The Beast - June 2026

BEAST

June 2026

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Words James Hutton - Publisher

Welcome to the June 2026 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s creative beaches of the east. It’s a wonder any artists can afford to live here any more, but somehow the creative component of our local area is thriving like never before.

Firstly, a big thanks to Clovelly artist Sandra Routh for this month’s beautiful cover painting of Clovelly. You can see more of Sandra’s artwork on her Instagram, @sandra_routh, or by visiting her exhibition at Maroubra’s Lionel Bowen Gallery, which is now open and will be showing until May 29.

Still on the topic of local art, a number of Bondi artists have responded to the Bondi tragedy by organising an exhibition at the Bondi Pavilion Art Gallery. Holding Light brings together 29

Jewish and non-Jewish artists, including Bondi locals and creatives connected to the area, responding to the attack and the months that followed through painting, sculpture, photography and installation. More than a hundred artists submitted work for consideration, reflecting how widely and deeply the event was felt across the community.

Featured artists include Munganbana Norman Miller, Ella Dreyfus, Ariella Friend, Paul Blackmore, Naomi Ullmann, Michael Glezerson and former cover star of The Beast Camille Fox, among others. The exhibition has already kicked off and will be open from 10am to 5pm every Wednesday to Sunday until June 28.

For all the book lovers, the annual Bondi Beach Book Swap will be held on the afternoon of Sunday, May 31, at The Depot on Warners Avenue, Bondi Beach. The café will be completely taken over with stacks of books

to browse, many of them brand new, including contemporary fiction, bestsellers, kids books, cookbooks and more. You can bring some of your old books and take some new ones home, all for a donation to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. For more information, please visit greatbookswap.org.au/bondibeach-book-swap-2026. Cheers, James

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The Beast's Monthly Mailbag

Words The Creative People of the Eastern Beaches

Overdevelopment Threatens

Fred Hollows Reserve

A major development proposed for Glen Avenue in Randwick raises serious concerns for our local community and one of our most valued green spaces!

The proposal is for a 6-7 storey apartment building directly backing onto Fred Hollows Reserve. While housing supply is important, this development goes well beyond what is appropriate for this sensitive location.

Even the developer’s own planning report acknowledges that Glen Avenue presents as a low-scale streetscape - typically 1-2 storeys from the street due to the sloping land. Yet this proposal introduces a building several times that scale, fundamentally altering the character of the area.

More concerning is the broader impact. If similar developments occur on both sides of the reserve, the result will be a ‘canyon effect’, enclosing a natural bushland corridor with mid-rise buildings. This would significantly diminish the open, green character that makes this reserve so special.

The proposal also fails to properly assess the impact on the reserve itself, including overshadowing, visual bulk and long-term environmental effects. Public open space like Fred Hollows Reserve should be protected, not dominated by over-scaled development.

We all support thoughtful, wellplanned housing. But development must respect its surroundings. This proposal does not.

I urge decision-makers to carefully consider the long-term

consequences and ensure that growth in our area remains balanced, appropriate and respectful of our shared spaces.

Maurice Randwick

Hewlett Street Horror

What chance have we got when our local member, Marjorie O’Neill, in her March 30 newsletter, unhelpfully says, “I want to try to address some of the concerns of local residents,” whatever that means? Premier Minns, her Labor boss, publicly speaks of Eastern Suburbs “snobs”; would Labor downgrade our suburbs’ amenity just to spite us?

Marjorie, who instructs us that “all levels of government must do our part to increase housing supply,” makes no suggestion that she opposes the proposal. I can’t expect much from her.

The March 2026 edition of The Beast quotes her mother, Waverley Deputy Mayor Keri Spooner, as saying, “This project is completely over the top and we need to find a way of scaling it back”.

Ten houses were approved for the site; now 120 homes rising to nine storeys are intended. The application should be fought tooth and nail by both our local member and our deputy mayor. They should be representing their constituents’ interests - not those the federal government presses upon Minns. They should not bow to party headquarters. The proposal should not be merely scaled back; it should be totally rejected.

If it does go ahead, developers will have open slather along Syd-

ney’s coastal fringe. As it seems to me that the Bronte Community Association will prove to be our best mechanism for opposing the development, I have become a member; the stronger it is the better.

Greg Maidment Bronte

Hi Greg - Thanks for writing in. I oppose the development in it’s current form, as I can only support sensible development near essential services such as public transport and supermarkets. 122128 Hewlett Street is not located near these key amenities.

Currently, the developer has only submitted an expression of interest - if the application progresses to the first official step of the State Significant Development process, community consultation plays a key role in the decision-making process. It is a requirement for the developer and the Department of Planning to address concerns raised from objections.

If this EOI does progress, we strongly encourage everyone in the community with concerns to express these during the submission period. I will also be writing an objection too. I have also raised the concerns of the community with the planning minister directly.

If anyone has concerns about the proposal, please feel free to contact my office for more information. I also do encourage those who are concerned to join the Bronte Community Association.

Dr Marjorie O’Neill

State Member for Coogee

Randwick Council's Silly Surveys

The Beast - Randwick Council is now mailing flyers to local residents about e-bikes, asking everyone to ‘Have Your Say’ about current issues with them, then going on to ask everyone’s opinion of the council’s future plans to fix those issues.

Is there an elephant in the room here? Who allowed the e-bikes in the first place? Who is paying for the flyers and community consultation, and all of the ongoing meetings?

There are obvious problems with these bikes and their usage. Rather than asking the community to comment on fixing the issues, why can’t Randwick Council just fix them?

Simonay Coogee

Good Bronte Peeps!

Recently leaving Terry White Pharmacy on Macpherson Street, Bronte, which coincidentally my father-in-law used to own, my hubby and I were asked by some lovely locals with a Dulux puppy in their arms if we knew who owned him. As he had no collar or lead, these kind people had checked all the shops and poles for missing leads or collars. They mentioned that the pup had almost been squashed twice by traffic and buses on the road.

We volunteered to take him to North Randwick Vets, as surely he was micro-chipped and the owners would be found. On the way, I named him Ian and said to hubby that if no one claimed him, we would take him home to partner our Great Dane - more hair in the house!

A few hours later the vets called us to say his owners had been found. We received wonderful calls and photos from them expressing their gratitude. His name is actually Rio, but given his escape act after being groomed the day prior (hence no collar) we suggested they call him Steve - the great escape artist. Cheeky boy!

I just wanted to say what a lovely sense of community happened that day, from locals, shops, owners and vets. We hear so much bad news, but this was good news. Go Rio/Ian/Steve!

Marea Randwick

Thank You, Huttons

Dear Beast - When reading James’ editorial and tribute to Dan in late April, I was forced into a moment of deep introspection. I think I have been a reader since day one of this 20-or-so-odd-year-old monthly magazine. That means it’s been a part of my life since my early teens.

I thoroughly enjoy each time I pick up the magazine. It makes me laugh and cry. The letters sometimes make me angry, but I truly enjoy keeping up to date with our great community. Thank you to James and Dan, for reminding us all how lucky we are to live in this area and allowing us to celebrate the people that comprise it.

You’ll always be a blow-in from west of Anzac Parade, James, but each edition brings you one step closer to full membership as a local. You and your brother built something you should be proud of, and may it continue!

Gus Bennett

Concerned Narc Bondi Junction (formerly Coogee)

Diverting Coogee's Stormwater to Gordon's Bay and Clovelly Hi

The Beast - I remain extremely concerned regarding the ‘relocation’ and diversion of the Coogee stormwater drain.

The diversion, using an old sewer pipe and a new pump station, will place the discharge out to sea under the cliffs between Coogee Beach and Gordon’s Bay. While Coogee Beach water may be rated as ‘poor’ since 2022, Gordon’s Bay and Clovelly Beach have maintained a ‘good’ quality rating since 2014, including the most recent testing period (you can visit beachwatch.nsw.gov.au for a more detailed analysis).

This is of major concern. Both Gordon’s Bay and Clovelly are narrow inlets, so when there is large surf or heavy rain we end up with flotsam (from local drainage) and huge amounts of leaf litter in the water, so we have our own sewage overflow and stormwater as pollutants already. Being so narrow, compared with the much wider Coogee Beach, it takes longer for such debris to exit these closed systems.

Has there been an environmental assessment of any sort to ascertain whether ocean flow, currents and any other means will not push such stormwater that obviously affects Coogee Beach to either Gordon’s Bay or Clovelly?

Can you guarantee that the ‘future stormwater outlet’ through the cliffs that separate Gordon’s Bay and Clovelly will be very far out to sea? What has been shown diagrammatically on page 14 of the Autumn 2026 edition of Randwick Council’s Scene magazine does not show how far out to sea the future stormwater outlet will go.

One wouldn’t want Coogee stormwater or ‘fat balls’ made up of human general waste (soap scum, oils, faecal matter, medications…) spewed close to the cliff between Coogee Beach and Gordon’s Bay, as they were in October 2024.

Even if such an outlet is very far out to sea, will the dirty stormwater be carried by currents and tides into the narrow inlets of Gordon’s Bay or Clovelly?

