The Beast - July 2025

Events

Offshore for Sure

Words James Hutton - Publisher

Welcome to the July 2025 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s offshore beaches of the east. Being on the east coast, the winter westerlies, combined with plenty of swell, make for optimal surfing conditions at this time of year - hence the frothing crowds in the water, even as the ocean temperature drops off from its summer highs.

For anyone interested in the weather, offshore wind refers to wind that blows away from the land and towards the sea. In the context of surfing, offshore winds are desirable because they help create cleaner wave conditions and allow for better barrel formation (when the lip of the wave throws over and forms a hollow shape, rather than crumbling in a mushy mess).

Offshore winds are often a result of temperature differences

between land and sea during the winter months when the land cools more rapidly than the water, creating a temperature gradient that leads to higher pressure over the land and lower pressure over the ocean. This pressure difference drives the wind to blow from the higher pressure area towards the lower pressure area. So there you go!

As always, a big thanks to our talented local artist of the month, Karina Jambrak, for the beautiful painting adorning the cover of this edition. I’ve been wanting to feature Karina’s work in the magazine for years now, so it’s nice to finally be able to share it with you all. You can see more of Karina’s awesome paintings at karinajambrak.com and on her Instagram, @karina_jambrak.

Before I sign off for another month, a quick reminder that Mal Ward’s Forever Johnno fundraiser, in loving memory of his son John, will be held at the Coogee Diggers Club this year on

June 27, with all proceeds going to the Clancy Ward at Westmead. The Beast has been a big fan of this grassroots charity for a while now, and I urge you to do what you can to support this important cause. Everyone is invited to join from 6pm on Friday, June 27 and get involved in the raffles and auctions. If you’d like to donate a prize or help out on the night, please call Mal on 0414 293 396. Cheers, James

The Beast

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Pearl's Views on Pyjamas in Public

Pyjama Etiquette

Hi Pearl - What is with people in the Eastern Suburbs wearing their pyjamas to the café and the gym? Is it a new fashion craze, or just unhygienic? Is sleepwear now considered appropriate streetwear? How far do modern fashion trends have to go before we don’t change clothes at all?

Molly Bondi

Always Look on the Bright Side

Dear Molly - Unfortunately, the ‘pyjamas as streetwear’ trend brings back unsettling memories for Pearl - memories of female relatives spending their Valium-addled existence at home in flannelette nighties and pink chenille dressing

gowns. So, from a young age I vowed that not only would I never become a tradwife (another resurfaced middle-class trend), but that I would never wear pyjamas outside of my Sealy Posturepedic - not even for breakfast or to wheel out the garbage bin in the middle of the night.

In the Western Suburbs, pyjamas as daywear is a sign that you are slumming it, are unemployed or have given up on life. But here in the Eastern Suburbs, the hygiene and slumming-it factors are not to be feared.

I doubt very much that people in the Eastern Suburbs are wearing pyjamas that they have just rolled out of bed in. I’m not seeing any Big Lebowski-style

PJs and dressing gowns on the streets. Instead, one is wearing a neatly ironed striped PJ set with Chanel slippers to the Health Emporium, a silk nightie and robe (with a matching keep-cup) to The Depot and a linen slip nightie (with gold bikini visible underneath) to private school drop-off and pick-up.

In the Eastern Suburbs, the wearing of pyjamas in public is part of self-care and self-compassion, of being grounded and letting go (but not in the Western Suburbs way). It is a “fusion of comfort and modern style,” but it is also just a gimmick that resurfaces every couple of years. Thanks to the annoying impact of vacuous influencers and fashion marketers, it is more in our faces than ever.

If this was solely a young person’s trend, I could understand it as a rite of passage - falling out of bed with a hangover, squirting on deodorant and fronting up to a uni lecture or the gym in last night’s PJs. But affluent Gen Xers and Millennials deliberately incorporating PJs into their daily wardrobe emits more than a whiff of pretention, showing that one is wealthy enough to lounge around all day, channelling the Dudeist lifestyle without the greasy hair and beard, unemployment benefits and stained rug.

Pearl could suggest that Waverley Council follow the lead of an Eastern Chinese province by publicly naming and shaming citizens for wearing pyjamas in public, but I’m trying to look on the bright side - by people wearing their pyjamas 24-7, the affluent Gen Xers and Millennials may unwittingly put an end to the environmentally destructive fashion industry. A win-win for us all.

Pearl Clovelly

Words Pearl Bullivant Photo Bruce Dickinson

Christopher can wear whatever he likes.

The Beast's Monthly Mailbag

Words The Lovely People of the Eastern Beaches

In Response to

Jimbo Jimbo’s dismissive comments about Germany’s renewable energy transition deserve correction with actual data (More Renewables Waffle, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, June 2025). Far from “going down the dark path,” Germany has achieved remarkable progress that directly contradicts his claims.

Germany’s renewable energy reached a record 62.7% of net public electricity generation in 2024. This represents substantial progress from 57.1% in 2023, demonstrating accelerating momentum rather than failure.

Germany has maintained this transition while simultaneously shutting down 4.5 GW of coalfired power generation in spring 2024, while maintaining electricity price stability and power system reliability. The country is set to phase out coal entirely by 2038 at the latest, with net zero targets by 2045.

The claim about Germany “importing nuclear power from France” also requires context. While Germany did import electricity from France in 2024, this reflects normal European grid operations where countries trade power based on price signals and grid optimisation. Notably, Germany actually exported

record amounts to France in 2022 when French nuclear plants experienced outages, and imports account for only 2% of Germany’s total electricity generation.

Rather than the “economic vandalism” claimed, Germany demonstrates that a major industrial economy can successfully transition to clean energy while participating in integrated European energy markets. The facts speak louder than fear-mongering about renewable energy.

Tree Hugger Bronte

Response to Montgomery's 'High Speed Hoons'

Dear Montgomery (High Speed Hoons, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, June 2025) - You are truly lost. As a member of Generation Z, I am shocked and appalled by the conclusions you have drawn. I don’t know what generation you are from to be honest, but dickhead males have been racing their cars down suburban streets since time immemorial.

I hate speeding more than anything - if it were up to me, suburban street speed limits would be 35km/h. The statement, “I spent years as a historical consultant - I know how quickly civilisations unravel when respect and order are tossed aside,” clearly shows

you have a strongly Hobbesian view of human nature.

Intergenerational quibbling gets us nowhere; you would never say about dark skinned people, ‘Black people lack a sense of decorum,’ yet it is just fine to generalise a generation because of some drongos racing in your neighbourhood. Stupid.

Then, you suggest bringing back conscription as some sort of deterrent for bad behaviour. Okay, perhaps you can lead the charge then.

Noah

Bondi Junction

Council Disclosure of Expenses

Waverley Council should disclose the amount spent on litigation each year. There is no accountability by the council, as they are spending taxpayer money and not their own.

Council provided us with a demolition order without any consultation and no reply to our numerous attempts of emailing and phone calls. We thus had to engage legal help costing over $30,000, while the council hold no accountability as they are simply spending ratepayer dollars.

In essence, Council has no regard to ratepayer money and just wastes it on the pointless litigation that arises.

Lee

North Bondi

Gas and Fuel Pollution and the Health Effects

In the lead-up to the recent federal election, there were discussions about petrol tax breaks, weakened vehicle efficiency standards, and flooding us with more gas. And currently the government is considering approval of the proposed WA Burrup Hub/Browse Basin gas expansion. But there is minimal discussion regarding associated harms to our health from gas and vehicle fuel use.

Indoor gas appliances create air pollution that lingers inside for hours and damages health. These pollutants include nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide

(CO), formaldehyde and benzene - a potent carcinogen. This is a real problem as we spend around 70% of our time at home indoors.

Reliable research reveals a 30-40% greater risk of a child becoming asthmatic in homes using gas (NO2 exposure), comparable to the effects of cigarette smoke exposure. There is increased risk of asthma attacks and bronchitis, also affecting adults. Exposure to NO2 has also been associated with an increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline.

Gas appliance related carbon monoxide poisoning causes symptoms similar to flu or food poisoning and often goes undiagnosed. CO exposure can also cause worsening memory, mood and behaviour. It can be fatal, and deaths and near misses occur in Australia.

Good ventilation with open windows and ducted range-hoods can ‘reduce’ these risks, but electric alternatives to current gas appliances aren’t necessarily expensive - such as benchtop plug-in electric induction cookers. The ultimate solution is gas-free 100% electric homes.

It is now also widely accepted that gas use in homes increases energy bills significantly compared with gas-free homes, adding to financial stress in our community.

Motor vehicle exhaust pollution also causes disease, and deaths. Recent research shows breathing this pollution leads to 11,000 Australian deaths per year, 66,000 extra asthma cases per year, and 19,000 heart, vascular and lung hospitalisations. And much of this pollution arises from cars that are at a standstill (https://www.unimelb.edu.au/ newsroom/news/2023/february/ vehicle-emissions-may-causeover-11,000-deaths-a-year,research-shows).

To help address this, vehicle efficiency standards are vital, as is increased public education and awareness, along with prevention initiatives such as ‘idle-off’ programs - especially at schools

(https://www.idleoff.com.au/).

The silver bullet would be a more rapid transition to battery electric vehicles (BEVs), emitting zero exhaust pollution.

Gas and petrol related pollution causes sickness, suffering, missed work and school, significantly increased health care costs and worsened nursing and medical staff workloads.

Our leaders can hopefully put our health first - promoting public awareness, facilitating transition to healthy gas-free homes, and more affordable and rapid progress toward clean electric road transport. This would benefit everyone and their families in a lasting and impactful way.

Dr. Anthony

Hull

MBBS, FANZCA DEA NSW (Doctors for the Environment Australia)

Bronte Christmas Correction

Hi James - I was disappointed to read the article on page 26 of the June edition, as the article states that the Irish tradie who fell from the rocks died in hospital. This is not true.

