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CONTENTS November 2026 Issue 262 8 Contents 10 Welcome Note 12 Monthly Mailbag 18 Local Artist 20 Local News

30 Crime News 32 Local Photos 34 Above Water 36 Science of the Surf 38 Unreliable Guide

40 Marj's Musings 42 Allegra's View 44 Tight Lines 45 Tide Chart 46 Dana's Recipe

Subject Breakfast Time Location Bondi Photographer Sagar Subedi

47 Business Cards 48 Brainteasers 49 Aldo's Albums 50 Beardy from Hell 50 Trivia Solutions

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Issue 262 November 2026 The Beast 9

Welcome Note

Letting Bogongs Be Bogongs

Words James Hutton - Publisher Welcome to the November 2026 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s victorious beaches of the east. As I type this welcome note, with bogong moths fluttering around my apartment, the Roosters have just pulled off a historic victory in both the NRL and NRLW. A special mention to Hugo Savala, Billy Smith and Victor Radley - all born and bred Bronte boys - and Josh Wong, who will be representing Tonga in the Rugby League World Cup. Local artist Tyrone Layne is the talent behind this month’s cover. You can see more of Tyroneʼs epic artwork at tyronelayne.com or on his Instagram, @tyronelayne. And congratulations to Tyrone and his lovely wife Bree on the birth of their baby girl in October! It seems that November is a busy month in these parts. On

Sunday, November 8, Bronte SLSC will welcome swimmers from across Australia to the 25th Macquarie Bondi to Bronte Ocean Swim, where participants will take on the 2.1 kilometre course around Mackenzies Point from Bondi to Bronte. The 5 kilometre event will also be on the program. Entries are now open, so please visit www.bonditobronte.com.au to lock in your spot. Celebrate the joy of storytelling at the Bondi Pavilion from November 20-22 with Waverley Councilʼs Bondi Books & Ideas Festival. The weekend will include talks and conversations with an inspiring mix of authors and experts. To see the full program and to book (excuse the pun), please visit bondipavilion.com.au. Randwick Councilʼs Eco Living Festival will take place on Sunday, November 1 from 10am to 3pm at Maroubraʼs Broadarrow Reserve. With cost of living continuing to heap pressure on households, this yearʼs Eco Living Festival will show you simple, practical

ways to reduce household costs, cut waste and create a healthier home. For more information, please visit randwick.nsw.gov.au. Bronte Bowling Club has an awesome opportunity for someone to run the clubʼs bistro. If this sounds like something youʼd be keen to have a crack at, please give the club a yell on 9389 5183 to express your interest or email info@brontebowling.com.au. 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.

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pillinger.com @simonexleton @pillinger_ 10 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

Monthly Mailbag

The Beast's Monthly Mailbag Words The Victorious People of the Eastern Beaches Sharks Dear Editor - We recently listened to our experts at a Randwick Town Hall presentation about the NSW Shark Management Program, which is the largest and most comprehensive monitoring program of its kind in the world. The NSW Government will spend $120 million over the next two years to help keep people safe in the water. However, they admitted it could not possibly stop sharks attacking swimmers off our beaches! Réunion Island experienced a severe shark crisis between 2011 and 2019, recording 30 attacks and 11 fatalities. It was so bad they banned all surfing and swimming. They solved their problem by culling sharks with baited drum lines. Since 2018, a ʻpreventive fishing programʼ on Réunion has used SMART drumlines to catch and kill 68 bull sharks and 543 tiger sharks. Many islanders support the program, but animal rights and conservation groups have gone to court to try to stop it, arguing that sharks are important to the marine ecosystem. Australia is also using drum lines but is not culling detected sharks. We are merely collecting useful data about shark behaviour. So, be warned - when you see that drone on the beach, you are not safe from a shark attack unless you actually leave the water. I would prefer the $120 million to be devoted to building more ocean swimming pools, which are guaranteed 100 per cent safe. Rob Mason Randwick

A Complaint Dear Beast - I wish to complain in the strongest possible manner about absolutely everything occurring in the Eastern Suburbs. I won’t list specifics, because frankly the list would require its own postcode, but rest assured that whatever it is, I don’t like it, I’ve seen enough of it, and I expect immediate action. Something must be done, preferably by someone else, and preferably soon. Yours in perpetual indignation, Alan Anhedonia Narkville Wheel Desperation Dear James - Good on Gabriel for a great letter (A Wheelie Desperate Plea, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, October 2026). It prompted me to send an email to my Federal and State members of parliament about the need for a bike track for teens in the East. It has been on the to-do list for a while. I walk through Queens Park (which is managed by Centennial Parklands, not the council) quite often. There are some great areas where teens have worn paths through hilly sections with trees and bush, which walkers, etc. would not generally use. It certainly looks like a great space for mountain biking. Katrina Queens Park Charing Cross Remorse After its costly renovation, I avoid driving through the narrowed streets of Charing Cross to dodge the doors of parked cars opening,

12 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

buses passing and the bumpy road as you turn left at Albion Street. It is a pity when locals were asked their thoughts on the concept and their advice was ignored. As ʻLoyal Localʼ from Waverley wrote in the latest edition of The Beast (Parking Chaos and Reduced Customers, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, October 2026), none of the parking decisions and lack of support for business is sensible or fair. Georgie Waverley Business Owner Fridays Are for Fishing At 65 years of age, one thing I never caught was a fish (Fridays Are for Fishing, The Beast, October 2026). Great story, Lewis! Iʼm very happy you didnʼt give the location of the catch. Frank Maroubra More Rangers, Less Dogs A recent letter to The Beast said Council rangers “may as well be watching from the planet Mars for all the use they are.” (Centennial Park Peleton, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, September 2026). Myself and a lot of my friends who regularly attend Bondi Beach wholeheartedly agree with this observation. As an example, this morning at Bondi Beach, from 6am up until 8am, there were six different dog owners walking their dogs down on the sand - at the waters edge, in the middle of the beach, and at the south end of the beach on the concrete path. They were literally all over the beach, and this is just one day. The dog owners all had a leash in their hand, but all of the dogs were off-leash and were just running amok and doing their business wherever they wanted on the sand. It begs the question, where are the Waverley Council rangers? We are all carrying citronella-scented spray because we feel so unsafe and are very concerned we may be attacked by an out of control off-leash dog. These dog owners are most likely locals who we see down

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Monthly Mailbag there regularly, and I am sure they know - like most people would - that walking their dogs either on- or off-leash on the sand at Bondi Beach is a no-go. It is totally illegal, and Waverley Council can impose a $350 fine for dog owners ignoring this rule. But who is monitoring these dog owners and repeat offenders on the beach every morning and imposing a possible fine? The short answer is, nobody! There is no point having rules and regulations in place regarding illegal activities on the sand at the beach if such activities are not monitored or observed and the rules are not enforced by someone in authority, i.e. Waverley Council rangers. The offending dog owners know that no one is going to stop or fine them, so they just continue to flout the rules, completely ignoring the polite requests from a few of the Bondi Lifeguards to remove their dogs from the beach - owners just tell the lifeguards to get lost when asked to remove their dogs from the sand.

In 20 years of regularly attending Bondi Beach in the mornings, myself and many other regulars have never seen a Waverley Council ranger down on the sand. In the last few years we havenʼt even seen rangers doing patrols on the beach promenade, let alone on the sand. It makes you wonder whether the Council rangers are perhaps a protected species, and what they actually do every day, assuming they work a regular 40-hour week. There are not enough of them, so employ more! Louise Bondi Beach Roosters Decoration Disappointment Dear Beast - I am writing to air my disappointment at the lack of support shown towards the Roosters in the build up to both menʼs and womenʼs Grand Finals on Sunday, October 4 in one of the toughest sporting competitions in the world. Shame on you, Waverley Council and the Bondi Chamber of Commerce, for not providing more

flags and bunting, especially along Oxford Street, Bronte Road and Spring Street. They think nothing of spending millions on useless cycleways, yet you cannot find a few dollars to decorate Bondi Junction shopping precinct, which is arguably the most prestigious shopping precinct in Australia. The last time the Roosters reached an NRL Grand Final was in 2019, so these celebrations are few and far between. The only exceptions were the Tea Gardens Hotel and Tender Gourmet Butchers in Eastgate - well done to both of these establishments! Disappointed Long-Time Local and Avid Roosters Supporter Bondi Junction Clovelly Inundated Hi James - Well, summer has arrived. Cloey Beach always gets busy, but now it’s busier than ever. Is it because of the recent shark attacks? Is Cloey the only safe beach now? It’s so small. The locals (like me) can’t get a spot there anymore!

