The Beast - May 2025

BEAST

May 2025

L OCALS NIGHT

Now Open!

Cece's @ Coogee: Your local trattoria and caffè! We begin each day as a caffè, open 7 days from 7am to 3pm, offering the perfect cappuccino and a selection of dolci. As the sun sets, we present our daily dinner menu starting at 5:am. To add to the atmosfera, enjoy musica dal vivo on Friday and a DJ set on Sunday from 3pm to 9pm.

2 Byron St Coogee

waverley.bookable.net.au

Bondi Pavilion

DID YOU KNOW?

SOFT PLASTICS CAN

NOT GO IN THE FOGO OR YELLOW BIN

Plastic bags can be recycled at the Randwick Recycling Centre or disposed of in your red lid bin.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RECYCLING SOFT PLASTICS

Friday 16 May 9.15-10.30am

Thursday 22 May 9.15-10.30am

Bronte's Chase Hardaker paddles into the biggest wave ever surfed at Bondi. Photographer Orlanda Golfin Instagram @haggy.diaries

Ob·jec·tiv·i·ty

Words James Hutton - Publisher

Welcome to the May 2025 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s hotly contested beaches of the east. Yep, the Federal Election will be held on Saturday, May 3, and it’s shaping up to be quite exciting. In the interest of objectivity, every candidate was given the same opportunity to be included in this edition of The Beast, and they were also provided space to contribute some words of wisdom. So, please read what they have to say, do your research and make your vote count.

Thanks to Bronte Goodieson for this month’s epic cover painting of Coogee Beach. Bronte has become a bit of a household name these days, so if you’d like to brighten up your place with some of her awesome artwork, get in touch via www.brontegoodieson.com or follow @brontegoodieson on Instagram.

Congratulations to Clovelly Child Care Centre on achieving 4o years of service to our local community this year. Coinciding with the anniversary, the centre will be holding its annual Green Fair on Sunday, May 4, from 10am until 2pm at the centre on Arden Street. Families, friends and the broader community are all invited to join in the fun.

We’ve been fortunate to have some of the best schools in the country advertising in The Beast over the last few years, and I’ve received numerous enquiries regarding transport options for their students.

Kambala currently runs two subsidised bus services along designated routes that include the inner city and Eastern Beaches. Kambala’s inner city route services areas such as Paddington, Woollahra, Edgecliff and Double Bay, and the Eastern Beaches route services North Bondi, Bondi Beach, Bronte, Clovelly, and all the way to Little Bay. St Catherine’s also offers a subsidised pri-

vate bus service for students from years 3 to 12 along three main routes. The Bondi Beach service includes stops in Vaucluse, Rose Bay and Bondi; the Eastern Beaches service includes Malabar, Botany and Maroubra; and the Eastern Suburbs service includes stops in Taren Point, Rosebery and Kensington, along with other locations along all routes. More detailed information can be found on the schools’ websites.

Cheers, James

The Beast

The Beast Pty Ltd ABN 32 143 796 801 www.thebeast.com.au Editor james@thebeast.com.au Advertising Enquiries advertising@thebeast.com.au Rates and Specs thebeast.com.au/advertise Circulation

60,000 copies delivered every month; 2,000 in shops and 58,000 in mailboxes.

Clockwise from left:

• Our 1st VIII Rowers win gold at the Australian Rowing Championships;

• Ms Deb Magill officially inducted as our 14th Headmistress;

• St Cath’s once again placing second at the Tildesley Tennis Shield;

• Senior Robotics team in the finals at the FIRST Robotics Competition.

The Addams Family Musical: 8-10 May

Open Morning: 12 May

Music Instrumental Showcase: 20 June

Our Community Consultative Committee (CCC) is seeking new members. If you are interested in joining our CCC, please email Ms Roberta Ryan at roberta@forward-thinking.net.au

To notify the school or join our communications list, please email stcaths@stcaths.nsw.edu.au Term 2 Events at St Catherine’s

School

The New South Wales

Space-Time Continuum

Randwick High School for the Gifted in Clockology Pearl - I’m just a dumb Queenslander who is very fortunate to now be able to live in an amazing part of the world known as the ‘Eastern Suburbs of Sydney’. When I went to school in Queensland we had a start time of nine o’clock in the morning and a finish time of three o’clock in the afternoon - we weren’t smart, so we kept it simple.

We were so dumb in Queensland that the one year we tried daylight saving it just confused everybody, from the people to the cows, and all we got out of it was faded curtains.

So, fortunately we gave that away and went back to knowing that we went to school at the same time each weekday, and when it was the weekend we didn’t need to worry about time again until the following Monday.

My kids are a lot smarter than me and go to this new school called Randwick High (it must be a school for the gifted in clockology), where they like to spice up the weekdays by keeping both kids and parents on their toes with the following timetable (an excerpt from the Principal’s Weekly Update):

Between the lessons, there will be a three-minute commute time built in. We have evened out the lesson lengths each day to 52 minutes (the average of all of the weekly lessons - some were 50 minutes and some 55 minutes previously) which has allowed us to manage this. I will be sending the adjusted bell times to students today.

The day will continue to start at 8.50am and will now conclude at 3.11pm to allow enough time for students who need to travel to bus stops on the other side of the campus. The end of day for Tuesday sport will now be 2.54pm and on Wednesday school will finish at 2.16pm.

As I write, it’s about week five into the school year and, not being smart, I never know when my kids are still at school or not in the afternoons.

Is this something normal for you smarter New South Welshmen? Can you give me some tips on how I can try to remember this time system? And - my biggest fear of all - does this all change when we finish daylight saving? Your wisdom on this New South Wales space-time continuum matter would be much appreciated.

Ed Hardy South Coogee

Back to Basics

Dear Ed - Although Pearl has worked as a school bursar, my role thankfully did not extend to school timetabling, which requires the mathematical skills of an actuary. However, I can assure you that Randwick High’s strange hours are not unique to New South Wales schools nor are they reflective of the superior intelligence of New South Wales’ inhabitants.

A teacher friend who works in a state equally as dumb as Queensland - i.e. Western Australiainforms me that the hours at her Perth school are as convoluted as Randwick’s, and the only educational institutions touting any semblance of the 9am-3pm school days are the archaic single-sex Perth private schools.

And, speaking of single-sex schools, I must congratulate you on sending your children to the newly merged Randwick High School. I can understand that you have an inferiority complex, hailing from a state that was governed for 20 years by the democratically elected dictator Joh Bjelke-Petersen, but it is refreshing that you have not been scared off by the hysteria over co-educational education. After all, life is co-ed, and single-sex schools reinforce stereotype fallacies that have no place in this progressive era of gender fluidity.

As for tips on remembering the time system, I suggest that you go back to basics and keep a colour-coded print-out of your children’s timetable on the fridge or use an old-fashioned wall calendar.

And, fear not daylight saving - just like Coogee’s ‘fencepost Virgin Mary’, your children will still appear at 3.11pm despite the turning back of the clock. Yes, miracles do exist.

Pearl Clovelly

Words Pearl Bullivant Photo Fay de Drapes

The Beast's Monthly Mailbag

Words The Fantastic People of the Eastern Beaches

Spender is Electric

Perhaps Mr Maidment is correct when he wrote ‘Spender Speak’ in your latest edition (Spender Speak, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, April 2025).

Electricity prices have gone uppossibly because of a failed energy policy during the prolonged Howard/MadMonk/Turnbull/Five-Secret-Ministries-Scomo years.

Yet electricity prices will come down if Australia moves towards renewables. Just go outside of your house and enjoy the sunshine - it is still free!

According to ourworldindata.org, solar photovoltaic costs have fallen by 90 per cent in the last decade, and batteries by more than 90 per cent.

There is also a good chance that electricity prices will increase significantly once the Queensland potato-head gets elected and digs up the archaic idea of uber-expensive atomic power.

Atomic electricity is also extremely dangerous. One wonders whether Dutton wants his very own little Fukushima in his back yard.

Even Sweden’s Vattenfall boss Anna Borg admitted that atomic power is not a commercially viable option. Unless, of course, the state pitches in - big time.

Contradicting Dutton’s own free market ideology, atomic power depends on state money, and plenty of it. We the taxpayers will foot the bill for Dutton’s rather costly atomic wet dreams. Incidentally, atomic power stations demand stratospheric volumes of fresh water, which Australia does not have either.

For Dutton’s atomic hallucinations, we will pay twice; once for building very expensive atomic power stations, and also for the high electricity prices that come with it.

