The Beast - August 2026

BEAST

August 2026

www.waverley.nsw.gov.au

Digital parking permits are now available at Waverley! Apply for and self-manage your parking permits online.

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Noah's Arks

Words James Hutton - Publisher

Welcome to the August 2026 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s sharky beaches of the east. Our talented fishing editor Lewis Kennedy-Hunt has focused his regular column on this very topic and I strongly recommend giving it a read if you’re interested in the ocean. You’ll find it on page 46.

We’ve got a very special cover this month. Bondi artist and local legend Martin Greer passed away in late May and his family have kindly contributed his iconic painting of Bondi surfer Andy Cochran to grace our cover. Anthony Maguire has also written a piece on Marty on page 20.

Parking meters at Randwick’s beaches and the Bondi Junction Master Plan seem to be the big issues around here lately. As of the latest Randwick Council meeting, the meters are dead and buried

for another 20 years or so, but the Junction plan has got some people worried.

I’m no town planning expert, but I’m aware that the state government has mandated density increases in every LGA and I’m not sure where else we could put it in Waverley - I definitely don’t want high-rises at the beach.

Not many people would argue that the Junction isn’t a bit of a dump at the moment, and this plan is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unlock the full potential of this tired part of the local area. The council’s plan is an ambitious undertaking, but it’s good to see some big ideas that try to balance increased density with residential amenity.

Delivering a plan of this scale takes time, and this is just the first step in a very lengthy process.

Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh has assured me that there will be plenty of opportunity for community feedback on the details of the plan as the process progresses and that all submissions are being

carefully considered by the council. Every submission matters, and all of this feedback will help refine the draft master plan before it eventually goes to Council for adoption.

It would be awesome to see Bondi Junction reach its full potential and become a world-class cultural, civic and commercial hub without losing open space and essential services.

Cheers, James

The Beast

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Why isn't there one of these in Centennial Park?

I Want to Ride My Bicycle, I Want to Ride My Bike

Words Pearl Bullivant Photo Freddie Mercury

A Better Place to Play

Hi there - I’m a mum of a 10-year-old boy and an 8-yearold girl who are bike riding mad but don’t have a space to further their skills. They need a space bigger than a kiddies’ bike track to practise jumps and tricks out of the way of general park users.

Yes, ‘tween’ bike users have a bad reputation, but if we gave them a space to go after school and between weekend sporting commitments they could blow off some steam and not be indoors staring at their screens.

During COVID, kids were building their own tracks and jumps in our local parks, which would subsequently be destroyed by council workers.

‘Pump tracks’ and bike trails are being opened and created all over Greater Sydney, but

not anywhere in the Eastern Suburbs - why not give them a dedicated space somewhere local, just like the ones that have been created in other parts of Sydney?

I’d also really appreciate it if you could share the link to the petition - c.org/mnkTJmc67y.

Kirra Waverley

Protecting the Lycra Brigade

Dear Kirra - Your letter is very timely considering that my husband Blair is currently cycling in the Dolomites with a group of geriatrics in lycra. If anyone is giving bike users a bad reputation it’s these old dudes with their sleek bikes and bodies squeezed into tight clothing, hyped up on piccolos with a dash of some alternative form of milk.

As much as I enjoy poking fun at my husband and his fanatical cycling friends, I do envy their riding skills and lack of fear behind the handlebars. This bravado was developed at a young age in an era when it was relatively safe to ride on the road and parents didn’t have to resort to finding bike paths or pump tracks to take their children to. With our never-waning car obsession and infinite property development in the East, the lycra brigade will eventually die out (and unfortunately be replaced by Fatbike riders) if not for passionate parents like yourself who are determined to harness their children’s love of cycling, developing their coordination and confidence and hopefully leading to a life-long love of exercise on two wheels.

You will be glad to know that the area just south of the Eastern Suburbs will soon be home to two new pump tracks - Sir Joseph Banks Park in Botany in mid-2027, and also one in Malabar. But, with 3,000 new homes being built as part of Bondi Junction’s Master Plan, perhaps the property developers involved in the “world-class cultural, civic and commercial town centre” can forgo some of their profits and cede land for the construction of a pump track nearby. Waverley Council could even dip into the $32 million set aside for the Bronte Surf Club redevelopment and finance the construction of a pump track somewhere.

Our suburbs should be more than just places to drive cars, shop and surf the net; they should be community hubs for people of all ages to gather in. Good luck with your petition, and let’s celebrate the lycra-clad, coffee snob road cyclists and mountain/BMX bikers of the future!

Pearl Clovelly

The Beast's Monthly Mailbag

Words The Nervous People of the Eastern Beaches

Ignorance Was Bliss

Looking across an empty Bondi Bay this week, there seems to have been a certain amount of surprise at the discovery that sharks inhabit the ocean. This is, on balance, where one might expect to find them.

They have not arrived suddenly, dressed for a tea party and asking where the cucumber sandwiches are kept. They have been there all along, in sunshine and rain, beneath swimmers, beside surfers, and occasionally under people who had until recently maintained a highly successful policy of not thinking about them.

My point is that the attack at Coogee, and the rise of drones, do not mean the ocean is shifting its character. They have only made it harder for us to pretend it was ever otherwise. Like so much modern technology, they have merely removed the comfort of ignorance.

None of this is to make light of the horror of what happened. My thoughts have been daily with Leah Stewart, and with those close to her, as well as all those affected by recent attacks. The sea can be beautiful, but it can also be terribly cruel.

Of course, surveillance has its place. Nobody sensible objects to useful safety measures. But attempting to abolish risk altogether is one of the more joyless ambitions of modern life. It does not make life richer. It merely makes it smaller.

We already live in a perennial state of fear. Weather apps now warn us that it may rain, be sunny, become windy, or otherwise behave like weather. Useful, certainly, but there comes a point where stepping outside starts to feel like an act of administrative courage.

Our shoreline is not a municipal pool with better scenery. It is wild, cold, beautiful, indifferent, and occasionally occupied by formi-

dable animals. It is also one of the few places left where technology cannot quite separate us from the natural world.

We can hover above it, map it, film it, and issue alerts about it, but once we are in it, the old rules return. That is part of its allure in modern life. It is one of the last refuges for solitude, reflection, and, one could argue, sanity. A place where we are not fully in charge, and where we are consumed by nature, and nature alone. That has always been part of the contract.

Australians have swum in the sea for generations with a mixture of courage, vigilance, denial, and poor judgement. Sensible caution is not the enemy of enjoyment. But it would be a pity if the drones succeeded where the sharks have not, and frightened everyone out of the water.

By all means, watch the ocean. But let us not forget how to enjoy it. The water’s edge remains one of the few places where technology is still kept at bay.

Dymock Milligram

Bondi

Shark Mitigation

Dear James - We need to find a solution to the ever-increasing shark attacks in Sydney. As drones and drum lines don’t seem effective in protecting swimmers, may I suggest a different shark mitigation method?

Bull Shark Curry

1 jar of green curry paste

5kg of fresh bull shark diced fillet

Chopped mint and coriander

Grated ginger

Kaffir lime leaves sliced finely

Lime juice and zest

Coconut cream

Diced yellow squash

Sliced long eggplants

Enjoy!

Rob Randwick

The Shark - I Was There

I swim at Coogee most mornings, and often hang about if the weather is fine. Last Saturday was a stunner, so no surprise that I was still there around 11am. I wish I hadn’t been, not at the water’s edge directly in front of where a 3.5 metre great white shark was about to make local history.

Deeply into my book, I was disturbed by what I thought were annoyingly loud teenagers skylarking. Actually, it was several female swimmers screaming. Dopily, that took a while longer to register, though soon enough the cloudy burst of blood-discoloured water around one of the women and the frantic thrashing left no doubt. Before my eyes something unbearably horrible was happening.

They were out much further than I normally go, about 30 metres. I’m not a strong swimmer, and I don’t usually venture past where I can stand. To my shame anyway, it didn’t even occur to me to leap in to the rescue (Headline: “Feeble 76-year-old man attempts rescue - fails dismally”). By the time most of us on the fairly empty sand had twigged to the horror, the real hero on a blue paddle ski was powering towards the women. It seemed to take him forever before he was able to get the victim closer to shore, and by then the council’s lifeguards had swung into action too. Finally, the shark warning siren went off. A ridiculously long time, but then a lawyer acquaintance of mine, someone well used to taking witness statements, tells me that people usually have quite distorted perceptions of time during traumatic events. And memory gaps. Perhaps it was all over in a few seconds. I don’t know what happened to the other two swimmers - her friends? I guess they just swam ashore.

The book I had been reading was Nuclear War: A Scenario, a nonfiction account of what would happen to all of us should some maniac push the button. Grisly death, of course. I didn’t get back into it.

Monday was cloudy and grey and I trotted down to the beach as usual. After its Sunday closure, the flags were back up, but the waters were empty. Normally, even in gloomy conditions in winter, some idiot (me, often enough) is in, swimming. An ABC reporter whose voice I recognised ap-

Monthly Mailbag

proached as soon as I took out my towel, but her goading “will you, won’t you?” put me off. I stayed on the steps. Another old boy, a reliable regular, was braver and gave her what she wanted.

