TVO January 2021

OBSERVER

A BUMPER DIGITAL-ONLY EDITION FROM ARCHIVED ARTICLES THAT YOU CAN ENJOY AT YOUR LEISURE Proceeds from The Village Observer support residents in need from Lane Cove, Hunters Hill, Ryde, Willoughby and North Sydney areas, through Sydney Community Services.

ISSUE 298

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JANUARY 2021

I thevillageobserver.com.au

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Helping you to enjoy a comfortable & independent life at home

1 POTTERY LANE, LANE COVE 2 TVO

02 9427 6425

WWW.SYDNEYCS.ORG

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The Village Observer – Powering Our Community Proceeds from The Village Observer supports residents of Lane Cove, Hunters Hill, Ryde, Willoughby and North Sydney, via Sydney Community Services – a local not-forprofit organisation that helps residents to live a quality and independent life in their own home and in their community.

Local Support for Local People SCS provides services to the aged and people living with a disability including social activities, gardening, home nursing, podiatry, Community Care Advisory, clean sheets and towels, home delivered meals, home modifications and maintenance, flexible respite, carers support, shopping services, community and engagement programs, medical transport and assistance in daily life.

THE VILLAGE OBSERVER: 1 Pottery Lane, Lane Cove NSW 2066.

PUBLISHER: Gillian Batt P: 02 9427 6425 gbatt@sydneycs.org EDITOR: Nicola Riches P: 0405 661 570 editor@thevillageobserver.com.au DESIGN + ADVERTISING: Sharon Curby P: 0450 370 575 sharon.tvo@gmail.com ADVERTISING: advertising@thevillageobserver.com.au PRINTED BY: Spotpress

DISTRIBUTED: Monthly

The Village Observer is published monthly (except January) by Lane Cove Community Aid Foundation. • Distribution is at the beginning of the month. • Readers are invited to submit articles for consideration. • Articles and items for community events should be emailed to the Editor with any accompanying images by the 15th of each month, for inclusion in the next month’s issue.

• Advertising enquiries should be directed to advertising@thevillageobserver.com.au • If mailing material and you would like it returned, please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All care, but no responsibility will be taken for this material. © Copyright 2015. Original advertisements and editorial in this publication are copyright and remain the exclusive property of The Village Observer. No part of this publication may be reproduced and/or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written consent of the Publisher. DISCLAIMER: The content of editorial and advertisements in The Village Observer has been provided by a number of independent sources. Any opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor and Publisher of The Village Observer, and no responsibility is taken for the accuracy of the information, or any factual errors contained within any items printed. Readers should make their own enquiries directly to any organisations or businesses prior to making any plans or taking any action.

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As a local, small publication, run by a not-for-profit charity, TVO relies on our advertisers and partners to come to life every month. We’d like to extend a big thank you to this month’s supporters:

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SELLING YOUR HOME IN 2021?

Throughout Covid-19, due to low levels of properties for sale, the property market experienced high buyer activity with strong auction clearance rates. In recent months, attendance at open for inspections was higher than anticipated and property house prices, in the local area, have remained strong. A shortage of stock has resulted in an abundance of buyers actively looking to purchase their dream home.

For those who have held off selling until 2021, there is likely to be pent-up demand next year, so it’s important to be ready and start preparing your home for sale and make it stand out from the competition.

• • • •

Start with de-cluttering and doing any repairs that may be needed Get renovations done especially if these will add to the sale price of your property Repaint and/or update the flooring Create a welcoming entrance by tidying up the garden

For further advice in preparing your property for sale in 2021 call me today on 0402 913 537 RECENT SALES BY HAZEL MCNAMARA

HAZEL MCNAMARA

Senior Sales Agent/JP

0402 913 537 EMAIL: hazelm@lanecove. rh.com.au SOLD Suburb Record

SOLD Prior to Auction

SOLD Off-Market

SOLD Off-Market

54 Malvern Avenue Roseville Chase

9 Delta Road Lane Cove

1a Bridge Street Lane Cove

3 Bridge Street Lane Cove

www.raineandhorne.com.au 4 TVO

greetings TVO has been the printed publication for Lane Cove for more than 26 years.

During that time, we’ve published many wonderful articles and some of them definitely deserve a re-run.

As we enter that post New Year lull, where elasticated pants and afternoon naps are all the rage, we thought we’d put together a bumper digital-only edition of archived articles that you can enjoy at your leisure.

The first proper edition of TVO will be out in early February, so look out for us.

Until then, happy new year and stay safe all.

Nicola

NICOLA RICHES EDITOR editor@thevillageobserver.com.au

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Hanging with Brett Whiteley – a boyhood idyl

This edited extract forms part of a memoir written by John Wilson. John grew up in Longueville and later raised his family there.

John eloquently recounts growing up in the area alongside his childhood friend Brett Whiteley.

Brett in the billycart made by his father Clem, which was ‘just like a real racing car’. Photo: Ian MacTavish 6 TVO

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n the Longueville of my childhood – a Sydney Nothing about them was typical – even their house. harbourside village in those days – Brett Whiteley, my Most of our houses dated from the first 30 years of the closest friend, was a tiny legend. For years, people told century – deep red brick and red tiled roofs – but Clem’s stories of his mischief . . . like the time he kidnapped a and Beryl’s walls were painted white and the roof was blue, neighbour’s cat and sent a ransom note demanding money like houses you saw in art books, or magazine articles for its return. about California.

The Longueville of the 1940s and 1950s was placid, The difference between us was cruelly clear. quiet, secret. Nothing much ever changed. But then, one Longueville and its bays slept a million miles from day, another scandal erupted. anywhere, a magical place where our lives were measured Down on Mary Street, Mrs Aspinal went to collect her by the tides that lapped the shores of the perfect childhood. daily loaf from the kitchen servery to find that most of The peninsula had been home to bushrangers and fierce it had gone. Someone had scooped out the warm Aborigines. A century later, it was just 10 minutes from centre to leave behind a hollowed crust. the centre of Sydney and had become the first The next day it happened again. Same suburb in Australia for the average price of theft, same MO. houses to reach $1 million.

The Longueville Mrs Aspinal was determined to catch But when we were kids, in the 1940s and the thief so next morning, concealed by 1950s, it was home to ordinary families; of the 1940s and a kitchen curtain, she lay in wait as the bank managers, shop owners, suburban 1950s was placid, baker arrived. Slam! went the servery solicitors, the man who founded a door as he left the new-baked bread. refrigerator company, a bookmaker at quiet, secret.

In minutes, as his van purred away, the greyhounds – and Billy Salvatori, Nothing much a child with a topping of Pre-Raphaelite who drove Mr Newman’s black and golden curls crept from hiding, lifted white buses at breakneck speed while his everchanged the loaf and quickly disappeared into the brother, Ron, drove them like an ambling bushes. tortoise.

Five minutes later, the cherub reappeared and

Families didn’t move. Our parents were replaced the now-hollowed shell. Mrs Aspinal had her plain folk, lives fulfilled by family bungalows and neat thief. gardens; people who had endured Depression and war and That night she wrote a note in large letters and left it in asked nothing more. the servery: “Dear Brett, Please do not steal my bread. If The street that divided Longueville into two classes you would like some, knock on the door and I will give you was Kenneth Street, the cool riverside people to the east, a piece. Mrs. Aspinal.” where the Whiteleys lived, and those on the west side of The next day the note was gone and another left in its the peninsula who, as my father used to say, had to cope place. In childish hand, it read: “It wasn’t me Mrs Aspinal.” with the hot westerly winds blowing up from the gully and Funny, outrageous and, for someone so clever, lifting the lounge room carpets. We lived in the west. spectacularly naive. That was Brett, the same child who My dad couldn’t afford to buy a home, so we rented one thought the goldfish in neighbours’ ponds were made of half of a little 1920s cottage. My baby sister shared the only real gold and if you caught them, you’d be rich. bedroom with my parents and I slept on the open back He was the child who would set alight the letterboxes veranda where the rains splattered off a spreading loquat of people he didn’t like and who had the district in a panic tree and right up to my bed. It was really only a single step when he disappeared and was found riding the ferry wash from camping. under the wharf in a stolen canoe.

Inside, the house was dark and dour. My mother’s tiny “God, he was a handful,” said my mother. kitchen had thin wooden cupboards, no fridge but an He was demanding and jealous, exciting and dangerous, icebox and blue-and-white gingham curtains to hide the captivating and enchanting, thrilling to be with and to be gap beneath the sink. his friend was a badge of honour that I proudly wore. In Beryl Whiteley’s kitchen was a world away: bright, our conservative, almost Victorian, world of Johns and snow white and light, an electric fridge and, wonder Ians and Alans and Kenneths, even the name ‘Brett’ was of wonders, a milkshake machine and an electric theatre and, somehow, thrillingly American. can opener.

Brett was the wild child over whom the district’s We bonded like magnets mothers tut-tutted, worried – and fed. A lot of the time Brett and I instantly bonded like magnets – although he was fed at our place and my mother regarded him as a the reality is that Brett was probably the magnet and, like difficult, but tolerated second son. She would pretend to the rest of the gang, I may well have been the bonded. be cross. “Doesn’t Brett have a home to go to?” she’d ask Over those fractured years of our schooldays, I was as sternly. close to Brett as I’ve been to anyone in my life.

The truth is he did have a home to go to, a beautiful Tucked away in the roof of the white house, he had home; far, far more impressive than ours, but there was the bedroom of my dreams, with shelves for treasures, a often no one at home – apart from a granny who was second bed for a mate, a goatskin rug on its polished floor pressed into babysitting and whom he despised. and a vintage muzzle-loading rifle hanging like a trophy So much has been written about the boy genius but, in on the wall. those early years, I saw little of that genius; what I did see But best of all was the huge, built-in desk for painting was a small friend with astonishing charisma, someone and drawing and, in front of the desk, was a panoramic you just ached to be with. window, where below spread the luminous waters of the Longueville’s Gatsbys In Longueville, the Whiteleys were different to everyone else. They were showbusiness, glamorous, fast-living; they were our Gatsbys.

Lane Cove River.

We were obsessed by art and that river was our Seine, the waters of Renoir and Matisse; we had no doubt that one day we would go to Europe and paint like them.

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We worshipped Clem, Brett’s father. When Clem was around, the white house came alive with riotous rugby matches on the back lawn, where Brett was a surprisingly talented and slippery half-back. And the billycart Clem made him was just like a real racing car.

Clem was fun, like a bigger version of us. Nothing like our own fathers. According to Brett, he had done and been everything: a military hero, a Queen’s Scout, a great sportsman – even a racing driver in the little Wolseley Hornet that sat in the garage, the car in which Brett said Clem had proposed to Beryl.

In 1950, Clem and Beryl – the aristocrats of the White House – crowned their superiority, their difference, by actually sailing to America on a great ship. When they returned, they crowned Brett’s princely eminence by adding to his already unimaginable treasures.

There was the cap gun that worked like a real Colt .45 and the Mercedes-Benz racing car with steering and proper quick-change wheels with winged hub caps. But most of all, most fantastic of all, was the carton of bubble gum – the defining symbol of young America. To us, bubble gum was a dream, something we’d only seen in comics.

And typically, the chosen one refused to share a single piece.

But then, he could be a mean little In Longueville, prick. He may have been the most the Whiteleys When we weren’t painting or mesmerising person I had ever met lusting or listening, the river was our were different to and yet, while I loved him, it was playground, the blue and green river hard to escape a sad meanness and a everyone else, they with its dancing lavender lights. All cruelty inside that small body. summer we swam, stole dinghies and were showbusiness,

A special trick reserved for canoes from the boat sheds, raided glamorous, fastinfirm old Longueville ladies was to the rowing and sailing clubs for walk past with head down and then beer and supplies, and smoked stolen living; they were suddenly leap and scream in their face. tobacco aboard invaded yachts. our Gatsbys.

One day, Brett and I invented a new kind As for his despised grandmother, one of bomb and placed it by the river baths before day I watched as he pasted a photograph lighting the wick, then hiding behind a boat shed of a gorilla on a sheet of paper, carefully printing to shelter from the blast that we were sure would come.

“NANNA” underneath in a childish hand, then tucking Minutes passed. Nothing happened. We peered around. the insult into an envelope addressed to “Nanna, Lucretia The bomb was sizzling with potential and standing by it Avenue, Longueville”, with a used stamp added to the was the Presbyterian minister. envelope.

“Why, hello,” he said, as he spotted us. “It’s Brett “What are you doing?” I asked.

Whiteley and Johnny Wilson!”

I prayed harder than I ever had in choir that they “I’m leaving it in the mailbox, she’ll think it came in the wouldn’t be the last words he ever uttered. God answered; post.” the wick fizzled to silence. The experiment had failed.

“She’ll kill you.”

Our prayers had been heard; Brett and I had escaped the “No she won’t, she won’t know who it’s come from.” noose.

Different paths The white house came alive Life was changing fast. In 1956 I won entrance to art The only thing consistent about the Whiteley’s was school, while Brett met his muse, the exquisite Wendy their difference.

Julius. After all these years, I have never met Wendy and I Even when we were very young, we realised that Beryl don’t think anyone else in our gang did either as, typically, Whiteley was not only exquisitely beautiful but lived in a different world to our mums, all cheery women who Brett kept her in a secret compartment of his life, but bustled around each other’s kitchens swapping recipes, or goaded us with stories of their passion for each other. trading gossip at my Uncle Bunny Warren’s little grocery Envy was one thing, but it was also obvious that this was shop. more than just a minor intrusion into our relationship. It Beryl was like an untouchable movie star and my was clear that our childhood bonds had been traded for memories are glimpses . . . fragments of black and white something far stronger and from that moment, we would film . . . she was enigmatic and exciting, a cool strawberrry walk different paths…. blonde vision of perfect bones and fashion, who seemed to be barely at home. I wondered what her life was like, where she went, what she did. © 2014 JOHN WILSON. 8 TVO

LIFE'S RICH PATTERN

A Family Thing

BY LIZ FOSTER

With 2020 safely behind us, now’s our chance for a fresh start. But if Zoom quiz nights, video montages and dancing dogs aren’t your thing, why not start a new family tradition?

We have a family ritual of sending a cheesy Christmas pic of us with a badly made Happy Christmas (Year) sign.

It started in 1998 when my husband and I were living in England - we stood either side of the bearskin clad sentry at Windsor Castle and sent it as a joke to our friends and family down under. We needed a whole roll of film to ensure that one good shot, minus closed eyes, then developed it, ordered reprints and posted them in our Christmas cards. It was a nine-day camel ride and cost a small fortune.

We added two babies and a dog along the way and kept up the tradition, now twenty-three years strong.

Nowadays the hardest thing is lining us up at the same time and coercing a willing photographer. Shot locations vary wildly, from the Palace of Westminster to the hedge at the front of the house (clearly a time-poor year).

Today’s digital age makes life a whole lot easier. But I can’t bring myself to email the pics, or worse, post on social media. Generic Happy Christmas Everyone! messages just don’t have the personal touch of a tactile, bona fide, stamp-bearing, mailbox delivered card. I don’t care if I don’t get any cards back (unless you count the local real estate agent), but other factors are increasingly at play. First there was the charity substitute plea – ‘this year I’m buying a goat for a village in West Africa instead of sending cards’. I always buy charity cards but somehow this doesn’t cut it. Now it’s eco shaming that’s sitting front and centre. ‘Oh I’m not doing cards this year, the environment and all that,’ said one friend loftily whilst ordering dozens of overseas online gifts in the Black Friday sales. I’ve never received a card from her in my life.