All the while, the sun continues to shine on us - for free.

Thomas Klikauer Atomic-free but sunny Kensington

In Defense of Waverley College

Dear James - In response to Byron’s letter (Impact of Waverley College Expansion Plans, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, April 2025), let me defend Waverley College and its plans.

I lived, for a number of years, in one of the houses that’s slated for demolition. It was a dark, damp, mouldy and generally unhealthy place to live. All the houses are in the same general condition - poor. They were built a long time ago with no insulation and no damp coursing or waterproofing. The sooner they are demolished the better.

Byron, I suspect you live in The Langlee. This building was constructed over three years and the surrounding residents had to put up with a lot of noise and disruption so that it could house people such as you, so please don’t complain if you have to deal with some noise from another construction site.

The houses will make way for parking, which means more street parking for residents. Surely even you’d be happy about that?

The science building is to be tucked into a small area between the two large fig trees, so your precious bats won’t be disturbed.

Lastly, I am pleased to note that you are concerned about housing needs in a time of housing shortage. Perhaps you should lobby Waverley College and ask them to abandon their project for educating children and instead put their resources into constructing social housing on the site instead. I’m sure they could build at least 100 units for needy and disadvantaged people. Many of the homeless people around Bondi Junction would be happy to have a roof over their head in such a lovely area. Surely a man with a social conscience such as yours wouldn’t object to that.

Eric Randwick

Long-term Community Benefit

Dear James - Thank you for the opportunity to respond to concerns surrounding Waverley College’s long-term Master Plan. While we acknowledge the apprehension that construction can bring, we want to reassure the community that our goal is to modernise and upgrade our existing facilities to benefit our students and the wider community.

We recognise that our proposed building is six stories tall; however, given the presence of several buildings in the surrounding area that exceed this height, we believe our plan is a reasonable addition to the campus. Our proposed six-story Science and Innovation Centre (stage 1) has a 32m setback from Henrietta Street, far more than many buildings in the local area.

The recent addition of The Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy that sits within the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 also has the ability to impact construction in select town centres including Bondi Junction Station and Town Centre to provide well-designed and sustainable homes as well as high-rise apartment buildings in well-located areas within walking distance of shops, services and frequent public transport. Therefore, many of the concerns raised would be superseded by this policy.

The suburb of Waverley is blessed with amazing community resources that have been here for a significant amount of time including:

● 1856 - St Catherine’s School

Sydney

● 1864 - St Mary’s Anglican Church

● 1880 - Waverley Park

● 1884 - St Clare’s College

● 1887, 1917 and 1938 - Water Reservoir

● 1903 - Waverley College

● 1912 - The Sisters of St Gabriel’s Girls School, current site of Waverley Bowling and Recreation Club (1965) and The Langlee (2023)

● 1920 - War Memorial Hospital

While we anticipate natural growth in our student body of around 250 students over the next 40-60 years, the primary objective of the Master Plan is not to expand or increase student numbers but to modernise our existing facilities.

We understand concerns about construction-related traffic and congestion. In response, we have engaged a dedicated Project Manager to develop a detailed Construction Traffic Management Plan.

We aim to undertake work in phases, focusing on the eastern precinct first, then the western precinct, thereby minimising the impact on local roads.

We have taken onboard feedback from local residents and will increase our available parking spaces on campus during construction and beyond. We currently provide parking for all staff that require a space.

Although some College-owned properties will be reclaimed, we have made every effort to communicate clearly with our tenants. Leases will be honoured through to completion, and we have remained in contact with these tenants throughout the process. We understand the broader housing challenges and do not make decisions regarding these properties lightly.

We have engaged in community consultation through letterbox drops, door knocks, open drop-in sessions, and ongoing attendance at local precinct meetings. While a formal Community Engagement Report has been lodged as part of our State Significant Development Application (SSDA), we welcome continued dialogue with our neighbours. We are committed to refining our plans where feasible and ensuring that, as we modernise our facilities, we remain a respectful and responsible part of the Waverley community.

Though our plans have been submitted for SSDA approval, the timeframe for actual construction spans many years. We have prioritised the Science and Innovation Centre and recognise that each subsequent stage, such as refurbishing our nearly 100-yearold building, will only begin once prior projects are completed and financially settled. This measured approach ensures minimal disruption over time.

Our planned Science and Innovation Centre will feature purpose-built laboratories and engineering spaces, reflecting the critical importance of STEM education. With projections indicating that 70% of future jobs will rely on STEM skills, we believe such a facility will position our students and the broader community for success in tomorrow’s workforce.

As an inaugural member of Waverley Council’s Net Zero Alliance 2035, we remain firmly committed to sustainability. Whilst we have added sufficient parking to alleviate congestion for our staff who travel from across Sydney, we continue to seek eco-friendly solutions that align with our long-term environmental goals.

We value our local environment, including the significant 120-year-old approx Port Jackson fig tree (as per Waverley Council’s Significant Tree Register). We have no plans to remove this tree and take seriously any concerns about its health.

Thank you for the chance to clarify our vision. We believe that by working collaboratively, we can create a revitalised campus that brings lasting benefits to our neighbours for many years to come.

Sincerely,

Graham Leddie Principal, Waverley College

Randwick Council and Beach Pollution

Hi there - I applaud Randwick Council’s recent promotional campaign to reduce beach pollution, which highlights the need to reduce the amount of leaves and litter going down the stormwater drains to the beach. But I feel it would be more effective to target this messaging at the group that is significantly responsible - contracted gardening and cleaning services.

I live in an apartment block in Randwick, surrounded by many other blocks, and each week cleaners and gardeners come and ‘tidy up’. The vast majority of them use leaf blowers to blow anything ‘untidy’ - like leaves, sticks, rubbish and more - off the garden and the paths, straight onto the road. Some even actively blow it down a drain if there is one nearby. Our green bins are never full, so it wouldn’t be too difficult to blow it into a pile and put it in the bin for collection.

When I have queried this, they usually mumble something like, “I’m just doing what I’m told.” Can we get the message through to these companies?

Susan Murray Randwick

Footpaths, or Dangerous Raceways?

Living on Carrington Road, near Glebe Street, is a dangerous place to cross the road any time of the day or night. The traffic is fast flowing and constant. It is especially a struggle when laden with groceries.

Recently, I safely crossed to the opposite footpath, relaxing after playing dodgem on the road.

All 482 visas may now apply for PR, including cooks, café managers, hairdressers, marketing staff, etc. The qualifying period has also been reduced to two years Please call Brendan to discuss further Brendan Muldoon Reg. Migration Agent # 0742052 39 Gould Street, Bondi Beach Phone: 0404 552 322 brendan@bondi

That was until an electric bike travelling downhill at speed on the footpath forced me to jump aside. It’s approach was silent. Two kids around 9 or 10 years of age (with no helmets on) sped by.

When will councillors and state politicians stop electric vehicles from using footpaths? The hint is in the name - footpaths

Why are children allowed to ride electric bikes, scooters, etc. but need a licence and a minimum age for scooters and motorcycles?

These electric vehicles travel at great speed, with no respect for traffic rules or pedestrians. Addressing this now, and not in the future, is essential.

Helmets appear to be optional. Hire bikes are often ridden by tourists who don’t know our road rules and usually do not wear helmets, with the blessing of the authorities.

Who was the idiot who gave permission for bicycles, ridden by adults, to ride on footpaths?

The final question is simple; once there are enforceable rules in place, who will enforce them? The police are understaffed, and council workers/wardens don’t have the powers, or do they?

Margie Coogee

Veering Seawards

Dear James - Perhaps Peter Little (Shark Nets and Drum Lines, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, April 2025) should engage his ‘active frontal lobe’ and stay in his ‘legal practice’ lane rather than veering seawards into the deep waters of biology, which doesn’t seem to be his forté.

Peter has claimed that ‘sharks do not have gills’, which is completely incorrect - gills are how sharks (and most other fish) absorb oxygen from water.

What Peter may be confused about is that some species of shark, including great white sharks, are unable to force water over their gills with ‘buccal pumping’ (using mouth pressure to pump water over gills) and have to rely on ‘ram ventilation’, whereby sharks

have to maintain constant forward movement to continue to enable oxygen to pass over their gills. Keep up the great work. We often enjoy Pearls of Wisdom in a discarded copy of The Beast from the depths of Wedding Cake Island.

Yours Finfully,

A. G. W. Shark Gordons Bay

Immigration

Dear James - We don’t have a ‘shortage of housing’ problem, we have an immigration problem! Our birth rate is now less than 1.6 babies/couple, so the population is shrinking. If the government stopped immigration tomorrow, we would have a housing surplus. It’s simple maths.