He was placed in an induced coma, which he was later taken out of. He has life-threatening injuries and brain trauma, but he is not dead.

I don’t know where your paper got this information from, but it is potentially very distressing for friends family or local community members to read this false information. I think this should be corrected in your July issue.

Thanks,

Declan Randwick

Pocket

Parks and Roundabouts

Dear Beast - A letter in response to Janet from Clovelly and Urs from Bronte.

Janet (Local Pocket Parks (continued), Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, June 2025) - I’m touched that you’re so concerned about my daily movements and life efficiency. Nevertheless, I find myself driving past the said

pocket park on a daily basis as I tend to my 96-year-old mother who lives some miles away. Using a unicycle or your preferred method of transport simply won’t cut it for me, but again, many thanks for your concerns.

Nevertheless, drive by I do, and, as mentioned, I could count the amount of people utilising said space on one hand over a month (that’s being generous). Your counter to this is that we all should be thrilled that the car drivers (devils incarnate) don’t have the previous parking spaces in that little slip road (I wonder how those local businesses feel about that?) and the lives of the pedestrians are saved due to not having to dodge all the madmen in their metal death boxes.

Car haters seem to forget a crucial factor - they foster an ‘us against them’ urban war mentality. To date, cars are in fact filled with humans. So, a pedestrian and car driver are, guess what… the same creatures.

Conversely, it would be the pedestrians who seem to wage war against the cars by choosing to delay them at any opportunity. Picture a situation where you’re in an office building and someone ahead of you kindly holds the door to an elevator open for you. Do you walk at the same pace or even slow down, or do you make an effort to speed up a little to acknowledge the courtesy of the fellow passenger? Same thing on the streets. So often do pedestrians leap out onto crossings when they could wait two seconds for a car that is already moving to continue and then walk across. And so often do pedestrians seem to actually slow down once they’re on the crossing, often looking at their phones like zombies and causing the cars bank up unnecessarily. People are just plain rude, ignorant or troll-like these days.

As for your desire for more green space, more bike lanes, more pedestrian access and, of course, less cars... sure, it’s a lovely concept, but in essence you would really need to tear down

a huge percentage of buildings/ housing to achieve this pipedream. Blame the designers of this city from decades and centuries ago perhaps. If you want that sort of space, move to Canberra. I’ll even give you a lift.

Urs (In Response to Patrick Garvan, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, June 2025) - My lament for the lack of ability displayed constantly by drivers doesn’t necessarily relate to any risk to the pedestrian. Yes, it can in certain circumstances, but more on that later. My initial point about drivers paralysed at roundabouts merely reflects on how unconfident they are in controlling their motor vehicles. Traffic flow and pedestrian safety are not mutually exclusive. There are plenty of traffic lights and pedestrian crossings and, dare I say it, time and space for people without physical afflictions to cross the street where no lights or crossings exist. I realise that this has almost become a criminal act to use one’s initiative nowadays.

As to your proposals of cycle paths all through the East in line with how the Netherlands is structured, this is again somewhat of a pipe dream. Could the city have been designed and built more efficiently and for various modes of transport? Of course. But that horse (and cart) bolted decades ago. Unless of course you might enlist the help of Elon Musk to purchase, tear down and totally rebuild Sydney. As to the comparison to the Netherlands, that’s a very long bow. They introduced cycles as a form of urban transport in the late 1880s when the population across the whole country was 3,500,000.

Back to cars and how the lack of driving skills impacts us on a larger basis... In the mornings and evenings on the TV traffic reports we see constant massive traffic jams. Sure there would be an element of too many cars for the arterial network, but often the problems are caused by car accidents that lead to massive tailbacks and increasing frus-

tration to the affected drivers. I would guess that 95% of these accidents are caused by poor drivers - drivers who go too slowly or too quickly for the conditions, drivers who can’t or won’t anticipate and react with alacrity, drivers who won’t display courtesy, etc. Add to this the fact that apparently school children can’t use public transport, therefore necessitating the parents having to do the school runs.

So, in the morning and afternoons the already bursting at the seams Eastern Suburbs becomes a car park. Way too much helicopter parenting to blame. The children run the household now. As to parks, when do you see kids playing in the street or parks these days anyway? The paucity of these activities are noticeable.

To finish, I don’t disagree with some of your concepts, however I stand by my points and remain a frustrated motorist who realises that my laments will forever be.

Regards, Patrick Coogee

Underquoting

Last month you reported that local real estate agent Marcello Bo got caught driving coked up and with a blood alcohol reading almost three times the legal limit. Fortunately on this occasion, the only damage was to his luxury car and a power pole. I was amazed he apparently got away with a fine of only $800. I hope this was just the agent’s guide, and the actual fine will be much higher.

Ronald Randwick

Lamenting the Reduction in Affordable Housing

James - I am deeply concerned by the decision last year of the new Liberal-led Waverley Council to repeal the former Labor Council’s stance against the reduction of housing density in our area. This isn’t just a change in policy - it’s a green light for greedy developers to continue snapping up entire blocks of older, affordable

apartments and replacing them with three luxury residences or, in some cases, a single multimillion-dollar home.

These decisions are pushing long-term locals out of our neighbourhoods, reducing rental stock and accelerating the erosion of our community’s diversity and character. At a time when housing affordability is one of the greatest challenges facing our city, it is deeply disappointing to see the new Liberal Council siding with developers rather than standing up for local residents.

We should be protecting housing diversity and affordabilitynot making it harder for everyday people to stay in the communities they love. I urge the Liberal Council to reverse this short-sighted decision and prioritise the needs of the many over the profits of a few.

Bronte Babe Bronte

Driver Discretion

Dear Beast - The Road User Handbook version 03/25 clearly states (at page 165):

Parallel parking

This is the usual way to park, unless a sign says otherwise. You must park: • in the same direction as traffic • parallel and as close as possible to the kerb

This regulation ensures that when moving from the parking space into traffic the driver can monitor both wing and rear mirrors in order to prevent a collision with other motorists.

When driving on Clovelly Road in the direction of the beach, just beyond the traffic lights at Carrington Road, the road curves to the right and enters a sweeping left-hand bend before reaching the shops at Clovelly West. Certain vehicles persist in parking either rear to curb or front to curb on that bend. It is impossible to see these vehicles, and those responsible are putting the safety of other motorists at risk.

Randwick City Council has been approached in order to mitigate the risk. They maintain that an individual who wishes to complain about this behaviour must ring the council providing registration number, type of vehicle and colour. This information will be provided to council rangers who will investigate and fine the owner of the offending vehicle if necessary.

However, a complainant will only know about the problem if he is driving past when the offending behaviour is taking place. There is nowhere to park in the vicinity and you may not use a mobile phone while driving. It will never be possible to have the offender fined because it will never be possible to prove that an offence was being committed.

It was suggested to Council that it might be possible for rangers to monitor such black spots on a regular basis. Indeed, the council’s Mr Duncan Scott stated, in a letter dated 23 July, 2024, that its rangers had been monitoring the section of road and had issued many infringement notices. It is difficult to understand then, why last Monday, 12 May, 2025, there were five illegally parked vehicles at this location.

Why not approach the police, you ask? When contacted by letter, the police department suggested ringing the traffic controller at Maroubra Police Station. But no-one answered the telephone number provided. In any case, one faces essentially the same problem. The police will also ask for the registration number of the vehicle and whether the incident is occurring right at that moment.

Randwick City Council insists that it should treat the illegal parking described above by applying its discretion rather than the letter of the law. That’s fine, so long as the council also accepts the responsibility for any property damage, injury or loss of life emanating from the application of its discretion.

Brian Coogee

The Vampire of Privatisation

It may be timely to remind the local Waverley residents of the concept of ‘public buildings’. We the local community own these buildings and the council is the caretaker.

Once again ours are under attack, albeit by stealth. The Bondi Pavilion is one of these publicly owned buildings on Crown Land (again, owned by the people).

They are there for the benefit and enjoyment of the local and wider community.

What it doesn’t mean, is that they are there to be rented out simply for economic gain or sold for the same reason, although at times this may be justified.

This also means that we the community have a right to have a say in how they are used.

The Bondi Pavilion, twice over 30 years, was successfully fought for to stop it from being commercialised. It currently remains our town hall and a meeting place for the local community.

However, with a change in council we are seeing the vampire of privatisation rear its ugly head again. Commercialisation is back firmly on the agenda.

If you wish to keep Bondi Pavilion in public hands and the ratio of commercial and community to remain, you need to step up and ‘Have your Say’ on Council’s website and/or write to your local councillors and CC the mayor.

You only get one shot at this. For future generations, speak up now.

Nicolette Boaz Bondi

The Eastern Suburbs: We’re Not a Homogeneous Lot!

As long-time denizens of the North Shore, in 2005 we had to move to the mysterious ‘Eastern Suburbs’ to be close to our first grandchild.

And, wonder of wonder, we were able to find the perfect home in what - for us - has proved to be a perfect place to live: Coogee. And we’ll only leave when we’re carried out feet first.

But in the time that we’ve been here we have seen a lot of changes. Not in the colourful and sometimes rumbunctious assortment of people who live or visit here from far and wide for the peachy beachy life on offer, but in its evolution from a fairly typical middle-class suburb with a beach to a seaside holiday village.

Over the years we’ve gradually lost a range of shops and services that had meant we had pretty much everything we needed locally, including a hardware store (owned and run by the legendary Benny Knoll), an optometrist, a book shop and multiple banks. And while we can still buy the daily essentials, Coogee is now all about cafés, cafés, cafés, and bars, boutiques and small shops catering to beachgoers.

What we’ve also found out is that while - to outsiders at least - the Eastern Suburbs might be seen as a homogeneous lot, in fact some are as fascinatingly different from each other as chalk and (very expensive) cheese. Double Bay, for example, is one that I only ventured into the other day, to find that the air there is way more rarified, and the pace is slower, to give time to amble along its quiet streets lined with a range of elegantly expensive lifestyle stores, and then possibly to stroll down to its bays to be amongst the few people who might be there by its narrow beaches, beyond which a variety of yachts and motor-boats are overlooked by a sloping hillside of multi-million dollar dwellings.

