The Beast - March 2026

BEAST

March 2026

March

in Moore Park

Tickets on sale now

v Carlton FC Thursday 5 March. 7.30pm

v Brisbane Lions Saturday 14 March. 7.10pm

v Melbourne Victory Saturday 7 March. 7.35pm

v Melbourne City Tuesday 17 March. 7pm

v Newcastle Jets Sunday 22 March. 3pm

v Hurricanes Friday 6 March. 7.35pm v Blues Saturday 21 March. 7.35pm

v South Sydney Rabbitohs Friday 13 March. 8pm

v Penrith Panthers Friday 20 March. 6pm

allianzstadium.com.au/events | sydneycricketground.com.au/events

YOUR HOME OF SPORT

From The Chooks to The Swannies, UFC, Tahs and Sydney FC, Boxing, Cricket, Racing, NFL, NBA, Tennis and more. With our dedicated sports bar our huge indoor and outdoor screens there is nowhere better in the East to catch your favourite team run around the park!

PLANT WITH US

We’re hosting a series of events aimed at increasing native and indigenous vegetation in Randwick City.

We’d love for you to join us and help green our City! Come along, get your hands dirty and learn about the plants and why we’ve chosen them.

HEFFRON PARK, MAROUBRA 2026 DATES:

SUNDAY 29 MARCH

MEET NEW MATES OR DATES 9 am - 12 pm

SUNDAY 26 JULY NATIONAL TREE DAY 8.30 - 10 am and 10.30 am - 12 pm

SUNDAY 10 MAY MOTHER’S DAY 8.30 - 10 am and 10.30 am - 12 pm

SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER FATHER’S DAY 8.30 - 10 am and 10.30 am - 12 pm

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL To sign up and learn more visit randwick.nsw.gov.au

Resilience

Words James Hutton - Publisher

Welcome to the March 2026 edition of The Beast, the monthly magazine for Sydney’s resilient beaches of the east - it’s certainly been a challenging few months.

Thanks to local artist Gail Reingold for this month’s beautiful cover painting of the Lily Pond at Centennial Park, which features heavily in her work. You can see more of Gail’s art by visiting her Instagram, @gailr_art_design.

On the topic of local talent, Bronte artist Lesley Turnbull is holding an exhibition of her recent paintings, titled Almost Still, at Clovelly’s Gallery East from March 19-29. Gallery East is open every Thursday to Sunday from 11-5pm, so please pop in.

Clovelly’s Yvie O’Connell welcomes locals and their friends to a fundraiser for her son Freddie on February 28 at Clovelly Surf Club. Freddie was born with a rare genetic condition called Gould Syn-

drome. The day will kick off with a fun run (or walk) leaving from the carpark at 9am, followed by a 10am brunch, coffee, auctions and prizes. Funds raised will go towards Freddie’s ongoing medical needs, with a portion donated to Brainwave Australia.

Coogee author Helen Pitt has written another book, this time about Luna Park. The 1979 ghost train fire had a huge impact on our area, as four of the boys who lost their lives went to Waverley College. Helen will be launching Luna Park, the extraordinary story of the showmen, shysters and schemers who built Sydney’s famous fun park at the Bondi Pavilion on March 10, where she will be in conversation with her former Sydney Morning Herald colleague Kate McClymont to talk about her latest project. The event is supported by the legendary Jane Turner and her Gertrude & Alice team and Waverley Council. Tickets are $20 or $40 for a book bundle, and you can grab yours at events.humanitix. com/helen-pitt-luna-park.

Suicide Prevention Ambassador Luchia Noyes from Lifeline Sydney & Sutherland is collaborating with local Lifeguards to present Lifeguards for Life, a 24-hour run-swim-run challenge at Clovelly to raise funds for Lifeline and support vital suicide-prevention services. The event will run from 9am on February 27 to 9am on February 28. If you’d like to contribute, please visit donate.wesley mission.org.au/lifeguardsforlife. Cheers, James

The Beast

The Beast Pty Ltd ABN 32 143 796 801 www.thebeast.com.au

Editor

james@thebeast.com.au

Advertising Enquiries advertising@thebeast.com.au Rates and Specs thebeast.com.au/advertise Circulation

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

Enter before 1 May

Opening 4 June, Waverley Library Galleries

The Ethical Accounting Treatment of Fungiculture and Mycology

Trippy Tax Advice

Hello Pearl - Recently I’ve gotten into the business of cultivating psilocybin, the naturally occurring psychedelic tryptamine alkaloid found in magic mushrooms. It’s fast becoming my main hustle and is proving to be very lucrative. Ignoring any potential moral qualms you may have with this behaviour, I need your accounting advice as to whether I should report this income on my tax return. I feel bad making so much money and neglecting my tax obligations as a citizen of this country. Also, I think I could claim back some of the start-up costs.

This situation has been rather ‘taxing’ on my psyche, so to speak, and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards, Chop Chop Bondi

Social Contracts

Dear Chop Chop - There will be some readers who feel that I should be admonishing you for your chosen hustle (why don’t we have hobbies anymore, why is everything a ‘hustle’?), but who is Pearl to judge? In the Eastern Suburbs, illegal activities are routinely and openly engaged in, and one only has to browse the Crime News in The Beast to read of offences committed by upstanding citizens who think nothing of committing fraud, driving under the influence of champagne or speeding through narrow streets.

Since I am not here to discuss the morality of your undertakings (I use the plural because your moniker, ‘Chop Chop’, leads me to wonder whether your cultivational activities extend beyond the colonisation of psilocybin spores), I must congratulate you on finding a

lucrative hustle that provides fulfilment. It is difficult to find a vocation that one enjoys - and start-ups are fraught with issues - but I endorse anything that exploits the fickle trends of the affluent millennial faux boho set.

Pearl must also applaud you for your social conscience. High earning Australians are allergic to paying tax and will set up complex schemes just to avoid it. But here you are, possibly a student with a HECS debt, cultivating magic mushrooms as a lucrative hobby and wanting to contribute to Australia’s financial coffers. You could teach those rent-seeking corporations and billionaires a thing or two about social contracts!

As to your taxation question, psilocybin production is an intensive endeavour, a world away from Flower Power mushroom kits. It involves considerable capital expenditure, which in normal circumstances would be tax deductible or even eligible for R&D incentives. However, you cannot claim tax deductions for income earned through illegal activities.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the income declaration, the ATO holds a lower ethical standard and is happy to assess your illegal earnings for income tax purposes. So, I advise you to lower your moral standards, forget declaring your earnings and instead enjoy the fruits of your labour while it lasts. The psilocybin craze will eventually peter out, along with cold plunges and saunas. If your conscience is truly getting the better of you, channel the funds into charitable endeavours.

Pearl - Agony aunt to the psychedelic community

Clovelly

P.S. You can also pay customs duty on the tobacco I surmise you are harvesting in your abode, which will allow you to claim offsets.

The Beast's Monthly Mailbag

Words The Wonderful People of the Eastern Beaches

Reducing Hatred in Australia

The recent atrocity at Bondi Beach has highlighted the large and growing divisions within Australian society. Different beliefs, lifestyles, wealth and race are all concentrated into small areas. There is little mixing between these areas.

Gun control, policing and security will help stop the symptoms of the problem but will not cure the cause of the disease. The antipathy and lack of understanding about other groups needs to be addressed - starting with young people. In order to do this we need to get young people mixing with other young people from all backgrounds. One proposal is for all 18 year olds to be conscripted and forced to mix. This may help, but by 18, ideas are entrenched.