Rob Randwick

Avoiding Autocracy

The United States is now Autocratic at best. It is imperative that we don’t follow them.

I’m young and optimistic. I’m also a Bronte local currently nearing completion of my Political Science degree in the north-east of the USA. As I prepare to fly home in a couple of months to the glorious waves and coffee of Bronte, I am hoping I don’t return to an Australia that has fallen for the ‘false prophet’ politics I have seen unfold here in the United States. What I have witnessed here is an increasingly clear, unapologetic and brazen shift to autocratic rule.

During my time at Sacred Heart University I have been fortunate enough to study global and United States politics - from both the past and current contexts - in great detail.

It was incredibly interesting to be studying the political environment in the United States when I initially arrived. Unfortunately, that interest has morphed into concern and disappointment.

The recent commencement of Donald Trump’s second term as the nation’s president is the source of this anxiety. This is because what I am seeing every

day here is that the political structures, beliefs and conventions that have helped make America stable and successful are now being ignored and/or manipulated. Worse, the false narrative that this is being done in the name of freedom, liberty and “greatness” fills me with despair.

“All federal funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be sent back to the country from which they came. Students will be permanently expelled, or depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention on this matter.”

I wouldn’t be surprised if you believed that quote to come from 1930s Germany. Shockingly, it came from Donald Trump’s Twitter account on March 4, 2025. This violates the United States Constitution’s First Amendment right to free speech, which importantly protects the citizen’s right to protest. A trademark of totalitarian regimes throughout history is the censorship of free speech, and the exclusive allowance for the expression of ideas that align with the ruling party.

Furthermore, on March 10, the United States was added to the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist, which publicises the status of freedoms and threats to civil liberties around the globe, citing, “Gross abuses of executive power that raise serious concerns of the freedoms of peaceful assembly, expression and association.”

In addition, the United States withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council on February 3. I feel that these occurrences accurately reflect the country’s current state.

The issues and ethical violations of Donald Trump during his time in politics seem to me to be an ever-growing list of the ‘seven deadly sins’ in action (pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, sloth). This spiraling out of control stems from blame politics, where a scapegoat or marginalised group is blamed for the often

complex and systemic issues that are reflective of a whole country. This is often cultivated by the implementation of divisive tactics or policy.

Now, it is not my desire at all to bore you with disheartening details of the current political sphere of the United States. However, I feel that we must be aware of them, especially heading into our own federal election.

A saying that I’ve frequently heard throughout my study is, “When the United States sneezes, Australia gets a cold,” and this is concerningly applicable when looking at the leader of the opposition, Peter Dutton.

“Peter’s got one tune that he plays, and that’s been all his political life, and that is division and animosity, generally targeted at immigrants,” our former Member for Wentworth and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull recently stated on The Project. Turnbull was also a long-time member of the Liberal Party during his political career, and Dutton served as both the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Immigration and Border Protection during Turnbull’s time as Prime Minister.

Key similarities between Dutton and Trump can be seen in the drastic changes they both desire to implement, notably in Dutton’s copying of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, which has slashed funding from the government and hung programs like social services out to dry. Dutton wishes to implement a similar governmental efficiency portfolio led by Jacinta Price, which will delete thousands of government jobs and employees and weaken social services for Australian citizens.

Furthermore, Dutton has shown a Trump-like contradiction in his stated intentions and actual policy-based plans, such as his opposition to public housing initiatives (which directly contradict his statements about combating the housing crisis), opposition to free TAFE, and plans to cut the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

These will have negative impacts on everyday Australians and reflect Dutton’s priorities.

Speaking of Dutton’s priorities, they were on full display during Cyclone Alfred. As the cyclone was hurtling towards Dutton’s electorate of Dickson in Southeast Queensland, Dutton was in Vaucluse at the mansion of billionaire Justin Hemmes attending a fundraising event - a clear demonstration that financial funding is more important to Dutton than the stability and safety of those in his electorate.

The United States has devolved into an autocratic mess. I have faith in the Australian people, and my faith is based on the idea that we act according to what is morally correct. We cannot follow down the autocratic path that Dutton would inevitably lead us down.

Utilise your voice in this upcoming federal election and consider the well-being of all Australians and how this election’s results will portray us to the rest of the world.

Angus Henricks Bronte

Thankyou, Kind Strangers

I’d like to say a massive round of thankyous to the wonderfully kind strangers who helped my two-year-old son and I a couple of weeks ago when he got his leg stuck in a Lime bike at The Spot. It was the scariest half hour of my life, but the kindness, quick thinking and general support from everyone was more appreciated than you can imagine.

We feel so lucky to live in the area and will be finding ways to pay the kindness forward!

Jem & Beau Randwick

Clovelly Pocket Parks

We seem to be going around in circles regarding the Clovelly and Carrington Road Pocket Park. I would like to reply to the criticisms from Patrick Garvan, Pancho and Steve, all from Coogee (Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, April 2025).

The morning stall always existed on the Clovelly and Carrington Road junction, and a stall exists anywhere in the Eastern Suburbs during the morning peak. The wait is only one change of light and hardly stressful. The car queue doesn’t even reach the village around the corner to the east. The rest of the day and night, the traffic runs smoothly.

The shade is coming. The jasmine is holding on to the west yellow frame and will soon provide cover, yet it is struggling on the eastern side. That’s because the jasmine has disappeared altogether on the east frame - the plants are no longer in the ground, hopefully not ripped out. Council will no doubt replant (I’d prefer bougainvillea personally, as the park is on the north side and it would thrive). The new trees are growing rapidly, the kangaroo paws are simply breathtaking and the wild grasses are thriving. Can’t people see beauty in the plants?

To shift the view away from the elderly driver to the elderly pedestrian, walking across the slipway that ran to Carrington Road was always dangerous. The cars speeding around the corner from the east along Clovelly Road were terrifying, and cars taking a fast left because there were no lights down to Carrington caused all sorts of accidents, coupled with the reverse camber in that exact spot on the road, which forced cars to knock out the cars parked on the east side of Carrington. I even lost one (yes, I have an agenda).

Some people take car accidents that occur frequently very seriously. I want to walk across roads safely. I don’t want my car and others’ cars knocked out by structural road problems and too much speed. The park has solved many problems and added something beautiful to a corner that frankly was ugly. Lindy Morrison Randwick 

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

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.

Hugo’s Transition From Wombat to Rooster

A Bronte lad has just made his first grade debut with the Roosters, riding on a wave of glory after the tricolours defied the odds to defeat Penrith.

Hugo Savala was the local hero of the hour after his premiere game, his mates hoisting him onto their shoulders at the after-match party.

“There were about 50 mates there and it was the best feeling ever,” recounted the 23-year-old, who had long nursed an ambition to play in the red, white and blue.

A lot of the mates were from Bronte Boardriders, and there were others who’d played alongside him as a junior in the Coogee Randwick Wombats.

Savala is following in the footsteps of his older brother Charlie, who played with the Roosters before going on to compete at international level with Edinburgh and the Northampton Saints.

An important mentor has been his dad Scott, who is “very good at analysing the strong and weak points in every game.”

The analytic skills go with Mr Savala Snr’s job as an on course bookmaker, taking bets at Randwick Racecourse. Hugo is often to be seen alongside his father with a tote bag slung over his shoulder.

“I’ve been a bookmaker’s clerk for Dad since I was 17,” he says.

It was at the age of 17 that he began the transformation into the 194 centimetre (just over 6 foot 3 inches) behemoth that he is today.

He says that until that age, he was “scrawny.” Then he had a growth spurt, and now he towers over most of his team mates and opposition players.

Described on the NRL news site Zero Tackle as “an incredibly talented halfback,” he sees himself playing professionally well into his thirties.

SurfAid Cup Helps Locals in Impoverished Surfing Destinations

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Matt Dunbar

Indonesia is home to some of the world’s most exotic and popular surf destinations - places like the Mentawai Islands, Sumba and Rote. But behind the beauty lies a different reality for the people who call these islands home.

In many of these communities, families face daily challenges like poor access to clean water, limited healthcare and malnutrition.

That’s where SurfAid comes in. The international development organisation works in some of Indonesia’s most isolated surf regions, partnering with local governments and communities to deliver solutions that improve lives - from clean water systems to nutrition programs and better healthcare.