It’s fascinating to contrast two places only 20 minutes and a world apart.

Anne Ring Coogee

Dr Anne Ring is a health sociologist, freelance writer and author of Engaging with Ageing: What matters as we grow older 

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

Beautiful Homes. Beautiful Concrete.

If you Love concrete, you’ll love the Ablestone Facebook group

Dedicated to the transformative power of concrete for modern, stylish, and sustainable living. It’s free to join and open to anyone who loves concrete and its endless possibilities. As a member, you’ll be inspired with videos, new products, and stunning designs and applications. Share, connect or simply enjoy the visual feast.

Beautiful Homes. Beautiful Concrete.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Phone 02 9318 1722 or visit metromix.com.au/able-concrete/

Architect: MCK Architects.

Photography: Rethmeier Still Images.

Builder: Toki Construction

Local Artist... Karina Jambrak from Randwick

Local artist Karina Jambrak is the talent behind this month’s cover painting of a snorkeller in a tropical paradise. Karina shares her local favourites with The Beast...

How long have you lived here?

My whole life. I’ve moved from Maroubra to South Coogee, then Kingsford and now Randwick.

Why do you live here? It’s where I grew up, so all of my family and friends are here. I love living near the beaches, and couldn’t imagine living away from my mum and sisters.

What's your favourite beach? I love them all for different reasons, but I’m going to say Coogee and Bronte are my favourites.

What's your favourite eatery? There are so many restaurants that we love to go to! China Doll at Woolloomooloo is probably my all-time favourite.

Where do you like to have a drink? We often go to the Coogee Pavilion or The Dog at Randwick.

Best thing about the Eastern Suburbs? The beauty of our coastline. Being so close to so many beautiful beaches is amazing, and I also love the amount of restaurants and shops we have to choose from.

Worst thing about the Eastern Suburbs? The amount of people at the beach in summer. I really don’t love fighting for a patch of sand between the cabanas at the beach on a beautiful day.

How would you describe your art? Optimistic, colourful, reflecting a connection to nature and inspired by past memories.

Where can people see your work? karinajambrak.com, and Instagram, @karina_jambrak.

Who are your artistic inspirations? Paul Gauguin, Georgia O’Keefe, Henry Rousseau and of course Ken Done (I’m an ’80s baby!).

What are you working on at the moment? I’m working on a couple of collaborations and a new lifestyle brand, Palmaloma, that I plan to launch later in the year (Instagram @palmaloma_).

Do you have any exhibitions coming up? I will be exhibiting at the Affordable Art Fair in Sydney in November.

When did you discover you had a gift for your craft? I’ve loved to paint and draw since I was little. Mum has said she’d always find me with a pencil in hand. She enrolled me in different art classes as I grew up, and through that I realised it was something I loved and was good at. I would always enter my art in local competitions, which I loved being a part of. As I got older I realised how much of a therapeutic outlet art was for me. I just can’t imagine not doing it.

Did you study art? I completed my Bachelor of Design degree

at UNSW College Of Fine Arts back in 2005. It was a degree that gave us the freedom to learn about many different areas of art and design, so within that I did a lot of fine art classes. I majored in textile and graphic design.

Any words of wisdom for young aspiring artists? Create every single day, even if it’s just a line drawing in your journal. And learn as much as you can and get as much design experience as you can while you’re young. I don’t think I could do what I do now without the experience and knowledge I gained through being a graphic designer for 1520 years.

Any other local artists to look out for? I just met Em Hatton at the Affordable Art Fair in Brissie and love her work! She’s based in the Inner West.

What do you get up to on the weekends? I feel like my life is all about kids’ sport and being their chauffeur to parties at the moment! If it’s warm we love going to the beach, having brunch with my sisters at Clodeli, backyard barbecues with fam and friends and taking our dog Otto for walks down to Coogee.

What do you do for work? I’m a full time artist, have been for about six years now.

What's your favourite thing about work? That I get to do what I love while also being there for my family when they need me. The desire for flexibility was what made me start this journey and it is something I never take for granted.

Do you have a favourite quote? “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”- Nelson Mandela.

Do you have any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast? Salt water and sunshine cures everything.

Interview James Hutton

Photo Hannah Darkins @theunfold

Karina's paintings are the coolest.

What Elements Form 'Community'?

Words Angus Henricks Photo Warren Graham

Having landed back in Australia just in time for winter, I have been fortunate enough to enjoy a warm welcome back to the area. I feel like my reintegration into the community was seamless. I am incredibly grateful for that, especially given how challenging it can be to assimilate again after being away for extended periods of time.

My experience returning home has been overwhelmingly positive and heartwarming, giving me a potent sense of ‘belonging’. This is probably not surprising as I am indeed ‘home’. However, there is, in my view, a broader theme at play that has made the transition back easier; a sense of a ‘safety net’ emanating from a shared community togetherness - at least compared to my experience in the northeast of the USA.

Following my article from last month, I wish to continue this broader discussion on community. As I have previously mentioned, the community that I experienced in the Eastern Suburbs during my formative years has been massively influential. In fact, I use our community and connectivity with

one another as the measuring stick for wherever I have been lucky enough to travel.

So, what exactly is a ‘community’, and what are the traits that help make it healthy and vibrant?

I believe that creating a more effective deep dive into the elements requires them to be split into two defined but separate categories.

In one category there are the tangible physical elements of community - spaces, facilities, infrastructure and locations that are built with the purpose and intention of being used by a community. These include parks, town halls, playgrounds, free and publicly accessible facilities like exercise equipment or pools, and all things that facilitate the engagement of people by providing an adequate space to do so.

In the other category there are the intangible, behaviourally social elements such as the people’s innate desire for community that exists, socialisation, engagement and collective effort that is made to grow and expand our social networks.

Beautifully, community is an occurrence of these two

categories synergising with one another, and community would struggle to exist in the absence of either one of these categories. You can have the tangible physical elements of community, but if there aren’t people who are willing to engage with one another and take advantage of these physical things, then community fails to exist. Similarly, if there are people who want to engage with one another, but the physical space and resources don’t exist, then once again, the community will struggle to thrive.

Any given weekend at Bronte Beach provides a phenomenal example of this synergy in action. The surf, ocean pool and open grass area provide a space for communal engagement through physical exercise. The communal integration of small businesses as meeting places can be seen in the cafés, and the general use of the beach and it’s surrounding spaces as a meeting place is a strong indication of how there is not only a social desire for engagement, but also the space that enables this to happen. Furthermore, a positive indication of the communal engagement is how the beach has the ability for people of any age to engage, with the playground near the gully and the mini-train providing a space for children and parents to engage and interact with one another. Witnessing the socialisation that occurs at Bronte, as well as the feeling of ease in accessibility, is a great encapsulation of both the tangible and intangible elements of community coming to fruition.

I challenge those who’ve made it to the end of this article to not only continue positively contributing to the community around them, but also to assess how these elements are relevant in your experiences within our community.

Community is everything.

to discuss further

Brendan Muldoon Reg. Migration Agent # 0742052 39 Gould Street, Bondi Beach Phone: 0404 552 322 brendan@bondimigration.com.au

Quinn Goes Under the Surgeon’s Knife for Liver Transplant

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Sheree Darragh

Bronte lifeguard Quinn Darragh is someone you’d assume to be in the peak of health. We’ve seen him plunging into the surf to rescue stricken swimmers on Bondi Rescue and he has competed in numerous endurance events, including swimming across the English Channel. His home page photo on Facebook shows him riding a surfboard with his daughter Scarlett.

But since the age of 12, Quinn has battled a life-threatening health condition - Crohn’s disease. During his teens he was in and out of the Children’s Hospital in Randwick. And over the course of his adult life, Crohn’s has done so much damage to his internal organs that in 2012 he had to have his large bowel removed.

All was well for the next dozen years until he started suffering mood swings, brain fog and memory lapses. Plus

there was a terrible itch all over his body that no amount of scratching could relieve.

“I was scratching myself until I bled,” the 47-year-old father of three told The Beast.

A gastroenterologist delivered the news that his liver was failing due to another auto immune disease related to Crohn’s called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). As a result, his bloodstream was awash with ammonia. He needed to go under the surgeon’s knife again - for a liver transplant.

At 2pm on April 6 this year, Mr Darragh was wheeled into the operating theatre at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for the transplant operation.

The operation was successful. But recovery was painful.

“They’d told me to get as fit as possible before the operation, but what they didn’t tell me was that the less fat you

have on your abdomen, the more post-operative pain you suffer. It was super painful.”

By late April, the pain had subsided. But then a nightmare scenario reared its head - the new liver was showing signs of acute rejection.

He was rushed back to hospital, where he was treated with massive doses of prednisone.

“The prednisone gave me dark thoughts. Even though I knew I wasn’t going to die, I started planning my funeral playlist on Spotify.”

Top of his funeral playlist was the haunting piano theme from the 2014 sci-fi flick Interstellar. Then there was an orchestral piece called Cornfield Chase from the same movie, and another piano track, Una Mattina by Ludovico Einaudi.

As the intravenous prednisone doses were reduced, the dark cloud lifted and Quinn’s physical health improved, with the earlier rejection symptoms subsiding.

After eight days he was released from hospital and now he is in slow recovery. He has gone back to his job as a healthcare sector account executive with Microsoft (his lifeguard job is part-time) and says while he is still in pain and undergoing twice-weekly blood tests, he feels he’s on the mend.

“I’m not rushing my recovery, but I’m setting myself the goal of undergoing a very difficult physical challenge to raise awareness about the Australian Organ Donor Register and the work of the Liver Foundation.”

Quinn is now planning an endurance challenge to raise funds for the Liver Foundation (liver.org.au), so stay tuned!

Registering to become a donor is easy. Please visit donatelife.gov.au, click ‘ register’ and fill in the form - it takes less than one minute!