The best solution is to ensure schools are not based on religion. In the US kids are bussed into other areas to assist in desegregating and mixing. In Sydney we bus kids all over the city to segregate them by religion, by academic ability, by gender and by wealth. The end result is children who never mix with other kids out of their small religious and wealth-based groups. They don’t meet or understand people of other backgrounds. They develop fear and myths about other people. They get divided by clothing and accents. Kids usually don’t lose these prejudices as they grow up.

As a first step in the process, all government funding for religious schools should be stopped. All

schools that promote a particular religion should be defunded, whether they are Catholic, Anglican, Protestant, Jewish or Muslim. Government funding for religion exacerbates the problems and encourages segregation, extremism, and will lead to further social ills.

Peter Katz Bronte

Standing United

As we grieve the heartbreaking Bondi Beach terror attack, I’m proud Waverley Council acted with compassion and purpose.

At our Extraordinary Council Meeting we committed $100,000 to local and Jewish community organisations offering direct care and healing.

In our shared sorrow, we stand united with the Waverley community, unwavering in support of first responders including lifeguards, surf lifesavers, CHS, Hatzollah and members of the public who rushed to help those in need.

Waverley is a resilient community. While this is now part of our shared history we will not let it define our future.

Cr. Dov Frazer

Dover Heights

Correction

In the most recent edition of The Beast, Lesley Spicer says, “With such a large gathering in the park, surely it (the Jewish community) would have needed its own security personnel?” (Where Was Security? Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, February 2026).

Ms Spicer is clearly unaware of CSG (Community Security Group) formed in 1979 to safeguard the NSW Jewish community. Given the relatively large number of Jewish community events occurring each year, history shows that this has been extremely successful, until 14 December 2025. There is not a security apparatus in the world that has a 100 per cent record.

Since its inception CSG has had contact with the appropriate authorities on the matter of CSG personnel carrying arms. In the main this request has been denied, perhaps for good reason. Ms Spicer can be assured, if there were armed CSG personnel there on the day and all conditions were favourable for an armed response in a crowded public setting, appropriate actions would have followed. Unlike the terrorists, CSG was there to protect, not to kill, which produces a whole range of restrictions on what action can be taken in the moment.

It is interesting that Ms Spicer omits a similar judgement on NSW Police who are armed, and were in attendance. Perhaps the different responses are due to NSW Police and CSG having the same ‘brief’ - save as many lives as possible - while the terrorists were there to take as many (Jewish) lives as possible.

A modicum of fact checking is usually a good idea.

Baron M Revelman North Bondi

In Reply to Lesley

Dear Lesley (Where Was Security? Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, February 2026) - Firstly I want to say, for all the victims who lost their lives, may their memories be a blessing. To the families who lost loved ones, my heart breaks for you and is with you. To those who were injured, may your bodies and hearts heal, and to my Jewish community, I stand in mourning with you. May this never ever happen again.

Now, to Lesley, it’s easy to judge from the comfort of your lounge

chair. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but the Jewish community has its own security personnel, which was ever present on that day.

We have known for many years that our lives are in danger, so we have had to create a security team to keep us safe, and they are present at all of our events. We also have security around our synagogues, schools, old age homes and any Jewish community centres.

Unfortunately, being that two gunmen were firing a number of high powered hunting rifles from a bridge top into a festival full of unsuspecting adults and children below them, there wasn’t much time for anyone to do anything in all the panic. I’m sure if you were there experiencing it you may not be so quick to judge.

Your letter is both insensitive and misinformed. I wonder if some self-reflection by you might now be in order.

Dett Coogee

a vibrant celebration of culture, food, live music, and entertainment!

The Little Bridge at Bondi

Dear James - The little pedestrian bridge at Bondi is much loved by our community. The sadness of the role it played in the recent horror could be recognised with a discrete explanatory plaque set on it. The unique Bondi community, already embracing the pain of this event with a mass paddle out, linked hands beachfront guard of honour, flowers and numerous acts of kindness and courage, will decide how best to make any other memorial.

Before the 1928 Beach Improvement Scheme designed by Robertson & Marks gave it structure, Bondi was largely sand and dunes. The scheme included the Pavilion and park layout with its driveways, radial footpaths, retaining walls and the two pedestrian bridges leading up to Campbell Parade, all largely unchanged today.

The 1928 Beach Improvement Scheme is quintessential Bondi. Almost 100 years old, the little bridges and concrete walls will in-

evitably show some corrosion and cracks. Specialised techniques for any required repairs are readily available today. Their historic importance deserves at least another 100 years of service.

Mora Main Waverley

Heritage

Our entire community is grieving, and there will be many views around how our community heals following the December 14 tragedy.

Friends of Bondi Pavilion have a decades-long history in protecting the cultural and built heritage of the Pavilion and broader parklands. The Parklands are nationally heritage protected and are part of the Waverley Plan of Management and are on Crown lands. No changes can be decided on outside of these protections. While we cannot forget these terrible events, we also want our community and future visitors to continue to access and use the parklands.

1300 722 542 randwick.nsw.gov.au/ spotfestival

The parklands, beach and Pavilion are synonymous with Bondi, as are the 1920s promenade and pedestrian bridges. The bridges have a special place in the heart of many in the broad community. Bridges in Italy are way older and there are ways to maintain their existence.

We have all lost a lot, but we cannot give the terrible violence that happened more strength to hurt us by condoning yet more destruction of our public heritage.

In reference to a memorial, Friends of Bondi Pavilion support any beautiful natural planting, trees and/or gardens.

Proposals should be considered for a respectful memorial in a place within the parklands that allows for quiet and peaceful reflection, and also allows for broader use of the parklands to continue. Above all, a memorial must promote healing and pacifism as well as honour the lost.

Waverley Council should now provide a full and thorough consultation with the entire community on how to move forward.

Nicolette

Boaz (writing on behalf of Friends of Bondi Pavilion)

A Clean Slate

In so many ways Bondi has lost its innocence in the wake of the terrorist attack. Let’s wash the slate clean. Get rid of that haunting foot bridge and build some memorials.

The beautiful Ahmed Al-Ahmed, the Syrian-born man who disarmed one of the shooters, should be acknowledged with a statue. He’s a man of Arab background, a migrant to Australia - a real wake-up call to the racists who chose to sew division when innocent lives were lost.

And while we’re a it, I will never forget the tragic photo Snoop Dogg took in front of the busted, rusted Waverley Council ‘Bondi Beach’ sign. We need a new sign that welcomes all the visitors who want a photo showing the world that they’ve been to beautiful Bondi Beach.

Arya Missus Maroubra

John Howard, Hypocrisy and IS

Dear editor - John Howard’s unfortunate politicisation of the Bondi tragedy is made worse from his previous involvement in being part of unleashing IS, the perpetrators of this Bondi evil.

He led a government that slavishly followed the US into the Iraq invasion on the false pretext of Weapons of Mass Destruction. ISIS was galvanised as a terrorist force from this event. We then had the Bali bombing and the horrendous destruction of Australian lives, remembered in a fine memorial on the South Coogee headland.

Now they’ve come to our once peaceful shores. Wars only lead to death, devastation and the making of enemies. We need to stay out of them and stop hypocritical preaching.