We over-fifties were adept at changing rolls of film in our pre-digital devices, spooling the first frame onto the stipples before closing the back cover for the satisfactory

Illustration by Grace Kopsiaftis whirr, slotting frame 1 into place. Rolls of film traditionally offered 24 exposures, but photo taking was few and far between, so you took pics of any old thing just to ‘finish the film’. One of my most precious photos is of my teenage bedroom, the last in the roll. Looking at the schoolbooks on the shelf, the bulbous black and white portable television, the stack of comics, the carefully selected plastic red draw handles, is like being yanked back to 1983 via a Harry Potter portkey.

Being able to frame, crop and edit that perfect shot has its place but there’s a danger of cutting out amusing stuff for your future self to recollect, like that ugly green lampshade, or Mum’s favourite crocheted napkin holder.

Beyond formal photos like graduations or Nan’s Eightieth it’s the melting pot of all the other pictures that form the memories of a lifetime.

I did a straw poll with my friends and they declared they love getting our cards and Christmas pics. But now we’re doing it as much for ourselves as everyone else. It’s a Family Thing. And a physical photograph that’s not on a screen is now such a rarity it has a certain kitsch to it.

Liz Foster is a local writer and author. You can find more Life’s Rich Pattern features and more at www.lizfosterwriter.com TVO 9

In Two Minds Long-time Northwood resident, Professor Gordon Parker, describes his life working as a psychiatrist as being like a ‘pig in mud’. But his path could have been very different, grappling at an early age with the dilemma of whether to choose a medical or writing career.

WORDS BY: JOCELYN BIDDLE

Northwood resident, psychiatrist and founder of the Black Dog Institute, Professor Gordon Parker,

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t was medicine that ultimately won out and in the past 50 years, Gordon has established himself as an internationally recognised psychiatrist specialising in mood disorders. He has also written prolifically on the topic, producing hundreds of research papers and books.

Gordon has more recently indulged his creative side with the release of his second fiction novel – some five decades after the first.

Having spent his career writing technical books and papers on mental illness, he was keen to step out of his comfort zone.

“When I wrote my first novel in 1966, I’d sit down and type in the evening and all of a sudden it would be 3am. I was keen to test if I could ‘capture the muse again’ by experiencing the novel’s characters taking on a life of their own.”

The result is a novel that has seen two of Gordon’s passions - psychiatry and writing - coincide.

In Two Minds, which was released on April 1st, follows the story of Martin, a Sydney-based GP. Martin is a high achiever who is popular amongst his friends, patients and colleagues.

However the death of his mother triggers an episode of melancholic 10 TVO

depression, later followed by a manic state, that sees him being lead astray by the alluring, yet manipulative Bella.

The situation is completely out of character for Martin, who is a loyal and devoted husband to his long-standing wife Sarah - who happens to be away on a business trip at the time.

What unravels is a series of events that sees Martin, Bella and Sarah struggling with the fallout of his actions, representative of the risktaking behaviours often seen when someone is in the grip of a psychotic episode.

The insights that Gordon has gleaned from years of clinical practice listening to the narrative of people with mental health issues brings an insightful perspective to the novel.

By writing In Two Minds, Gordon was not only able to quell his writer’s itch, but it also provides an opportunity to raise awareness of mood disorders - particularly bipolar disorder.

Gordon is a passionate advocate for identifying two mood conditions - melancholia and bipolar disorder.

He established the Mood Disorders Unit at Prince Henry Hospital in 1985 in order to improve their diagnosis and management.

“My raison d’être has been to provide the right diagnosis with the right management. If you do that, people can get their life back and you obviate suicide risk.

“At the end of one hour with a patient, I want to be able to provide them with a diagnosis, treatment options and plenty of information so that they can make an informed decision as to the best path forward.”

With a long list of career highlights, the pinnacle for Gordon was founding the Black Dog Institute in 2002.

“We established the Black Dog Institute to expand clinical services and drive research in order to better understand, prevent and treat the mood disorders, and to help create a world where mental illness is treated with the same level of concern, immediacy and seriousness as physical illness.”

The Institute now has over 100 staff who conduct research, offer clinical services, and provide health professional training and community education programs.

Sophisticated information is presented on the Institute’s website, together with online questionnaires that people can use to test themselves for depression (which affects about one in four women and one in six men

In two minds

over their lifetime), bipolar or anxiety.

Each month, around 60 thousand Doctor Martin Homer has a naturally sunny disposition.

THE AUTHOR people undertake theABOUTbipolar test Honourable, attentive and trusted by all of his patients, Professor Gordon Parker AO is the founder and former Executive he has only ever loved one woman – his wife, Sarah. alone.

Director of the Black Dog Institute.

Currently Scientia Professor of When his mother dies suddenly, Martin’s life is thrown we Psychiatry managed at the University of New into complete“In disarray.Australia His profound grief sinks him have South Wales, he was, for nearly into a state of black dog depression, before he is to de-stigmatize mood disorders two decades, Head of the School of propelled to new heights in a frenzied, manic high.

Psychiatry at UNSW and Director ofcountry the Division of Psychiatry at better any in the In between riding his than new skateboard around other the Prince of Wales and Prince Henry streets and skating on thin ice personally and was world, helped largeHospitals. partHis first bynovelhighprofessionally, the now self-entitled Martinin crosses published in 1966, and he has paths with Bella, a beautiful and sensual young woman writtencommunity for The Mavis Bramston profile members of our profoundly damaged by trauma of her own.

Show and OZ Magazine. He was an ABC Science broadcaster coming forward to talk about their own In Two Minds takes you on a quirky, rollicking journey and a book reviewer for the Sydney Morning Herald and The that unveils the complexities of mental illness with experiences with mental illness.

Australian. His play, Personality wit and warmth. Gordon Parker’s impressive career A NOVEL Games, was staged in 2004 while in psychiatry itself through and insightful reveals “This hasrichled to more people his autobiography, A Piece of My descriptions of depression, bipolar disorder and Mind: A Psychiatrist on the Couch, borderline personality characteristics and their ever before, and seeking help –than was published in 2012. powerful impacts.

I believe Australia is ahead of the world in destigmatizing depression.

There is still a way to go – and thus a secondary aim for this novel.

“Clinical depression is impairing www.venturapress.com.au - you can’t get to work or function properly and you see no future. It’s not a matter of just ‘pulling your socks up’ - it can completely bring you to your knees.”

22mm As the Executive Director of the Black Dog Institute up until 2012, Gordon was also Head of the School of Psychiatry at the University of NSW and Director of the Division of Psychiatry at Prince of Wales and Prince Henry Hospitals for nearly two decades.

Gordon is currently Scientia Professor of Psychiatry at the University of New South Wales. He continues to research, teach and lecture at the university and is a prolific writer of academic books and research articles on the topic of mood disorders.

It is the experiences from a career spent diagnosing and treating thousands of patients that provides readers of In Two Minds with such a fascinating insight into the world of mental illness - from both a patient and clinician perspective.

Entering the main character’s world, readers can better understand the debilitating impact that depression and psychosis can have, and their capacity to turn lives upside down.

In the novel, central character Martin switches from a depressive state into a manic psychosis, enabling Gordon to show readers the two ends of the spectrum often experienced by bipolar sufferers.

“Bipolar can take people from clinical depression, where they can’t get out of bed to move their car, through to a psychotic episode where

In two Minds Gordon Parker STEPHEN FRY

A NO V EL

Gordon Parker

cover white 11mm wide

‘I can more or less guarantee that you know someone for whom this book will be important and inspiring.

There’s a very strong chance that person will be you.’

Cover illustration: Aura Parker

FICTION

9 781925 384192

Also available as an ebook

3821 Two Minds_COVER.indd 1

www.venturapress.com.au

9/02/2017 9:55 am

The insights that Gordon has gleaned from years of clinical practice listening to the narrative of people with mental health issues brings an insightful perspective to his new novel ‘In Two Minds’.

they are on an absolute high and undertake risky behaviours. They go from ‘parking’ fines to ‘speeding’ fines.”

Which is exactly what happens with Martin. Through his character, Gordon shows how patients can become delusional and lose all inhibitions while in a manic state.

“Terrible things can happen when people move into the highs of bipolar as they experience massive changes in their extra sensory perception, libido, levels of selfishness and entitlement.”

Although Gordon says that 80% of his book is based on imagination, it is informed by his clinical practice and what patients have explained about their own experiences in living with a mood disorder.

“A main complication in treating people with a bipolar disorder is that sufferers love the highs so much that they have to be persuaded to stay on medication in order to manage their condition.

“Really creative people are 3-4 times more likely to have a bipolar disorder. When they’re on a high, they perform well and are on top of the world. They worry that medication may take away their creativity, although research does not support such a concern, and many choose to stay off it.”

According to Gordon, sometimes people need to ‘crash’ 3-6 times before they learn the high price of not managing their illness with medication - whether it is through damage to themselves or the people around them.

Gordon explores this with his character Martin and the reader is left hanging as to whether the thrills associated with his manic high could cause him to further jeopardise the one relationship he holds most dear.

Gordon’s daughter-in-law and fellow local Lane Cove resident, Aura Parker, illustrated the striking front cover, which carries a highly praised quote

by Stephen Fry endorsing the novel.

“I believe Australia is ahead of the world in destigmatizing depression. There is still a way to go – and thus a secondary aim for my novel.”

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FEATURE STORY

A local way to interpret a national conversation Last year’s bushfires took their toll in every conceivable way, and it is only now, after the skies cleared enough for everyone to breathe, that pressure is mounting from all corners about how to best manage the future of Australian landcare. Gallery Lane Cove is opening its space to three First Nations women artists, during what will also be NAIDOC Week, to encourage a constructive and inclusive dialogue about this crucial topic.

WORDS: NICOLA RICHES

Barbara McGrady, Untitled, Dancing and Caring for Country Series

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Rachael acknowledges how important it was for the gallery, yarra Murrama Guwing (The Sun Setting particularly for the purposes of this show, to engage in Red),” is a timely art show that focuses on the cultural consultation. As a result, Gallery Lane Cove important conversation around landcare, the natural environment and climate change from a partnered with curator and Malera Bandjalan, Mitakoodi matrilineal First Nations perspective. woman Kyra Kum-Sing.

The exhibition is something of a coup for Gallery Lane Kyra splits her time between her home in Bandjalan country in north New South Wales and Sydney where, Cove, which has secured site-specific work from three among many things, she works for the Boomalli Aboriginal artists including world-renowned photographer Barbara McGrady. Cited as the “the first Aboriginal female Artists Co-operative. She explains why it was essential that photojournalist of her calibre”, McGrady’s photographs this exhibition focused on the matrilineal perspective; “There is men’s business and there is women’s business. span 30 years. Working as a Gomeroi/Gamilaraay Murri yinah (woman), she is known for documenting the There is oral knowledge that is passed down from lives of First Nation peoples in urban areas woman to woman, and having come from a strong and uses her medium as an influential tool matrilineal line myself, I know how vital it is for empowerment and social change. for this to be maintained. Everything we do, whether it is creating, dancing, taking The brainchild of Gallery Lane Sarah Barter with kids Cove curator Rachael Kiang, “Dyarra part in ceremonies, is part of our holistic Jonathan and Timothy caretaking of our culture and our land.

Murrama Guwing (The Sun Setting Red),” is a response to last summer’s We are the land.” devastating bushfires. Time has Dyarra Murrama Guwing (The Sun afforded artists the opportunity to Setting Red) sees McGrady’s work paired process the fires, and a conversation with works by Nadeena Dixon and Carmen around last summer is coming to the Glynn-Braun, who is the youngest of fore in all walks of life. Lane Cove is the three. Nadeena, a Wiradjuri, Yuin and one of those havens where the gallery Gadigal (Dharug-Boorongberigal clan) woman, and community are open to challenging how brings to the table rich knowledge and incredible landcare is undertaken, and how the knowledge talent as a master weaver in the First Nations tradition, of Australia’s First Nations peoples has the power to a multidisciplinary contemporary artist working in regenerate and steer policy. animation, video and photography, plus work as a teacher “First Nation communities have a very intimate at UTS. knowledge of the land thanks to their holistic association “A lot of my practice is based on country,” she says. “It uses materials and gathering techniques that our people with nature and there is much that we can learn from them,” have maintained for thousands of years. I find so much explains Rachael, who is determined to show “women strength and beauty in being able to observe reverence and artists’ points of views, their stories and experiences in be present when walking this spiritual path as an artist and this area.”

First Nation communities have a very intimate knowledge of the land

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1. Barbara MGrady. 2. Carmen Glynn Braun-My Mother’s Keeper, 2020 (Work-in-Progress). 3. Nadeena Dixon, Gadigal Fisherwomen.

4. Nadeena Dixon, Gadigal Language_ Burujarra. 5. Nadeena Dixon, Still Image from Animation. 6. Carmen Glynn Braun - Untitled, Artist’s Portrait with Installation Work at UNSW Galleries. Image courtesy of Silver Salt Photography. 7. Carmen Glynn Braun. Solid Foundations, 2020, (Detail) LED light cubes.

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a teacher,” she explains. Like McGrady, Nadeena too has created new works for this specific show.

Understanding how spirituality, from a female perspective, plays into the heart of this show’s message will undoubtedly spark conversation with the audience.

Kyra explains, “As traditional custodians, the Aboriginal people have much to impart and share in terms of how we relate to nature, flora and fauna. The Aboriginal female perspective and insights to environmental care highlight how we can realign our relationship with nature and begin the process of healing and renewal.”

The female scaffold underpinning “Dyarra Murrama Guwing (The Sun Setting Red),” is rooted in the First Nations womens experience of living in a society that often privileges the male view. Carmen Glynn-Braun, an emerging Australian artist stemming from the Southern Arrernte, Kaytetye, and Ammatyerre nations across Central Australia, explains how shows like this attempt to open challenging conversations such as the ongoing privilege of the male view.

“As an artist who unpacks a lot of heavy political content within my work, I find art is one of the only safe spaces for people of colour to explore these themes freely,” she says.

“Art for me is about truth telling and offering a translucent extension of myself and my experiences in the world.”

Like Nadeena, Carmen is a multidisciplinary artist.

Fascinatingly, her work for Gallery Lane Cove is devised

7

as a response to Barbara’s and Nadeena’s.

Guardian Australia’s Indigenous affairs editor Lorena Allam wrote in January of this year: “It’s a particular grief, to lose forever what connects you to a place in the landscape. Our ancestors felt it, our elders felt it, and now we are feeling it all over again as we watch how the mistreatment and neglect of our land and waters for generations, and the pig-headed foolishness of coal-obsessed climate change denialists turn everything and everyone to ash.”

Carmen is quite clear about what needs to change: “This (the fires) obviously could have been prevented. Indigenous land preservation methods absolutely could have been utilised here. Skilled burning methods preventing bush fires have been carried out by First Nations Peoples for thousands of years, from all over Australia. And many different types of country from salt water to desert. I carry some sadness that this is only being heavily investigated now - after such a catastrophic event. Our knowledge should be considered as expertise always, and my hope is that we are to maintain it from here.”

TVO 15

Flecked with gold: the sandstone mansions of 1880s Lane Cove and surroundings

The megaliths around The Canopy's roadside face on Rosenthal Avenue are an attractive homage to a significant feature of the North Shore's landscape - sandstone. Where, when and why it was quarried in the early days is quite a story.

WORDS: DR KAY LEIPER, PRESIDENT, LANE COVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

O

n the North Shore, the sandstone headlands along the Lane Cove River were an important source of building material for early residents.

Of course, in the eons before, the Cammeraygal people used these sandstone headlands for their dwellings and a canvas for their art.