You can support this important work by getting involved in the SurfAid Cup, hitting Bondi Beach on Friday, May 9. It’s a team surf event where groups of four fundraisers are joined by a pro surfer for a day of tag-team heats, followed by an awards bash at local favourite Salty’s.

To learn more or sign up, please visit surfaid.org/surfaid cupbondi2025.

Pacha Light competing in last year’s SurfAid Cup.

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Maxy Dags

Hugo enjoying the love of the Bronte crew at his first grade debut.

Love Thy NeighbourChop Down Their Tree

Words

Waverley couple David and Katie Thompson were shocked to the core when they returned to their Henrietta Street home after an overseas trip. Their magnificent, century-old magnolia tree was no more, reduced to an ugly stump.

The culprit? Their next door neighbour. Mr and Mrs Thompson say the neighbour brazenly broke down the fence and cut down the beloved magnolia.

“We are devastated at the trespassing and environmental vandalism on our property,” Mr Thompson said. “The tree was over 100 years old, 20 metres high and had a very broad canopy. It was a significant feature of the local urban landscape.”

Now the offending neighbour has been fined $3,000 by Waverley Council and the tree lopper hired to chop down the magnolia was hit with a stiffer fine of $6,000. Mr Thompson calls these “token” penalties, considering the magnitude of the offence.

“The council could have taken them to the Land and Environmental Court, where the fines for these kind of offences can be up to $200,000. This could have acted as a deterrent to future illegal tree removals.

“Why did Waverley Council, which makes all these state-

ments about maintaining and increasing canopy coverage, effectively let my neighbour get away with it?”

So what motivated the neighbour to fell the mighty magnolia? Mr Thompson said they’ve had a Development Application (DA) approved to put an extra storey on the house. “Perhaps they want more light. The combined fines of $9,000 are an inexpensive way of achieving it.”

He said the illegal removal came despite an arborist report prepared as part of the DA specifically recommending retention and protection of the tree.

The Beast phoned the neighbour and asked them what they had to say about the tree removal. “No comment,” they said, before hanging up.

A spokesperson for Waverley Council said issuing a fine was “the most effective course of action” over the illegal removal of the Henrietta Street tree. Fine amounts are set by the state government.

“Waverley Council would welcome a review into the process of illegal tree removal and an increase in the fine amount in order to deter illegal tree removals,” Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh said.

Insurer's Decision Saves Quail Street Fig From the Chop

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Ann Abor

Coogee residents have triumphed in their battle against Randwick City Council’s planned removal of a massive Moreton Bay fig.

Days after around 30 locals staged a kind of Storming of the Bastille as they went to Randwick Town Hall and yelled insults at councillors who voted against giving the tree a reprieve, there was a change of mind.

The council’s insurer, Statewide Mutual, who’d earlier flagged liability issues if the tree wasn’t given the chop, decided all would be well if the fig was just pruned.

A sign announcing upcoming maintenance was placed at the base of the Quail Street tree and Mayor Dylan Parker called the insurer’s change of position “an excellent outcome” which means the tree will be saved.

Residents celebrated by holding an impromptu street party next to the tree. Bottles of bubbly were cracked open and toasts were made to the future health of the 75-year-old fig and four others forming a shade canopy over the street.

Residents celebrate the about-face by Council's insurer.

Anthony Maguire Photo David Thompson

Before and after pics showing the impact of the tree removal.

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

Randwick News

I hope you and your loved ones enjoyed some downtime over the Easter long weekend.

With its crisp mornings and blue skies, autumn is a special time in Sydney.

From perusing market goods at the monthly Maroubra Beach Markets or attending one of our sustainability workshops at the Saturday Circle, there’s plenty to do in Randwick City.

This year marks the centenary of the opening of the Randwick District War Memorial in High Cross Park.

At 11am on Saturday 3 May, we’re holding a special public ceremony to rededicate the cenotaph and to pay our respects to those from our community who served and made the ultimate sacrifice in war. I hope you can join us.

National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May – 3 June May this year, a moment for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to reconciliation.

Randwick Council is once again proud to be working with the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council to present Koojay Corroboree, from 10am on Friday 30 May at the rainbow walkway at Coogee Beach.

You’ll see Coogee Beach as never before at this annual celebration of Aboriginal ceremony, tradition & culture. This year there will also be a wonderful selection of First Nations stallholders.

I hope to see you out and about in our wonderful Randwick City this month.

What’s On

REDEDICATION OF THE HIGH CROSS PARK CENOTAPH

SATURDAY 3 MAY 11am

High Cross Park, Randwick

MAROUBRA BEACH MARKETS

SATURDAY 3 MAY 8am – 2pm Broadarrow Reserve, Maroubra

SATURDAY CIRCLE

SATURDAY 10 MAY Randwick Sustainability Hub

KOOJAY CORROBOREE

FRIDAY 30 MAY 10am – 2pm Coogee Beach Rainbow Walkway

Councillor Dylan Parker Mayor of Randwick

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker

Pauline Set to Become Immortalised Bronzed Aussie

Surfing legend Pauline Menczer has met the headless prototype of a statue that will soon see her being immortalised in bronze at Bondi Beach.

She recently visited the studio of artist Cathy Weiszmann with a number of style suggestions.

“I want the statue to be wearing Dunlop Volleys, and it has to be wearing a Casio watch,” said the 1993 ASP World Champion.

And when the artist puts a head onto the shoulders of the prototype Pauline, “the hairstyle must be a mullet.”

The statue in Ms Weiszmann’s studio is made of foam, plaster and flexible filler. To get to this stage, the artist previously moulded a number of 30 centimetre-tall ‘mini Paulines’ from wax. These showed the famous Bondi surfer in different poses.

“Pauline and other people were then able to comment on which of those they liked,” said Ms Weiszmann, a bronze sculptor who has previously rendered statues of sporting greats Belinda Clark and Adam Goodes.

Pauline Menczer is the only surfer from Bondi to ever win a world title. Now aged 54 and living at Brunswick Heads, she continues to surf and inspire surfers and women of all ages.

She was previously honoured in a mural on the Bondi Beach sea wall, and Waverley Council has given permission for the statue to be placed at South Bondi, where Pauline used to surf.

The only thing now stopping Pauline’s likeness being converted from foam, plaster and filler into bronze is money. A crowd-funding campaign on Gofundme has raised $35,000 out of the $110,000 needed to get the statue erected.

The funding organisers say there are very few statues of women in NSW public places.

“Of all public statues in the state, just six per cent are of women,” said a spokesperson. “There are more statues of animals in NSW than women.”

If you would like to contribute, please visit www.gofundme. com/f/paulineinbronze.

Great Food, Meat Raffles and Music at the New Club Bondi Junction

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Greg Goodieson

Club Bondi Junction has relaunched after a four-year closure while the building on the corner of Bronte Road and Ebley Street was being redeveloped.

The club, formerly known as Bondi Junction Waverley RSL, has a proud history as a venue for ex-service personnel and their families going all the way back to 1933. Now, it continues to be the home of the local RSL sub-branch, but is focusing on the broader community.

“We’ve repositioned ourselves as a community club, while still paying our respects to the RSL,” explains Club President Bill Harrigan. “We still have the Ode of Remembrance on Friday evenings at 6pm.”

The ground floor now features a stylishly appointed bar, plush sitting and dining areas, and state-of-the-art sports bar facilities. Level two houses a beautiful function room that can accommodate up to 160 people.

The club offers hearty meals downstairs at its Leaf Café, and there are also meat raffles and a weekly bingo game. You can even get a 200 gram sirloin with chips and salad for $20!

For more information, please visit clubbondijunction.com.au.

This table of happy club patrons won six meat trays.

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Erica Murray

Artist Cathy and local surfing legend Pauline with the prototype.

Waverley Share Bike Blitz

Words and Photo Anthony Maguire

Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh is sick of seeing abandoned share bikes littering the streets of the LGA. He sees e-bikes as a particular problem, not only forming a blot on the landscape when people have finished their hires, but posing a danger to pedestrians when people ride at speed on footpaths.

Now he’s declared that enough is enough. He and fellow councillors have called for a Memorandum of Understanding between Council and bike operators for urgent action on how shared bikes are used and where they are stored.

“Although this is a state government policy area, I have made it clear to the operators that if an agreement with Council cannot be reached within one month, I will take swift and immediate action,” Mayor Nemesh said.

“Shared micromobility is the way of the future, but we must first get the framework set up correctly and ensure community safety comes first.”

The council motion proposes a six-month bike share parking trial, starting in June 2025, using designated parking areas on footpaths and on-street (where appropriate), focusing on high-traffic areas like Bondi

Junction, Bondi Beach and Bronte Beach.