The bravest of the brave.

Fig Tree Gets Reprieve as Council Gets to Root of Problem

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Nick Pellow

Waverley Council has had a change of heart regarding the fate of a Moreton Bay fig in Edward Street, Bondi.

Just a few weeks after voting to remove the fig because of damage to nearby property, a rescission motion was approved proposing that an arborist investigates exactly what’s going on with the tree’s roots. “Detailed mapping” will be conducted to determine the extent of the root system and the viability of installing a root barrier. The rescission motion was moved by Mayor Will Nemesh.

Local resident Nick Pellow spoke at the council meeting before the rescission motion was passed and offered some ideas about managing the tree’s root system. Speaking later to The Beast, he said, “All that needs to be done is the trimming of some surface roots and replacement concreting, re-enforced with steel.”

Edward Street resident Claire Morris, who has been leading the campaign to save the tree, is cautiously optimistic following the latest developments. “It’s looking positive,” she said.

The century-old fig still stands.

Councillor Hay in front of a demolition site in Kingsford.

Tighter Controls Required for Demolition-Happy Developers

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Lou Pole

Randwick City Council has been urged to tighten up a planning loophole under which houses can be demolished, and then replaced with a property totally out of keeping with the character of the area.

The call comes after the total demolition of a Federation-era house in Aboud Avenue, Kingsford, that was only meant to have “alterations and additions,” according to a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) application lodged with the council. In its place there will be the construction of a large, box-shaped house that will clash with the other Federation properties in the street.

Councillor Andrew Hay says the demolition in Aboud Avenue is not an isolated example and that there’s evidence the same abuse of the planning process is happening elsewhere in the Randwick LGA.

“We need a review of the CDC process,” the Liberal councillor said. “And if developers are going to knock down a property, they should be required to make the replacement match the local architectural character.”

Forever Johnno Fundraiser to Be Held at Coogee Diggers on June 27

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo James Hutton

On August 29, 2008, nine-yearold John Ward lost his battle with liver disease and passed away at Sydney Children’s Hospital. Ever since, he has been helping to ease the plights of other children in the same hospital ward.

John is the face of the Forever Johnno charity, which many readers of The Beast would already be familiar with. Forever Johnno raises money to buy toys and special extras for the kids in the Clancy Ward at the Children’s Hospital Westmeada specialist transplant unit.

Run by John’s father Mal, Forever Johnno holds an annual fundraising event in winter plus a special Christmas present ‘wrapathon’ in December.

This year’s fundraiser is being held at Coogee Diggers on the evening of Friday, June 27. As always, there will entertainment from local band Nick Andrews and Friends, plenty of finger food and the opportunity to contribute to a bloody good cause.

For more information or to donate, please phone Mal on 0414 293 396.

John has left quite a legacy.

Long-Awaited Bronte Surf Club Rebuild Gets Underway

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Arcanary Architects

The long-awaited rebuild of Bronte Surf Life Saving Club has commenced. A contractor has been appointed, the site has been fenced off and Waverley Council is reaching into its pocket to the tune of $19 million.

The construction company is Belmadar, which has a strong track record in carrying out major building projects for councils, clubs and universities. It recently completed a major renovation of Central Coast Leagues Club. Another recent project was construction of a $17 million community club in Warriewood.

In the coming months, Belmadar will demolish the old Bronte clubhouse, with lifeguards and maintenance staff operating out of prefabricated sheds, and temporary amenities provided for the public. Then the new building will start rising Phoenix-like from the rubble.

There will be a balance of female and male facilities, along with vastly improved lifeguard facilities capable of training hundreds of lifeguards and nippers each year. There will also be a new patrol first aid area, kiosk, gymnasium, administrative offices and function room. The promenade will be upgraded.

“The new Bronte Surf Club is a significant community asset that our residents and community can be proud of and enjoy for many decades to come,” Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh told The Beast. The site is crown land, but Waverley Council owns the club building. The development has been a long time coming due to early plans being met with backlash from the local community, with beachgoers concerned it would dominate the landscape and encroach on the surrounding park, and local surfers also indignant about losing their beloved ‘Cubes’ to a building they believed to be way too big.

After extensive community consultation, a modified, lowslung design was submitted by Arcanary Architects and was given the green light.

And thus begins another chapter for Bronte SLSC, which was formed in 1903 and claims to be the oldest surf lifesaving club in Australia. There were seven successive club buildings up until 1974, when the clubhouse was mysteriously razed by a fire and replaced by the building which, half a century later, is about to be demolished.

Margaret and David Honoured for 28-Year Television

‘Marriage’

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Mark Bond

“It was like being a married couple, without the sex.”

That’s how Margaret Pomeranz described the relationship she had with fellow film critic David Stratton on television shows At The Movies and The Movie Show.

Ms Pomeranz spoke to The Beast outside the Ritz Cinemas before she and Mr Stratton were honoured with a star on the Australian Film Walk of Fame.

The ceremony was held before An Evening with David and Margaret, a 60 minute live show where the pair shared reminisces about their 28 years together on the small screen.

The show featured a number of clips that highlighted Ms Pomeranz’s married couple analogy - they were yin and yang, squabbling about the merits or flaws of movies and often giving vastly different points scores at the end of a review. One of the clips was their review of Aussie classic The Castle, which Ms Pomeranz rated four stars, with Mr Stratton giving it a mere half star.

inducting David and Margaret into the Film Walk of Fame.

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker

A concept design showing the new surf club building.

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.

Last year's winners celebrate at the Pavilion.

Entries Open for Waverley’s Brightest & Best Business Awards

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Enzo Amato

Entries have opened for Waverley’s Brightest & Best Business Awards, which showcase the innovation, marketing skills and customer service of the local business community.

Businesses have until July 21 to enter the Waverley Council-run event, which climaxes in a glittering awards ceremony with canapés at Bondi Pavilion on the night of Thursday, October 2.

There are a dozen awards that are specific to major business sectors such as beauty and cosmetics, fitness and wellness, health and medical, and trade services. Winning one of these gives the chance to be seen as the go-to local business in that particular sector.

In addition, there are two awards for individuals - Entrepreneur of the Year and Business Woman of the Year. The People’s Choice Award, where consumers vote for their favourite businesses, is back again after being successfully trialed last year. Plus there are two new award categories - Best New Business and Business of the Year.

To enter, go to www.waverley. nsw.gov.au/business/resources_ for_business/business_events/ business_awards. Entries are then judged by a panel of council members to select the finalists of each category. They are assessed

on the criteria of marketing and communication, customer service, community involvement, business achievements and commitment to excellence. A list of finalists is then drawn up, and those businesses are assessed by ‘mystery shoppers’ via a phone call, web enquiry or visit. Each business is assigned a score, and the highest scorers in each category qualify for awards.

The list of winners and runners-up is kept confidential until the night, when these stars of the local business community are called to the stage of the Pavilion theatre to receive trophies plus cash prizes.

This year’s sponsors are Bondi & Districts Chamber of Commerce, The Beast, Local Pegs, Premium Solutions, Vivid Built, Richardson & Wrench Bondi Beach, Westfield Bondi Junction, Healing on Spring, Bondi Innovation, Second Nature, Eastside Radio and Service NSW.

Waverley Council Business Liaison Coordinator Craig Gill said the awards celebrate the business excellence that contributes to Waverley’s vibrant and diverse community.

“This is a highly-anticipated competition and the awards night brings together the Waverley business community to acknowledge the businesses that have gone above and beyond.”

Waverley Council Partners With Fuzzy Operations for Bondi New Year's

Eve Bash

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Sydney Biennale

An event licence has been issued to Aussie music festival organiser Fuzzy Operations for a night event at Bondi Beach this coming New Year’s Eve.

Fuzzy is headed by Bondi local Adelle Robinson, who has more than 20 years experience producing some of Australia’s largest festivals, including Field Day, Harbourlife and Listen Out.

Ms Robinson says she is “beyond excited to partner with Waverley Council to bring the fun back to Bondi on New Year’s Eve.”

The licence issued by the council sets a maximum audience size of 15,000 and also includes an adjacent free family-friendly event with food trucks and 9pm fireworks display.

“This partnership between Waverley Council and Fuzzy will deliver an exceptional experience that will capture the attention of a worldwide audience on New Year’s Eve with amazing talent,” Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh told The Beast.

“Council has committed to a more vibrant and fun Bondi, and this will be the perfect way to usher in the new year.”

Managing Director of Fuzzy Operations Adelle Robinson.

Randwick Council Aims to Bring Coogee Bay Road Alive at Night

Coogee, get ready to be ‘activated!’ Randwick Council has given the green light to a street activation program that will see Coogee Bay Road closed to traffic and transformed into an exciting night hub.

The council is calling the initiative Coogee Nights and it will take place over four evenings in early 2026. It will be modelled on the successful 2024 Spot On activation in Randwick, which will be returning in September and October this year. Spot On saw The Spot shopping strip beside the Ritz closed off and energised with music performances and wandering street entertainers.

The idea is to boost trade for local restaurants and other businesses, with additional outdoor tables and seating plus a music stage. This will have long-term benefits, positioning Coogee Bay Road and The Spot as local nightlife meccas.

But the cost of staging the events is substantial. Coogee

Nights and Spot On have a combined budget of $322,000, which the council is hoping will be covered under a NSW Government funding program called Open Streets.

The biggest single cost is traffic management due to street closures. A council report said Coogee Nights will involve “the total closure of Coogee Bay Road from Arden Street to Vicar Street,” while Spot On will again see part of St Pauls Street closed to traffic. The traffic management budget for both activations is $84,000.

Next target on the council’s activation radar is Clovelly. As well as approving the upcoming Coogee Nights and Spot On events, councillors approved “an investigation into a possible arts and culture open street event in Clovelly for 2026/2027,” pending community interest and business collaboration. Maroubra Junction and Kingsford are also considered ripe for future activations.