Settler dwellings were made of materials at hand—timber that grew along the ridges, mud bricks and wattle-and-daub for the ‘Ticket of Leave’ poor and sandstone for the emerging middle-classes. Brickworks at Greenwich operated in 1870, but brick making on the North Shore did not allow for the steady supply of fired bricks until the 1880s when brickworks were established at Artarmon.

Many early houses were made of sandstone quarried on-site. Carisbrook Historic House on Burns Bay Road is one example.

Constructed in the 1880s, it is made with sandstone quarried nearby. An 1885 newspaper advertisement selling the Carisbrook Estate mentions two quarries at Linley Point.

One of these was worked by the Trickett family who also owned a quarry in Greenwich from the early 1870s.

George Trickett and his sons, John, William and Edward,

ran the site as well as other sandstone quarries in Ballast Point (Birchgrove) plus the one at Linley Point. The Trickett brothers were local sculling champions, with Edward holding the World Sculling Championship, the first Australian world champion in any sport. The story goes he gained his strength rowing the harbour between quarries.

Trickett’s Greenwich quarry provided the sandstone for the Botanic Gardens harbour seawall, Port Kembla’s breakwater and the Macquarie Lighthouse renovations (where Edward met his future wife). Their houses, and the houses of their neighbours, the Greens who built Greenwich House in 1837, were all sandstone.

So too Northwood House, built in 1878

by Mrs. Davy, complete with private sandstone wharves on Northwood Point and Gore Creek Bay. In 1884, the Northwood wharf was donated to the public. It seems the sandstone, originally quarried on-site, was reused by the LCC in 1908 in an upgrade.

Longueville and Tambourine Bay wharves also got waiting rooms made of sandstone quarried on-site. All were weatherproof and could seat about thirty people with tiled roofs, plastered walls, concrete floors and gas lighting. And, so ferry commuters could be reminded of

Sydney sandstone was golden in more ways than one.

16 TVO

the ever-benevolent Mrs. Davy, she left funds to build a fountain in her memory at the Northwood site.

After WWI sandstone for public buildings lost its appeal, but throughout the 19th century Sydney’s quarrymen and architects from Francis Greenway to Edmund Blackett created a city of golden sandstone.

Stone was quarried along Cockle Bay (Darling Harbour), Circular Quay, Kent and Sussex Streets to Millers Point and at Paddington. The Gaol Quarry produced Darlinghurst gaol and courthouse (1822), the first designated Post Office in Bent Street (1820s) and St. James’ Church (brick and sandstone) (1820). Paddington Quarry produced Victoria Barracks in 1841 and the first wing of the Australian Museum in 1846. Circular Quay quarries gave us the Treasury building and the Free Library at the corner of Bent Street (1849), and between 1830 and 1850, private owners at Grafton Wharf (Barangaroo) reclaimed the shoreline with sandstone rubble and seawalls.

After 1850, industrialised quarrying at Pyrmont provided sandstone for buildings, seawalls, the new railway and the reclamation of Darling Island with its slipways and buildings. The ‘Paradise’ and ‘Half-way’ Quarries produced stone for the Sydney Town Hall, the new GPO and the Queen Victoria Building. To the suggestion that the city was short of supplies, 1855

newspapers reported that sandstone was “in immense abundance” on the North Shore, along the Lane Cove River, and at Middle Harbour.

Sydney sandstone was golden in more ways than one.

Quarrymen and ballastmen held Society meetings in the Quarryman’s pub and saw to it that blocks filled the holds of ships bound for countries across the Pacific for building construction. Between 1880 and 1893 Sydney sandstone won first prizes at the Amsterdam, India and Chicago Exhibitions.

Speaking of gold: sometime in the 1860s the Rev. William Clarke saw specs of gold in the sandstone on the North Shore. By 1894 the Royal Society was wondering if that gold could be extracted and Professor Liversidge reported that in experiments he found assayed gold to the value of between £2 and 12/- per ton. At the time, a cyanide process could treat tailings at a cost of 3/- per ton, so there was some profit to be had.

In the event, no one set about extracting the gold from Sydney sandstone. Who knows, perhaps today it is a viable proposition. But please, don’t go prospecting on those lovely monoliths along Rosenthal Avenue.

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Monday, Tuesday & Thursdays, 10:00am - 12:30pm

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visit northsydneycentre.com.au or call 02 9922 2299 TVO 17

TVO celebrates 25 years In August 1993, The Village Observer (TVO) was launched to “provide the residents of the municipality of Lane Cove with all the local news and information that is missing from big city newspapers.”

T

he brainchild of Ian Longbottom, the idea for a publication came about after Ian attended a dinner party and spoke with someone who had been unsuccessful in getting exposure to promote a local school.

“I wanted to develop a forum for community groups with limited funds to be able to distribute information and came up with the idea for a newspaper.

It was all about the Lane Cove community and encouraging people to support local business.”

For the next 17 years, Ian almost singlehandedly produced the black and white publication, circulating it to letterboxes throughout the area.

“I didn’t know how long it would last. We kept our overheads as low as possible. I would write and typeset it using Word, which was a bit limiting compared to desktop publishing programs available today, and my young sons 18 TVO

Ian Longbottom, Founder and former publisher of The Village Observer, circa 2000 (Courtesy Lane Cove Library).

would help me distribute the 15,000 copies.

“There were plenty of 2am mornings leading up to deadline. This was the era before email, so I would drive around town picking up photos and disks containing copy from contributors. Other contributors would fax handwritten articles to me, which I would then retype for publication.”

Ian was never afraid to tackle controversial issues, whether it be perennial hot topics such as parking, rubbish, and traffic, or matters discussed during Council meetings in his ‘Minutes that take hours at Lane Cove’ column.

Parade along Little Street for Rotary Fair, October 1993.

(Courtesy Lane Cove Library).

Citizenship Awards ceremony in the Lane Cove Civic Centre, March 1993. (Courtesy Lane Cove Library).

Book sale outside Lane Cove Library, October 1993.

(Courtesy Lane Cove Library).

Lane Cove Plaza, October 1993. (Courtesy Lane Cove Library).

On the anniversary of its 50th issue in 1998, Ian wrote that when he started TVO, he had “no idea how long it might last. Suburban newspapers have come and gone over the years. Maybe that fate will one day happen to TVO, but we have survived well into our fifth year.

“Our survival is due to our loyal advertisers, our multitude of ‘correspondents’ and our intrepid readers.”

Graphic Designer Sharon Curby and Advertising Manager Mariano Massa, overseen by Sydney Community Services’ CEO Gill Batt.

Jocelyn, Sharon and Mariano are passionate about the important role TVO plays in engendering the sense of community that is quite special to Lane Cove, together with the important contribution that it makes to financially assisting vulnerable sectors of our community.

A change of ownership

As a team, they have worked hard After 180 issues, Ian made the decision to to modernise the magazine to increase sell TVO. In April 2010, he advertised the its readership and to ensure that it is publication for sale, saying that “it needs a relevant, interesting community Profits from someone new, with a fresh and vibrant publication.

The Village Observer approach, to take this ‘sixteen plus

This included launching TVO’s teenager’ through the rest of its teens are passed back to the first major redesign in 2014. A new and into adulthood.” community through masthead was created. Full colour Several months later, TVO was the aged and disability was introduced throughout. Features purchased by Lane Cove Community and new sections commenced services Aid Foundation which operates including health, lifestyle, community provided by Sydney Sydney Community Services (formerly and the Business Directory. The Lane Cove & North Side Community Community Services. size and paper stock were changed.

Services).

An online version was developed. The The Board of the Foundation recognised community responded positively and this as a good opportunity as it would help further improvements and changes have been provide an additional source of funding, as well as ongoing. provide a mechanism to keep the community updated on Through a combination of more interesting articles the important work of Sydney Community Services. and more attractive design, TVO’s relevance and A new direction appeal in an increasingly digital society has continued.

Over the past five years, TVO has been produced each month by a small team comprising Editor Jocelyn Biddle, Continued over page >

TVO 19

VillageObserver THE

KEEPING OUR

COMMUNITY

CONNECTED

Why Co Matters mmunity

I FEBRUARY 2017 I ISSUE 259

Finding you

r tribe

PAGE 4

Do you enjoy writing?

NEW COMPETITIO N ON PAGE 7

Jude Bolton welcomes new citizens on Understanding Australia Day ‘unfinished PAGE 16 business’ when it comes to family

TVO IS DISTRIBU TED TO: GREENW LONGUEVILLE. PAGE 10 NORTHWOOD. ICH. GORE HILL. HUNTERS OSBORNE PARK. HILL. LANE COVE. LANE RIVERVIEW. COVE WEST. ST LEONAR LANE COVE DS. STRINGY NORTH. BARK CREEK. TARBAN CREEK. LINLEY POINT. WOOLW THE VILLAGE

OBSERVER

I NO. 259 I FEBRUARYICH. 2017 I 1

Past issues of TVO, L to R, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2020

The importance of our advertisers As Lane Cove continues to grow, it is forums such as TVO that become even more important in fostering a sense of community. The support of readers and advertisers has been essential to achieving this.

By advertising in TVO, local businesses not only directly reach their target market, but they are helping the most vulnerable sectors of our community.

Several advertisers have been with TVO from the outset, including Trendsetter Travel, Burns Bay Physiotherapy, Dr Tim David, Scott Chartered Accountants and Mortgage Choice.

New loyal advertisers have since joined including WHAT Hearing, Belle Property, Harbourline and Ray White. Lane Cove Council continues to be another very important supporter.

The team at TVO would like to thank all advertisers for their valued support and the role that they play in assisting the work of Sydney Community Services.

Financially, the funding that is received from The Village Observer pays for the everyday care of 25 local people in the community each day for a year.

It has helped meet the salary cost of a Community Registered Nurse and a Personal Care Assistant.

A FLASHBACK TO 1993: • Kerry Chikarovski was the State Member for Lane Cove.

• Lane Cove Council dropped the word municipal from its name and became known as ‘Lane Cove Council’.

• Traffic on Epping Road and surrounding streets increased with the changes made by the opening of the Sydney Harbour Tunnel in August 1992, along with the Gore Hill Freeway which opened to traffic in August 1992.

• The Village Observer announced a great masthead competition asking for designs for their paper.

• In 1993 Council took over the management of the Lane Cove Youth Centre (now Synergy).

SINCE 1993: • Lane Cove’s population has increased by over 7000 people*.

• Medium and high-density housing in Lane Cove has increased by 65%*.

• The number of children aged 0-19 years living in Lane Cove has increased 23%*.

• The proportion of couples with kids living in Lane Cove has increased by 42%*. *Source: Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils.

20 TVO

COMMUNITY PROFILE

profile: T utti and Paul Bennett

Everyone who has noticed Tutti and Paul Bennett would agree that they bring joie de vivre to the streets of Lane Cove.

Having lived locally for 38 years, their flamboyance and flair is unmissable. Each day, Tutti curates an inimitable outfit, mixing and matching with colour and often with her signature headscarf.

“For me, it’s innate. I love putting clothes together and giving things a different look. I’ve never liked following the crowd – I’ve always dressed to please myself.”

This style has led to the couple being noticed not only locally, but internationally. They were recently photographed to be included in a book entitled ‘Advanced Love’, which is due for release later this year.

The book is being produced by Los Angeles-based photographer and author, Ari Seth Cohen. Ari is the creator of Advanced Style, a project devoted “to capturing the sartorial savvy of the senior set.” Through his work, Ari shows that you can be stylish, creative and vital at any age.

“Ari visited Australia to attend a Vogue exhibition launch.

He stayed with us for a few days and took a range of photos, though we’re not sure which one he will select for the book.”

Tutti and Paul raised their two daughters – Sonia and Cecily-Anna – in Lane Cove and the couple can often be seen up at the village together with their three-year old granddaughter Marnie.

“My goal in life has been to embarrass my children,” says Tutti. It would seem that there have been moments where she has successfully achieved this. For example, the outfit that she put together for Cecily-Anna’s year 5 school social.

“When all the other kids were wearing stone-washed denim, I wore a bright yellow and black leopard print shift dress with matching hot pants, overlaid with a black tulle skirt and sleeveless denim jacket, complete with leopard print collar and pocket,” explains Cecily-Anna.

Tutti was brought up not to worry about what other people think. Growing up within the only Jewish family in Bathurst in the 1950’s, the family didn’t bow to convention.

“There was a lot of xenophobia there at that time. I admire my parents for standing out.”

At 21, Tutti left Bathurst and became a trainee in the fashion department at David Jones. Overseas travel followed and Tutti says that it was then that she really became her own person, dressing as she wished and having the courage ‘to be me’.

Meanwhile husband Paul, who grew up in Brisbane, was studying graphic design in London. On returning to Australia, Brisbane felt too small so a move to Sydney followed.

It was a chance meeting at a Jewish party in 1975 that saw their two worlds collide.

“It was almost like an epiphany when I viewed this someone - almost like from another planet. Tutti was so different to anyone that I had ever dated,” says Paul.

After only a few months, the couple married. That was 41 years ago.

In Paul’s desire to ‘save the world’, he wrote and published ‘The Cranky Guru; Adventures in Metaphysics’ in 2014.

“This book has been my contribution to what makes things tick, how to live a life of abundance - to be able to do what you want to do when you want to do it - where we can engage mind, thoughts, intent and passions.”

The couple have seen many changes to Lane Cove in the decades they have lived here.

“Change is a beautiful thing,” says Paul. “It has been great to see the explosion in the number of young families to the area (Paul has affectionately coined the astro turf area in the Plaza as the ‘human petri dish’) and to see so many people out and about.”

One cannot come away after meeting Tutti and Paul without feeling inspired. The energy and vitality that they express through their clothing is reflective of their attitude to life.

If only they could bottle this formula, it would be a best seller…

TVO 21

Sharing spaces

Top 6

BREEDS IN LANE COVE: • Labrador and Golden Retriever • Maltese • Cavoodle

With over 3000 dogs registered with Lane Cove Council, our open spaces are being utilised now more than ever to exercise and socialise our canine friends.

For dog owners, it is really important that they respect and comply with rules around whether public spaces are designated as either on or off leash.

A

ccording to Council, the demand for access to both on leash and off leash areas at our sports grounds and open space areas is ever increasing. Our local parks also attract residents of other localities who bring their dogs to Lane Cove for exercise and recreation.

There are currently 17 different parks and reserves across the Lane Cove LGA where people are allowed to take their dog off leash (see www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/ offleash for full details).

Outside of these areas, dogs are required to be on a leash, with fines for dog owners that do not comply.

Various penalties apply, but generally as per s12A (1) of the Companion Animals Act, there is a $220 fine where a dog is Not Under Effective Control, ie. not on a leash or secured.

Lane Cove Council’s 2018/19 Operational and Delivery Plan outlines a commitment to improve some existing spaces and that it also intends to consult with the community about any new identified spaces that may be possible to convert to off-leash areas in the future.

Can I let my dog off leash in bushland?

The short answer is no. Although the bush tracks throughout Lane Cove are a great place to exercise our dogs, they must be on a lead.

Ian Partridge has been a local bushcare volunteer for over 20 years and says that there are several issues associated with dog owners allowing their animals to run free.

“We see people either walking or running with their dogs all the time in the bush and usually there 22 TVO

• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel • Jack Russell

There is no bushland in Lane Cove where you are allowed to take your dog off leash

are no issues as they have them on a lead. However, occasionally we see dogs running off leash, generally ahead of their owner so that the owner isn’t aware what they’re up to – whether they are going off the designated tracks and chasing wildlife or going to the toilet which we may later step or kneel in as we work.”

Ian says that the Lane Cove bushland is home to a wide array of ground dwelling birds and reptiles including bower birds, turkeys, wrens, ducks, skinks, water dragons and even echidnas which can be disrupted by dogs who run through the bush away from the main tracks. Even the dog’s scent can discourage native wildlife to use an area for their habitat or food source.