Stephen Bargwanna Coogee

Weird Scenes at Clovelly

Dear Beast - I was surely not alone in wondering what might happen following the sudden appearance a few months ago of a Tardis-like blue box on the promenade above Clovelly pool.

Then, as if by magic, things started to disappear. Parking places, mainly, and at an alarming rate. There are now no fewer than eight prime spots reserved exclusively for Surf Club or Randwick Council employees’ use. While not so fussed by the SLSC patrol teams having a few, I do wonder why Council’s staff also get such a look in. Not least because just five metres away the close observer will spy a further six prime bays reserved exclusively for Council workers (suck on that, Clubbies!).

A little further down the carpark our furtive spy will find a further two bays reserved for ‘Council authorised mobile food vehicles’. Fabulous idea? Trouble is the - not one, but often two - soft-serve ice-cream vans that haunt the lot prefer to use public spaces closer to the perimeter path where the, er, public actually walk past on

their Camino de Bondi. Imagine! The two mid-park bays supposedly reserved for them meanwhile host unsuspecting beachgoers who unfailingly find an expensive ticket as a souvenir of their big day out. Adding insult to injury (or perhaps revenue to revenue), most of the wide Victory Street, which runs along the southern perimeter of the carpark, is now inexplicably a ‘no parking’ zone. Not even Council staff are allowed access, shockingly!

Weird scenes indeed, offset only by the fact that those same Council-reserved bays sit directly under the lofty light-tower where the local cormorants perform their prodigious daily ablutions.

There might even be a metaphor in that…

Regards, Gervase Greene Clovelly

Charing Cross Completion

Hi James - I could not believe when I read in February’s issue of The Beast that “the Charing Cross upgrade is seen as complete.” It most certainly is not. The uneven and unsightly surfaces on the northern end are not only ugly but can be a trip hazard. After over a year and a half of disruption this is an unacceptable outcome. Waverley Council, please finish the job properly.

CJ

Charing Cross

The Bronte Canyon

Waverley Council placed the rubbish bins near the waterfall in Bronte Gully and half way near the channel a few years ago, and has been using ‘light’ motorised vehicles to empty them, causing heavy accumulative damage and completely ruining the lush and pristine vegetation that covered the bottom of the gully.

In the past there was a half a metre wide walking track through the vegetation; now there is an up to 5.5 metre wide desert highway! The bottom of the gully is now stripped of top soil, desertifed and

Do you live in an apartment? National

research. Local impact.

Randwick City Council is looking for an apartment building to be featured as part of a national sustainability case study. Is your building ready to lead? If your three-to-four storey apartment block in Randwick

City is about to undergo energy or efficiency upgrades such as solar, EV charging, insulation or electrification, express your interest today. Get expert upgrade advice and inspire others along the way.

Learn more and apply

eroded up to 40cms deep in many areas, and exposed big roots of big trees have been getting damaged by the Council vehicles. In fact, a manhole sewer was flush with the ground!

I petitioned the council about this environmental vandalism in an email in March 2024 and more recently in January this year, but my concerns have been dismissed and justified by requirement “under Section 20(2) of the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998 to provide rubbish receptacles in areas commonly used for exercising dogs” and the damage has continued and erosion has accelerated.

Waverley Council also stated in its email to me in January this year, “Council intends to formalise this route through the installation of a decomposed gravel path to better manage the high volumes of pedestrian traffic it receives,” and, “This project is currently identified as a medium-term action and will be progressed subject to funding availability.”

I implore the readers of The Beast to contact Waverley Council and urge it to:

1. Immediately stop driving vehicles to the rubbish bin near the waterfall and the one half way near the channel;

2. Remove the rubbish bin near the waterfall, or arrange an alternative method of emptying it that doesn’t require vehicles driving the entire length of the bottom of Bronte Gully;

3. Urgently remedy the destruction already inflicted and restore the bottom of Bronte Gully to its pristine condition so the surrounding trees can survive.

Dariusz Janiak Bronte

Pedestrian Mayhem

Thank you, ‘Mark from Coogee’, for raising an important issue of pedestrian mayhem which happens to be number two on my list of 27 pet hates (Pedestrian Plea, Monthly Mailbag, The Beast, February 2026).

Unfortunately I do not have a body de-magnetiser to lend to you, but I do host a free training each Saturday morning at Centennial Park to provide tips and tricks on how to better avoid these wayward pedestrians. You’ll learn many valuable new skills such as ‘keep your head down and don’t make eye contact’ and ‘stay left and never ever change course’, to name but two.

We are also working on courseware to battle the shopping areas such as Belmore Road, Randwick, and Coogee Bay Road, Coogee, but fear that these are the same people that don’t give way at roundabouts nor stay left on highways so it won’t be easy to ever change their habits.

Peter Randwick



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

FESTIVAL OF FUN

MARCH 2026

Get social, stay active and join us for an exciting program of events for seniors. Program details and bookings: woollahra.nsw.gov.au/festivaloffun

Event highlights: Sunset Concert on the terrace

3 March, from 5pm, Redleaf Terrace

Aqua Sculpt

Seniors Stretch

6 March, 10am, Bellamy Beach

Rose Bay

Sailing Fun Day

22 March, 10am, New Beach Rd

Darling Point

Making the world a better place.

Local Artist... Gail Reingold from Randwick

Interview James Hutton

Photo Julian Hayman

Randwick artist Gail Reingold is the talent behind this month’s beautiful cover painting of Centennial Park. Gail shares her local favourites with The Beast...

How long have you lived here? I’ve been here for 25 years now. We love the close proximity and easy access to Centennial Park, the beaches, the city... everywhere really.

What's your favourite beach? I love all the beaches for the backdrop of natural beauty they give us. Little Bay is perfect; quiet, plenty of shade and pristine clear waters.

What's your favourite eatery? Chim Chim in Randwick for its speed, great quality and value (the Tom yum and pad thai are on repeat order); Beyond Lebanon for authentic, delicious food with generous mixed platters; Maybe Frank for the classic bufalina; and Niji in Kingsford for the variety and fresh sashimi.

Where do you like to have a drink? Bat Country does a great pickle juice margarita, and Randwick Ritz feels like going

back in time, with excellent drinks and great value.

Best thing about the Eastern Suburbs? The incredible natural open spaces right on our doorstep and so close to the city.

Worst thing about the Eastern Suburbs? The traffic during school terms.

How would you describe your art? Observing the play of light and shadow using paint and colour in layered, expressionist, controlled and serendipitous mark making. I try to reflect the meditative, calming, mindful state I experience when I’m painting and when I’m immersed in nature.

Where can people see your work? On my Instagram, @gailr_art_design.

Who are your artistic inspirations? Matisse for his genius use of colour; Richard Diebenkorn for his incredible abstracted yet recognisable landscapes; Kate Gottgens for her colour use and composition; and my art school friends @cara___upsteyn and @ccallaghan_art for their constant support and unmatched honesty and expertise.

What are you working on at the moment? I’m painting landscapes of Centennial Park. It has been my subject for many years - I keep finding new aspects, beautiful seasonal light, new trees, etc.

When did you discover you had a gift for your craft? I don’t feel it’s a gift; more a ‘calling’ that you then practise and build up skills in. Mum enrolled me in art classes as a 10-year-old and I’ve been practising ever since.

Any other local artists to look out for? Vanessa Billy, Catherine Tate (ceramics) and Jasmine Mowbray.

