The Beast - December 2021

BEAST The

December 2021

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Make Your Vote Count Words James Hutton @thebeastmag Welcome to the December 2021 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s abandoned beaches of the east.

I’m not sure whether it’s just because everyone’s back in the office, or if half the Eastern Suburbs has pissed off up or down the coast since lockdowns eased, but it’s been eerily quiet around here these last few weeks.

Coogee local Alex Snellgrove is our cover artist this month.

Alex’s beautiful portrait of Sydney Morning Herald journalist and fellow Coogee local Helen Pitt, In Her Element, has earned her a spot as a finalist in the Portia Geach Memorial Award. You can see more of Alex’s work by visiting her website at alexsnellgrove.com.au.

Local government elections are coming up on Saturday, December 4. Watching barrister Scott Robertson calmly grilling politicians and bureaucrats last month has partially restored my faith in our democracy and I can’t stress enough how important it is to get out and vote.

I feel like it’s going to be a very close race in Waverley and Randwick, so visit the various parties’ websites and learn what they stand for, and how they plan to run our local government areas, before you make your choice. We’re lucky in this area to have an incredible pool of talent to choose from, so please fulfil your civic responsibility and make your vote count (even if the surf’s pumping)!

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 are delivered every month; 58,000 are placed in mailboxes and 2,000 in local shops.

PEFC Certified The Beast uses paper from sustainably managed forests.

Letters to the Editor We want to hear from you!

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

Celebrate the festive season and enjoy music from around the world as musicians pop up around Bondi Junction this December.

Find out more at: waverley.nsw.gov.au/joytotheworld

8 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

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10 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

CONTENTS December 2021 Issue 203

8 Welcome Note

40 Local Artist

56 Marj's Musings

11 Contents

42 Kieran's Satire

58 Dave's Diary

12 Pearls of Wisdom

44 Headnoise

60 Dana's Recipe

14 Monthly Mailbag

46 Unreliable Guide

62 More Local Photos

24 Letter of the Month 48 Fishing Report

64 Beast Reviews

26 Local News

50 Tide Chart

65 Brainteasers

36 Local Photos

52 Money Matters

66 Beardy from Hell

38 Police News

54 The Green Room

66 Trivia Solutions

James and the Giant Salmon, by Justin Compton.

Middle-class problems.

Eastern Suburbs Yummy Mummies Suffering From 'Elf Burnout' Words Pearl Bullivant Photo Elle von Shelf COVID has truly been an inconvenience for the yummy mummies of the East. While the people of the Western Suburbs have happily endured isolation doing what comes naturally watching TV, existing on VB and McDonalds and amusing themselves with home tattoo kits and SportsBet - our yummy mummies have been denied the self-care and self-love essential to being an Eastern Suburbs mum.

It’s been a difficult five months of restrictions, and we have the new premier to congratulate for opening up NSW and understanding how difficult it is for women with large (quantitatively speaking), beautiful, affluent families to survive in a state of isolation.

Life in the east has always been fraught with challenges and competition, even before COVID - choosing party themes for birthdays (unicorn bubbles or luxury glamping sleepover?), selecting the right ‘magnet school’ for one’s profoundly gifted child, deliberating between cosmetic injectables and yoga styles and ensuring one’s life appears more ‘Byron Bay’ than overcrowded ‘Bondi’.

Thankfully, one has the Hamptons-style beach cabana (inducing ‘cabana envy’ amongst one’s peers) to stake a claim on Clovelly Beach now that the beaches are once again open to the great unwashed.

God only knows how one survived without the convenience of the beach cart - the

12 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

new essential for lazy yummy mummies when dragging their able-bodied kiddies from the luxury of an illegally parked Range Rover to the local café for an acai bowl.

With Christmas upon us, the yummy mummies of the east have yet another challenge - the dilemma caused by the Elf on the Shelf tradition (i.e. one invented by a bored American mother). For those readers ignorant of the latest middle-class FOMO trend, Elf on the Shelf is a hideous looking creature sent by Santa to monitor and critique the behaviour of one’s children. You would think the parental dilemma would be one of psychological damage, particularly amongst the pseudo hippies, but instead it is actually a time issue - since the elf needs to be moved around to create proof-of-life, time strapped parents have been suffering from ‘elf burnout’, trying to find creative and fun ways to animate an inanimate object (not to forget the competitive spirit of posting it on Facebook).

As one who amuses her cat, Pushkin, by hiding her dry food in different places, Pearl understands how harrowing the elf dilemma is for parents. But, like all middle-class problems, it has been solved in the form of a $110 ‘survival box’ created in response to parents for whom the elf has become yet another thing to worry about during the Yuletide season. Pearl had assumed that all issues in the life of a mum of the east could be solved by a margarita or champagne (the essential bevvies to survive Halloween trick or treating, going by what I saw on our local streets last month), but obviously I was wrong, just as I was wrong when I assumed that coronavirus would replace the virus of affluenza in the east and provide us with the reset that is so desperately needed.

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The Beast's Monthly Mailbag Words The Emancipated People of the Eastern Suburbs Current Development Applications FORGOTTEN PEOPLE? I read last month’s letter from Simon Furness, Uniting’s Director of Property & Housing (Opening Up the Heritage of the Waverley War Memorial Hospital, Letters, The Beast, November 2021) with anger and despair.

How interesting that he decided not to mention the 50 or so elderly and frail-aged people who are existing residents on the site, and who are facing eviction in order to facilitate the arrival of a much larger number of people who can pay more than we could.

What Uniting is apparently choosing not to tell you is that there are no vacancies elsewhere, and that we cannot come back here because we can’t pay more, even if we innocently bought in here in the first place.

Uniting’s “vision” is one which talks about “ageing in place” (see the Planning Proposal) but won’t allow us to do it. Naturally we wouldn’t be mentioned: it would spoil the “spin”.

An Invisible, Nameless and Disregarded Resident of the WMH Site Waverley DOES UNITING CARE? Simon Furness (Opening Up the Heritage of the Waverley War Memorial Hospital, The Beast, November 2021) makes various assertions that are contradicted by the master plan Uniting has for the site.

You don’t “honour and enhance” the heritage listed grounds by building a seven-storey building on them and removing century-old majestic trees. This will barricade the ecological corridor from Waverley Oval to Queens and Centennial Parks transited by 170 bird species.

Seven of the eight new buildings are so-called independent living units for the over 55s. Are these any

different to a typical Eastern Suburbs apartment development? Only one new building involves aged care and other services.

The reason why the site is being disfigured is the intensity of the apartment development. Maybe a few less apartment buildings and, presto, no need to defile the heritage and ruin the site!

Many will have seen the A Current Affair segment on October 29 that detailed the plight of aged and frail residents who have received ‘find somewhere else to live’ notices. Does this accord with the benevolence of the Vickery family who gifted the site originally?

More than 900 people have joined the petition against this development so far. Add to our voice by signing if you’ve not already done so at www.tinyurl.com/3m5ymee6.

Greg Vaughan Friends of War Memorial Hospital Bronte COOGEE VILLAGE SKYLINE Dear Editor - I’m hoping the Coogee Bay Hotel high-rise doesn’t proceed as is. It would be a shame to lose the village feeling.

Kind regards, Catherine Coogee COMMUNITY OBJECTS TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF COOGEE BAY HOTEL Dear Editor - As a member of Randwick Heritage Action Group (RHAG), I would like to express our concern at the rampant overdevelopment in Randwick and Coogee, once renowned as a beautiful beachside village. This reputation (especially after the recent ravaging of the iconic and historic Coogee Surf Club) is rapidly disappearing.

Coogee is once again in danger of losing yet another iconic heritage

14 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

precinct. As you all well know, the community has fought long and hard to preserve our heritage, and we keep fighting as developer privilege escalates. Vaucluse just lost an historic 1920s mansion due to developer pressure. No amount of development and money can replace our history, our culture and heritage and our light.

We are not alone in our fight to preserve our heritage. Recently, Vaucluse residents have been up in arms and are demanding that their council compile a master list of the suburb’s heritage homes something that has come a little too late for them and something that we have been struggling to compile here at Randwick.

“We need to be proactive, rather than reactive once these properties go on the market or are subject to a DA,” stated Woollahra Councillor Morano on August 7, 2021.

The community has lodged multiple objections to this DA and requested that Randwick City Council acknowledge the right of the community to preserve not only our heritage but our streetscape, views and light. This six-storey development contravenes the 12-metre height policy. The resultant blocking of views, shading and lack of coherent streetscape aesthetic will result in demoralising our community and compromise lifestyle.

The only people who will benefit will be the wealthy investors who will enjoy the views at the expense of our village atmosphere.

We are deeply concerned about the surrounding bulk and scale of this development and the potential for loss of amenity impacting surrounding properties as a result of any non-compliance.

Also, the beautiful Art Deco block at 15A Vicar Street is a heritage item and must be maintained.

This three-storey building, in its facade and detail, is a wonderful example of Inter War architecture.

The rate of development now is out of control, and we are in danger of becoming another concrete jungle by the beach. Coogee Bay Road, Vicar Street and Arden Street form a rectangular precinct that is truly iconic and is therefore instantly recognisable by tourists from all over the world. It forms an integral part of our famed village atmosphere. This development proposal will only benefit the developers and severely compromise our famed village and heritage atmosphere.

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We have constantly asked that Randwick councillors and the associated planning committees put the community’s needs first before it is too late. Thanks kindly for your consideration, Linda Avramides RHAG Coogee YOU'RE JOKING? Dear Editor - Seriously? A 23-24 metre CBH development proposal?!

If the existing 12 metre limit for this area is abandoned, the beautiful and historic Coogee Valley, climbing to the Randwick Ridge, becomes a high-rise plain.

Please, Mr Perrottet, do not let this happen.

Del Buchanan Coogee THE ENEMY WITHIN Dear Beast - Forgive me Beast for I have sinned! I was one of those holding the firm belief that the owner of the Coogee Bay Hotel was an outsider - someone from Vaucluse, Point Piper or, worse still, The Shire.

Surely you can see this as a perfectly reasonable mistake; an assumption I formed upon reading just what his development proposal involved. I mean, someone from the Coogee community surely wouldn’t propose a development that will ruin the views and free air space of neighbouring properties?

They wouldn’t seek the support of established small businesses while developing their own supermarket and “eat street” outlets... especially as those same existing businesses are struggling to emerge from some 18 months of COVID restrictions.

And ‘one of our own’ couldn’t possibly seek to replace the breezy gateway to our beach promenade with a six-storey mimicry of Gold Coast luxury, served by even more vehicular traffic.

But I stand corrected. As your November edition pointed out, this development proposal came from “a local”, a member of the Coogee family. Hey Beast, have you ever seen that ‘60s movie, The Bad Seed?

Greg Toms Coogee COOGEE BAY HOTEL REDEVELOPMENT Dear James - I feel obliged to register my strong objection to the Coogee Bay Hotel redevelopment.

Recent issues of The Beast have

contained letters from locals outlining the compelling reasons for this development to not proceed in its current form so I will not repeat them but rather wholeheartedly endorse them.

It appears to me that this entire saga is a microcosm of what is occurring more broadly in our society - the belief that it is acceptable to ‘get ahead’ at the expense of your fellow man, no matter the impact or cost.

