artwork displayed on the walls of this iconic building in our community’s spiritual home of Bondi. Our group, ACF Eastern Sydney, presented awards for the most outstanding entries from young local artists and, as we listened to those kids read us the words that accompanied their winning artworks, I was filled with hope for the future. You could not help smile in wonder at the confidence and ability of these kids to speak up for nature in front of a room full of adults. A better future seemed possible.

One week later, that feeling of joy and hope was replaced by gut wrenching horror as I watched the atrocities taking place in exactly the same location.

We are the people of the beaches. They are our backyard, they are our playground, they are our home. That terrible Sunday our home was stained with the blood of our community. A place where we go to escape our bustling city, relax and enjoy the natural world was changed forever. The Eastern Suburbs Jewish community was targeted and innocent people - the

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elderly, young adults and kids were murdered at a joyous cultural festival in a place so close to our hearts and at the centre of our identity here in the beach suburbs.

It is unfathomable that this happened in our peaceful welcoming country, in our beautiful city, at our magical beach.

Two days after the Bondi Hanukkah massacre I returned with ACF staff to the Bondi Pavilion to mourn those who lost their lives and it was one of the saddest moments of my very fortunate life.

The beach, normally so full of people, noise and life, was eerily quiet.

The seagulls sat undisturbed and alone on the sand and the waves rolled in without the usual crowd of surfers catching the break. As I looked down across the beach from the south, its quiet beauty struck me and brought me a moment of peace before the reality of the weekend’s tragedy made its ugly way into my thoughts. It is just so terribly sad and I cannot imagine what the families of those whose lives were taken are going through.

That evening at the Pavilion vigil, a Rabbi told us that Hanukkah teaches us that we all have a duty to bring light into this world. He told us that each day we have a responsibility to make the world a better place through acts of kindness and caring for others, especially in times of darkness. I don’t really know if it is even possible to bring light to our Jewish community in this dark moment right now. But we can mourn with our Jewish friends, we can let them know that we are hurting with them and we can openly re-commit ourselves to love and respect all people, no matter their faith, heritage or culture. Perhaps then, with time, we can heal this deep and painful wound that has been inflicted on the fabric of our community. Perhaps then there will be light at Bondi once more.

Stephen Lightfoot Vice President, Australian Conservation Foundation Convenor, ACF Eastern Sydney

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Issue 253 February 2026 The Beast 15

Monthly Mailbag Statesmanship, Not Politics A sad and dangerous New Year is upon us. From my home in Bronte I could clearly hear what I knew were gunshots, and lots of them, quickly confirmed by media and sirens. It’s a strange and sad feeling knowing that each shot was aimed at someone.

How our country has come to this requires investigation - and blame if deserved. Hopefully it is not too late to retard the spread of such barbarity.

This is a national issue that requires a Federal Royal Commission allowing public disclosure of relevant facts, including the possible existence of overseas influences, on a nationwide basis.

The gun legislation is a smokescreen. Those entitled to a licence will be restricted to four firearms, but the alleged shooters only had three between them that fatal day.

The legislation would not have affected that.

We need statesmanship, not politics.

Greg Maidment Bronte Delayed Coastal Walkway Over a year ago Randwick Council bought the small property at 49 Cuzco Street, South Coogee for $4.9 million so that the ‘missing link’ in the Coogee to Maroubra Coastal Walkway could be removed. The property was the home of Ellen Waugh OAM, and the council had included this site as a Reservation in it’s 2012 Local Environmental Plan. So, the creation of this important piece of public infrastructure has been a very long time in coming to fruition.

Today the house on the property still sits untouched and walkers continue to have to make the tiring and frustrating kilometre-long detour via Malabar Road to go from Cuzco Street to Surfside Parade, separated a mere 50 metres apart. Many give up and don’t continue.

During the same period a large house at number 47 right next

door has been demolished and a new, much larger three-storey house has been built in its place.

Randwick Council says that the design of the through-link will be put out for comment to surrounding properties within the 2025/26 Financial Year.

One would question why a pathway could not have been in place by now. There is a risk that the link might be over-designed and take another year to complete. If the intention is to create an appropriate memorial to the memory of Ellen Waugh as part of the pathway, that legacy is surely that the wider public will have the ‘missing link’ removed as quickly as possible so that we can walk from Coogee to Maroubra via Lurline Bay. Lesley Spicer Coogee Waverley Primary School Car Boot Sales Dear James - I too, like Amanda Jane (Mourning the Car Boot Sales, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, January 2025), second that the car boot sales at Waverley Public School be reignited.

I have attended many car boot sales and by far this one was the best one in Sydney! The last sales I was to attend was cancelled due to COVID and then they stopped completely.

Waverley Public parents - at your next P&F meeting, please consider adding this great local community event to your agenda.

Liz Randwick Pedestrian Plea Does anyone have a body de-magnetiser that I could borrow? I ask because I’ve noticed recently that people have been bumping into me - literally. I would just be minding my own business, walking on the left along the sidewalk or the promenade when - bang - somebody gets sucked into my immediate path. Usually they’re facing the other way but their legs just get forced into a different or-

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bit which unfortunately intersects with my spatial position.

Like a tractor beam on a target, people often get drawn towards my ribs without them even thinking about it - you can tell that their mind and vision are way off on some other tangent. Here I am going straight across at the traffic lights when those Einstein gravitational waves kick in like a vacuum laser raygun and another pedestrian going the other way suddenly pitches diagonally across and - smack!

Walking near those shop door exits is particularly dangerous for me. People exiting always seem to be looking the wrong way when their legs get physically pulled towards me this way and - crash!

Even worse are those pub and bar door exits. Joggers, young people, dogs... it’s a big list.

I noticed that this all started happening after I had an MRI scan some time ago. I think that something about that Magnetic Resonance Imaging has stuffed up the alignment of my atoms because ever since that scan I’ve been this walking black hole gravity trap.

This effect seems much worse when other pedestrians are looking at their mobile phones - their phone seems to have this strong synergistic gravitational pull which almost guarantees a collision, regardless of my avoidance strategies. Summer too seems to increase my chance of a body blow along the path.

Anyway, I had another MRI recently and instead of reversing the process it feels like the repeat MRI just reinforced the magnetic effect.

The random impacts feel like they’re getting more frequent. So, I’m asking anyone out there, if you have a body de-magnetiser, please get in touch - my neurones can’t afford yet another concussion.

Mark Coogee

Please send your letters to letters@thebeast.com.au (with your name and suburb).

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Local Artist

Being where her feet are.

Local Artist...

Tamsin Black from North Bondi Interview James Hutton Photo Sam Poulsen Local artist Tamsin Black is the talent behind this month’s beautiful cover illustration of Bondi.

Tam shares her local favourites with The Beast...

How long have you lived here? I moved to Sydney five years ago from New Zealand, and to Bondi three years ago. I now wouldn’t live anywhere else.

Why do you live here? For the lifestyle. The beautiful weather and proximity to the beach means there is always so much to do, and I am surrounded by like-minded people to do it with.

There aren’t many cities in the world where you can be in the water at 7am and in the CBD an hour later. As an aspiring surfer with a corporate job, that’s important! North Bondi also has a strong sense of community, where people look out for one another. That was never more obvious than after the terror attack.

What's your favourite beach?

If I am with friends, Camp Cove or Bronte. If I am by myself and want to really relax, I love the McIver’s Ladies Baths in Coogee, it’s so peaceful.

What's your favourite eatery? I love the Shop and Wine Bar for lunch or dinner. If you haven’t tried the halloumi sandwich, you must! I also love the vibe at Bonditonys, it’s my favourite place to take visitors.

couple’s big day. I have also recently started teaching myself animation and sharing my efforts on my Instagram and TikTok. I am finalising a series of Eastern Suburbs cards and prints, which will be available for sale soon!

Where do you like to have a drink? Volume One for coffee or matcha - the staff are all so nice and I love sitting outside there on a sunny morning. For a drink, my friends and I can often be found at North Bondi RSL.

Did you study art? I wanted to be an illustrator growing up, and I took art in high school, but I studied law instead. Unfortunately there isn’t much crossover, and I don’t anticipate any judge welcoming submissions in cartoons, tempted as I am to try.

Best thing about the Eastern Suburbs? Real life feels like a holiday.

Worst thing about the Eastern Suburbs? With so many friends nearby and so much going on, it can be a real struggle to say no. I never finish a weekend feeling as rested as I hoped!

How would you describe your art? Fun, colourful and not too serious. I hope that my drawings can make someone’s day a little brighter.

Where can people see your work? On my Instagram, @tam.illustration, or my website, tamillustration.au.