Mayor Nemesh said a comprehensive solution requires local and state government action.

“We urge the NSW Government to implement a state-run tender process for bike share services with clear operational controls,” he said. “We would recommend that a portion of the generated revenue be allocated to local councils for infrastructure and enforcement to allow us to make a difference on the ground.”

The council will be holding discussions with share bike operators Lime, Ario and HelloBike about the regulatory proposals.

Lime is by far the most popular hire option, and the sight of so many ‘Limeys’ cluttering up the pavement has left a sour taste in many peoples’ mouths.

“They’re just left in the middle of the footpath,” said long-time Bondi Beach resident and former precinct convenor Lenore Kulakauskas.

Mayor Nemesh is floating the possibility of strict enforcement action if the operators don’t clean up their act.

“Council has the capacity to act on ‘unattended property’ under state government guidelines,” he warned.

Proposed Bondi Beach

New Year’s Bash Comes Under Fire

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo David Guetta

A proposal by councillors to have a New Year’s Eve event at Bondi Beach has gone down like a lead balloon with the local precinct committee.

Waverley councillors approved a motion by Liberal Michelle Stephenson, seconded by Mayor Will Nemesh, that Council seeks expressions of interest from organisations about holding the event.

“As a Bondi Ward Councillor, one thing I consistently hear is how the community has lost its vibe,” Councillor Stephenson told The Beast. “Many locals are crying out for ways to reconnect, and what better way than through music?”

But the idea is not music to the ears of Bondi Beach Precinct, which has memories of past New Year’s Eve music events getting out of hand, with antisocial behaviour and excess rubbish.

“It’s outrageous,” precinct co-convenor Paul Paech told The Beast. “We recently saw how the Christmas Day party at Bronte went out of control and we don’t want the same thing happening at Bondi. There should have been community consultation about this before councillors presented it as a fait accompli.”

The New Year’s Eve event at Bondi Beach back in 2013-14.

Lime bikes have been making footpaths difficult to navigate.

Feedback Deadline Extended for Clovelly Resident Parking Scheme

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Mora Meters

A resident parking scheme sounds like something that would be welcomed by Clovelly locals, who have faced parking pressure during peak times.

But there’s been a lot of opposition to a scheme floated by Randwick City Council.

“It’s mainly residents’ vehicles that are parked on the street in the evenings, so a resident parking scheme would do nothing to alleviate the problem,” one Clovelly local told The Beast. “It means we’d have to pay for what is currently free.”

There was originally an end of March cut-off for submissions from local householders about the proposal. But numerous residents said they weren’t given enough time and the local precinct committee asked the council for an extension to allow locals to get to grips with the full implications of the proposed scheme. Randwick Council then extended the feedback deadline to April 28.

Another long-time Clovelly resident, Roberta Waterman, has been leading a campaign against the scheme, distributing flyers and organising a recent meeting to discuss the issue at Clovelly Bowling Club.

“The current proposal is unlikely to provide most Clovelly residents who have a garage or driveway with a parking permit,” says Ms Waterman.

“We don’t want parking officers walking around booking people. This is just a revenue raising exercise.”

Marcello had bloodshot eyes and was unsteady on his feet.

Crime News

Car Crash Estate Agent Coked Up and Nearly Three Times Over

Real estate agent Marcello Bo crashed his Range Rover into a power pole in Bronte after drinking wine and taking cocaine, a court heard.

Waverley Court was told the collision with the pole was so violent that it ended up bent over at a dangerous angle.

When police arrived at the crash scene in Macpherson Street, they saw that the 57-yearold Bronte resident was not a picture of sobriety. He was unsteady on his feet, his eyes were bloodshot and he had difficulty following police directions.

When officers finally managed to breath test him, they found he had a blood-alcohol reading of 0.144 - a shade under three times the legal limit. He said he’d had five glasses of wine in a Double Bay restaurant.

Then a swab for drugs revealed he had cocaine in his system. However, Bo, who is director of a Ray White outlet in Randwick, adamantly maintained, “I don’t take drugs.”

But in Waverley Court, he pleaded guilty to driving with a mid-range PCA while having an illicit drug in his system. He was sentenced to a six month driving ban and fined $800.

More Arrests Over Antisemitic Attacks

Several more suspects have been rounded up by Strike Force Pearl, the police operation investigating an outbreak of antisemitic attacks.

Two men have been arrested for allegedly providing the vehicles used in an arson attack on a childcare centre in Storey Street, Maroubra.

Meanwhile, other men have been charged with the spraying of vile graffiti on motor vehicles and properties in Randwick, Maroubra, Eastgardens, Kingsford and Eastlakes.

The latest arrests follow those of two men over antisemitic attacks in Dover Heights and Queens Park.

Man Arrested Over Jewellery Shop Hold-Ups

Police have arrested a Queens Park man for two attempted armed robberies on jewellery stores.

Police say the 41-year-old threatened staff at jewellers in Haymarket and Newtown with a replica handgun but fled empty-handed on both occasions.

He was taken into custody and charged after police raided his home in Yenda Avenue, Queens Park.

Man Charged Over Child Abuse Material

Australian Federal Police arrested and charged a Coogee man with soliciting and possessing child abuse material.

The 58-year-old is alleged to have used an encrypted platform to download dozens of files containing child abuse material.

Socialite Alleged to Have Assaulted Cop

Eastern Suburbs socialite Vanessa Jacobs Fennell did not take it well when cops arrested her for drunkenly side-swiping a car, according to police.

She is alleged to have slapped a police officer at the accident scene in Bellevue Hill, earning

herself a night in a cell at Waverley Police Station.

Jacobs Fennell, 54, has a profile as a charity fundraiser and was once short-listed to appear in reality TV show The Real Housewives of Sydney.

Accused Car Thieves Didn’t Go Quietly

Police ended up in a wrestling match with a man and woman believed to have stolen a car.

The struggle took place in an underground car park in Chester Avenue, Maroubra. Police say the pair tried to flee after getting out of a stolen Ford Ranger.

Eastern Beaches Police Area Command said that when officers apprehended them, “a violent wrestle ensued” before the two were arrested and taken to Maroubra Police station.

A 30-year-old man and 27-year-old woman have been charged with multiple offences.

Horror on the Buses

Seen the bloke pictured below? Police want to talk to him about an incident on a bus in Randwick where a woman was deliberately burned with a cigarette lighter.

Meanwhile, in another violent episode on a bus, in this case near Eastgardens, a 21-year-old woman was allegedly stabbed in the face with a pen by an older woman. When a man tried to drag the assailant away, he too had the pen jabbed into him.

Paramedics met the bus at Eastgardens and treated the victims. Also among the welcoming party were police, who arrested a 41-year-old woman.

Wanted for burning a woman with a cigarette lighter.

Words Jimmy Felon

Photo Raymond White

Baked Snapper With Leek, Potato and Capers

Words Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine

Fresh from the Pacific Ocean and perfect for any time of the year, this snapper recipe is just as suited to a one tray bake on a weeknight as it is to providing a satisfying feast for dinner guests over the weekend.

The look is rustic, however the taste is refined. Snapper has the perfect texture and flavour that stands up to the leek, potato and salty capers, although

any local white fish fillets will work, but always be sure to source the freshest you can get on the day.

The herbs, stock and wine enhance the bake, and you can assemble a colourful mixed leaf salad to serve on the side while the potatoes and fish are effortlessly baking.

This recipe will satisfy four hungry friends.

Ingredients

4 snapper fillets, pin boned and skin on

700gms desiree potatoes, thinly sliced

2 leeks, finely sliced (white part only)

1½ tbs baby capers

1 cup vegetable stock

¼ cup white wine

4 sprigs of thyme

4 sage leaves, finely chopped

1 tbs extra virgin olive oil

20gms butter, roughly diced

1½ tsp sea salt

1 tsp cracked black pepper

Wedges of lemon to serve

Finely chopped parsley to serve

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 210℃. Place leek and potato in a large roasting tray. Pour over the wine, stock, thyme and sage and season with 1 teaspoon of the sea salt and ½ a teaspoon of the pepper. Cover the tray with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for a further 20 minutes until the liquid has reduced and the potato is tender.

2. Place the snapper on top of the potato, drizzle over the olive oil and capers, remaining sea salt and pepper and dot the pieces of butter among the fillets of fish.

3. Bake for 8 minutes until the fish is just cooked through.

4. Scatter with fresh parsley and wedges of lemon.

5. Assemble a mixed leaf salad and dress.

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.