Council-Owned Heritage-Listed Building to Remain in Private Hands

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Sandy Gates

Tucked away behind a shopping centre in Randwick Junction is a late 19th century sandstone villa with magnificent wrought iron columns and balustrades. It’s called Sandgate Cottage.

Although it is owned by Randwick City Council, Sandgate Cottage is out of bounds to the community. And now the council has declared its intention to keep it that way - at least for the next five years.

Councillors voted to continue leasing the property to a commercial tenant - the Century 21 real estate group. The new lease will kick in on October 1. Alternative uses will be considered at the end of the five-year lease.

Sole dissenters against the decision to leave Sandgate in private hands were three Greens councillors. Their amendment motion that Sandgate only be leased out for another year, then given over to the community for council-managed activities, was defeated.

“We’re outraged,” said former mayor Philipa Veitch. “Sandgate Cottage belongs to the community and it’s the ideal place to have a community and cultural centre.”

Sandgate Cottage will remain in private hands for five more years.

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Mark Bond

Coogee Bay Road will come alive at night like The Spot did last year.

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

Randwick News

It’s a jam-packed month of celebrations and events, which means there are more reasons to enjoy the outdoors this winter.

This month, we’re celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as part of National NAIDOC Week. Enjoy a range of live music and performances at Yarra Bay Sailing Club on Saturday 12 July, and at Centennial Park on Sunday 13 July.

These events are a fantastic way to learn more about First Nations cultures and histories, and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures.

If you’ve ever been curious about volunteering, come along to our Volunteer Expo Day on Saturday 5 July at Randwick Town Hall. There will be plenty of stalls and interactive activities. Talk to members of local organisation and charities about how you can give back, and meet like-minded people. Entry is free.

Our annual Beach Breaks event is back on Sunday 20 July. This community festival celebrates the proud and colourful surfing history and culture of Maroubra Beach. As usual, there will be an incredible lineup of music and entertainment throughout the day, as well as food and fun activities for the kids. We will also celebrate and recognise the achievements of several local surfers and surf lifesavers. These ‘legends of surf’ will be inducted into the Australian Surfing Walk of Fame on Maroubra Beach promenade.

Wishing you all a safe and wonderful month.

Councillor

Dylan Parker Mayor of Randwick

What’s On

VOLUNTEER EXPO DAY

SATURDAY 5 JULY 2pm – 5pm Randwick Town Hall 90 Avoca St, Randwick

MAROUBRA BEACH MARKETS

SATURDAY 5 JULY 8am – 2pm

Broadarrow Reserve, Maroubra

NAIDOC AT YARRA BAY

SAILING CLUB

SATURDAY 12 JULY

3pm – 7pm Yarra Bay Sailing Club

NAIDOC IN THE PARK

SUNDAY 13 JULY 3pm – 5pm Dickens’ Lawn, Centennial Park

BEACH BREAKS

SUNDAY 20 JULY 11am – 4pm Maroubra Beach promenade

Randwick Mayor

Dylan Parker

Pipe-Smoking Penguin Enjoys His Last Puff as Sunburnt Mess Closes

Annie's New Children's Book Tells Story of Avian Odyssey

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Dennis Rutland

Once upon a time, there was a Clovelly resident who made up a wonderful story about a bird who lost her wing.

Annie Kwan came up with the tale as a bedtime story for her two daughters. Over the following months, she wrote it down, putting the story into verse.

Then she worked with New Zealand illustrator Laura Bee to produce The Finch who lost her wing, a picture book where the single-winged bird has to carry out three tasks set by an owl. The tasks involve helping three animals - an ibis, a wombat and a cricket - who are in distress.

The spiritual home of many a Bondi surfer is no more since Sunburnt Mess in Gould Street closed down after just shy of a decade in operation.

Owner Pat ‘The Rat’ Cahill (the rodent moniker is just a nickname, he’s the nicest bloke you could meet) says keeping the business afloat became unviable because of a slowing economy. Plus he wants to spend more time with his six-year-old son.

The closure draws the curtain on a place that was much more than just a shop selling boards and accessories.

“It was a space where people could hang out and share their love of surfing,” Mr Cahill told The Beast. “The aim was to keep the culture of surfing alive in Bondi and explore alternatives to conventional board types.”

Retro influences formed a theme among the boards at Sunburnt Mess.

“A lot of the boards we stocked were based on 1970s and

’80s designs, but took advantage of the latest advances in hydrodynamics,” Mr Cahill explained.

Another common feature, despite the business’s logo depicting a pipe-smoking penguin atop a broken board, was robustness.

“I liked to supply people with boards that weren’t going to last just six months and could withstand a bit more of what the ocean throws at you.”

The first batch of boards sold at the shop came from Vouch Surf in Byron Bay, headed by veteran board shaper Paul Hutchinson. Other shapers who went on to supply stock included Neal Purchase Junior, Bob McTavish, Chris Christenson and Bronte’s Luke Daniels.

Although the bricks and mortar business has closed, Mr Cahill continues to work with a number of shapers and plans to start promoting some of their boards, along with custom wetsuits, on the Sunburnt Mess website later this year.

Ms Kwan said she was inspired to make a finch the protagonist of her book after seeing a photo of a Gouldian finch.

“I remember gasping at the colours - the turquoise and the purples, the sharp eyes and the proud chest.”

We can’t tell you what happens at the end of the story - whether or not the finch lives happily ever after - but if you would like to purchase a copy of this wonderful book, please visit www.anniekwan.com.

Annie with a copy of The Finch who lost her wing.

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Chris Christenson

Pat Cahill has called time on his much-loved surf shop.

Call for More Frequent Water Quality Sampling at Local Beaches

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Sandy Toe

“Your nose and eyes can be the best indicators of whether you should swim in the ocean after heavy rain - don’t rely on the Beachwatch ratings,” water scientist Dr Ian Wright told the crowd in a talk to Bronte Beach Precinct earlier in the year about beach pollution.

Dr Wright, who lectures at the University of Western Sydney, said information issued under the NSW Government’s Beachwatch program is not a very reliable indicator of the faecal coliforms and other nasties that might be lurking in the water.

Sampling only takes place every six days and there’s a twoday time lag before results are released.

“Beachwatch is a predictionit never tells you what is there, it tells you what was there,” Dr Wright told the precinct meeting at Lugar Brae Church Hall. “Use your nose and use your eyes.”

After Dr Wright’s talk, the meeting passed a motion requesting Waverley Council to work with Beachwatch to enable more frequent testing of water quality during and after significant rainfall or observed beach pollution.

Dr Wright says Beachwatch can sometimes get it wrong.

Turning Coogee's Beach Trash Into Artistic Treasure

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Dolph Insaver

Every morning, Randwick resident Mandi Wright walks along Coogee Beach with a bucket and tongs picking up pieces of plastic and other rubbish. Then she goes home and turns trash into treasure, creating artworks out of pieces of plastic, dismembered dolls’ heads and other flotsam and jetsam.

The piece she’s holding in the photo is called Suffocated Beauty. There’s a doll’s head set in a plastic lotus flower, surrounded by multiple smaller pieces of plastic.

“The idea is that she’s suffocating in a sea of plastic,” Ms Wright explained.

Some of the items she collects no doubt have interesting stories to tell.

“There’s a lot of men’s underpants and 80 per cent of them are Calvin Klein. Plus there are a lot of G-strings.”

So far, she hasn’t incorporated any of the salvaged undies into her artworks!

If you would like to check out more of Mandi’s beach trash art, please visit her Instagram page, @make.a.notion.save.our.ocean.

Bondi 'Iceman' Jeff Can Tell When You’re Bluffing

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Dee Lehrmann

Some might say that life has dealt Bondi’s Jeff Lisandro a winning hand.

He has carved out a living as a professional poker player, playing for cash at casinos around the globe. In March, the local man walked away with $17,000 after playing in a two-day event at Sydney’s Star City Casino. But he says that’s peanuts compared to some of his past winnings.

He claims that his biggest windfall from a single game was $1 million, and that, in his early days playing in an illegal casino in Perth, he won a block of apartments.

What is the secret of his success at the card table?

“I have an ability to read peoples’ faces,” says the 59-year-old. “When they have a bad hand, I can see beyond the over-confidence. If they have a good hand and they’re pretending to act worried, I can detect that too.”

His nickname on the professional poker circuit is ‘Iceman.’ But now his enthusiasm for gambling is cooling and he’s hoping to carve out a new career as a writer.

‘Iceman’

Mandi creates awesome artworks from beach trash.

Jeff has made a living as a professional poker player.

Crime

News

Words Jimmy Felon

Photo Aston Martin

NDIS Scam Netted Bondi Financier $715,000 - Police

North Bondi businessman James Koufos has been accused of fraudulently obtaining $715,000 through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Police raided his apartment and seized electronic devices and documents before hauling the 53-year-old off to Waverley Police Station, where he was charged with three counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception. After a night in a cell, he was allowed bail at Waverley Court.

Koufos is a mortgage broker who lists himself on LinkedIn as Chief Financial Officer of GAP Finance, “Sydney based finance broker and underwriter of finance for all personal and commercial finance product needs.”

He claims to have a Master’s degree in economics from UNSW, but police say that qualification was fabricated. Ditto the story he told investors about using their funds to purchase NDIS-compliant residential properties. Instead, it’s alleged that he used the money for personal gain, living a lavish lifestyle that was evidenced by the Aston Martin and Merc parked in the garage of his Wairoa Avenue unit when police came calling.

It’s alleged that one victim lost all her life savings, transferring $465,000 from her self-managed super fund to Koufos.

His arrest is the latest in a growing list of NDIS scandals. Koufos is

said to have ties with a notorious NDIS provider called Denise Clissold, featured in an exposé about multi-million dollar NDIS fraud aired on A Current Affair

Man Exposed Himself to Schoolgirl, Court Told

Maroubra man Dean Naidoo has been accused of indecently exposing himself to a schoolgirl on a bus.