Additional risks of letting dogs off lead in bushland include an increased chance of them picking up ticks, or eating fox droppings which can spread disease. Dogs can also disperse weed seeds that become stuck to their coat when running through the bush.

“There is no bushland in Lane Cove where you are allowed to take your dog off leash and this rule exists for very good reason. Fortunately, most dog walkers adhere to the rules,” says Ian. Owners exercising their dog in shared use parks such as sports fields or off leash areas need to take responsibility to avoid any likelihood of their dog reacting to other users.

On average, Council formally deals with up to 4 or 5 dog attack/ dog rushing matters each year. Off leash or nuisance dogs can be reported to Council via the Snap Send Solve app, which will enable them to actively deal with dog owners who don’t do the right thing.

FEATURE STORY

Walk your way to wellness December and January: synonymous with indulgence, reflection, connections, and new beginnings. Walking as a pastime can weave magic through all of these and benefit our physical, mental and spiritual health. It can also boost our knowledge and lavish us with new learnings. Lane Cove and surrounds is brimming with walking tracks and walking groups to satisfy all our different needs.

WORDS: NICOLA RICHES PHOTOS: SHAUNA FORREST

Y

Photo credit Anne Pauli

ou have no doubt come across countless articles about the physical benefits of walking. The magic number of 10,000 steps per day crops up in many health campaigns. Regular brisk walks are known to improve bone density. For women, walking helps regulate hormones and reduces the effects of menopause.

Walking, surprisingly, burns as much fat as running.

What is perhaps more interesting is the effects of walking on our mental health. The MindShift Foundation’s Clinical Psychologist Dr Lars Madsen notes five clear benefits: the reduction of stress; the release of endorphins to create feelings of happiness; the alleviation of anxiety; combatting insomnia and promoting melatonin release, and an increase selfworth. No-one feels bad for getting off the sofa and taking a walk around a local park, after all.

While many of us appreciate a solo walk and the quiet solitude it brings, walking in a group turbocharges all the mental health benefits listed above. Walking with others, says Madsen, “is an effective tool for promoting emotional wellbeing as it encourages interaction, social engagement as well as physical activity.

Walking is an inexpensive, low risk and accessible form of exercise, and combined with nature and a group setting, it is a powerful, under-utilised stress buster.”

Lane Cove Community Chaplaincy, run by Chaplain Karen Paull, organises three walking groups. Currently restricted to groups of 20 or less to comply with COVID restrictions, they include Wednesday’s Weekly Walk in

Blackman Park (pram and wheelchair friendly); Walk and Talk which sets out on a Sunday (with invitations to join longer walks organised by the group), and Walk and Wonder where the group meets on the third Sunday of each month and walks for 1.5 hours.

These groups are intergenerational and multicultural.

Many of the walkers are 50+, but there are also younger adults who take part. Anne Pauli, a member of the Chaplaincy walking groups, says that it is the social connection she enjoys, describing it as a “real treat” and being “good for the soul and the body”.

The mental health and spiritual aspects to walking are boosted by these groups.

Chaplain Karen sometimes helps facilitate a moment of contemplative practice during the walks, inspired by an ancient, indigenous ritual called Dadirri. Karen explains, “Dadirri is about listening deep within ourselves, and also to each other, life in dialogue. Listening with the heart. Listening with compassion and deep respect, a practice informed by community – where all people matter, and all people belong.”

One of the regular participants of the Chaplaincy walks, Heather Andrews, says, “I find being in the natural environment calming and a salve for my soul. When life is busy, it is such a blessing to slow the pace by walking and taking in the beauty of nature.”

Lane Cove and surrounding suburbs lends itself well to walking. The municipality has approximately 90 hectares

What is perhaps more interesting is the effects of walking on our mental health

TVO 23

White-throated Treecreeper

Three recent Lane Cove bushwalk bird sightings

by Ted Nixon Mowbray Park River & Gum - S. Forrest

1. Scarlet Honeyeater of bushland under the care, control and management of Council. There are around 625 species of indigenous plants among them several vegetation types such as wet and dry sclerophyll forest, heath land, mangroves and tidal flats. If you live in this area, you are never more than 500 metres from bushland. That is something to behold in itself.

While we may talk about the physical, mental health and spiritual benefits to walking, the pastime also offers us access to a massive bank of knowledge about our local, natural environment. For those keen to explore walking’s educational benefits, , Lane Cove Bushland & Conservation Society (LCBCS) is a good place to start.

Since its inception almost 50 years ago, LCBCS has been hosting bushwalks guided by experts in their fields of the natural environment to advance a love and understanding of our natural environment both locally and further afield.

Don Dove, a Society member, wrote the first ‘Bushwalks in Lane Cove’ book in 1982, which is now in its seventh edition.

The walks are enjoyed for their intrinsic beauty and pleasure, but with expert guides, participants get the extra benefit of learning the history and ecology of the locales.

Mark Wolff worked as a Bush Regenerator for more than three decades for Lane Cove Council, and now leads walks, on behalf of LCBCS, through Venteman’s Reach (beyond the BBQs at Blackman Park). LCBCS describes the areas as the “most expansive and diverse tidal wetland of the Lane Cove River”. Boardwalks through the mangroves keep your feet dry and enable a close-up look at the excellent birdlife, stunning native bushland, water views, sandstone outcrops, history, flora and fauna. On this stunning walk, Mark imparts his knowledge of salt tolerant She-oaks, Warrigal Greens, Eucalypts, Angophora and a beautiful

24 TVO

A recent highlight was the sight of a male Scarlet Honeyeater at eye level, feeding in a shrub, apparently unconcerned by its audience. All too often these small honeyeaters are only seen flitting about in the tops of tall trees.

2. White-throated Treecreeper Another interesting recent find was a White-throated Treecreeper, which climbs tree trunks looking for grubs and other edibles on and under the bark. In contrast to most passerine birds, the Treecreeper has very long toes with curved claws, allowing it to better cling to the tree trunk.

3. Brown Gerygone While the birds lay low in the rain, we had some ‘hot spots’ when the weather cleared. A mixed hunting party of little birds provided an identification challenge as they moved swiftly from branch to branch. A highlight was a small warbler, the Brown Gerygone, its name coming from the ancient Greek for ‘born of song.’

Lane Cove Chaplain Karen Paull and Wednesday Walkers

Flannel Flower - S. Forrest

It is never too late to start walking

under-storey of native plants and native orchids on the slopes. He explains that, due to the proximity of fresh water and fishing points, the area was valuable to the indigenous Gadigal peoples and for others, during the Depression, as evidenced by the concrete slab remains of makeshift houses.

Geologist John Martyn, author the ‘Field Guide to the Bushland of the Lane Cove Valley’ (2010) led what was the first, two-hour walk down the Fiddens Wharf Track in Lane Cove National Park last August. John’s explanations of the Gondwanan plant connections and beautiful rock patterns were a highlight, said participants, particularly when he revealed a 230 million-year-old ‘slump fold’ in a what appeared to be an ordinary rock.

Local bird authority Ted Nixon, past President of Birding NSW and Coordinator of NSW Bird Atlassers leads a three-hour Bellbird & River Bushwalk in Mowbray Park.

Ted estimates a total of 33 species of birds were seen and heard on one of his walks, including a Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Goshawk and King Parrots. “The advertised Bell Miners piped continuously, as they always do, and eventually everyone was able to spot them in the canopy,” he explained.

It is never too late to start walking. As Dr Lars Madsen says, “Walking for at least 30 minutes a day is a great way to improve or maintain your overall health and walk your way towards wellness.”

info:

• T o find out more about the Lane Cove Community Chaplaincy walks and or to book a place email: lanecovechaplain@gmail.com • If you would like to take part in a guided walk organised by LCBCS, email: lcbcs.correspondence@gmail.com

• Y ou can also join the Lane Cove Walking Group, which meets every Sunday at 7:30am (all levels and abilities welcome) at the entrance to Woolworths in the Plaza.

• B ushwalks Around Lane Cove (seventh edition) is available as a free download on the Council website

TVO 25

Love where you live Proudly bought to you by Lane Cove Council

River celebrations They say you can’t step in the same river twice and with so much change in 2020 we certainly could do with a reminder of how special it is to live by the ebbs and tides of Lane Cove’s rivers…

Lane Cove River is about 15 kilometres long, stretching from Thornleigh through until Greenwich where it meets Parramatta River and becomes Sydney Harbour.

Middens heaps along the river foreshores indicate that Aboriginal people occupied the area for thousands of years. The river was likely a travel route, rather than just a barrier to be crossed, and the Cameraygal people were skilled in making and using their canoes. The Cameraygal people relied seasonally on the Lane Cove River as a major source of their food with the estuaries providing food such as shellfish, fish, prawns, turtles and turtle eggs, eels, crabs, yabbies and waterfowl and their eggs. They people fished with nets and spears or would line fish from bark canoes. Fish traps were also known. The majority of the surviving Aboriginal sites are recorded within 200 metres of the 26 TVO

foreshore, indicating the importance of the river system.

Lane Cove River is also important to several threatened species such as the White-bellied Sea-Eagle and Eastern Osprey. Ospreys patrol coastal waterways and feed mostly on fish caught by diving and catching fish on the surface or even under the water.

The larger White-bellied Sea-Eagle is a skillful hunter of fish, turtles, sea snakes and even mammals and other birds up to the size of a swan. Both of these birds of prey can be seen soaring above the river near Manns Point in Greenwich or perched upriver near Linley Point and Ventemans Reach.

A less obvious threatened species which relies on the river is the nocturnal Fishing Bat Myotis macropus. This palm-sized microbat is the only species of bat in Australia to capture fish for food. It is thought

to use echolocation to detect ripples on the waters’ surface made by its prey. It captures aquatic invertebrates, prawns and small fish by trawling their large specially adapted feet along the water’s surface. Only discovered here in 2015, it shows how much we should value, and can still learn, about our wonderful waterway.

If you would like to enjoy the river Council has put together a list of enjoyable walks which are perfect to enjoy over this Christmas, New year season… >

The above information is extracted from the Natural Environment of Lane Cove 2nd edition publication

by Lynne McLoughlin.

You can access the full text at www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/bushland Photo Credit C E Zorzin Captured Photography Entrant.

lle Greenfield)

Lovetts Reserve:

Blackman Park to The Boreen, Lane Cove West

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Manns Point Lookout to Greenwich Baths, Greenwich • 500m, 10mins.

Grade: Moderately easy A scenic walk along the harbour foreshore with spectacular views of the harbour and city. Treat yourself to a swim at Greenwich Baths, entry fees apply.

Access to walk: From Prospect St, Greenwich or Greenwich Sailing Club car park.

Shell Park to Greenwich Point, Greenwich • 800m, 20mins. Grade: Easy A mostly flat waterfront walk through shaded bushland and open parks that provides view of the harbour.

Stop to explore the small sandy beach at low tide.

Access to walk: From Greenwich Road (northern end) or Greenwich Point Ferry Wharf, Lower Serpentine Rd (southern end)

• 1.2km, 30mins. Grade: Moderate A high waterside bush track with sandstone cliffs, wildflowers and views over the Lane Cove River. Grab a bite at the newly opened Puppy Tail café at Blackman Park.

Access to walk: Main access is from the southwest corner of Blackman Park, Lloyd Rees Drive.

The southern section of the walking tracks in Lovetts Reserve is closed for environmental assessment by instruction of the NSW Environmental Protection Authority.

(Left) Tennyson Park: sandstone There is no accessthe from Burnsrock terracing of this park Bay Road or the Boreen.

Access provides for a tranquil is still open from Cope Street, experience.

Myee Crescent, Penrose Street & (Photo: Michelle Greenfield) Blackman Park.

Tambourine Bay to Warraroon Reserve, Riverview • 1.5km, 40mins.

Grade: Moderately easy A diverse walk past sandstone cliffs and overhangs and riverside mangroves, wetlands and wildflowers.

Take a picnic overlooking the bay.

Access to walk: Main access is from Tambourine Bay Park, end of Tambourine Bay Road, Riverview.

Burns Bay Reserve, Riverview • 400m, 10mins. Grade: Easy A foreshore walk with views across Burns Bay and passing by open parks, remnant bushland and historic Carisbrook House. A great spot to launch your kayak or boat.

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Ventemans Reach: Blackman Park to Stringybark Creek crossing, Lane Cove West • 1km, 20mins. Grade: Easy Heathy Parrot Pea An easy riverside bush trackretorta and Dillwynia (Photo: Michelle Greenfield) boardwalk through woodland, mangroves and saltmarsh. A fabulous spot for birdwatching.

North of the Stringybark Creek Footbridge to south of the Pumphouse Historic Site is closed for safety reasons.

Please follow the latest NSW Health advice when bushwalking in Lane Cove BURNS BAY & TANNERY CREEK

retorta

lle Greenfield)

Self-guided River Walks Many studies have shown spending time in a pleasant environment has a calming and restorative effect on the mind and body. Experience this for yourself on one of these beautiful riverside walks:

BURNS BAY & TANNERY CREEK

arrot Pea

Turpentine

Bushwalks Around Lane Cove ssp.glomulifera 7th edition - Free Download Syncarpia glomulifera (Photo: Michelle Greenfield)

Hardcover books on sale for $9.90!

• A vailable from Lane Cove Library and Lane Cove Civic Centre • Free basic maps of local walks are also available from the Lane Cove Civic Centre.

Tawny Frogmouth

Podargus strigoides (Photo: Carol Neville)

To download your copy, visit www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/bushwalks

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TVO 27

Love where you live Proudly bought to you by Lane Cove Council

Award-winning projects

The Canopy received a Commendation and was a runner-up in the category of Best Planning Ideas - Small Project at the 2020 Planning Institute of Australia Awards for Planning Excellence presented in November 2020.

The New South Wales Awards for Planning Excellence recognise and acknowledge quality, innovation and excellence in planning.

The Lane Cove Bush Kids program received a highly commended recognition in the Take Me Outside NSW Excellence Award category at the Australian Association of Environmental Education Awards – Australia’s peak professional body for environmental educators.

Council also won the Excellence in the Environment Award – Behaviour Change in Waste – Division B Category at the Local Government NSW Excellence in the Environment Awards.

Lane Cove’s project had resulted in a 75% reduction in illegal rubbish dumping outside multi-unit dwellings and as a result was recognised for the positive waste management outcomes as well as the positive contribution of the community.

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Nominate someone for a Citizenship Award

Do you know someone making a positive difference in Lane Cove? Or perhaps a local organisation which should be recognised for its contribution to the community?

Our Citizenship Awards acknowledge the contributions made by Lane Cove locals who have enhanced the quality of life in our community.

Council encourages you to nominate members of the community who you think are worthy of an Award.

Nominations can be submitted via the online Citizenship Awards Nomination form until Friday 26 February 2021.

FOR DETAILS VISIT : www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/lovewhereyoulive

Love where you live Proudly bought to you by Lane Cove Council

Grants now available Council’s Community Grants assist community-based programs which support and enhance the wellbeing of Lane Cove residents and the community.

Local organisations who are seeking financial assistance in the 2021/2022 financial year should visit Council’s website www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/grants prior to the deadline in March 2021.

A Cultural Performance Venue Hire Subsidy program is also available to help notfor-profit performance groups subsidise venue hire fees. This program follows the same timeframe as the Community Grants program with details and deadlines available at: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/grants Grants of up to $5,000 are now available for projects with positive sustainability outcomes for the local community. Round 21 of the Sustainability Small Grants Program offers funding for projects that assist the Lane Cove community on sustainability issues or address environmental concerns such as energy or water consumption, waste avoidance, biodiversity or transport.