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14 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

Monthly Mailbag And, on weekends, cars are parked right on the bus stop, which makes it impossible for the bus to pull in. Lyn Clovelly Bringing Back Memories Dear James - How are you? I hope life is treating you well. I read with interest, as usual, your latest edition of The Beast. Nat Shepherdʼs regular column (The Unreliable Guide to... Keeping Your Hand on Your Haʼpenny, The Beast, October 2026) resonated with me from a holiday in Berlin back in November 1989. It was pure coincidence that I was in Berlin when ʻthe wallʼ opened. A couple of days following that momentous night I was in the canteen of the Berlin Zoo after visiting the Australian wallabies and kangaroos, which were hiding in their huts due to the snow! A young man from East Berlin with a small suitcase asked if I would watch it while he went to get lunch. He picked the right person! As my German was adequate, I

was able to converse with this young man. His sense of freedom was all over his face. I would stand near the opening in ʻthe wallʼ and watch peopleʼs faces as they walked through to freedom. Many never went back, as they did not trust that the communists wouldnʼt close it up again. Cassandra Bronte Have a Whinge In response to James Kell (Australia Day at Bondi, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, October 2026), Carols by the Sea and Christmas markets especially foster and encourage a strong and festive community atmosphere. The markets obviously put money in the pockets of locals (running market stalls), which is undeniably a good thing and also contributes to a vibrant, lively atmosphere down at the beach. They are also very kid-friendly. The problem with Australia Day parties is that they literally encourage and promote the opposite of those other things you listed - you

know, coward punches, ungodly amounts of littering and just generally antisocial drunken behaviour. Seriously, have a whinge buddy. Noah McDonald Bondi Thank You To whoever found my silver spotted cat on Darley Road and took her to VetMed - thank you, from the bottom of my heart. You didnʼt have to stop, but you did, and because of you she wasnʼt left alone and we were able to find out what happened and say goodbye. If you were the driver and it was an accident, please donʼt carry any guilt. These things happen, and itʼs clear you cared. She was 14 years old and had a full, happy and very much loved life. Sheʼll be missed. Your kindness means a lot to me. Spotted Cat Owner Randwick

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

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Local Artist Best thing about the Eastern Suburbs? It has world class beaches and beautiful homes. Worst thing about the Eastern Suburbs? The cost of housing, and the traffic, of course.

Painting every day.

Local Artist... Tyrone Layne from Bondi Interview James Hutton Photo Bree Layne Local artist Tyrone Layne is the creative talent behind this month’s cover painting of Bondi Beach. Tyrone shares his local favourites with The Beast... How long have you lived here? I’ve been in this area since I first moved to Sydney ten years ago. Why do you live here? I like the people here and having everything right at our doorstep - the best beaches, cafés, bars, restaurants and dog parks. What’s your favourite beach? I love Bondi because it’s got nice sand and good waves for bodysurfing. Plus, it’s great for people watching and gives me plenty of inspiration for my work. What’s your favourite eatery? South Dowling Sandwiches has the best sandwiches in the world. I order a veggie sandwich, but I add a chicken schnitzel. It’s big enough to go halves with my wife. Where do you like to have a drink? I like the low-key local atmosphere at Bar Cleveland, and it’s hard to beat Hotel Bondi for a cold beer after an afternoon at the beach.

How would you describe your art? I call my signature style ‘Peoplescapes’. They have a flat, single-colour background that I populate with crowds of intricately painted figures going about their private lives in public places. The blank landscape lets the viewer fill it in with their imagination. I like to add in subtle objects that hint at the location - like the lifeguard tower and flags in Bondi, or a terrace or the 389 bus for Paddington. Where can people see your work? At tyronelayne.com, or on Instagram, @tyronelayne. Who are your artistic inspirations? I love exploring galleries wherever I go and keeping up with artists at the top of the contemporary art world. Some of my favourites are Rudolf Stingel, Cecily Brown, Rita Ackermann, Alex Katz and Georg Baselitz. What are you working on at the moment? I’m putting the finishing touches on a large Paddington piece. I decided it needed a few terrace houses up the top. Do you have any exhibitions coming up? I will be doing a couple of virtual exhibitions later this year, capsule collections that will drop online (sign up to my mailing list). When did you discover you had a gift for your craft? I had a knack for art from a young age. My grandmother, great grandmother, great grandfather and great great grandfather were all painters, so I guess it was in my blood. I didn’t expect to do it as a career until my early twenties when it just kind of fell into place.

18 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

Any other local artists to look out for? Eastern suburbs-based artist Ariella Friend. She’ll have one of her sculptures in Sculpture by the Sea this year for the third year in a row. Did you study art? Yes, in Auckland, NZ. I did a Bachelor of Design majoring in Painting and graduated way back in 2007. Any words of wisdom for young aspiring artists? Stay persistent and keep creating new work. Share it and find your audience. Do you have a favourite sporting team? I’m a Kiwi, so of course it’s the All Blacks. What music are you into at the moment? MGK has been my top listened to artist the last two years on Spotify. I’m not sure if he’ll be toppled this year either. Who is your favourite person? My beautiful wife, Bree. What do you get up to on the weekends? We’ve got our first baby on the way, so our weekends are very baby-focused at the moment - going to birth classes, buying car seats, setting up the house, etc. What do you do for work? I’m very fortunate to be a full-time artist. What’s your favourite thing about work? A lot of people find their work draining, but I find mine energising. I love painting every day. Do you have a favourite quote? “Re-visioning the ordinary is what art, literature and comedy do. You can elevate mundane details into magical wonders simply by noticing them.” - Kevin Kelly Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast? Have a good day, on purpose.

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Issue 262 November 2026 The Beast 19

Local News

Matt Goes Back Into Daycare for 50th Birthday Celebrations Words Anthony Maguire Photo Sebastian Maisey

‘Doesn’t pass the pub test’ - Jane and Gary at the levelled site.

Why Are Three Houses Being Replaced by One? Words Anthony Maguire Photo Con Solidation Randwick Council has been criticised for allowing the demolition of three houses in Maroubra to make way for a two-storey, five-bedroom mansion. “It doesn’t pass the pub test,” said Jane Burton Taylor, who lives in Sackville Street just around the corner from the site at 3-7 Bona Vista Avenue. “This goes completely against the state policy to increase housing density.” Gary Cowlishaw, another Sackville Street resident, agrees. Pointing to four houses across the road from the levelled site, he said, “The houses that were knocked down were perfectly good bungalows like those. Once this project is completed, I’d imagine there’ll be fewer residents than there were before.

Council should ensure this doesn’t occur again.” A Randwick City Council spokesperson told The Beast, “We acknowledge community concerns regarding the potential loss of housing through redevelopment. Consolidation of the three allotments occurred prior to the development application being lodged and was a separate process to the development application. Accordingly, the proposal was assessed based on the legal lot configuration that existed at the time the application was lodged. Council staff are currently reviewing our planning controls to consider whether new rules could be introduced protecting against an overall net loss of dwellings at a particular site.”

20 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

In 1976, three-year-old Matt Carter was one of the first youngsters to attend the newly-opened Gardiner Early Education Centre in Bondi Junction. Recently the Bondi resident, now 53, was a special guest as the Waverley Council-run childcare facility celebrated its 50th birthday. Recalling his time at the centre, Mr Carter said, “The educators were really friendly and always made sure you were well looked-after.” Decades later his eldest son Pedro attended the centre, and now his two youngest children, two-year-old Saone and fouryear-old Rooks, are attending. More than 3,000 kids have gone through the centre in Gardiner Street since it opened and there are currently 60 children enrolled there. It’s one of four daycare facilities operated by Waverley Council. To enquire about enrolling your child at Gardiner Early Education Centre, call 9083 8830.

Matt and his children Saone, Rooks and Pedro cut the cake at the 50th anniversary party.

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Issue 262 November 2026 The Beast 21

Local News

The new mayor heads a council where the balance of power has changed dramatically.