The 58-year-old is said to have carried out the vile act over the course of two minutes on a bus travelling along Anzac Parade, Maroubra.

Five days later, he was arrested and appeared in Waverley Court charged with carrying out a sexual act towards a child under 16 and exposing himself in a public place.

Naidoo, a disability pensioner, was granted bail on the condition he reports daily to Maroubra Police Station and stays away from playgrounds, schools and other places frequented by children.

Bondi Beach Home Invasion

Three machete-wielding invaders forced their way into a home on Curlewis Street, Bondi Beach, then threatened the three occupants - two women and a man. However, the men left the property without inflicting any injuries or taking anything. Police say the 1.20am raid was “a targeted attack,” but haven’t offered any theories about why it took place.

Tamarama Man Arrested Over Meth Lab

A 46-year-old Tamarama man has been accused of being a key player in a Breaking Bad-style meth manufacturing operation.

Police say he brought a Mexican-Colombian meth ‘cook’ to Australia to run a clandestine laboratory in the Western Suburbs. Echoing the TV series Breaking Bad, the operation is said to have been run by a large-scale meth manufacturing and distribution syndicate. The Tamarama man is among eight people arrested.

Man Spied on Female Housemates - Police

Queens Park man Luis Mena has appeared in court accused of using secret cameras to film three female housemates.

Police say the 39-year-old Chilean national took intimate images from hidden cameras in a bathroom and bedroom.

In Waverley Court, Mena pleaded guilty to three counts of recording intimate images without consent. The case was adjourned pending reports.

Multiple Driver’s Licences, Credit Cards and House Keys Seized in Coogee Raid

Police investigating a break-in and mail theft at a Maroubra unit block say they found a cache of incriminating evidence when they raided the home of a 45-year-old woman in South Coogee.

Among the items seized were 26 driver’s licences, 120 credit cards and 121 sets of house keys and fobs. The woman has been charged with a string of offences.

Children Arrested for Attack on Couple

Seven children aged 12-16 have been arrested for the assault of a couple in the courtyard of an Eastgardens unit block.

The five girls and two boys were rounded up by cops and charged with assaulting the couple, who are aged in their 40s. They’ll now have the chance to tell their side of the story in the children’s court.

Crackdown on Two-Wheeler Footpath Riders

Eastern Beaches Police staged a two-day blitz on bike and scooter riders unlawfully travelling on footpaths.

They issued 26 penalty notices and 15 cautions during Operation Walkway - and warn that it will be ongoing. A posting on Facebook said, “We will continue to run Operation Walkway to target these individuals and to keep our footpaths safe for everyone!”

Accused scammer James Koufos.

The

Subject Flamboyant Gull Location Bondi Photographer Amanda Baby Pie

Subject Blues and Greens Location Bondi Photographer James Smith

Subject The Eternal Fisho Location Bondi Photographer Andrew Worssam

Subject Fluffy Clouds Location Coogee Photographer Hanni Luescher

Subject Morning Bright Location Coogee Photographer Alan Wang

Subject Flying Over Pink Moon Location Bronte Photographer Jenny Liu

Subject Cheerful Girl Surfer Location Bondi Photographer Shein Wang

Subject Double or Nothing Location Tamarama Photographer Paul Kingston

Subject Shelter Location Bondi Photographer James Smith

Subject Fiery Moon Location Coogee Photographer Margaret-Anne Otton

You can never have too much Gruyère.

Cheese, Onion, Italian Sausage and Sage Toastie With a Side of Pickles

Words Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine

Thinking about this month’s recipe while waiting for the rain to subside, a comforting winter toastie came to mind.

The toastie’s most loved and essential ingredient came first - cheese! I settled on a rich Gruyère, paired with soft jammy onions, peppery Italian sausage, an earthy injection of fresh sage and a big slick of tangy Dijon mustard. This is layered between slices of pane di casa, which has a great crust to hold the ooziness together.

The vibrant companion to the side of the plate are a selection of crunchy pickled vegies, providing a breather between bites of the rich toastie. You can do this the day before or for just a few hours if you’re short on time.

This recipe is enough for two people. It’s a very achievable plate for all toastie-making enthusiasts and perfect for a lazy, chilly Sunday at home.

Ingredients

4 thick slices pane di casa

Italian loaf

15 gm butter (for the bread)

140gm Gruyère, grated

1 red onion, peeled and sliced 30gm butter (for the onions)

2 Italian sausages, gently fried, sliced vertically, then halved

10 fresh sage leaves

1 tbs Dijon mustard

Pickled Vegies

4 Dutch carrots

¼ head small cauliflower, cut into florets

4 baby peppers

½ tsp black peppercorns

½ tsp juniper berries

1 ¼ cups white vinegar

1 ¼ cups water

1 tbs white sugar

1 ½ tbs sea salt

Method

1. To make the pickled vegies (the day before), you will need a large sterilised jar.

2. In a saucepan set to medium heat, combine the vinegar, sugar and salt and bring to a boil. Stir to dissolve the sugar and salt, and once dissolved, remove the saucepan from the heat.

3. When cooled, pour into the jar, add the peppercorns and juniper berries and add the water. Stir to combine and add the cauliflower, peppers and carrots. Seal the jar tightly with the lid and place in the fridge to pickle overnight.

4. In a frypan set to medium heat, add the 30gm of butter and the red onion, and gently fry until softened for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5. To make the toastie, heat a sandwich press (you can also cook in a frypan). Butter each slice of the bread, then place 2 of the slices in the sandwich press for the bottom layer of your toastie.

6. Layer the Dijon mustard, followed by the Italian sausage, 2 sage leaves on each sandwich, a generous layer of the Gruyère, then the cooked onions. Add the top layer of the buttered bread, followed by 3 more sage leaves on top of each sandwich and a final generous sprinkling of Gruyère cheese.

7. Cook in the sandwich press for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown and the ingredients are well pressed together. Serve while hot with a side of the fresh pickled vegies from the jar.

Dana Sims is a Sydneybased food and prop stylist who has grown up in the Eastern Suburbs and loves to create delicious food. She is inspired by the fresh produce we have access to in Sydney. For ideas, recipes and styling inspiration, check out her Instagram, @stone_and_twine.

The Unreliable Guide to...

Unreliable Undies

The Unreliable Guide recently suffered some bad news - Jockey no longer make my favourite undies. This might seem trivial, but never underestimate the importance of quality underwear. In The Castle - that seminal guide to Australian life - Darryl’s curse, “Suffer in your jocks,” is a gleefully triumphant insult. It took me a long time to find good undies: great fit, stylish, comfy, arse-flattering... Until I find a good replacement, I’ll have to suffer years of feeling scratchy, itchy, sweaty and daggy.

Why do brands keep deleting their best-selling lines; wouldn’t it be easier to carry on making the things we actually want? What’s so good about change anyway? It’s the same with politics; look at the US - democracy is out of fashion. Now they’re struggling to lace themselves into the tight-fitting corset of despotic dictatorship.

If you, like me, feel like the world doesn’t fit you properly anymore, never fear, because

The Unreliable Guide is here with some tips and tricks to help you adjust your underwear.

My Unelected Undies

My inability to vote for better undies got me thinking about all the Americans who did not elect an egotistical, money-grabbing hate-pricot as president. Only 32 per cent voted for the big orange D, while 31 per cent voted for Harris. The majority, 36 per cent, did not vote at all because, unlike Australia, voting is not compulsory in the US. Next time we moan about schlepping down to the sausage sizzle ballot box, batting away leaflets from those parties we disapprove of, imagine waking up in a budding dictatorship because we couldn’t be arsed. Whoops! I did the numbers, and if you add up all the non-voters, Harris fans and the alleged 25 per cent of Trump supporters now wondering what the hell he’s up to, it totals 300 million

Americans. That’s a lot of people suffering in their highly-tariffed jocks as the American Dream becomes an American Nightmare.

Fashionable Fascism

But if democracy is out of fashion, how are people styling themselves within these newly fascist regimes? America doesn’t yet have Hugo Boss designing uniforms for the secret police, but the Trump entourage are loudly fashionable. They’re like Lotto winners who want everyone to know that they have MONEY.

Politics used to be a trick to make us forget that the fat cats are in charge, but today billionaires are the new black. If you want to be heard, you need to be (or at least look) RICH. The big D doesn’t whisper his wealth with subtle, preppy, inthe-know signifiers; he shouts it loud with big hair, orange skin and expensive logos. We can laugh at the clown, but his fans love this awkward, ‘self-made’ man (who inherited more than A$640 million from daddy’s dodgy real estate empire).

Those brash baseball caps, ill-fitting suits, ugly ties and mental hair appeal to a Trumpnik’s ideal of how the rich should dress. While stealing the shirt from America’s back he’s coined the art of looking like he understands their suffering... all while wearing a pair of minklined, gold-trimmed jocks.

Finally, if you think comparing undies to politics is peculiar, I’ll leave you with a quote from writer and filmmaker Bhushan Mahadani, who said, “Patriotism is like underwear, which comes in all different colors, shapes and sizes, which you cannot see but is very useful. Nationalism is like Superman’s underwear which you show all the time and has no use.”

Words Nat Shepherd Photo Sal Kerrigan Suffer in your jocks!

Saying 'Yes' to Others Can Mean Saying 'No' to Yourself

One of the simplest words in the English language is the word ‘no’. It only has one syllable, and it’s easy to spell and comprehend. It’s a word that leaves no margin for error or misunderstanding. Weirdly enough, if you consult a thesaurus you won’t find many other words that share the same meaning. But why can ‘no’ be so hard to say?

Reflect back on your life and think of one of the times you wish you’d said ‘no’ rather than ‘yes’. Think of a time when you said ‘no’ but the recipient either wouldn’t except it or they misinterpreted it. Even if they did understand, did it leave you feeling guilty or regretful?