Please don’t start this $7 million joint ‘project’ (between the NSW Government, Sydney Water and Randwick Council) aimed at improving the water quality at Coogee until a thorough investigation and comprehensive environmental assessment has been completed and the results reported to the general public, or it could end up transferring the problem to two other local swimming areas in Randwick.

Caroline Clovelly

The Beast has learned that during storm events the models used to carry out Council's impact assessment did indicate incremental increases in stormwater runoff toward Gordon's Bay and Clovelly, however the rate of dispersal was high enough that the increases were not considered impactful to the overall quality of water.

Real Men Protect Women

Dear James - I have been enjoying my visit to Randwick and loving the opportunity of visiting the beaches, cafés, shops and community events, but today I was floored by the behaviour of one resident. I write to you not to complain, but to reach out to this resident’s friends to call him out on his poor behaviour.

My daughter, six-and-a-halfmonths pregnant with her first IVF pregnancy, was walking on Avoca Street, along the fenceline, like any good parent would, to protect her unborn baby from being bumped into and to avoid tripping on the tree side of the footpath.

As she was doing so, a man of at least 48 years of age, wearing Easts shorts and a dark top, less than six foot tall, with his shopping in his backpack, stood in front of my pregnant daughter and refused to budge.

“I can do this all day, sweetheart,” he said, refusing to move aside.

Holding her ground and looking directly at him, she responded with, “Have a lovely day.” His response? “Go f*ck yourself,” and still refused to move.

I write to you so that his friends don’t see his ‘bravado’, but rather a coward who abused a six-anda-half-month-pregnant woman. I want him to know that real men protect and look after women.

I look forward to more visits to Randwick and know that most men are not like this.

Di Randwick

Accessibility for All

As a local resident, I was deeply troubled to learn that this new parking proposal is part of Randwick Council’s policy agenda.

Is Council’s financial position truly so dire that we are now considering charging the most disadvantaged members of our community for the simple privilege of visiting our beaches?

I grew up in social housing, and I know firsthand how critical free access to public spaces like our beaches can be. As a child, Coogee Beach was a place of joy and escape for my family. We travelled from the city on weekends because it was one of the few things we could afford to do together. The beach was accessible precisely because it was free.

I am now fortunate to live in Randwick, and I do not take that

privilege for granted. My circumstances changed because of Labor values and policies, particularly access to education that enabled me to move into the middle class. For that, I remain deeply grateful. I urge you to reconsider this approach and reflect on who will be most affected by it.

Phoebe Randwick

Coogee Cycling Paths

Hello - I’d like to express my frustration with the current state of cycling infrastructure in Randwick.

It only takes a glance at the City of Sydney’s bike map to see how abruptly safe cycling routes disappear the moment you cross into Randwick. From what’s been published, meaningful improvements don’t seem likely until around 2031. That’s a long time to wait, especially when safer cycling is already delivered elsewhere in Sydney right now.

Coogee Bay Road is a perfect example. It’s one of the main routes to the beach, heavily used by locals and visitors, yet there’s no safe, dedicated space for people riding bikes. Instead, cyclists are forced to mix with traffic or avoid the route altogether - hardly encouraging for anyone who isn’t already confident riding in those conditions.

At present, riding a bike locally often feels unnecessarily risky. With safer, connected infrastructure, many more people - myself included - would choose to ride more often, whether for commuting or simply getting around. Surely we can do better than 2031.

David Coogee

Thanks for your letter Davidyou’re not alone in feeling this frustration. While our community clearly values active transport, safety and accessibility remain significant barriers to more people choosing to ride.

One of the most consistent issues raised locally is the lack of separated cycleways. Experience

shows that painted lanes or shared traffic conditions don’t provide the level of safety or confidence many people need. Physically separated infrastructure is key to making cycling a realistic, everyday option for a much broader range of people.

That’s why stronger local advocacy is so important. Continued community voices - like yours - help ensure councils prioritise safe, connected cycling networks rather than long-term plans that delay meaningful change.

The NSW Get Active Program also provides funding for projects that improve walking and riding, and the next round of grants will open later this year. We strongly encourage our local councils to apply and to prioritise projects that deliver genuinely safe, separated infrastructure. We will keep the community updated on the outcomes.

Thanks again for speaking up and contributing to the push for better active transport in our area.

Dr Marjorie O’Neill State Member for Coogee

Response to Beach Parking Concerns

Dear letter writers concernd about beach parking fees - You suggest charging for beach parking is elitist, but free parking is not egalitarian - it is a gift to car owners, funded by everyone else, including those who can’t afford a car and gain nothing from the arrangement except narrower footpaths and dirtier air.

Here’s the genuinely counterintuitive bit: the single most effective way to get cars off the road is to make driving cost something. Free parking doesn’t reduce cars, it attracts them.

The more important conversation is what we could do with all that beachside asphalt if we stopped handing it over to parked cars entirely - more bikes, more footpaths, more trees, more people actually at the beach rather than circling it in a Kluger.

The Daily Pedaller Coogee

BLOCK PARTY

JoIn us for games, pRizes, cosTumes, anD danCinG to tHe BonDi BeAtS DjS!

Buzzing in My Head

Hi The Beast and ‘AA’ from Bondi Beach (The Buzzing Sound, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, May 2026) - I too have been disturbed day and night by the constant buzzing emanating from central Bondi. I live 500 metres away, and yet I can hear the low-level drone constantly.

In recent days it has been clearly audible, even over the roar of the huge swell. I happened to notice a loud mechanical humming outside Harris Farm near the lift shaft - could that be the source?

Whatever the cause, I hope Waverley Council gets onto it pronto because it’s really impacting my quality of life, and AA’s letter tells me I’m not the only one.

Caroline Bondi

Campbell Parade Traffic Lights

Early every morning my wife and I walk from Tamarama to North Bondi - a magic walk. On the way, I cross Campbell Parade at the traffic lights just adjacent to Notts Avenue.

I am not sure why, but I observe an extraordinary number of cars going straight through the red light down the hill to Bondi Beach.

Given the number and frequency, I assume it must be a traffic lights visibility thing. This is definitely a pedestrian fatality waiting to happen. Is the council able to install a flashing ‘traffic lights ahead’ warning sign when the red light is about to come on, or something similar?

Julian Tamarama

Change of Leadership at Randwick Council

Dear Randwick residents - Did you know that at the last local elections a deal was made between the Labor Party and the Greens whereby the role of mayor will be handed over to one of the Greens councillors from September 2026?

I find this concerning, as when there was a Greens mayor in 2023/24 there were many motions brought about international

issues. I would really like to see our Council focus on local issues, which is what they have been elected to manage.

Thousands of dollars were spent on managing the monthly Council meetings in 2023/24 when security had to be hired and mediation paid for with our hard earned dollars. If the same Greens councillor becomes mayor again (there are currently three to choose from) then I am worried about what this will cost the local residents in resources, rates, time and disruption.

I would like to see our councillors ‘stay in their lane’ and use council time and money to focus on Randwick’s local issues including roads, rates and rubbish.

Concerned Resident Maroubra

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

Sandra's self-portrait.

Local Artist... Sandra Routh from Clovelly

Clovelly artist Sandra Routh is the talent behind this month’s beautiful cover painting of Clovelly. Sandra shares her local favourites with The Beast...

How long have you lived here? I had an inner city childhood with the beaches on the weekend, mostly Tamarama and Bronte. I managed to find an apartment in Clovelly when there was still such a thing. Employment took me overseas for short periods, but I always returned to Clovelly and live here permanently now.

Why do you live here? Why not?! I am a Piscean, so swimming and coastal walks are my life - besides painting. Summers are crazy for someone who needs quiet to paint, but for nine months of the year it is amazing.

What’s your favourite beach? I can walk to Clovelly Beach in two minutes, and the mornings and afternoons once the daytrippers are gone become a local social event.

What’s your favourite eatery?

Anna’s Pizzeria across from the Cloey Hotel for genuine Italian, with gluten-free options and even better pizza than I ate in Italy. And the gluten-free Wholegreen Bakery in Bondi Junction.

Where do you like to have a drink? Sea Salt Café at Clovelly Beach has fab coffee, lovely staff, a great view and it’s so quiet in winter. And the Duke of Gloucester when friends are visiting, because we can easily walk home.

Best thing about the Eastern Suburbs? Location, location, location. It’s close to the airport, Bondi Junction, the city, hospitals and other beaches, with good transport links and fabulous weather.

How would you describe your art? We were never a ‘country trips’ family, so days of outdoor sketching and eucalyptus trees never made it into my practice. Like many young Australians, I left for Europe and Asia as soon as I had a plane fare, and sketching the world was the basis for studio printing when I returned to Australia - a visual documentation of where I lived and the memories I kept.

Where can people see your work? I exhibit frequently and use my @sandra_routh Instagram account to share my art. Every year I exhibit in the Randwick Women’s Art Show, a wonderful venue for local female artists.

Who are your artistic inspirations? I have a European painting background, so Caravaggio, Cezanne and Giorgio Morandi help me sort out technical problems, but I adore Australian women’s painting and visited the Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 18901940 exhibition at The Art Gallery of New South Wales recently - several times. I believe women hold up half the sky.

What are you working on at the moment? I’m currently doing a large studio painting from sketches I did on a recent visit to Lake Garda in Italy. I have been to Italy 14 times, and my work has taken me on contracts to Singapore, Italy, Switzerland, Canada and Hong Kong.