Tuesday was sunny, and I was back in too. Up to my waist anyway.

Russell Randwick

The

Coogee Shark Attack

Enjoying our beaches is an integral part of our Sydney culture, identity, and physical and mental health. That is now at risk.

The recent shark attack at Coogee has led to my own children refusing to ever swim in the water again. It was also the most recent sign of our new unfortunate reality.

We are in the midst of a statistically accelerating shark attack trend. The 2022 shark attack at Little Bay was the first fatality in Sydney for 60 years, followed by an unprecedented four attacks in 48 hours in January this year including the terrible death of a boy in Sydney Harbour. This is not chance or just bad luck.

Climate change-induced ocean warming is changing the thermal habitat suitability and seasonal movements of major shark threat species such as bull, tiger, and juvenile great white sharks, increasing the threat of shark attacks at our Eastern Beaches. South-East Australia is an ocean warming hotspot, and combined with climate-induced worsening storm activity and run-off events we’re seeing worsening shark attack risk.

We have just seen the warmest start to winter here in history. Our policy makers need to be frank with our community about the role of climate change in this increasing risk. Expanding coal mining activity and now gas exploration adds to the problem. NSW, and Australia more broadly, also lag behind globally in the transition to clean, zero emissions vehicles. These connections to our warming coastal waters are stark.

The Coogee community were broadly unaware of the restriction on even basic shark drone monitoring here. We need our leaders to honestly recognise risk and cause, so that appropriate solutions can be implemented. NSW needs to provide the most advanced shark AI drone mon-

itoring that we know is already available, for all of our amazing beaches, while reducing - not increasing - our pollution from fossil fuel extraction and petrol/ diesel vehicles. Then, at least, we can say we tried.

Dr. Anthony Hull Coogee

The Wokers of Eastbourne

I enjoy a walk around the North Clovelly precinct. If the weather is a bit dodgy I check the Randwick beach cam situated on the Clovelly Surf Club to see if it’s raining there. Well, to my surprise, on the last occasion I checked a large ‘block-out’ had been added to the images. This block-out covers all the houses in Eastbourne Avenue, Clovelly.

I should add that the cameras are so far away from said houses that even the eagle-eyed snoop couldn’t see more than a distant view of the Eastbourne Wokers’ residences.

Seems to me the Wokers have somehow convinced the council that their privacy is being invaded. Ha, what a laugh! Who cares about the Wokers, and better still, why should they be so paranoid about their lovely houses appearing on a publicly accessible website?

Wake up, Wokers of Eastbourne Avenue, to the reality of the 21st century.

Chas

Coogee

P.S. I always have a good rubberneck when I drive down your street, just to be sure you’re not getting up to anything dodgy!

Glory to the Garbo's

I agree that bin trucks cause significant disruption by blocking roads and delaying our routine schedules (Garbage Truck Chaos, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, July 2026).

I play golf on Friday mornings and drive from Bondi to Little Bay. For a long time, I invariably got caught in a queue behind a bin truck. Then a distant memory from my father surfaced, offering advice on how to avoid speeding tickets“Leave five minutes earlier.”

Five minutes is good, ten minutes is a breeze. On the odd occasion when I get my timing wrong I take a diversion that is slightly longer in distance but always shorter in time.

I think our garbo’s do a great job. They are often courteous

and give directions when they shouldn’t. They risk their lives running across roads in the dark. Let them do their job, and let’s make a few adjustments to work around them. What would upset me most is if I got home and the bin wasn’t emptied!

James Bondi

Went Birko Over Berserko

Actually ‘going birko’ is a very Australian expression from the past (Went Berserk Over Berserk, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, July 2026). A Birko is a water-heating jug made of porcelain with an electrical element immersed in the water-filled container that is used for boiling water. This is how the term ‘going birko’ came about.

The basic jug had no cut-off switch, so when it was allowed to boil without being immediately switched off it would shake and vibrate violently and then overflow, causing the lights to flicker and the fuse to blow if the jug was plugged into the basic power circuit, which was often the case. Hence the term ‘going Birko.’

Adam Bashar Old Paddo Boy and Electrician

One Campfire at a Time

Dear James - I’m writing as a frustrated local who has watched a beautiful corner of South Maroubra Beach slowly disappear. For years now, the small coastal woodland at the southern end of the beach, near the track to Malabar Headland, has been repeatedly vandalised. Native trees and shrubs are being cut down to fuel illegal campfires, leaving behind charred branches, blackened sand and an ever-growing gap where healthy vegetation once stood.

This isn’t just an eyesore. These coastal plants help stabilise the dunes, provide habitat for wildlife and protect one of the last remaining natural stretches of Sydney’s coastline. Once they’re gone, they take years - sometimes decadesto recover.

I’ve reported the issue to Randwick City Council and, to their credit, they installed signs prohibiting camping and fires in the area. Sadly, the signs have done little to stop the vandalism. It is heartbreaking to see a handful of people treating a public natural area as a free source of firewood while the

Monthly Mailbag

rest of the community loses something that belongs to all of us.

I’m hoping that by bringing attention to this through The Beast, more people will keep an eye out, report illegal campfires when they see them and encourage Randwick City Council to increase patrols and enforcement before this unique patch of coastal bushland is lost altogether.

If we can’t protect something as special as South Maroubra, what hope is there for the rest of our urban bushland?

Concerned Resident Maroubra

Bondi Junction Master Plan

Dear James - The mayor’s plan for Bondi Junction is a singular developer vision dressed up as ‘Beyond Bondi’. Driven by developer aspiration for yet more larger and higher mass concrete blocks and deaf to community cries for beauty and safer, brighter public spaces; deeper, darker, windier canyons will result. Developers will hoover up all the public land and buildings, which will be traded for bigger private building sites and an overshadowed station entry built over a carpark under the mall - a public street. No thought of servicing, deliveries or waste removal. Clementson Park, childcare centres, the library, even Fingleton Reserve, all cast aside or cast into concrete.

Heritage a vanishing impediment. Listed buildings, the vet hospital, the historic Nelson pub... all swamped. Only the glamorous penthouses will be liveable. Lower down, these mass apartment developments, dank and sunless where even the washing won’t dry, are likely to remain empty. Airbnb flourishes, not young folk needing affordable housing. It’s a great leap backwards for Bondi Junction.

Mora Main Waverley

Send In the Clowns

Occasionally our councillors have a lightbulb moment and actually consult the people they represent, rather than relying on central office for directions as to what they may want. Such a moment has just occurred in Randwick regarding parking management.

Huge numbers of visitors enjoy our fantastic area, so why not get a financial contribution from them

to ease our local rates burden - it’s a no-brainer, right?

So, the council put the proposal to the residents and spent a fortune organising one of the largest surveys ever undertaken in Randwick, both by phone and on paper. According to the council, both had a majority in favour. So, we proceed, right? No, the councillors then voted it down.

A reduced alternative is suggested, but it’s also voted down because it didn’t seem fair. We have sufficient funds, so let’s review ‘alternatives’ such as employing more parking inspectors, at greater expense, of course.

As we supposedly can afford to ignore alternative funding due to our overflowing coffers (based on comments at the council meeting), I presume there will be no rate increase next year, the environmental levy will be removed and us residents will continue to enjoy this land of plenty. We will see.

Our councillors obviously consider the will of the people as subservient to their own, as the Randwick public did not know the ‘correct’ way to vote when surveyed (the correct answers will be sent with the next one).

So, we leave the councillors enjoying their Marie Antoinette moment, but to quote Stephen Sondheim, “Quick, send in the Clowns. Don’t bother, they’re here.”

Steve Coogee

Randwick and the World

Dear Thomas Klikauer - I read your response to ‘Concerned Maroubra Resident’s’ letter, in the July edition of The Beast and would like to respond to your comments about power-sharing deals at local council level (Randwick and the World, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, July 2026).

Power-sharing arrangements may not be new in Randwick, or in local politics in general, but that does not automatically make them healthy, transparent or beyond criticism. The fact that something has happened historically does not mean residents lose the right to question whether it still serves the community today.

The real issue is whether the leadership outcome in Randwick reflects the spirit of the 2024 election result and the broader interests of the community.

At the 2024 Local Elections, Labor won six seats, the Liberals won five seats, the Greens won three seats and independents won one seat. No party won a majority, but councils can still function without fixed long-term power-sharing deals. Councillors can assess leadership year by year based on performance, community sentiment and local priorities.

In addition, the most senior of the three Greens councillors (one of whom will be elected as mayor soon) had a motion of no-confidence brought against her in August 2024 (shortly before the local elections). This motion was apparently dismissed by the Labor councillors in order to let the electorate decide at the local elections in September 2024. The electorate did decide and voted for only three Greens councillorsdown from six the previous term. In addition, the same Greens councillor has allegedly had over 140 code of conduct complaints lodged against her since December 2025 and a referral to the Office of Local Government is pending. The Randwick Voices group therefore questions whether this would be an appropriate or popular choice for leader at this moment in time.

What concerns many Randwick residents in our group is the idea that a mayoral arrangement is treated as automatic or predetermined, regardless of changing community expectations.

Many residents also feel local government should focus on practical council responsibilities, community harmony and representing the broader community - not on divisive activism or ideological politics.