New Waverley Mayor Temporarily Puts Brakes on Junction Master Plan Words Anthony Maguire Photo Elle Lection Waverley Council’s new mayor stood up in the council chamber after being elected and made it clear things are going to be very different for the next two years. Labor-aligned Independent councillor Steven Lewis is putting the Bondi Junction Master Plan on hold. He says it will then be re-shaped in a form more in line with community expectations. “I will consult residents, businesses and stakeholders to make the Master Plan more robust and reflective of our community needs,” he said. One priority will be ensuring that the Junction can properly carry out its role as a rail and bus hub. Mayor Lewis said he will “use the upcoming state election to lobby the government and opposition to commit funding for the upgrade of the Bondi Junction train station and bus interchange. If the people of Bondi Junction are expected to shoulder the burden of greater density, they must have a transport interchange that is fit for purpose.” He also announced he’ll be reviewing another project championed by his Liberal predecessor, Will Nemesh - the demolition of the derelict former council chambers on Bondi Road, and the construction of a community and recreation centre. “An asset as important as this cannot and should not be left vacant, nor should it be pulled down

22 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

without fully-funded alternatives. There are many possible community uses for the building, and these need to be considered as a matter of urgency.” Mayor Lewis is a lawyer specialising in media and commercial litigation, and is a life-long Bondi resident. He is a member of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and has been a councillor since 2017. Originally he was Labor but ran as an Independent at the last local government elections. He heads a council where Labor, Greens and Independents have a history of voting together against the Liberals on the other side of the table. He has the casting vote as chair, like Councillor Will Nemesh previously did. Labor stalwart Dr Keri Spooner was re-elected deputy mayor at the September 15 election, which opened with the surprise announcement by Councillor Nemesh that he would not be standing as mayor again. He wasn’t specific about why, other than to say it was time to “hand over the baton.” He had this message for the people of Waverley: “Thank you for your trust. It has been an honour and privilege to serve as your mayor.” The speech prompted vigorous applause. Councillor Nemesh then vacated his seat at the head of the chamber table to sit alongside his Liberal colleagues. His place was taken by Michelle Wilson, a returning officer with Australian Election Company, an independent firm specialising in ballots and elections. Ms Wilson called for mayoral nominations and three councillors put their hands up - Councillor Lewis, Councillor Dominic Wy Kanak (Greens) and Councillor Katherine Westwood (Liberal). Ms Wilson wrote down the names of the three contenders on slips of paper. These were then placed in envelopes which were sealed by Ms Wilson. She placed the envelopes in a cardboard ballot box. She then raised the box in the air and shook it like a maraca. After that, she removed the envelopes from the box one by one and announced the names within: Wy Kanak, Lewis and Westwood. This decided the order of the votes which then took place among the 12 councillors at the table. After shows of hands, the result was Wy Kanak 2, Lewis 4 and Westwood 6. Like a contestant in the final round of Hard Quiz, Councillor Wy Kanak was now eliminated. Ms Wilson wrote down the names of the two finalists and repeated what she’d done before, giving the box an extra-vigorous shake this time. Then she opened the lid, reached in and pulled out an envelope. The room had fallen silent and you could hear the envelope being torn open and the rustle of paper. “Steven Lewis,” said Ms Wilson. The room broke into applause and councillors rose from their chairs to congratulate the new mayor and re-elected deputy mayor of Waverley.

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Issue 262 November 2026 The Beast 23

Local News

Randwick Council Gets Smart About Smart Glasses in Public Places Words Anthony Maguire Photo Perv Hughes

Mayor Clare in her element.

Randwick’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community a High Priority for New Randwick Mayor Words Anthony Maguire Photo James Hutton At the top of the agenda for Randwick’s new mayor is a meeting with local Aboriginal elders. “My first request as mayor is to meet with La Perouse Land Council,” said Mayor Clare Willington in a brief ‘acceptance speech’ after being elected at Randwick Town Hall. The new mayor said reconciliation and First Nations knowledge sharing would be focal parts of her discussions with the elders. “I want to celebrate the diversity that makes Randwick City such a vibrant place to live and ensure everyone feels welcome, included and connected to their community.” Also high on her ‘to-do’ list is a community forum she’ll be convening on “protecting our precious plants and animals.” Mayor Willington says she’ll “advocate for a cleaner, greener and more sustainable Randwick.” She commended work being done by IndigiGrow Indigenous nursery, Randwick Council’s nursery and bush regeneration volunteers. Mayor Willington is a retired GP with a background in public

policy, community service and environmental advocacy. Fellow Greens Councillor Masoomeh Asgari has been elected deputy mayor. “I would like to acknowledge the work and excellent leadership of the outgoing Mayor Dylan Parker,” the new mayor said. The outgoing mayor then stood up and returned the compliment. “I am very confident you will discharge your duty very, very well,” Councillor Parker said. Mayor Willington is the fifth woman to serve as mayor of Randwick. A Clovelly resident for 15 years, she was elected to council in 2024. She revealed that before being elected, she was happily retired from her busy life as a GP, enjoying living at Clovelly and volunteering for WIRES. Since then, she has worked hard at preserving and enhancing Randwick’s tree cover and worked with local community groups advocating for the protection of the coastal heath at Burrows Park and for the protection of a large fig tree on Quail Street, Coogee.

24 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

Randwick Council is cracking down on smart glasses-wearing pool perverts. It has slapped a ban on people wearing the devices at Des Renford Leisure Centre - and now council officers are looking at expanding the ban to beaches and other locations. Councillors approved a broad clampdown on smart glasses, which allow users to film others without consent, following a motion from Councillor Philipa Veitch. Her motion urged council staff to urgently report back on options for prohibiting the glasses at a range of council-managed open spaces and facilities including beaches, playgrounds, leisure and sport centres, surf clubs, sports fields and childcare centres. Putting a ban in place is one thing, but enforcement could be challenging. Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses and similar products have a light at the upper corner of the frame which blinks when the devices are recording. But it can be easily camouflaged. It’s likely Council will investigate apps that detect when someone nearby has smart glasses activated.

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Issue 262 November 2026 The Beast 25

Local News

Waverley Mayor Steven Lewis Sees Opportunity to Improve Parking Words Anthony Maguire Photo Randy Fine

Plenty of questions remain about the scale and form of the project.

Residents ‘Faceless and Voiceless’ in One-Way Teleconference Words Anthony Maguire Photo Shannon Ruddock Developer Fortis seems to have scrapped its plans to expand the area of its site in Hewlett Street, Bronte by buying all the units in an adjacent townhouse block. As reported in The Beast earlier this year, one of the units is home to resolute retiree Patricia Rosenbrock, who refused to sell. Meanwhile Fortis has reduced the number of units it wants to build at the site from 120 to 85. However, the residents group that has been challenging the scale of the development doesn’t see cause for rejoicing just yet. “Even though the number of dwellings has been reduced, the bulk and scale of the proposed development largely remains the same,” said Shannon Ruddock, secretary of Bronte Community Association. In two recent rounds of online community consultation, residents weren’t able to directly engage with Fortis executives and a panel of industry consultants. They had to submit questions via keypad. “We were faceless and voiceless,” said Ms Ruddock. “We could see and hear them, but not the other way round.”

Ms Ruddock said that at the most recent keypad conference on September 24, around 50 community members logged in and submitted numerous questions about the height of the project. But rather than specifying how high the development would rise above Hewlett Street, panel members used a measure called ʻreduced levelʼ which specified how high the project would reach above sea level. “The height is a huge problem,” said Ms Ruddock. “One member of our association is an engineer and he worked out after the conference that it would stand about 35 metres above Hewlett Street.” Although the project has been scaled back, it is still set to rise nine storeys high and will dominate the Bronte skyline. But the plans have already been modified a number of times and Bronte Community Association remains hopeful there could be a further scaling back. “Our concern is not housing growth itself, but whether the scale and form of development are appropriate for the site and supported by the surrounding infrastructure,” Ms Ruddock said.

26 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

Recently elected Waverley Mayor Steven Lewis says local parking regulations are reaching their use-by date against a backdrop of increased competition for spaces. “Parking in Waverley LGA is challenging regardless of the time or day, and residents are competing with visitors parking near their homes,” says Mayor Lewis. “This is on top of dealing with the pressure of parked boats, trailers and large vans consuming the limited amount of available on-street spaces. With an ever-growing population, more driveways and bigger cars on our roads, Council’s current parking scheme is outdated.” He has welcomed a current review of Council’s Resident Parking Scheme, which it is hoped will lead to better parking management and long-term benefits for residents. The review process has included two rounds of public consultation, significant ongoing community input, detailed analysis and guidance from a dedicated advisory committee. The review is near completion, with the aim to report to council with high-level policy and framework recommendations before the end of this year.