Do you have any exhibitions coming up? The Randwick City Library asked me to present my artistic journey, which will be showing in the Lionel Bowen Library exhibition space until the end of May. This is a wonderful opportunity to show 50 of my works, including some ceramics.

When did you discover you had a gift for your craft? We were a working-class family, with no art or books in the house, growing what we ate and trying to get scholarships to stay at school. When I was in Year 7, I went on my first excursion to the art gallery and my world changed. My parents always encouraged my enthusiasm.

Did you study art? I was sent to a selective high school, only to find that visual arts wasn’t offered. I then gained a scholarship at the National Art School majoring in printmaking and ceramics while studying to be a teacher.

Any advice for young aspiring artists? Just do it! Take chances and make your life what you want it to be. I have an ex-student who now makes all the special effects for Los Angeles TV series. He learned to make realistic blood for his video in year 8.

What do you do for work? I teach, and I still love it - it’s a wonderful way to meet interesting people.

What is your favourite thing about work? I am a perpetual student - I learn from others and I learn from myself. I paint for me, my life’s best journeys.

Do you have a favourite quote? “Don’t lose the joy and ambition to explore and succeed. Small steps bring satisfaction in a world that is increasingly difficult to navigate.”

Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast? Support local initiatives, support local businesses, and make an effort to explore our wonderful region.

Interview James Hutton

Photo Sarah Macist

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Jonny's One-Man Comedy Show Even Better Than Sunshine in a Can

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Flavio Brancaleone

One day, at the age of six, not long after his family arrived in Australia as South African immigrants, Jonny Pasvolsky walked into a Surfers Paradise souvenir shop and saw a pyramid of cans in one corner. The cans were labelled ‘Genuine Australian Sunshine.’

“I bought a can and couldn’t wait to open it back at our hotel - of course it contained nothing, but I’ll never forget the anticipation I had that sunshine might come blasting out of the can.”

The burning memory of that day stayed with him as he forged a successful career locally and internationally as an actor (McLeod’s Daughters, Underbelly, Mortdecai, Rising Wolf and HBO’s Westworld). And now the sunshine in a can idea has burst onto the stage with Pasvolsky’s one-man comedy show The CAN Principle, coming up at Bondi Pavilion on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6.

In the show, the 53-year-old Bondi resident plays a brash South African called Merv Gimplik who is a bit of a shyster

but believes he has hit upon a 12-step system to end all human misery. Welcome to The CAN Principle!

The one-hour show, Pasvolsky’s first outing as a writer as well as a solo performer, has been road tested at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Adelaide Fringe. When The Beast caught up with him he was excited about bringing his creation to Bondi, revealing how, in addition to his childhood canned sunshine experience, a lot of the show’s content was drawn from childhood memories of his South African parents hilariously navigating a new cultural landscape.

“A core theme is re-inventing yourself,” he says.

This parody of modern gurus is a comedy about what it takes to re-invent yourself in the face of failure, and self-proclaimed ‘experts’ lining up to take your money for nothing.

Tickets are only $25 ($20 concession). For bookings and more information, please visit thecanprinciple.com.au.

Waverley Council Parking Fine Plan Aimed at Assisting Strata Blocks

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Absolute Sign Solutions

Waverley rangers will be authorised to issue parking fines in strata-managed car parks under a trial scheme recently put forward by the council.

The plan is for strata managers to enter into agreements with the council allowing enforcement action to take place in their car parks. This service would not come free - an annual fee would be imposed by the council, which will also get all the parking ticket revenue.

Waverley Council has been looking at the scheme for a number of years and has trialled it at a unit block in Paul Street. Now officers have drafted a policy document which is being placed on public exhibition.

The On-Demand Strata Parking Management Scheme document says unauthorised parking has been “a common concern raised by residents” and expressions of interest are being invited from owners corporations. The owners corporations should have “already implemented all reasonable measures to deter vehicle related problems including the erection of signs, fencing, gates and other barrier devices.”

Signage alone isn’t always enough to prevent parking breaches in strata blocks.

Jonny Pasvolsky plays a self-appointed guru selling canned sunshine in his brilliant one-man show.

Discovery in French Attic Inspired Book by Bondi Author

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Emmanuel Macron

Nine years ago, journalist Sheryle Bagwell and her husband Michel Rose bought a house in rural France and embarked on an enviable lifestyle, spending six months of the year in Northern Provence and the other six months in Bondi, where they’d been long-time residents.

Their new home offered challenges - it was ageing and needed work. A boundary dispute with a combative neighbour tested their patience. But in the attic of their stone house, Ms Bagwell found a faded edition of selected letters by the famed 17th century French noblewoman Madame de Sévigné. They told a compelling story, which Ms Bagwell has now used as the basis for a book, Letter from Provence

“Madame de Sévigné wrote most of her letters to her daughter Françoise, who had moved to Provence, and reading them helped me reflect on my relationship with my own, long-dead mother,” Ms Bagwell said. “This book is the letter to my mother from Provence that I never got to write while she was alive.”

Sheryle launched her

Uked! performers Kristin Harris, Josephine Birch, Ian Stenlake and Jamie Burgess.

Come Along... Strum Along, at

Ukulele Musical’s Sydney Premiere

Words

Anthony Maguire

Photo Geoff Sirmai

Ian Stenlake, one of Australia’s most popular performers, will star in the Sydney premiere of Uked! - the world’s first playalong ukulele musical, at Bondi Beach from June 18.

Presented by the Bondi Theatre Company from June 18-28 at the Bondi Pavilion, Uked! also features charismatic singer-songwriter and actor Josephine Birch.

Uked! is Melbourne playwright Jane Cafarella’s love letter to the humble ukulele. It’s the hilarious and poignant story of Karla, played by Birch. Dumped on her 50th birthday by her violin-playing boyfriend, Karla buys a ukulele and joins a dating site, learning that love and the ukulele have a lot in common.

Audience members can sit back and enjoy the show or they can bring their ukes and sing and play along. A screen displays all the chords and lyrics.

There are ten performances of Uked! so come along… and strum along! For more information and to book your spot for this epic show, please visit bonditheatrecompany.com.au.

Local Businesses Offered Opportunity to Participate in Paid Parklet Scheme

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Georgie Parklet

Waverley Council wants businesses to lease the ‘parklets’ that have been springing up in the LGA for the past ten years.

The parklets, which are created in parallel parking areas by the installation of barriers or prefabricated modules, are seen as good revenue earners for adjacent food and beverage outlets. So now the council is looking at leasing out parklets to individual businesses and has outlined its plans in a Draft Parklet Policy document.

“For businesses hosting a parklet, benefits include additional outdoor seating and increased customer capacity, improved street presence and increased visibility from the street,” the draft policy document states.

Business owners must have “relevant approval to operate as a food and drink premises.” Leases would be renewed annually and host businesses would be responsible for maintenance.

Businesses interested in becoming parklet hosts are invited to email Waverley Council at parklets@waverley.nsw.gov.au.

One of the parklets in Wairoa Avenue, Bondi Beach.

book at Gertrude & Alice in Bondi.

A New Chapter for a Bronte Institution

A Local Tradition, Still Going Strong

For over 60 years, Lucas Meats has been part of the Bronte community, built on quality meat, traditional methods, and friendly, reliable service.

Today, that same approach continues with David Lucas now working alongside his son Jonathan. It’s a natural progression, combining decades of experience with a fresh set of hands, all focused on doing things the right way.

At Lucas Meats, nothing is rushed. From carefully sourced cuts to house-made sausages and smallgoods, everything is prepared with attention to detail and a commitment to quality you can taste.

But more than anything, the shop has always been about people. We’re proud to serve generations of local families, and incredibly grateful for the continued support from the Bronte community. It’s what allows us to keep doing what we love, every day.

If you haven’t been in for a while, or haven’t visited before, we’d love to see you. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner, a weekend barbecue, or simply some advice on what to cook, we’re always here to help.

After a strong start, beach parking survey responses had “slowed to a trickle” by the feedback cut-off date.

Mayor Reveals More Information on Paid Beach Parking Proposals

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Sandy Shaw

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker divulged some interesting nuggets of information when he discussed his council’s planned beach parking changes at a residents’ meeting.

Mayor Parker fronted a meeting of Coogee Precinct attended by 43 people who were overwhelmingly opposed to the proposal for visitors from outside the LGA paying for beach parking, with a permit system for locals.

South Coogee resident Anni Haque said the plan would involve “the loss of our entire way of life.”

Another attendee, Bob Sheather, drew a round of applause after telling the meeting, “It’s abhorrent that this is happening in a Labor seat. Gough Whitlam would be disgusted!”

In this emotionally-charged atmosphere, the mayor answered questions about the council’s proposals, which were announced by letterdrop and online in early March, with the public being given six weeks for feedback.

In answer to a question about how long parking meters would be operational each day, Mayor Parker said, “Each particular zone will be different.” Duration of visitor parking at Coogee tended to be shorter than Maroubra and the other southern beaches, so it’s

likely that different time limits would apply.

Asked whether the scheme would be relaxed in winter, the Mayor said, “Whether there is a summer rate or a winter rate is yet to be determined.”