This project appears to exemplify this concept - another example of insatiable developers pushing the limits to maximise their profit at the expense of locals. How much wealth do these people need? When is enough, enough?

Coogee is a charming, relaxed location open to all comers no matter their circumstances. We need to keep Coogee a village. Please visit www.keepcoogeeavillage.com.

Thank you, Jennifer Thomas Coogee COVID-19 in The East CATEGORY MISTAKES? Dear James - Not sure what Mullumbimby has to do with your service to the local community, but only two categories (Freedom at Last!, The Beast, November 2021)?

I wonder if you’re confusing ‘analysing’ with ‘glib generalising’, or ‘anti-vaxxer' with ‘unvaxxed’, or ‘reliable scientific information’ with, say, ‘Pfizer-funded trial results’, or ‘educated’ with ‘persuaded’, or ‘protecting vulnerable people’ with ‘protecting business interests’? Perhaps your phrase, ‘educated to believe’, says it all? That is, that beliefs are what you think count, not sensible hygiene practices or corporate and government accountability and transparency.

Shane Coogee Local Government Issues THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE Thank you, James, for publishing Haydn Keenan’s article regarding the unacceptable noise levels endured by local residents from overseas travellers! It almost read as if I had dictated it myself! So glad to see that I am not the only one who shares these views.

You may recall my writing in to The Beast about this very issue (Restore Some Peace, Quiet and Sanity, Letters, The Beast, March 2019 and Bondi’s Latest Clandes-

16 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

tine Backpackers Hostel, Letters, The Beast, October 2019). This last letter prompted a follow up twopage article by Siriol Dafydd in the December 2019 edition after several other readers followed up my letter and contacted The Beast about the same issues. In fact, Haydn Keenan was also quoted in that article in relation to opposing a proposed development application to build a boarding house at Lamrock Avenue, Bondi Beach.

I join Haydn to encourage anyone who can spare some time and/or possess some research and legal skills to send him an email at smart.street@bigpond.com to assist with restoring expected reasonable amenities to local residents without the unregulated excesses of roaming travellers.

Zak Bondi PRIVACY CONCERNS Recently, neighbours concerned about the impacts of a development application lodged letters of objection with Waverley Council expressing their concerns over its impacts. Some of these objections were quickly followed up - within three days in fact - by the applicant, who made similar threats to what he had made to other objectors to his development applications.

This current matter raises two important issues for Council to review. The first being that the applicant felt they had the right to contact objectors and challenge them for their opposition. This behaviour is totally unacceptable.

We live in a democracy and are proud of our freedom of speech and the right we have to speak out and oppose others, and the expectation that others will accept that those who object have every right to do so. That is our society and how we expect it to operate. It also underlies the intention of Council’s DA review process.

The second issue concerns the speed with which the applicant contacted the objectors. How did they, within three days, find out the details of those objectors who had written to Council in opposition to the proposal? Clearly Council must have informally released the objectors’ details.

While this is public information, did the objectors know that their names had been released? We think not. If the applicant is to have these details then surely objectors need

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to be informed of the process. Each has to be treated equally.

We expect that Council will follow up on this important issue and put stricter guidelines in place regarding the release of information concerning residents’ privacy.

Name and suburb withheld for fear of reprisals IT'S JUST TOO BIG! Hi people - You might remember back in 2020 plans to rebuild the Bronte Surf Club were released, much to the community’s horror.

Council opened a feedback platform for people to give their opinions and, frankly, not many people were pleased. The first problem was that the proposed project was way too big and would require completely rebuilding the surf club, the kiosk would be either relocated or gone for good and the bathrooms were a good ten metres further away from the beach than they used to be. Not to mention the sheer size of the thing! It would totally dominate the north end of the beach, and it would be taller, wider and darker than it used to be.

But size was not the only thing troubling the Bronte community. The Bronte Surf Club is an extremely iconic building. Many major fundraisers and events have been hosted there, not to mention the nippers reward ceremonies for kids who have graduated their SRC or simply finished a hard season of nippers. The historic value of the building is unparalleled, but it could do with a spruce up. I think the way to go is to think of ‘restoration’ rather than ‘renovation’. For all it has done for us, I think the least we could do is restrain from annihilating all our Bronte memories.

Auriane Lacroix Bronte FENCING OFF THE COASTLINE Dear James - Hidden in the detail of the innocuously named Biodiversity Action Pan 20212030 - Waverley LGA Remnant Bushland, are proposals to fence off the clifftops that border Bronte Cutting and Calga Reserve and block public access on the basis that they are places people like to go to take in the views and in the course of so doing they may trample plants.

Every year, over two million people come to the Eastern Beaches to walk along the coast, watch the ocean, the whales, the sunrise and the moon on the water at night. The

report is correct that people walk the cliffs above the cutting. There is a semi-defined path through it and I can’t understand why people shouldn’t be there. As to the area below Calga Reserve, people don’t venture down there.

More importantly, fences are unattractive intrusions into the natural world. If they are erected in the cause of protecting nature they will be spoiling the very thing they are supposed to be protecting - the beautiful surroundings we are so privileged to enjoy. It is so much nicer to stand and gaze out to sea without a fence in front of you.

There is a tendency for councils to add more and more clutter to parks and the coastal walk: bins, signage, water fountains, lighting, fences and increasing amounts of concrete. All of it detracts from the natural beauty of the coastline.

There is a wildness about the cliffs and the beaches that is in danger of being overwhelmed and spoiled.

Regards, Penny Bronte OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES James - With local elections coming up. It is good to reflect on the performance of our councillors over their tenure.

For some years, I, and other ratepayers, have been requesting that a shower facility be installed at the southern end of Bronte Beach, the place where access to the beach is the highest. When you look at the facilities at other beaches (particularly those in Randwick) it is obvious that Bronte has been sadly neglected. It’s a simple request, and not even an expensive one, but our councillors have shown little interest.

Yes, Bronte has a new bus terminus, and yes, we have a new pathway up the cutting, but these are facilities more for pesky tourists than the local ratepayers. There is also the quandary regarding the surf club, where they want to build “bigger and better”, with residents overwhelmingly rejecting their cashed up proposal.

What really concerns me is their lack of understanding, or simply disinterest, of the real needs of their ratepaying residents. The surf club is not the end of Bronte beach where people go. We all congregate at the southern end (all year round), where the facilities are sadly in need of an upgrade.

18 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

To this end, Waverley Council carried out extensive consultation with residents three years ago to produce a plan for the southern area but quickly dumped them with the smell of money coming from the state for the surf club. Even then, in response to our request for the showers the mayor offered us an additional shower point at the pool, claiming there was no plumbing available - a response not well received. Considering the money currently being invested in Bronte, a shower facility, where people need it, should be nothing more than small change.

This is what you call politics.

With the major parties dominating local government, minor issues can be ignored at will. I think ratepayers who regularly use Bronte would say to our councillors, “Not a penny should be spent on the surf club until they provide the facilities where they are really needed!”

Kindest Regards, Andrew Goldfinch Bondi Junction THE CASE FOR CLEANING UP OUR RECYCLING RULES In the war against landfill, a crucial battleground is inconsistency in household recycling rules.

Let’s say you’ve finished reading this edition of The Beast and want to recycle it. If you’re based in Woollahra Council, your magazine should be deposited in the yellow bin. But if you drive down the road to Waverley, the magazine belongs in the blue bin. The rules change again if you stroll over to Randwick, where it must be recycled in the yellow bin or, if it has been shredded, in the green bin.

Clearly, even among the Eastern Beaches community, kerbside bin colours and recycling rules vary dramatically between councils.

With such inconsistency, it is little wonder that between 10 and 15 per cent of Australia’s household waste is recycled incorrectly. This ‘contaminated’ recycling often ends up in landfill, damaging the environment and representing a missed economic opportunity to recover and reuse the material.

Consistency across councils is urgently needed. In June, the state government responded to this challenge by introducing a Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy encouraging councils to streamline their approach to household waste.

Under the new strategy, all councils

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must adopt a green food organics garden organics (FOGO) bin by 2030, which will go some way towards standardising kerbside bins.

It is worth noting that Randwick was ahead of the curve here, having introduced a FOGO bin service in March this year.

The state government’s strategy also offers a joint waste services procurement scheme. Councils can opt into the scheme, which will support them to work together to jointly procure waste services such as bin collection and rubbish processing. The goal of this voluntary scheme is to help councils move towards ‘standardisation of services where appropriate’.

The Eastern Beaches councils are well positioned to opt in and seize this opportunity to streamline their recycling services. There are key similarities between Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick: all are metropolitan areas and all rank among the most densely populated councils in New South Wales. All three use the same material recycling facility (MRF), operated by VISY. What’s more, these councils already work together on joint tenders and waste management projects.

Clearly there is an appetite among council waste departments for a collaborative approach. It would be wonderful to see this collaboration become more ambitious.

The operational challenges will be significant, but with proper funding and support from the state government, the Eastern Beaches councils can coordinate their processes and messaging. Absolute uniformity across collection services is unlikely due to differences in population, geography and traffic. But by working together, there is an opportunity for Eastern Beaches councils to clear up recycling confusion in our region and, perhaps, to emerge as state leaders in recycling harmonisation.

A recent report from the CSIRO found that “[c]lear, consistent information will help reduce contamination and support [an] improved recycling rate”. Households are crying out for this consistency. The Eastern Beaches are a tight knit community, more similar than we are different, and surely we can work towards a place where the most recent edition of The Beast is recycled in the same bin - no matter which council you hail from.

Anjelica Rush Elizabeth Bay

Anjelica Rush is a volunteer with the Australian Conservation Foundation’s Eastern Sydney Community Group. The group works within the local community to tackle environmental issues such as climate change and the biodiversity crisis. If you would like to get involved, please touch base at acfeasternsydney@gmail.com.

Federal Government Issues BARNABY'S BUDDY Once again, in his Beast column, Dave Sharma says lots of nice things about his commitment to action on climate change. Yet on October 27 (which just happens to be the very day that I read his column) Dave voted to not even allow debate on the Climate Change Bill, introduced into parliament

by Zali Steggell. It seems he says one thing to the community, but in parliament he votes just like Barnaby Joyce.

Colin Ridley Clovelly THE (NON) DELIVERY TEAM Why is Prime Minister Scott Morrison running the victory lap to celebrate a successful vaccine rollout when he was a late starter and did not even finish in the placings?

The race was won by the state and territory leaders.

Why is David Sharma claiming he has taken the cure by swimming in the miracle waters of Bondi Beach? Is it a permanent cure or just temporary relief?

They’re the ultimate scammers, aren’t they? All promises and no delivery!

You open the front door and take delivery of the vaccine box, and when you open it you find the box is half empty and delivered late.

The missile box was lost in the post, never to be seen again. They took your deposit for the submarine box, only to tell you that it’s out of stock and won’t be available until 2050.

They’re still disputing whether you should get a refund.

Then there’s the climate change package you ordered. It’s delivered late too, and when you open it there are parts missing and there’s no assembly instructions or tool kit. What’s more, you ordered the complete package but you only got the fossil fuel parts.

It’s time to find a new online supplier!

Steve Barker Bronte

20 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

Other Local Happenings CHEERS, BIG AL Please pass my thanks to “Big Al” for his beautiful and inspiring portrait of Bondi (Childhood Memories of Bondi, Letters, The Beast, November 2021). It will help us fresher residents understand what the true Bondi lifestyle is meant to be, and aspire to it.