TO APPLY - Simply download the information kit from 1 March via Council’s website: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/grants

FREE Sustainable Building Advisory Service

Proudly brought to you

by Lane Cove Council

Planning on renovating or building your home? Save money and live more comfortably by designing your home sustainably.

Register for a FREE Sustainable Building Advisory Service consultation and receive: • A one on one consultation with an architect • Advice for cost effective design solutions • A detailed sustainability report with recommendations on what to do next Visit www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/sbas to find out more and register.

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summer

Breezy Eats for

BERN THE CHEF

Bern

is a lo in ma cateri her fo trends

www.bernthechef.com.au

Autumn bliss

There’s nothi of baked puddings and a roast din Brunch Loveseason provides the perfect excus Upgrade your cheesymite scrolls Cooking is great for so many reasons, whether with gourmet cheese.

friends on a weekend afternoon for nourishme

Picnic Fare This needs to work well travelling, easy to eat, and leave little to no mess. I like the idea of the Pan Gatnut- my 2021 version is low on the fuss, high on the taste.

You need a heavy sturdy baguette for these, to hold up with an overnight fridge chill, and then into a swinging bag, and still be delicious & sustaining. Remember to take a knife to slice, and a warm sunned rock will make do as a chopping board. I want mine with a potato salad version - carb on carb I know, and do not care.

INGREDIENTS • 1 x long heavy baguette • 2 cups of premade potato salad (preferably home made and very soft potato) • 300 grams of hot smoked salmon • ½ cup of your favourite pickled cucumber, drained • 1 bunch of dill, chopped • ½ cup good quality mayonnaise • tablespoons of seeded mustard Slice the top half of the baguette off, and pull out the inside soft bread - use this for making croutons, stuffing or fresh breadcrumbs for another day.

My scone dough recipe is 400 grams of plain flour, Walking past the daily offerings, are t 100 grams of cold butter, 2 teaspoons of butcher’s baking powder, or chicken Pork cheeks are on half a teaspoon of saltcheeks and about 1 cup of Maryland? full cream milk.

Mix to sand crumbs either in a foodbelow processor or by The version would behand. delicious with rice Tip into a bowl, add the milk - slowly, mix till a soft dough forms. Tip out onto a floured surface, and knead briefly to a soft dough. Roll out into a large rectangle.

Mandarin and Ginger Pork Cheeks

Spread 3-4 tablespoons of your favourite savoury relish or chutney, crumble 200 grams of goats cheese or flaked soft feta, one thinly sliced small red onion (optional), a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (about 2 tablespoons) •&Oil 1 for frying tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon of dried).

• 3 onions, finely chop Roll up into a scroll, slice 1 inch rounds. Place onto a• 4 cloves garlic, peele greased baking tray. Cook in a preheated oven of 200 finely chopped degrees for 10 to 14 minutes until golden brown. Brush • with melted butter, and sprinkle with a little sea salt. 2 carrots, roughly ch • 6 pork cheeks - appr (or substitute with b

• 2 inches ginger, peel

• 1/2 cup light soy sau

• 500mls chicken stoc

• 1/4 cup Shaoxing wi

• 3 pieces dried mand (Asian grocer) • 2 whole star anise

• 2 dried red chillies (o • 2 cinnamon sticks

• 1 tspn white pepperc

Mix the mayonnaise with the mustard & dill.

• 2 tblspn dark soy sau

Layer the inside of the loaf with half of the potato salad.

Flake the salmon over the potato salad.

• 6 mandarins, whole

Dollop over half of the dill mustard mayonnaise. Trickle the cucumbers over the mayonnaise, and top with the remaining potato salad. Spread the last of the dill mustard mayonnaise to the inside lid of the baguette. Return the lid to the top of the bread/salad. Wrap tightly with a beeswax wrap, clingfilm or waxed paper. Refrigerate overnight.

Take on a picnic with ginger beer & some juicy pears.

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• 2 tblspn brown suga

Sauté onions in a heavy based pot with oil for 4-5 until translucent. Add the trimmed pork cheeks a on each side. Add the ginger, carrot and aromatic cook stirring for another 3 minutes until the who fragrant. Add the stock and Shaoxing wine, transf oven dish, cover and slow cook on 140 degrees for Add the whole mandarins, the dark soy and brow cover, continue to cook for another 30 minutes (a cooker will also work here). To serve, spoon out p with a mandarin per serve. Great with steamed ri

Summer Tomatoes, will be everywhere, and I still make my nannas tomato salad.

• Layer thickly sliced ripe truss tomatoes with thinly sliced white salad onions. Adding salt & pepper to each layer.

Sprinkle over 1 tablespoon of malt vinegar, and chill for an hour or two in the fridge. It’s simple & very tasty.

Goes well with BBQ’d steak.

Stuff on a Stick, I’m all for easy in January, and I’m also all for delegating.

8 years and older can help here.

Try these combinations of great stick snacks, make up with bite sized cubes of fresh INGREDIENTS • Sliced ham, pineapple, red capsicum - after bbq-ing, drizzle with sweet chilli sauce • Peeled prawns, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, squeeze with fresh lemon juice • Salami, red onion, fat pitted olives & cooked potato.

Then splash with red wine vinegar • Sliced roast beef (from the deli) button mushrooms & snow peas, after, brush with teriyaki sauce

Wibbly Wobbly Jelly on a Plate.

• I love a light easy fruit dessert, and jelly still makes me happy. Try a tropical or citrus jelly flavour, instead of using all water, use 250 ml of boiling water to dissolve the jelly, then add 200 ml of coconut milk.

• A mango & coconut jelly can work, poured over a large flat dish of sliced mangoes, low enough that a tiny bit of mango pokes out the top, kinda like the loch ness monster of jelly & fruit. When set, sprinkle over a punnet each of fresh blueberries & raspberries. Garnish with flaked coconut curls. Gluten & dairy free, light, travels well & is healthy!

For raw, and needing a full thorough cook on the bbq, try: • Marinated chicken, baby corn & green onions - drizzle with a caesar dressing • Fresh salmon, folded up bok choy leaves & oyster mushrooms, great with fresh lime & wasabi • Lamb kofta, fetta cubes, cherry tomatoes & kale with greek dressing & lemon • Puffed Tofu, eggplant & broccoli with soy sauce & sesame seeds TVO 31

MEET OUR LOCALS

interview: Diana Hallowes Diana Hallowes is an artist who has been part of LC Art Society since 2003. She has led an extraordinary life, having been born in South Africa and then spending time in global locations such as Botswana, London (twice!), Canada and of course, Sydney. She enjoyed a career in publishing, while raising four children (whose ages span 15 years) and in 1992, established her career as an artist.

She was a recipient of a Lane Cove citizenship award in 2017 and is also part of the Stringybark Creek Residents Association with her writer husband, Guy. The Hallowes - L to R: Kevin, Guy, Diana, Catherine, Dougal, Stephen

 You moved to Lane Cove after emigrating from South Africa in 1986. Why did you leave, and how did you come to land in LC? We left South Africa for political reasons. The Apartheid regime was in government and civil war seemed likely. We wanted to give our children a home they would never be thrown out of. We settled in Lane Cove by a lucky chance.

We flew into Sydney on 18th January 1986 (our Australia Day, celebrated ever since) at night in pouring rain and two taxis took the six of us, plus a mountain of luggage, to the flat we had rented. We found Lane Cove was a lovely suburb and it seemed easier to buy a house here than go elsewhere and move schools for everyone.  You had four children when you arrived in Australia: one at Uni, one at High School, one at Primary School and a two-year old, while managing a full-time job. Can you share one trick for all juggling mothers?

I would say, as I did then, “Make time to have fun together - it mustn’t be all hard work.” After that, I would suggest you get the family to help you (we all cleaned the house together every Saturday) and drop your standards of how perfect everything has to be. Relax sometimes.  Tell us about your career before painting...

In 1981, I worked for Grinaker Construction Group in Johannesburg on their company magazine and advertising – a great job where I learnt the publishing trades – design, layout, editing, writing and photography. I continued my career in publishing until I stopped full-time work in 1992.  You have enjoyed stints living in Toronto and London, always returning to Sydney. How did the three cities compare? And is Sydney home now?

Sydney I loved from the beginning - the hard part was 32 TVO

making our way as migrants. It soon became home and we took out citizenship as soon as the two years were up.

There were differences in the climate and the people and culture from what we knew, but we were easily assimilated.

Toronto was a different story - it felt very alien. The weather was bitterly cold most of the time - occasionally it went down to -25 plus windchill, but it was the relentless -5 to -10 every day for months that got to me. People seemed to hibernate in winter. I found a way in via the Toronto School of Art and also a group called Newcomers - intelligent, international women who, like me, did not have work permits and so had time to do things together. London in 1969-70 I found cold and primitive, and life with a small child restricting, though I loved the galleries, theatre and music. The class system was very evident. In 2005, when we returned, our circumstances were quite different, with money, comfort (central heating!), family nearby and freedom to travel. We have visited often since and could live there easily.  When did you join LC and Ku-ring-gai art societies?

I joined Lane Cove Art Society in 2003, followed by Ku-ringgai. I kept up membership during our posting to London.  If there is one thing you think art societies offer communities, what is it?

I think art societies foster an interest in art in communities at the grassroots level, and encourage active personal participation in making and enjoying art. They provide an opportunity to show and sell your work and a forum to discuss what is important and exchange ideas, both practical and philosophical, and to find interests in common.

“Tidal Pool” by Diana Hallowes (watercolour)

 What are your hopes and ambitions for LC Art Society?

Lane Cove Art Society has always been extremely friendly and welcoming, and I want that to continue. I joined the committee when Frances Frolich was president, when we used to hold exhibitions in the Cove Room at Lane Cove Council. Since then the Society has gone from strength to strength, particularly as we reached our 50th anniversary in 2015 with Chrissie Lloyd as president. I would like to see more growth in the Society, and I would like to encourage many more people to visit our exhibitions. Gallery Lane Cove is a beautiful venue in which to exhibit and we are looking for ways to publicise it more and get more people through the door. I would also like to encourage all our

members to help with the running of the society and to suggest topics and speakers for our meetings. Now, with president Lyn Teal and an enthusiastic committee, we should continue to flourish.  Having brought so many artists and ideas to LC, what is your proudest achievement?

I can’t think of a proudest achievement. What I am most proud of is achieving a balanced life - a happy marriage of 53 years; four children and six grandchildren, following independent paths but enjoying good times together; the opportunity to pursue a passion for art; a beautiful home in a supportive community and the freedom to travel.  Which is your favourite art gallery here and overseas?

My favourite Sydney gallery is SH Ervin Gallery on Observatory Hill, a spacious gallery where many excellent exhibitions are held. Worldwide, my favourite is the National Gallery in London, where it is easy to drop in for an hour or more at any time and look at some of the wonderful collection of work on permanent exhibition.  Which artists do you personally admire?

I admire Turner, Gainsborough, Rembrandt, Rubens and Vermeer; also Monet and Degas. As a watercolourist myself, I love John Singer Sergeant’s work. Australian artists - Hans Heysen and Cressida Campbell. Actually, the artists I admire are too many to mention!

“Ageing Gracefully”

by Diana Hallowes (watercolour)

 What does the word "community" mean to you?

Community to me means a coming together of people with the joint purpose of making everyone’s lives fruitful, happy and productive; people who are all different but who fit together to make up the fabric of our society and feel at home in it. It is a place we can call home.

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INTERVIEW

interview: Tseng Ying-Tung TSENG YING-TUNG’S - WORLD OF ENERGIES Every so often, we encounter art that draws us into its dimension. Tainan based artist Tseng YingTung’s works operate on such a level. In its first ever exhibition by an overseas artist, Gallery Lane Cove is proud to be showcasing works by Tseng.

Entitled Sprout: The Conservation of Energy, the exhibition seeks to re-imagine the world from the perspectives of strength, transformation and energy; with the ethos of love as an intangible asset and counterpoint to materialism and money.

Fully Blossomed by Tseng Ying-Tung.

Curator Hsu Yuan-ta describes Tseng as a practitioner of “volatile aesthetics”. His mixed media paintings appear at once gritty, solid, heavy yet ephemeral, and evoke experiences of tranquility. Juxtapositions are typical in Tseng’s artworks.

Rachel Kiang, Manager & Curator of Gallery Lane Cove, interviewed Tseng about his creative processes, the impetus for this new body of work and his expanded practice that incorporates art in the public realm.

 What drives you to create artworks? How would you describe your artistic process?

As a child, I enjoyed the process of painting. Since graduating from college, my works have been evolving, from the early series of ‘Ocean’, ‘The Wetlands’, ‘Islands’ through to the recent series ‘Energy’ and ‘Harmony between Heaven and Earth’. This progressive course is not deliberate, but rather organic and natural. It comes from being open to learning and a continuous observation of life and nature.

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 What inspired your latest body of work featured in the exhibition Sprout: The Conservation of Energy? How does this new work differ from your previous series?

I was inspired by the relationship between humanity and nature. I constantly reflect on how a balance between humanity and their surroundings could be reached. In recent years, energy has been at the forefront of my creative thinking. This has since developed into an emphasis on the exchange, circulation and flow of energies in my paintings.

As of early 2018, I have been creating a series of works about the way energy courses through various life forms and objects. This new exhibition Sprout: The Conservation of Energy features tropical oceans, islands and focuses on the issue of environmental sustainability. It is all about harmony and harmonious co-existence.  Taoist philosophy appears to be quite central to your art. Could you please explain how it translates into your paintings?

One of the fundamental ideas of Taoism is to follow the unplanned rhythms of the universe. When I draw, the strokes, choice of colours and how the colours interact with each other are not predetermined. Instead, they sprout and grow like organisms without extra effort on my part. I believe in the simplicity and spontaneity of Tao and this is the guiding principle in my creative endeavours.  Would you say there is something distinctively Tainan about your art? If so, what are some of the characteristics?

As the first developed city in Taiwan, Tainan (south of Taiwan), is culturally resplendent and abounds with heritage and history. The texture of my works resembles that of ancient town walls and implies the slow pace of life led

by Tainan residents. The vibrant colors I use reflect the invariably great weather in Tainan and the layers of colour allude to Tainan’s history and cultural heritage.

Gold and Silver Mountains by Tseng Ying-Tung.

 You have an alias ‘Ganle A-She’, which is also the Chinese name of the private art museum you founded.

What is the significance of this name in the context of your art practice?

‘Ganle’ means “sweet and delightful” in Chinese and “spinning top” in Taiwanese (the local Taiwanese Min-nan dialect). ‘A-She’ refers to “affluent men who splurge” in Taiwanese. I am diligent when it comes to art. I wake up at 4am to paint, like a nonstop spinning top, with my heart full of joy.

Torrential Water and Fierce Flame by Tseng Ying-Tung.

I am not rich, but mentally wealthy. Through my artworks, I share positive energy with viewers. The everlasting energy enables me to ‘squander’ my passion like an ‘A-She’, but in a good way.  What is the overlap and connection between your public art practice and mixed media paintings?

Public art practice needs to reflect local spirit and characteristics special to the area. Nevertheless, for both public art and paintings, I express their concepts from the angle of energy. From an artistic perspective I always incorporate my visual language, eg. symbols of corals, mountains and shapes of hearts, to strengthen the concept of public art projects. Viewers can therefore perceive endless energy, either from the works of public art or paintings, and be encouraged to embrace positive energetic exchanges like love.

About Tseng Ying-Tung

Endless Growth by Tseng Ying-Tung.

Five Loaves of Bread and Two Fish by Tseng Ying-Tung.

A prominent artist in Taiwan and mainland China, Tseng is known for his mixed-media paintings and public artworks.