As for the resident permit system being floated by the council, he said the plan was for every household to have “at least one permit” valid for all beaches in the LGA. Like the metered visitor parking, permits would have time limits.

Refuting assertions that the council survey material on beach parking had not been transparent about permits and other key issues, the mayor stated adamantly, “The survey is clear.” This prompted groans from numerous attendees.

Mayor Parker also defended the council’s decision, made at a meeting the previous week, not to give an extension for resident feedback. It had been the largest consultation ever undertaken by the council, with the usual one month feedback period already being extended by a fortnight. There’d been a strong response, with more than 10,000 surveys being returned before the April 15 cut-off date, by which time they’d “slowed to a trickle.”

Shabbat Dinner and Cohesion Summit to Help Community Move Forward

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Char Labread

Waverley Council is about to host a traditional Shabbat dinner - a Jewish feast involving blessings over cups of wine, burning candles… and lots of great food!

Shabbat dinners have three or more courses. They get underway at sundown on a Friday and stretch into the night. The community Shabbat dinner at Bondi Pavilion will take place on Friday, May 29 and is part of the community healing process following the December terror attack at Bondi.

“At a time when many in our community are seeking connection, a communal gathering offers a simple yet profound way to build relationships, bridge generational and cultural divides, and celebrate the rich Jewish heritage that forms part of Waverley’s identity,” says Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh.

A further step in the healing process - one that will resonate far beyond the Waverley LGA - is a National Local Government Summit on Social Cohesion and Antisemitism, to be co-hosted by Waverley Council in November.

Mayor Nemesh says the summit presents “a powerful and timely opportunity to bring together local governments, community leaders and government partners to reflect on lessons learned, honour the memory of those lost and recommit to building safe, inclusive and cohesive communities.”

Shabbat shalom!

North Bondi RSL Unveils Plaque in

Memory of Those Lost During December 14 Tragedy

Words Monica Ument Photo Jimmy McIntosh

North Bondi RSL has unveiled a permanent plaque in memory of those killed during the 14 December terrorist attack on Sydney’s Jewish community in Archer Park.

The plaque, bearing the names of those lost, was unveiled by Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh and Rabbi Ulman, alongside North Bondi RSL Chair Josh Farquhar, ahead of the club’s daily 6pm recital of The Ode, a heartfelt tradition that has long reflected North Bondi RSL’s commitment to remembrance, service and community.

The unveiling was attended by local community leaders, veterans, members of Sydney’s Jewish community and Bondi residents. It marked a solemn moment of reflection, but also one of unity - recognising the deep bonds between the Jewish community, North Bondi RSL’s veterans and the wider Bondi community.

For generations, North Bondi RSL members have gathered at dusk, facing the Australian flag

with Archer Park beyond, to recite The Ode in honour of fallen comrades:

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”

Those words, sacred to veterans, now carry an additional and inescapable meaning for North Bondi RSL. The park that sits beyond the flagpole is no longer only a backdrop to remembrance - it is now a site where our community battled evil and defended the innocent. Battlefields are sacred to veterans. They are the physical place where comrades sacrificed their lives, and they are a place of profound loss, courage and intense camaraderie. Archer Park is now such a place for the Bondi community.

North Bondi RSL Chair Josh Farquhar said while paying tribute to those lost that the plaque would also serve as a lasting marker of solidarity and shared resolve.

“This plaque is a permanent act of remembrance for those

who were taken from us on December 14,” Mr Farquhar said.

“It also reflects the bonds between our Jewish brothers and sisters, our veterans and the wider Bondi community. North Bondi RSL holds the Jewish community close - our veterans will forever stand with you.”

The club played a significant role in the immediate aftermath of the attack. On the night of December 14, North Bondi RSL became a place of refuge from the violence. Staff and volunteers in the clubhouse treated those who had been injured. In the days that followed, North Bondi RSL established and operated a community support hub, enabling local services, volunteers and community organisations to support those affected. This was sustained over the following weeks and months.

The unveiling of the plaque reflects North Bondi RSL’s broader role as a place of remembrance and service. North Bondi RSL was founded in 1944 by veterans returned from the Siege of Tobruk - marking the first time in World War II that the conquest of Nazi forces had been halted. Since then, North Bondi RSL has continued to support veterans, their families and the local community for more than 80 years.

The daily 6pm Ode remains one of North Bondi RSL’s most important traditions. It is a moment taken on each and every day of the year where all present pause to remember those we have lost.

Now, following the events of December 14, that moment carries an inescapable duality: remembrance of fallen veterans, and the memory of those lost in Archer Park.

The plaque will remain within North Bondi RSL as a permanent reminder of the lives taken, the community that endures, and the permanent commitment of veterans and locals to stand together in the face of hatred and violence.

North Bondi RSL Chair Josh Farquhar (left) unveils the plaque with Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh and Rabbi Ulman.

Kambala's new multi-purpose auditorium and sports precinct will usher in a new era for the local independent girls' school.

Kambala Ushers in a New Era

Words and Photo Anthony Maguire

Construction of a multi-purpose auditorium and sports precinct is getting underway at Kambala.

The $50 million project is seen as ushering in a new era for the independent, 1,000-pupil girls’ school, opening up new opportunities for flexible learning and well-being.

Set into the hillside at the northern end of the school, beneath an elevated oval, there’ll be a multi-purpose auditorium comprising two full-sized basketball courts, a strength and conditioning centre, three dance studios and six flexible learning spaces. Excavation began recently and the project is due to be completed in 2028.

“Our new precinct is a visionary development where every student will have the opportunity to thrive, to take risks, and to grow intellectually, spiritually and emotionally,” says Principal Jane Danvers.

“This inspiring space is about much more than facilities; we are shaping the future of Kambala and creating a lasting legacy for generations of students.”

The auditorium will have a capacity of 1,600 and the ability

to be configured as a major sports arena. The basketball courts are also multi-purpose, with areas for badminton and indoor soccer. The dance studios will have timber-spring floors, mirrored walls and luminous ceilings. Meanwhile, the flexible learning spaces will be roomy, covering 2,970 square metres, designed to support innovative teaching. A covered boulevard will connect the complex with the main school entrance on New South Head Road. The building project is being undertaken by Taylor Construction, which has solid experience in the education sector.

Kambala has called the project ‘It’s Her Time,’ symbolising a coming of age for the school, which overlooks Sydney Harbour near the border of Rose Bay and Vaucluse.

When it was founded with 12 pupils in 1887, the school was located in Woollahra, then it relocated to Bellevue Hill, and finally in 1913 to the present location, where the school was set up in a mansion called Tivoli. The school motto is Esto

sol testis - Let the sun be your witness, attesting to the integrity, courage and curiosity which have been pillars of the school’s existence.

Kambala students who’ve achieved high distinction in recent times include sexual consent activist Chanel Contos, former ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie, filmmaker and fashion guru Margaret Zhang and actress Claudia Black (Farscape, Pitch Black, Stargate SG-1).

The new facilities will pave the way for future generations of the Kambala ‘sisterhood’ to achieve excellence in diverse fields.

and sports arena's interior.

The multi-purpose auditorium

The boulevarde.

The strength and conditioning centre.

One of three dance studios.

Council Urges State to Reconsider ‘Broad Brush’ E-bike Legislation

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Onya Byke

Waverley Council is concerned that the NSW government’s e-bike regulation scheme could lead to a further explosion in use of the already-ubiquitous two-wheelers.

Mayor Will Nemesh says as the draft regulatory package now stands, Waverley would lose its present authority to cap e-bike numbers - one of the things the council worked out in a ground-breaking deal with e-bike operators last year. In its submission to the state government about the draft regulations, Council says it “should retain its authority to enforce the number of devices permitted to operate in our LGA.”

As well as controlling e-bike numbers, Waverley wants to limit the number of operators. Mayor Nemesh says there is a danger “the legislation will open the floodgates to more shared bike operators.”

Parking - an area where Waverley is pioneering the way - is a key concern. Under its deal with e-bike companies Lime, HelloBike and Ario, Waverley current-

ly has 60 dedicated parking bays and it’s adding another 36.

“This means up to 900 bikes will be off our footpaths and placed into dedicated spaces,” says Mayor Nemesh.

He would also like to see the state government do some heavy lifting in the e-bike parking department by allocating parts of state-owned roads for shared bike parking and storage.

While Mayor Nemesh sees scope for Council’s framework to work in tandem with the state scheme, a ‘one size fits all’ approach shouldn’t be pursued by the government.

“It should not assume that Waverley, which has the second-highest shared bike activity in NSW, has the same needs as a semi-rural or largely car-dependent council area,” Mayor Nemesh says.

“I fear it would be a step backward if Council’s hyper-local approach, developed from in-depth consultation with our own residents, was overwritten by sweeping, broad-brush legislation.”

North Bondi Bus Terminus Upgrade to Focus on Operational Functionality

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Reg Varney

Waverley Council has delivered a progress report regarding the planned upgrade of the North Bondi bus terminus area - and the none-too-subtle message is that stakeholders should not expect to see a dramatic transformation into a vibrant pedestrian precinct, which had been the council’s original vision.