Victor Bondi CROWD PULLER 5.45 am Friday, October 29, crowds line Coogee Beach for the show.

Two questions from this 70-yearold photographer: 1. How do these young people know that this morning would be like this? I’m down there every day for my walk and swim, but most days there’s only a few people on the beach at this time.

2. Where do they all get their take-away coffees at that hour?

Jeffrey Mellefont Coogee

SAFE STREETS TO SCHOOL We are a group of concerned residents and parents who have come together to campaign for safer streets for children to walk or ride the whole way to and from school.

To make this a reality, we are calling for councils and governments to install suitable footpaths and pedestrian priority crossings within two kilometres of schools, where there are speed limits of 40km/h or higher.

We are also asking for 30km/h speed limits on streets where there are no pedestrian priority crossings or footpaths.

Of course, we believe we can have higher speed limits on main streets and arterial roads, but on those streets we need separation for people to be safe - dedicated cycle lanes, footpaths and pedestrian priority crossings.

Walking to school improves kids’ fitness and independence, but children are often driven over short distances to school because parents believe walking to school is unsafe.

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As a result, our streets are subject to tens of thousands more car trips every year, making them even less safe and clogging up roads with unnecessary traffic during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up.

The case for 30km/h speed limits on residential streets...

In August last year, the General Assembly of the United Nations endorsed 30km/h maximum speed limits wherever pedestrians, cyclists or other vulnerable road users mix with motor vehicles. This mandate was part of a strategy to reduce road deaths and injuries by 50 per cent by 2030.

A 30km/h speed limit is already in place in Manly and Liverpool LGAs, Centennial Park, Auckland, Paris, Toronto, Madrid, Edinburgh and Oslo.

Research shows that when children are trying to cross a street without a pedestrian crossing, they can’t judge gaps in traffic consistently when cars go faster than 30km/h.

As Transport for NSW’s Centre for Road Safety states, reducing the car speed to 30km/h would prevent most accidents.

The risk of death or serious injury if someone is hit at 30km/h is less than 10 per cent, compared to 90 per cent if hit at 50km/h. But we do not believe it is fair to wait for an accident to happen and our children to risk injury or death; we want to make our streets to school safe now.

A 2010 study by researchers at University of Royal Holloway London found that primary school children can’t accurately judge the speed of vehicles travelling faster than 30km/h.

A 2017 study by the University of Iowa found that children up to their early teenage years had difficulty safely crossing a busy road with 40km/h traffic, with collision rates as high as one in 20.

So, 30km/h is the maximum speed where our children can “mix” with traffic. On streets with higher speed limits, children and teenagers need crossings and footpaths.

Driving slowly on streets that are not very important for cars is not only a sensible solution but also a cost-effective solution.

It’s not a huge infrastructure change that needs to go through a capital works project or take years to build.

Active travel to school also comes with significant mental and physical health benefits for kids and longterm public health benefits.

Please sign and share our petition to Randwick Council, which has more powers to make walking and cycling safe under its Transport for NSW Treatments for COVID Recovery, and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you know of more Randwick City streets that could benefit from either a 30km/h speed limit or dedicated pedestrian crossings and/or better footpaths.

You can also view our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ safestreetstoschoolrandwickcouncil.

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Is this a good use of public space?

Secret Deals Propose Gifting More Public Space to Private Clubs Words Amy Brookes Images Waverley Council Back in September 2019, Waverley Council entered into a confidential Heads of Agreement (HOA) arrangement with the Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club (ESCC) and then gave them $20,000 to investigate the feasibility of building a large cricket facility on public land in Waverley Park.

Two years after the confidential HOA was entered into, Waverley Council began a community consultation for the proposed indoor cricket training facility as part of the Waverley Park Plan of Management and Master Plan. After two weeks the community consultation was deferred without clear explanation. A few weeks later, on October 25, 2021, community consultation was reopened for a period of only four weeks, with one week’s notice for community workshop meetings. Signage about the consultation had not been re-erected in the park at the time of the consultation reopening.

The proposal would add another $3.6 million building next to the Margaret Whitlam Recreation Centre that cost over $12 million less than a decade ago. The original recreation centre was designed to sit low and ‘lightly’ in the park to facilitate views through the building across the fields to the ocean. The cricket club was intimately involved in the design of the Margaret Whitlam Recreation Centre.

The proposed new cricket building would cover the grassed area next to the current recreation centre above the indoor multipurpose court and in front of the children’s playground. It would sit 6 metres high, 37 metres wide and 19 metres deep. It is reported by Council to “be transparent 24 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

with a light weight roof so that views from the park are maintained over Bondi and out to the ocean”. However, it is hard to reconcile how such a large building that will house four cricket training lanes with associated nets will not interfere with views from within the park. The building is proposed to be made of glass yet purports to be environmentally responsive. Quite how this vast construction of glass will meet Council’s stringent environmental policies is unclear.

“I couldn’t understand why they wanted to build another cricket training facility on a piece of public open space with such great views,” local resident Stephen Weymouth said. “Now I see there are also plans for a kitchen facility, presumably so they can wine and dine and watch the cricket games with amazing views. The more I find out about this the more outrageous it becomes. So much has already happened behind closed doors that the community consultation appears meaningless.”

Councillors - Liberal, Labor and Green - all claim to be opposed to overdevelopment, but not it would seem in the case of Waverley Park. It became clear after the Bronte Surf Club overdevelopment debacle that residents do not like deals to be done behind closed doors, and nor should they be - we are a democracy. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of our open public spaces, something that Waverley Council would do well to take note of before entering into secretive agreements or funding feasibility studies.

Council records show that they were approached to part fund and house the new building due to the loss of training facilities at Sydney Cricket Ground Number 2 because of redevelopment of the football stadium. It is not possible for Waverley, the smallest municipality in NSW, to fulfil all sporting demands. Waverley Park is bursting at the seams with sport, with much private club use of public land. There are many facilities available to the cricket club including outdoor cricket training facilities, the oval, club rooms and dressing rooms.

This facility is designed by and for the cricket club and its 90 per cent male membership.

Where’s the equity here in an already crowded park where it’s already difficult to find a free spot for passive recreation?

Council must stop entering into confidential (secret) agreements with private clubs. It is our money and these are our public parks. To have your say, please go to haveyoursay.waverley.nsw. gov.au/waverley-park-plan-of-management.

Hopefully the community consultation is still open. If not, please email the general manager at Waverley Council urgently.

Issue 203 December 2021 The Beast 25

Fred Humphreys getting plenty of air at Varna Park during lockdown.

Facilities Needed as Popularity of Mountain Bike Riding Surges Words Nicola Smith Photo John Humphreys Back in May 2020, The Beast satire columnist Kieran Blake penned a piece about a mountain bike track in Centennial Park. While the article was very much satirical, the community response to the story left us wondering whether the Eastern Suburbs could benefit from such a track.

During the latest Sydney lockdowns, mountain biking became a popular activity for children, particularly the demographic of kids who have graduated from the pop-up pedal parks but aren’t yet interested in speeding around Centennial Park’s Grand Drive in lycra at more than 30 clicks.

There have even been reports of kids taking matters into their own hands and constructing bike tracks in local parks, only to have them flattened by councils the following day (and subsequently rebuilt by the children the day after).

However, the interest in mountain bike riding may not be matched by the availability of land in the Eastern Suburbs, with most of the area’s highly coveted green spaces protected as National Parks or by conservation trusts.

Centennial Parklands Trust makes no provision for riding bikes off the sealed roads within the park. Clause 21 (2) (b) of the park’s rules and regulations makes it an offence to “drive, ride, stand or park a vehicle other than on a sealed road or on part of the Trust Lands.” The definition of a vehicle includes all types of bicycles.

This restriction extends to the perimeter track of Centennial Park that runs inside the fence line, which is widely believed to be designed specifically for cyclists.

A spokesperson from the Greater Sydney Parklands, of which Centennial Park is a part,

26 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

told The Beast that the motivation for these restrictions was conservation.

“Protecting the green space and natural bushlands of our Parklands is our top priority,” the spokesperson explained.

Although Centennial Park may not be a haven for mountain bikers, Randwick Council has identified the sport’s popularity in its latest Open Space and Recreation Strategy.

The strategy states that the council will seek to “identify potential temporary and/or permanent sites for active informal sports including BMX track, BMX jumps course and/ or mountain bike course.”

A spokesperson from Randwick Council confirmed that these plans are underway albeit in their very early stages.

The strategy was only released in July this year, so BMX riders will have to watch this space to see where any future tracks may be located.

The Greater Sydney Parklands acknowledged the popularity of the sport and does, in fact, operate a mountain bike trail at Cecil Park, part of the Western Sydney Parklands in Eastern Creek. The spokesperson also said that they supported the idea of such a facility in the Eastern Suburbs.

“We appreciate there is a growing interest in the sport, and we have offered our support to both Randwick and Waverley Councils on how they can deliver more BMX facilities in the Eastern Suburbs,” the spokesperson told The Beast.

Randwick Council also identified the Bush Tucker Trail that runs between Yarra Bay and La Perouse as a council-owned track where cyclists could enjoy an off-road cycle.

If you’d like to share your thoughts on mountain bike riding in our local area, please email letters@thebeast.com.au.

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The man about town.

Bronte's Louie Collins Takes the Road Less Travelled Words Nicola Smith Photo Jack Bennett For those who love to travel, the only thing better than actually being there is the feeling of being there, and Bronte local Louie Collins has set out to achieve just that with his new clothing label, Five by Flynn.

Mr Collins’ latest locally designed collection, Flynn’s Airways, launches in December 2021 and aims to take you down a road less travelled.

The affable entrepreneur gave The Beast an insight into the inspiration behind the pieces.

“I’m definitely making them for people who love travelling and who want to find those hidden gems; I want people to feel worldly when they wear these clothes,” Mr Collins explained.

Started by Collins in 2019, the Five by Flynn project began as a line of five camp collar shirts and soon expanded to a range of clothing and acces-

sories for men and women, including items as diverse as a selection of ceramics from Mud

by Chester. Whereas previous collections had focused on capturing the essence of a specific place, Flynn’s Airways evokes the nostalgia of air travel.

“Obviously right now people still can’t really travel, but I wanted to inspire people to love travel again when they can,” Mr Collins told The Beast. “If they can’t travel, then maybe wearing a piece of clothing from our collection will help them feel like they are.”

The new collection features light blue and white tones that replicate the sky in forms almost reminiscent of a retro airline uniform.

Where fashion can often be about exclusivity, Five by Flynn takes its name from a fictional character created by Collins to prevent exclusion.

28 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

“I never wanted people to feel left out by not being friends with the right person,” Mr Collins mused. “I think its easy to feel left out and cliquey in the Eastern Beaches, so I wanted to create a character who no one is actually friends with, to be as inclusive as possible.”

The Five by Flynn website features a blog that charts the musings and travels of the imagined Flynn.

“The beauty of him not existing is that we can write whatever we want and no one can tell us that we’re wrong,” he laughed.

Through his work on Five by Flynn, Mr Collins is realising his ambition to do something creative, independent of the parameters of society.

“When I left school, I wanted to start something but I didn’t know what I wanted to do.