The international motions brought to Council have not been free of charge, as suggested. In fact thousands of ratepayers’ dollars have been spent on arranging mediation between the Greens councillor mentioned and distressed residents, security costs for the crowds of unhappy residents who attend the international motions and incidental expenses associated with dealing with controversial matters at local council which have no bearing on international conflicts or indeed on petrol prices. If only our local councillors were able to positively impact the war with Iran or petrol prices, but they are not, and therefore ought to focus on matters that they can have an effect

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on and were elected to manage, like roads, rates and rubbish!

At the end of the day, the Randwick Voices campaign is being driven by real Randwick residents asking legitimate questions about representation, leadership, transparency and social cohesion in their community, in line with our democratic rights to use our voices and protest what we view to be a questionable and unpopular choice for leader at this time.

Randwick Voices Randwick

Give the Boys a Break

Dear Readers - As a mum with two teenage boys I’d like to offer another perspective on the constant bad press older kids (both boys and girls) are getting at the moment.

I am not condoning the reckless e-bike riding, egging of cars, swearing at people or antisocial and threatening behaviour we are witnessing lately. However, in recent months it seems to me if you are a male aged 12-18 you are not allowed to breathe without someone yelling at you - and the language used is often foul.

There is a small minority of kids who are ruining it for the rest and bringing down the reputation of teenagers. I would like to ask, what would you like young males to be doing in their spare time?

If they are riding bikes (even non-motorised) they are yelled at for just riding down the road. I remember being a kid and I don’t think wheelies are a new thing.

If they go to the shops they are asked to empty their bags for merely looking around choosing a purchase on the suspicion of shoplifting. Often the girls are spared this embarrassment but the boys have seemed to accept this is just how things are.

If they are at the beaches they are told off for jumping off the side of a pool or from the rocks. If they stay home they are criticised for being on their screens. Even riding around Centennial Park they are screamed and sworn at by the ‘professional cyclists’ who yell at them to get out of their way. If they ride on the grass - not the riding track - they are also told off for doing that as it ruins the grass.

As a family, we spend a lot of time talking to our boys about polite behaviour, and I believe they behave responsibly when

they’re out and about. I’d like the community to consider that not all kids are behaving in an antisocial manner and to give them a break, before they all start believing that they are actually guilty for merely existing. What were you all doing when you were teenagers?

Saddened Mum of Two Boys Bondi

Electric Bikes and Scooters

Having just returned from France, we realise how behind the eight ball Australia is in relation to electric bikes and scooters. We saw no children riding them! Riders were restricted to cycleways.

In shared walking/riding areas we noticed only the scooter riders breaking the rules. Signs restricting scooters in village lanes seemed to be ignored. Funny that the scooters are a problem even in cycle-mad France.

Can our council and the state government please stop children from owning electric bikes and scooters? Riding on footpaths is super dangerous and is causing accidents countrywide.

Time to suck up the mistakes, be unpopular and ban children without a driver’s licence from using electric vehicles.

Parents, are you really happy to be responsible for accidents, even deaths, so your child can be part of the ‘in’ crew?

Margie Coogee

The Lime Serengeti

In Coogee now the grass grows green, but not for long, it seems. For every patch of public land has sprouted neon dreams. They gather there in silent herds, like wildebeest at dawn, a Lime-bike Serengeti spread across each council lawn. A dozen grazing by the oval, twenty more by the sea, standing where a picnic blanket or a cricket game might be. And when they are not standing proud, they lie in tangled heaps, like children’s toys abandoned by kids called inside for tea. Discarded sideways on the path, upturned beside a tree, evidence that public space means different things to you and me. Outside the chemist on Coogee Bay Road, they gather wheel to wheel, until the doorway disappears behind a wall of teal.

You needn’t check the booking sites to know where tourists stay. Just find the block with blinking bikes clustered just out the way And somewhere in the evening calm beneath the fading sky, a helmetless electric hum comes ripping from behind. The sound is barely audible, a whisper in the air, then someone passes far too close as if you weren’t quite there. But listen closely and you’ll be told this chaos is success.

The politicians nod and smile, as though they’d planned it best. “Look!” They cry. “What growth we’ve seen! The numbers never lie!” Though oddly absent from the speech is where the dollars fly. The revenue that could have helped the trains and buses here, instead takes wing across the sea to shareholders elsewhere. Every city learns the lesson, though often rather late: leave-it-anywhere eventually follows a familiar fate. Because the answer isn’t banning bikes, nor pretending they’re a curse.

It’s docks and stations, fixed and clear, the thing that always works. A place to start, a place to end, a place where bikes belong. Not scattered like confetti blown across the public commons.

Brian Coogee

Bus Stop No. 202312

This bus stop on Old South Head Road (near Victoria Road) has been tarted up with an advertising window and, for some unknown reason, a metal bar from the end of the left hand seat to the advertising window. This bar means that to catch the bus to Bondi Beach you have to walk the length of the stop or step out into Old South Head Road traffic.

Can the metal bar be removed? It has no use that I can see, but actually makes the bus stop awkward to use and probably dangerous. This sounds like a miserable gripe, but it is little things that annoy the most.

Carolynn

Bondi Junction

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

An Uncertain Time

by Sarah Austin & Co, produced by Performing Lines

11–15 Aug

A mesmerising, immersive and multi-sensory performance for babies aged 0-18 months and their carers.

Bondi Community Farewells a Local Legend - RIP Martin Greer

Words

Artist, surfer, carpenter, heritage activist, storyteller, unofficial Bondi historian, Rooster’s fan, prankster and proud fourth-generation Bondi local, Martin ‘Marty’ Greer has passed away aged 67 at his home in North Bondi.

For those who knew him, Marty was impossible to fit into a single description. He was a true maverick. He lived more life, followed more passions and collected more stories than most manage in several lifetimes.

Born and raised in Bondi, Marty’s connection to the suburb ran deep. He grew up surfing Koolites before developing a lifelong love affair with longboards and Malibus. The ocean was his playground, his inspiration and often his sanctuary. He represented Bondi United in rugby league, swam at Bondi Icebergs (following his father who served on the executive board), walked the beaches daily and carried Bondi with him wherever he went. Even when travelling overseas, he could be found proudly wearing Bondi hats, Bondi budgie smugglers and Bondi shirts,

many of which he designed and created himself.

A carpenter by trade, Marty possessed an insatiable curiosity and an extraordinary range of talents across all mediums.

His rebellious streak became part of Bondi folklore. In his younger years he became locally famous for producing handmade Bondi Lifesaver entry stamps, allowing friends to gain entry to gigs. Armed with artistic talent, carbon paper and determination, he recreated the venue’s stamps with remarkable accuracy.

While many knew him as a craftsman and raconteur, others knew him as one of Bondi’s great unofficial historians.

Marty became an artist not for recognition but to preserve stories. His paintings documented the people, places and culture that shaped Bondi throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Through meticulous research and remarkable artistic skill, he created a visual record of a Bondi that was rapidly disappearing, and in turn became a custodian of Bondi’s cultural heritage as

he created a remarkable body of work documenting nearly a century of Bondi life.

His acclaimed 2012 exhibition at Bondi Pavilion showcased more than 30 paintings depicting historic Bondi scenes and local surfing culture, earning widespread praise and cementing his reputation as a custodian of local heritage. He later exhibited widely, entered the Archibald Prize and won the People’s Choice Award at Sydney’s Tap Gallery in 2017. The history of longboarding at Bondi was a favourite artistic subject.

His passion for preserving Bondi extended beyond the canvas. Marty was a passionate advocate for protecting Bondi Pavilion from privatisation and he lobbied for a monument commemorating the mermaid statues which once basked on the big rock at North Bondi.

Never short of an idea or a cause, Marty also campaigned for a stage beside the courtyard of Bondi Pavilion which would serve as a permanent home for local musicians and create another place for the community to come together and celebrate live music, which was another of Marty’s greatest passions.

He was a bit of an entertainer himself, as lifelong friend Nick Constantinou recounts.

“Marty was larger than life and never did anything by halves,” says Mr Constantinou, who attended Dover Heights High School with Marty. “I remember how he had everyone at a party in stitches when he arrived dressed and fully made up as Herman Munster.”

Following his passing, flags flew at half-mast at Bondi Icebergs and the Bondi Golf & Diggers Club. Friends gathered at the Starfish Club in Clovelly to raise a toast in his honour.

Marty leaves behind his beloved wife Kim, daughter Nicole, son Justin, countless friends and a community that is richer for having known him.

Bronte House Open Weekend

Sunday 19 July and Saturday 22 August* 10am to 2pm *August gardens only

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Your last chance to explore before the property closes for renovation!

Bondi Beach is still one of the most popular destinations in Australia for both domestic and international tourism.

Calls for Tighter Short-Term Rental Caps in Bondi and Tamarama

Words Anthony Maguire Photo Holly Day

Waverley Council wants to manage the impact of shortterm rentals in the Bondi area.

A report from officers tabled at a recent meeting suggests the council urges the state government to lower the cap on shortterm stays in the 2026 postcode area from 180 to 90 days.