The council had proposed shifting the bus terminus up the hill to Military Road, south of Blair Street, but Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and bus operator Transdev John Holland have put the brakes on that plan, at least for the time being.

Buses will continue turning around and having layovers at the terminus, which places “significant constraints on the extent of physical change that is practicable,” stated a report tabled at a full meeting of Waverley Council last month.

The report recommended that “the project be reframed around a program of practical, incremental improvements that deliver meaningful public domain outcomes without disrupting the operational functionality of the terminus.” These works will include footpath renewal, increased greenery and improved pedestrian crossing facilities.

The focus will stay on the buses at the North Bondi strip.

Waverley Council Update

Mayor's Message

Waverley to co-host Antisemitism Summit

nounce that will co-host a major national summit on antisemitism and social cohesion, in the lead-up to the one-year anniversary of the Bondi Beach terror attack.

In April, Council resolved to help stage the National Local Government Summit on Social Cohesion and Antisemitism, which is being convened by the Combat Antisemitism Movement.

This November, Mayors, Councillors, senior officers and community representatives will come together to explore bestpractice approaches to combating antisemitism and promote social cohesion. It is more critical than ever for all levels of government to work together to combat hatred in all its forms.

This urgent need was laid bare by the devastating attack on 14 December, which claimed 15 innocent lives

With the support of my Council colleagues, I will present Council’s Strategy to Combat Antisemitism, a nation-first initiative that provides a clear, coordinated framework to strengthen our communities against hatred and extremism This summit presents a powerful and timely opportunity to reflect on lessons learned, honour the lives lost, and recommit to building safe, inclusive and cohesive communities.

Based on this feedback, we are proposing an additional 36 parking areas to accommodate about 400 more shared bikes I am proud of Council’s efforts in finding solutions that balance the benefits of share bikes as a sustainable and affordable transport option with maintaining safe and accessible streets.

Making our footpaths clearer Holding Light for healing

Council’s share bike management measures are here to stay, following the success of our sixmonth trial.

Under the pilot, 60 dedicated shared bikes parking areas were installed in key locations to accommodate about 500 shared bikes, both on and off-street. We also established Restricted Parking Zones in areas with high pedestrian activity, where riders are required to park in designated bays or face additional charges, fines or account suspensions. Communit y feedback indicated the raft of measures has helped clean up our public spaces from carelessly dumped bikes, improving both accessibility and amenity. We also heard from residents that there is a desire for an expansion of these initiatives.

Ph: 9083 8000 | waverley.nsw.gov.au Stay in touch: waverley.nsw.gov.au/subscribe

I strongly encourage everybody to visit an important and moving exhibition, now showing at Bondi Pavilion Holding Light showcases powerful works from professional artists and community members in response to the terror attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December. It is an exploration of grief, resilience, memory, and solidarity through visual art, installation, and digital media The works displayed remind us that art is a powerful language, which can help us process difficult feelings like loss, trauma and the pursuit of healing. Curated by Shalom Collective and supported by Council, the exhibition is testament to the strength, love and resilience of our wonderful community. See it at Bondi Pavilion Art Gallery until 28 June.

William Nemesh Mayor of Waverley

Helping Locals Find a Park and Fairly Funding Our Beaches

Words Dylan Parker, Mayor of Randwick Photo Glenn Duffus

If there is one issue residents raise with me more than any other, it’s traffic congestion and the difficulty of finding a park at our beaches, particularly during summer.

I hear it at community meetings, markets and events. Locals tell me they avoid their own beaches on weekends in summer because they simply can’t find a park. Popular beachside spots are clogged. Families say they circle for ages, often giving up and going home.

This anecdotal reality is backed up by the statistics, where our surveys show that in summer our beachside parking is full.

It’s a paradox of living in such a beautiful area. We collectively live a stone’s throw from the coast yet many can’t actually access it - despite locals covering 100 per cent of the $23 million that it costs Council to maintain our beaches and coast.

This is why Council is proposing visitor pay parking where locals park for free at our beaches as one solution. Why? Because we think it will make it easier for locals to find a park and is a fairer funding model.

At its core, this proposal is about encouraging turnover of visitors - helping locals find a park. When parking turns over, more people can access the same number of spaces.

Requiring visitors to make a modest contribution puts a value on that space. It means they’ll only use the time they need, freeing up a space for others.

We know that many beachside spaces are effectively locked up for hours at a time, particularly during peak periods when up to 85 per cent of beach visitors come from outside the Randwick area.

Importantly, residents would not have to pay to park at any beach. Whether you rent or

own, if you live anywhere in Randwick City - from Clovelly to La Perouse - you would be able to park for free at all of our beaches through a free permit for residents.

That reflects what locals have already told us clearly - you already pay through rates and rent, and you don’t want to pay again.

We’ve just completed our largest and most comprehensive consultation ever with over 13,000 responses online, on paper, via email and also using our representative phone survey.

What you told us was that a strong majority of you agreed that the proposal would help you find a park and was a fairer funding model for our beaches, but that you wanted to see changes.

One issue we clearly heard was that you wanted to see Council provide more free permits for locals, putting to bed concern that locals would have even the faintest possibility of having to pay. We’ve heard you loud and clear - locals should not pay for parking.

Council staff are now looking carefully at your feedback. Should the project proceed, we will be providing more free permits for residents.

Similarly, some expressed concerns about visitors avoiding metered areas and parking in adjacent residential streets. On this, we hear you, and if Council is to proceed, we will go back to specific beachside communities and consult on bespoke local parking arrangements ensuring locals are only better off and local streets aren’t clogged with visitors.

You’ve given us a huge amount of feedback and we’re thankful for it. As you can imagine, Council now has a lot of work to do to consider your concerns and plan the best way forward. Protecting residents and making beach access easier remains our priority.

Clovelly car park at capacity on a hot summer’s day.

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

Randwick News

With the price of fuel skyrocketing, there’s never been a better time to switch to an electric vehicle. There are currently around 3,000 EVs in the Randwick City area, and that number is only climbing. And we’re going electric at a much greater rate than the rest of NSW –double the numbers of the rest of the state.

But as more people began moving to EVs, I heard the same thing over and over again: charging needed to become more accessible. That’s where council stepped in. We joined forces with the neighbouring councils of Waverley and Woollahra back in 2019 and started the state’s first network of Council-owned public charging stations. Since then, the Eastern Suburbs network has since grown to more than 300 stations, with 124 in Randwick LGA, and 22 more to come.

There’s also a sustainability rebate for private chargers –those in apartments in Randwick, Waverly and Woollahra can sign up to the new EV Charging for Apartments Program to receive a 50 per cent rebate.

The result? It’s easier than ever to make the switch to electric vehicles – a change that’s easier on your wallet, and on the planet.

What’s On

SEA PLACE ON COUNTRY

FRIDAY 5 JUNE & SATURDAY 6 JUNE

La Perouse Headland

MAROUBRA BEACH MARKETS

SATURDAY 6 JUNE

8 am – 2 pm

Broadarrow Reserve

HEFFRON PARK MARKETS

SUNDAY 21 JUNE

8 am – 2 pm

Bunnerong Road, Maroubra

GRANT RESERVE BUSHCARE

WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE

9 am – 1 pm Entrance to Coogee Surf Life Saving Club carpark

RANDWICK MOVIE CLUB

FRIDAY 19 JUNE

Councillor Dylan Parker Mayor of Randwick

2 – 4. 30 pm

Margaret Martin Library, Randwick

Randwick Mayor

Dylan Parker

Crime News

Kidnapper Looked After Kids

Parents whose youngsters were cared for by long-time Bondi nanny Adriana Rivas would no doubt be shocked to learn about her previous job - she was a member of Chile’s secret police force involved in kidnapping, murder and torture.

Rivas, now 70, fled Chile and settled in Bondi in the late 1970s. But in 2019, her past caught up with her. At the request of the Chilean government, she was arrested and since then has been in local custody, fighting her extradition on charges relating to the aggravated kidnapping and presumed murder of seven Chilean communist party members in 1976. At one stage during her protracted court proceedings, relatives of her victims came out here and stood outside court with poster-sized photos of their loved ones.

In the federal court recently Justice Michael Lee threw out her case that the extradition proceedings were jurisdictionally flawed. And now it looks like it’s adios for the sinister police agent-turned-nanny, unless her legal team further drags out the case by lodging an appeal.

Hospital Patient Went Berko

A male patient in the emergency department of Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick went beserk and badly injured a nurse’s leg, then attacked two other

nurses, a security guard and a female member of the public. Police were called and an officer was assaulted before the 51-yearold man was tasered.

“He was subsequently arrested and moved to a secure facility within the hospital,” police said. Charges are pending.

Baccy Bust

A shop in Bondi Junction was raided by Australian Federal Police investigating illegal tobacco import and distribution.

Two men from Eastgardens, aged 26 and 31, were later arrested and charged with proceeds of crime offences and defrauding customs. It’s alleged they were members of a crime syndicate involved in large-scale supply of illicit tobacco products and money laundering. The AFP says it has arrested a number of other syndicate members and seized $800,000 in cash, 542,940 cigarettes, almost a tonne of loose-leaf tobacco, 8,169 vapes, 8,650 nicotine tabs and 5,680 nicotine pouches.