Did you study art? Yes, formally at high school, followed by a degree in Graphic Design at Stellenbosch University, then a Master of Art (Painting) at UNSW.

Any words of wisdom for young aspiring artists? Your art practice should make you feel better. If you want to take it further, always look for opportunities to enter competitions and find a way to exhibit your work. Visit galleries all the time, do courses, keep looking and learning.

What do you get up to on the weekends? Yoga, read, relax, catch up with friends... definitely no cooking!

What do you do for work? I tutor in Graphic Design at UNSW School of Art & Design, I freelance as a designer/illustrator and I paint.

What's your favourite thing about work? Art focuses the mind so powerfully and stimulates the intellect; it reduces stress by shutting out all the ‘noise’.

Do you have a favourite quote? “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank

Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast? I think everyone can do more for a better planet. There are some easy habit changes that can make a big difference like saving water (there’s no need to rinse plates before putting them in the dishwasher). Take care of our magnificent country, our neighbourhoods and neighbours. Every little bit helps so use FOGO, use less fossil fuels, buy less clothing, try recycling or repurposing everything you throw out, consume less plastics... we can all achieve significant positive changes.

Nine-Storey ‘Monstrosity’ Planned to Dominate Bronte Skyline

Words Anthony Maguire Photos Shannon Ruddock

Originally it was going to be just ten houses. But now a residential development in Bronte is set to become a nine-storey, 120-unit colossus thanks to a ruling by the NSW government.

The 2,472m2 site at 122-128 Hewlett Street has been deemed a ‘State Significant Development’ (SSD) by the NSW Planning Minister, overriding previous approval for ten standalone houses. Residents of the narrow, winding street are in shock over the scale of the new plans.

“Hewlett Street is too narrow and does not have enough parking, public transport or proximity to shops to support this,” says Greg Ruddock, who lives opposite. He predicts the development will be a “ninestorey monstrosity” that will dominate the landscape of the beachside suburb.

Luxury residential developer Fortis purchased the site in 2022 for a reported $44 million and proceeded to knock down the two dozen low-rise, 1960s-era units that stood there.

In late 2023, the Land and Environment Court approved the construction of ten luxury homes, each with three to four bedrooms, four bathrooms, basement parking, a private pool and gardens.

Since then, Double Bay-based Fortis has been excavating the site and local estate agents have been touting the so-called ‘Bronte Collection’ at a starting price of $13 million per unit, pitching the properties as dream homes for well-heeled downsizers. But it seems that the expected pre-sales have not eventuated, prompting Fortis to scrap the original plan and make an application to the NSW government for an apartment complex that will satisfy the state’s voracious appetite for affordable housing.

Under the proposal just green-lit by Macquarie Street, 120 apartments will be built in a two-tier structure, the front section rising four storeys and the back section nine storeys. There will be a five per cent affordable housing component. The af-

fordable housing, along with the scale of the project, is enough to have earned it State Significant Development status. The NSW government’s planning portal website says SSD declarations can be made on projects which “are important to the State for economic, environmental or social reasons.”

Having been declared an SSD project, it is outside the authority of Waverley Council, which would otherwise love to launch a legal challenge to the development. However, the developer now needs to fulfil environmental impact requirements set by the state government, which could prove challenging because one of the criteria set by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure relates to traffic, transport and accessibility.

“It would be absolute madness having such a massive development in a street where there are no pull-up zones and which can barely manage two-way traffic,” says Deputy Waverley Mayor Dr Keri Spooner.

Dr Spooner told The Beast that she and her family lived in a house on Hewlett Street back in the 1980s and ’90s - that’s where her high-profile daughter, Coogee MP Dr Marjorie O’Neill, was brought up.

“Back then the street couldn’t handle any volume of traffic and the situation is even more dire now,” she said.

“This project is completely over the top and we need to find a way of scaling it back.”

Deputy Mayor Spooner says the plans are “over the top.”

ALL ASPECTS OF TREE WORK

 Fully qualified

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

Campaign Puts a Halt to Council’s Resident Parking Plans

Clovelly locals have had a win in a campaign against a proposed resident parking scheme that could have ended up with more residents competing for limited spaces.

Last year Randwick Council surveyed locals about expanding Clovelly resident parking, which currently only applies to a handful of streets. The survey found 64 per cent were against the proposal, 30 per cent for it and six per cent undecided.

It has therefore been decided to create only 13 new resident parking spaces in just two streets - Surfside Avenue (four spots) and Thorpe Street (nine spots).

“Affected residents of Surfside Avenue and Thorpe Street will be notified two weeks prior to the installation date,” councillors resolved at a Local Transport Forum meeting.

The news that there’ll just be 13 new resident spots was welcomed by long-time Clovelly

resident Roberta Waterman, who led last year’s campaign against expansion of resident parking, distributing flyers and organising a protest meeting at Clovelly Bowling Club.

Ms Waterman told The Beast, “I am very happy that the Clovelly community overwhelmingly rejected the scheme. The approved parking restrictions will not solve parking issues on busy beach days. We will have to be vigilant about parking restriction creep in the future if we don’t want our suburb to be inundated with parking officers. We are proud that Clovelly is one of the few remaining beachside suburbs where you can park for free and we would like it to remain that way.”

She believes Randwick Council will be putting expanded resident parking on the agenda again in a few years time as more visits from outsiders lead to increased competition for existing parking spots.

New On-Demand Recycling Service Now Available for Tricky Waste Items

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Reese Saikel

Do you have an old computer or printer clogging space in a cupboard? Maybe you have some batteries that have given up the ghost, or a mass of old clothes that Vinnies would sneer at?

Waverley Council has just started an on-demand recycling service that covers a large range of items that can’t be disposed of in kerbside rubbish bins, including e-waste, batteries, vapes, soft plastics and textiles.

“We are making recycling easier by cutting through the confusion about what to do with the tricky bits and pieces we all have lying around the house,” Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh told The Beast. Council has partnered with ReSmart, a company specialising in collection of “the stuff that leaves you guessing,” according to its website. Households can book waste collections via ReSmart’s website, mobile app or over the phone.

More information and a full list of items that can be collected by ReSmart are available on Council’s website.

Waverley’s new on-demand recycling service covers e-waste and numerous other items that can’t be binned.

Coogee Dad and Daughter Honoured for Rescue

A local father and daughter who rescued a man from a massive swell at Coogee Beach were among seven people and groups who received community service awards from Randwick Council on Australia Day.

Anthony Hartcher and his 15-year-old daughter Sofia sprang into action early on New Year’s morning as Coogee was being pounded by huge seas.

“We saw two men struggling in a mass of white water,” recounted Sofia, a student at Brigidine College Randwick.

“We started bolting down the beach and I found a small boogie board. Then I gave it to Dad and he ran into the water with it.”

Mr Hartcher, 49, is an experienced lifesaver who earned his bronze medallion at 17 years of age. But it was a battle to reach the two men as he paddled towards them through a maelstrom of white water.

When he finally reached them, one man was holding the other, who appeared to have lost consciousness.

“He asked me if I knew CPR and I said ‘yes’,” Mr Hartcher recounted. “I gave him the boogie board and took hold of his mate. Then suddenly we were swamped by a huge wave.”

At that moment, Mr Hartcher lost his grip on the stricken man, who was swept away. He and the other man then fought their way back to shore.