The reduction of the current 180-day cap to 90 days is one of a number of recommendations Waverley Council is likely to be making to the NSW Government’s review of the regulatory framework for short-term rental accommodation (STRA).

Another idea put forward is a levy of 5-7.5 per cent on short-term rentals to subsidise housing programs and regulatory enforcement.

The report said that the 2026 postcode, covering Bondi and Tamarama, had the highest short-term rental rate in Greater Sydney, with 8.6 per cent of occupied dwellings STRA-registered.

According to the report, “The high demand for short-term rental listings in Bondi has led to

increased competition for housing, which can drive up rental prices and make it more difficult for local residents to find affordable accommodation.”

The report also noted that the STRA market is making a significant contribution to the local economy, bringing in an estimated $29 to $40 million a year LGA-wide and supporting 400600 jobs. It fills an important visitor accommodation gap, providing around 1,200 bed spaces. However, the Bondi basin area faces a “disproportionate share” of housing supply impacts and amenity pressures brought about by STRA proliferation.

Eacham Curry, Senior Director, Government & Corporate Affairs, with short-term accommodation operator Stayz, cautioned Waverley Council against pushing for a lower cap. He told The Beast, “These measures do not address current housing concerns and could jeopardise the value that the STRA sector brings to the local community and economy.”

Petition Pushes for Terror Attack Victims

Boris and Sofia to Be Commemorated

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Peter Tishan

Waverley Council has received a petition to name a street or place in Bondi after terror attack victims Boris and Sofia Gurman.

At their June meeting, Waverley councillors received the petition to commemorate the couple who grappled with one of the attackers and temporarily disarmed him - only to be fatally shot after he grabbed another gun and fired it at them. “It was an act of pure heroism,” stated the petition tabled at the meeting.

There will also be a permanent memorial at Bondi Beach to the 15 fallen with a process to be led by the NSW Government. The government will be contributing $2 million to the project, which was announced as part of the state budget.

Meanwhile, a temporary memorial called The Sunnukiah designed by Jewish artist Joel Adler is in place in Bondi Park. It’s a contemporary interpretation of a menorah candelabrum, fitted with solar power to light up the ‘candles’.

The heroic couple grappled with one of the gunmen.

Master Plan Opponents Request Release of 3D Modelling

Growth plans for Bondi Junction should be represented through 3D modelling, urged Councillor Ludovico Fabiano at a meeting of Waverley Council.

The Greens councillor moved a motion calling for the immediate release of 3D modelling so the public can be better informed about the impact of building heights and densities under the Bondi Junction Master Plan recently put on public display.

“3D modelling is important so the community has transparency,” he said. “The council could put a scale model on display in the library foyer or Boot Factory.”

His motion was rejected, but since the meeting a group called Save Bondi Junction has been promoting an online 3D modelling tool which it says can be used to show 3D images of the high-rise buildings set to proliferate under the plan. The group has set up the website bondijunctionmasterplan.com

where visitors can key in specific addresses to see changes in sunlight under the master plan.

Save Bondi Junction has also made available an AI tool that helps residents submit objections to the master plan, prompting submissions with suggested issues like ‘loss of sunlight’ and ‘rushed process’.

Meanwhile, other community groups are also raising questions online about the plan. One of those groups is SOS Waverley, whose spokesman, Andrew Goldfinch, accuses Waverley Council of making a kind of deal with the Devil by going along with the state government’s affordable housing vision.

“We’ll never have truly affordable housing in the Eastern Suburbs because we’re so heavily populated, and it’s going to get a lot worse under the master plan,” Mr Goldfinch said.

Given the nature of it being such an important project, and with so many stakeholders invested in its success, The Beast

requested more information regarding the Bondi Junction Master Plan from Waverley Council.

The council acknowledged that the master plan is the first comprehensive vision for the future of the Junction in more than 20 years and emphasized the importance of fulfilling the area’s need for more housing in well-suited locations and providing improved infrastructure and amenity to benefit the entire community.

“This includes capacity for increased homes, a revitalised Oxford Street Mall, a thriving new Civic Precinct, a world-class transport interchange, expansive green space and a lively promenade that will activate an exciting nightlife culture,” the council said.

The plan aims to create a roadmap that will transform Bondi Junction into the ultimate day-to-night destination, a “beating heart” of the Eastern Suburbs.

Council also said that the level of public interest in the plan has been positive, and that a large volume of community feedback had been received during the exhibition period, but also noted the preliminary nature of the master plan.

“Once the Master Plan is adopted, a planning proposal process will kick-off for the next one to two years,” Council explained. “During this phase, detailed strategies and plans will be drafted, including any updates to local planning rules.”

The drafted plans would then need to be reviewed by the NSW Government, before being put on public exhibition for the community to have their say. Council will then review the feedback and update the strategies, before deciding to formally adopt them.

“All of this will happen before any changes commence, meaning the people of Waverley will be informed, involved, and heard every step of the way.”

Big Picture ACADEMY

JJ Cahi ll Memorial High School

JJ Cahill Memorial High School is opening a Big Picture Academy in 2027 for Year 9 and 10! The Academy empowers students through personalised learning that provides choice and decision-making opportunities, creating meaningful pathways beyond school.

Learning in and beyond school: in class and through real-world experiences and expertise in the community. Interest-driven learning: connected to their interests, career paths and questions.

Advisory learning community: small classes supported by dedicated teachers.

University pathway: The International Big Picture Learning Credential (IBPLC) provides a alternate pathway recognised by many Australian and international universities.

visit our website: jjcahill-h.schools.nsw.gov.au

visit our website: jjcahill-h.schools.nsw.gov.au

Local Swimmers Take to the Water in Support of Shark Attack Victim

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Greg Norman

One week after a young mother was mauled by a shark at Coogee, the community rallied on the beach and hundreds took to the water.

The event, organised by Randwick Council and Coogee Surf Life Saving Club, was a show of support for attack victim Leah Stewart - and it also made a pointed statement that beachgoers weren’t going to be scared out of the water by a white pointer.

With a newly-commissioned drone hovering overhead, and escorted by jet skis and inflatables piloted by lifeguards plus surfers paddling along on their boards, swimmers traversed the bay from north to south.

The Beast talked to Coogee couple Carolyn Bouquet and Angelo Ziaziaris just after they’d emerged from the water with their 11-year-old son Zac.

“We want to be able to enjoy our environment and not be fearful,” Mr Ziaziaris said.

After the mass swim, there was a barbecue to raise funds for Coogee resident Ms Stewart, who remained in a critical condition in hospital following multiple surgeries including amputation of an arm.

Zac, Carolyn and Angelo won’t be scared out of the water.

The two Teals aim to offer a viable alternative in a political environment where divisiveness is casting a long shadow.

Allegra Spender and Fellow-Teal

Zali Steggall Form

New Political Party

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Peter McEvoy

Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender has teamed up with a fellow-independent MP to form a new political party, Community Strong Australia.

Ms Spender and Warringah MP Zali Steggall say their alliance offers an alternative choice in a divisive political environment where voters are being pushed towards extreme choices.

“Australians deserve a positive, responsible alternative,” Ms Spender said. “They deserve representatives who can bring real world experience to parliament. They want a new political organisation that can bring people together and give communities the power to shape their own future.”

The formation of Community Strong Australia marks a consolidation of strength for the socalled ‘Teal’ independents, who have been elected in previously blue ribbon Liberal seats (in fact, both Wentworth and Warringah have been held by former Liberal Prime Ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott). The move is seen as filling a centrist vacuum in Canberra and some of the other Teals (there are six in all) are expected to be welcomed into the party in the near future.

Entertainment Precinct Plans for Coogee, The Spot and Kingsford

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Mark Bond

Randwick City Council has unveiled plans to develop Coogee, The Spot and Kingsford as latenight entertainment hubs.

At their June meeting, councillors gave the go-ahead to trialling Special Entertainment Precincts (SEPs) under a NSW government plan to support night-time economies. This echoes a similar move by Waverley Council for SEP designation of Bondi Junction.

The meeting was told there’d been broad community support for the scheme when it was canvassed earlier this year through a posting on the council’s ‘Have Your Say’ web page, targeted emails and distribution of more than 14,000 flyers in the proposed SEP areas.

A key part of the plan will be streamlining regulations for extended trading by small bars with 100 customers or less.

Once SEP activation is under way in Coogee, The Spot and Kingsford, the council plans to extend the scheme to Randwick Junction, subject to public domain upgrades and redevelopment of key sites.

Annual events like The Spot Festival have demonstrated the potential for year-round entertainment hubs.

All 482 visas may now apply for PR, including cooks, café managers, hairdressers, marketing staff, etc. The qualifying period has also been reduced to two years Please call Brendan to discuss further

Brendan Muldoon

Reg. Migration Agent # 0742052

39 Gould Street, Bondi Beach Phone: 0404 552 322 brendan@bondimigration.com.au www.bondimigration.com.au

Come along to your local resident Precinct Meeting

Precincts are meetings of residents who get together regularly to discuss local matters or issues of concern in their neighbourhood. Waverley is split into 13 Precincts and meetings are open to any person living within the Precinct boundaries.

Visit waverley.nsw.gov.au/precinct or scan the QR Code to find out which Precinct you belong to and when they are meeting next.