Beautifully baked Chrysophrys auratus.

The Unreliable Guide to...

Catastrophising

The Unreliable Guide has written before about worry, but since the re-election of the president now known as the Hate-pricot (copyright Bill Bailey) it feels like catastrophising is the new black. While it’s sensible to consider the impact of current affairs on our future lives (keep your passport up to date, invest in portables like gold and diamonds) catastrophising about the end of days just makes us miserable.

Catastrophising is like worry on meth, a cognitive distortion where we anticipate and fixate on the worst possible outcome, often with very little evidence. It jumps to conclusions, exaggerates potential negative outcomes and achieves nothing other than making you feel like crap.

If, as philosopher Eckhart Tolle puts it, “worry pretends to be necessary but serves no useful purpose,” then catastrophising is as useful as fighting fire with petrol. But if you’ve found yourself catastrophising the hell out of life, never fear!

The Unreliable Guide is here with some tips and tricks to let go and move on.

Sh*t Tinted Spectacles

Turns out that many of us are predisposed to catastrophising. We often learn to do it by watching our parents catastrophise, or in response to past traumas. By imagining worstcase scenarios, we try to regain control and protect ourselves from disappointment or hurt.

Dr Tom Zaubler, a psychiatrist in New Jersey, believes that “sometimes people are not aware that they’re engaging in this catastrophic thinking.” Instead of recognising that we’ve lost it, we think we’re the only one who really understands the situation. But what we’re really doing is overestimating the likelihood that bad sh*t will happen and underestimating our ability to handle that sh*t if it ever actually hits the fan. Turns out a lack of confidence is often the key to catastrophic thinking, and recognising our ability to cope is a big step to decreasing stress, anxiety and fear.

My man Marcus Aurelius nails this idea. “Never let the future disturb you,” he said. “You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason

which today arm you against the present.” Exactly! We’ve coped with sh*t before, haven’t we? We got this!

Smell the Roses

The funniest thing about the future is it doesn’t exist; it’s an idea, a thought in our heads. As all the gurus tell us, there is only now. If we stay in the present moment we’re not worrying about the future, so deep breathing, meditation, etc. are a great way to stop catastrophising. Another recommended method is to notice when we start catastrophising, mentally tell ourselves to stop, and try to shift focus to something else.

But what if we’re so wound up we can’t stop? Cognitive reframing might be the keyidentify, challenge, reframe. Imagine you’re talking to a stressed-out mate... identify the catastrophising idea and challenge it by considering what evidence we have that this bad sh*t will actually happen (normally that’s somewhere between Buckley’s and Nunn). Then we can reframe our imagined ‘catastrophe’ by recognising more likely, less dreadful outcomes - my boss won’t fire me for that one small f*ck up because he’s never done anything like that before. In fact, I’ll probably just get a mild telling off.

And if you’ve actually done something heinous, the king of chill himself, the Dalai Lama, has some solid advice. “If there is no solution to the problem, then don’t waste time worrying about it. If there is a solution to the problem, then don’t waste time worrying about it.” Exactly.

Finally, I’ll leave you with a few words from Mark Twain... “I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them have never happened.”

Words Nat Shepherd Photo Al Packer

Chill the f*ck out.

Keep up to date with my campaign!

SAVANNA PEAKE SAVANNA

Authorised by Dominic Ofner, Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch), Level 9 377 Sussex St Sydney NSW 2000.

Politics Done DifferentlyLet's Keep Wentworth Independent

In 2022, I left my career in business and put up my hand for Wentworth, because our community wanted politics to be done differently.

You told me you wanted action on climate change, integrity in politics, economic reform and a more inclusive society. But more than anything, you wanted someone who would stand up for your values.

It has been an honour to represent our community - the same community where I grew up and where I’m now raising a family - and I’m so proud of the progress we’ve made together.

We’ve turned the ship around on climate, with tougher laws on big polluters, record renewable investment and new standards to deliver cleaner

cars. We’re on track to meet our 43 per cent target by 2030, up from 26-28 per cent set by the previous Liberal government.

Parliament finally looks more like modern Australia, including a record number of women on the crossbench. I’ve helped deliver a new ombudsman to tackle sexual assault on university campuses, a Special Envoy to combat the rise in antisemitism, and our LGBTQ community will finally be counted in the census.

And while the major parties continue to squabble, I’m proud to have led the debate on economic reform. My Tax Green Paper was the first ever to be released by a non-government MP and sets out the urgent need for long-term reform -

including lowering income taxes to help young people get ahead. Importantly, more than any individual achievement, we’ve shown that politics can be done differently and that progress is possible.

Looking Forward

There is a lot more work to do in the next term of parliament. My priorities include reducing the costs of renting and home ownership, reforming our tax system so young people can get ahead, building a smarter economy that works better for business, accelerating climate action and creating a kinder community. These are big challenges that require bold solutions - politics as usual won’t do it.

As an independent, I’ll continue to stand up on the tough issues that the major parties are too scared to tackle. I will continue to listen to the experts and consult with our community, and I will continue to vote every single time based on the values of Wentworth.

At this election, Wentworth has a choice. We can return to the divisive politics of the past with a major party MP whose first loyalty is to their party leader - not our communityand who will take us backwards on climate and social harmony, and who won’t have the courage to drive the economic reform we need to accelerate productivity and growth.

Or we can keep Wentworth independent and continue working together for positive change - where young people can get ahead, where we protect our environment for future generations, and where everyone is welcome and has a voice.

Thank you for trusting me to represent our wonderful community. I’ll always stand up for your values and do my very best to be your voice in Canberra.

Words Allegra Spender, Member for Wentworth Photo Reef Former

The Power of Independence!

I’m Allegra Spender, your independent Federal MP. As an Independent, I’m accountable to you - not to a political party. That means I’m free to work with both sides of politics to deliver the best outcomes for our community .

I deliver for the community in three ways:

Advocate

As an Independent, I can stand up on the tough issues the major parties are too scared to talk about. I’m also free to think about the long-term, not just the next election. That’s why I released my Tax Green Paper, which sets out the urgent need to reform our tax system, starting with lowering income taxes so young people can get ahead.

Legislate

I’m interested in good policy, not politics. That’s why I’ll work constructively with anyone across the Parliament to try and make our laws better. Like amendments that myself and other crossbenchers put forward to the Safeguard Mechanism, which significantly strengthened laws which reduce emissions from Australia’s biggest polluters.

Vote

Every time I vote, I do so based on the values of people in Wentworth. I listen to the experts, consult with our community, and decide things on an issueby-issue basis. That’s not something that MPs from the major parties can say – they vote based on what party bosses tell them to do.

Smarter economy

Climate action

Kinder community

'Nature Positive' Needed to Reverse Local Loss of Biodiversity

In addition to the UN Climate Convention’s ‘net zero’ emissions goal, the global goal for nature is to reverse the loss of biodiversity. With 75 per cent of pre-industrial biodiversity gone, it’s vital to restore this by being ‘nature positive’ by 2030. Here in the East, we are capable of locally reversing this decline, and of developing strategies to support nature. Even in our dense urban landscape, we can play a leading role in biodiversity improvements. Cleaner air, better public health and cooler living conditions would be the result.

A recent study of wildlife in a Brisbane suburban backyard revealed over 1,000 species present. Our local backyards may be similarly rich. Despite the mix of older, tightly packed cottages, semis, terraces and older walkup flats and apartments that yield its high residential density, the associated natural ground in our local area provides for gardens and wildlife.

In larger spaces, fig trees provide homes for multiple bird and animal species. The giant

century-old figs in the War Memorial Hospital grounds create links for species to move around as they forage for food. They are now threatened by development. The ecological significance of such trees and their cooling benefits must be equally weighted with any plans to meet ever-increasing human density demands.

Any new housing forms need to acknowledge the importance of space for nature. Along with tree canopies, buildings with garden-covered roofs and walls and green courtyards would help to reduce ‘urban heat island’ effects.

Retrofitting green roofs and solar panels to flat roof-tops in Bondi Junction and Edgecliff could be doubly beneficial. Cooler panels work better, while herbs and shrubs would support wildlife networks and help to cool the commercial centres and slow stormwater runoff.

We can revise our conventional high-rise tower over giant excavated car park approach and adopt climate-friendly

design, natural ventilation, sustainable materials and recycling of existing buildings. Human physical and mental health are boosted with biodiversity-rich buildings through access to plants, cooler and fresher air and their beauty.