Who are your artistic inspirations? I have a soft spot for the illustrators of the books I read growing up, including Lauren Child, Quentin Blake and Janet Ahlberg. Because that’s what I read when I started drawing, you can really see how their style influenced mine. I also love New Yorker cartoons - so clever. It is a genuine talent to be able to make someone laugh aloud from a picture and a few words.

What are you working on at the moment? I design wedding stationery, so am working with a number of couples at the moment to create their dream stationery. It is a privilege, and so much fun, to be a part of a

18 The Beast February 2026 Issue 253

Any words of wisdom for young aspiring artists? I like the quote, “Make it exist first, you can make it good later.” It’s easy to get stuck trying to come up with a perfect idea, but you can’t know if it’s going to work until you give it a go. This applies to most tasks, actually.

What music are you into at the moment? I have had Rosalía’s Lux on repeat all summer.

What do you get up to on the weekends? I am training for my first marathon, so I’m doing a lot of running. My favourite local route is the Hermitage Trail from Rose Bay to Watson’s Bay. It’s seriously underrated. Besides running, I like to spend as much of the weekend as possible with my friends, and I try to surf, draw and read, if I have time.

What do you do for work? I am a full-time lawyer in a disputes team.

Do you have a favourite quote?

I like the saying, “Be where your feet are.” Life is a lot more fun when you can be fully in the moment. I am a trained yoga teacher, and I find practising yoga really helps with being present.

Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast? Remember to tell your friends and family how much you love them.

Issue 253 February 2026 The Beast 19

Local News

Silent Night: Bronte early Christmas evening after an alcohol-free gathering of well-behaved, non-backpacker visitors during the day.

Bronte Christmas Backpackers Party Became a Coogee Pissfest Words and Photos Anthony Maguire Coogee resident Rona Wade was horrified on Christmas Day when she saw a succession of backpackers disappearing into a bush regeneration area at the south end of Coogee Beach that she and other volunteers have been tending.

The bushes became a toilet for a lot of the 15,000 backpackers who swarmed Coogee Beach and the reserve for their annual Yuletide party.

“I don’t think all that urine will do the plants much good,” said Ms Wade.

It wasn’t just the bush regeneration area that was being used as a lavatory. The beachside showers also became pissoirs for some of the attendees at the backpacker bash (talk about a golden shower!). Others emptied their bladders into bottles - these receptacles were then considerately left as humble Christmas presents for the council workers, lifeguards and volunteers who

ended up removing 20 tonnes of rubbish after the daytime bash.

Randwick Council was caught unprepared after the venue for the unauthorised annual event switched from Bronte following a crackdown by Waverley Council, which wasn’t keen to see a largescale gathering in the LGA so soon after the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.

In the lead-up to Christmas, word got round in the backpacker community that the Bronte gathering would be a dry event, with alcohol being confiscated by police and rangers.

To a backpacker, the words ‘dry event’ tend to have much the same effect as a cross being held in front of a vampire.

Through social media, the news went out that the new venue was Coogee. And thus occurred a mass assembly of a festive, Santa hat and red bikini-wearing multitude on the Coogee sands, promenade and reserve.

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Meanwhile at Bronte, all was calm, all was bright. Around 1,500 people were in the gully throughout the day, according to a police sergeant on duty there.

“There were a lot of families, people kicking balls around,” he said.

Backpackers who didn’t hear about the venue switch and turned up at Bronte with alcohol were quickly given their marching orders, many of whom then headed to Coogee.

Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh seemed relieved.

“I am pleased we did not see a repeat of the chaotic scenes of 2024, and I am sure locals are relieved too,” he told The Beast.

What about the Coogee locals whose beach and parkland became the venue for a urinefest?

A good barometer of community opinion was a discussion thread on the Facebook page Coogee and Randwick Local Loop. Most postings on the site were surprisingly sympathetic to the backpacker ‘orphans’ celebrating Christmas far from home. For example, Lindy Green posted, “Randwick City Council just need to provide portaloos and more bins. The crowd were well-behaved and just wanted to have fun.”

However, it cannot be said that the community will be welcoming the backpackers with open arms next Christmas. Succinctly summing up the case for not hosting the event next year was a posting from GorgeousLynx6280, who said, “They should all FCUK off!”

Randwick Council did its best to manage the crowds at Coogee.

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Local News

New Book Shares Important Lessons Learnt From the Ocean Words Anthony Maguire Photo Lachlan Roland

Here comes the sun: 2026 has special significance for Bondi and Tamarama residents, and Michelle thinks it’s a good excuse for a party.

Festival to Celebrate Convergence of 2026 Postcode and Year 2026 Words Anthony Maguire Photo Ethan McLean As anyone who lives in Bondi or Tamarama will know, the local postcode is 2026. And what year are we now in? That’s right, go to the top of the class, it’s 2026.

The convergence of the postcode with the year has captured the imagination of Waverley councillor Michelle Stephenson, who represents Bondi ward.

She thinks it’s a good reason to celebrate.

“Holding a celebration in the postcode 2026 to mark the year 2026 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to unite the community around a uniquely symbolic milestone,” says Councillor Stephenson.

“The alignment of the two creates a natural reason for residents, businesses and local organisations to come together in pride and celebration of their shared home.”

She and five fellow-councillors have put their names to a formal motion that council officers

“commence planning for a 2026 celebration recognising our residents, community spirit and the places that define our area.”

The Beast was interested in whether the number 2026 has any special significance in numerology, so we sought the opinion of Bondi-based numerologist Jenn King, author of a book called Cosmic Numerology.

Ms King explained that in numerology you add figures together to come up with a single-digit base number - in this case it is one. Ms King sees that number as auspicious and relevant for the beachside 2026 postcode area.

“In numerology, the number one relates to the sun. That’s really interesting because the sun-beach lifestyle is central to Bondi. The sun offers a fresh start and new beginnings.

There’ll be a double dose of that energy, with the New Year really feeling like a New Year!”

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A surfer who developed a shark phobia after seeing Jaws explains how he conquered his fears - not just of sharks - and a tourist caught in a rip explains how he learnt to go with the flow and avoid panicking in a new book sharing people’s experiences with the ocean.

These are just two of the case studies in Robert Kenn’s Wisdom from the Ocean, featuring true stories from seven boardriders and bodysurfers from Sydney beaches. The stories are told in the first person, with philosophical interpretations from Mr Kenn at the end of each chapter.

“You don’t need to be a surfer, or even vaguely sporty, to relate to what these surfers have to say,” Mr Kenn says in the book’s preface, “which is lucky for me, because I am neither.”

He also says readers “don’t have to live near the surf, nor in a country of sunshine and sandy beaches,” to draw on the life lessons in the book.

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Issue 253 February 2026 The Beast 23

Local News

Bondi Road Set to Be Polished Words Anthony Maguire Photo Con Gestion

The entertainment district takes in the commercial heart of the Junction.

Council Outlines Entertainment Precinct Plan for the Junction Words Anthony Maguire Photos Leigh Perrie Waverley Council wants to turn part of Bondi Junction into a late-night entertainment district.

Called the Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP), it includes Oxford Street Mall, the eastern side of Oxford Street, Westfield and part of Grafton Street.

“This revitalisation of the Junction will turn the area into an exciting gateway to our beaches and keep the area alive after dark,” Mayor Will Nemesh told The Beast.

“Establishing a Special Entertainment Precinct will boost entertainment and nightlife outcomes by slashing red tape and allowing venues and businesses to operate with confidence.”

Waverley Council is placing a high priority on creating the latenight hub because it hopes to receive funding under this year’s round of grants under the state government’s Special Entertainment Precinct Kickstart Program.

The project’s priority status means it is proceeding before ratification of the Bondi Junction Master Plan. A report to Council said this would involve “some risk of initial boundary misalignment,” but emphasised that the borders in the current SEP map are flexible.

Another risk highlighted in the report is “that large residential development proposed within Bondi Junction’s late night trading area may proceed without adequate noise attenuation, creating future conflict with Council’s vision for a vibrant night-time economy.” This is being addressed through proposed amendments to Waverley’s Development Control Plan that were recently put on public exhibition.

When asked about noise issues likely to be encountered by current residents within the SEP area, Mayor Nemesh told The Beast, “The Special Entertainment Precinct would sit in the commercial heart of Bondi Junction, which is already home to several licensed venues, restaurants and cafés.”

“We would also establish buffer zones near residential areas to mitigate any potential noise impacts, and we would look at perhaps refining these boundaries as the Bondi Junction Vision and Master Plan progresses.”

“Precinct working groups, made up of stakeholders including business owners, residents, property owners and local police, will ensure our community can share their feedback,” he added.

24 The Beast February 2026 Issue 253

Bondi Road is set to be beautified under a plan recently announced by Waverley Council.