Waverley Council proudly supports resident run Precinct meetings.

Iconic Local Vietnamese Restaurant Uyên Closes After Nearly Three Decades

Richard and Vi Dang have dished up their last phở at their Charing Cross restaurant, leaving a legion of long-time customers bereft.

Uyên Vietnamese Restaurant opened in 1998, initially operating in Macpherson Street before relocating to Albion Street in 2000. But now Richard and Vi have decided to retire. On the evening of Saturday, June 27, the beloved eatery traded for the last time, with customers having a last supper feasting on dishes that had their genesis in the refugee camp where Richard started learning culinary arts as a teenager.

“At the camp, they’d just give you the raw ingredients - fish, rice and vegetables - and you had to make something out of it,” Richard explained.

The camp was in Thailand, where Richard had sought refuge after fleeing post-war Vietnam. When he was eventually reunited in Australia with his father Kim, who’d arrived here independently, Dad shared

some traditional family recipes - in fact, he had a whole cook book full of them.

Richard went on to work as an industrial chemist at what was then ICI in Botany. After working several years for the chemical giant he was offered a redundancy package and decided to take it. And that turned out to be the golden egg that hatched Uyên, which was named after Richard and Vi’s second daughter.

Richard prepared dishes to exacting standards. For instance, creating the stock for Phở Bò - beef noodle soup - was a patient process involving simmering marrow bones for nine hours with onions and spices. The filling for spring rolls was a delectable combination of chicken mince, water chestnut, carrots and wood ear fungus.

Vi, who was also an industrial chemist and retained her job with ICI, would come in at night to run the front of house and help with things like rolling the spring rolls.

Word started to spread about Uyên’s delicious culinary offerings and friendly atmosphere. As the restaurant’s popularity grew, Vi joined Richard working full-time there. She says she has mixed emotions about Uyên’s closure.

“I’m sad because we’ve become friends with lots of loyal customers who’ve come once a week for almost 30 years. But we’re looking forward to another chapter in our lives,” she told The Beast.

Richard says, “I’m 61 and Vi is 59. It’s hard work running a restaurant. We were on our feet 12 hours or more a day. The restaurant was open five days a week, but even on our days off there was always work to do. We’re looking forward to doing some travel and not working.”

As new tenants - possibly a restaurant - move in, Richard and Vi won’t be far away. Thank you, Richard and Vi, for your 28-year contribution to your local community, and enjoy your well-earned retirement!

Community Wins Battle Against Beach Parking Plans - Again

It was a rebellious, Storming of the Bastille-type occasion as 150 residents descended on Randwick Town Hall as the council voted on whether to scrap its plans to introduce paid beach parking for visitors from outside the LGA.

Anni Haque, who has spearheaded the community campaign against the council’s beach meter proposals, spoke at the beginning of the meeting, then broke council protocol by leading the crowd in a chant of “No parking meters!”

Mayor Dylan Parker threatened to “clear the gallery” if there were further interjections.

As the meeting progressed, it turned out that the spirit of rebellion was not confined to the gallery - it was also burning among the 12 councillors gathered in the chamber.

Liberal councillors Daniel Rosenfeld and Christie Hamilton stood up and spoke against the paid beach parking plan.

“If residents in the LGA say they don’t want it, then we have to listen to them,” Councillor Hamilton said.

Former mayors Noel D’Souza (independent) and Philipa

Veitch (Greens) also declared themselves against the proposal.

Councillor Veitch acknowledged the crowd filling the public gallery and spilling out into the hallway.

“In all of my time in council, I‘ve not seen such a significant community response to a matter coming up before a council meeting,” she said.

When another former mayor, Labor’s Danny Said, got up and stated that he was also against beach parking meters, suggesting signage setting time limits instead, it started to become clear that the council’s vision for paid visitor parking was about to come crashing down.

Councillor Said voted against his five Labor colleagues, supporting a motion from Councillor Hamilton to scrap the paid parking proposals and asking Council to look at other ways to raise revenue for beach upkeep. Voting alongside him were the five Liberals, three Greens and one independent - ten against five. The council chamber reverberated to thunderous applause and cheers.

“People power at its finest!” declared a jubilant Anni Haque.

Clovelly School Teacher to Compete in World Triathlon Championships

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Marathon Photos

Local teacher Eliza Belle Matthews has always been a keen athlete with a will to win. But when she took up triathlon last year, she didn’t dream that 18 months later she’d be donning the green and gold to compete for Australia at the Triathlon Age Group World Championships in Spain.

The Clovelly resident entered her first triathlon in March 2025 on the NSW South Coast.

“A couple of friends were going down there to compete, and I entered too. I ended up coming third in my age group.”

The 32-year-old found herself competing in four qualifying races last year and one this year. And now she’s preparing for Spain under the mentorship of trainer Roger Slater.

In case you’re someone who doesn’t know what a triathlon involves, it’s a race that combines swimming, cycling and running. Albion Cycles has loaned Eliza Belle a Bianchi bike to help with the cycling training for the championships. And she has set up a fundraiser at asf.org.au where you can search for ‘Eliza Belle Matthews’ if you’d like to support her journey to Spain in September.

Eliza Belle riding in last year’s Sparke Helmore Newcastle City Triathlon, where she came first.

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

Randwick News

In the Winter months, there’s nothing like rugging up warm, getting outside and having some good old-fashioned fun. But in this cost-of-living crisis, Randwick City residents are telling me the average activity is becoming harder to fit into crowded household budgets.

That’s why Council is committed to providing free entertainment, skills and workshops that don’t break the bank.

If you’ve fallen on tough times, the Hub at Lexo can connect you to a range of services, from free meals, laundry services, legal services and mental and physical health support, provided by government and charity partners. Targeted programs are tailored to different age groups and run from Tuesday to Thursday.

Our libraries have free talks and workshops every week. Lionel Bowen Library holds regular tai chi, chess and table tennis clubs. Knitters assemble twice monthly at Margaret Martin for the highly popular “knit-in” club.

The Randwick Movie Club meets every single month, screening cult classics for free, while the Randwick Sustainability Hub hosts the monthly Saturday Circle. There, you’ll find workshops for the whole family, including cooking classes, bike maintenance and clothes and toy swaps.

Check out the What’s On page of our website to find hundreds of free events and entertainment possibilities for August and beyond.

Stay warm,

Councillor Dylan Parker Mayor of Randwick

What’s On

MAROUBRA BEACH MARKETS

SATURDAY 1 AUGUST

8 am – 2 pm

Broadarrow Reserve, Maroubra Beach

MAROUBRA DUNES BUSHCARE

THURSDAY 6 AUGUST

9 am – 12 pm

South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club carpark

HEFFRON PARK MARKETS

SUNDAY 16 AUGUST

8 am – 2 pm

Bunnerong Road, Maroubra

BUILD A SONG TOGETHER

(SCHOOL YEARS 3-6)

THURSDAY 27 AUGUST

4 pm - 5 pm

Lionel Bowen Library

PERMABEE COMMUNITY GARDENING

FRIDAY 28 AUGUST

9 am - 12.30 pm

Randwick Sustainability Hub

Finance industry titan was shy about giving breath sample.

Crime News

Local Businessman’s Beemer Hit Cars, Then He Refused Breath Test

Early one evening, private equity firm boss Joel Thickins was driving home to his Coogee mansion when he collided with another vehicle in Queens Park. Then his BMW slammed into a line of four parked cars.

When police arrived at the York Road accident scene they found Thickins unhurt, which is more than can be said for the cars he hit, or his $170,000 BMW i5. Thickins refused to take a breath test. He declined again after being arrested and taken to the cop shop.

And so it was that 48-yearold Thickins, managing partner at TPG Capital, which manages more than $30 billion in assets, found himself in Waverley Court where he admitted refusing to submit to the two police breath tests plus negligent driving. He was fined $1,430 and banned from driving for nine months.

Murder Arrest

More than 18 months after grandmother Christine Dawson was found dead in her Maroubra unit, a man has been charged with her murder.

Shane Tucker, 52, was arrested at a property in West Pennant Hills following an extended investigation by Eastern Beaches Police and Homicide Squad detectives.

Cop Charged With Domestic Assault

A 61-year-old policeman has been charged with assaulting a woman at a home in Maroubra.

The senior constable, attached to Central Metropolitan Region Command, was arrested at the address and taken to Maroubra Police Station, where he was charged with common assault (DV). A woman was assessed at the scene but did not require medical treatment. The officer’s employment status is under review.

Arrest Near Ibrahim Home

A man armed with a meat cleaver, hatchet and explosive chemicals was arrested on a street near the Eastern Suburbs home of former Kings Cross nightclub boss John Ibrahim. And when police checked his phone, it turned out he’d been Googling “where does John Ibrahim live?”

Troy Buck, also known as Troy Adam, was later charged with weapons offences and being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence. His case is going through the courts.

Man Went on Theft BingePolice

A 58-year-old man went on a crime spree around the Eastern Beaches and Eastern Suburbs Police Area Commands, stealing everything from camera gear to a car.

That’s the allegation from police, who say the thefts began when he stole camera equipment from a garage in Coogee. Two and a half weeks later, he took a Subaru in Randwick.