A few friends were up-andcoming DJs and we started a company called Dans Ave, and that company kind of grew. I really enjoyed staying niche and doing whatever I wanted to, and it made me really want to start my own project,” he told The Beast.

Mr Collins credits his creative family and his studies in business with giving him the right lens to create each line of clothing.

“I always try to flesh out what I want to do specifically, rather than just making clothes because they’re cool.”

You can shop the collection at www.fivebyflynn.com or follow @five.byflynn on Instagram.

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Ben and Beej delivering the good vibes.

Neighbourhood Bondi: Post-Lockdown Party Perfection Words Nicola Smith Photo Bev Veridge Having survived two years of lockdowns, Bondi gem Neighbourhood is back open delivering great cocktails, good vibes and even Sunday roasts under the new management team of Benjamin Campbell and Brendan Darcy (Beej).

Both hailing from Manchester, England, the hospitality gurus were destined to become best mates long before they met. The pair’s trademark joviality is evident throughout.

Benjamin spent six years working at Neighbourhood, first as bar manager and then as general manager, before being joined by Brendan to take over ownership of the venue in 2019.

“It was the first place in Australia that I had a drink, the first place I worked, and I was only in Bondi for seven days before I knew I wasn’t going home,” Benjamin told The Beast.

The pair have created a home away from home with an eclectic staff of Mancunians and other ex-pats that aims to bring their northern charm to Bondi.

“Staffing in Australia is very expensive, so venues manage it

with things like ordering apps at your tables and customers getting their own drinks,” Benjamin explained, “but we want there to always be someone who can welcome you in and have a natter; we want everyone who comes in to have a good time.”

“It’s a little bit of a tropical haven even though it has that charm from home,” Brendan added. “It’s kind of like a classic UK beer garden but with way better weather!”

The pair have certainly succeeded in creating a fun and welcoming establishment that has been very well-received by the Bondi community.

“We want it to be like people coming over to our house or our backyard, but with ‘boujeer’ drinks,” Benjamin laughed.

Recreating the venue in their image hasn’t come without its challenges though, with the bushfires and COVID characterising much of the time they’ve owned the business.

During the bushfires, many Europeans were told their travel insurance would be void if they visited Australia, stem-

30 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

ming the flow of Neighbourhood’s typical ex-pat clientele.

Add to this the deflating reality that none of their cosmopolitan staff members were eligible for the government’s COVID payments during either of the lockdowns. During this dark period the boys sent regular care packages to their staff and organised online quiz nights to lift morale.

Unfailingly optimistic, the pair now look back on that challenging time as a formative era for their business.

“After the first lockdown, we were having these ten-person parties. It didn’t make sense to hire a chef, so we’d get the jaffle maker out and do a couple of back-to-back parties every weekend, and it evolved from there,” Benjamin told The Beast.

Jaffles have now become a fixture of the Neighbourhood menu, including the British inspired Northern Dip - a roast beef, cheese and onion jaffle that comes with a side of gravy.

Mix this with staff party shirts, a no-bookings policy and a new drinks menu created by fellow Mancunian Elliott Berriman, and you have the perfect post-lockdown spot to get reacquainted with the real world.

Looking forward, Ben and Beej are just happy to see their customers again.

“We’ve got one of the best jobs in the world, a job based around socialising. It’s tumultuous but packed with flavour,” Brendan said.

Their newest venue, Chuck Trailers, just around the corner from Neighbourhood, is also set to open by the end of the year.

“It’s going to be a dive bar that’s even more debaucherous than Neighbourhood. Think ‘90s cocktails and chicken wings,” Benjamin told The Beast.

Neighbourhood is located at 143 Curlewis Street, Bondi.

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The Argies don't muck around.

The Barbecue Unmasked Words Luke Kennedy Photo Diego Maradona Since the so-called ‘Freedom Day’ many of us have been able to enjoy our first backyard barbecue. In honour of reclaimed liberties, and his own birthday, one friend purchased a brand new barbecue. Alvaro’s temple of meat took two days to construct and was truly a sacred site around which people could congregate to celebrate the great Aussie ritual of char-grilling while sipping beer and bantering.

The gathering took place on a Saturday evening in a Bondi backyard. Before you default to suburban stereotypes, this was not an assembly of nouveau riche merchant bankers and their botox queens with lips plumper than sausages or hirsute hipsters dribbling craft beer into beards.

Amongst our motley, mixed race crew there were industrial designers, soccer coaches, surfers, food distributors, trainers, graphic designers and a medical journalist. The host, Alvaro, was of Chilean descent. Fittingly, his Argentinian friend, Emiliano, arrived with two giant slabs of beef, intent on both testing the merits of the new V8 barbecue and reaffirming his nation’s reputation as proud carnivores. Suddenly my palm-sized scotch fillet looked a little pathetic. The South American influence on proceedings was further evident when the meat was served. Instead of hefty thongs of steak for each person, the meat was sliced into small strips and eaten like a never-ending entree. I happily saw my undersized scotch fillet put to the sword first. It’s a far more social way to eat at a barbecue and the conversation flowed.

Eventually talk turned to the pandemic. Many of us played for the same social soccer team on 32 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

a Monday night and initially the vax debate had been a source of division. If we started playing again as a group, should the unvaccinated be allowed to play? War had raged on the WhatsApp group.

The personal trainer with a German background logically outlined his reasons for electing not to get the jab. As a fit and healthy forty-something he reasoned he was in a low-risk category.

He wasn’t a preachy anti-vaxxer but had done his reading and decided he didn’t want to play lowrisk roulette with a vaccine. No one jumped down his throat - nor had COVID, it seemed.

Some looked to the medical journalist to express a firm view on all matters pandemic related. Surely he was the oracle the barbecue needed. However, when pressed for an opinion, he conceded that all that the research really showed was that no one really knows the answers when it comes to the new ‘Big C’.

Attention then turned to Emiliano. Speaking in a loud, twangy accent that celebrated Australia but never forgot Argentina, Emiliano explained that he had been working as a carer for people with special needs who had also contracted COVID. This was a group already in need of fulltime attention.

“Imagine a 57-year-old woman with Down Syndrome and dementia who also has COVID,” explained the affable Argentinian.

Emiliano had already been through one personal bout of COVID and indicated that he went to work in a highly-protective suit. One of the guests couldn’t help but ask that awful question, “Do you have to wipe their backsides?” Wary of the jibe, Emiliano dodged the question the first time. Then, when the provoker pushed the button again, the Argentinian launched into a rather colourful anecdote.

“Mate, I love my job. The other night I was at work and an older woman with Down Syndrome and dementia takes off her nappy and starts swinging it around the room and spraying shit everywhere. I had to get in there and clean it up… I love my job because it’s real. It makes you realise how immature you are and you just start laughing and realise you’d probably like to do the same thing too.”

With one vivid recollection, Emiliano had turned a picture of tragedy into a kind of triumph. Once we picked our jaws up off the ground, he left us staggering with laughter, more than a little ashamed about our own superficial COVID gripes and grateful that plucky individuals such as he were so willing to perform these essential tasks. Needless to say, Emiliano won the day.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed...

The Magic or the Meaning of Christmas?

Words Dave Rogers Photo Mary of Joachim I almost feel sorry for Christmas this year. So much pressure! After last year’s subdued celebrations (especially for anyone with family on the Northern Beaches) it feels like we need to make up for last year and rediscover the elusive ‘magic’ of Christmas.

This year’s Christmas is ripe for overachieving. Super-size the prawns, make Christmas lunch a hatted experience, go full ‘Griswolds’ with the lights and splurge on gifts for all and sundry to make up for last year.

The catch is, the global supply chain is already buckling under the pressure of Christmas. The magnificent modern feat that delivers goods and gadgets to our homes was brought to its knees, first by a virus and then by our pandemic-induced new spending habits.

When the ‘Ever Given’ blocked the world’s busiest shipping lane for six days in March, it was only the beginning of the backlog. Do you remember the little digger trying to set free this huge container ship? It was the perfect meme

for the pointlessness of everything, from trying to tame your to-do list, to another new year’s resolution about more exercise.

This Christmas, parents might need to explain the complexities of global trade to disappointed children - maybe try something about Santa’s reindeers not getting their carrots delivered in time?

Of course, there might be an upside. The Onion joked that the shortages could lead Americans to discover the true meaning of Christmas.

“The White House warned…

‘Unless these unprecedented scarcities are reversed soon, hundreds of thousands of Americans could be forced to learn that there is more to life than material objects’.”

Perhaps this year we need to choose between the magic of Christmas and the meaning of Christmas. Less plastic trinkets and more treasured relationships (which would also, mercifully, be a win for the environment). Less overachieving and more humble joy. Less materialism and more meaning.

34 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

Besides, the first Christmas was never meant to unleash an annual day of performance art, hoping to bottle the magic of Christmas in a MasterChef meal or the elusive discovery of the perfect gift for the person who has everything. The first Christmas was all about humble joy.

There’s a royal baby whose first bassinet was an animal feeding trough. There’s the good news that, even though we’re a lot like the yellow digger hopelessly trying to save ourselves, there is a God who loved us enough to send us a Saviour. And Jesus is still good news today, to help us know the humble joy of Christmas without all the pressure.

In other good news, Clovelly’s biggest Christmas street party is going ahead on Sunday, December 12, with kids activities from 4.30pm, a kids show at 6pm and carols from 7pm.

Everyone is welcome!

Dave Rogers is the Lead Minister of St Luke’s, Clovelly. Watch online or explore more at clovelly.org.au.

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by patrol officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command.

He has been charged with intentionally sexually touching a child and sexually touching another person without consent.

Drug Dealers Warned to Stay out of Eastern Suburbs Police seized more than $50,000 worth of cocaine and $35,280 cash in a crackdown on coke dealing in the Eastern Suburbs.

The weekend blitz centred on Bondi. Officers arrested 17 people including several alleged dealers in possession of multiple bags of cocaine plus large wads of cash. They were operating out of private cars and taxis.

“Most of the dealers are from outside this area,” Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command Crime Manager Detective Inspector Gretchen Atkins said.

“Our message to these people is ‘Stay out of the Eastern Suburbs’.”

Man goes Berserk in Pub - Police A 30-year-old Waverley man has been charged with multiple offences after allegedly going into a violent rage when he was asked to leave a bar.

Police say the incident occurred at a licenced premises in Bronte Road, Waverley. After being asked to leave due to his behaviour, the man is said to have snapped a pool cue in half and brandished it.

Three off-duty police officers who were in the bar approached him. It is alleged that he attacked the officers, head-butting one and kneeing another in the groin.

More police arrived and the man was taken to Waverley police station where he was charged.

Police have warned that violent behaviour will not be tolerated, and that refusing to leave licenced premises will lead to a $550 fine. In this man’s case, the penalties are likely to be much higher. He has been charged with six offences including assaulting police, resisting arrest and property damage.

Let us Prey: Bible Student Charged with Sexual Touching A Bible student is alleged to have sexually preyed on young female customers in a Coogee grocery store in two brazen incidents.

In the first episode, 20-yearold Joel Ngoga is said to have touched a 25-year old woman’s bottom. Then, three weeks later, he allegedly returned to the scene of the crime on Coogee Bay Road and struck again. This time, say Police, the victim was a 15-year-old girl. He is alleged to have thrust himself onto the teenager’s body.