The man who survived was a young bartender at Coogee Pavilion. Tragically, his friend Sushan Khadka was claimed by the sea and his body has not been found.

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to cover the costs of a funeral and bringing Mr Khadka’s belongings back to his native country Nepal. If you would like to contribute to the cause, please visit gofund.me/69507839a.

The Biggest Cultural and Scientific Celebration of the Ocean Returns

Replacement of Old Chambers with New Facilities to Cost $24-$30

Million

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Renn O'Vation

Waverley Council is moving forward with plans to replace its old council chambers in Bondi Road with new community facilities.

Public consultation has given a mandate for demolition of the building, which is no longer fit for purpose in its present state, and repurposing of the site as a recreation and community hub.

Four options for the future of the site, including refurbishment of the existing building, were put on public exhibition and most people favoured a plan for a multi-purpose court, flexible community rooms and café. The anticipated budget for the project is $24-$30 million.

Australian wildlife scientist and shark expert Dr Vanessa Pirotta, the 2025 NSW Premier’s Woman of Excellence, will be offering some insights in a panel discussion at the Ocean Lovers Festival in March.

Dr Pirotta, a specialist in large marine animals, is part of a panel of speakers at the Bondi festival titled Secret Conversations: Decoding the Languages of the Ocean. She’ll be offering her thoughts and taking questions on the recent spate of bull shark incidents.

Now in its sixth year, the Ocean Lovers Festival will be staging an exciting program of talks, films and events throughout March. There will be sunrise yoga with local yoga gurus Rare Studios, an icebath and breath work session with Conscious Community’s Andre Garraud and a special Sea the Weed smoking ceremony (don’t get the wrong idea, it’s all kosher).

A program of inspiring ocean films including David Attenbor-

ough’s Ocean will screen in the Pavilion from March 19, and two days of free expert panel talks have been scheduled. From insights into Indigenous Sea Country knowledge to the secret languages of sea creatures, there will be plenty to entertain and educate.

Paint & Splash, which will be held at Ravesis, will offer attendees the chance to create artworks modelled on ocean life - plus enjoy a meal washed down by a glass or two of wine.

There will also be free Silver Surfers lessons and a diving workshop, Salties Swims and Nets out Now Volleyball. Everyone is also invited to participate in the Big Bondi Beach Clean or another clean-up happening at Rose Bay.

On the weekend of March 2122 market stalls will offer food, beach fashion and local crafts, and local music acts will entertain from a sound stage.

For more information, please visit oceanloversfestival.com.

Councillors have resolved to forward the planning proposal, which seeks to rezone the site for public recreation, to the state government for gateway determination and public exhibition.

“The key design principles for the council chambers redevelopment are focused on improving connectivity and placemaking with the surrounding Waverley Park and providing much needed community and recreational facilities to locals,” said Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh.

Much-needed community facilities will replace the old chambers after rezoning.

Waverley Council Update

Mayor's Message

New on-demand recycling service

ycling easier eholds, with a new on-demand collection service for tricky waste items that can’t be placed in kerbside bins. Eligible items include ewaste, batteries, vapes, soft plastics. X-rays, aluminium coffee pods, metal cookware, paint, cosmetics, medicine blister packs, polystyrene, textiles and shoes Council has partnered with ReSmart, a collection service provider, which works with businesses that re-use or recycle the collected items. Households can book waste collections once a month via ReSmart ’s website, mobile app or over the phone, for up to 120 litres of waste. The equivalent of about eight shoeboxes or four fabric shopping bags.

For more details on how to book this service, visit Council’s website.

Have your say on shared bike parking

We are seeking community feedback on our trial of shared bike parking in Waverley.

We know shared bikes left in inappropriate locations are a regular nuisance to pedestrians and residents, and Council is committed to improving how these bikes are managed Working

with operators Lime, HelloRide a nd Ario, Council has established Restricted Parking Zones that require users to park shared bikes within the designated Council-installed areas

The trial currently includes a mix of on-street and footpath parking, accommodating approximately 500 shared bikes across Waverley. We want to hear from you on how this approach is working. Your feedback will play an important role in shaping our long-term management strategy to ensure footpaths remain safe, accessible and easy to navigate.

Consultation ends on 2 March and I urge everybody to have their say at haveyoursay.waverley.nsw.gov.au

Gardens at Bronte House Open Days

Immerse yourself in the picturesque surroundings of Waverley ’s most historic and treasured home The gardens at the heritage-listed Bronte House will be open to the public on the second weekend of March.

Ph: 9083 8000 | waverley.nsw.gov.au

Stay in touch: waverley.nsw.gov.au/subscribe

There are two lush acres of immaculate lawns and subtropical greenery to roam, abundant with vibrant flowers, and native plants thriving within Bro nte Gully Whether you’re a history buff, gardening enthusiast or just looking for some peace and quiet, I encourage you to take the opportunity to explore this spectacular cliffside oasis. The gardens will be open to the community from 10am to 2pm on Saturday 7 March and Sunday 8 March

Celebrating young art stars

Waverley Youth Art Prize is now open to artists aged nine to 18 living or studying in Sydney ’s east. This year ’s theme is “Dreaming Future Worlds”, which asks entrants to envisage surreal realms that go beyond the rules of reality, by otherworldly inventions or depicting their future dreams. Broad interpretation of this theme is encouraged, and entrants can draw on pop culture, sci-fi or sustainability for inspiration All mediums are welcome and there’s multiple prize categories. Works will be exhibited at the Waverley Library Gallery. Entries open on 9 February until 1 May. For more details see Council’s website.

William Nemesh Mayor of Waverley

Bondi Tributes to Find Permanent Home in Jewish Museum

Relief for Those Suffering From Arthritis and Joint Pain

Words Anthony Maguire

Photo Arthur Politis

Are you among the one in six Australians living with arthritis or chronic joint pain?

The Arthritis Movement, a non-profit health charity, is distributing free ‘pain packs’ containing resources to support pain management and improve quality of life.

The ocean of flowers and other tributes left for victims of the Bondi terror attack are gone, but far from forgotten.

Three days before Christmas, the tributes were removed from the front of Bondi Pavilion at the request of Waverley Council. Some said the community wasn’t ready yet, but the council wasn’t comfortable with keeping the reminders of the December 14 attack in place over the holiday period.

Meanwhile, the Jewish community had hatched plans to preserve the hundreds of memorial items for a permanent exhibition at the Sydney Jewish Museum in Darlinghurst. So a team of 30 volunteers - museum staff, members of the Australian Jewish Historical Society and council employees - loaded the items into two trucks and took them away for preservation and safekeeping.

Because the Jewish Museum was closed for renovations, the tributes were taken to two storage facilities - one in the city for the three dimensional items such as 215 stuffed toys (including 40 stuffed bees commemorating

the youngest victim, 10-yearold Matilda Bee), candles and handmade items such as crochet hearts. Floral tributes went to a warehouse in Artarmon where they were sorted and placed on drying racks. Artist Nina Sanadze has been overseeing some of these activities and is planning to create an installation called ‘Petal by Petal’.

There were also numerous handwritten messages. The Jewish Historical Society has taken charge of these and has started digitising them.

“It’s been quite a complex logistical exercise, but it’s important that these expressions of love are not forgotten and that we honour the 15 lives lost and the bravery shown in the attack,” says Shannon Biederman, senior curator with the Jewish Museum.