Later that same night, the Subaru pulled up in a Rose Bay street and the thief entered a residence to steal golf clubs, skateboards and a mountain bike. The following night, he struck again, driving the Subaru to Coogee where he stole an electric bike and tools. But another few weeks down the track, his crime spree came to an end.

Eastern Beaches Police attended a residence in Surry Hills and arrested the 58-yearold man. Officers also retrieved a large haul of stolen property. The man has been charged with a string of offences and is expected to remain off our streets for some time.

Barracks Burglar Hid in Roof Cavity - Police

Police say a 39-year-old Maroubra man broke into a building at the army barracks in Randwick and stole more than $14,000 worth of equipment and vehicle keys. He drove away in the stolen vehicle, but ten days later police came calling and found him hiding rat-like in the roof cavity of his home. He has been charged over the break-in and car theft and the case is before the courts.

Assault Suspect

Has anyone seen this bloke? Police would like to speak with him about an assault in Maroubra. Please phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police are interested in chatting to this fellow.

Subject Toto De Yturbe Tubed Location Bronte

Photographer Mark Hunter @bondihunter

Subject Front Row Seats Location Bondi

Photographer Eoin Walsh @walshwalshwalsh

Subject Harajuku Vibes Location Coogee Photographer Lyn Wallace

Subject Lip-Smacker Location Bondi Photographer Océane Guedj

Subject Into the Blue Location Bondi Photographer Océane

Subject Commitment Location Coogee Photographer Jonathon Spek @jon.spek

Subject Solitary Angler Location Coogee Photographer Jürgen Joarder

Evening Glow Location

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

Recipes like this make winter bearable.

Roast Chicken and Mushrooms

'One-Pan Cook'

Words Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine

If you’re searching for another warming winter recipe that gives simplicity but delivers big on flavour, this roasted chicken and mushroom ‘one-pan cook’ has you covered.

Pieces of tender chicken thigh with crispy skin cooked on the bone are paired with meaty mushrooms surrounded in a silky umami sauce that brings all the elements together delightfully. The sauce is developed from the flavour of the mushrooms, the jus from the roasting chicken, complementary herbs, and cream and white wine to give the sauce its body.

This dish works well accompanied by a leafy green salad for

freshness and a crusty baguette to mop up the delicious sauce.

A major selling point is the one-pan cook, which I hope brings some comfort to your busy week.

Ingredients

8 chicken thighs, skin on, bone in, seasoned with sea salt and cracked black pepper

10 large flat mushrooms, cut into thick slices

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Sauce

1 clove garlic, minced

1 french eschalot, finely diced

½ cup chicken stock

¼ cup dry white wine

½ cup thickened cream

½ tsp Dijon mustard

4 sprigs of thyme, leaves picked 1 sprig rosemary, finely chopped

6 tarragon leaves, finely chopped

Flat leaf parsley, finely chopped and crusty baguette to serve.

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180˚C.

2. In a large pan or shallow casserole, set to medium-high heat on the stovetop, add the olive oil. Cook the pieces of chicken skin side down until golden brown (4 minutes), then remove from the pan and set aside on a plate.

3. Turn the heat down to low-medium, add the eschalot and garlic to the pan and sautee for 3 minutes until softened and translucent. Add the chicken stock, then the white wine to deglaze the pan, stirring to combine. Add the cream and the Dijon mustard, followed by the herbs, and stir through.

4. Place the mushrooms in the pan and toss to coat them with the sauce. Simmer for 2 minutes, then add the pieces of chicken back to the pan, skin side up. Don’t cover the chicken skin with the sauce (to ensure it stays crisp).

5. Transfer the pan to the oven and roast for 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

6. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve with the crusty bread.

Dana Sims is a Sydneybased food and prop stylist who has grown up in the Eastern Suburbs and loves to create delicious food. She is inspired by the fresh produce we have access to in Sydney. For ideas, recipes and styling inspiration, check out her Instagram, @stone_and_twine.

Arguably the greatest movie of all time.

You Never Know Until You Know

A friend of mine recently told me a story that left me no option but to say, ‘Well played!’ Having had little joy on the dating apps, this friend decided to go old-school and chat to a random stranger they found interesting while attending a function. The conversation ended on a high and they went their separate ways with mutual interest. My friend came away with a name and some idea of what this stranger did, so it wasn’t hard to find out more about them on the internet. And, lo and behold, there it was - my friend now had a phone number. With this newfound information, the question was, ‘Now what?’.

After some thought, the decision was made. Spontaneous perhaps, and with a touch of ‘well, why not’, my friend reached out with a random text. It was well-received and reciprocated straight away, and the two of them are now enjoying each other’s company and on the way to something romantic that neither was really expecting.

Spontaneity is a hidden gem when it comes to mental health and well-being. Whether it’s going out of your way to meet someone new, deciding to take a random holiday, jumping into something that you find interesting but know nothing about, or maybe finally doing that thing you’ve always been wanting to do but kept putting off, whatever it might be, spontaneity and taking chances is positively correlated with boosting personal happiness, lowering stress levels and improving overall cognition.

Spontaneity is more than just winging it though; it generally comes from stopping habitual action. Think of the last time you just went for something new or tried something different. Regardless of the

outcome, spontaneity gives a general sense of freedom, possibility, novelty, discovery and surprise.

It’s important to understand that what we are breaking down by being spontaneous is rigidity rather than habit and routine, both of which are vitally beneficial. If we are rigid in our approach to things we can end up getting stuck and frustrated, leading to stress, fatigue and often anxiety.

Furthermore, it’s worth knowing the difference between being impulsive and being spontaneous. Impulsivity is doing something where no thought has gone into the process, whereas with spontaneity we put more thought into it, going with a gut response that involves taking note of emotions and going through logical process. Yes, spontaneity is a longer decision path, but at the end of the day your emotions are saying, ‘Sure, this could be fun, this looks different, I’ll do it’.

The key concept to spontaneity is fun and acting impromptu without recklessness. It opens a door to adventure, being playful and different, creating a space for chance rather than predictability.

Let’s go back to my friend’s scenario. If they were impulsive they may have blurted out their number straight away, potentially leading to awkwardness or embarrassment. In the end they allowed more time for thinking through the scenario, letting emotions flow through and then acting on it because... well, why not?! The spontaneity here is letting go of the fear and becoming more mindful of the process. Waiting until they got home before reaching out involved conscious thought, space and some time - all giving a chance to assess the pros and cons before taking the calculated risk of spontaneity.

It’s easy to label spontaneity as frivolous, perhaps shallow or irresponsible, but let’s change our lens for a moment. If we constantly look at life through a zoom lens, sure we’ll see the detail, perhaps even spotting something we missed before, but it’s not until we use a wider lens that we see the bigger picture - or in other words, things that a narrow lens won’t see. Yes, we might miss some definition on our wider lens, but it will show us something new we may have missed, even if the detail is hard to see.

A linear life may leave us stuck on the treadmill. Sure, we all have responsibilities that require routine and commitment, but sometimes breaking that mould and stepping outside the line for a moment reminds us what real joy is. The poster boy for spontaneity is Ferris Bueller (a movie I throughly recommend). And to my friend who had the balls to think out loud, ‘You never know until you know’, then doubled down with, ‘You’ll never know unless you try’ - well played sir, well played!

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

No one will know where your outfit came from.

How We Dress Matters

Words Dr Marjorie O’Neill, State Member for Coogee Photo Coco Chanel

Like it or not, people form opinions about us based on how we look. I know that there is an almost universal expectation that people in jobs like mine appear groomed, professional and appropriate to the situation, and while context is important, some basics always apply such as cleanliness and tidy hair. I attend a lot of events and have sometimes felt the need for more and more new outfits. While male colleagues get away with wearing the same suit on repeat without a single eyebrow being raised, women do appear to be subject to more criticism. I decided long ago to opt out of purchasing lots of brand new outfits. I did this because how we dress does matter for economic and environmental reasons, but also because it is a big time-waster, creates clutter and isn’t that much fun. We all understand the terrible environmental and human consequences of fast,

disposable fashion. These days in parliament I’ve embraced a kind of ‘uniform’; a simple navy suit, switched up with a different shirt or blouse. Think of it as borrowing from the boys’ playbook - honestly, it’s made life a lot easier. I’ve also become much more conscious about what I buy. I try to support Australian-owned brands where I can and think about the carbon footprint stitched into my wardrobe. It’s not about being perfect, but about being a bit more intentional.

For those events that call for a little more glamour, I’m a big fan of hiring an outfit. It scratches the ‘something new’ itch without the long-term commitment or the long-term cost. We are very lucky here in the East to have some seriously good op shops.

The St Vincent de Paul in Charing Cross, in particular, is something of a local legend for high-end finds. I recently

picked up a designer coat in perfect condition for $50. I know I will wear it for years or pass it on to someone else. I’m especially partial to op shop jeans - good quality, already broken in and no blisters required. It’s a win all round.

I’m also lucky to have a few expert treasure hunters in my corner. One of my staff members has an exceptional eye for op shops, and so does my mum, especially when it comes to leather handbags. Let’s just say I’ve benefited from their talents more than once.