Ngoga, a Canadian citizen who is in Sydney doing a Bible studies course, was arrested in Maroubra

Help Catch Clifftop Killers The unveiling of a memorial to gay hate victims has sparked hope that the killers of at least three men will finally be brought to justice.

Marks Park, between Bondi and Tamarama, used to be a gay beat - and the scene of bashings and murders by predators targeting men who sought sexual liaisons there. A number of victims were hurled over the cliff at the edge of the park.

Now a $164,000 memorial has been built with funds from Waverley Council and local gay philanthropists, Stephen Heasley and Andrew Borg. This has thrown the spotlight back on the murders of the three men.

A high-risk occupation.

Alleged Crimes of the East Words Gary Larson

38 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

Giles Mattaini, a 27-year-old French national living in Bondi, was last seen on the coastal walking track beside the park on September 15, 1985. His body was never found.

The next confirmed victim was 24-year-old Wollongong news presenter Ross Warren, who was last seen on the night of July 22, 1989, socialising with friends in Darlinghurst. Two days later, his keys were found on the rocks below Marks Park. As with Mr Mattaini, his body had been washed out to sea.

Four months later, the killers struck again. Barman John Russell, 31, was last seen drinking with friends at a Bondi pub on November 23, 1989. His body was found below Marks Park the next morning.

Each of these murders carries a $100,000 reward. The NSW Government has just announced a judicial inquiry into gay and transgender hate crimes between 1970 and 2010. The enquiry will have the power to summon witnesses and will hopefully uncover fresh evidence about the murders and beatings in Marks Park.

O What a Feeling: Rego Plate Forgery A Maroubra driver was stopped by police who saw that his number plates had been crudely altered.

Black tape had been used to transform the letter ‘J’ into an ‘O’.

The man was not keen on discussing his customised plates with the officers who pulled him over in McBurnie Avenue, Mascot. He got out of the car and took off down the street like an Olympic sprinter.

According to a Highway Patrol Facebook posting, “a foot pursuit was commenced. A short time later the man was located in bushland near Mill Pond underneath the Southern Cross Drive overpass.”

The 42-year-old has been charged with a string of offences including using a vehicle with altered plates and unlicensed driving.

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done plenty of artwork. It was the time of performance art and installations, so I came to it later on when it became clear to me that it was something I simply had to do. I became interested in Chippendale’s grimy streets and history and did a series of these.

My next series was of ocean pools and Coogee in particular.

Helen and Alex at Ross Jones Memorial Pool.

Local Artist...

Alex Snellgrove from Coogee Words Helen Pitt Photo Louise Kennerley Coogee artist Alex Snellgrove is one of 57 finalists in the Portia Geach Memorial Award with her portrait of Sydney Morning Herald journalist and fellow Coogee local Helen Pitt. In Her Element was painted at Ross Jones Memorial Pool, Coogee, where her parents met. The Portia Geach Award is Australia’s premier portrait prize for women and runs until December 19 at the S.H. Ervin Gallery.

What is your first memory of visiting Coogee? My earliest memories were in about 1959. I was held up to look at the ocean standing on the massive sandstone wall, which is still there, to my absolute joy, but the fantastic light poles with dolphins on the bases are sadly gone. They were painted a verdegris colour, somewhat rusty, and were mounted on the wall right along the beach. My parents, who grew up in Coogee, lived for several years with my maternal grandmother, as housing was scarce and rather unaffordable in 1956 (some things never change!).

They eventually bought a bush block in South Turramurra and built a Beachcomber style house there. Grandma wouldn’t visit because she was terrified of spiders, so I used to visit her back in Coogee.

Can you tell us about your links to the Ross Jones Pool? It was our regular swimming spot, where we could dry off sitting on the rocks above, with the ocean and all the people to look at below. Early swimming lessons were held here, and I spent many happy holiday mornings here too. I remember the Greek families well, with the older kids looking after the little ones something I’d never seen before - getting them dried and dressed, helping them. And I remember drawing and painting people I’d seen when we got home.

When did you start painting and why? Painting seemed to be a dying art around the time I finished high school in the mid 1970s, so I didn’t think of it as a career, even though I’d always

40 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

How do you paint water? It’s very challenging. Apart from the colour, which is quite complex, there are surface reflections, wave shadows, shadows on the bottom, light refraction through the water and bouncing back off the bottom, and the patterns these things make. I also try to show the visceral experience of being in water, how it feels, moves and looks. I imagine I’m actually in it. Sometimes I’m barely looking at what I’m painting. The way light plays on it is extremely important.

What’s a recent favourite subject? The Grand Pacific Hotel in Coogee. I’d often noticed it, but never thought of painting it.

I did a few sketches, and then a painting, which reflected the oddness and charm of the little white building at the end of the promenade. I’ve since found that lots of people love this place too.

Any tips for budding artists? I’m prompted to paint things that make me feel something - often I’m not even sure what - and this emotion and fascination takes me into a state of simple response. I would advise anyone thinking of creative work to try to do this.

Do you accept commissions?

Yes, but not pet portraits!

Visit www.shervingallery. com.au/event/portia-geachmemorial-award-2021 for more information. You can see more of Alex’s work at www.alexsnellgrove.com.au.

DogDobber is watching.

Dob in a Dog With the New DogDobber App Satire Kieran Blake, kieranblakewriter.org Photo Fiona Seas Waverley, Randwick and Woollahra Councils have combined to develop the DogDobber app and rid the Eastern Suburbs of the scourge of irresponsible dog owners. The world-first initiative will allow residents to dob in a dog if its owner is breaking the rules, and to report their actions directly to council.

“Enough is enough,” read the joint statement from the three councils.

“Dogs and their owners have taken over every public space in the region and this app will return these spaces to the people.”

Compatible with any smart phone, the app enables users to upload photos of dogs. This information is electronically collated and reviewed for veracity, then used to issue a fine or relevant punishment to the registered owner of that animal.

Users should attempt to photograph the collar of the dog, which should carry its details, in order for the dog’s owner to be notified.

Residents can photograph off-leash dogs in on-leash areas, dogs in areas that are off limits and owners who refuse to pick up after their dog.

“Residents can also provide photographic proof of dogs harassing kids while they’re kicking a footy at the park, playing on the swings or building sandcastles.”

Critics attacked the DogDobber app as an invasion of privacy that stigmatises dogs and their owners. Others claim it is completely unnecessary as council rangers are already employed to keep dogs where they should be, and that most dog owners are responsible.

In response, the councils pointed out that if most dog owners were responsible, their pets would not be given free reign at Mackenzies Bay, the Clovelly rockpools and countless other public spaces.

Councils also reminded owners that the best way to avoid being reported is to follow the rules.

Another area of concern was

42 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

the potential for children to be photographed. Council was quick to allay any fears that the technology could be used in this way.

“Any photograph of a minor, even if they are breaking the rules with a dog, will be reported immediately to police.

If children are breaking the rules with their pet, this is less an example of irresponsible dog ownership and more an example of poor parenting.”

Councils called upon residents of the Eastern Suburbs to imagine public spaces free of marauding dogs and their droppings, where anyone can walk, play, enjoy a picnic, sunbake and enjoy living in paradise.

Randwick Council explained DogDobber operates separately from their Snap, Send, Solve app, and councils praised it as a triumph of intergovernmental collaboration and a successful fusion of state-of-the-art technology and community spirit. It will be live and fully operational at the beginning of next month.

We are a local couple that have 3 village houses in SW France that are available for short term rentals 1 week - 3 months - we have been doing this for 18 years. We live there ourselves for several weeks per year in the summer. We are not on Air B&B or other similar sites – you deal directly with us (save a fortune & personal local service!) we have had over 1800 visitors since we started just after 2000.

So, if you have been dreaming of an inexpensive sojourn in a real French village where real French people live - walking down, pick up the bread and croissants - walk/bike in the vineyards and hills - exploring castles - visiting markets - learning more French or lazing about in district restaurants or simply to chill out, then our village may be your destination. The village is Trausse Minervois – a village of 500+ people, where making of local IGP Minervois wine is the main occupation, it’s just – 20 klms from Carcassonne. The village is off the main road and is a quiet oasis, founded by the Romans, one of our houses was built in 1793!

We organised the renovations of all the houses - as someone said “French Charm – Australian Plumbing!”. We deliver the village experience - not Chateaux, no pools, just extremely functional properties, fully furnished - linen etc.

We have a 1 bedroom Art Deco terrace style stone house – a 2-bedroom 2 bathroom village house on the village square with non-attached walled garden, and our 4-bedroom 2.5-bathroom converted barn with garden - all within 100 metres of each other.

Australian $ Prices range from $A830 per week for the 1 bedroom (it’s only suitable for a couple or 1 person). The 2-bedroom is A$980 a week and A$1,230 a week for the 4-bedroom converted barn. The prices for these last 2 properties are for the 1st couple only and their children 18 and under (we don’t charge for kids!) In the 2-bedroom house extra individuals over 18 attract a A$150 per week, per person. It’s A$200 per person, per week in the 4-bedroom converted barn.

Stays over 4 weeks attract a discount.

We will be running a marketing event in February at the Clovelly Hotel - but in the meantime if you want to have a coffee - talk face to face about a rental with us for 2022 –2024, call: Marilyn on 0411478277 or email mjcapper@hotmail.com Our website is: www.ourhouseinfrance.com.au

Make a pencil in-booking now – no payment till 4 months away from date of your departure

from Sydney. Unless another request for the same house/dates comes in - then payment/or deposit (depending on departure date) to secure the booking is necessary - bookings are Sunday to Sunday or Saturday to Saturday depending on the house.

Mass produced.

And on the Seventh Day… Words Jeremy Ireland Photo Jesus Christ An associate of mine has written his own version of the Lord’s Prayer. It’s a Christian prayer, with a few versions that ultimately portray the same message. For those not familiar with the piece, here are the first couple of lines...

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven Although I am not particularly religious, the Lord’s Prayer has been ingrained, if not crystallised, into my memory since childhood, having recited it over and over again during my primary school years. The prayer made no sense to me back then - I had just learnt it by rote - and words such as ‘hallowed’, ‘thine’ and even ‘thy’ just ran off the tongue with no real understanding. I can still pull it off, word for word.

So, back to my associate’s alternative, which he kindly read to me...

My pledge to the universe through which I travel is: To treat everything with respect and gratitude; To acknowledge my life will one day be over; To accept those things beyond my control; To know that my needs will be met; To be kind to myself and everyone in the knowledge that we all struggle; To be aware of the pitfalls we constantly face; And to take responsibility for everything I do; As long as I shall live.

I was moved, fascinated even.

He was reciting a version that meant something to him. His delivery, his voice, his emotion and, above all, its meaning were something truly powerful.

I can only assume that he too is not particularly religious, but clearly his version of the timeless prayer set a moral code that could be used as some sort of guide by which to live his life.

The main difference between his version of the prayer and the original is that he has created his own moral compass, a guide that he can apply when the need arises. Maybe over the years he has worked out what is important to him, a religion of his own that is applicable to his life. Maybe he has found his own purpose in life instead of hoping that someone else will provide some kind of meaning for him.

So what of religion? Is it a guide to live one’s life, perhaps?

As Mark Manson ponders in his book Everything is f*cked, if you’re not sure you got it right then religion can provide something if you are searching to beat uncertainty. Furthermore, Manson explains, “...religions acknowledge this permanent state of unknowing and demand faith in the face of it.”