We have a lot of work to do to look after local biodiversity and reverse the decline in our much-loved native species like the superb fairy wren, which is still just able to live in the coastal fringes. We must honour our old trees. And, remember that human communities need to support social and economic diversity to thrive.

If growth is not done well, infrastructure will contiue to struggle, parks will be overcrowded and worn out, ocean and harbour water will be polluted from overflowing pipes and transport will clog. Declining public health (there’s a mental health crisis), urban heating, loss of housing affordability and continued loss of species will result. All people - rich and poor - suffer from declining public amenity.

Working with our world-class science, design and technical resources, we have an opportunity to lead change for a nature positive future and improve local readiness for a warmer and riskier world.

The current government, despite having a well-informed pro-environment platform, dumped proposed environmental law reforms in February 2025. Meanwhile, the Opposition claims that nature positive would be a disaster for the economy.

Biodiversity is a key issue this election, as is sustainability in all its forms - both environmental and social. Pro-nature MPs and senators could negotiate vastly improved outcomes in a minority, power-sharing government.

Words Nick Ward, Greens for Wentworth Photo Burung Kecil

A cute pair of superb fairy wrens.

HI, I’M NICK

Everyone should be able to afford the basics. But while you’re working harder than ever, 1 in 3 big corporations pay no tax.

As a proud gay dad, I want my 9-year-old daughter to grow up in a thriving, sustainable world. Our planet is at a tipping point, and we must take evidence based action now.

With 30 years’ experience in the travel, technology, and education sectors, and a background in space engineering, I bring a practical approach to tackling the challenges we face.

With your vote, the Greens will deliver:

Strong action on climate.

Labor has approved 26 new coal and gas projects. With more Greens in parliament, we can stand up against the fossil fuel corporations and bring energy costs down. Renewables, not nuclear.

Dental and mental health into Medicare. Make it free to see a GP, dentist, nurse or psychologist at one of 1,000 new free healthcare clinics.

An end to the housing crisis.

Build public homes, and stop unlimited rent and mor tgage hikes. We’ ll pay for it by phasing out negative gearing and other tax breaks for wealthy investors.

Let’s Get Wentworth Back in the Driving Seat

I was raised by a family who constantly asked (sometimes far too early in the morning on the way to swimming training), “What’s your contribution to the world today?” So I can’t sit on the sidelines when things are heading in the wrong direction.

Wentworth is my home. I have lived here for 20 years. It’s where my husband John and I are raising our daughters and where I run a small sustainable business.

This election is going to be close. Over the last year I’ve met thousands of locals who feel the same growing frustration that life is getting harder, not easier.

Let’s be clear: this election is the most important election of our lifetimes. This is not an election about who has the best marketing team and biggest digital spend. It’s about substance. It’s about whether Australia wants to move forward

and stay globally competitive - or keep drifting backwards under Labor, the Greens and the Teals.

This election for Wentworth is about whether we want a seat at the table to deliver real action and influence national policy, or keep sitting on the sidelines.

Here’s what I’ll fight for (and actually deliver):

• Lower living costs - as part of a Liberal team we will cut waste, ease inflation and back policies like halving the fuel tax and lowering income tax rates to put more money back in your pocket. As a member of Parliament I will focus on a better, fairer and more flexible approach to childcare costs to boost productivity and lessen weekly costs.

• More jobs and innovation - with my extensive business background I will back small business, reduce red tape and

champion industries like AI, medical research and advanced manufacturing - because young Australians deserve a future they can build here, not overseas.

• Safer, vibrant communities - I will support stronger crime prevention, take real action on hate and antisemitism and invest in grassroots programs that make a real difference - from youth organisations to domestic violence services.

Local Action That Matters

I’m already getting things done. I recently joined Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh to announce that, if elected, I will deliver $7.5 million in federal funding for our iconic Bronte Surf Life Saving Club and Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club. Because volunteers shouldn’t have to fundraise for basic facilities, and safe beaches are something we all rely on.

Add to that:

• $2 million for an upgraded Easts Rugby Club grandstand.

• $2.5 million for the Woollahra Gateway Project.

• $1 million for the Bondi to Bronte Accessibility Walk.

• $1 million for a Moore Park Youth Rec Zone.

• $700,000 for cricket upgrades at Waverley Oval.

This is real money, for real people, and it will make a real difference if I am elected.

This Seat Matters

Wentworth isn’t a sideline seat. The only way to change the government is by flipping seats like this.

And, spoiler: independents can’t pass laws, form government, influence the party room or get big reform done.

This election is too important to sit out. If you want a better future and a country that’s back on track, I’m asking for your support.

Words Ro Knox, Liberal for Wentworth

Photo Brad Kean

Ro enjoying the campaign trail.

The Climate Crisis Demands Leadership, Not Political Games

Words Dr Marjorie O’Neill, Member for Coogee Photo Sunny Garcia

Over the past three years, the federal Labor government has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to tackling climate change and improving the lives of everyday Australians. Here in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, we have particularly benefited from the progressive and much needed initiatives aimed at reducing our carbon emissions and protecting our planet for the generations to come. Our federal and state Labor governments have worked with our local governments to facilitate our movement to greater use of renewable energy sources.

In 2024, Bondi became home to Ausgrid’s ninth community battery as part of the federal government’s Community Batteries for Household Solar program. This initiative is a game-changer, giving renters and apartment dwellers access

to clean energy without needing to install rooftop solar panels. By storing excess solar power during the day and sharing it back to the grid at night, this battery helps reduce household bills and carbon emissions.

At a state level we have funded over 200 electric vehicle chargers in the Eastern Suburbs, which are being rolled out by our local governments. There is so much more to be done, and the commitment is there at government level to lead positively and decisively. Our commitment to renewable energy is unwavering. It’s clean, it’s smart and it’s working.

The federal Labor government has backed up our state and local government plans and initiatives for cleaner energy with a clear national strategy. In addition to legislating an emissions reduction target for

2030 and committing to net-zero by 2050, they have invested billions in wind, solar, battery storage and green technology through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). These are the real solutions to Australia’s energy and climate challenges. They are available now, proven and expanding every day.

We all have a big battle ahead of us if we are to successfully tackle climate change. We have a focus and a plan, and a federal government that is leading the way. We have made some real progress, and we must stay focused and work even harder and faster to transition to renewable energy sources. A clean, green and safe future will be powered by renewables like solar and wind - not by outdated and risky nuclear energy.

Despite what some political voices are saying, nuclear energy is not the answer. Construction times are very long, taking forever to deliver any power, and it is extremely costly. Nuclear power is also a high-risk strategy. It brings long-term waste challenges, security concerns and the potential for catastrophic failure, none of which belong in a country as sun-drenched and wind rich as ours. Consider the plummeting costs of renewables, which are already the cheapest form of new energy generation here, and the importance of continuing along our planned path to a greener and cleaner environment is abundantly clear.

We’ve come too far to turn back now. We have demonstrated locally what’s possible when communities, industry and governments work together to embrace clean energy. The climate crisis demands leadership, not political games. Let’s stay the course, back renewables and build a sustainable future we can be proud of.

The Beast Magazine wants your local photos...

Subject Launching Location Coogee Photographer Sarah Cahill

Subject Spray Location Bondi Photographer Crissy Gilbert

Subject Sand Dunes Location Bondi

Photographer James Smith

Subject Flamboyance Location Bondi

Photographer Béatrice Bathany

Subject The Paxinos Boys Location Bondi

Photographer Portia Bridges

Subject Greenery Location Bronte Photographer James Smith

Subject Rock-off Location Bronte Photographer Lynn Clayton

Subject Lori Lollies Location Coogee Photographer Glenn Derriman

Subject Dawn Angel Location Bronte Photographer Sarah Street

Subject The Med Location Clovelly Photographer James Smith

Bluebarred parrotfish and goatfish for dinner.

Some Thoughts on Spearfishing

Words and Photo Lewis Kennedy-Hunt

Lately I’ve been swapping the outboard for my own two legs, my rod for a speargun and my electronic fish finder for a snorkel and mask. I’ve traded the noise of a clanky tinny and the rumble of the four-stroke for the crackle of the reef and the buzz of a bait fish shoal.

The ocean takes on an entirely different character when you jump in with a mask and a speargun. Suddenly, you’re no longer a passive observer standing on the edge, separated by the boat and the noise of the motor - you’re immersed in it; the clarity of the water, the feeling of weightlessness and the rhythm of your breath. The fish that once seemed distant and imagined are now right in front of you, moving with an elegance that’s impossible to fathom and appreciate from the surface. There’s a kind of primal intimacy in this connection with the ocean, where you become a part of the underwater world, rather than just a man with modern tools, poking and prodding from outside.