At the end of the day, fashion doesn’t have to mean fast, expensive or disposable. A little more thought, a little more creativity and a willingness to re-wear can go a long way - not just for your wallet, but for the world around us. If we all commit to reloving and recycling we will all look more gorgeous and the entire world will be better for it.

Bring Your Bill Day

Is something on one of your bills not quite right? Want to see if there are discounts or savings available? Come along to Bring Your Bill Day to get support.

18

SEPTEMBER

Randwick Town Hall 10am - 12pm

Seniors Services Awareness Day

An event for Seniors to get connected with services, community groups and resources to help them to thrive in our community.

30 OCTOBE Easts Leagues C from 9am

Save the date! Our exciting launching soon. Get ready amazing!

Doing politics differently to deliver better government.

Building Something Better

Words Allegra Spender, Federal Member for Wentworth

There is a lot of discussion about what divides us at the moment. But when I talk to people at a pop-up office at the train station or café, or read the emails sent to my office, I come away with a stronger sense of what unites us.

Our pride in our country, our hopes for our kids, our desire for financial security, our love of our beautiful natural environment, our care for people beyond our own family and friends, our sense that the world is changing and our need to manage our own security and prosperity.

But our politics isn’t uniting us. There is an increasing distrust of the major parties - a sense that, be it on gambling or on gas, they do not put the community first. It feels like the parties are focused more on fighting each other than finding solutions, and that the values that unite us are missing in parliament.

I hated ‘politics as usual’. That is why I put myself forward as an independent back in 2022; because I thought the values of our community were not being represented, and the idea of community-informed, evidence-based policy wasn’t idealistic. It was what we should expect from our politicians.

I have loved this job and have been so proud to serve Wentworth and make a significant difference in our parliament and in our com-

munity. But the landscape keeps changing and many people now tell me they’re concerned that this is leaving them politically homeless.

People tell me they aren’t interested in culture wars. They want rational, evidence-based policy decisions on climate, energy and the economy. They aren’t looking for simplistic slogan-based politics or minorities to blame. They don’t want to import the politics of America. They are concerned by the divisive politics of One Nation and frustrated by the lurch to the right of the Liberal-National coalition.

But they don’t see a natural home in Labor either. The Albanese government doesn’t seem to understand how business and the economy works. Too many decisions are motivated by clever politics rather than intelligent policy.

All this has led me to believe that it’s time to lean in harder to create a positive alternative to the major parties’ politics as usual and politics of division.

That is why I have teamed up with Warringah MP Zali Steggall to start Community Strong Australia. Because having spent four years in Canberra now, I know we can do politics differently and better, and I think that these times necessitate action - now.

So, what are we trying to do? We are seeking to take the core policy commitments we were elected on - long-term responsible economic management, climate and environmental protection, inclusiveness and gender equity, integrity and accountability in government - plus the best of the independent movementalignment to local values, serious solutions to long-term challenges, sincere and continued engagement with communities who were taken for granted by major parties for decades - to more communities around Australia.

We have decided that the best way to do that is to create a political party; to create scale, including in the Senate. But a different type of political party - one where the free vote, the ability to put your community first - is at the heart of the approach.

Representing my community’s interests has always been my first priority. That hasn’t changed, and it won’t change with Community Strong. I believe that Community Strong is a next step that will build on the work I have started as a community independent.

We are just at the start of this. We’re building something that delivers better government, from communities up rather than topdown, being constructive in an age of distrust, with people who come from the real-world rather than a political one. And I am hoping you will help me build it.

Over the next couple of months we will be actively consulting on our approach. This is a request; help us build the next political movement, help us build something better - a movement that is honest about the challenges we face, open to finding the best solutions and willing to build the solutions and the movement from the ground up.

To get involved, please visit communitystrong.org.au and fill out our survey, email us, tell us what matters, what is missing and what you want from Australia’s newest political party. Let’s build it together.

Community Strong is an opportunity to build a genuine alternative to the major parties and the politics of division. MPs who vote for their communities. Policy shaped by people, not vested interests.

Wentworth will always be my priority and is the core of everything I do.

That is why we are starting with a period of community consultation, to hear your thoughts before we do anything else.

To get involved or share your views, please scan the QR code below to visit our website communitystrong.org.au. Let’s build this together.

Share your thoughts

Scan the QR code to read our draft constitution, share your feedback and stay up to date.

How to contact my office

Matt (centre) and his crew of ocean swimmers at Coogee.

A Sense of Hope

Words Matt Thistlethwaite, Federal Member for Kingsford Smith

Photo Lily Tindale

Throughout this year, I have been one of thousands of Australians glued to my phone tracking sharks that were hanging around my local beach, to see when I could go for a surf again.

Watching the tagged sharks gives us a sense of control over the wild ocean, but the reality is that it only tells us about the sharks we know about. NSW Department of Primary Industries started tagging sharks in 2009, with 250 individual bull sharks currently tagged. We don’t know how many sharks we haven’t tagged.

This lack of control has been on my mind, particularly as our community continues to hold Leah Stewart and her family in our thoughts following the shark attack at Coogee in June. Leah was swimming in the middle of the day, between the flags and less than 30 metres from the shore when she was bitten by a great white. The ordeal she’s faced has been unimaginable. Her strength and the love surrounding her have given our whole community a sense of hope.

In moments like these we’re reminded of the extraordinary people who step forward when danger like this strikes. Our lifeguards, surf lifesavers and first responders acted immediately

that day, showing courage, professionalism and deep compassion. Their actions saved a life.

Charlie Verco, a Bondi lifesaver who was paddling from Maroubra to Coogee when he saw the incident unfold, risked his own life to get Leah onto his board and bring her back to shore as quickly as possible. Coogee Surf Life Saving Club President Ben Heenan was also one of the first on the scene, offering first aid and help to stabilise Leah. Lifeguard Luke Twitchings was dealing with his second shark attack in as many years and provided vital first aid to Leah with his fellow lifeguards. There are countless others who offered support, first aid and helped to save Leah’s life.

I’ve been surfing at Maroubra all my life, and now my kids are following in my footsteps. We all want to feel safe in the water, but I’m left with the question of how to reassure my children that it is still reasonably safe to get in the water. The best tool we have is knowledge of ocean safety. While we can never completely eliminate the danger and know where every shark is, we can at least know how to try and avoid them.

The best shark-safety strategies we know so far are:

Avoid swimming and surfing at

dawn, dusk and night - sharks can see you but you can’t see them.

· Avoid swimming after heavy rain.

· Keep away from murky, dirty water, and waters with known effluents or sewage.

· Stay close to shore when swimming.

· Stay out of the water with bleeding cuts or wounds.

· It’s best to swim, dive or surf with other people.

· Avoid areas used by recreational or commercial fishers.

· Avoid areas with signs of bait fish or fish feeding activity; diving seabirds are a good indicator of fish activity.

· Dolphins do not indicate the absence of sharks; both often feed together on the same food, and sharks are known to eat dolphins.

· Be aware that sharks may be present between sandbars or near steep drop-offs.

· Steer clear of swimming in canals and swimming or surfing in river/harbour mouths.

· Avoid having pets in the water with you.

· Keep away from shark nets and other shark mitigation measures. Shark safety is currently looked after by the NSW Government, but with warming waters, shark-human contacts are increas ing nationwide. Following the hor rific shark attack, we acted quickly to lift the ban on drone flights by lifesavers and lifeguards at Coogee. 70 beaches across New South Wales will now be monitored by drones in the summer months and at least one beach in every municipality during the winter months. It’s a $34 million investment in the state’s shark protection program, bringing total funding to $120 million over the next two years.

A week after Leah’s horrific attack, I was proud to join thousands of people from our community who got back in the water at Coogee to recognise the importance of the beach to us and show our support to Leah in her recovery. We offer Leah and her family all our support and wish her a speedy recovery.

BABIES WELCOMING THE

Morning Tea for new Parents and Bubs

10am-12pm | 25 September 2026

Kensington Park Community Centre

1 Day Lane, Kensington NSW 2033

Join me for a free morning out

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR KINGSFORD-SMITH

Tight Lines

It's a strange time on our beaches.

Shark Shift

Words Lewis Kennedy-Hunt Photos Jason Iggleden @dronesharkapp

As Australians, beach culture is a cornerstone of our identity. The freedom to jump in the ocean is one of those quiet privileges woven deeply into our way of life. Yet every so often the ocean reminds us of how unapologetically wild it can be.

On a recent winter’s morning, the water at Coogee was calm and clear, a tranquil haven for the many swimmers who dotted the bay for their morning dip. But what unfolded next was truly unprecedented, altering the way we will perceive the ocean forever. Tragically, 34-year-old Leah Stewart sustained life-changing injuries after being attacked by an estimated 3.5-metre great white shark while swimming between the flags, just thirty metres from the beach. After being pulled to shore by Bondi local (and mate of mine) Charlie Verco, who happened to be paddling by, she has since undergone a series of surgeries and continues a long road to recovery. Leah’s survival is widely credited to the courageous and decisive actions of Charlie, who paddled straight at the danger with no hesitation. While the consequences for Leah and her family are deeply personal and ongoing, the attack reverberated profoundly through the community. A week later,

more than 1,000 swimmers and community members gathered at Coogee to support Leah and her family, while helping one another regain the confidence to reconnect with the beach. Standing among them, I could feel the quiet weight that hung over the beach, the palpable feeling that many of us were struggling to make sense of an ocean we thought we knew so well.