44 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

Is this a bad thing? Well, consider this: It’s perhaps not so well known that religious people are less prone to depression and suicide than non-religious people. I guess the difference is what he describes as ‘hope’. Interestingly, research has shown that people of faith, whether it be to God or some other omnipotent force, believe they are being watched over, thus rewarded or punished depending if the behaviour is moral or immoral. It is also known that people of faith behave more ‘prosocially’ towards others, and that reminders of God, at least in the Christian sense, increase resistance to temptation.

The idea of following a God of some kind goes way back, perhaps as far back as when our brains were first able to ask questions and develop reason.

If the question of our existence was not easily answered you can see how seeking such answers from a higher power might seem like a good solution.

In recent times there has been a tipping point, at least in the West, away from traditional religions to atheism. It’s a tricky subject, but if religion of any kind allows one to follow a structure and routine in one’s life from a psychological standpoint it can only be a good thing, right?

My associate’s version of the Lords Prayer has plenty of meaning to him. Perhaps we could all write our own version incorporating what has meaning to us. That said, I am sitting here looking at my Christmas tree as I write this article, made in China of course, spending 95 per cent of its life in storage, and I can take from that my own meaning of what it represents to me. Merry Christmas!

Have you got a question?

Please contact Jeremy at bondicounsellingservices.com.

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Issue 203 December 2021 The Beast 45

now eating up a vast percentage of the rental market. The government is trying to stop this in high-demand areas like the Eastern Suburbs with a sixmonth short-term rental cap in any one year, but it’s doing nothing to alleviate the problem. The Unreliable Guide has no easy answer to this, but we should look at places like Barcelona, which has just passed a new law that forbids short-term private-room rentals, and New York City, which has long been battling with Airbnb in an attempt to alleviate the housing crisis in the city.

Prime real estate.

The Unreliable Guide to...

House Hunting Words Nat Shepherd Photo Anna Conda The Unreliable Guide has several friends who are house hunting at the moment and it’s not going well for any of them. Some are looking to buy, others to rent, some want a new city pad, others, thanks to lockdown, want a sea or treechange away from the plague cities. They’re all looking for something different, but they’re united in the fact that they haven’t been able to find it.

The property market right now is like an insanely overpriced op-shop, full of crap priced way above its real value.

I’m watching my friends trying to fit themselves into the wrong things: “Oh, look! A torn, lime green t-shirt two sizes too small! A bargain at $100.

I know I’ve always hated lime green and these shirts were $5 in 2020, but hey - that’s the market.”

They’re trying hard, but paying off these badly fitting properties will leave them with

empty pockets for the next few decades. If this sounds like you, never fear, The Unreliable Guide is here to help you understand why it’s so hard to find the perfect fit right now.

Renting Renting has never been so hard.

Both in the city and out in the country there’s a serious deficit of rental properties. Part of the problem is that more and more people want a second home these days, but the biggest issue according to local real estate agents is the booming Airbnb market. Why rent an apartment for $700 a week when you can get $3,000-plus a week during peak season? Twelve weeks of Airbnb is equivalent to a full year of long-term rental, which means you can either make a motza or use the place yourself for the rest of the time. And that is why, with negative gearing to mop up any incidental costs, short-term property lets are

46 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

Buying If you are trying to buy a house or apartment right now, I feel your pain. Australian property is 18.4 per cent higher compared with this time last year; the fastest annual rate of growth since 1989, and Sydney’s property market has grown by 24.9 per cent. To put that into context, an average two-bed apartment in the Eastern Suburbs has increased $5,750 per week - that’s over eight hundred dollars a day! It is a seller’s market, but there are not enough sellers to go around and demand is far outstripping supply. After two years without international holidays, cashed-up baby boomers are buying up property like they’re playing a drunken game of Monopoly. Which is fine for them, but the dream of home ownership is becoming increasingly unobtainable for first-time buyers. With nothing to rent either, The Unreliable Guide fears affording a roof over your head will shift from human necessity to a luxurious privilege reserved only for the rich.

Finally, The Unreliable Guide suggests that if you need a new home right now you may want to consider investing in a tent.

Vote for the team that’s getting things done in Waverley.

Tim Murray

Steven

LEWIS Hunter Ward

Paula

Michelle

Tim

Lawson Ward

Bondi Ward

Waverley Ward

MASSELOS

GRAY

MURRAY

Labor is proud of the work we’ve already done in Waverley, and we hear many of you have noticed the improvements too.

There’s more still to do and we ask you to support our campaign, and to cast your vote for your Labor candidates.

Authorised by Keri Spooner, 8 Yanko Avenue Bronte 2024

Lewis with a solid harbour king.

The Healthiest Addiction Words and Photo Lewis Kennedy-Hunt Lockdown for many was a rare opportunity to hone some new skills and make the most of the daily exercise quota, all within the confines of our beautiful five kilometre radius. For some it was the Bondi to Bronte walk, for others it was yoga, but for myself and many other like-minded individuals it was the perfect excuse to wet a line.

With Australia being surrounded by ocean and an abundance of plentiful estuaries, it’s no surprise that fishing is one of our most popular pastimes.

On a standard night out at the pub, when faced with the looming reality of a 5am rise to go fishing, it isn’t too uncommon for people to ask me, “Why do you do it to yourself?”

Why do people go fishing?

For some, it’s merely an excuse to take a break from the family, to go down to the local wharf with a few beers and watch time roll by as a servo-bought prawn defrosts in the harbour’s sparkling waters. For others, fishing is a full-blown obsession involving painstaking research a meticulous study of the wind, tides, barometers and a whole lot more - and a $150,000 boat packed with enough gear to ri-

val a commercial fleet. Myself?

I fall somewhere in the middle, depending on how I’m feeling and who I’m with, but still enjoying it equally nonetheless.

One minute I could be sitting in my tinnie in the harbour sipping away at a beer and cranking some tunes while I dangle a live squid over the side, pure bliss and not a worry in the world. A split second later and I can find myself engaged in hand-to-hand combat with a wild animal weighing nearly as much as me, without knowing what it is until the beast has been wrangled to the boatside.

I am hooked (sorry) on that feeling of eternal anticipation that my very next cast could result in the once-in-a-lifetime trophy fish I dream about. And the only way to find out is to get out there and put in the hours.

Of course, at the end of each session you can come back to your family with the freshest, most organic produce there is.

Unlike other sports where the year is organised into onand off-seasons, fishing can be enjoyed throughout the entire calendar. With a bit of knowledge and basic research you can discover different techniques,

48 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

species and locations that enable you to get your fix. November is a transitional month that sees many anglers come out of their winter hibernation and begin their season of summer fishing. For me, winter was spent in the upper reaches of Sydney Harbour chasing the big spawning kingfish (pictured).

Right now, the East Australian Current is beginning to hurtle its way down our coast, bringing with it warm water and a whole host of species.

Smaller kings, affectionately known as ‘rats’, and a range of pelagic species become more prolific in the harbour at this time of year. Beach fishing for whiting and bream also heats up, with fresh beach or blood worms usually being the best baits (Wahyu from Global Tackle in Kingsford sells them by the tub).

Now that you’ve had an insight into the mind of a mad (keen) fisherman, it’s time for you to get out there and catch some fish. If you’re just starting out, grab yourself a set-up from your local tackle store to get you going. A rod in the 6-8 foot range with a 2500-3000 size spinning reel loaded with 8-15lb line is a great place to start and will cover you for both bait and lure fishing for your bread and butter species like flathead, bream, whiting and trevally. Wahyu will sort you out, but around $250 will get you something versatile that will last a lifetime.

Be warned though, this stuff is highly addictive and you may soon find that you have acquired a small tackle store of your own. If you’re anything like myself, the Comptons or The Beast magazine publisher James, you will soon become very familiar with the local tackle store and need to seek professional help. Good luck and tight lines!

Your Community Randwick Liberal Team Always Putting You & Our Community First

Bill Burst

South Ward

Andrew Hay

West Ward

Cr Christie Hamilton North Ward

Joanne McCafferty East Ward

Daniel Rosenfeld

Central Ward

• Fought to Get Council to Focus on its Core Responsibilities; 'Roads, Rate and Rubbish' • Secured Record State Government Funding for Cycle Ways • Delivered First Class Sporting Facilities • Fought Against Labor and The Greens' 20% Rate Rise • Stopped Meriton’s Overdevelopment of Little Bay • Established the 'Save Yarra Bay' Campaign

On Saturday 4th December

Vote 1 Liberal Authorised by Christie Hamilton 10/10 Darwin Avenue, Little Bay NSW 2036

December 2021 Tide Chart Numbers Bureau of Meteorology Tidal Centre Photo Theresia Hall Instagram @theresia.g.hall Monday

6 0352 1027 1714 2315

0.41 2.06 0.15 1.40

13 0508 1111 1711 2328

1.42 0.70 1.36 0.52

20 0310 0944 1627 2221

0.57 1.78 0.40 1.28

27 0300 0840 1449 2130

1.33 0.71 1.49 0.47

•

Morning Gossip.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1 0621 1.61 1234 0.49 1834 1.54

2 0042 0708 1332 1930

0.34 1.75 0.37 1.54

3 0127 0756 1428 2025

0.33 1.89 0.26 1.52

4 0213 0845 1523 2120

0.34 1.99 0.18 1.49

7 0445 0.47 1119 2.01 1811 0.20

8 0013 0541 1214 1908

1.35 0.54 1.92 0.27

9 0112 0640 1309 2006

1.32 0.60 1.80 0.35

10 0214 0743 1407 2102

1.30 0.66 1.66 0.42

11 0315 0850 1508 2155

14 0556 1.49 1215 0.66 1805 1.32

15 0007 0640 1310 1855

0.53 1.56 0.61 1.29

16 0045 0719 1356 1941

0.54 1.63 0.54 1.29

17 0122 0756 1436 2023

0.54 1.69 0.49 1.29

21 0346 1020 1703 2300

0.58 1.78 0.41 1.27

22 0426 1059 1743 2340

0.60 1.76 0.43 1.26

23 0506 0.62 1137 1.73 1823 0.45

24 0023 0550 1218 1906

1.25 0.65 1.68 0.46

28 0357 0951 1554 2221

1.42 0.68 1.44 0.46

29 0453 1106 1703 2314

1.53 0.62 1.41 0.45

30 0548 1.66 1217 0.51 1811 1.39

31 0006 0642 1322 1915

0.43 1.79 0.38 1.40

Sunday

•

5 0301 0934 1618 2217

0.37 2.05 0.14 1.45

1.32 0.70 1.54 0.47

•

12 0414 1000 1611 2244

1.36 0.72 1.43 0.51

18 0158 0832 1514 2103

0.55 1.73 0.44 1.29

19 0233 0908 1550 2143

0.56 1.76 0.41 1.29

25 0111 0640 1302 1951

1.26 0.68 1.62 0.47

26 0203 0735 1352 2039

1.28 0.70 1.56 0.47

•

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Introducing the Experienced Waverley Liberals Contesting the Local Government Election

Cr Sally Betts | Cr Will Nemesh | Dov Frazer

Cr Angela Burrill | Andrew Cusack | David Plaister

HUNTER WARD

LAWSON WARD

The Team that Will Listen to Residents & Put Waverley First

Cr Tony Kay | Josh Spicer | Kerry Pinkstone

WAVERLEY WARD

Cr Leon Goltsman | Brad Cole | Phil Occhiuto

BONDI WARD

VOTE 1 LIBERAL 4 DECEMBER AUTHORISED BY TRAVIS RUSSELL, 1/360 BOURKE STREET, SURRY HILLS, NSW 2010

Issue 203 December 2021 The Beast 51

is, “If it flies, floats or speeds rent it.” The wealthiest people I know spend the least amount on cars.