Whether we said it but didn’t mean to, or meant to but didn’t, failure to say ‘no’ can lead us down a sometimes slippery slope. Like most things in life, we can go back to our childhood to get some sense of why we can struggle with such a simple word as adults. A parent saying ‘no’ to their child is usually for their own safety and protection. Kids are taught from early on not to go against the authority of the grown-up saying ‘no’. Kids tend to obey in fear of being punished, but also tend to obey due to a desire to please and be loved by the people close to them, especially their parents.

Over time, this desire to be loved can turn into unhealthy compliance, especially if the child starts to feel responsible for someone else’s happiness - an anxious or angry parent for example. It’s this dynamic that can be carried into adulthood, turning the innocent, compliant

kid who didn’t want to upset the apple cart into a people pleaser. There are many facets to being a people pleaser. It is quite complex, but at the core of it is our desire to present ourselves as ‘nice’; not wanting to disappoint or hurt someone else or have them think ill of us. The people pleasers tend to put aside their own needs to please others. On the surface, people pleasing seems like a good idea - I mean, what’s wrong with being nice, right? Sure, being nice is a good quality to havealtruistic, virtuous, giving, loyal, compassionate, sympathetic, generous, pleasant... The problem is, over time, the people pleaser feels like they have no option but to mould themselves to the expectations of others. As this happens, the people pleaser tends to outwardly project perfection, putting on a smile and saying things like, “Yeah, sure, I don’t mind doing that for you, it’s fine,” but resentment and anger can build beneath this façade, and burnout and stress can develop as the people pleaser puts their needs aside while they agree to do things for others.

Ironically, people pleasing is a problem for both the pleaser and the recipient, as the foundation of it is based on lying - lying to ourselves and lying to the recipient - as they aim to please, leaving a sense of, “If I can’t trust your ‘no’, then how can I trust your ‘yes’?” The lying might feel like it’s for poignant purposes, to avoid feeling sad or upset, or not wanting to hurt or disappoint, but before you know it the calendar is full and you have no time left for yourself.

Traits associated with people pleasing include anxiety, low self-esteem, conflict aversion, perfectionism, self-sacrificing and a lack of boundaries in the fear that others will be disappointed or angry. And of course, the big one, enjoying the dopamine hit associated with saying ‘yes’.

If you find yourself unable to say ‘no’ and can see how it might be affecting you and those close to you, there are some tricks that might help. Try giving yourself the two-second test next time someone asks you to do something for them, i.e. within two seconds of the request, in your own head, give yourself the honest answer to their request - ‘yes’ or ‘no’. You’ve got to be honest though - do you really want to look after someone’s dog for two weeks while they go on holiday? You might be pleasantly surprised that saying ‘no’ doesn’t bother the other person at all. However, if it really is getting the better of you, professional help is recommended.

Jeremy Ireland is a local psychotherapist. Have you got a question? You can get in touch with Jeremy by calling 0400 420 042.

Words Jeremy Ireland Photo Carol Beer

The More Park Conspiracy

Words Kieran Blake - kieranblakewriter.org Photo Greg Norman

Secretive manoeuvres involving one of Australia’s most divisive politicians will force a permanent transformation of the suburb of More Park. And residents are powerless to stop it.

The Beast has secured exclusive details of the heated discussions within covert meetings centred around an almost imperceptible change to the spelling of More Park, in line with plans to reduce the golf course to nine holes.

The amendment to the suburb’s name is as subtle as the ‘one’ contribution Scott Morrison made to Australia while PM but will draw frenzied club-wielding golfers into our hitherto tranquil streets.

Golfers threaten to launch a campaign of rolling demonstrations as vitriolic as Sam Newman’s social media rants during COVID lockdowns, as the birdie hunters defend their values, freedoms and way of life. So violent would be the protests that locals really would be too scared to go out to restaurants.

Supporters of the change promise to confront the demonstrations with chants of ‘More Park, Less Golf!’.

Golfers know exactly who to blame.

“Clover Moore and Co. are driving the destruction of our golf course,” one member teed off.

“The Greens want our greens, and Clover wants to cover the course in rainbows and bike paths, then replace the golf carts with e-bikes.”

The Lord Mayor of Sydney supports the plan to open the reclaimed space to public use. Club members and social players from near and far argue Sydneysiders can go to Bondi for nine holes of hit and giggle, but Mrs Moore’s supporters claim the change would honour the heritage of the space, which before 1867 was known as The Sydney Common (common is a profanity in the Eastern Suburbs).

One attendee at the clandestine meetings even went so far

as to label Mrs Moore ‘UnAustralian’.

“She’s trying to stop us enjoying a beer with mates after a round, because if there’s no 18th hole, there’s no 19th hole.”

Opponents of the plan also accuse Mrs Moore and her leftist elites of plotting a far deeper conspiracy.

“More Park could still be known as Moore Park, but only to honour Clover,” they theorise.

“Do you know who the land was named after in the first place? You don’t have to do a deep dive to learn that it was Charles Moore, the Mayor of Sydney City Council at the time. Now, don’t tell me that’s just a coincidence.”

Conspiracy theorists also point to Mrs Moore’s controversial bill to ban the sale of dogs, cats and other mammals in NSW pet stores in 2007, claiming, “If Clover steals half our golf course and gives it back to the public, the whole space will just be overrun by dogs.”

An artist's impression of the proposed open-access public parkland at Moore Park.

A Weekend to Remember

It’s goat curry night at the Diggers and the place is chock-ablock. Two icy schooners glisten under the neon lights as a couple of ‘finatic’ fisho’s sit down to yarn about a weekend of fishing most people could only dream of.

Joining me is none other than Jules Breslin, a young marine mechanic from Bondi who lives and breathes all things boats, engines and fish. In fact you can gather most of what you need to know about this bloke by the street view of his house where his jetski, Hilux and red Haines Hunter occupy what little street parking he and his neighbours have (much to their delight).

On top of being a full time fully qualified marine mechanic, Jules can’t help himself but to take on all sorts of projects including a recent partial refurb of local waterman Grayson’s V16R Haines Hunter, which involved hoisting the engine off in the driveway and gutting the vessel of all its old fibreglass. Jules’ hands-on approach, persistence and sometimes obsessive attitude lends itself perfectly to the sport of fishing, with his garage often looking more like the local tackle store.

After recently purchasing his own Haines Hunter V16R from

his boss, a classic Aussie-built craft that loves nothing more than cutting through raw ocean swells with its deep V hull, he has started making consistent trips to local inshore zones. On one particular weekend with his good mate Grayson he struck gold - not once, but twice.

“We were originally going for snapper and weren’t having any luck, even after changing spots to a deeper zone,” he said, while I sipped on my Reschs.

“We had just about had it and both ripped our soft plastics up from the bottom in about 45 metres ready to move on, when it all turned to chaos.”

“Grayson hooked up first and quickly realised he was very undergunned as his small 2500 reel started screaming off. Before we could even react, I hooked up myself on the 8000.”

After a handful of gutwrenching runs, Jules boated an 80cm longtail, with Grayson’s fish unfortunately earning its freedom amongst the commotion. Longtail tuna, or northern bluefin tuna, are generally found in warmer subtropical waters and are very rarely encountered off Sydney, leaving Jules and Grayson awestruck with their remarkable capture.

“We really couldn’t believe what we had caught... we were so frothing on the run back in with the deck covered in fish and this big tuna in the esky”.

Most people would be satisfied with a fridge full of sashimi grade tuna, but not Jules and Grayson, who decided to go back out the following morning to chase snapper. On the very first drop Jules came up tight to something very heavy while casting a 5-inch Zman soft plastic. The fish came to the surface after just a few seconds to reveal itself as a huge cobia - another extremely rare catch, although Jules and Grayson could only admire it for a few seconds before it powered back to the bottom, almost busting him off.

The boys were stunned once again as Jules fought to wrestle the beast away from the bottom. After a 20-minute tussle the fish came boatside, but the boys didn’t have a gaff or net big enough to land it. By some miracle, a boat of spearfishermen happened to be driving past and Grayson opportunistically yelled at them to throw over a speargun. Within an instant Grayson pulled the trigger and hoisted the fish into the boat, sliding 1.27 metres of Sydney cobia onto the deck.

“We were both absolutely losing our shit! I seriously couldn’t believe it. First the longtail, then the Cobia!”

But the boys weren’t done yet, having only been out there for 20 minutes. They kept fishing and proceeded to catch a series of snapper ranging between 50-67cms.

“We cleaned up, it was insane. My fridge was full of longtail, cobia and snapper. I ended up giving heaps away to my mates,” he said.

After marinating in the epic tale we collected our goat curries and discussed the next mission, although we both knew that weekends like that don’t come around very often!

Words Lewis Kennedy-Hunt Photo Holly Murphy Jules, his Haines and the giant cobia.

We Need Our Saints for Inspiration

Words Dr Marjorie O’Neill, Member for Coogee Photo Robert Prevost

In every age and across all cultures, we have looked to our heroes for inspiration and guidance. We need them to remind us of who we can be at our best and inspire us to become more like them. Saints can be seen as the pinnacle of heroes. While heroes inspire us through extraordinary acts, saints inspire us by how they live every moment. Saints show us what it means to live for something greater than ourselves. Their lives testify to personal virtue and strong values. They challenge us to see beyond ourselves, our pains and our limitations to think and act bravely for others. Saints help us to understand that one life can make a difference.

For those of you who don’t already know, Coogee and the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney could possibly be the home-

land of Australia’s second saint. Allow me introduce you to Eileen Rosaline O’Connor, affectionately known as the ‘Little Mother’, a remarkable Australian woman who, despite enduring immense physical suffering, co-founded Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor in 1913. Born in Richmond, Melbourne, in 1892, Eileen suffered a severe spinal injury at the age of three, leading to lifelong pain and disability. Her unwavering faith and compassion drove her to dedicate her life to caring for the sick and impoverished in Sydney, particularly in Coogee.