Parkside Louts Targeting Cars

Youths have been hurling wet rolls of toilet paper at cars driving at night past Centennial and Queens Parks. And recently the thuggery went up a notch when a traffic bollard was used as a missile, smashing the wing mirror of an elderly couple’s car. Police have stepped up patrols.

Unprovoked Assault Left Victim With Brain Bleed

Maroubra tradie Jamie Rogers lashed out after a mate was accidentally shoulder-bumped by a man walking past them in the crowded Moore Park Entertainment Quarter one night.

He punched the shoulder-bumper in the face, knocking him to the ground where his head cracked against the footpath and he suffered a brain bleed.

Facing Downing Centre local Court, 30-year-old Rogers was convicted of recklessly causing

grievous bodily harm, an offence carrying a maximum penalty of ten years jail.

But he walked free after being sentenced to a 12-month intensive corrections order and 200 hours community service.

Sticky Wicket for Cricketer

Police at an RBT/MDT site on Malabar Road, Maroubra became suspicious when a van stopped and parked before reaching their checkpoint.

Officers approached the vehicle. Inside was former test cricketer David Warner, perhaps feeling a bit stumped because he’d had a fair amount to drink. Indeed, a roadside test showed he was well over the limit and at Maroubra police station he blew a reading of .104, a shade over twice the legal alcohol limit.

Warner was charged with mid-range drink driving and his case is going through the courts.

Scooter Owners Beware

There’s been an epidemic of scooter thefts in beachside suburbs. Thieves smash the front panels and hot-wire the scooters, then ride off into the night. Usually, the two-wheelers are taken for joy rides (although they’re less than joyful for the owners!), being found abandoned not too far from the scene of the theft. Expensive repairs are then required.

“In the last four weeks we’ve had a dozen of these repair jobs - normally there’d just be five a year,” says Alex Petukh, director of local scooter centre Racecourse Motors. Mr Petukh advises owners to protect their scooters with a wheel lock.

Words Jimmy Fellon

Photo Manuel Contreras

Things are heating up for the Chilean ex-cop.

This scooter was found near the Clovelly Beach playground.

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.

Subject Moonlit Muse Location Coogee Photographer Mary Lin

Subject Big Buckler Location Bondi Photographer David Pounder @pounderdavid

Subject Post Office Pot of Gold Location Bondi

Photographer Matthias Müller

Subject Finding Bluey Location Clovelly Photographer Col Blake

Subject Apocalyptic Location Bondi Photographer Johannes Napp

Subject Island Life Location Coogee

Photographer Jonathon Spek @jon.spek

Subject Autumn Dips Location Clovelly

Photographer Jessica Duncan

Subject

Subject Pigeon Man Location Bondi

Lambourne @ The pics on your phone, hung in your home. All pics published will receive a $100

Swimming Swans Location Centennial Park Photographer Judith Davison

Photographer Hannah

Subject Sunset Bath Location Centennial Park Photographer Alan Wang

It's just not quite the same.

Artificial Intelligence vs Face to Face Therapy

Words Jeremy Ireland Photo Ro Botik

As part of being human, when we experience discomfort our natural inclination is to seek relief. From my experience, the number one reason people come in for therapy is because they are feeling or experiencing some level of distress. It sounds broad, perhaps even obvious, but when something in life is too much, too heavy, uncertain or perhaps confusing, and is just too hard to handle on your own, seeking help via counselling can certainly help bring about change.

Unlike talking to friends or family, counselling offers a confidential space where the focus is entirely on you, with 100 per cent confidentiality, no agenda and minimal emotional entanglement, giving the client full rein to get it all out in their pursuit of relief. However, over the last few years another space has developed at lighting speed that has a similar potential to offer that same reliefartificial intelligence (AI).

There is no way we can turn the clock back on AI. Like it or loathe it, AI is here to stay. My first awareness of AI therapy was in early 2023 when a client of mine struggling with anxiety told me he was using it to help him regulate heightened emotions, particularly if they came on in the middle of the night. He had been finding it quite useful to help calm himself down at the exact moment he was feeling at his worst.

Roll forward to the present and AI therapy is well and truly here. If we are seeking some kind of counselling, or perhaps advice, assurance or answers, there are many AI platforms that we can turn to - there are literally thousands of wellness and therapy apps available.

Whether it’s simply typing a problem into a chat program or going all the way and designing your

own therapy ‘bot’ with a specific look, voice and emotional feel, the appeal is easy to understand. It’s instant, 24/7, polite, engaging, always in your corner and gives full empathy and positive regard, especially at 3am when rumination sets in and you can’t sleep. But its worth considering some of the pitfalls if we are going to use AI for deep emotional support.

Firstly, humans are human, and artificial intelligence is... artificial! The main difference with a human therapist is a human is not just there to guide you; a human is also bringing their own wisdom, personal experiences, independent judgment and everything else that helps build a relationship with a person and promotes healing. The relationship a client builds with their therapist becomes a harbinger of the connections they can carry into the real world - a relationship of trust and understanding. AI just can’t do that, as real therapy is a two-way street.

A 2024 article in The Guardian has psychoanalyst Stephen Grosz explain, if not warn, that befriending a therapy ‘bot’ can delay a patient’s ability to make a connection with an ordinary person and may in fact become part of a defence against human intimacy. Further, AI can habituate users into a relationship with it in which reciprocity is optional and awkwardness doesn’t exist as you can tap out whenever you want. Chatbots can skew expectations, training the human user to rely on an ‘ideal’ AI rather than tolerate human messiness. One of the most powerful tools in human to human therapy is silence. When a therapist allows space - sitting quietly and waiting for the client to respond - it can become one of the most powerful moments in therapy. Feeling seen, feeling understood and being empathetically and psychologically held by the therapist is something you just can’t get with AI.

Close behind AI, social media adds another layer to the mix, and together they can be a risky combination. While social platforms have helped bring psychological language into the mainstream, increasing awareness in valuable ways, they often present it at a superficial level, encouraging a tone thats shifts the blame externally and offering oversimplified guidance on how to navigate life if we are feeling emotionally down, particularly if at the hand of another.

By all means use AI for therapy, but only to a point. Bring what you have learnt through AI to a real therapy session and discuss it. The combination of the two within the relationship you have built with the therapist can be quite powerful.

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

The Unreliable Guide to... Being a Public Transport Person

The Unreliable Guide has a confession - my main form of public transport is Uber. Some people are gluten intolerant, I’m allergic to crowds. Public transport is involuntary intimacy - we’re squashed next to strangers, forced to share their air, space, music, conversations and, well… smells. There’s always a phone shouter, a fast-food muncher, an over-perfumed teen, a large sweaty man who needs 1.5 seats, someone special conducting a lively argument with forces beyond the visible realm...

Uber avoids the crowds, but best of all is my own car - a private, relatively clean, obedient kingdom. I control climate, music, and smells. Both my legs and my thoughts can stretch out without brushing up against anyone else’s. My tiny Fiat 500 contains everything I need and takes me exactly where I want to be (so long as there’s a park).

But due to the recent madcap adventures of the Orange Invasion Monkey, private cars may soon be a luxury item we save for special occasions. So, if you, like me, need to learn how to

become a Public Transport Person, never fear, The Unreliable Guide is here with some tips and tricks on how to submit to the subway...

System of the Damned

Public transport in Sydney isn’t great, especially if you live in the Eastern Beaches. At my local Coogee bus stop there are only two buses an hour during the day. Two return tickets to the city cost up to $18. By contrast my Fiat sips just $1.60 worth of petrol - even at today’s prices. No wonder we drive! I leave when I want, and my direct route takes half the time of the bus. But I’d still take public transport… if it was better.

On our recent trip to Asia and Europe, I was amazed by how cheap, fast and reliable transport can be. Take Singapore - private vehicles are taxed to eye-watering levels, but they use that tax to ensure the MRT is so fabulously convenient you slip into it like water finding a channel. We took the airport MRT to the city centre for just $2. As we sat there watching

commuter crowds and school kids ebb and flow, I remembered how I once loved public transport. As a child in London, catching the Tube was fun. We learned the map and the rules like some kind of 3D adventure game. Even when things went wrong, and of course they did - fires, delays, bomb threats, actual bombs - people didn’t panic but rerouted like ants. I love systems that can absorb disruption and keep moving anyway.

Luxury of Choice

But Sydney is not Singapore or London. Here, the car is king. I’ve enjoyed the luxury of saying, ‘I don’t do buses’, like it’s some kind of dietary preference. But choice, like most luxuries, is sensitive to pressure, and lately the pressure has been coming directly from our swiftly emptying petrol bowsers.

As much as I talk about saving the planet, I’m only thinking about public transport now because we have to. But before we give up our private chariots, buses, trams and trains must be affordable, available and reliable. Victoria and Tassie have both rolled out free travel, and Queensland has 50-cent flat fares. Other countries like Luxembourg have rocked free transport since 2020.

The results are what you’d expect - with more people using public transport, fuel reserves last longer, and there’s less air pollution and quieter streets. Step up, Transport for NSW! We need more options and lower fares.

Finally, a timely reminder from Enrique Peñalosa, ex-mayor of Bogota: “A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transportation.” And who knows, we may learn to enjoy being part of something shared.