Estate and Family Disputes Family disputes over money are far more common than many realise. A well-structured estate plan can enormously minimise these risks.

Bob and Bondy back in the day.

Remaining Wealthy Words Rob Shears Photo Kerry Packer There are countless tales of riches gained and then lost.

Why are there so few that remain permanently wealthy?

Here are some common ways to destroy wealth, in our opinion...

Leverage The quickest way to go from wealthy to poor is to borrow too much. Aussies love their debt. Our outsized debt levels are yet to be tested as interest rates have fallen over the last 32 years. Despite the popularity of borrowing to invest, it is not rational to risk what you already have and need for what you don’t have and don’t need.

Bad Decisions One of our most important functions as advisers is to stop people from making bad decisions with their finance. There are far more things one can do to destroy wealth than create

wealth. In my 16 years advising, most bad decisions can be avoided by staying rational rather than trying to be the smartest in the room.

Chasing Popular Trends The lure of quick money is eternal and the riches it creates are usually ephemeral. Sir Isaac Newton lost all of his money in the South Sea Bubble. It is more often than not that popular trends do not end well. The latest fad is cryptocurrency, which is fraught with risks that are not comprehended by many. A word of caution to many who attempt to make a quick buck from this new mania - tread carefully.

Wasting Money on Nonproductive Depreciating Assets Most boats, cars and planes depreciate over time. In light of this, a good saying to live by

52 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

Inflation While inflation has been lurking in the shadows for a few decades, it still exists. Inflationary pressures - in our opinion - will be more prevalent in coming years as a result of excessive stimulus packages and money printing by various governments globally in response to the pandemic. Few comprehend the rapid decline in assets if a conservative portfolio has little to no return, while drawing down a moderate 5 per cent amount with mid to high single digit inflation. Being too cautious may be risky for some.

Theft While the risk of someone stealing the family jewels from the safe hasn’t materially increased in the last few decades, cybersecurity risk has increased enormously with the prevalence of the internet. It is becoming increasingly important to protect your wealth from criminals in other countries hacking our computers. We suspect this risk to increase over time.

Rob Shears is an Authorised Representative of Valor Financial Group (AFSL 405452). This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is suitable for you and your personal circumstances.

RANDWICK

VOTE 1 LABOR FOR RANDWICK COUNCIL

Marea Wilson

Kathy Neilson

EAST WARD

NORTH WARD

n Barrister & local Legal

n 30+ years local activism

Centre volunteer

n North Ward Randwick

n Community activist

Councillor since 2012

n Pro-community and

n Randwick Mayor 2018-19

better council services

n Proven record supporting residents

n Opposes over-

not developers

development

0408 376 336

0478 256 197

Local Council Elections - Saturday December 4, 2021 Authorised P.Tracey 10 Hooper St, Randwick

Waverley's best beard.

Beware of Rate Rise Scare Campaigns Words Dominic WY Kanak, Waverley Greens Councillor for Bondi Ward Image Chris Maltby Another election, another scare campaign. Lies and figments of the imagination are conjured up to disguise something we should all be concerned about.

Consider the latest scare campaign that Waverley’s Labor/Greens Council has not managed finances well. This is opposite to the truth.

Finances are well and truly in the black at the completion of this 4-year council term. There were no job losses during COVID-19, as the council looked after its workers and kept its parks and streets clean. The major restoration projects at the Bondi Pavilion and Bondi Junction’s Boot Factory are on time and on budget.

The scare campaign in Waverley goes even further. It is alleged that a future Labor/Green Council would have to raise rates to cover the supposed shortfalls resulting from their alleged fiscal ineptitude. The real story is very different.

Let’s talk about development levies, what the NSW Liberal Government now calls “infrastructure contributions”.

Developments of all kinds impose increased costs on the community. Those costs may result from population growth and higher demand for services such as garbage collection, libraries and child care, or just from controlling noise and heavy vehicle movements. Council uses these contributions to fund social services, parks upgrades, toilets, footpath and road repairs.

54 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

An “infrastructure contribution”, proportional to the size of the development, is required to be paid to Council to cover these costs. Waverley Council receives about $20 million each year from this source.

Liberal State Planning Minister Rob Stokes is keen to get access to funds from developer infrastructure contributions. His proposal would siphon off half of this money to a NSW Government infrastructure fund to be used at his discretion. That would be a big cut to Waverley’s budget for managing its public amenities including its nationally significant beaches, a key mainstay of the Australian economy.

Councils would be left to cope with the resulting revenue shortfalls. The minister’s proposed legislation kindly makes provision for councils to raise rates and to take out loans. Either way, Waverley’s rate payers would end up bearing the cost of Rob Stokes’ revenue grab.

Contrary to the scare campaign, it won’t be a Labor/Greens council increasing rates, it will be the Liberals in the NSW Government. They say they want the money to fund state-wide infrastructure, but this legislation would also increase opportunities for government pork barrelling in marginal seats before the next NSW election.

The NSW Government has a lacklustre record on infrastructure spending. They have overseen billions of dollars of cost blowouts on WestConnex, the light rail and football stadiums as well as new ferries and trains with serious design flaws.

They have handed out bags of cash for shooting clubs. In almost all cases they have an eye to holding or winning marginal electorates. I’m sure that Waverley residents would not want to hand over essential local community funds to waste on more of this.

The planning minister has a conflict of interest. He may find it lucrative to override councils and approve more rezoning proposals. Rezonings mean larger, more costly development and would deliver higher “infrastructure contributions”. Overdevelopment in Sydney's east is set to become another cash cow for spending at the whim of the Liberal State Government to support its political objectives.

Meanwhile, infrastructure in Sydney’s east is already under threat from the NSW Government.

The controversial bus privatisation has been signed off but not yet fully implemented. The full extent of the resulting degradation of our public transport is yet to be seen. How does the minister expect an ever increasing population to cope with decreased public services?

Waverley residents and ratepayers deserve the facts, not another scare campaign.

Community Focused and Experienced

Ludovico Fabiano Waverley Ward

Elaine Keenan Lawson Ward

Dominic WY Kanak Bondi Ward

Waverley Greens on Council will work to:

△ △ △ △ △ △

Develop community renewable energy grids Make building construction more sustainable Improve council transparency & community involvement Introduce Food Organics Garden Organics - “FOGO” Support vibrant community arts and culture Resist NSW planning laws & oppose overdevelopment

Living together sustainably Vote 1 The Greens

▢

Stay COVID safe - scan for postal voting info

⇒

Authorised by Sylvia Hale for The Greens NSW. Suite D, 263-279 Broadway, GLEBE NSW 2037

Strong female leadership.

Women in Local Government Matters Words Dr Marjorie O'Neill, Member for Coogee Image Isabelle Romée For far too long we have witnessed the consequences of too few women elected to represent the community in Australian politics. In recent times there have been many serious allegations of sexual assault, harassment and bullying in the context of a toxic misogynistic parliamentary workplace culture. It is apparent that none of this is new, and we should be grateful to the brave women who have brought these issues to the public attention. The implications of gender inequality in our elected representatives impact not just upon the culture of government institutions but also upon the values directing policies and the allocation of resources.

Government at all levels should reflect the communities they represent. The 2020 Australian Census found women continue to perform the bulk of domestic tasks and provide the bulk of personal care, that women’s full time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings were 86 per cent of that of men and that the number of recorded incidents of female victims of sexual assault was more than five times higher than that for males.

Like it or not, women’s life experiences are often different from their male counterparts, and it is important for the good of everyone that these experiences and underpinning values help to shape public policy and the allocation of scarce resources. Nowhere is this more important than in our local governments which exercise control over so many services and public facilities impacting our daily lives.

Despite the varied and critical roles performed by women in our homes, business, education, health and in community organisations, they 56 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

continue to be under-represented in local government, with just 30 per cent of councillors in NSW being women. Sadly, NSW lags well behind every other state in Australia, and in recent elections the number of women nominating for local government actually declined. I am proud that the quota rules in the ALP mean that 50 per cent of winnable spots in any election must be filled by women, resulting in equal representation of women and men on both Randwick and Waverley Councils - a positive result that no other party or independent ticket has achieved.

Happily for our community, with NSW local government elections to be held on December 4, there are some remarkable Labor women renominating and some new faces as well, bringing with them a diverse range of experiences and achievements directly relevant to the role of local government councillor.

Both Randwick and Waverley councils have been home to female mayors, Paula Masselos and Kathy Neilson, both of whom are re-nominating.

In their capacities as mayors, both have fulfilled their commitments to stopping unsustainable overdevelopment, fighting against the Liberal government’s stripping of their councils’ planning and approval powers, and protecting our heritage buildings and sites. Alex Luxford of Randwick’s West Ward has been a strong voice for her community on Randwick Council, voting against the Kensington and Kingsford Town Centres Planning Proposal (K2K), demonstrating her opposition to overdevelopment. Councillors Masselos and Luxford also worked to promote cultural diversity, particularly respecting the rich Greek history of our area, by bringing the Evzones (Greek elite national guard) to Bondi Beach in 2018 and by having the Greek flag flown across Randwick City to mark 200 years of Greek independence.

Several very accomplished women have nominated for the first time. Marea Wilson in Randwick’s East Ward is a barrister specialising in industrial law, a volunteer at the Kingsford Legal Service and a person particularly committed to sustainability, community planning and controlling undesirable development as well as improving council services for sport, leisure and entertainment. Michelle Gray, running in Waverley’s Bondi Ward, has been an accomplished corporate lawyer for 15 years and is a young mother with a deep commitment to ensuring we leave our community a better place for future generations.

Your vote can get these women elected and ensure that, at least in local government, there is some equality among the voices representing us.

Give a girl a go!

Summer is Here!

With the holidays upon us and lockdown over, the time is right for celebrations.

However you prefer to spend your holidays, I hope everyone in our community enjoys a safe and happy time this summer.

If you are going to be utilising our community's spectacular beaches, please remember to stay sun safe and always swim between the flags.

Also, a reminder to everyone that NSW local government elections will be taking place on the 4th of December.

Please don't forget to vote!

Dr Marjorie O'Neill MP

Member for Coogee If you have any issues at all that you require assistance with, please do not hesitate to contact my office on 9398 1822, email coogee@parliament.nsw.gov.au, or come in at 15/53-55 Frenchmans Road, Randwick.

To fill out my community survey, scan this QR code!

Authorised by Dr Marjorie O'Neill MP. Funded using parliamentary entitlements.

You're not alone.

Support for Women Escaping Domestic Violence Words Dave Sharma, MP for Wentworth Photo Akilash Sooravally As many as 1 in 6 women will experience domestic violence at some point in their life - a truly shocking number - and we have seen evidence that, through the pandemic, this number has risen.

Domestic violence occurs across all ages, across all socioeconomic and demographic groups. Its victims are invariably women and children.