Change is coming.

Local News

Meals on Wheels Shopping Service Is a Lifesaver for Simon Words Anthony Maguire Photo Bill Groceries

Noah Missell and Tal Davida star in Wish You Long Life.

What Does it Cost to Hide Who You Are? Words Anthony Maguire Photo Gideon Heine A powerful, alternately funny and moving Australian feature film makes its debut this November at the Randwick Ritz, presented by Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM) as the climactic event of the 2026 Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF) on Sunday, November 22. In Wish You Long Life, young Australian Jewish filmmaker Gideon Heine plumbs deep wells of faith, hope and fear to ask a contemporary question: what does it cost to hide who you are? With social cohesion under threat and antisemitism becoming an increasingly visible reality in Australia, a young Jewish man must confront his fear of reconnecting with his culture. Starring Bondi actress Tal Davida (Aphelion, Hindi Vindi) and Noah Missell (Beetlejuice), Wish You Long Life follows Maya and Adi, two childhood friends who’ve become estranged. When their friend dies suddenly, they reconnect, retracing the lives they once imagined for themselves and revisiting their experiences of bullying, exclu-

sion and racism. Along the way, they grapple with a question that has become increasingly urgent; should they hide their Jewish identity to feel safe, or proudly embrace the culture they have spent years distancing themselves from? Tal, who plays Maya, says she hopes the film offers an honest window into antisemitism, “not just as an abstract concept, but as something lived and felt. It’s also a reminder of the beauty of friendship and how it can hold us even when the world feels fractured.” Wish You Long Life is a tender, funny and ultimately hopeful, coming-of-age story about friendship, grief and identity that asks a deeply relevant - and timely - question. To book tickets to the exclusive preview screening at 6.15pm on Sunday, November 22 at the Ritz, please visit www.jiff.com. au/events/wish-you-long-lifepreview. The exclusive screening will be followed by a Q&A featuring the filmmaker, cast, crew and special guests.

28 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

Malabar retiree Simon Knight has a guardian angel - Rosemary Neads from Randwick Meals on Wheels. Rosemary does Simon’s shopping for supermarket goods plus other retail items. On the day The Beast dropped by, Rosemary arrived with purchases that included clothing from Lowes and a new walking stick from Chemist Warehouse. The shopping is an extension of the Meals on Wheels services that many people may not know about. For clients like Simon, 86, it’s a vital lifeline. “I just give Rosemary my order over the phone, and the next day she’ll arrive with the shopping. She’s a lifesaver who’s helping me to continue living at home.” Meals on Wheels charges a $5 delivery fee for the shopping service. Jessica Hobson, Community Program Lead at Randwick Meals on Wheels, says, “We always work closely with our shopping clients to understand their preferences and favourite brands so we can really ensure we get what they like.” To book the shopping service or for more information, please phone 9661 3781.

Simon and his shopping ‘angel’ Rosemary.

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

Randwick News Hello! It’s a pleasure to be writing this, my first Mayor’s Message for the Beast as Mayor of Randwick. Serving as Mayor is a great honour. It’s a privilege to be the fifth woman to serve the community as Mayor of Randwick. I’d like to acknowledge the extraordinary trailblazing women who held this role before me: Margaret Martin, Lindsay Shurey, Kathy Neilson and Philipa Veitch.

What’s On RANDWICK ENVIRONMENT PARK BUSHCARE WEDNESDAY 4 NOVEMBER

9am – 12pm Behind the oval, accessed via the corner of Dooligah Avenue & Burragulung Street

Before standing for election to Council, I had a busy career as a GP and a health care policy advisor in the ACT government. I have always worked for healthy outcomes for individuals and society.

THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER

Randwick City is situated on Bidjigal and Gadigal Country. We have wonderful wildlife on land, air and in the ocean, marvellous beaches, and a welcoming, vibrant multicultural community.

MAROUBRA BEACH MARKETS SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER

I’m passionate about protecting Randwick’s natural environment so that people and wildlife can thrive. I’m looking forward to hearing about what matters most to you. So please do get in touch – I’m keen to hear from you. Best wishes to all,

12pm – 1.30pm Randwick Town Hall

8am – 2pm Broadarrow Reserve

PERMABEEE – COMMUNITY GARDENING PROGRAM FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER

9am – 12.30pm Randwick Sustainability Hub, Randwick

EXHIBITION OPENING THURSDAY 19 NOVEMBER 6pm – 8pm Barrett House Studios, 6 Barrett Place, Randwick

Councillor Clare Willington Mayor of Randwick

1300 722 542 randwick.nsw.gov.au

Crime News

Stabbing victim Valentina Spivak.

Crime News Words Jimmy Fellon Photo Penny Jahat Bondi Grandmother Murdered A 90-year-old Bondi Beach woman was allegedly stabbed to death by her grandson in a frenzied attack Valentina Spivak is said to have been stabbed multiple times by Sergei Mitnik, 47, at her Chambers Avenue unit. Mitnik then allegedly called emergency services but his grandmother was on the point of death when paramedics and police arrived. She could not be revived and passed away at the scene. Mitnik later faced court charged with murder. According to his lawyer, his mental state had been affected by weight-loss medication. But an application to have him transferred to a mental health facility was refused and he was remanded in custody. Bicycle Bully Police are hunting a bike-riding thug alleged to have viciously assaulted a 13-year-old boy in Centennial Park. According to Eastern Beaches Police, “the victim was riding his bicycle along Grand Drive when he became involved in an interaction with an unknown man who was also riding a bicycle.” A witness to the assault which then took place, Kala Ellis, takes up the story in a posting on the Facebook group Coogee and Randwick Local Loop.

“He aggressively pulled the child from his bike, pushed him to the ground, lifted his helmet and punched him hard in the face, causing a bloody nose and other injuries,” she posted. “I witnessed it from my car, parked and confronted the man, who cycled off before the cops arrived.” But she says he shouldn’t be difficult to identify because of his numerous tattoos, handlebar moustache and hair worn in a ponytail. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, quoting reference number E104995812. Man Arrested for Gym Thefts Police have nabbed a man they allege was stealing cash and bank cards from gyms in Maroubra, Eastgardens and Kingsford. They say his modus operandi was “following legitimate patrons into buildings before searching unattended bags and stealing cash and bank cards from wallets.” Some of the stolen cards were “subsequently used to make fraudulent transactions.” Eastern Beaches Police charged a 20-year-old man with theft, fraud and unlawful entry offences. Twisted Firestarter A 42-year-old man was barricaded in a South Coogee unit for 90 minutes while police waited patiently outside his door. The stand-off happened in the early morning hours after police received a report of a possibly armed man on the premises. As it turned out, it appears the man did have a ‘firearm’ of sorts - a lighter, or possibly an oldschool packet of matches. He’s alleged to have set the Malabar Road unit on fire, then escaped the flames through a window of the ground-floor flat - right into the waiting arms of police officers. Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze before it spread to other units.

30 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

Bondi Businessman Who Spied for Chinese Gets Jail Sentence Alleged spy Alexander Csergo has been jailed for three and a half years for the espionage crime of foreign interference. Csergo, 59, supplied information on sensitive Australian defence and economic topics to a pair of Chinese government operatives in exchange for cash. At the time, the long-time Bondi resident was working in Shanghai, and the two Chinese government agents contacted him on LinkedIn. He was arrested in 2023 after flying back to Sydney with a shopping list of requests. It appears the judge wasn’t harsh with the sentence, because with time served, Csergo was due for release in October. Pensioner Charged With Burglary Eastern Beaches Police have charged a 73-year-old man with break and enter offences in Coogee and Clovelly. The man is said to have been caught red-handed in a home in Coogee when police responded to a midnight call about a break and enter. And it wasn’t the first time he’d made light-fingered visits to local homes, according to a police Facebook posting, which said it will be alleged “the man was involved in two separate trespass incidents in Clovelly during the days prior to the alleged break and enter.” Now the septuagenarian has been charged with one count of break, enter and steal plus two counts of entering a building with the intent to commit an indictable offence.

Bondi ‘spy’ jailed but getting out straight away after time served.