A gallery dedicated to the terror attack will have a prominent place in the museum when it reopens in early 2027 and some of the items will be set aside for a travelling exhibition.

All this is contingent on funding, so if you’re interested in contributing, please email the museum at admin@sjm.com.au.

There are hot and cold therapy products, resistance bands, squeeze balls and information guides offering strategies for exercise, weight management and mindfulness. Nutrition is another important aspect of pain management and the packs contain advice about anti-inflammatory foods such as fatty fish, nuts, whole grains and legumes, with recipes drawn from the scientifically-proven ‘Mediterranean diet’.

“The pain pack helps people discover practical strategies they can use every day to feel more in control of their pain,” said The Arthritis Movement’s CEO, Michelle Devoy.

“We know many people are living with arthritis pain and may not realise this support is available.”

To get hold of a pain pack, please visit arthritis.org.au or email info@arthritis.org.au.

A real pain in the... joints.

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

Randwick News

Autumn is here, bringing cooler days and crisp mornings and, of course, plenty of fallen leaves.

If you’re clearing leaves from your garden, roof or gutters this season, remember to place them in your green-lid Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) bin. Leaves and other organic material swept into the streets wash into stormwater drains, which can end up in our beaches.

By keeping our gardens and homes tidy, we can also help protect our beautiful coastline and ocean.

Thanks to your ongoing FOGO efforts, we’re diverting an average of 1,200 tonnes of organic waste every month away from landfill and our waterways. (If you need more FOGO liners for your food scraps, you can order them for free online Council’s website.)

This year, we will be starting works to divert stormwater away from Coogee Beach. It’s a significant project that will improve water quality for beachgoers and swimmers.

Together, we can reduce waste, protect our environment and keep our community clean.

What’s On

COOGEE NIGHTS

WEDNESDAY 4 AND 18 MARCH

5.30 – 9 pm Coogee Bay Road

MAROUBRA BEACH MARKETS

SATURDAY 7 MARCH

8 am – 2 pm

Broadarrow Reserve

SATURDAY CIRCLE

SATURDAY 14 MARCH

10 am – 12 pm

Randwick Sustainability Hub

HEFFRON PARK MARKETS

SUNDAY 15 MARCH

8 am – 2 pm

Undercover Netball Stadium

THE SPOT FESTIVAL SUNDAY 22 MARCH

1 – 8 pm

The Spot, Randwick

Councillor Dylan Parker Mayor of Randwick

Crime News

Bondi Teacher Plotted Child Abuse Offences With Randwick Man - Police

Bondi school teacher Peter Adam and Randwick tech consultant Todd Soulas have been accused of plotting horrific child abuse offences.

Police say that messages exchanged between the pair discussed plans to drug, photograph and sexually assault two children.

Soulas, 35, was the first to be arrested after police raided his Randwick unit. He was charged with 23 offences including procuring a child under 14 for unlawful sex, aggravated sexual assault of a person under 16 and possession of child abuse material.

Police seized three phones and say a trail of messages led to 63-year-old Adam, a seemingly respectable married man employed at the prestigious International Grammar School in Ultimo. It’s alleged that the two intended victims were children known to Adam.

Both men are behind bars after being denied bail. Adam has been charged with two counts of inciting a person to commit aggravated sexual assault plus one count of using a carriage service to solicit child

abuse material. He has been stood down from his teaching position.

Canine Hero Scares Off Burglars

A dog saved its owners from being burgled when its barking raised the alarm and scared three intruders away.

The three masked men, one armed with a machete, had got into the backyard of the property in Darley Road, Randwick at around 2am after one scaled a fence and opened a gate to let in the other two.

But after the dog started barking, the three made an abrupt exit. Later, the homeowners were shocked to see on CCTV how the men had been wearing hoodies and masks, with one holding a lethal-looking machete.

Dog Act

Agile burglars are using dog doors to get into homes.

A posting on the Maroubra Community Facebook page said, “I wanted to share with the community that we were broken into through our dog door in South Coogee. When police attended, they indicated this is an increasing way of entry for burglars so please be careful.”

Support Worker Stalker

A court has heard how Maroubra man Jason Cornish bombarded a woman with 50 photos in two hours, sent defamatory emails to her work contacts and an intimate image to a holiday

company. He also hung around outside her home.

Cornish, a 52-year-old support worker, was arrested and charged with intimidation, recording an image without consent and distributing an image without consent. When he fronted court for a bail application, police said they held “extreme fears” for the safety of his victim.

However, the magistrate allowed bail on strict conditions including reporting daily to police, keeping to a curfew and not contacting the complainant or anyone associated with her work.

Man Had Multiple IDs and Bank Cards - Police

Police investigating mail and parcel thefts raided the home of a 39-year-old Maroubra man, seizing 12 identification and bank cards plus other allegedly stolen property. He was taken to Maroubra police station where he was charged with three stolen property offences. Bail was refused.

New Year’s Day Assault Suspect

Do you know this bloke? Police want to talk to him about the assault of a man in the Bondi Junction Bus Interchange in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

The 3.30am attack, which left the victim with a face injury, is said to have occurred at bus stop stand A after a “heated exchange” between the pair.

Anyone with information is urged to call CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.

The Beast Magazine wants your local photos...

A

Day

in the Life of Mr Jenkins

Words Kieran Blake - kieranblakewriter.org

Once upon a time lived Mr Jenkins. Mr Jenkins enjoyed walking his dog, fishing and drinking a cool beverage while watching his favourite football team. One could argue his was a contented life.

Until one day.

This day started like many others. Mr Jenkins rose early, put on his uniform and affixed his name badge. He then reported to the offices of Randwick City Council where he worked as a parking inspector.

Mr Jenkins found a rare satisfaction in his job. He appreciated the exercise his role demanded, and he savoured both the hustle and bustle of commercial centres and the tranquillity of the parks and beaches. Checking vehicles and parking meters also offered a

certainty and regularity that appealed to his sensibilities.

Until this day.

“Jenkins, a word,” called his supervisor, Mr Simpkins.

Mr Jenkins hoped the interaction would be brief. He planned to mark the end of his shift by watching his favourite football team while enjoying the beverage he had placed in the fridge that morning.

Mr Simpkins closed his office door.

“Jenkins, it is no doubt apparent to you that the new Clovelly parking meters, which fall within your purview, were installed at great expense to the council, and thus the ratepayer,” he said.

“Yes, Mr Simpkins.”

“And their installation, Jenkins, caused substantial

inconvenience to said ratepayers, for what was a considerable duration.”

“Yes Sir.”

“Need I also remind you, Jenkins, of the robust accusations of visual pollution and loss of amenity levelled at the parking meters upon their approval, and indeed to this very day.”

“No, Mr Simpkins.”

“And an employee of your vast experience, Jenkins, would no doubt be conscient that it is incumbent upon these parking meters, and the system of which they are an integral component, to recuperate said cost and henceforth generate revenue for the council.”

“That’s correct, Mr Simpkins.”

“Then pray tell, Jenkins, why our esteemed accounts department informed me of the failure of these meters to generate any meaningful revenue since their installation.”

“Exemptions, sir.”

“Please elaborate.”

“Too many people have parking exemptions. Clovelly residents get exemptions. Baby Boomers always have exemptions, and young people can’t afford to live in Clovelly…”

“…Diligence and sacrifice, Jenkins, diligence and sacrifice… but I digress.”