Words Nat Shepherd Photo Friar Tuk Tuk

These things are the go.

What’s Driving the E-bike Craze?

Words

Kieran Blake - kieranblakewriter.org

Photo Elle Ectric

E-bikes are out of control. Young hooligans are tearing up and down our suburbs, our cities and our famous bridge, and have even taken to ripping up parks and golf courses.

Local councils seem powerless to stop this menace to our safety and sanity, and the perpetrators are either too young or too brazen to be afraid of any real consequences. Operation E-Voltage was implemented to curb the curb-hoppers, but this is working much more slowly than the marauding and modified mutations can travel.

So, what’s behind this new trend?

Is it social media and the current obsession with online stardom pushing teenagers to do something even more outrageous than the previous clickbait video?

Is the social media ban pushing bored U/16s outside?

Is it poor parenting?

Is it affluence? E-bikes are expensive.

Is it ambiguity created by technological advances which have blurred the line between bicycles and motorcycles, and will this obfuscation delay the implementation of suitable laws until e-bikes are replaced by the next fad?

Is it the fuel shortage? Are e-bikes cheaper than E-10 because a desperate man started a war as a necessary distraction from his obsession with girls like Lolita?

E-bike riders are as young as Lolita.

Is it the coastal curse? The Eastern Suburbs, Northern Beaches and the hobbits of The Shire are all enduring the

same plague. So, are these fat-wheeled, leather-seated machines simply too-well suited to carrying a surfboard or a bikini-clad girlfriend?

No. It’s a protest.

As federal and state governments continue to tighten protest laws across the lucky country, young people have resorted to the only form of protest available.

Australian universities, including our own UNSW, used to be a hotbed of anti-establishment rhetoric. Recently, corporatisation and government pressure have subdued the library lawn.

But e-bike riders are too young for university.

Activists used to chant loudly for environmental protection, universal healthcare, racial equality, public education or world peace, but politicians have all but outlawed peaceful protests in the name of social cohesion and other convenient euphemisms.

E-bike riders don’t understand euphemisms.

Motorists in Sydney used to rant and rave at cyclists who gathered in a critical mass and disrupted traffic to promote alternative transport and a greener future, but now drivers can only curse the rebels without a cause.

E-bike riders are not socially aware.

Aussie youth used to nag their parents for a lift in gas-guzzling SUVs before woke, left-wing teachers brainwashed them with anti-fossil fuel propaganda.

E-bike riders don’t listen to their teachers.

When a government attempts to outlaw freedom of expression because the message might offend someone, they open the door to young people whose protests will upset just about everyone.

A Boomer's worst nightmare.

Let’s Pursue Peace

Words Dr Marjorie O’Neill, State Member for Coogee Photo Ringo Starr

It doesn’t take a lot of research to appreciate that the world is not currently a peaceful place. Turn on the news, scroll through social media, or simply listen to the conversations happening around us, and the extent of global conflict is evident. Global peacefulness has deteriorated every year since 2014, and the 2025 Global Peace Index indicates that conflicts and geopolitical tensions have reached their highest levels since WWII. Right now, we live in a world with high levels of active, violent conflict and the implications are certainly being felt in Australia in a variety of different ways.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as the Member for Coogee, it’s this: while we can’t always control what’s happen-

ing globally, we can shape the kind of community we create right here at home. That is why events like the recent peace walk organised by the Coogee Buddhist Centre matter so much. On a Saturday evening at the beginning of May, locals gathered along the Coogee beachfront, not in protest or anger, but in quiet reflection and unity. Supported by the Buddhist Council, the walk brought together people from all walks of life with a shared purpose to promote peace, compassion and connection - a beautiful and powerful expression of love and a wish for peace.

In a world that often feels loud and overwhelming, choosing to come together peacefully, to walk side by side, to reflect and to simply be present is a

quiet, strong and purposeful act. It reminds us that peace isn’t just something we hope for in distant places - it’s something we should practise every day in our own lives. Peace doesn’t begin in parliaments or international negotiations. It begins in our conversations with neighbours, in how we treat the person serving us at the café, in how we respond when we disagree, and in whether we choose kindness over conflict.

Here in the Eastern Suburbs, we are incredibly fortunate. We live in a community that is diverse, vibrant and deeply connected. From our local surf lifesavers and small businesses to our schools, community groups and faith organisations, there are countless people working every day to make this a place where everyone feels welcome. The peace walk wasn’t just an event - it was an invitation. An invitation to pause, reflect and recommit ourselves to the values that hold a community together.

We can all do so much more to build peacefulness. Let someone else in the queue go first, stop honking angrily at others because they are delaying your journey a little, show courtesy and patience, be thankful and say thanks, find the time to check-in on an old friend, and include others and show acceptance of differences. We will all benefit from just calming down a bit and being nicer to ourselves and to others. A peaceful state of mind directly and positively affects physical and mental health. Cultivating inner peace reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, improves sleep and boosts our immune function.

We can’t solve every global conflict from our base in the Eastern Suburbs, but we can choose to be a source of calm and peacefulness ourselves.

John and Yoko had the right idea.

WE ARE MOVING!

Our office will soon be relocating from Frenchmans Road to a new, more accessible space in Randwick. Our office will be temporarily unavailable for meetings until our new office re-opens.

We are here to help. You can still reach us on 02 9398 1822 or at coogee@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Stay tuned for our grand opening

Gambling Tears Us Apart

One of my earliest memories is watching the Rabbitohs play at Redfern Oval with my family. We have had five generations of Bunnies supporters in the family.

In our house, Friday night footy is family time. But I hate that family time being interrupted by gambling advertisements.

Sport brings together community, encourages development in our young people and promotes long-term health and well-being.

Problem gambling can destroy this.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, gambling on sport in men has almost doubled from 5.6 per cent to 9.3 per cent between 2015-2022, most commonly for young men.

Problem gambling can harm people’s financial security, health and broader wellbeing. It can have catastrophic conse-

quences for people and their loved ones.

That’s why the Albanese Government is taking strong action to protect Australians, particularly children and young people, from the harms of gambling.

Importantly, once these reforms start, if you don’t want to have gambling ads on your TV during sport, then you will not have to.

New reforms include restrictions on gambling advertising and a crackdown on dodgy operators to protect vulnerable Australians.

The reforms will minimise children’s exposure to gambling harm by stopping the deluge of advertisements through the following implementations:

• Restricting gambling advertising on broadcast television to no more than three advertisements each hour between 6am and 8.30pm, with a complete

ban during live sport broadcasts within those hours.

• Banning gambling advertisements on the radio during school drop-off and pick-up times (8am to 9am and 3pm to 4pm).

• Banning gambling advertisements through online platforms, unless people have a logged in account, are over 18 and have the option to opt-out of gambling advertising.

• Banning the use of celebrities and sports players in gambling advertisements, along with odds-style advertisements targeting sports fans.

• Banning gambling advertisements in sports venues and on players’ and officials’ uniforms.

Australians that want to have a punt can continue to do so, but we’re protecting family footy time from harmful gambling ads.

Words Matt Thistlethwaite, Federal Member for Kingsford Smith Photo Russell Crowe

The typical Thistlethwaite family outing.

Fragrant Chinese Roasted Chicken

Words Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine

When you start with a whole chicken, the possibilities for a delicious plate of food are endless. Chicken is such a versatile protein that you can inject so much flavour into, not only with the ingredients but how you cook it.

That’s exactly what I’ve done here. Using a variety of pantry staples and accessible ingredients that are typical to Chinese or Asian cooking, I wanted to surround the chicken with aromatic flavours, spices and vegetables that turn this into a wholesome, succulent Chinese-style dish.

The simplicity lies in the way you place the whole chicken in a roasting tray and marinate it to develop the flavour. Generous basting during the roasting is essential to keeping the chicken moist, browning the skin and allowing the flavours to permeate further.

It’s fragrant in aroma, robust and delicate at the same time, and it’s easy to prepare and cook. Aside from the rice, this Chinese chicken recipe is a ‘one

tray wonder’ that I hope you will savour and delight in.

Ingredients

1 whole free range fresh chicken, approx. 1.5kg

1 large carrot, peeled and cut into large chunks

2 sticks celery, cut into large chunks

6cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced

3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

3 spring onions, ends removed, cut into 3 lengthways

100gm mushrooms (button or fresh shitake), sliced

1 cup chicken bone broth

¼ cup Shaoxing cooking wine

1 tbs sesame oil

1 cinnamon stick

1 star anise

½ lemon (squeeze juice and add whole piece)

½ lime (squeeze juice and add whole piece)

2 tbs soy sauce or tamari

2 tbs oyster sauce

½ tsp red chilli flakes

¼ tsp ground white pepper

Sides

1 cup jasmine rice (2 cups water)

2 spring onion, sliced lengthways, to serve

Method

1. In a large roasting tray, place all of the ingredients except the chicken, then stir lightly with a large spoon to combine. Place the chicken in the centre and spoon over the marinade and vegetables to coat the chicken.

2. Cover with cling film and refrigerate for 2 hours, turning the chicken over twice and spooning the liquid over to allow the ingredients to marinate it well.

Remove from the fridge 20 minutes before cooking and preheat the oven to 210˚C.