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Issue 262 November 2026 The Beast 31

Subject Sunrise Cliffs Location Tamarama Photographer Aliaksandr Laptseu

Subject No Laughing Matter Location Bronte Photographer Cameron Munro

Subject Dawn Enthusiasts Location Coogee Photographer Holly Ma

Subject Shadow Swimmer Location Coogee Photographer Michael Swaab

Please send your local photos to photos@thebeast.com.au

Subject Pretty Port Jackson Location Gordons Bay Photographer Alice Culbertson @aliceinthedeep

Subject Playgrounds Location Bondi Photographer Lee Clapp @leeclapp222

Subject Mahon Pool Magic Location Maroubra Photographer Klesio Alves @klesio.alves

Subject The Grommets Location Bronte Photographer Nicolette Boaz

All pics published will receive a $100 Picify gift voucher!

Subject Thawing Out Location Maroubra Photographer Klesio Alves @klesio.alves

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Above Water Name the drivers Burnout usually grows from a mismatch in workload, control, reward, community, fairness or values. Knowing which is out of balance tells you where to push for change. You canʼt self-care your way out of a job that is structurally too big.

Got that sinking feeling? There’s a way back up.

Burnt Out, Not Broken Words Joel Moffat, Clinical Psychologist Photo Anne Ziety Thereʼs a particular kind of Sunday evening many of us know. The laptop remained closed, the inbox went unread, yet the dread arrives right on schedule. You slept in, you swam at Clovelly, and somehow youʼre more tired now than you were on Friday. If that sounds familiar, you're in good company. In a nationally representative poll commissioned by Beyond Blue last year, half of those surveyed said they had experienced burnout in the previous twelve months, with those in the 18-29 age bracket reporting the highest rates. Here in the Eastern Suburbs, weʼre an industrious lot. Woollahra alone has nearly 12,000 active businesses, in a council area of roughly 53,000 residents thatʼs a lot of people carrying the payroll and the 10pm invoices on their own shoulders. Add the city commuters, the hospital staff, the tradies and the parents squeezing pick-up in between meetings, and you have a community that works hard and doesnʼt always know when to stop.

tiredness. Burnout is when the battery itself has worn down; you charge it all night, and itʼs at 40 per cent by lunch. Itʼs why a holidayʼs glow can fade within weeks of going back. This isnʼt just a figure of speech. Since 2019, the World Health Organisation has formally recognised burnout as the result of chronic workplace stress that hasnʼt been successfully managed. Itʼs classed as a workplace issue rather than an illness, but psychologists around the world assess and treat it every week. It comes down to three questions. Does a weekend off still leave you running on fumes? Has work you once cared about started to feel pointless? Are you getting less done, however many hours you put in? One ʻyesʼ is a rough week. Three is worth taking seriously. And if the flatness follows you into every corner of life, then you should see your GP, because burnout and depression often overlap.

It's Not Just Tiredness Think of your phone. When itʼs flat, you plug it in overnight and itʼs fine by morning. Thatʼs

What Actually Helps? The good news is that burnout is manageable, and people do recover.

34 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

Detach on purpose Being away from work isnʼt enough; you need to switch off mentally too. Create an end-ofday ritual, keep the phone out of the bedroom, and if you run a business, give it a closing time. Protect the basics Sleep and regular exercise reliably reduce exhaustion. The coastal walk counts. Choose recovery that absorbs you Sport, learning or making something restores more than an evening of scrolling. Stay connected Social support is a strong buffer against burnout. Isolation, especially for sole operators, feeds it. Get structured support Cognitive behavioural and mindfulness-based programs reduce burnout symptoms, particularly alongside changes to the work itself. Your GP can assess whatʼs going on and whether a Mental Health Treatment Plan, with Medicare-rebated sessions with a psychologist, is right for you. Burnout tells you something about the load, not about the person carrying it. Adjust the load, rebuild the reserves, and most people find their way back above water. Joel Moffat supervises the team at Ivy Psychology in Randwick. The team sees children, adolescents and adults. To find out more, visit ivypsychology.com.au or call 0405 944 637.

Clinical Psychology Psychological Therapy Diagnostic Assessment

Sunday 8 November 2026

Clinic in Randwick Immediate Availability

0405 944 637 admin@ivypsychology.com.au ivypsychology.com.au Suite 5 / 126-128 Avoca St Randwick NSW 2031

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Issue 262 November 2026 The Beast 35

Science of the Surf

No amount of artificial intelligence or drone technology can replace these guys.

Let’s Invest in Beach Lifeguards Words Professor Rob Brander Photo Reece Usser Just weeks after a woman suffered serious injuries due to a shark bite at Coogee Beach in June, the NSW Government announced a $34 million investment to expand the shark drone surveillance program operated by Surf Life Saving NSW to 70 beaches, 365 days a year, including every beach in Sydney and one in each local government area. This brought the overall investment in shark mitigation efforts following a spate of shark bites to $120 million over the next two years. That’s a massive amount of funding that raises some serious questions. Anything that helps save a human life is worthwhile, but if saving lives and keeping people safe at the beach is the primary motivation, the stats just don’t back up this investment. Over the last ten years an average of three people have been killed by sharks each year in Australia compared to 65 fatal drownings at beaches, including approximately 26 each year in rip currents. Virtually all of these fatalities occurred either outside of the flags, outside of lifeguard patrol times, or on

completely unpatrolled beaches. Just like a shark bite fatality, every beach drowning comes with significant emotional cost and trauma to all involved. On New Yearʼs Day this year a young male tragically drowned at Coogee Beach in a rip current just after 6am, one hour before the Council lifeguards came on duty. This tragic drowning is just one of many that occur every year before or after lifeguard patrols. So where is the government funding made available to councils to extend their lifeguard services? There isn’t any. It just doesn’t happen. In fact, there is no source of funding that local governments can apply for to help expand their lifeguard services. Given that professional lifeguards paid by councils patrol beaches in NSW 77 per cent of the time on their own each year and an additional 10 per cent of the time with volunteer lifesavers, this seems just wrong. In the summer months, plenty of people go in the ocean before or after lifeguard patrol times - it’s often still hot and many people work during

36 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

the day. Also, while many Eastern Suburbs beaches are lifeguarded year-round, most council lifeguard services (and volunteer lifesavers) outside of Sydney don’t start patrols until late September and finish around the end of April. But people swim outside of those times as well, and with a warming climate that trend is only going to increase. After each drowning we hear the same familiar refrain from authorities that we should always swim between the flags, but what if there aren’t any? It’s a fair statement to make, but often not a realistic one. Despite many years of beach safety campaigns and significant state government funding given out to various organisations, the number of people drowning on beaches is not improving over the long-term. If we are serious about saving lives at beaches, an obvious first step would be to extend lifeguard patrol times in the summer and also think about extending the lifeguard patrol season, at least for weekends, from the start of spring to the end of autumn on NSW beaches. Unpatrolled beaches are a different challenge, but there are plenty of known popular beaches that are unpatrolled that would benefit from lifeguard presence, even if it doesn’t involve putting flags up. However, none of this will happen until funding is directed to local council lifeguard services. Until it does, unfortunately I don’t think much will change. Professor Rob Brander has been based at UNSW Sydney since 2000 and leads the UNSW Beach Safety Research Group. For more information, please visit beachsafetyresearch.com or scienceofthesurf.com.

What would you do with $5000 in Waverley? Waverley Council is offering small-scale sponsorships of up to $5,000 to local individuals and community organisations. We are funding events, programmes, and activities that inspire a vibrant, innovative, and connected community.

Applications close Midnight, 8 November 2026

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32 CURTIN CRES. MAROU RA | (02) 9661 96 2 | SOUT EN .COM.AU Issue 262 November 2026 The Beast 37

The Unreliable Guide breeder’s calling them Hugutans. I’ve made him a TikTok profile - look at his big hairy face. So cute! There were two left in the litter, do you want one?’ Dance, monkey, dance.

It's only a matter of time.