His mixed media art is favoured amongst collectors.

Based in Tainan (a city south of Taiwan), Tseng was one of the early exponents of the Southern Taiwan art style in the 1980s.

Tseng founded the (Ganle A-She) Asir Art Museum in 2015. This private art museum features his artworks year round and is a platform for international art exchanges.

Roam the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits by Tseng Ying-Tung.

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story

S

he had taken an unusually earnest approach to her outfit that day. A simple black suit, soft lavender shirt to add a little feminine allure and comfortable low-heeled court shoes: a professional look with an aura of reserve and control. Amy shuffled slightly, discretely adjusted her skirt and carefully tucked loose black curls that had found their way onto her forehead back into place, taking care not to arouse the attention of the other passengers in the lift.

Amy glanced at her watch and noted that the interview, arranged for 11 o’clock that morning was fast approaching. She was relieved to have been able to get the day off work without too much fuss, for this interview might just be the opportunity of a lifetime. Realising the significance of this particular morning, Amy checked her briefcase one more time – resume, phone, personal organiser, the job description and salary package, notebook and pen. She then double-checked her mental list – remember to keep calm, ask sensible questions and keep the interview flowing.

Communication was certainly Amy’s forte. She knew only too well the value of creating and maintaining excellent rapport with clients. Her biggest issue though had always been her manager. An old witch if ever there was one, Amy mused to herself as she imagined her escape to a new job.

Molly Dyer: she couldn’t wait to see the back of her.

With a gentle jolt the lift came to the second floor, and the gradually widening doors started to reveal an elegant frosted glass-enclosed entrance to a stark but stylish reception lounge. Amy marched confidently up to the front desk. “I am here for the 11 o’clock,” she briskly announced to a surly receptionist.

“Take a seat,” the receptionist snarled, flapping a hand towards a neat two-seater without even bothering to look up from a magazine she was reading.

Within minutes an office door swung open and what was in all probability another contender for the position appeared before her. No contest there, Amy thought smugly to 36 TVO

THE INTERVIEW BY JENNY ENGLAND

herself as she watched the back of the competition glide out through the glass doors and disappear into the lift. Within a few minutes another face appeared at the office door – this time a man.

“Miss er ...” the face enquired from the doorway.

“Lawrence” Amy added as she jumped up and made her way towards the interview room.

“Come on in then, Ray’s the name,” the face replied.

The office was relatively bare but still rather elegant, similar to the reception area. A large desk sat in front of a window enclosed by decorative gold drapes and two comfy-looking armchairs faced each other in the centre of the room.

Amy sat down and made herself comfortable.

“Oh, Amy – I hope you don’t mind me calling you Amy as we all use first names here – I seem to have mislaid your resume. But I was very impressed with it when I read it yesterday.”

“No problem.” Amy responded by promptly diving into her briefcase, congratulating herself on her foresight.

“I brought a copy with me,” handing it over to Ray with a growing sense of efficiency.

“Good, I will go over it in a bit more detail later. In the meantime, let’s get to know each other better. I suppose you are aware that the main focus of your role with us will be customer service and that is what is important for our business and keeps our reputation strong,” Ray explained.

Amy jumped in, getting straight to the point, “When you have time to look at my resume and you will find a detailed outline summary of my approach to customer service.”

“That’s terrific! Well without looking carefully at your resume again, you seem to have the style we are after – well groomed, articulate, punctual, organised and enthusiastic. And your references were excellent.”

Ray was definitely giving Amy the impression that she may just be the right person for the job. “There may be some travel involved. Many of our clients are in senior management positions in some of the top companies around the country and you will have plenty of time to learn everything from your manager, who will initially be travelling with you. How does that sound?”

“Great”.

Ray sat back in his chair and looked at her kindly. “Then,” he started “we may just have the position for you.

It is only a junior one but if you do as well as I think you might, you could quickly work your way up. When could you start?”

“I could start next Monday,” Amy piped up immediately trying to hide a slight shudder of excitement as Ray leaned over and gently shook her hand.

Amy couldn’t believe her luck.

Within minutes she was back in the reception area where she pulled out her phone, flicked through to the resignation letter she had ready to go and with one quick click sent it zooming through cyberspace to the head of her old HR Department. Done, she thought and smiled to herself.

“Oh, one more thing,” Ray’s now familiar voice from behind. “I forgot to mention earlier.”

Amy turned around and waited.

“Your new manager will be starting on Monday too. I think you know her from your old company. In fact, she was the one who gave you the best recommendation – Molly Dyer.”

story

Y

ou move house; the rent two suburbs north is cheaper, the air sweeter. Your home is sandwiched between a pensioner with growling terriers and a couple who practice permaculture gardening. You don’t catch their names.

Your three-year-old boy discovers the pond. You overlooked at inspection, too preoccupied by the competition to notice it. Exotic foliage masks the water, white flowers pepper the waxy leaves. You research “pond drownings” when the baby wakes at 3am, then down coffee until dawn.

You post on the community Facebook group, seeking recommendations. The blond from number thirty-four replies with her gardener’s number. Jed texts “no worries” and dodges a quote with a promise to sort it next week. You distract the boy for five more days and fret when he deposits Lego in the pond. You encourage screen time.

You come home to a drained cavity. The base sinks at a forty-fivedegree angle, thigh deep on Jed. Your jaw hangs loose as you grasp what lay beneath the twisted greenery. You jolt from your daze when he asks you for $350. “Cash.” He flicks dirt from his dry quicks. “That includes the sand.”

You console yourself that safety is priceless.

You buy succulents and arrange them in neat circles in the sand and mulch filled hole.

It rains. The plants become flotsam.

You gag at the soggy wood chip as you drain the pond with a bowl, one

POND BY TRIONA DIVINEY

tiny scoop at a time.

It rains again. You possess a $350 sludge pit.

You rebuke your boy for sieving the water with splayed fingers. You hover over him while you google “hacks to make children listen.” A Buzzfeed quiz verifies you have become a helicopter parent.

You scratch new bites; your ankles are lumpy and knuckles swollen. You search “how to kill mosquito larvae with household products.” You dump litres of apple cider vinegar into the pond. The succulents die and the pests thrive.

You answer Mark’s sharp emails apologetically and make dizzy jokes about the mosquitos. He warns you to restore the pond upon vacating, reminds you of the lease term.

You notice a knocking sound at dusk. You linger near your window and regard the frog lazying on the ponds edge. You rub calamine lotion on your bites as he stretches his full belly.

Your gardening neighbours enquire about your Striped Marsh Frog, thrilled you enticed one into the street. They gift you a book on native amphibians.

You name your frog Tim. You shade his home with an umbrella, repurpose the baby gates to barricade the children out.

Tadpoles litter the water. You wonder if they will flourish in their environment.

You don’t google an answer.

You read. You wait.

SHORT STORY contributions welcome Please email your story to: editor@thevillageobserver. com.au You resolve to conceal your modifications at the first rental inspection. You confess your folly as the letting agent Mark crosses the threshold, his cologne filching your intention. Your brain chastises your mouth and freezes your face in a nervous rictus. He silently grounds his molars.

All stories pblished will be gifted a $40 voucher from The Lost & Found Department, Hunters Hill.

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Gladesville RSL practises the responsible service of alcohol and the responsible conduct of gaming. Offers subject to change and available through Nov & Dec.

Happy New Year 2021!

By Adrienne Witteman Oh no. Lockdown again and at simply the wrong time of the year. Somehow in winter it did not seem so bad, and certainly not so devastating in our part of Sydney where infection and spread was negligible, and thus life barely impacted. It feels as if Sydneysiders have been served a double whammy – our northern beaches families largely prohibited from associating with us, and the welcome mats of other states whipped out from under our feet. I only hope that those of you who did manage to travel interstate avoided quarantine.

For the travel industry, this could not have come at a worse time. After an energy-sapping 9 months of cancellations, refunds, and credits and finally, all borders open early December, confidence was high. Now it has been decimated, once more.

And to an even lower level lower, since few have enough trust to make bookings other than interstate or a long ways out timewise.

And of course, happening right on Christmas is extra hard – staff who expected to be working no longer have jobs, while the demand on staff needed to cancel and refund has been extraordinary. Will we ever surface from the gloom?

Yes, I think so. This can’t go on forever and so the vaccine introduction must surely be ramped up, if only to avoid the draining effects of this stop/start process on our health, individual and collective, and the economy.

I have 4 “positives” that continue to keep me motivated and I’d like to share them with you: 1. It is summertime for 2-3 more months and while we might be locked up or locked out, there is still much to substitute for that cancelled holiday. At this time of the year there are many wonderful events happening – the Sydney Festival, the cricket on tv (if that is your fancy), beaches to explore, some new movies, wonderful bushwalks, and more. We have much to be grateful for.

2. Summer foods are delicious, and due to export constraints, there’s an even wider variety of choice with seafood at better than usual prices.

Food is plentiful in Australia and we are not reliant on imported produce. We have much to be grateful for.

3. We live peaceably in Australia, and for the most part violence is rare even if Covid has increased its prevalence. Those of us living in this region of Sydney are doubly blessed with excellent community support and services, and a population that is keen to care and share. We have much to be grateful for.

4. My family and I, and most of my friends, enjoy good health. Were this to change (hopefully not due to Covid) we are in the best place for medical attention. We have much to be grateful for.

Industry-wise too, I have much to be grateful for. We have been able to weather the ferocious storm that was 2020 and we are equipped to go well into 2021. Domestic flights are back and selling well for travel beyond

March – holidays to Hamilton Island, Uluru, Kakadu and Tasmania even in winter – never looked so good. Road trips and walking holidays are again de rigeur.

Cruising is back. Ponant and Silversea have both announced extra Kimberley departures, such is the demand, and unless Australia intends to just wait and see we will soon see more great Australian bubble cruises on the horizon for 21/22 wave season.

NZ authorities have just given Ponant the green light to operate to operate NZ only cruises commencing from February 2021. This undoubtedly augurs well for us here in Australia and thus we are taking registrations of interest now.

My Happy New Year wish is defiantly positive! We are here for you when you are ready to travel. In the meantime, we wish you all a much better 2021.

Onwards and upwards indeed.

Please note that we are currently open reduced hours. Please email or call prior to visiting our store.

3 Northwood Road, Longueville

9428 5900

www.trendsettertravel.com.au TVO 39

Taking the plunge within 90 minutes of Lane Cove The importance of adult play is greatly under-appreciated so consider indulging in some old-fashioned fun with a day spent wharf diving.

WORDS: TRACEY PORTER

Forty Baskets, Manly Cove

Forty Baskets: credit Northern Beaches Council

Offering scenic harbour views, picnic and BBQ facilities, and swings, the true magic of Forty Baskets lies in its spectacular swimming enclosure and pier.

Perfectly positioned along the Manly Scenic Walkway between North Harbour Reserve and Dobroyd Point, the entire beach at Forty Baskets is backed by a small grassy reserve and Norfolk Island pines that extend north of the pool, with a barbeque and picnic area at the northern end.

Round out the day by fossicking for hidden treasures among the area’s many rock pools before stopping off at Royal Copenhagen in Manly to sample the delights of its sumptuous dessert bar.

Bents Basin, near Wallacia

I

To enjoy a next level daredevil water plunge, consider t’s called nostalgia – that sentimental yearning heading to Bents Basin, a deep waterhole that forms part of you feel for the happiness of a former time. a gorge on the Nepean River between Camden and Penrith.

While in recent months, the concept of such longing Part of a well-established National Park site, you can choose has come to represent almost any pre-COVID-19 occasion to spend the day serenely exploring via kayak or canoe or involving social interaction, TVO would like to get your heart racing by jumping off a 4m rockface invite you to cast your mind back well before into the cool waters below. the mind-numbing events of 2020.

Make a day of it by packing a picnic lunch Remember, if you will, a simpler before heading to Dippin’ Dots ice cream more innocent time when financial, shop in South Penrith to pick up an onrelationship or work stress was the the-go tub of banana split ice cream to preserve of grown-ups and the biggest keep you cool on the drive home. burden shouldered was deciding which body of water to head to, to counter the Balmoral Baths effects of 18-hour days spent under a

One of the oldest ocean blazing sun. swimming areas in Sydney, the popular A rite of passage for generations of Balmoral Baths feature an ocean swimming children, teens, the young at heart, and Balmoral Baths pool with a shark net that surrounds the on occasion even the family dog, wharf and perimeter underneath a wooden boardwalk. A boardwalk jumping was then as much a part of great place to drop a towel and lie in the sun without Aussie culture as meat pies at the footy or watching ferries getting covered in sand, more adventurous types like to take race across the Harbour on January 26th. a running leap off the side of the semi-circular walkway However in recent times this most favoured of all around its perimeter, before bombing their friends lying summer pastimes has fallen in popularity after some local in wait a 1-to-2m drop down below. For an extra challenge, authorities made it illegal to swim in and around busy try tallying up the number of sea urchins you spot in the wharfs where ferry gang planks may be obstructed. waters nearby.

Thankfully, however, there remain some spots within shouting distance of Lane Cove where this kind of oldEttalong Public Wharf fashioned summer fun can still be indulged.

Following are what TVO recommends as the best Venture to the Central Coast on any fine, cloudless day and you’re sure to find the sleepy suburb of Ettalong of them.

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WHAT’S NEW IN NSW Don’t let a closed border ruin your fun…

Balmoral Beach

crawling with people of all ages summersaulting off the public wharf into the inviting Brisbane Waters.

Keep an eye out for the pods of dolphins that regularly accompany the Palm Beach Ferry and remember to take a paddle board to escape when the ferry deposits another host of visitors keen to explore. Ensure your cool off is complete with a double Nutella waffle at the area’s favourite eatery Helado before joining the throng back down the M1.

One of the grandest buildings of Gundagai has been reimagined as a boutique hotel.

Flash Jacks is a contemporary take on country style. With nine sophisticated suites housed in a restored 1888 manor, it’s open for bookings now. https://www.flashjacks.com.au/

One Lazy Sunday is a new Airstream Hotel in the Byron Bay hinterland with everything you need for a luxury camping getaway. Choose your desired location and the accommodation will come to you, along with the luxuries that you would expect to find in a five-star hotel https://www.onelazysunday.com.au/

The latest wine weekender to pop on your list is Talits Estate in the world-renowned Hunter Valley. This sensational property boasts olive groves, vineyards, a stylish cellar door and a French-style farmhouse to stay overnight in. https://www.talitsestate.com/

Wharf Diving: credit Jenny Batten

The final word Always remember to look for any signage that may indicate it is unsafe (or unlawful) to swim in the area you have chosen. No one wants to have a great day of fun ruined by a hefty fine or worse still, a serious injury. Keep in mind too, that no pier, wharf or boardwalk diving comes without some form of risk. Always be sure to check the depths of the water before jumping in and be sure to only jump at heights or do tricks or aerobic manoeuvres that you feel comfortable with.

BridgeClimb Sydney has launched a new ‘Ultimate’ climb. The route will follow the southern approach span and journey over the entire arch towards the northside pylons, then return to the Climber Base. https://www.bridgeclimb.com/climbsprices/ultimate

The Pause in Gerringong is set to be a luxe coastal getaway just two hours’ drive from Sydney. Launched by the creators of SOUL in Gerringong, this minimalist sixbedroom property is close to Werri Beach, making it the perfect South Coast short break. https://www.thepause.com.au/

TVO 41

The little towns thinking big Australia’s regional communities have never faced so much adversity, with tourism bearing the brunt of the impacts.

Regional centres are reimagining themselves in clever ways to lure city-dwellers and catch staycation dollars.