“Yes sir. Tradies also somehow get exemptions and every second house is being renovated, and most renovations add off-street parking - so most residents give their parking permit to friends and relatives.”

“I see Jenkins.”

“And you don’t even have to pay at the beach, unless the clubbies rattle the tin.”

“So, why, Jenkins, were the meters ever installed?”

“Good question sir.”

Mr Jenkins went home, opened the fridge, and turned on the TV.

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.

The Unreliable Guide to... Men in Grey Suits

Words Nat Shepherd Photo Paul Gallen

The Unreliable Guide has been looking at the ocean in a whole new way lately. That spate of shark related deaths and injuries back in January was like something from a horror film, and I can’t imagine the pain of losing a loved one in such a traumatic way. But can this be it for me and the wide blue sea? Those who promote the Shark Smart philosophy (and their excellent app) would suggest that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. We can work with these mysterious beasts of the deep rather than fearing or destroying them. So, if like me you’ve been hearing the Jaws theme tune every time you look at the water, The Unreliable Guide has some tips and tricks on how to get smart about sharks…

Why

Are

Sharks So Scary

(Even When They’re Not)?

I think sharks terrify us not because they are everywhere, but because they are almost never there… until they are.

Unlike snakes or spiders, they don’t share our backyards, kitchens or shoes. They wait offshore, in a blue that looks empty until it isn’t. They also have the cheek to violate our comfortable illusion that we are top of the food chain. On land, we’ve pretty much nailed that. We’ve hunted to extinction (or near extinction) all the things that want to eat us. We have guns, fire, and houses with flyscreens. But swimming or surfing in the ocean, we are just soft little mammals who can’t breathe underwater. Sharks rudely remind us of our vulnerability, plus there’s also the design problem. Predators like lions and tigers are mammals like us, so similar we think their cubs are cute. By contrast, most sharks look like a nightmare drawn by a nervous child - all angles and purpose with a face that forgot to practise smiling. Their beady fish eyes don’t blink like we do or look soulful the way a dolphin can. And

because sharks can’t scream or flail or look sorry, we project onto them everything we fear about nature’s indifference. And of course, cinema hasn’t helped us overcome our species prejudice. That classic two-note soundtrack from Jaws still lives in our spinal cords, increasing in volume whenever the water gets murky.

The Real Dangers

Despite the fact that a place selling ice creams has no business killing anyone, our beaches have never been safe. And forget the sharks, it’s the water that’s out to get you. Sharks kill on average three people a year in Australia, while roughly 82 of us drown at the beach due to rips, wild weather, etc. If we survive the ocean, we’ll lie on the sand for hours, slow cooking like a rotisserie chicken and ignoring the fact that two in three Australians will get skin cancer in their lifetime. If that statistic doesn’t freak you out, here’s another one: skin cancer kills about 1,500 Aussies a year. Based on current averages it would take the sharks 500 years to achieve that hit rate. But we are much more comfortable fearing fate or nature than questioning our own habits. We let the slow, familiar dangers wander through our lives unchallenged, like relatives who stay too long but don’t technically break anything.

Finally, maybe we should take a leaf out of Hawaiian tradition, where certain sharks are viewed as ‘aumākua - ancestral guardian spirits that protect families and signal spiritual connection. Or if that doesn’t float your surfboard, think of this - sharks were here first. They started cruising the oceans around 400-450 million years ago, predating trees, dinosaurs and the rings of Saturn. Respect due.

Slow Cooked Chilli Con Carne

The origin of chilli con carne is thought to be Texas (just ask the Texans), although other parts of the world have adopted and adapted this supremely tasty dish, a generous bowl that’s textural and rich, with plenty of spice and complexity.

Whether you include beans or not (I believe it’s integral), or serve it with rice, tortilla chips or even charred corn, this recipe is sure to be a people pleaser with it’s intense flavour and sense of fun in eating.

This cut of beef requires slow cooking for tenderness, and there’s a hefty list of ingredients, so it does take some time, but the adulation from your dining companions will make it well worth the effort.

Ingredients (Serves 6)

1.5kg, chuck steak, diced

2 tbs extra virgin olive oil (for browning beef)

1 tsp sea salt

½ tsp black pepper

1 brown onion, diced

1 red capsicum, seeds removed, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbs fresh ginger, grated

400gm tin black beans, drained 300ml beef stock

3 tbs tomato paste

400gm tinned tomatoes

1 tsp onion powder

1 ½ tsp cayenne pepper

1½ tbs smoked paprika

1½ tsp ground cumin

20gm dark chocolate, cut into small pieces

3 sprigs fresh thyme

2 tbs plain flour (for thickening)

To serve with the chilli

1½ cups Manchego, grated

Guacamole (2 avocadoes, ¼ lime, ¼ tsp sea salt)

1 cup sour cream

Fresh coriander, chopped, leave some stems on

2 jalapeños, finely chopped

1 large packet tortilla chips

Steamed rice

Wedges of lime

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 160˚C degrees Celsius, fan forced.

2. To brown the beef, place a crockpot on the stove, set to medium heat and add the olive oil. Add in the diced beef, salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes until the beef is nicely browned. Remove the beef into a separate bowl and keep the pot on the heat.

3. Add in the onion, garlic, capsicum and ginger and sauté until well softened (4 minutes). Turn the heat down if it starts to brown.

4. Add in the stock and scrape the mixture from the bottom and sides of the pot. Return the beef to the pot, add in the tinned tomatoes, tomato paste and beans.

5. Add in the spices (onion powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, cumin and fresh thyme), followed by the dark chocolate.

6. Combine well with a spatula, place on a heavy lid and put the crockpot into the oven to slow cook for 4 hours, stirring occasionally.

7. In the last hour, add the flour and stir well to combine, this will thicken the sauce and finish if off nicely.

8. Remove from the oven and serve with the manchego, guacamole, sour cream, fresh coriander, rice and tortilla chips, wedges of lime and fresh jalapeños. Napkins at the ready, enjoy!

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.

Remembering Rob Hirst

Words Dr Marjorie O’Neill, Member for Coogee

Photo Shorty Memory

Although Midnight Oil achieved international fame, it remains a proudly Australian rock band formed in Sydney during the 1970s. There would be very few people living in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, particularly those growing up in and around Coogee from the 1980s and well into the 2000s, who have not loved and rocked to their music including the ‘Sydney anthem’ Power and the Passion (1982) and Indigenous collaboration Gadigal Land (2020). Midnight Oil is one of the best, if not the greatest, Australian rock bands of all time.

It was fitting and truly Australian that the band’s lead singer, Peter Garrett, was elected to represent our area as the Member for Kingsford Smith from 2004-13. His law degree aside, Garrett’s appointment as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts was seen by many as a reflection of the powerful environmental and social justice messages of the band’s music. Midnight Oil did not just produce brilliant music but used their cultural influence

to support and advance progressive causes in Australia. Songs including The Dead Heart and Beds are Burning were not just great musically and lyrically, but also drew worldwide attention to the plight of Indigenous Australians.

Like many others, I was extremely saddened to hear just weeks ago of the death of Oils drummer Rob Hirst at the untimely age of 70. Rob was a victim of pancreatic cancer, an awful disease that I and many others in our community are all too familiar with. Rob and the Oils had only just hung up the drum kit and guitars. He was a founding member of the band and contributed significantly to songwriting, harmonised and sang backing vocals, and even played guitar on occasion! A powerful innovative drummer, he was also the absolute engine room of the band, creating the necessary energy and driving the band forward in songs of great depth, meaning and passion.