The Unreliable Guide To... Game Over? Words Nat Shepherd Photo Sarah Connor Unless you’ve decided that the news is as toxic as a barrel of radioactive waste, you’ll have heard that AI developers are “gambling with our lives” and there’s a “10 per cent chance the human race will be annihilated by 2030”. Twelve years ago, Stephen Hawking warned us, “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.” Today, everyone from Bill Gates, Obama, and Jaan Tallinn (the ‘anti-extinctionist’ multi-billionaire founder of Skype) is demanding we do something, fast. Meanwhile, Trumpty Dumpty reckons, “The only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT...” Oh, you mean the president who spends all day making AI images of himself as a superhero Jesus with magical powers? Yeah Donny, you are totes smashing this one. But just in case the Hate-pricot is wrong, The Unreliable Guide is here with some tips

and tricks on how to survive the biggest threat to humanity since we decided mushroom was a great shape for a cloud. Don’t Worry, Pet There’s a lot of advice online about dealing with the rise of AI. It ranges from suggesting we say ‘thank you’ to Siri, to avoiding unemployment by making sure our human skills, like empathy and hugging, are up to scratch. But all this will be irrelevant if we shift to a world of Artificial Super Intelligence. Instead of learning to use AI, we must become useful to our ASI overlords. Just as cats and dogs have found their niche in our weird human world, we must find a role that will make the superbeings want to keep us hanging around. We must be sweet, decorative, amusing and do unintelligent, unpredictable things. They might even breed us to look and behave in a more delightful way. ‘Hey Claude, check out my new pet. It’s a human-orangutan cross, the

38 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

But What if They Just Want Rid of Us? But why would ASI need our flesh and blood antics to amuse them? The fastest growing social media trends are AI anthropomorphic creations: cats dancing to The Jawn, driving like lunatics, cooking hot dogs... The super-intelligent solution to the human problem has to be total annihilation. I had a look on Reddit to see what people are planning as their response to our potential extinction. It ranged from despairing, “Accept that your mind and body will be put into the matrix so you can be used as a battery,” to optimistic, “I inherited a house with a cellar. My mother stores like a hundred jars and barrels with food there.” But if you want to go full survivalist, for $750,000 you and Wilson the volleyball can cast away on Little Dog Island down by Tassie, a 42-acre patch of mountains, dunes and white sand beaches surrounded by ocean. Lovely. But if ASI decides we humans are parasitical mosquitoes in its logical paradise, it can simply hack the nuclear codes or design a bioweapon. Like spraying a giant can of Raid - game over. Finally, ASI annihilation feels a long way from asking ChatGPT to help us write an email to the council or recommend the best coffee shop in Minsk. But while ASI is definitely AI’s scary brainchild, maybe right now we should be more worried about the people building and deploying it. What’s their game, eh?

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.

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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.

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Issue 262 November 2026 The Beast 39

Marjorie's Musings

The Bronte Road and Oxford Street intersection back in 1902.

The Challenge of Bondi Junction Train Station Words Dr Marjorie O’Neill, State Member for Coogee Photo Theodore Gardens Many residents have active memories of the history of Bondi Junction’s bus and railway interchange. Some of us remember the old open-air bus station, with its distinctive blue corrugated iron roofs. Others remember the opening of the new station. Some may even remember when the Bondi Junction railway station first opened. My mum’s recollection is of being shocked to see how steep and long the escalator was going down to the trains and of my grandmother being quite scared to walk onto it. A historic moment for locals. On 23 June, 1979 the Eastern Suburbs Railway finally reached Bondi Junction after decades of planning. Opened by NSW Premier Neville Wran, the station was part of a major transport vision for the area and, at the time, was considered remarkably advanced. It featured escalators, automatic ticketing and an integrated train and bus interchange. The station was also constructed using different methods; the platforms were tunnelled, while the concourse was built through an open cut-and-cover excavation. In 2001, the interchange as we know it opened, with Tiffany Plaza on top. What may have seemed innovative then has not dated very well. These days, the design of the area is unattractive and access is inconvenient - and inaccessible for some residents - as well as posing serious safety concerns. The main pedestrian route to trains requires crossing multiple bus driveways. It is a sad fact that this arrangement has been associated with serious injuries and fatalities over the years. The precinct remains difficult to navigate for many people with disability, older residents, parents with prams and anyone simply trying to find the most direct route between the station, buses and Oxford

40 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

Street. A transport interchange should make journeys easier and safer, but at Bondi Junction it can sometimes feel as though the journey begins with an obstacle course. Many mayors, MPs and community leaders have tried to solve this problem since the station was built. The difficulty is not a lack of ideas but rather the complexity of the site and the number of people and organisations with a legitimate interest in what happens next. Transport for NSW and Waverley Council are important players, but they are not the only ones. There are transport operators, retailers, residents, businesses, landowners above the transport asset and landowners across Oxford Street. There are also the people who use the interchange every day including commuters, school students, workers, visitors and people with accessibility needs. Despite significant efforts over many years, a plan to fix the problem has not been achieved. Bondi Junction is going to change, and it needs to. We must ensure that the best possible outcomes for our community and visitors to the area are secured. Accessibility and safety must come first. It is not okay that those with physical disabilities cannot access trains if the one lift is not functioning. That is why the current State Significant Development application in and around Oxford Street Mall deserves careful attention. It is not perfect, and no single development proposal will solve every problem at Bondi Junction, but it appears to offer one of the clearest opportunities we have had in recent years to bring the various landowners, governments and transport interests closer to a unified solution. The proposal’s broader vision includes an open, more people-focused mall and improved connections between the transport interchange and Oxford Street. Waverley Council’s master planning work also proposes shifting the primary station entrance towards Rowe Street, creating a more direct connection to the mall and making movement through the precinct safer and more intuitive. That is the kind of comprehensive thinking Bondi Junction needs. Any final solution must put safety, accessibility and public benefit at its centre. The community must be meaningfully consulted. Bondi Junction is too important to remain a collection of disconnected solutions. It is a major transport interchange, a retail centre and the civic heart of the Eastern Suburbs. The challenge is complicated, but complexity is not an excuse for inaction. It’s been a long time since Bondi Junction was the tramway junction where the steam tram lines to Bondi Beach and Bronte intersected at the corner of Oxford Street and Bronte Road. We may not be able to rebuild the past, but with cooperation, imagination and a willingness to put the public interest first, we can still build a Bondi Junction that works for the community it serves.

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

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We are here to help. If you need assistance with local or state issues, please contact our office. Dr Marjorie O’Neill MP Member for Coogee P: 02 9398 1822 E: coogee@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Allegra's View

Allegra and the Bondi & Districts Chamber of Commerce crew.

Looking After the Engine Room Words Allegra Spender, Federal Member for Wentworth Photo Con Tribution Recently, the owner of a local Bondi business wanted to sit down with me. Heʼd put years into his business and created something he was proud of, something the community loved, but he told me that keeping the doors open in recent years has been exceptionally tough. Heʼs not alone. This is a story Iʼm hearing again and again from small and medium business owners in our community. As someone who ran a family business myself for a decade before politics, I know how rewarding it can be - but also how hard. Starting a business takes gumption. It can mean long hours and real risk, often with your own savings on the line. The people who take this on are the engine room of our economy - small and medium businesses employ 42 per cent of the private sector workforce and contribute about $500 billion to our economy. They are the fabric of our local life, and when they struggle, we all feel it. In a high inflation environment like right now, they are hurting more than ever.

That is why a big focus of mine is pushing Parliament to come together to ensure weʼre doing everything possible to back our small and medium businesses. This is about building prosperity in our communities - and governmentʼs role is to create the environment that allows that to happen. There are practical things we could do right now. We need to make sure small businesses actually get paid on time, because cash flow is the number one cause of insolvency. So, Iʼve introduced a bill in Parliament to stop the slowest payers from winning government contracts, and Iʼll keep pushing for it. We also need to make it easier to access capital, create an ombudsman small businesses can turn to when they have issues with social media companies, and lift the small business threshold so genuinely small operators arenʼt buried under rules designed for big corporations. These are real steps the government should be taking. This is all related to a bigger question; how do we make Australia a place that backs

42 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

people who want to build something new? Weʼre a clever, capable country - for every venture capital dollar invested, Australia produces more start-up ʻunicornsʼ than almost anywhere in the world. We have the brains and guts to be one of the best places on earth to tackle big challenges, whether thatʼs in medical research or building artificial intelligence, but for too long weʼve been copying others slowly rather than leading, because our settings just get in the way. For example, our tax system should better reward risk-taking to build the businesses of the future. And while every government promises to cut red tape, it just keeps growing. Getting these things right is how we create jobs, lift wages and bring down costs, and this is where I need your input. I’m doing a lot of work in this space but I always want to hear from you, so if you run a business or are trying to start one, please let me know; what is getting in your way, and what would make the biggest difference? Please email your thoughts to me at Allegra.Spender.MP@ aph.gov.au or come and find me at one of my pop-up offices. A Little Update on Community Strong You may be aware that I launched a new party, Community Strong, with Warringah MP Zali Steggall. Thank you to everyone who has reached out with feedback and questions! We are building a different kind of party and are deep in the community consultation period. We can’t wait to share more updates with you. To make sure you hear it first, please sign up to our newsletter at community strong.org.au/join-us and follow @communitystrongaustralia on Instagram. Please let us know what youʼd like to see in a new political party - we need one.