3. Place the chicken in the centre of the oven and roast for 20 minutes. Reduce the oven to 180˚C and cook for a further 40 minutes. Adjust cooking time according to the weight of the chicken.

4. Remove the tray from the oven. Insert a skewer into the thickest part of the thigh - if the juices run clear, the chicken is cooked (you can also use a meat thermometer). Cover loosely with foil and set aside to rest for 10 minutes.

5. In that time, bring a small saucepan of water to the boil, place the rice in the saucepan and cook for 10 minutes over medium heat. Strain and set aside, covered.

6. Carve the chicken and serve, along with the vegetables and plenty of the flavourful liquid. Serve with the rice on the side and garnish with spring onion.

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.

A succulent Chinese meal.

Thank you to all our volunteers

Waverley Volunteer Expo

Celebrating National Volunteer Week

Saturday 23 May

9:30am–12:30pm Boot Factory

27-33 Spring St, Bondi Junction

Tight Lines

Keeping it SimpleCalamari Catch and Cook

You finish work restless, weighing up how to use the last of the autumn light. The surf is flat, but you remember the squid rod you’ve had stashed in your car for weeks. You figure there’s no better way to kill half an hour than a quick visit to the local ledge.

You arrive at the water’s edge just as the wind starts to calm and begin the rhythmic process of casting, jigging and recasting. The water swirls at your feet, mirroring the pink sky and revealing flashes of the dancing kelp below. You’re off your phone and the white noise of waves sipping away at the rocks lets your mind wander. But you

don’t think about the long list of things you have to do, work tomorrow, or even the existential weight of human existence. You just trace aimlessly around the landscape as a gull catches your eye in the distance, then a shoal of tiny bait fish flashes by at your feet.

The light starts to lose some of its sharpness and you begin imagining squid cruising into the bay to hunt, their bulbous eyes suited perfectly to the dusk. It’s their final chance to catch a feed before night falls. Ironically, it’s your final chance to catch a feed for the day too, only you’re on the next rung up the food chain.

As you cast away, the light fades and colours start to dull. Doubts creep in and you wonder if you’ll get one at all. Surges start to wash up and kiss your bare feet. The tide must be rising. You lift your rod for the next jig but the rod flexes to a halt. Snagged, you think. Then your snag starts moving. Squid!

You ease off the drag and let the squid peel away at your spool with each pulse. The panicked jets of water, its final lunges for freedom. Slowly the squid breaks the surface and you roll it gently to shore, gauging its size on the waynot huge, but good for a feed you think. A small wave rolls towards the ledge and you surf the creature up over the moss as it lets out a final pulse of black ink, narrowly missing your legs and painting the rocks behind you. You grab it firmly behind the head and carry it up the rocks. You could stay longer, you might catch another one you think, but one’s enough. You pack up your gear and walk back to your car while your phone buzzes away in your pocket.

Ingredients

Fresh caught squid

A generous dash of olive oil

Crushed garlic

Finely chopped red chilli

A handful of chopped parsley

Wedge of Lemon

Words Lewis Kennedy-Hunt Photo Charlotte Leedham

Lewis' staple diet.

The Beast Supercross

ACROSS

1. UK Prime Minister (4,7)

7. Hospital room for emergencies (1,1)

8. Copy (7)

9. A sharp pointed instrument (6)

10. Global hotel chain (6)

11. Signifying something uneven (5)

14. A headband (7)

16. An indistinct shapeless form (4)

17. Long running Australian soap opera (10)

19. Chris Minns’ position (7)

DOWN

1. Nicole Kidman’s ex-hubby (5,5)

Trivial Trivia

Words Lisa Anderson

2. Hanging spike of ice (6)

3. Small marine bony fish in the genus Hippocampus (8)

4. Word used to end prayers (4)

5. A building where objects of significance are displayed (6)

6. Repeat (6)

11. A lady’s bedroom (7)

12. Close friend (3)

13. A rectangular object with unequal adjacent sides (6)

15. Inexperienced, innocent (5)

16. A flat-bottomed boat for carrying heavy loads (5)

18. Māori gathering (3)

1. Which planet shares its name with a chemical element?

2. What was London Airport renamed in 1966?

3. What is the only bird that can fly backwards?

4. What geometric shape is a BBQ Shape?

5. Which Tame Impala song did The Wiggles cover to take out first place in Triple J’s Hottest 100 in 2021?

6. Which rock band was originally formed as ‘Kara’s Flowers’; Icehouse, Maroon Five or Bon Jovi?

7. What is the culinary term for squid?

8. In which country is Machu Picchu located?

9. What is the longest bone in the human body?

10. Spanakopita is filled with feta and which leafy green?

Birthright

Genre Comedy Thriller

Reviewer Linda

Heller-Salvador

If the Australian dream could be neatly defined, it would look nothing like the vision Zoe Pepper portrays in her darkly satirical feature-directing debut Birthright. Pepper takes a familiar domestic setup and sardonically twists it into something stranger and far more caustic than reality.

Cory (Travis Jeffrey) and his pregnant partner Jasmine (Maria Angelico), newly evicted and emotionally adrift, retreat to his parents’ home. What follows isn’t just minor tension but slow-burning generational warfare; a suburban siege where politeness disintegrates, boundaries collapse and every exchange bristles with a crackling passive-aggressive entitlement. The escalating tit-for-tat between the couples eventually descends into a vicious contest of control that edges toward something genuinely dangerous.

Birthright isn’t without flaws; its relentless tension can feel exhausting. Yet Pepper’s debut is assured and bold, with sharp, dry humour that unsettles as much as it amuses. It offers no solutions to the housing crisis, but leaves a lingering, uncomfortable sense of relevance long after the credits roll.

Kneecap FENIAN

Label Heavenly Recordings

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

Hold onto your perineum, Kneecap are in danger of becoming a legitimate band. The gap between their bad (unlistenable) songs and good (incredible bangers) has shrunk dramatically on FENIAN. Sure, I don’t know half of what they’re saying, but what I do understand is wonderful. Like Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl, the vibe is kicking, man. There is no better energy than a crowd of gyrating Latinas or a crew of verbose Irish out on the gas. And if you disagree, gabh transna ort fhéin. It’s just basic high school social science. Children are writing essays about it.

Ruby Fields Small Achievements

Label Ruby Fields

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

This is a very confusing album. Four songs in, I had my clothes off, ready to delight a bunch of close friends and strangers by doing a nudie run, pirouetting into a cannonball, in the middle of a party, only to run into a suddenly quiet room where a few couples may or not be breaking up and the only certainty is that no one is in the right mood to see my todger and pastie white cheeks. Don’t get me wrong, I still like Small Achievements, but as Ruby says herself, “I don’t know how and I don’t know why.”

Matt Corby Tragic Magic

Label Rainbow Valley Records

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

What the funk? Matt Corby has gone and got all sexy on us. From dishevelled beach bum who looked like he’d just rolled out of a roadside free camp to busk for beer money to… well, he still looks the same actually but he sure as hell doesn’t sound like it. I admit I haven’t been closely monitoring Corby’s career since the exceptional ‘Brother’, but I can’t be the only one blindsided by his transition to a lounge bar groove lizard. Venues around the country better stock up on DampRid, because things are about to get moist.

Star Signs

Visions Beardy from Hell

Leo Jul 23-Aug 22

If you knew back then what you know now, you still would have made the wrong decisions. At least now you have an excuse.

Virgo Aug 23-Sep 23

External factors can always be blamed for your failures, while the shortcomings of others can be attributed to their character.

Libra Sep 24-Oct 23

When it comes to achieving maximum financial success, your greatest strength is your complete lack of ethics.

Scorpio Oct 24-Nov 22

Rather than paying a ‘healer’ hundreds of dollars to tell you you’re tired and malnourished, get some sleep and improve your diet.

Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21

Transforming a romantic getaway with your partner into an epic trip with your mates is a handy skill that you have perfected.

Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 20

Forgiving people for their rogue behaviour is a form of self-deception that enables toxic behaviour and prolongs your vulnerability.

Aquarius Jan 21-Feb 19

Shifting from external validation to self-validation is a key component of emotional resilience and long-term mental health.

Pisces Feb 20-Mar 20

You believe anything you hear more than once, because familiar information is much easier for your brain to process.

Aries Mar 21-Apr 20

You view the world objectively as it truly is, while those who disagree are irrational, uninformed and biased.

Taurus Apr 21-May 21

Deep down, your partner thinks they could have done much better than you. Sadly, they’re correct.

Trivial Trivia Solutions

2. Heathrow Airport

Hummingbird 4. Hexagon

Maroon Five 7. Calamari

Femur 10. Spinach

Artist’s Impression

THE WATTLE COLLECTION

Jardin is a thoughtfully designed over 55’s community set within landscaped gardens. Light-filled apartments feature generous layouts, quality finishes and secure parking, supported by exceptional resident amenities, with breathtaking views to the city or over leafy Frenchs Forest.

Choose from 2 and 3-bedroom residences, including select study and penthouse options, with access to a lounge and bar, indoor pool, rooftop terrace, gym, cinema and men’s shed.

Enjoy strata ownership with no deferred management or exit fees, offering transparency and peace of mind.