A few days later, Charlotte and I headed to Bondi for a surf, hoping for a return to normality. But just as we were checking the conditions the shark alarm sounded, followed by a mass exodus of surfers. We watched as lifeguards deployed a jet ski and circled an estimated three-metre great white, identified by Jason Iggleden from Drone Shark App who also raised the alarm. Our morning surf was understandably postponed, replaced by a timid dip in the shallows as lifeguards pegged shark signs into the sand declaring the beach closed. The shark was sighted again over the following two mornings at Bondi, while bull shark, tiger shark and bronze whaler sightings prompted closures at neighbouring beaches in the ensuing days. Weeks later, Tracks editor Luke Kennedy was forced from the line-up at Tamarama after en-

countering another great white. These were just some of the many shark sightings recorded along Sydney’s Eastern Beaches in the weeks that followed.

After such an unusual run of shark activity, there was an obvious question on everyone’s mind; what the bloody hell is going on? That’s when the theories came thick and fast as the media’s favourite marine villain was once again cast in the spotlight. Everyone seemed to have an answer, from social media commentators and newspaper columnists to self-proclaimed experts. Yet in reality, despite decades of research, many aspects of great white shark behaviour remain poorly understood, even by the experts, leaving plenty of room for speculation and disagreement. Some blamed an explosion in shark numbers, others called for culls.

My view is that the answer is far more nuanced, and my perspective comes from spending more than two decades surfing, fishing and diving in these very waters. While I am not a marine biologist or shark expert, I did study marine science and currently work in an oceanography research laboratory. It’s fair to say I spend a lot of time thinking about, observing and working in the marine environment. I don’t believe we’re witnessing an explosion in great white shark numbers nor a general ‘shark problem’ like a lot of the media discourse tends to suggest. Rather, it seems more likely that several natural and human factors have converged at one time in one area, bringing about more frequent interactions.

As is typical in autumn and winter, Australian salmon arrive along Sydney’s coastline in big numbers, but this year we’ve seen a particularly strong migration with unusually large numbers of schools stretching for kilometres along the cliffs and beaches. At much the same time, the annual humpback whale migration was reaching its peak. Following the

end of commercial whaling in the late 1970s, Australia’s east coast humpback population has made a remarkable recovery, with record numbers now passing Sydney each winter. For great white sharks, these coinciding seasonal migrations represent a smorgasbord of food that naturally draws them, along with other species, closer to shore.

But prey availability is only part of the story, with the other major influence being a human one. While ecology often shapes where great whites are found, our own behaviour increasingly shapes how often we see them. For most people, sightings from shore remain the primary way we experience and understand these elusive creatures. Advances in drone surveillance, platforms such as Drone Shark App and the instantaneous reach of social media mean we are detecting and sharing shark sightings more than ever before, while growing coastal populations

mean more people are entering the water. Whether this reflects an increase in great white shark numbers is far less certain.

The bottom line is that Australians aren’t going to stop using the ocean. At the same time, the increased rate of attacks demands a thoughtful response, and that is where shark mitigation comes in. In NSW, the current strategy combines shark nets, SMART drumlines, acoustic listening stations, SharkSmart alerts and drones in a program now backed by more than $154 million in funding. The centrepiece of that investment is the recent expansion of year-round, dawn-to-dusk drone surveillance, which in my view represents the most significant evolution in the state’s approach to shark mitigation. That said, I hope clear policies are in place to distinguish between shark species when determining whether beaches should be closed, as we are about to detect a lot more sharks.

Regardless of all the technology and funding we throw at the issue, we ultimately need to understand that we are simply another species sharing a wild environment - a sobering and uncomfortable thought for most, but perhaps that’s because we’ve grown accustomed to believing otherwise. The way I see it, every time we step into the ocean we accept an unspoken bargain with nature, and that’s the harsh reality of it. When I go diving or surfing, this is how I think about it, and I just hope that the rewards will justify the risk. They generally do.

The Beast Supercross

ACROSS

1. Australian football manager (4,7)

6. Fundamentalist Christian sportsman, … Folau (6)

7. Laughing African carnivore (5)

9. Ready for use (9)

10. Egyptian footballer, ... Salah (2)

11. Fencing sword (4)

13. Enjoyed on toast by millennials (7)

15. French kissing mouth organ (6)

17. Timepiece (5)

19. Enthusiastic recognition (7)

20. Reproduce text, images or patterns onto a surface (4)

Trivial Trivia

1. What US town was Winona Ryder born in; Blaine, Bloomington or Winona?

2. What fish can generate an electric charge of up to 600 volts?

3. What kind of animal is Punxsutawney Phil?

4. What is Australia’s oldest chocolate bar?

5. In which Australian state would you find the towns Milkshake Hills, Eggs and Bacon Bay, Lovely Bottom and Stinkhole?

6. Does the Great Barrier Reef have its own post office box?

7. What is the name of the fantasy drama series based on George R.R. Martin’s novels?

DOWN

1. Kiwi filmmaker, actor, ... Waititi (5)

2. Give a detailed account (7)

3. Spanish rice dish (6)

4. Shakespearen tragedy (7)

5. Crystal methamphetamine (3)

8. Moving from place to place (7)

11. Electronic funds transfer at point of sale (6)

12. Straight after seventh (6)

14. Archaic dove or pigeon (6)

16. Greek god of love (4)

18. Join or unite things closely (4)

8. Which country hosted and won the first FIFA World Cup in 1930?

9. Which pop star released fragrances called ‘Purr’ and ‘Meow’?

10. What queasy condition is known as ‘mal de mer’ in French and ‘seekrankheit’ in German?

South Summit RUN IT BACK

Label G.Y.R.O.

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

South Summit are a bit of a musical riddle. Are they reggae? Pop? Indie? Does it matter? RUN IT BACK does nothing to allow people (like me) to easily compartmentalise them for the sake of their own nervous ticks and need for order in this chaotic world. It plays like Sticky Fingers crossed with Justin Bieber, with a healthy side serve of ’90s R&B salad. They’re really tapping into the RSL MILFs market, that’s for sure (one hell of a lucrative demographic), and if you’re not deep into your local RSL MILF scene, what the hell are you even doing with your life?

JJerome87

The Canyon (feat. alt-J)

Label Virgin Music Group Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

Can you really say you’ve “gone solo” when you feature your old band on every track? Well, yes, apparently you can, because alt-J frontman Joe Newman has just gone and done exactly that. The Canyon sounds like... yep, you guessed it, an alt-J album! A more contemplative, stripped back version perhaps, but nonetheless, it is what it is. And what it is, is alt-J’s best album in quite a while. There is less emphasis on being quirky and experimental (read: pretentious) and more on writing with freedom and a true sense of joy. The more I listen, the more I dig it.

Vince Staples

Cry Baby

Label Section Eight Arthouse

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

Intelligent, well dressed, suave and annoyingly handsome, Vince Staple’s Tinder profile writes itself. Never mind that he might have dropped the album of the year. Think a post-punk version of Frank Ocean. You can’t imagine that? Well, just bloody listen to it. It’s catchy, it’s cool and it’s very easy to get caught up in the vibe and miss the poignancy of the lyrics. This isn’t “face down, ass up, hands on your knees” music, but you could be forgiven for the occasional grind against a fellow dancer because, as Vince says himself, “We just wanna have a good time, all that we’ve been through.”

Star Signs

Visions Beardy from Hell

Libra Sep 24-Oct 23

Although your preconceived notions about people are quite discriminatory, they’re also quite

Scorpio Oct 24-Nov 22

You should only worry about the things you can’t control, because they’re the things that always end up controlling you.

Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21

What’s the point of going away if no one even misses you while you’re gone? You may as well just stay at home.

Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 20

With mates like yours, burying your head in your phone all day to avoid any human interaction probably isn’t a bad option.

Aquarius Jan 21-Feb 19

You mistake emotional detachment for objectivity, then wonder why people describe you

Pisces Feb 20-Mar 20

Artificial intelligence may mask your atrocious grammar, but it won’t hide your inability to think.

Aries Mar 21-Apr 20

You’re going to face some serious financial problems later in the year if you don’t curb your spending immediately.

Taurus Apr 21-May 21

No one can accuse you of blaming everyone for your problems if you just pick one person and pin everything on them.

Gemini May 22-Jun 21

You may believe you can do better than your current squeeze, but anecdotal evidence from the past would suggest otherwise.

Cancer Jun 22-Jul 22

No amount of sunny weather will thaw you from your icy disposition. The only hope for you now is pharmaceutical assistance.

Habitat

Annelies Jahn & Jane Burton Taylor

Friday 7 August, 6 pm

La Perouse Museum

NearShore Cinema

A new outdoor screening series starting in the La Perouse Museum courtyard.

ENDLESS COOKIE

Directors Seth Scriver & Pete Scriver

97 min | Canada | 2025 | Unclassified 15+

Friday 7 August, 6.30 pm

La Perouse Museum Courtyard