The first step in the local artery’s facelift will be getting underway imminently and includes seat replacements, fairy lights at the Denham Street intersection, 15 planter boxes at the Bondi Road Centre and some much-needed footpath maintenance.

Step two is likely to be a complete makeover. Council has released a 28-page Bondi Road Scoping Study which floats ambitious public domain improvements such as plantings of mature trees.

“Our objective is to build upon the existing elements that make Bondi Road the welcoming and characterful place it is, but with improved safety and amenity,” Waverley mayor Will Nemesh told The Beast.

Council officers will now prepare a report on actions identified in the scoping study and report back by May. One challenge to achieving a major streetscape upgrade is the fact that Bondi Road is classified as a state road. Ongoing collaboration with Transport for NSW will be required to address traffic, transport, safety and public domain improvements.

The Bondi bottleneck.

Local News

Max is Dancing His Way to International Success Words Anthony Maguire Photo Steven Podolski

Randwick Council wants to see affordable rents tied to income and has set an ambitious 10-year affordable rental housing target.

Randwick Releases Affordable Rental Housing Strategy Words Anthony Maguire Photo Homer Loans Relief could be in sight for people splurging most of their wages on rent - Randwick City Council has just endorsed a policy calling for all affordable housing to be capped at 30 per cent of household income.

The 30 per cent peg is part of Randwick’s just-released Affordable Rental Housing Strategy, detailed in a document ratified at a recent council meeting following a period of public exhibition and comment.

Another key part of the strategy is aiming for 10 per cent of rental stock in Randwick City to be affordable housing by 2026.

Three quarters of these homes will be social housing with the remainder earmarked for people not necessarily on benefits but struggling to pay rent. Importantly, essential workers will receive priority.

“Housing affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing our community,” Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker told The Beast.

“When teachers, nurses, ambos, early childhood educators and hospitality workers can afford to live close to where they serve, our whole city is stronger.

Over recent years, rents have outpaced incomes and too many families have felt they had no choice but to leave. Our strategy is a decisive move to turn that tide - expanding affordable rental options and keeping our community together.”

The strategy document identified a high incidence of vacant homes as one hurdle to achieving affordable housing targets. Latest census figures have said there are 59,971 dwellings compared to 53,828 households in the Randwick LGA. “This tends to suggest that vacant homes may have a significant impact on supply issues,” the document states.

The council wants a levy on properties that lie vacant for more than a year, with exceptions for valid circumstances such as deceased estates.

Short-term rentals are another area of concern, with the council saying that there are currently more than 1,500 short-term rental properties in the Randwick LGA. It notes how Byron Shire Council has placed a 60-day cap on unhosted rentals, but stops short of recommending a similar restriction.

26 The Beast February 2026 Issue 253

Growing up in Bondi and Maroubra, Max Simmons felt he didn’t fit in. While other boys of his age were into footy and surfing, he was into dancing. At 16, he left conventional high school to enrol at the Brent Street Academy, a dancing school in the Moore Park Entertainment Quarter. Here he felt accepted and began to feel happy with who he was - one facet of which was being gay.

Now 22-year-old Max is dancing his way to an international career. In September 2024, he was one of the dancers who took to the MCG stage with Katy Perry before a crowd of 100,000 for the AFL grand final.

“It was an incredible experience that gave me a feeling of great joy,” Max told The Beast.

Now he has been signed by LA-based Clear Talent Group and hopes to make a career performing with A-list artists.

“I’d love to tour the world being paid to pursue my passion and perform alongside my idols.”

You can see Max performing alongside other rising dancing stars in the documentary series Dance Life on ABC and Prime.

Max on stage.

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

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker

Randwick News 2026 has arrived, and summer is in full swing!

Like many of you, I’m looking forward to days at the beach and time spent enjoying our incredible coastline.

We’re lucky to live in a place with some of the world’s best beaches – but that privilege comes with responsibility.

Sadly, this summer has already had a devastating start across NSW. Two tragic drownings on New Year’s Day – at Coogee Beach and Mahon Pool – were a sobering reminder of the dangers of the ocean.

I want to urge everyone to put water safety first. The simplest and most important rule is to always swim at patrolled beaches and during patrol hours. Our lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers do a fantastic job.

They are on duty from 7 am to 7 pm, and their presence saves lives every day.

If you find yourself in trouble in the water, remember to stay calm, don’t panic, and never swim against a rip.

Float to survive, raise your hand and wait for help.

What’s On AUSTRALIA DAY COMMUNITY EVENT MONDAY 26 JANUARY 11 am – 2 pm Kensington Park

CULTURE ON COUNTRY MONDAY 26 JANUARY 5 pm – 8 pm La Perouse Headland

MAROUBRA SOUND WAVES SATURDAY 31 JANUARY 4.30 – 7 pm Maroubra Beach

EAT, DRINK, LOVE SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY TBA, Alison Park

Looking out for yourself and others is how we can truly make this a summer to remember.

LUNAR NEW YEAR SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY

Councillor Dylan Parker Mayor of Randwick

4.30 – 8.30 pm Meek St Plaza Kingsford

1300 722 542 randwick.nsw.gov.au

Local News

Waverley Youth Advisory Committee to Give Young Residents a Voice Words Anthony Maguire Photo Ben Thompson

Students take a close-up look at marine life in the school's state-ofthe-art lab and also get to experience it in the wild.

Fishing, Beekeeping and Korean Welcome to Randwick High School Words Anthony Maguire Photos Adam Pickstone Don’t jump to conclusions if you see a bunch of high school-age young people fishing off a local beach or rock platform during school hours. They could be Marine and Aquaculture Technology students from Randwick High School learning about sustainable fishing practices.

Marine science is one of the subjects at Randwick High taking students out of the traditional classroom environment.

“They learn about the ecology of the ocean, sustainable fishing and how to grow seaweeds and algae,” says principal Belinda Conway.

Meanwhile, this year Agriculture is being offered as a subject for the first time. And this will see part of the school becoming a hive of activity.

“We’ll be getting our own bee hive so the students can learn about farming with bees,” says Ms Conway. “They’ll also be growing a number of agricultural crops.”

Languages are another strength at the school. Students have the choice of six languag-

es - Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish, Greek and Korean.

“I think Korean has become increasingly popular because of K-Pop,” Ms Conway says.

Performing Arts is an additional area of note, with students gaining music, dancing and drama skills, which culminate in an annual performance called The Show at NIDA. The school is also preparing young people for life in a tech-savvy world with a program called SPARK, an integrated STEM initiative (which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). These areas are integrated for project-based learning, which builds critical thinking and digital skills.

Randwick High School went co-ed in 2025 - it was previously Randwick Girls’ and Randwick Boys High Schools. It achieved a balanced ratio of 47 per cent boys to 53 per cent girls out of a student enrolment of 1,460.

To find out more, you can visit this beacon of local learning at its Open Night on Thursday, February 26, from 4.30-6.30pm.

28 The Beast February 2026 Issue 253

Young people are to be given a formal voice in Waverley Council affairs with the formation of a Youth Advisory Committee.

The committee will have eight members aged between 12 and 25 and will meet twice a year “to ensure young people’s needs and perspectives are considered when planning Council infrastructure, facilities, services, events, programs, systems and information.”

Formation of the committee follows the Waverley Youth Summit, held on November 21.

That meeting was attended by 43 students from local secondary schools plus representatives of local youth organisations.

The driving force behind the Youth Advisory Committee is Waverley’s youngest councillor, 27-year-old Joshua Spicer.

At the December 9 meeting of Council, he moved a motion for establishment of the committee and it was unanimously backed by his colleagues.

Councillor Spicer will chair the committee.

“This will fill a gap where young people will be able to become more engaged in council consultation, processes and decision-making,” he told The Beast.

Councillor Spicer speaking at the Waverley Youth Summit.

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Issue 253 February 2026 The Beast 29

Local News

Local Author Reflects on Growing up in Bondi in the 1950s and 1960s Words Anthony Maguire Photo Paul Mattingly

Resident Stephen and former mayor Paula say the northern end of Charing Cross looks unfinished.

Former Mayor Says Charing Cross Upgrade Needs a Bit More Work Words and Photo Anthony Maguire Charing Cross now has wider footpaths, new street furniture and plant beds. Mature trees reach for the sky, there’s a new pedestrian crossing and there are smiles on the faces of shopkeepers after protracted and disruptive upgrade works.