And no one is immune from its effects. I have heard from police that domestic violence rates are disproportionately high here in the Eastern Suburbs, with private lives of fear and abuse often masked by outwardly content public lives.

Since I was elected as the Federal Member for Wentworth in 2019, but particularly through the pandemic, I have discussed this harrowing issue at length with several domestic violence organisations active in the Eastern Suburbs. Groups such as the Lokahi Foundation, Bondi Cottage, Lou’s Place, Wayside Chapel, the Women’s and Girls Emergency Centre

and the Run for Good Project provide support to victims of domestic violence. To help raise the voices of these organisations, I arranged an online discussion forum in early October with my colleague, the Minister for Women’s Safety, Anne Ruston.

Those who have not experienced domestic violence may wrongly believe that domestic violence could be fixed by those women simply leaving their violent partners. The onus to go should never be on the victim, though too often it is. Yet what I have heard from domestic violence organisations and those with such a lived experience is that women find it hard to flee such relationships because they do not have the means to support themselves if they do. The obstacles can be formidable.

Frequently the victim must care for her children, who usually accompany her, yet she may well have lost access to shared bank accounts and is much too afraid to contact the partner. Fortunately, several

58 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

organisations in our electorate help with this, assisting them in finding temporary housing, work, clothing, food and other essentials.

The 2020 trial of the early access to superannuation revealed that many women accessed the scheme to gain cash to support themselves and their children in the early weeks and months after having fled domestic violence.

The government is now introducing an Escaping Domestic Violence payment. This payment will provide women with up to $1,500 in cash and $3,500 of in-kind assistance to cover things such as rental bonds, school fees, utilities and clothing. This will not be a cure-all, but I hope that it will provide some financial security for those women who make the brave and difficult decision to leave an abusive relationship. You can find out more by contacting my office.

Domestic violence and abuse is never okay and must never be tolerated.

1 bunch Thai basil, leaves picked 1 bunch mint, leaves picked 1 bunch coriander, leaves picked 1 Lebanese cucumber, sliced lengthways into 8 1 cup bean sprouts 1 stem of spring onion, sliced finely on the diagonal 2 limes cut into wedges, to serve Salsa 2 white nectarines, seeds removed, diced 1 long green chilli, finely diced ¼ small red onion, finely diced Juice of ½ lime

Plenty of greenery.

Pork Larb with White Nectarine and Green Chilli Salsa Words and Photo Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine Larb is a delicious and vibrant Thai salad with maximum flavour - hot, salty, sweet and sour. There are plenty of greens to keep it fresh for summer including layers of lettuce leaves for crunch, fragrant Thai basil, mint and coriander.

For a summery twist, I’ve added a sweet and zingy white nectarine and green chilli salsa, which is super fresh and pairs superbly with the pork.

As a generous salad that feeds 3-4 hungry humans, this Thai fave will make a great impression as it lands on the table.

Ingredients Mince 650gm pork mince 1 tbs sesame oil ¼ cup water ¼ cup fish sauce 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2 tsp white sugar 1 lemongrass stem, white part only, finely chopped 1 red chilli, finely chopped Juice of 1 lime Salad 1 cos lettuce - leaves separated, keep some whole, some halved 1 baby cos - leaves separated

60 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

Method 1. Heat oil in a frying pan or wok over medium heat. Add lemongrass, garlic, chilli and pork mince, breaking up the lumps with a spatula, and cook for 5 minutes. Turn the heat to high and add the sugar and water, then stir in the fish sauce and lime juice. Combine ingredients well then remove from the heat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the mince to a bowl.

2. Arrange the salad ingredients on a large serving dish.

3. Place ingredients for the salsa in a small serving bowl and combine well.

4. Spoon the pork mince to one side of the salad, then the nectarine salsa over the top or served separately in the bowl and scatter wedges of lime around the salad.

Dana Sims is a Sydneybased food and prop stylist who has grown up in the Eastern Suburbs and loves to create delicious food for entertaining and family.

She is inspired by the fresh produce we have access to here in Sydney. For ideas, recipes and styling inspiration, check out her Instagram, @stone_and_twine.

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Subject Cold Feet Location Bronte Photographer Theresia Hall @theresia.g.hall

Subject Spring Bougainvillea Location Paddington Photographer Susan of Paddo

Subject Free at Last Location Randwick Photographer Samantha Vashanti

Subject Mr Percival's Harem Location Watsons Bay Photographer Tanja Kegel

The Beast Magazine wants your local photos!

62 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

Subject Sun Worshipper Location Maroubra Photographer Theresia Hall @theresia.g.hall

Subject Post Swim Relaxation Location Maroubra Photographer Brody Vancers

Subject Festive Location Bondi Photographer Daniel Martin

Subject Million Dollar View Location Clovelly Photographer Theresia Hall @theresia.g.hall

Subject Hunter Gatherers Location Secret Spot Photographer Justin Compton

Please send them to photos@thebeast.com.au Issue 203 December 2021 The Beast 63

BAKER BOY Gela Label Universal Music Australia Reviewer @aldothewriter Rating  ‘The Fresh Prince of Arnhem Land’ has finally delivered! I’ve been waiting on this album for a while now, and it’s official, Baker Boy is an absolute superstar. I have no idea what he’s saying half the time, but it doesn’t matter, I’m going to assume it’s straight up fire. Energy steams from this release.

I’ve found some of his singles a bit sickly sweet at times, but thankfully those ones haven’t made the cut. Gela has swooped in at the last minute and taken out album of the year. Turn it on, pump it up, invite your neighbours over and marryuna!

THE WAR ON DRUGS I Don’t Live Here Anymore Label Atlantic Records Reviewer @aldothewriter Rating 

TITANE Genre Drama, Horror, Thriller Reviewer Linda Heller-Salvador If you thought the puppet-child in the film Annette was weird (you’re weird if you didn’t), then you’re in for all sorts of surprises with French writer-director Julia Ducournau’s twisted fantasy and second feature film, Titane, which won this year’s Palme d'Or award and pushes the weirdness quota to another level.

Alexia (Agathe Rousselle) is a provocative dancer at motor shows. After a terrible car accident as a young child, she had a titanium plate inserted into her head, from which she still bears the visible and emotional scars.

After one overzealous car fan invades her personal space her circumstances rapidly deteriorate into brutal violence, outlandish sex and the meeting of Vincent (Vincent Lindon), an emotionally fragile fireman.

Is Alexia’s titanium plate to blame for all the carnage? The less divulged about Titane, the better the viewing experience. It definitely won’t be to everyone’s liking, but if you see past the extreme violence you will find at its core a moving story about finding love and acceptance.

64 The Beast December 2021 Issue 203

You will either find this boring or fantastic. There is no grey area (like most things in life these days, it seems). I for one, loved it, but I also love Bruce Springsteen and The National. Do you love Bruce Springsteen and The National? If you don’t, move along, there is nothing for you here. Usually I pay album artwork little mind, but I don’t think I’ve seen artwork that encapsulates the sound so well.

You can hear the atmospheric silence of the snow falling gently in the forest as they wrote these songs. Does that make sense? I think it does.

JAMES BLAKE Friends That Break Your Heart Label Republic Reviewer @aldothewriter Rating  This could be James Blake’s best album. That statement comes with a slight caveat though, as I haven’t hugely loved any of his previous albums.

It glows with his usual atmospheric wallowing, but at no stage was I bored, which is a first. He’s become the go-to guy for every act looking for a feature artist, and just as I was thinking he was going to disappear down that path entirely, he drops this on us. Unsurprisingly, the songs with others featuring are the highlights. I don’t know who JID and SwaVay are, but I dig their style.

The Beast Supercross 1

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ACROSS 1. Racecourse in Melbourne (10) 6. To propel in water (3) 7. Movement of a mass of rock or debris down a slope (9) 10. Implore (3) 11. A type of pasta (10) 13. What we breathe (3) 14. Wait around without apparent purpose (6) 15. Belonging to a thing previously mentioned (3) 16. To hit something lightly and quickly (3) 17. Simulation of human intelligence (1,1) 18. Small island (4) 21. A currency (4) 22. A cheesey town (4) 23. City in southern Italy (6)

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DOWN 1. Middle Eastern food made of a mixture of chickpeas, herbs and spices (7) 2. Best known for developing the theory of relativity (8) 3. Zero (3) 4. Denial or refusal (2) 5. Actor with leading role in To Kill a Mockingbird (7,4) 8. Types of small dishware (7) 9. Incorporated abbreviated (3) 10. This magazine, The ... (5) 12. Bin chicken (4) 17. American actress, Jessica ... (4) 18. Persia (4) 19. Encircle (4) 20. Forms the coloured portion of the eye (4)

Trivial Trivia Words Lisa Anderson Photo Theresia Hall Instagram @theresia.g.hall 1. In Home Alone, where are the McCallisters going on vacation when they leave Kevin behind?

2. What slang term for a small aluminium boat is also a slang term for a can of beer?

3. Which country started the tradition of putting up a modern Christmas tree?

4. The name of which spice

comes from the Latin for ‘nail’, for their shape?

5. How many gifts in total were given in ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ song?

6. In which country will you find the world’s longest road tunnel (24.5 kilometres)?

7. Who wrote ‘Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps

means a little bit more’?

8. Which country has an official government holiday to celebrate its favourite alcoholic drink on the first Saturday in February?

9. What popular Christmas song was written for Thanksgiving?

10. Where is Timbuktu?

Rockhopping.

Issue 203 December 2021 The Beast 65

Aquarius Jan 21-Feb 19 With so much giving going on at this time of year, you should aim to provide some balance by taking as much as possible.

Cancer Jun 22-Jul 22 Consider getting yourself a new set of swimmers. The current set-up doesn’t leave much to the imagination.

Pisces Feb 20-Mar 20 Indulge in your final silly season binge, before your abused liver throws in the towel and you’re forced to drink water forever.

Leo Jul 23-Aug 22 Christmas will provide a timely reminder as to why you only see your f*ckwit relatives once a year.

Visions Beardy from Hell

Aries Mar 21-Apr 20 You deserve more recognition for putting up with your psychopathic partner - anyone else would have poisoned them by now.

Virgo Aug 23-Sep 23 Save a fortune by implementing a summer clean-out and regifting all the shit you bought during lockdown.

Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21 Just because you keep waking up in the middle of the night super horny, it doesn’t mean it’s okay to FaceTime your ex at 4am.

Taurus Apr 21-May 21 In line with previous years, the most expensive part of your Christmas shopping will be all the crap you buy for yourself.

Libra Sep 24-Oct 23 Avoid any kind of responsibility for your miserable predicament by continuing to blame everyone else for all your woes.

Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 20 Anyone carrying a yoga mat in public cannot be trusted, especially if they are wearing Birkenstocks.

Gemini May 22-Jun 21 Even if you start saving for your overseas trip today, by the time we can fly you’ll only be able to afford a trip to Tasmania.

Scorpio Oct 24-Nov 22 Invest in an electric toothbrush, but make sure you give it a good clean if it’s been used inappropriately.

Star Signs

Trivial Trivia Solutions 1. Paris 2. Tinnie 3. Germany 4. Clove 5. 364 6. Norway 7. Dr. Seuss 8. Peru (Pisco sour) 9. Jingle Bells 10. Mali, West Africa 1

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