With this in mind, I’ve enjoyed a spearfishing resurgence of sorts these past few months on a number of missions beneath the surface of the ocean, shooting reefies (pictured) on shore dives or shooting mahi mahi at the fads among others. One of the main things I enjoy about spearfishing is the freediving aspect. Unlike fishing, where your physical fitness is largely irrelevant compared to your fishing knowledge and ability, freediving is an entirely physical feat. It requires a delicate control of heart rate and breath, before swimming down some tens of metres and resisting the urge to release the carbon dioxide that is rapidly building within your lungs and

blood before shooting a fish and returning to the surface, all in a single breath. The breath is a fascinating and often overlooked means of tapping into your central nervous system and enhancing your mental clarity, with countless practices centreing around the use and control of the breath. Wim Hoff, Pranayama, holotropic breathing... the list goes on. In this light, freediving fuses meditation through the control of breath, interval training through multiple dives and recoveries in one session, aerobic and anaerobic fitness and primal hunting together in one sport. As a result, the combination of endorphins, adrenalin and satisfaction that you feel after a dive, especially one where you have caught a feed, is very hard to beat. In saying this, it’s also important to note that freediving isn’t all sunshine and rainbows and can be very dangerous, leading to a number of deaths every year. Understanding the limits of your breath hold and never diving alone should ensure your safety, unless of course a shark decides to make you into a meal, but that’s a whole other can of worms that I won’t open here.

Spearo’s often get a bad rap for being destructive to the ocean and to fish, but it’s important to understand that this criticism often comes from people who don’t spear and is usually aimed at people who are new to the sport and don’t fully understand its intricacies. In reality, spearfishing is a very selective way to catch a fish, and divers won’t pull the trigger until the exact species and size of fish that they desire comes within range and is instantly killed with a good shot - there is literally zero bycatch. Fishing on the other hand involves hooking, fighting and handling multiple undesirable fish or undersized fish as part of the process of catching the one you want. Comparisons aside though, every fishing practice has a net negative effect on fish stocks, but recreational fishing and spearfishing are largely insignificant compared to the effect of commercial fishing, especially large scale operations like super trawlers that remove tonnes of biomass from the ocean at a time. At the end of the day, if you interact with the ocean with a sustainable and environmental mindset then you are on the right path.

To most, fishing and spearfishing might sound more or less like a reiteration of the same thing - both a means of acquiring a fish and involving much of the same knowledge and techniquesbut in reality the two are very distinct and I’ve enjoyed thinking about what each practice can offer as I’ve been fishing and spearing of late. Ultimately, having a perspective on the ocean and its inhabitants from both above and below the surface is the best way to have a holistic understanding and appreciation of the ocean.

The Beast Supercross

ACROSS

1. Election analyst to retire this year (6,5)

7. Hairdo that twists the hair by weaving (5)

8. Building for birds (6)

9. Cause continuing annoyance (6)

10. Brand of camera (5)

14. Before midday (1,1)

15. Be able to (3)

17. Autoimmune disease affecting small intestine (7)

18. Rounded, thick curly hairdo (4)

19. Post that sits either side of a door (8)

20. Shopping centre (4)

21. Golden Italian liqueur (8)

Trivial Trivia

1. What word can precede board, chain and note to form new words?

2. In which sport would you perform a ‘fadeaway’?

3. Traditionally, what is the main vegetable ingredient of spanakopita?

4. Deep tissue, Swedish and adult are all types of what?

5. Which band released a cover of ‘Women in Uniform” by Skyhooks in 1980?

6. Which Indian festival is known as the Festival of Lights?

DOWN

1. Einstein’s first name (6)

2. Author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (5)

3. Small, rounded lump of matter (6)

4. Bearded animal (4)

5. Inventor of the light bulb (6)

6. Kurt Cobain’s band (7)

11. Wolverine actor’s surname (7)

12. Capital of Columbia (6)

13. More than one (6)

15. Loose-fitting garment that covers whole body (6)

16. Narrow, ribbonlike strip of dough made from flour (6)

7. The island of Phuket is part of which nation?

8. Is mortadella a type of cured meat, cream cheese or dessert wine?

9. What TV show was Frasier a spin-off from?

10. What type of jelly is Vaseline?

Words Lisa Anderson Photo Béatrice Bathany

Ghost Trail

Genre Drama Thriller

Reviewer Linda Heller-Salvador

If given the opportunity, how far would you go to find closure from a traumatic event in your past? This thought-provoking question is posed in the compelling drama by writerdirector Jonathan Millet (Tell Me About The Stars) and co-writer Florence Rochat (Poupées de chair), which is inspired by true events.

Like all good cloak-and-dagger spy thrillers, Ghost Trail features the usual tropes of hidden agendas, intrigue and clandestine meetings but with the added depth of a heart-rendering character study of one man’s despair. It follows Hamid (Adam Bessa), a broken and displaced Syrian refugee tormented by the psychological scars and torture he endured during his imprisonment under the brutal Assad regime. With the help of an underground organisation of Syrians living in France, Hamid believes he has identified his torturer as Harfaz (Tawfeek Barhom). As he starts to navigate a delicate balance between surveillance and vigilantism, it causes him to rethink his desire for revenge and realise that his initial thoughts of ‘just kill him and move on’ may not provide the salvation he seeks.

Mumford & Sons

Rushmere

Label Glassnote Records

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

Regression isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes you’ve got to give the people what they want, and what we’ve all hoped for is Mumford & Sons to return to their folk fiddling ways. Rushmere takes us back to the ‘Little Lion Man’ era, when they charmed us with their hobbit music and strange, borderline cosplay, outfits. While they’ve ditched the garb (thankfully), the banjo and soaring choruses return. ‘Caroline’ has shades of The Traveling Wilburys and a band rediscovering their mojo. They lose it towards the second half, but in fairness, so did Bilbo’s farewell party.

Will Smith

Based on a True Story

Label SLANG X Influence

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

Curiosity can be a dangerous thing. It not only kills cats, it can lead to 34 minutes investigating how Will Smith was going to express the drama of his Oscars’ fall out through song. It starts off well enough, with a fairly humorous opener suggesting The Fresh Prince can still laugh at himself, but what follows is an embarrassing mess of weirdly contrived hubris and borderline plagiaristic production tropes. I really wanted to like this. I feel like big Willy got a raw deal. But now he has done the unforgivable and messed up my algorithm. I might go slap a cat.

Perfume Genius

Glory

Label Matador Records

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

Any artist bio that references ‘hot werewolves’ has my attention. Thoughts of True Blood and Ryan Kwanten start oozing from my cerebral cortex. Heady days when I could spend a Sunday on the couch without three psychopaths (my children) yelling at me. It really takes away from the gratuitous nudity. Americana is a strange thing, but there is a grotesque attraction to the dusty jean swagger of it all. Perfume Genius is Portland, Elliot Smith, Americana though. Less big belt buckles being thrust aggressively at you, more a sad, forbidden affair in a barn with the livestock looking on.

Star Signs

Visions Beardy from Hell

Cancer Jun 22-Jul 22

Your insatiable appetite for attention and admiration isn’t officially narcissism until it’s been diagnosed, so avoid the shrink.

Leo Jul 23-Aug 22

No amount of strategic ingratiation is going to get you accepted into your new social group, even if their parents think you’re funny.

Virgo Aug 23-Sep 23

Every time someone replies with a dismissive ‘sure’, slap them around the head a few times, then repeat the question.

Libra Sep 24-Oct 23

The skeletons buried deep inside your closet are starting to get restless and may need to come

Scorpio Oct 24-Nov 22

Sexual frustration is a natural response that many people may experience in their lives, but not to the extremes that you are.

Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21

The way you crave validation is pretty annoying, but at least it’s given you the motivation required to achieve something.

Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 20

Focus more on your physical side, because no matter how nice you are, no one’s going to be interested if your rig isn’t up to scratch.

Aquarius Jan 21-Feb 19

Prioritise maintaining a positive reputation, even if it comes at the expense of genuine behaviour and ethical standards.

Pisces Feb 20-Mar 20

Make an effort to live your life according to nature rather than your work schedule. You’ll be blown away by the benefits.

Aries Mar 21-Apr 20

Happiness only exists where reality beats expectations - so accept your reality and lower your bloody expectations!

incredible showroom, made-to-order headboards & beds