But concerns have been raised by former mayor Paula Masselos about the state of the footpaths at the northern, Six Ways end of the shopping strip - the heart of Charing Cross. Here, says Councillor Masselos, the “state of the footpaths is a dilapidated patchwork of varying surface finishes and heights” and is in need of a final bit of upgrade work. At the December meeting of Waverley Council, she moved a motion for Council to “complete the footpath pavement upgrade at Six Ways,” but it was voted down by the Liberal majority. The former Labor Mayor says she’ll be re-submitting the motion later this year.

The Beast met up on site with Councillor Masselos and long-time Six Ways resident and business owner Stephen Bodnar.

Mr Bodnar pointed out how one side of the Victoria Street inter-

section is concrete and bitumen, while the other is paved. At the Carrington Road intersection, there’s a mix of pavers and concrete. Although unhappy with this “patchwork look,” he is grateful that the council didn’t go ahead with the “crazy idea” of closing the left-turning slip road into Carrington Road, which had been an original part of the streetscape vision.

It took Council some time to take the slip road off the agenda because it would have invited some substantial state government funding. It wasn’t until their August 2025 meeting that councillors formally dropped the slip road plan, along with any other further works in this northern zone of the upgrade, referred to as “SP2” (Separated Portion 2). And now the Charing Cross upgrade is seen as complete, with the council champing at the bit to move onto other projects.

A Waverley Council spokesperson told The Beast, “Council has already spent $11.09 million on the upgrade to Charing Cross, which has been one of our largest and most ambitious streetscape upgrades to date.”

30 The Beast February 2026 Issue 253

Debut author Maggie Mackenzie delivers a series of Bondi-flavoured childhood reminiscences in her memoir Get Back to Bondi: Tales of an Adventurous Kid. Going back to a time when Captain Fortune hosted a kids’ TV show and you stood for God Save the Queen at your local cinema, in this case the Six Ways Theatre in Bondi, Maggie’s anecdotes about growing up in Bondi in the 1950s and 1960s will strike a chord with many.

There’s the joy of Cracker Night, with a bonfire blazing away in a Bondi park and children letting off fireworks, and also a dose of danger, including an incident when a boy suffers an injured hand after waiting too long to throw his bunger.

Speaking of injuries, Ms Mackenzie shares how she would get severely sunburnt at Bondi Beach, a trauma that would be partially offset a few days later.

“It was a treat to slowly peel large strips of skin off my shoulders,” she said.

Get Back to Bondi: Tales of an Adventurous Kid is now available from Amazon.com.au.

Maggie with her masterpiece.

Local News

Club Bondi Junction Launches Artful Initiative Words Anthony Maguire Photos Greg Goodieson If some of the paintings currently on display in the foyer at Club Bondi Junction look familiar, that’s most probably because you’ve seen them before, gracing the cover of The Beast magazine.

Matthew Sargisson’s Bronte Lifeguard, for instance, was the cover of the June 2025 edition and now occupies pride of place in a mini-exhibition of eight of his works at the Bronte Road club. As well as seeing the work in all its 70 x 125cm glory, club visitors have the chance to purchase it. Works on the foyer wall are on sale, with the club taking a ten per cent commission.

The club’s art displays have been running since September last year. Before Mr Sargisson’s works went on show, featured artists were Betsy Marks and Amanda Woodard, both of whom have also contributed cover art to this publication.

“Showing and selling work by these local artists is an opportunity to give something back to the community,” Club Bondi Junction Vice President Greg Goodieson told The Beast.

Artists interested in showing their works are invited to contact the club on 8044 0001.

Matthew Sargisson’s Bronte Lifeguard stands watch over a family of Club Bondi Junction patrons.

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Issue 253 February 2026 The Beast 31

Crime News

The salon intimidation suspect.

Crime News Words Jimmy Fellon Photo Stan Doverman Ugly Incident at Beauty Salon Police want to talk to this bloke about an intimidation incident that occurred at a beautician in Randwick. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Maroubra Police on 9349 9299.

Hookah Horror A 19-year-old man decided to chill out on New Year’s Eve at Caffyn Park in Dover Heights, taking occasional puffs at his ‘shisha’ waterpipe. Problem was, the smoking implement was shaped like a compact AK-47 assault rifle.

A concerned park user thought it was a real firearm and called the cops. Officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were quickly on the scene. The man has been charged with behaving in an offensive manner in or near a public place or school.

Big Jim in Big Trouble Colourful entrepreneur ‘Big Jim’ Byrnes was arrested for assault and failing to submit to a breath test after his 1968 Chevrolet slammed into parked cars and an e-scooter in Bondi.

The accident is said to have happened after the Chevy failed to negotiate a turn on Rickard Avenue, Bondi Beach. Byrnes is

alleged to have assaulted a man who tried to stop him leaving the scene. Then, when the law arrived, he “refused to undergo mandatory testing and was arrested,” a NSW Police spokesperson said.

The 65-year-old, who lists himself as ‘James “Big Jim” Byrnes’ on his Linkedin account, made his reputation as a big-ticket corporate debt collector. In 2012, his Bellevue Hill mansion was targeted in a drive-by shooting.

Appearing in court after the Bondi incident, Byrnes lodged not guilty pleas to both charges.

The magistrate refused a police request that he be barred from licensed premises in Bondi.

Trio Charged Over Child Abuse and Bestiality Material Police investigating a child abuse ring raided a unit block in Malabar and arrested three men.

Benjamin Drysdale, 46, and Mark Andrew Sendecky, 42, were charged with possession and transmission of child abuse material. Drysdale was also hit with a drug possession charge.

Stuart Riches, 39, was charged with possessing bestiality material, accessing and making child abuse material, drug possession and failing to comply with reporting obligations.

Boy in The Scots College ‘Human Tunnel’ Ordeal Police were called in after a student from Bellevue Hill’s The Scots College claimed he was tricked into going through an induction ceremony where he was doused in beer and verbally abused as he negotiated a “human tunnel” of jeering schoolmates.

The hazing incident is said to be part of an annual The Scots College tradition, known as BOB, for students in years 10 to 12.

Invited on Snapchat to attend BOB (it stands for Boys on Beer), the 17-year-old victim turned up to the meeting point in the grounds of Woollahra Golf Club

32 The Beast February 2026 Issue 253

one evening for what he thought was a beer-drinking party. But he quickly learned that he was that evening’s entertainment as he was pushed into the human tunnel. He is said to have been sworn at, slapped on the back and drenched in beer.

He then fled the golf course, and a woman living in a nearby street let him use her phone to call his parents. In a subsequent statement to police, the boy said he had been very upset after being called a “fat f***” as he passed through the human tunnel. Videos of his ordeal were posted online.

Dumb and Dumber There’s a saying about how criminals return to the scenes of their crimes. That appears to have happened at Eastgardens, where two men are said to have stolen $10,000 worth of watches after one of them scaled a counter and snatched the timepieces from a glass cabinet. The pair fled and appeared to have gotten away with the crime. Until they decided to revisit the shopping centre two days later!

Police arrested the pair and later carried out a search at an Eastgardens address. “During the search, six watches were located and seized along with other items of interest,” police said.

Man Filmed Woman in Toilet - Police A man went into the women’s bathroom in a shopping centre and used his phone to film a young woman answering a call of nature in a cubicle. She challenged him, and he fled.

That’s part of the brief of evidence police have put together against a 25-year-old man who was later arrested in south Maroubra following a foot pursuit.

He was taken to Maroubra Police Station where he was charged with intentionally recording intimate images without consent, hindering a police officer in the execution of duty and peep or pry.

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Issue 253 February 2026 The Beast 33

Subject Rock Creature Location Bondi Photographer Bondeye Blue

Subject Mozzie Zapper Location Clovelly Photographer Matthew Werner @mwerner2031

Subject Heatwave Heaven Location Bronte Photographer Beau Tronche

Subject Limbering Up Location Coogee Photographer Brody Vancers

The Beast Magazine wants your local photos...

Subject Perched Location Bellevue Hill Photographer Bailey Grant

Subject Spot On Location Bronte Photographer Kim McCarthy

Subject Sunset Shower Location Bondi Photographer Mahsa Hashemi

Subject Danger Location Maroubra Photographer Bev S

Please send them to photos@thebeast.com.au

Tight Lines

Lines for days at J Bay.

Lekker Times in the Rainbow Nation Words and Photo Lewis Kennedy-Hunt For the last few months, Charlotte and I had been traversing our way down through the African continent on the trip of a lifetime. Picture two surfyhaired white-skinned punters from Australia battling their way through Africa’s dodgiest bus terminals and airports with a surfboard bag the size of a corpse. If you’ve ever seen balls on a dog, we seemed to carry with us a similar aura, turning heads everywhere we went.