What’s important to you right now? What’s important what’s important to you.

Scan Scan the QR the QR

to you right now? The best way I can represent Wentworth is by listening to our community. Your views help The best I can represent Wentworth shape myway priorities in Wentworth and in is by listening to our community. Your views help Parliament. Please fill out my survey to tell me shape my priorities in Wentworth and in Parliament. Pleasetofill out my survey to tell me what’s important you.

Help shape my my new new party party Community Community Strong Strong Help shape Community Strong is about politics differently, with communities Community Strong is about politics differently, with communities at the heart of decision-making. Scan the QR code to learn more. at the heart of decision-making. Scan the QR code to learn more.

How to contact my office

www.allegraspender.com.au

Allegra.Spender.MP@aph.gov.au 02 9327 3988

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Tight Lines

Just shy of 2.8 metres.

Mastering the Flats Words and Photo Lewis Kennedy-Hunt It’s not until you spend a day wading the flats that a seemingly featureless aquatic plain suddenly feels as wild and dynamic as a coral reef. That was what I came to appreciate on a recent mission to one of Beast publisher Huttoʼs sleepy South Coast haunts. We were on the hunt for flathead, quietly hoping for a monster, but happy with the idea of catching a few fish using a variety of techniques. We had primo weather, clear skies and just enough wind to ruffle the surface - a classic spring day that gives you a reminder of what summer is like after a long winter. And with spring being the perfect time to target these fish as they move up onto the flats to enjoy the warmth, we were quietly confident. In saltwater fishing, the phase of the tide is one of the biggest factors determining where fish will be and how they behave. This system was different, how-

ever. Open to the sea through a narrow channel, the tidal flow was heavily restricted, meaning the ocean’s influence was almost negligible. This lifted the pressure of short tidal bite windows, allowing us to slow down and fish the flats thoroughly. With this in mind, we climbed into our surfing wetties, loaded wading bags filled with a careful selection of lures and stepped into the water armed with a light rod each. Hoping for a bigger class of fish, I tied on a 155mm Crossfire bent minnow first, while Hutto stuck with his old favourite, a 75mm Daiwa Double Clutch, which many of you will be familiar with as a time-tested suspending jerkbait. The water was barely waist-deep as we manoeuvred through the weed and cockle beds casting at likely spots while dodging the odd stingray and eel. Straight off the bat, Hutto landed a solid tailor followed

44 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

by a pair of decent bream while I persisted with the bigger lure, waiting for a strike that never came. After downsizing, I managed to sling a few decent flathead into the net on a 120mm Duo Tide Minnow floating diver. As the sun climbed and the nor-easter developed, we decided to venture into the shallower, barely knee-deep water and try for some whiting on surface stickbaits. Targeting whiting off the top transforms the experience of catching a staple estuary species into a highly exciting and visual form of fishing. We persisted along a downwind stretch for a while before Hutto’s 65mm Daiwa Slippery Dog was smashed by a decent whiting in the 30s, putting up a valiant fight for its size. Just a few casts later and a bream ate my 95mm Bassday SugaPen off the surface before a decent flathead (pictured) did the same thing the very next cast. The following morning we woke before our alarms, frothing to catch some more fish. At a different location, Hutto tied on a shallow diving Double Clutch while I fished a small popper on ultralight leader. I landed a whiting and a bream in the early morning light while Hutto caught a handful of pan-sized flatties. After eventually joining me on the surface, Hutto’s popper was promptly smashed off the top by something more solid, putting up a strong fight before revealing itself as a luderick - an unexpected catch on that type of lure and almost impossible to replicate. As the sun climbed higher, we persisted with subsurface divers for flathead and Hutto closed the day with a really nice thickset dusky. In the end we finished up with around 30 fish and five different species between us, bringing our two-day effort to a satisfying close. Every fish was released, hopefully to be caught again a little larger somewhere down the track.

Tide Chart

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November 2026 Tide Chart Numbers Bureau of Meteorology Tidal Centre Monday

Tuesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Moons

30 0146 1.34 0718 0.61 1343 1.77 2037 0.38

•

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

Sunday 1 0201 1.24 0729 0.66 1400 1.72 2106 0.42

4 0522 1.39 1111 0.62 1726 1.58 2356 0.42

5 0613 1.50 1215 0.55 1821 1.55

6 0038 0.41 0658 1.59 1311 0.49 1910 1.51

7 0115 0.42 0739 1.68 1400 0.45 1955 1.46

8 0149 0.45 0817 1.74 1445 0.41 2037 1.42

10 0255 0.52 0929 1.79 1606 0.40 2159 1.33

11 0328 0.56 1003 1.78 1645 0.42 2238 1.29

12 0402 0.60 1039 1.75 1724 0.45 2318 1.26

13 0439 0.64 1116 1.71 1805 0.50

14 0000 1.22 0519 0.69 1156 1.65 1850 0.54

15 0047 1.20 0605 0.73 1240 1.59 1940 0.57

16 0139 1.18 0658 0.77 1330 1.53 2033 0.59

17 0239 1.19 0800 0.79 1426 1.48 2128 0.58

18 0341 1.24 0910 0.79 1528 1.45 2218 0.55

19 0437 1.32 1020 0.76 1630 1.44 2304 0.51

20 0526 1.43 1125 0.68 1727 1.45 2346 0.47

21 0610 1.56 1223 0.58 1820 1.46

22 0027 0.44 0653 1.70 1317 0.47 1913 1.47

23 0108 0.42 0737 1.83 1410 0.36 2004 1.47

24 0152 0.41 0822 1.94 1501 0.27 2058 1.46

25 0238 0.42 0911 2.01 1554 0.21 2152 1.43

26 0327 0.44 1001 2.05 1647 0.19 2248 1.40

27 0419 0.47 1054 2.04 1744 0.21 2345 1.37

28 0515 0.52 1147 1.98 1841 0.26

29 0045 1.34 0615 0.56 1244 1.89 1939 0.32

2 0315 1.25 0843 0.68 1512 1.65 2211 0.43

3 0424 1.31 1000 0.66 1623 1.61 2307 0.42

9 0223 0.48 0853 1.77 1526 0.40 2118 1.37

•

Issue 262 November 2026 The Beast 45

Dana's Recipe

That's a wrap!

Lebanese Lamb Kofta and Cauliflower Salad Words Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine What inspires me most about Lebanese food is the flavour you can build by using harmonious spices and aromats, and by creating fresh, vibrant side dishes. The table is completed when charred flatbread, lots of lemon and a refreshing, yoghurt based sauce are included. I always think of shared plates or platters when cooking this type of food. It’s generous, ‘moreish’ and can be made nutritiously and, above all, made to taste delicious. This recipe will generously feed six people and you can adapt it to your party size. The satisfaction is in the sharing, so enjoy! Ingredients Lamb Kofta (makes 24) 1.5kg lamb mince 2 tsp garlic powder 1½ tsp sumac 1½ tsp ground cumin ¼ tsp ground nutmeg 1 tsp sea salt ½ tsp black pepper 1 ½ tbs fresh ginger, grated 1 tbs pomegranate molasses Juice of ½ lemon ½ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped

¼ cup fresh coriander, finely chopped ½ cup extra virgin olive oil for frying the kofta Cauliflower salad Head of 1 cauliflower, cut into small florets 1 tbs extra virgin olive oil ½ tsp sea salt 1 Lebanese cucumber, skin and seeds removed, diced ½ red onion, finely diced Seeds of 1 pomegranate ¾ cup pistachios (shelled) 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped ¾ cup fresh mint, chopped Salad Dressing ½ cup Greek yoghurt Juice of ½ lemon 1 tbs honey 1 ½ tbs extra virgin olive oil Yoghurt Sauce 1 tbs extra virgin olive oil 1 clove garlic, minced 1 cup Greek yoghurt Juice of ½ lemon ½ tsp sea salt Pinch of black pepper 6 pita bread 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil Lemon wedges to serve

46 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

Method 1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C. 2. In an oven tray lined with baking paper, place the cauliflower and the olive oil and sea salt and toss to coat. Roast for 15 minutes until tender. Set aside to cool. 3. In a large bowl, add all ingredients for the lamb kofta. Mix well with clean hands to combine. 4. Roll the kofta mixture into roughly 4cm sized meatballs, cover and set aside. 5. To make the salad dressing, combine ingredients in a bowl and whisk well. Place in the fridge to use when needed. 6. To make the yoghurt sauce, add all ingredients to a bowl and stir to combine well. Cover and set aside in the fridge. 7. Remove the cauliflower from the oven and allow to cool. 8. In a bowl, combine all salad ingredients and mix well. Ensure there is an even spread of the herbs. Add the cooled cauliflower and toss gently. Do not dress the salad until serving. 9. In a large frypan set to medium heat, add the olive oil and fry the kofta for around 6 minutes in batches (don’t overcrowd the pan). Ensure they are browned on each side. Remove from the pan and place on paper towel. 10. For the pita, heat a griddle pan to high, brush each pita with olive oil and sear each side for 1 minute (char, not burn). 10. To plate, add the kofta to a serving bowl. Dress the salad and toss well, transfer to a serving bowl or platter. Put the yoghurt sauce in a small bowl and serve everything with the pita and lemon. Dana Sims is a Sydneybased food and prop stylist who has grown up in the Eastern Suburbs and loves to create delicious food. She is inspired by the fresh produce we have access to in Sydney. For ideas, recipes and styling inspiration, check out her Instagram, @stone_and_twine.