WORDS: TRACEY PORTER

Moora

I

Derby

n February 2018, the Australian Government announced Here, locals are taking advantage of the region’s plans to shape Australia’s next long-term tourism naturally low levels of light pollution and extraordinary strategy. night sky to develop successful telescope tourism.

Called Beyond Tourism 2020, the strategy was due to Carol Redford, known colloquially as Galaxy Girl, is the commence in January 2021 and regional tourism had been founder and CEO of Astrotourism WA and was instrumental identified as being critical to its successful implementation. in helping to put the region’s burgeoning tourism enterprise As part of this process, the country’s key trade and on the map. investment agency, Austrade, asked tourism organisations Radford is currently working with 15 local governments around the country for their thoughts on how the sector who are eager to develop the astrotourism sector of the could ensure it was resilient in the face of what it called region’s tourism industry and together they are developing “global shocks” beyond 2020. a resource that maps the best places to star gaze and At the time, there was little cause for concern. The identifies the best spots for astrophotographers to shoot. regions were enjoying around 280 million visitor nights “We’ve created these safe places where visitors know per year, and 60 per cent of all visitors were domestic day they’re welcome to go to use telescopes and cameras, or trippers. simply to just take their favourite picnic rug and a nice In February 2018, no-one could have imagined the drink and lie back under the milky way,” Radford says. catastrophic events headed our way in the form of “In a world that is becoming lighter and lighter drought, bushfires and floods, followed just because of light pollution, WA can get darker months later by the crippling effect of a and darker. All we have to do is keep it dark global health pandemic and the resulting and we will have this world class asset for decimation of local economies. many years to come.”

But as history shows, Australians

Dirranbandi, a small country are irrepressible and from the ashes of town famous for its cotton production, these tough times have risen tales of has also discovered that it is experiences how alternative tourism is helping rural - not towns - that draw tourist dollars. towns to reinvent themselves.

Located on the border of Derby in Tasmania is one such Queensland with New South Wales, example. Located in the northeast of Dirranbandi only has a population of Carol Redford Tasmania, Derby sits quietly on the banks about 640 people but like many small towns Astrophotography of the Ringarooma River and until 2013 was was struggling to survive. considered a sleepy town.

To help boost the local economy and In recent times it has reinvented itself as a mountain introduce city-based visitors to the local lifestyle, it bike mecca that now attracts 30,000 people per year and launched the Great Escape tour, the crux of which centres injects up to $18 million into the local economy. around the area’s rural agriculture show.

Morawa in the mid-west of Western Australia is Featuring sheep, cattle, cotton and cooking, the twoanother small town where forward-thinking innovators day paid holiday not only includes a visit to the local show, have realised how to make the most of the area’s natural but guests are able to see what the area is known for by visiting cotton crops, wineries and enjoying breakfast on attractions.

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WHAT’S NEW IN NSW don’t let a closed border ruin your fun…

Nestled within 18 hectares of subtropical rainforest, Byron at Byron has just reopened its doors on after a $6 million refresh. The resort features a new restaurant, offering sustainable produce, with 80 per cent of all ingredients sourced within a three-hour drive of Byron Bay. www.crystalbrookcollection.com/byron

Koojan Salmon Gum Reserve

the river.

The Bank of Ideas founder Dirrandanbi Peter Kenyon is a community change and r e n e w a l expert who has spent the past two decades working with more than 1,500 communities seeking to facilitate fresh and creative ways that stimulate community and economic renewal.

Kenyon says rural communities are beginning to understand that by recognising what assets they have, they can be the architects of their own economic futures and build strong, enterprising and sustainable towns.

“People have discovered again this thing called community and community solidarity. People want to get back to basics and there is a large number of young people that have actually returned back to their roots. Above all else, what I am seeing is the number of towns that are starting to see – particularly as we’re not spending all that money going overseas – they can be part of this amazing tourism industry.”

“It’s amazing what communities realise about their potential when they focus on the assets at their disposal, particularly natural resources that locals often take for granted.”

To celebrate its reopening, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar has launched a wine list highlighting the wine regions of NSW. Our state has more than 14 wine regions and Icebergs has cherry-picked from some of the best. www.idrb.com Just outside of Dubbo in the Central West, Callubri Station is the next high-end farm stay to put on your travel wish list. The Merino sheep farm has event and dining spaces, and guests can stay in chic Sky Suites. facebook.com/callubristation/ Escape the everyday at Marramarra Lodge, sublimely positioned on the edge of the Hawkesbury River. Boat transfers, a sunset cruise, gourmet breakfast, lunch and a degustation dinner prepared by a Michelin-star chef are all included. www.marramarralodge.com/ Book a guided backcountry tour with Thredbo Backcountry Tours and venture beyond the popular snow slopes. Ride across the incredible mountain landscape and learn about the unique terrain and important backcountry safety skills. www.thredbo.com.au/activities/backcountry-adventures/ backcountry-tours/ Join Bill Peach Journeys and embark on a seven-day spring adventure through the heart of Australia’s food bowl in the stunning Riverina. Discover acclaimed wines, taste gorgeous fresh produce and explore spectacular scenery through the country towns of Wagga Wagga, Gundagai, Jugiong, Cootamundra, Temora, Narrandera, Lockhart and Griffith. www.billpeachjourneys.com.au/tour/ springtime-in-the-nsw-riverina/ TVO 43

WELL BEING

HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO GET YOU STARTED:

Living lightly Going ‘low tox’ means making everyday choices to reduce the toxic chemicals in your home and in your body.

In turn, you live more lightly in a healthier environment and your body can function more efficiently.

WORDS BY: KAYSCHA CORCORAN, HOLISTIC WELLNESS COACH

As people increasingly realise that the products we are using and how we are living affects our biology, any change at all that moves you towards a more natural lifestyle is beneficial. The low tox way of life is all encompassing. Self-care and time out are incredibly important in the busy world we live in. Get out into the sunshine, move your body, eat real food, ensure great quality sleep. Breathe, deep and long! Connect with friends and family. Reflect on the way you are living your life. Create change where you need to.

1. Ditch anything with ‘fake’ fragrance. The chemicals that make smells ‘stay’ in products are known as Phthalates. They are an endocrine disruptor, which means they mimic hormones. They are known to have adverse effects and are linked to the increase in many conditions and illnesses. They’re in a long list of products commonly found in homes, but a good place to start is to find a natural alternative for your air fresheners, perfumes, scented candles and fabric softener. Phthalates generally appear on labels as ‘fragrance’ or ‘parfum’. Unless it has an asterisk and says ‘from essential oils’, you are dealing with fake fragrance.

2. When it comes to food, buy produce not products. Buy organic/ pesticide free where possible. Google the Dirty Dozen/Clean 15 - a guide to pesticides in produce to help you know where to start.

3. Be curious about product labels and consider what those long words and numbers actually mean. What is in your home cleaning products, body and hair care products and your makeup? What could those ingredients be doing to your system? Ditch and switch to more natural products.

4. Turn your Wi-Fi off when it is not in use to reduce your EMF (Electro Magnetic Frequency) exposure. Keep your phone out of your bedroom. If you really must have it for the alarm, use the flight mode function. This technology is relatively new in the grand scheme of things and we still don’t know the full effect of it on our systems, however research is showing that it can be harmful.

5. Ensure that you are not being exposed to mould in your home. If you find it, consult a professional for remediation works. There is growing evidence that mould can cause chronic inflammation and respiratory illnesses.

A healthier body and a healthier home in turn contributes to a healthier environment. There’s no better time to start than now!

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Sensitivity to cold: why your teeth feel the freeze

• infected teeth or gums • cracked or damaged teeth • periodontal disease

If your teeth suddenly feel the cold as much as your toes when the weather turns wintry, it’s time to act.

• grinding or clenching your teeth

WORDS BY: MARK CASIGLIA OF APPLE DENTAL

• cavities needing treatment

• defective fillings, crowns or bridges • large metal fillings • more serious oral health conditions including some cancers

It’s easy to slip into woolly socks to keep your feet warm but it takes a little more time to sort out sensitive teeth. So put that balaclava back on the shelf (unless you’re actually going skiing) and read on to ensure your teeth can cope with winter once you’ve sorted your sensitivity issues.

Why your teeth feel the freeze If the weather is chilly outside, your teeth can feel the freeze because the dentin layer inside the enamel expands and contracts faster than the enamel.

This can cause tiny cracks which can create sensitivity.

While these cracks aren’t usually visible or damaging to your teeth, the fluid moving in the tiny tubes in the dentin is more exposed and your teeth feel more sensitive. If you’re particularly sensitive all over to the cold, you may also be clenching your teeth because you are tense – this can also cause sensitivity and jaw and toothaches.

What can cause sensitivity But if you’re indoors and toasty and your teeth are still in pain, the weather might not be the only thing to blame.

Flinching when you have a cup of hot soup or a bowl of ice-cream is not normal. Sensitive teeth can be caused by:

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It’s important not to ignore ongoing sensitivity in your teeth – see your dentist to get it sorted. Avoiding everything that puts an ‘ouch’ in your mouth is not a long-term strategy.

Treating tender teeth Your dentist will look at your dental history and check your teeth and mouth to assess the reasons for your pain. Treatment may range from a check-up and clean with oral hygiene training to X-rays and dental work, depending on what the underlying issues are.

SO DON’T STRESS ABOUT YOUR SENSITIVE TEETH NOW THE WEATHER IS CHILLY, GET IT SORTED AND ENJOY THE NEW SEASON.

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TVO 45

Welcome 2021 Many of us are happy to see the end of 2020 and are hoping for a better 2021. 2020 has been a particularly challenging and stressful year.

Chronic stress takes a toll on our bodies, affecting both our mind and our musculoskeletal system.

January is an ideal time to take some time to relax and destress, it is also a time to think about your plans for 2021. These plans can be work plans, but they can also be plans for caring for your mental and physical health.

Exercise is important for both your mental and physical health. The Government guidelines recommend adults exercise at a moderate level for 150-300 minutes or at a vigorous level for 75 – 150 minutes per week in addition to doing at least 2 strength sessions per week.

There are various ways to achieve these guidelines each week and personal preference will allow the individual to customise their fitness regimes. If the form of exercise is enjoyable, it will be easier to continue this for the long term.

If physical pain, discomfort or tightness is limiting you with your fitness or daily activity activities we are here to help. We will work with you to achieve your goals.

BURNS BAY PHYSIOTHERAPY 161 Burns Bay Rd, Lane Cove P: 9427 8333 E: info@burnsbayphysiotherapy.com.au

www.burnsbayphysiotherapy.com.au Ann

Jill

Kirsty

Ramsay Psychology St Leonards

Trusted and compassionate support for you and your loved ones in 2021.

Our experienced and trusted psychologists provide therapy sessions for children, teenagers, adults, couples and families.

Our team has the depth and diversity to support most mental health challenges and concerns. To book an appointment contact our friendly team via Ph: 1300 171 715 E: enquiries@ramsaypsychology.com.au or fill out an enquiry form at ramsaypsychology.com.au Face-to-face and video conferencing appointments are available.

MELINDA BARONE Registered Psychologist - Mood & anxiety disorders - Dependency & addictions - Sleep disorders - Personality disorders

SHARON CASHEL Clinical Psychologist - Children & adults - Mood & anxiety disorders - Eating disorders - ADHD & Autism

JOSEPHINE LAURIA Registered Psychologist - Mood & anxiety disorders - Post-Natal Depression - Chronic pain - Trauma & PTSD

JENNA LAROQUE Registered Psychologist - Adolescents & young adults - Mood & anxiety disorders - Self-identity self-harm - Psychometric testing

AILEEN LUO Registered Psychologist - Depression & anxiety disorders - Complex trauma - Attachment difficulties - Psychometric testing

RHYLL DAVEY Registered Psychologist

ANUSHA RAMCHURN Registered Psychologist

EMILY UPTON Clinical Psychologist

ANDREW WU Registered Psychologist

AMANDA MOSES Registered Psychologist

- Adolescent & young adult - Mood & anxiety disorders - Disordered eating & weight loss 46 TVO - Substance & addiction issues

- Addiction - Complex presentations - Mood disorders - Interpersonal development

- Adolescents & young adults - Mood & anxiety disorders - OCD - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

- Mood & anxiety disorders - Relationship counselling - Eating disorders - Addictions

- Mood & anxiety disorders - Post-Natal Depression - Interpersonal & family difficulties - Stress management

If your nails could talk …

In idle moments, people often study their fingernails, and much about health could be observed there if they knew what to look for. Medicos observe patients’ nails to get a patient’s full health profile.

WORDS BY: DR TIM DAVID

There are three ways to get information in a medical consultation that have not changed since the days of Hippocrates. Briefly it’s hear the story, check it and test it. Taking a history is always first - that is, what has happened to you, the background, what changes you’ve noticed and what the health professional can draw from you and your experience.

A physical examination is next: what you’ve found to show the doctor and what the doctor finds that’s abnormal.

Observing finger and toe nails can be part of the physical. Finally, doing tests to confirm the condition will define the diagnosis or lead to further tests.

What are nails?

Nails are a specialised part of our skin, common to most mammals. The nail apparatus is designed to turn keratin, the same protein as our skin surface protein, into a hard, horn-like material to protect fingers and toes. Historically our mammalian ancestors scratched, slashed, dug and bashed with them.

Today, nails look beautiful on models in photo shoots, but are rather useless as tools … apart from scratching off so many price-tags at Christmas, relieving an itchy spot or helping with pull tops on beer cans. We’re hardly digging for grubs or defending territory.

Nails are more useful for giving clues to bodily disorders. Here’s a quick [sorry about the pun] Cook’s tour of conditions in which nail tissue is changed by an illness or disorder.

Onychomycosis is caused by a fungus under the nail. A dermatophyte family fungus or common candida or thrush bug can cause this. Any public swimming pool shower or spa can give you this one. The nail lifts, thickens and stains various shades of yellow. Most blokes don’t bother with treatment but many women do.

Paronychia is an infection of the nail bed. If acute, antibiotics will be needed as well as release of pus and sometimes removal of an ingrown nail. Bacteria and funguses include pseudomonas bacteria, usually from spas and pools, thrush or candida fungus and longstanding or chronic bacterial infection of the nail fold – that line on the nail where skin meets nail.

If this lifts, bugs can get underneath and cause trouble.

Onychogryphosis is a thickening, lifting and sometimes twisting of the nail mostly seen in the great toe. It often affects older people but nobody really knows the cause. Podiatry care is the answer especially when blood circulation is poor.

An under-active thyroid gland can cause brittleness of nail tissue whereas an over-active thyroid can produce a gleaming perfect nail. It is a subtle change but becomes obvious in gross cases.

Psoriasis is a skin disorder wherein inflammation of skin tissue causes redness, thickening and silvery plaques. Nails are affected – and telling – in up to half of all psoriasis cases. Pitting, transverse furrows, crumbling of the nail plate and more are characteristic of psoriasis.

Cancers can develop in a nail. Nasty, treacherous melanoma, Australia’s third-most vicious cancer killer according to the Cancer Council of Australia, can develop under nail tissue. Look for a darkened streak or black patch in the nail that stays put and DOES NOT GROW OUT as a bruise does … and see your Doc ASAP. Similarly squamous cell and basal cell cancers can develop in a variety of ways around nails.

Yet there’s more … Have any anomalous nail checked. If it is lifting, splitting, thinning, cracking or darkening, getting longitudinal or horizontal streaks, looking yellow, developing grooves, growing horizontal white bands, has tiny haemorrhages, getting enlarged moons … then have a check-up.

If you’d like to beautify your nails, you can strengthen them and make them tough as, well – nails – and also look shiny and healthy by adding a teaspoon of gelatine to your daily juice.