After marvelling at the Pyramids of Giza, savouring a Serengeti sunset and rafting down the Zambezi - among other side quests - we thought it would be fitting to go and hunt some waves. South Africa was the new canvas of adventure and we wasted no time piling our robust suite of equipment into the cheapest (and in hindsight, most ill-equipped) rental car we could find, before pointing it at the tip of the continent.

Without much of a plan, nor any idea of what to expect in this strange new land, we leaned into the unknown, locked our doors and started driving.

The first stop was Coffee Bay, a remote hidden gem in the north east, a stretch of coast

known as the Wild Coast. If Blueys Beach, Crescent Head and the Far South Coast had a baby, you’re halfway there as far as scenery goes. Towering cartoon-like hills of green morphed into ocean, joined by dark fingers of volcanic rock.

Free-roaming cows speckled the landscape among the select few residences that soaked in the spectacle from their hillside vantage points.

The waves weren’t that appealing, but the place was full of life. We watched locals return from a dive with shopping bags full of lobsters and spotted fresh whole fish hanging from garden trees. Semi self-sufficient gardens sat at the foot of each house, with all sorts of subtropical fruits and vegetables adorning them. Bleachwhite donkeys roamed in and out of open-gated gardens in some sort of tripped-out utopian dreamscape.

One bloke we met was wizard-like in appearance, the archetypal stoner character who sold coffee, banana milkshakes, space cakes and magic mushrooms alongside one another on a chalkboard menu. With little regard for any legalities,

36 The Beast February 2026 Issue 253

it became apparent that this place operated on a different wavelength to the rest of the world. It seemed like a place people would discover and then never leave.

But on the other side of it all was a darker reality. The locals were so poor that crime rates were through the roof, with one particular café having been broken into seven times that month. But each time it was only bags of rice or bunches of bananas that were taken. It felt like a paradox that in such a plentiful place there could be such desperation and hunger.

Tourism in the area was also at an all-time low. We got yarning with one of the local café owners about a recent string of carjackings on the very road we had driven in on - people blocking in tourists on oneway bridges, smashing their windows and robbing them of everything at knifepoint. I don’t know whether it was a good or bad thing that we didn’t hear about that before arriving, but either way we managed to drive through the region unscathed.

After a couple of nights we headed on towards the infamous Jeffreys Bay, a place of pilgrimage in the surfing world and no doubt the best wave in South Africa. We managed to time our arrival with a little out of season swell that had us surfing its perfect lines non-stop for five days.

We left with huge grins and sore arms, it all seemed to be working out for us at this point.

A well hung mussel cracker.

The Unreliable Guide icals designed to keep us alive.

Our heart rate spikes, pain dulls and time warps. Some people freeze, some flee and a rare few fight, not because they are fearless, but because their wiring, training, values or sheer instinct tells them that this is the moment to step forward.

Governor-General Sam Mostyn visits hero Ahmed al-Ahmed.

The Unreliable Guide to... Bravery Words Nat Shepherd Photo Pam Burridge Bravery has been busy lately in our normally tranquil Eastern Suburbs. Not the cinematic version with swelling violins and close-ups of slow-motion hair flicks, but the real, sudden, messy kind that is followed by shock and nightmares.

From the many individuals whose courage gave us hope during the horrifying events at Bondi in December, to the police officer who ran, fully clothed, to try and rescue a drowning man from Coogee’s churning New Year’s Day surf, this has been the season of heroism. And it’s made me question - how brave am I? Fortunately, I’ve never been confronted by a gunman or had to make the split-second calculation between my own safety and someone else’s life, but like most of us, I’ve known fear and danger. Given a choice between fight, flight or freeze, I’m running, but when that’s not possible I’ve surprised myself with calm in moments that should have shattered me.

Trouble is, those moments come back later, replayed over and over and over again.

Perhaps, while bravery can surprise us in the moment, it only sends the invoice afterwards. So, still reeling from recent events, The Unreliable

Guide has been investigating how seemingly ordinary humans become heroic.

Why are some of us braver than others?

The worldwide response to the footage of Ahmed al-Ahmed tackling the gunman in Bondi was intense because he did something that so few of us think we could, would or perhaps even should do.

And then we found out that Boris and Sofia Gurman had also tackled these armed men.

Tragically, they did not live to tell their tale, but interviews with Ahmed al-Ahmed seem to suggest that he too is surprised by his brave actions that day.

In saying that he “didn’t worry about anything” when he disarmed one of the gunmen, we get an insight into what turns some humans into heroes.

Amandeep Singh-Bola, who ran towards the carnage determined to stop the gunmen, said later, “It was almost like tunnel vision… Once I saw where he was, nothing else really mattered.”

So what happens to people that they fly in the face of danger and do these brave acts?

Science has a few theories. In moments of extreme threat, the body releases a tidal wave of adrenaline and cortisol, chem-

The cost of bravery As we have seen, being brave can get you killed. That’s the part we struggle to say out loud, preferring our heroes Hollywood style - intact and smiling.

For the heroes who survive, even if they emerge physically unscathed, the psychological cost can be steep.

Our emergency responders are three times more likely to experience PTSD than the general population, meaning nightmares, hypervigilance, emotional numbness and the exhaustion caused by a nervous system that refuses to stand down.

The body might survive the danger, but the mind keeps watch long after the threat has passed, like a lost soldier who was never told the war is over. And many heroes find that bravery doesn’t always feel brave in retrospect. They report feelings of heaviness, isolation, loneliness or even anger at being praised for something they’d rather forget.

Finally, The Unreliable Guide suggests we take a moment to thank the people who run toward danger while the rest of us freeze or run away. Thank these heroes who act without applause, or any guarantee of success. Think of Ahmed, who risked his life simply because “my soul asked me to do that.”

This courage underpins the best version of Australia, and whatever you think Albo should or shouldn’t have done, he’s right when he says, “We are a brave country.”

Issue 253 February 2026 The Beast 37

Angus Abroad

You'll never walk alone.

Sat Soaking with the Scousers Words Angus Henricks Photo Steven Gerrard It’s winter over here in the UK where I am currently residing and, living up in the northeast of the country in Newcastle upon Tyne, you really feel the cold weather. Needless to say, I am absolutely freezing.

February does unfortunately happen to be the punctuation point of bad weather during the year. The grey seems to be at its greyest, the rain irritatingly lingers and the sun setting at three o’clock in the afternoon does start to chip away at your willpower incrementally.

While my intention up to this point has been to complain about the famously mediocre English climate too much (thank you for reading), as well as to ensure that all of you who are back home enjoying the beautiful Aussie summer are grateful (I am so envious), I wanted to discuss an experience that I recently had that involved the aforementioned dire climactic conditions. I was fortunate enough to travel west to a fellow northern city, Liverpool, and watch Liverpool FC play at

Anfield Stadium. The experience was absolutely incredible.

Liverpool FC has had considerable success as a football club, winning more titles than any other English Premier League team and attracting dedicated fans from all over the world.

My trip to Anfield allowed me to observe the interesting phenomenon that is English football fandom and the sheer unrelenting passion that the fans of football clubs over here possess. It is genuinely impressive - and on a certain level concerning - how invested people are here.

Similar to Newcastle’s citywide dedication to Newcastle United FC, there is a notable shift to a different gear when the team is playing a home game in the city. The team jerseys are everywhere, the pubs are packed and there is a palpable buzz and liveliness around the place as all roads lead to the stadium.

However, in almost every way, the fandom for Liverpool FC from around the world

38 The Beast February 2026 Issue 253

pales in comparison to the investment and dedication shown by the Liverpudlians in the city. The investment in and care for the club are genuinely impressive.

What really blew me away when watching the game was the feeling that the fans of the club would show up for their team through thick and thin, and that the support is far from fairweather (it’s usually heinous weather in this part of the world).

The community that stems from the club in large part contributes to the people of this city tolerating the atrocious weather and in many ways has been a beacon of light for a city that unfortunately has somewhat fallen from a comparatively glorious past.

Having been a city that suffered tremendously from the decline of the British manufacturing industry, as well as the decline in its use as a major global shipping port during the height of British colonial power, has put it into a difficult - and in many cases impoverished situation.

In the grim, grey monotonousness of the winter months, Liverpool FC provides the Scousers with an opportunity to not only escape the dreariness of everyday life, but to find camaraderie, community and companionship through the club.

The anthem of Liverpool FC is the famous song, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Poetically, that song offers an almost perfect simultaneous summation of the feeling of being part of a genuine community and being a fan in the sea of red at Anfield.

While I am a Newcastle United supporter, it was a fantastic experience in Liverpool and one that offered valuable food for thought about how we find togetherness as people.

Kieran's Satire

Lahra Downs

Woollahrans' worst nightmare.