For those readers of The Beast who may be unfamiliar with the path to Sainthood, please strap-in, as it is long and arduous. However, Eileen’s path to sainthood has been progressing steadily. In August 2018 she was declared

a ‘Servant of God’, marking the first step in the canonisation process. The diocesan phase of her cause was officially concluded in August 2024, and the collected documentation was presented to the Vatican’s ‘Dicastery for the Causes of Saints’. This submission now needs to be reviewed to determine if Eileen demonstrated heroic virtue, a prerequisite for being declared ‘Venerable’.

If the Vatican recognises a miracle attributed to Eileen’s intercession, she could be beatified and granted the title ‘Blessed’. A second confirmed miracle would pave the way for her canonisation as a saint. Should this occur, Eileen O’Connor would become the first saint from Coogee and only the second Australian-born saint, following Saint Mary MacKillop.

In the meantime, while we wait patiently for the men in Rome to decide, the Eileen O’Connor centre was recently opened at Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor in Coogee. The Centre memorialises Eileen O’Connor’s legacy and documents beautifully the work of Eileen and the Brown Nuns, in particular their dedication to fighting for the rights and protection of our most vulnerable.

While our Eastern Suburbs has been the home and birthplace of many interesting and inspiring characters, Eileen’s life and work is certainly extraordinary and continues to inspire many. Eileen’s legacy lives on through the ongoing efforts of Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor right here in Coogee. I encourage everyone in our community to learn more about Eileen and her work in standing up for the poor.

I hope that we can all be inspired by Eileen to find the courage and goodness to be local heroes, if not saints ourselves.

Eileen (left) suffered a crippling break in her spine at the age of three.

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Achieving Real Reform

Words Allegra Spender, Member for Wewntworth

Last month, Environment Minister Murray Watt approved the extension of Australia’s largest gas project until 2070. That’s two decades beyond our 2050 net zero target and could mean over 4 billion tonnes of climate pollution.

This approval is a perfect example of what’s broken in our environmental laws. In their current form, environmental approvals do not consider the climate change impacts of a project - meaning that no project can be rejected as a result of the climate damage it will do.

It’s a glaring omission when climate change is the most significant threat to our environment and when communities across Australia are facing more and more extreme weather events.

In the last few weeks alone we’ve seen floods ravage the NSW mid-north coast and South Australia wilt in one of the worst droughts on record. Taking action on climate has never been more urgent.

Since 2022, we’ve made good progress. We’ve put in place important policies like efficiency standards for new vehicles and the safeguard mechanism to drive down industrial pollution. Our electricity grid is now at well over 40 per cent renewable energy, and we’re projected to meet our 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030. So far, so good.

But there are warning indicators too - and not just when huge fossil fuel projects get approved. Although our future projections look good, actual emissions have flatlined. There are concerning trends in areas like transport (where pollution is rising), and America’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement (again) has put a cloud over global progress.

It’s clear the next parliament will need more ambition and more action. And if the floods and fires aren’t motivation enough, then the opportunities of low-cost renewables and the potential of COP31 in Adelaide

in 2026 are two more compelling reasons to act.

Against this backdrop, we have an unusual parliament - a government with a huge majority, the Coalition much smaller and in disarray, and the Greens reduced to a single seat in the house. This means the role of independents will be crucial.

While my job won’t change in substance, the losses suffered by the Coalition and Greens means independents must shoulder greater responsibility for holding the government to account.

It’s also even more important to show leadership on bold reform - where courage is lacking - and to work with all sides of the parliament where there’s common ground. That’s crucial on climate - but also for tax reform, the housing crisis, supporting our LGBTIQ+ and Jewish communities, and more.

On climate, we need to hold the government’s feet to the fire on delivering policies announced last term - like Future Made in Australia - and make the case for an ambitious but achievable goal of up to 75 per cent emissions reduction by 2030. We need to accelerate the renewable rollout and fix our environmental laws so they work better for nature and for business.

For too long, political point scoring has held up real reform. But with a large majority, the government now faces a different challenge - to use their political capital while they still have it. I hope this means more ambition and an unwavering commitment to the national interest - on climate, and across the board.

Thank you for re-electing me as your independent MP for Wentworth. Please reach out to my office or say hello when I’m out in the community. If it matters to you, it matters to me.

Photo Rebecca Hill

The role of independents in the new parliament is crucial.

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.

HYAMS BEACH HEAVEN

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The Beast Supercross

1. Which two Presidents died on July 4, 1826?

2. Which river runs through Hungary?

3. What part of the body produces insulin?

4. What ’80s sitcom featured Ted Bullpitt?

Trivial Trivia

5. In Back to the Future, what speed must the Delorean reach in order to time travel?

6. Which classical composer became deaf later in life but continued to compose?

7. Which artist released the album 1989?

ACROSS

1. Third US president (9)

5. Acronym used for producers of The Watchtower (1,1)

7. Droopy eared hunting dog (5)

9. Former Roosters half, ... Cronk (6)

10. Mound of earth made by ants (7)

11. Italian opera by Verdi (4)

12. Basque hat (5)

14. Black and white swooping bird (6)

16. Napolean’s place of exile (4)

17. Part of a dress above the waist (6)

20. Russian ballet company (7)

21. Small missile

with a pointed shaft (4)

DOWN

1. Second US president (4,5)

2. Ordinal number following ‘third’ (6)

3. Harvesting tool (6)

4. Newborn infant (7)

6. Legal guarantee (8)

8. Cocktail containing rum, citrus juice and sugar (8)

12. Honey producer (3)

13. Blackcurrant cordial (6)

15. Evil spirit or phantom (5)

18. Soft murmuring pigeon sound (3)

19. Flying mammal (3)

8. True or False; sloths can hold their breath longer than dolphins?

9. What is the only letter not used in the periodic table?

10. What is the hardest naturally occurring mineral on Earth?

Subject The Rainy City Location Dover Heights Photographer Béatrice Bathany

Words Lisa Anderson

Megan 2.0

Genre Sci-Fi, Action, Comedy

Reviewer Linda Heller-Salvador

What could be worse than a kick-ass android Barbie on steroids? How about two kick-ass android Barbies on steroids, which is exactly what we get in director Gerard Johnstone’s (Housebound) genre-hybrid sequel to his award-winning and unexpectedly successful 2022 film

M3GAN. Co-written with Akela Cooper (Malignant) and James Wan (The Conjuring), this sequel boldly declares its intent with the tagline, ‘This Bitch vs That Bitch’, which pretty much guarantees an epic smack ’em down cat-fight. With the sassy, bitchy and somewhat creepy M3GAN involved, you just know there’s going to be some seriously demented fun.

Much like in the Terminator sequel, M3GAN (Amie Donald) goes from villain to anti-hero after being resurrected and enhanced to become the unlikely saviour of humanity when an autonomous robot named Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno) goes seriously rogue. With its quirky style and humour, Megan 2.0 serves as a cautionary tale that raises thought-provoking questions regarding the implications of artificial intelligence in society and technology’s impact on young minds. The decisive question to now ponder is... has M3GAN finally met her match?

Spacey Jane If That Makes Sense

Label Concord Records

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

There’s a theory that a band’s third album is its best, and Spacey Jane could be another notch on that data chain. The jury’s still out as they’re a group that tends to improve with more listens, but at first glance If That Makes Sense is a future classic. While unmistakably a Spacey Jane album, shades of The Shins, The 1975 and even Lorde have snuck in, adding more edge and drama to their sound. But it is the poignantly nostalgic lyrics that truly draw you in. “Throwing up on the balcony.” “Remember the backyard sprinklers getting me wet?” We’ve all been to that party.

Tash Sultana

Return to the Roots

Label Lonely Lands Records

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

Tash Sultana has been on a rocket-like trajectory since she first burst onto the scene, so it’s nice to hear her take a breather and return to how it all began. Yes, as the title suggests, this is right back to the dub reggae that you probably heard pulsing through your scruffy neighbour’s wall a few years back. Ben Lee recently said that the popularity of roots music ruined the Australian music scene, but he’s clearly never sat on a festival hill in the late afternoon and let it and the heady smell of Mary Jane wash right over him.

Ladybirds

Women in Custody in NSW

Label Fuddsville

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

It’s always a pleasure to listen to these collections. They are raw, emotive and never fail to surprise. While most artists understandably obscure their true selves behind a stage persona, there are no punches pulled by the Ladybirds of NSW’s Correctional Centres. It brings to mind Johnny Cash’s concert at Folsom State Prison. I don’t know if that could ever happen here, but to have some sort of show with all these performers would be an incredible spectacle. Sure, a little bit terrifying too, but a few jars of toilet hooch would calm your nerves.

Star Signs

Visions Beardy from Hell

Virgo Aug 23-Sep 23

Being single in winter is the pits. Honestly, you’re better off being in a miserable relationship than being cold and lonely at night.

Libra Sep 24-Oct 23

Get your own life in order before embarking on a major project. Managing other people is tricky if you can’t even make your bed.

Scorpio Oct 24-Nov 22

It’s good to have high expectations of your friends, but if you don’t lower your standards pretty soon you won’t have any.

Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21

Be sceptical of unsolicited life advice from anyone over fifty who is still working. No one plans to work into their fifties.

Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 20

With black market ciggies currently $9 a pack in every tobacconist in Sydney, there’s never been a better time to take up smoking.

Aquarius Jan 21-Feb 19

Be ready to take advantage of the opportunities that land in your lap this month. It could be your last chance to really get ahead.

Pisces Feb 20-Mar 20

Planning for the future is a waste of time - if you don’t know where you’re going, any old road will get you there eventually.

Aries Mar 21-Apr 20

In a world replete with hopeless numpties, you are so organised, trustworthy and reliable it’s actually making people suspicious.

Taurus Apr 21-May 21

Oddly, the only thing that really turns you on right now is looking at your naked reflection in the mirror.

Gemini May 22-Jun 21

We’re about to enter that somewhat daunting time of the year when you realise you’ve spent way more than you actually earnt.

Trivial Trivia Solutions

incredible showroom, made-to-order headboards & beds