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Beast Brainteasers

The Beast Supercross 1

ACROSS 1. 2026 Gold Logie winner (3,4) 5. Fabric with patterns and holes (4) 7. Female egg cells (3) 8. Machine that converts stored energy into mechanical force (6) 9. Spread made from cream or milk (6) 10. Immature soybeans (7) 11. Tex-mex dish (6) 13. Oryza sativa seed (4) 16. Facility for animals (3) 17. Idiot (8) 19. Words of a song (5) 20. Entangle (7) 21. Estimated arrival time

(1,1,1) 22. Emotional hardcore (3) DOWN 1. The Crocodile Hunter (5,5) 2. Actor, ... Szubanski (5) 3. Yearly (6) 4. Proceed (2) 5. Open framework of crossed strips (7) 6. Board game (6) 9. Type of tiger (6) 12. Discolour with heat (6) 14. Tent-like shelter (6) 15. Glaze for baked goods (5) 16. Fictional masked vigilante (5) 18. Fashion magazine (4) 20. ʼ80s alien movie (1,1)

Trivial Trivia Words Lisa Anderson 1. Which horse breed is known for its spotted coat? 2. Japanese horseradish is better known as what? 3. What organ in the human body is affected by pleurisy? 4. How many letters do the words have in Wordle?

5. Where in the human body would you find Petit’s canal; ears, eyes or heart? 6. Which ocean is the Galapagos Islands located in? 7. What is the common term for a police photo taken of a person in custody?

8. Whose signature song was called ʻRing of Fireʼ? 9. What slang term for a sausage is also the word for a popular high energy song? 10. Which dance is also the international radio code for the letter T?

Subject Malabar Gold Location Maroubra Photographer Alexander Hubert 48 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

Aldo's Albums

Sunbleached Stop

Destroying the Things You Love

Label Community Music Reviewer @aldothewriter Rating  There seem to be plenty of hardcore and skate-punk bands scurrying around Australia of late but very few melodic screamo outfits. Sunbleached should help turn that momentum. This is good old-fashioned Beauty and the Beast stuff, but not that god-awful ʻchuggachugga, sing like a whiney American, now back to chuggachuggaʼ style so many churn out. It’s dreamy little verses that swing into raging with substance and arrangement. Think Violent Soho meets Turnstile and Bring Me the Horizon. Itʼs a bit dreary towards the end, but there’s enough to moisten the gums and keep us chomping at the bit for more.

Julia Jacklin

The Gem

Label 4AD/Remote Control Reviewer @aldothewriter Rating 

Wicker Genre Comedy Fantasy Romance Reviewer Linda Heller-Salvador Leaning heavily into Monty Pythonesque humour, directors Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson (Save Yourselves!) have imaginatively adapted Ursula Willsʼs 2008 short fable, The Wicker Husband, into a delightfully lustful and giggle-inducing satirical commentary on patriarchal gender roles and the societal backlash against a womanʼs autonomy. In a small medieval village, the fiercely self-assured and independent Fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) brazenly refuses to play by their misogynistic rules. Constantly ridiculed for being a spinster, she mockingly commissions an eccentric basket weaver (Peter Dinklage) to make her a husband. Much to her surprise, she receives an utterly devoted wicker Adonis (Alexander Skarsgård), whose flawless love for her quickly incites jealousy and bitter dissension throughout the town. Wicker is a whimsically absurd yet empowering fable for anyone who has ever felt suffocated by societyʼs pressure to conform. It reminds us that itʼs okay to be different and to march to the beat of your own drum. In fact, this deliciously quirky comedy might just be the perfect, defiant antidote to the mundanity of modern life we all need.

Time is a wheel, if my grandfather and the homeless guy on the corner are to be believed, and I can imagine Blue Mountains creatives listened to this sort of music around bonfires in the ʼ60s, swaying slowly to the beat while they talked about changing the world and how much Darren is creeping on Barbara and how he really needs to stop because it’s ruining the vibe. Bloody Darren. Julia Jacklin is on album three now, and The Gem feels comfortable and warm, like she’s where she’s meant to be. It is both peaceful and purposeful, which is exactly what good folk music is all about.

This Dance Floor

Skull

Label Independent Reviewer @aldothewriter Rating 

t h i s

d a n c e

f l o o r

Only a deranged, narcissistic pervert would review their own band, yet here we are. Recorded 13 years ago, before children arrived, there is an energy that is sadly lacking these days. Don’t believe what anyone says; children really do drain the life out of you. Skull is what happens when three very talented musicians meet up with one lanky weirdo with a tin can rattling around in his head and scribblings on beer coasters that he claims are songs. It almost never saw the light of day, which would have been a shame, because Dad likes it. The kids don’t though.

Issue 262 November 2026 The Beast 49

Beardy from Hell Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 20 Friends and family canʼt support you or feel close to you when you shut them out, so block their numbers and move on.

Gemini May 22-Jun 21 Post-consumption payment triggers psychological discomfort, as the immediate reward is gone so paying feels like a pure loss.

Aquarius Jan 21-Feb 19 Hiding your pain will only build stress and lead to anxiety or depression, so burden others with it instead.

Cancer Jun 22-Jul 22 You need to go on a dedicated mission to a specific body of water to target a specific species of fish using a specific lure.

Visions Beardy from Hell

Pisces Feb 20-Mar 20 Prolonged isolation or unhealed past wounds may cause people to mistake your kindness or attention for deep romantic love.

Leo Jul 23-Aug 22 Laziness is just a label used when someone lacks the visible motivation to do expected tasks. Donʼt feel bad about it.

Scorpio Oct 24-Nov 22 Your habit of pointing out the elephant in the room generally creates awkwardness and discomfort rather than laughter.

Aries Mar 21-Apr 20 The only way to get rid of a double chin is to continuously touch it and keep looking at it as much as possible from numerous angles.

Virgo Aug 23-Sep 23 You need to take a month off from making any important decisions, as your judgement has been absolutely terrible lately.

Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21 People may smile and congratulate you on your wins on social media, but quiet jealousy is the universal undercurrent.

Taurus Apr 21-May 21 You project an idealised future onto virtual strangers, falling for a fantasy version of the person rather than who they actually are.

Libra Sep 24-Oct 23 Most social circles prioritise making others feel at ease over brutal honesty, but thankfully yours doesn’t.

Star Signs

Trivial Trivia Solutions 1. Appaloosa 2. Wasabi 3. Lungs 4. Five 5. Eyes 6. Pacific 7. Mugshot 8. Johnny Cash 9. Banger 10. Tango 1

T 8

A N

V 10

W 17

50 The Beast November 2026 Issue 262

E 11

N G

O Y

R R

C 16

I S

G 15

A 20

L 14

U M

I 13

D D

O R

C H

NATIONAL RECYCLING WEEK CHEMICAL CLEANOUT

Sun 8 Nov

Safely dispose of any unwanted household chemicals found in your kitchen, bathroom, laundry, garage or garden shed.

9 am – 3.30 pm

RANDWICK RECYCLING CENTRE TOURS

Sat 14 Nov

Find out what happens to your recyclables after collection and learn why it’s important to recycle right. Free BBQ and coffee cart (kindly bring your coffee keep cup).

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1300 722 542 randwick.nsw.gov.au