High Rise Meets Low Tone in Lahra Downs Words Kieran Blake - kieranblakewriter.org Photo Sue Burbia Lahra Downs will supplant the genteel suburb of Woollahra when the new train station is completed in 2029.

Density to rival Macau will define the brash and bustling ‘burb which was borne of Premier Chris Minns’ decision to add another stop to the Eastern Suburbs rail line and pair it with high-rise apartments and affordable housing.

Long-standing locals rightly fear the death of their privacy and winter sun, as well as the influx of Little Bay residents who will make way for the gentrification of their suburb and the renovation of Long Bay Jail. The controversial decision leaves wary Woollahrans with three short years to ready themselves for new neighbours with backstories tragic enough for Australian Idol.

Displaced Littlies will merge with thousands of Downers from across Australia in the unrecognisable new metropolis.

Woollahra Golf Club’s verdant fairways and carpeted greens will be bulldozed for the

Minns Mega Pantheon of Pleasure, featuring Minns’ Mini Putt Putt, Minns’ Miserly Screen Golf, Minns’ Manic Go-Kart track and the Museums of BBL and Aussie V8s. Lahra Downs will steal the Formula 1 Grand Prix from Melbourne, and a drag-racing strip will connect the station to the Minns Magical Waterpark to be constructed in Rose Bay for the enjoyment of the masses in summer.

Hello Jamberoo - Goodbye Sea Planes.

Harbourside private schools will be duly compensated for the destruction of their water views and students will be offered counselling. Meanwhile, Rose Bay Secondary College will grow in prestige when Lahra Downs receives a sports high school full of future NRL stars sporting mullets without the irony.

The suburb on steroids will see the Roosters quadruple their junior clubs, but will simultaneously create the emergence of a new rugby league rival called the Greater Bondi

Junction Whales, which will lure the talent away from R360 with revenue from the grand and glitzy casinos lining Queen Street.

Extreme overcrowding - not influencers - will soon cause mile-long queues outside local eateries, and practised palates will be forcibly transitioned from plat du jour to food courts and Jollibee.

Not all is lost, however, for the concerned conservatives.

Those with a fame for fashion can reinvent their aesthetic with items off the rack from factory outlets, and no one will have to travel all the way to Minchinbury to peruse lot after lot of reliable and affordable automotive bargains.

As new residents set up camp in Lahra Downs, irate incumbents must start the search for a new home in an eastern suburb comprising suitably well-heeled neighbours, sense and sensibility, the waft of salty air from a tranquil beach on the afternoon breeze and at least one on-par golf course. Little Bay?

Issue 253 February 2026 The Beast 39

Allegra's View

The paddle-out at Bondi.

From the Heart Words Allegra Spender, Member for Wentworth Photo Ken Drone Like so many others, my family and I were in Bondi on the afternoon of December 14. It was stinking hot, and the beach was as crowded as I have ever seen it - we felt lucky to get a park.

We had my husband’s parents from the UK with us. Our three kids had been reluctant to leave the house, but once we got into the waves it was impossible to get them out. But we were off to a family Christmas dinner in Bronte and left the beach around 5.15pm, and it was at dinner that I first heard the news of what happened in Bondi.

I never will forget, and nor should any of us. December 14, 2025, is one of the darkest days in Australian history. We lost 15 innocent people - from a 10-year-old child to a Holocaust survivor - because of violent antisemitic hatred.

As a country, we promise each other that safety and acceptance is not dependent on your religion, ethnicity or sexuality. That promise has never been more violated. This goes to the heart of our nation’s values. The question now is how that day will change us. If we don’t want the terrorists to win, we must make sure it changes us for the better.

There are many stories of that day to guide us. I think of the people I have met in the last few weeks and their stories; the mothers, strangers and even

children shielding younger children from bullets with their own bodies; of the heroes who risked everything and even lost their lives trying to save others; the lifeguards, lifesavers, police and paramedics who ran towards danger; the locals who shepherded people to safety in their homes and businesses while shots were still being fired.

No one asked the faith or ethnicity of the people they helped and supported; that didn’t matter, because they saw people in need and stepped up.

There are many ways that governments need to respond.

Fighting the spread of antisemitic hate, particularly of hate preachers; assessing our police and security services and seeing what we can learn from this; gun law reform; working on deradicalisation; ensuring we don’t invite into this country those who hate, while ensuring we don’t prejudge people based on their religion or ethnicity; ensuring we have a rigorous independent inquiry into what happened, so we have the best chance of avoiding it in the future; having a clear goal that no community should ever have to live behind security fences, as our Jewish community has done for many years.

This is the work of politicians like me, but government will not be able to solve this alone. Our community understands that, and I’ve witnessed it already in the generosity of local businesses providing free flowers, bread and coffee in the days that followed, the lifesavers standing shoulder to shoulder along the whole length of Bondi Beach, and the paddle-out at North Bondi where thousands came together to mourn those lost and show their support.

One woman I know from Jewish community events found a glimmer of hope.

“So many people have contacted me since this happened,” she said, “People I haven’t heard from for sometimes decades. The

40 The Beast February 2026 Issue 253

one good thing that has come from this darkness is I didn’t realise so many people cared.”

And that, I think, is at the heart of what must come from this - the reconnection of people at personal levels, seeing each other for our humanity first and foremost. That empathy is at the heart of the Australian promise, but we have sometimes allowed ourselves to see people as groups - as symbols - to dehumanise the other. The rise in antisemitism in the last two years has been stark and awful, particularly people using the actions of the Israeli government as an excuse to justify hatred against Jewish Australians.

Many people I know have been afraid to wear signs of their Jewish faith, both due to security risks and a genuine fear of being abused on the street or excluded at work or their places of study.

That is a terrible indictment on all of us, and one that the tragedy at Bondi must force us to address.

In the aftermath of December 14 musician and author Simon Tedeschi encouraged Jewish and non-Jewish Australians to work hand-in-hand with all those who “refuse to mistake extremism for conscience, who understand that solidarity is not contingent on total agreement, and who recognise that there is no viable future here except together.”

I believe, at a personal level, we need to go back to the adage and walk a day in another person’s shoes; to seek first to understand, then to be understood; to be curious about our differences, both in our cultures, and our opinions; not to tolerate intolerance; and to disagree well.

We live in one of the most successful multicultural countries on earth, but our success is built on personal relations, where we learn and enrich our lives in our differences. There is always a responsibility for government, but in the end, change must come from our hearts.

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Come along to your local resident Precinct Meeting Precincts are meetings of residents who get together regularly to discuss local matters or issues of concern in their neighbourhood.

Waverley is split into 13 Precincts and meetings are open to any person living within the Precinct boundaries.

Visit waverley.nsw.gov.au/precinct or scan the QR Code to find out which Precinct you belong to and when they are meeting next.

Waverley Council proudly supports resident run Precinct meetings.

From preparing your property for sale to finalising the deal we make selling effortless, while achieving exceptional results.

We don’t just sell homes.

We sell their story.

Because true value lies in the details.

CHRIS CANTARELLA Property Partner 0419 008 970 chriscantarella@theagency.com.au THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE TRUST ▪ INTEGRITY ▪ ENERGY ▪ RESULTS Issue 253 February 2026 The Beast 41

Marjorie's Musings

We choose what happens next.

Let’s Heal Together Words Dr Marjorie O’Neill, Member for Coogee Photo Michael Leunig We are all appalled by the cowardly act of terrorism directed at our Jewish community and impacting all of us on December 14, and the tragic deaths and multiple injuries that resulted, both physical and mental. Memories of outstanding acts of bravery, as well as immeasurable personal and community loss, have changed us in ways we have yet to fully realise. Such a tragedy leaves us all feeling somewhat powerless yet each of us is able to shape the implications of that dreadful event for the future of our society.

In the days and weeks since that awful day, I’ve thought a lot about what it means to rebuild community - not in a grand, political sense, but at a grassroots, person-to-person level. How can we, at a human level, help make others feel safer, accepted, appreciated and loved? It begins, of course, with kindness and simple acts, which contribute to others feeling safer, more peaceful and maybe even happier. A smile from a

stranger, a friendly nod at the dog park, the chats in line at the bakery, the simple comfort of knowing that, even if you don’t know everyone’s name, you belong to a community that has your back.

In Jewish tradition, a mitzvah is an act of kindness, a good deed and a moral responsibility to do better and be better. It is a practical and simple act of kindness that aims to create a wave of goodwill. It doesn’t have to be big or poetic. It can be as simple as calling someone you’ve lost touch with, dropping dinner around to a neighbour who’s having a rough time or checking in on the friend who says they’re ‘fine’ but probably isn’t. Honestly, that feels like something we can and should be a part of.