TVO 47

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MORRICE DORRITTin the Word BEST BETA Find these Lane Cove Street names Search BETA MOWBRAY

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BIRDWOOD CENTENNIAL ALPHA COBDEN AUSTIN COPE DELTA BEST DORRITT BETA EPPING BIRDWOOD FOX CENTENNIAL HOWELL COBDEN KARILLA LITTLE COPE MORRICE DELTA MOWBRAY DORRITT PENROSE TVO EPPING PHOENIX RIVER FOX

BIRDWOOD CENTENNIAL COBDEN COPE DELTA DORRITT EPPING FOX HOWELL KARILLA LITTLE MORRICE MOWBRAY PENROSE

EPPING FOX HOWELL KARILLA LITTLE MORRICE MOWBRAY PENROSE PHOENIX RIVER ROSENTHAL SERA SEVILLE SUTHERLAND

PENROSE PHOENIX RIVER ROSENTHAL SERA SEVILLE SUTHERLAND ZETA

Karen Paull

Community Chaplain

100

WORDS The second hand on the wall clock moved; oh, so slowly. Vivian looked again, only three minutes had passed! Time is standing still, she thought.

Hands clasped, pale lips moving in silent prayer. «Please let Richard live. I promise.

I will let him go.»

The girl at the desk, immersed in her computer screen, unaware of Vivian›s anxious glances.

The door opened. Vivian froze. The tall surgeon spoke kindly. «Your husband will be fine. Come in now.»

Richard›s wife stood up, composed.

«Thank you, Doctor.» She followed through the door.

Vivian left, tears falling, a silent ‹goodbye› to her lover.

ROBYN SLEET

The dams had dried up long ago and the cattle sold off. Parched earth, cloudless skies and an unforgiving burning sun.

The meeting with the bank was next week, but he knew how that would end.

He remembered how things used to be, but that was then, long ago.

The young pup at his feet stirred then looked at him, head cocked, and his bright shiny eyes full of expectation. Not for him despair, not for him a feeling of hopelessness. In his world, there was only optimism and thoughts of tomorrow.

“Come on boy, we’ve got work to do.”

Rest Descending from the busy highway, waves of refreshment wash over me as I enter the quieter, natural space below. It’s so close, but it seems like a different world. I retreat from the frenetic pace above gratefully.

Lane Cove is de-lightfully rich in such experiences, with its beautiful gullies and preserved bush-land. It’s common to hear kookaburras laugh amongst a variety of bird calls. Seasonal native flowers attract my eye and bring a sense of wonder. Recently, I spied a large stingray gliding gracefully along the edge of Lane Cove River and glimpsed a shy wallaby bounding away on the other side. Being amidst such di-verse creation is good and restful for our souls.

As we head into the New Year, I hope you’ve had the opportunity to rest and be refreshed for the year to come. What refreshes you? What brings joy to your soul? It’s important to take regular opportunities to rest, so we can be our best for others and the demands of life. It’s written into our design according to the Bible.

The seventh day was made for rest from the very beginning and longer periods of rest are advocated too.

Whereas productivity appears to be the enemy of rest, as we are urged to work relentlessly on, it’s a false assumption. To be efficient, productive and especial-ly to be creative, we need to be in good working order.

Even machines need to stop and be serviced, so how much more do people, who are also psychospir-itual beings? Our body, mind, spirit and relationships, all need good care. Creat-ing this balance in our lives is challenging, but it is our own responsibility. Whereas no one else can do this for you, an ally or two can be a wonderful help. I have a bike riding buddy, a tennis four, a book club, and a mentor who all help me keep doing the things that refresh me. Who can you bring into your corner?

Potentially I may be one of those people for you! If you enjoy walking in nature or want to experience soothing meditation or are looking to join a book club or a spiritual discussion and practice group, or just want to chat over coffee or din-ner, I am available to help you (details below).

Take action now to get the rest you need to keep you in good working order for 2021 and beyond. We will all be so pleased you did!

ROY LEVER

If you would like to contribute to 100 Words, email us: editor@thevillageobserver.com.au

Contact details: Karen Paull 0400 299 751 lanecovechaplain@gmail.com www.lanecovecc.com LANE COVE COMMUNITY CHAPLAINCY SUPPORTED BY LANE COVE UNITING CHURCH TVO 49

LOCAL GROUPS

Keep in touch in your local area.

Enquiries: editor@thevillageobserver.com.au Listings to be approx 20 words per group.

1ST LANE COVE SCOUT GROUP Joeys 6-8yrs. Cubs 8-11yrs.

Scouts 11-15yrs. Venturers 15-18yrs 428 4061 www.lanecovescouts.com.

ALL AGE SUNDAY SCHOOL 223 Burns Bay Rd, Lane Cove West.

0434 432 175 www.metropolitanbaptist.net.au ANC MIXED SOCIAL GOLF CLUB Looking for new members to join social golf club, on the North Shore.

0411 559 909.

AQUALUNA CHOIR Fun acapella; pop, gospel, world, sacred music. St Andrews Church Hall, Longueville.

0402 839 499 paula@lul.com.au CARER SUPPORT Free telephone information/support service specifically for/about carers providing information, support and referrals. 1800 242 636, M-F, 9-5pm.

CLAN MACLEOD PIPE BAND Always wanted to learn to play bagpipes or drums? St Leonards Park, North Sydney. www.clanmacleodpipeband.com COMMUNITY CHAPLAIN Community Chaplain offers activities enabling locals to connect: walks of varying difficulty; meditation, book club and spiritual discussion groups on Zoom. Connect over coffee to discuss your concerns with Karen.

0400299751 www.lanecovecc.com COVE INVESTORS Monthly evening meeting at Lane Cove Library, discuss and broaden investment skills. julianradom31@hotmail.com DRAMA SPOT Classes for 5-15yrs help to build strong and confident kids. Currambena, LCPS & LCM Church. 0402 342 986 / info@dramaspot.com.au ENGLISH CONVERSATION CLASS Improve your conversation English with trained facilitators. $3/ week.

9427 1163 www.lcmchurches.org.au EVANGEL BIBLE CHURCH ESL Classes - Meadowbank Free English conversation classes starteradvance Contact Andy 043 3119 083 FOODFAITH COMMUNITY GARDEN ​ Free individual plots for growing your own veggies, fruit and herbs still available. info@foodfaith.com.au GREENWICH SAILING CLUB Kids Learn to Sail. New members of any age are always welcome. gsc.org.au/gsc-training@gsc.org.au GREENWICH TENNIS CLUB INC Friendly local tennis club.

New members welcome. www.greenwichtennis.com.au admin@greenwichtennis.com.au HALLAM AVENUE TENNIS CLUB 58 Hallam Ave, Lane Cove West.

New members welcome. Hire courts from $10 per hour. 0424 229 259 hatc.hire@gmail.com HUMMINGSONG COMMUNITY CHOIRS A network of women’s a cappella choirs. Chatswood choir ‘Alkira' is open to new members. www.hummingsong.com.au HUNTERS HILL BRIDGE CLUB Keep mentally fit, have fun and make friends? Hunters Hill Bridge Club, Crown St, Henley. 0438 619 780 or

50 TVO

sheldrakecarol@gmail.com HUNTERS HILL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Main gathering is Sundays in various homes in our community.

Cnr Ferdinand & Alexandra Street.

9817 2282 or www.hhcc.org.au HUNTERS HILL CROQUET CLUB 1 Matthew Street. New members welcome. Contact us and arrange to come and try the game 0490494965 huntershillcroquet@gmail.com HUNTERS HILL MUSEUM Hunters Hill Town Hall, Alexandra Street.

Regular exhibitions and events. www.huntershillmuseum.org.au HUNTERS HILL WOMEN'S BOWLING CLUB Seeking new members. Free 0419 258 662 or 0408 110 082.

HUNTERS HILL SENIORS’ CHESS GROUP Weekly social games – no expertise needed. Ironwood Company Coffee House, 102 Woolwich Rd, Woolwich. Register: SCS 9817 0101 / ssmall@sydneycs.org HUNTERS HILL SAILING CLUB Kids/teens/adults learn to sail programs, coaching, racing weekly at 2018 NSW Sailing Club of the Year. info@huntershillsailingclub.org.au www.huntershillsailingclub.org.au JAZZ BAND Rehearses Monday nights, vacancies available. Jazz, Swing, Blues, Latin, R&B and Funk. davidcbraybrook@bigpond.com 0410 566 953.

KEYSTROKES CHOIR Have you had a stroke/Aphasia and looking for fun ways to improve your speech?

Our choir helps recovery by sharing song. Northside Baptist Church 63 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest. 1300 650 594 or info@keystrokensw.org.au LANE COVE BOWLING CLUB Play lawn bowls. Social or comp. Fun and exercise. Free coaching.

151 Burns Bay Road. 9428 4325 / 9420 5793 info@lawnbowls.com.au LANE COVE BUSH KIDS Nature activities for 2 to 5 years (term time) and 2 to 10 years (school holidays). www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/bushkids LANE COVE BUSHLAND & CONSERVATION SOCIETY Lane Cove Tennis Club, top of Kenneth Street, Longueville.

New members very welcome.

Ron, 9427 1125; Helen, 9427 4845.

LANE COVE CHORISTERS Senior ladies' choir welcomes new members. Rehearsals at St. Aidan's Church, Longueville. 0419 680 910.

LANE COVE CONCERT BAND Local, friendly musical organisation.

Six ensembles; beginner to advanced concert bands, two jazz bands and a woodwind ensemble. 0407 124 600 www.lccb.org.au LANE COVE MASTERS SWIMMING Lane Cove Aquatic Centre, caters to all levels of swimming LANE COVE MUSIC has been presenting first class classical and semi-classical concerts for more than 70 years. 9428 4287 www.lanecovemusic.org.au info@lanecovemusic.org.au LANE COVE MUSIC AND CULTURAL CENTRE Not-for-profit organisation

offering music tuition for children and adult learners. Suzuki and traditional methods. 9427 8027 LANE COVE NETBALL CLUB We welcome players from local schools High quality netball coaches and facilities. LC Public School Netball Courts e lanecovenetball@gmail. com w lanecovenetball.com.au LANE COVE RESIDENTS FOR RECONCILIATION (LCRR) Local group of Aboriginal and nonAboriginal community members working together to advance the process of Reconciliation and social justice. All welcome to walk with us. lanecovereconciliation@gmail.com www.reconciliationnsw.org.au LANE COVE UNITING CHURCH Worship and face to face meetings remain suspended due to COVID19 See our web-site for info lanecoveuniting@bigpond.com LANE COVE YOUTH ORCHESTRA Calling young musicians to play in a symphony orchestra?

Scholarships offered. 0411 413 335 mcn114@bigpond.net.au www. lanecoveyouthorchestra.org.au LANE COVE RSL SUB-BRANCH Keep up-to-date with RSL matters, DVA and community services.

9906 5934.

LANE COVE TOASTMASTERS Become a confident public speaker supported by a friendly group. 23A Stokes St, Lane Cove. 0403 392 122 www.meetup.com/Speak-LeadInspire-Lane-Cove-Toastmasters/ LANE COVE SUSTAINABILITY ACTION GROUP 9428 3553 0421 442 840.

LANE COVE WEST TENNIS CLUB Courts for hire day or night at Blackman Park, Lloyd Rees Drive.

Amenities and children's playground.

0417 667 020 www.lcwtennis.com.au LAUGHTER MELODY YOGA Join one hour laughter yoga sessions to help you feel good, boost health and happiness. 403 392 122. www.meetup.com/LaughterMelody-Yoga/ LAVOCE, A LANE COVE COMMUNITY CHOIR, is celebrating new members.

Readers are invited sing with us each Tuesday. http://lavocelanecove. com/index or adrianlee2@mac.com or 0424507321 LONGUEVILLE ST AIDAN'S ANGLICAN CHURCH Sunday morning services. Friendship Services. Healing services. Youth group. Playgroup.

Craft Circle. Corner Christina/Arabella St. www.staidans.com.au LOWER NORTH SHORE MULTIPLE BIRTH ASSOC Volunteer parents of multiples (twins, triplets etc) supporting and assisting other parents. @lnsmba.amba.org.au www.lnsmba.amba.org.au MEALS ON WHEELS HUNTERS HILL Volunteers deliver healthy, affordable meals to client's homes on a daily or weekly basis. 9817 0101 MEETING HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE Not-for-profit organisation for all ages; playgroups, Community Café, community garden, yoga, craft, seniors outings and shopping trips.

23a Stokes Street, LC Nth, 9427 1841.

MEN'S SHED Looking for new members, drop in for a cuppa & chat.

St Columba Retirement Centre, 15 Figtree St. 10am-3pm. 0428 024 208 lanecove@mensshed.net MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR SENIORS Bringing peace and joy

into your life. 178 Longueville Rd. livinginharmony.com.au/meditation 0428 569 373 NORTH SHORE BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT GROUP Provides patients and families with education and emotional support. Facilitated by health care professionals. North Shore Private Hospital. snog@snog.org.au / www.snog.org.au NORTH SHORE PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Information and encouragement for men, family & friends impacted by prostate cancer, monthly meetings on hold due to COVID.John Fullagar (convenor) 9498 1984 or john.fullagar@bigpond.com OSBORNE PARK TENNIS Play tennis in beautiful bush setting with club house & children’s play area.

Community-run/reasonable rates. oppa.tennis@gmail.com 8003 3316 PROBUS CLUBS Fellowship meetings for retirees.

Guest speakers, excursions, refreshments and lunches.

Judy Carroll President 0414785745 Crows Nest Combined Crows Nest Centre, 2 Ernest Place, 9439 3455 Lane Cove Combined Lane Cove Bowling Club, Burns Bay Road Lane Cove Ladies Lane Cove Library 9427 5891.

Willoughby Combined Chatswood Bowling Club, Gordon Ave, Chatswood 9428 3357.

Hunters Hill Combined Hunters Hill Club at 9.30am, 9816 2374.

Hunters Hill Ladies Probus Club Inc Hunters Hill Club, 12-20 Madeline St 9816 5116.

Waverton Combined Lane Cove Country Club, 180 River Road, Northwood 9955 5126.

ROTARY CLUB OF LANE COVE Meets Tuesday evening, alternating weeks between a local venue & a Zoom meeting. All welcome https:// lanecoverotary.org P 0407 216 552 SAHAJA YOGA MEDITATION Experience meditation and state of thoughtless awareness. Awaken the innate energy inside to experience a sense of inner peace, balance and wellbeing. 0422 798 498.

SHINNYO-EN BUDDHIST TEMPLE 231 Longueville Road, Lane Cove.

Details 9418 6688 info@shinnyo.org. au or www.shinnyo.org.au SPIRIT OF LIFE UNITARIAN FELLOWSHIP Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre. 9599 1180, Sydney Unitarians – Spirit of Life www.sydneyunitarians.org/ THE LOCAL VOCALS’ COMMUNITY CHOIR Performing contemporary and traditional songs, this unique choir will be participating in community events and activities. 0452 006 693 U3A UNIVERSITY OF THIRD AGE Events and intellectually stimulating daytime courses in an informal, friendly atmosphere. Ph 9267 9056 or www.sydneyu3a.org WAIG - WOMEN'S ACTION AND INFO GROUP Stimulating speakers, discussions and book reviews for women. waigwomen@gmail.com facebook.com/waigwomen/ WOM:NI - WILLOUGHBY OLDER MEN: NEW IDEAS "Meet a friend - Make a friend - Be a friend." For men over 55. Club Willoughby, Crabbes St, Willoughby Contact: 9417 3715 ZUMBA CLASSES IN LANE COVE Get fit, sweat, make friends and have fun! Classes suitable for everyone.

Dianne on 0406 765 827 www. zumba4u.com.au

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