Rebuilding community isn’t about speeches or slogans, it’s about the small, human things we choose to do for each other, especially when the world feels uncertain and scary. It can also be about the mean things we choose not to do. Let’s honk at

42 The Beast February 2026 Issue 253

the roundabout less, let others go first, just slow down and be kinder to each other. It’s about deciding that fear and anxiety won’t shrink our lives, that anger won’t harden our hearts, that compassion is stronger than hate - not in theory, but in practice.

I’ve seen so many examples already. People reaching out to check that others are okay, taking the time to listen, organising meals for those in need of support, kids writing cards for strangers, strangers stopping to ask, “Do you need anything?”.

This is the kind of stuff you don’t always see on the news but you absolutely feel when you live here.

It is the magic of a mitzvah.

One tiny act on its own may not change the world, but thousands of them? They change the air we breathe and the community we live in.

So this is my gentle call to arms, Eastern Suburbs style do one mitzvah - just one - and then maybe another. And talk to your kids about kindness, say hello to that neighbour you haven’t quite introduced yourself to yet, support a local business that’s doing it tough, thank a teacher, a nurse or that shop assistant working on a public holiday. Check in on someone who is Jewish and let them know they’re valued and safe in this community we all share.

We can’t undo what happened, but we can choose what happens next. We can choose a community that shows up, that refuses to be divided, that meets darkness with decency, generosity and a bit of that classic local spirit - the kind where people argue over the best coffee but stand shoulder-to-shoulder when it counts.

One mitzvah, one act of kindness, one moment of choosing connection over fear. That’s how we heal - together.

Authorised by Dr Marjorie O’Neill MP. Funded using Parliamentary entitlements.

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We are here to help. If you need assistance with local or state issues, please contact our office.

Dr Marjorie O’Neill MP Member for Coogee P: 02 9398 1822 E: coogee@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Headnoise

Keep it under your hat.

Can I Tell You a Secret?

Words Jeremy Ireland Photo Kabar Burung Many years ago I found myself in conversation with a retired police officer. He had since changed careers and was now head of security on a popular reality TV show where the cast’s main mission revolved around convincing others not to vote them off an island.

Our discussion was candid, but my curiosity got the better of me and I asked, “If a contestant wanted to get away with something that helped them progress in the game, what’s the best way to do it?” His reply was quick and straight as a die, “Don’t tell anyone anything,” he said with a wry smile. That certainly got my attention, but it was his next line that really stuck; “Most people can’t keep a secret.”

This scenario presents two separate but often related and overlapping behaviours - keeping a secret and oversharing. Secrets are a universal human phenomenon. Yes, we all have them to some degree, and some are harmless while others carry more weight and have the potential to break trust. Oversharing, on the other hand, is more about unclear personal boundaries and can lead to awkwardness, vulnerability and regret.

A secret, whether good or bad, generally falls into one of two categories; either someone has told us something in confidence, or we ourselves have done or experienced something that we feel should be kept to ourselves. In both cases, the end goal of keeping a secret is usually to prevent harm, either to others or to ourselves.

The slope becomes slippier, however, the more we think about the secret, particularly those we hold about ourselves. Interestingly, research suggests that the act of concealment itself is not as damaging as the amount of time a person spends thinking about the

44 The Beast February 2026 Issue 253

secret. In other words, the more someone’s mind wanders back to the secret, the worse off they tend to be.

Secrets that revolve around negative emotions like guilt and shame are the hardest to suppress. Shame tends to keep us stuck in rumination, leaving us feeling like a bad person and somewhat powerless. Guilt, by contrast, is often more adaptive and can motivate amends and allow us to move on. Either way, secrets tied to guilt or shame can become heavy burdens, exhausting us and leaving us feeling fatigued and alone.

This creates a catch-22; wanting to get the secret off our chest, while wishing to protect ourselves and our relationships. Sharing such a burden isn’t for everyone, but confiding in a trusted person can build closeness and relieve some of the emotional weight.

Research has also examined the mental toll of holding secrets and how detrimental it can be to health. When someone asks, “Can you keep a secret?” there’s a good chance you’ll say, “Sure,” only to later pass that burden along by telling someone else, often followed by asking them not to tell anyone either. This is a violation of trust, and the greater the fear that trust will be broken, the more impact the secret can have on mental health.

Simple examples include keeping quiet about a surprise party, knowing in advance that employees are about to be made redundant or being asked to hold a secret that you know will hurt someone you care about. It’s often the worry about what to do with the information - rather than the information itself that can induce anxiety and even depression.

If you’re holding a secret that’s weighing you down, a few strategies may help. Try writing the secret down, including both your subjective feelings and the objective facts; talk to someone about the experience of holding the secret rather than the content itself - a therapist could be particularly useful here; or return to the person who shared the secret and ask for clarity or support.

If oversharing is more your issue, the first step is noticing when it happens. We tend to overshare when we’re excited, emotionally heightened or nervous. Sharing some personal detail helps connection, but telling everything to everyone doesn’t and can leave others feeling uncomfortable.

The takeaway message? Let trust develop before sharing deeply. If you’re worried you said too much, you probably did. Read the room, recognise your audience and listen more than you talk - we learn more by listening than speaking. And if you are a talker, breathe before you do. Practise by not giving your phone number to JB Hi-Fi every time you buy something. And remember, if you want to win that reality show, glue your mouth shut.

Jeremy Ireland is a local psychotherapist. If you have any questions you can get in touch with Jeremy by calling 0400 420 042.

Tide Chart

February 2026 Tide Chart Numbers Bureau of Meteorology Tidal Centre Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1 0204 0.47 0838 1.98 1525 0.23 2121 1.43

Moons

•

Moon • New Quarter • First Moon • Full • Last Quarter

Sunday

3 0345 0.40 1013 1.96 1647 0.25 2248 1.50

4 0432 0.42 1055 1.87 1725 0.31 2330 1.51

5 0518 0.47 1135 1.75 1759 0.38

6 0009 1.51 0604 0.54 1213 1.60 1830 0.47

7 0049 1.50 0651 0.62 1250 1.45 1900 0.55

8 0130 1.49 0743 0.69 1330 1.32 1933 0.63

9 0215 1.47 0842 0.75 1419 1.20 2015 0.70

10 0308 1.46 0955 0.77 1527 1.12 2110 0.75

11 0411 1.46 1115 0.75 1652 1.10 2221 0.78

12 0518 1.49 1225 0.68 1813 1.13 2331 0.76

13 0618 1.55 1318 0.61 1909 1.19

14 0030 0.71 0708 1.63 1400 0.53 1951 1.25

15 0117 0.64 0751 1.71 1436 0.45 2028 1.32

16 0200 0.57 0830 1.78 1510 0.39 2103 1.39

17 0239 0.50 0907 1.83 1543 0.34 2138 1.46

18 0319 0.45 0945 1.85 1615 0.30 2215 1.53

19 0401 0.42 1023 1.84 1648 0.30 2253 1.59

20 0446 0.42 1103 1.77 1723 0.32 2333 1.64

21 0534 0.44 1145 1.67 1759 0.38

22 0017 1.67 0627 0.48 1231 1.54 1838 0.46

23 0104 1.67 0726 0.53 1324 1.40 1922 0.55

24 0158 1.66 0835 0.58 1428 1.26 2016 0.64

25 0302 1.64 1000 0.60 1552 1.18 2128 0.70

26 0418 1.65 1126 0.56 1725 1.18 2250 0.70

27 0534 1.71 1237 0.48 1838 1.25

28 0004 0.64 0640 1.78 1334 0.39 1933 1.35

2 0257 0.42 0927 2.00 1608 0.22 2205 1.47

•

• •

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Issue 253 February 2026 The Beast 45

Dana's Recipe 1 tbs caster sugar 1 tbs salt ¾ cup water Sauce 1 tbs fish sauce 1½ tbs soy sauce Juice of ½ lime ½ tsp white sugar

About as good as a sanga can get.

Goodness Gracious Bánh Mì Words Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine Bánh mì is a Vietnamese sandwich with French influence and a long history. It’s an admired lunch option in Australia, but the best bánh mì offerings around Sydney often come with a long queue. So, to make this at home, I have taken the essence and traditional ingredients of the bánh mì and made it my own with fragrant pork meatballs to capture the traditional flavours and layers of freshness in a crusty white roll. It’s vibrant and delicious, and hopefully this version will inspire you to try this generous sandwich at home.

4 radishes, thinly sliced 1 cucumber, sliced into ribbons 1 bunch coriander 2 birdseye red chillies, finely sliced

Ingredients 2 long crusty white rolls 50gm chicken liver paté

Pickled carrot 2 carrots, julienned ⅓ cup white vinegar

Pork meatballs 300gm pork mince 3cm piece fresh ginger, grated 1 clove garlic, minced ½ stalk lemongrass, very finely chopped 1 tbs fish sauce Juice of ¼ lime 1 spring onion, finely chopped 1 tsp sesame oil 3 tbs olive oil for frying

46 The Beast February 2026 Issue 253

Method 1. To make the pickled carrot, add vinegar, salt and sugar to a small saucepan set to medium heat. Stir until the sugar and salt dissolve and remove from the heat. Pour into a sterilised jar and top up with the water.

Seal and refrigerate for a couple of hours or longer.

2. In a large bowl add the ingredients for the pork meatballs and mix well to combine. Roll into 6 meatballs.

3. In a large frypan set to medium, add the olive oil. Fry the meatballs for around 8 minutes, turning occasionally to brown all sides. Remove from the pan and set aside on paper towel.

4. To assemble the sandwich, place the rolls on a board to layer the ingredients. Spread the paté on the base, followed by cucumber ribbons, pickled carrot and radish. Gently squash the pork meatballs with a fork and add 3 to each roll. Generously spoon over the sauce so it absorbs into the meatballs.

5. Spread over a bunch of fresh coriander (with stems), followed by the fresh chilli. It’s ready to eat!

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.

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MAILBOX DELIVERERS NEEDED The Beast magazine is looking for a couple of reliable local residents to help with our monthly mailbox drop.

You'll need to be available for four or five days around the 18th to the 23rd of each month and have a reasonable level of fitness. You'll also need a half decent vehicle.

Locals over 50 years of age are preferred for this work, as the last 20 years has shown us that this is the demographic that really knows how to knuckle down and get a job done properly from start to finish.

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, please email james@thebeast.com.au.

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Just an easy three-hour drive from the Eastern Suburbs, The Boathouses offer separate two-bedroom properties, available to be booked individually or together.

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w w w.t h e w r i g h t p h y s i o . c o m . a u Issue 253 February 2026 The Beast 47

Beast Brainteasers

The Beast Supercross 1

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ACROSS 1. Men’s Australian Tennis Open champ in ’24 and ’25 (6,6) 6. Season after summer (6) 7. Spanish eccy island (5) 9. Therefore (2) 10. Pickled herring rolled around olive (7) 11. Organ in female pelvic cavity (4) 12. Annoy (3) 13. Australian slouch hat (6) 17. A break or space in an object (3) 18. Keeper of a park (6) 20. High-necked long-sleeved top (6) 21. Capital of Greece (6) 22. Affirmative (3)

DOWN 1. American female comedian (4,6) 2. Streaming service (7) 3. Relatives (7) 4. Coloured portion of the eye (4) 5. Inflammatory skin condition (6) 8. Framework supporting climbing plants (5) 13. Extinct ancestor of man (6) 14. Englandbased street artist and political activist (6) 15. Evergreen succulents from Mexico (6) 16. Ancient Egyptian monument (6) 19. To snack (4)

Trivial Trivia Words Lisa Anderson 1. What is the primary ingredient in a falafel?

2. Which continent has land in all four hemispheres?

3. What company was originally named ‘Cadabra’?

4. Who wrote Oliver Twist?

5. What is the name of a labourer who loads and unloads ships; a johnodoré, stevedore or gavedore?

6. What time is shown on the screen on all Apple iPhone ads; 2.50 or 9.41?

Subject Static Electricity Location Coogee Photographer Carrie Fox 48 The Beast February 2026 Issue 253

7. Who directed Pulp Fiction?

8. What is tattooed on Popeye’s arm?

9. Which country has competed at every FIFA World Cup? 10. What is the currency in Japan?

Reviews

Dove Ellis Blizzard

Label Black Butter Records Reviewer @aldothewriter Rating  There is a lot of buzz about this fellow, but the jury remains out as to whether it is warranted. Irish balladeers tend to enjoy a romanticised boost in the early part of their career, “Oh, isn’t he marvellously poetic and intense!”, which then peters out to, “Oh, get over yourself, you whiney little git.” I can see Ellis following a similar route, but hopefully not.

Blizzard is both wonderful and awful, and aptly named because it can feel like navigating through one. It’s got shades of Jeff Buckley, an Irish jig band and a drunk wino singing on a street corner at 3am.

Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers Glory Label Mom + Pop Music Reviewer @aldothewriter Rating 

No Other Choice Genre Comedy Thriller Reviewer Linda Heller-Salvador Director Park Chan-wook (Old Boy) is renowned for his visually impressive and genre-blending films, and his latest work, No Other Choice, is no exception. Adapted from Donald E. Westlake’s satirical novel The Ax, the film delivers a deliciously dark comedy that sharply illustrates the repercussions of dehumanisation in a relentlessly capitalistic society.

Man-su (Lee Byung-hun) is informed by his corporate managers that, following the company buyout, they have ‘no other choice’ but to enforce staff redundancies. Chaos ensues in the aftermath of being unceremoniously laid off, as Man-su feels he has ‘no other choice’ but to embark on a seriously deranged and bumblingly comical solution to ensure his family continues in the lifestyle they are accustomed to.

Park delves fearlessly into the universal puzzles of existence, unravelling the tangled threads of revenge, self-worth and longing.

No Other Choice strikes a chord with its raw relatability, serving as a sharp social mirror that demands our attention.

Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers is a bloody fantastic band delivering good old-fashioned rock and roll. The press release describes it as “music to strut to” and it is hard to make a better comparison.

I’m showing my age here, but this harks back to the peak You Am I and Magic Dirt era, when dirty jeans and shabby chic were every muso’s uniform. God knows what it is these days - dress as obnoxiously outré as possible? Showing my age again there.

Guitar-driven rock will never die thanks to bands like Teen Jesus. It’s just too darn fun.

The Belair Lip Bombs

Again

Label Third Man Records Reviewer @aldothewriter Rating  Living in Melbourne must feel like sipping on crushed glass cocktails half the time, but the music scene would certainly sweeten the mixture. The Belair Lip Bombs are the latest indie rockers to emerge from that frozen hellscape, confused and with unfocussed eyes no doubt, but ready to take over the world. ‘Jangly’ is the first word that comes to mind listening to Again. It is prime indie-rock, catchy and fun, but perhaps a little too much so, as once it was over not much had sunk in. Worth a listen, and a good band to catch live, I’m guessing.

Issue 253 February 2026 The Beast 49

Beardy from Hell Aries Mar 21-Apr 20 As long as intimacy stems from a willingness to be vulnerable, you will remain eternally cursed to a platonic existence.

Virgo Aug 23-Sep 23 Rather than focusing on one arch nemesis, try evenly distributing all of your negative emotions among your close friends.

Taurus Apr 21-May 21 Every time you learn something new you’ll forget how to do something else, removing any incentive to learn anything.

Libra Sep 24-Oct 23 No amount of ice baths or reiki healing will wash away the years of disrespect you’ve shown your mind and body.

Visions Beardy from Hell

Gemini May 22-Jun 21 Someone very close to you is about to completely lose their marbles and you are the only one who can help them.

Scorpio Oct 24-Nov 22 All the new clothes in the world won’t make you feel better when you’ve allowed your rig to deteriorate to the point that it has.

Aquarius Jan 21-Feb 19 Some time in the near future you’ll receive the opportunity to avenge a despicable act of disloyalty meted out to you as a child.

Cancer Jun 22-Jul 22 When you have to apologise, feign ignorance as to what you actually did, so that you’re not really apologising at all.

Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21 In light of your current dearth of mates, it’s probably a good time to reassess your morals, values and stances on various issues.

Pisces Feb 20-Mar 20 If you’re not making money out of the NDIS in some way or another, you are a complete fool who deserves to be poor.

Leo Jul 23-Aug 22 Being solutions-focused is all well and good, but if you don’t identify the root problem it’s impossible to solve anything.

Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 20 When no country in the world abides by the law, why should you have to? It’s time to start doing whatever the hell you want.

Star Signs

Trivial Trivia Solutions 1. Chickpeas 2. Africa 3. Amazon 4. Charles Dickens 5. Stevedore 6. 9.41 7. Quentin Tarantino 8. An anchor 9. Brazil 10. Yen

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Phone 9130 7064 50 The Beast February 2026 Issue 253

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For generations, we have stood together at dusk, gazing towards our National Flag with Archer Park beyond, and we have recited The Ode in honour of our fallen comrades: “…At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.”

These words - sacred to veterans - are now embraced by North Bondi RSL with an inescapable duality: our hearts honour the fallen from our Jewish community.

North Bondi RSL holds our Jewish brothers and sisters close.

Our veterans will forever stand with you.

Josh Farquhar CHAIR OF BOARD

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