Rob was a major contributor to some of Australia’s best ever rock music. The themes and causes that Rob and Midnight Oil sang about and championed are timeless. Peter Garrett spoke of the sadness of his passing but of the enormous joy his music brought to so many, providing ‘a tiny glimmer of light in the wilderness’. Here in Sydney’s east there is clear evidence that we cherish our environment, our planet and our First Nations peoples, as well as our healthcare, education and dignity at work for all Australians. Rob supported and stood up for all of these principles and many more. He knew it was ‘better to die on your feet than live on your knees’. No one can forget his contribution to that great song Power and the Passion.

We will all miss Rob and the energy, power and passion he and his bandmates brought to Australia and the world, yet we can still hear his cry for social

justice for our First Nations peoples in Beds are Burning. What made Rob so extraordinary was that his commitment to justice didn’t end when he stepped off the stage. He lived those values in the quiet moments too - in the way he spoke to young musicians, in the way he listened to First Nations leaders, in the way he treated the planet as something sacred rather than disposable. For Rob, music was never just entertainment, it was a vehicle for truth telling, for shaking people awake, for reminding us that this country is at its best when it stands up for those who need it most. That spirit didn’t fade with time; if anything it grew stronger, and it inspired generations who never saw the Oils play at Selina’s or the Coogee Bay but still felt the pulse of Rob’s drums urging them toward something better. Maybe that’s why his passing, while deeply felt, leaves behind more light than darkness. Pancreatic cancer has the highest death rate of all major cancers, often caught far too late. Since my father Brian O’Neill died from this insidious disease almost seven years ago, we have worked to raise money for research into pancreatic cancer. On March 14 we will be hosting our annual dinner, with all funds raised going to research at the Phillips Foundation UNSW. Please scan the QR code to find out more, and please support however you can.

BRING YOUR BILL DAY

Do you need help with household bills?

Connect with government services, local councils, water, energy providers, insurers and more, to go over your household bills and see where savings or support might be available.

Friday March 20th 10am - 2pm

Randwick Town Hall, 90 Avoca Street Register for free by scanning the QR code.

Doing the hard work.

Staying Focused

Words Allegra Spender, Member for Wentworth

Photo Val Lews

School uniforms are back in the wash, the holidays feel like they were a lifetime ago and Parliament has returned - all signs that the year is well and truly underway. To everyone in Wentworth, I want to wish you a 2026 filled with joy.

Looking at the year ahead of us, I’ve been reflecting on what you’ve asked me to focus on as your local representative. I’ll be honest, it hasn’t been easy to make sense of everything while still processing a period that has been incredibly difficult locally and tumultuous nationally and globally.

Locally, the deep trauma of the terrorist attack in Bondi is still so raw. Fifteen precious lives were lost due to violent antisemitic hatred - this has devastated our community and left permanent scars. Many of us are also grieving the recent passing of 12-year-old Nico Antic, who we tragically lost while he was doing something familiar to so many of us, enjoying our harbour with friends.

During what has been a deeply painful time, we have seen people come together to support one another in ways both big and small. It has been a reminder of the strength of our community. Yet recent national and global news reminds us how fragile this cohesion is. It is against this backdrop that we must get

honest about the step change we must undertake to preserve it. This is one of the biggest concerns I’ve heard from people across Wentworth, particularly as the Bondi attack and the terrorist attack in Perth have made it clear that social cohesion isn’t something that we can assume will hold - we must actively pursue it.

In Parliament, I will continue to push for policies that address national security concerns as well as the rise in extremism and radicalisation. I raised this directly with the Prime Minister during Question Time in January and will continue to keep the pressure up. But I also think that we will not be able to just legislate this issue away.

Our social fabric is built on all the small moments - our conversations around the dinner table, chats at the pub, at the school gates, in our surf clubs, boardriders clubs and community groups. We are wonderfully diverse as a community and that is our strength, but it also holds challenges as we navigate inevitable differences.

This doesn’t mean avoiding disagreement or shying away from the hard conversations. In fact, it’s the opposite. We need to be able to disagree strongly, to find solutions or at least some common ground, and commit to moving forward as a community. Failing to have these conversations ourselves risks others having them on our behalf.

Our social cohesion is also why I am continuing to push hard for tax reform, because economic growth, fairness and opportunity are essential to holding our society together. When people feel the system isn’t working for them and they don’t have hope for the future, populism and grievance politics take root.

That’s why I’m so concerned hearing the same issues repeated by our community; that younger Australians are falling behind,

businesses are struggling, productivity is stagnating and the energy transition is happening too slowly to protect our climate and is far too expensive.

Tax is an undercurrent of all these issues, so if we are serious about action and protecting our social cohesion we must have the courage to rethink the settings. I am glad to see the Treasurer has listened and announced that tax reform will be at the top of the budget agenda. Now he must deliver. I will be keeping a close eye on the government’s announcements and will also be releasing a body of tax policy work in the coming months as a follow up to my Tax Green Paper.

Another priority you’ve asked me to focus on, particularly with the Royal Commission into the Bondi attack soon kicking off, is ensuring the government actually acts on the recommendations it receives. Too often, reports are handed down with clear, evidence-based recommendations and are then allowed to gather dust. We’ve seen this with Peta Murphy’s gambling reform report and with the Domestic Violence Rapid Review, both of which set out recommendations but are yet to receive a full response. This is not good enough, and I will keep the pressure up. There is clearly a lot ahead of us this year and more will no doubt emerge as it unfolds. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share concerns with me, especially over the past few months that have been so difficult. I look forward to representing Wentworth in Canberra for another year and engaging with our community on the issues that matter to you.

Our democracy is only ever as strong as the people who participate in it. So please keep using your voice, keep asking me the hard questions and keep engaging with my office - and, even more importantly, with one another. That is what will hold us together.

It is a privilege to represent Wentworth in Canberra for another year. Heading into 2026, I want to hear what matters to you. Please reach out to my office with any feedback or come say hello at an upcoming event.

Cast From Opposite Shores

Words and Photos Lewis Kennedy-Hunt

Living near the beach, we can all appreciate the rejuvenative qualities of the ocean. The salty air and the champagne water is pure bliss and something that is hard to go without once it becomes part of the routine. After five days straight of dusty and sticky inland driving, these were the things on our minds as we broke sight of the ocean in the tiny coastal town of Mangily on the western shores of Madagascar. It was postcard perfect, the arvo sun painting a canvas of oily colours on the glass water as we saw the day out from the shoreline. Balsa wood canoes lined the beach in front of a few small hotels, and locals hung out chilling and chatting among the coconut trees. We’d stumbled upon paradise.

What was less obvious to us at first, concealed behind the idyllic veneer of the sleepy town, was a darker reality of genuine desperation at play. In the few months prior to our arrival in Madagascar political tensions had reached a tipping point and widespread protests erupted, driven by frustration over chronic shortages of water and electricity and deeper historic grievances with the government.

This saw the president fleeing the country in fear of his life while the military assumed power. Eighty per cent of tourist bookings were cancelled amid the uncertainty, reducing the steady flow of visitors to a trickle. Charlotte and I decided to go anyway, taking the chorus of media warnings with a grain of salt.

In Mangily this impact was more palpable than other places we had visited. With far fewer visitors - the lifeblood of the small local economy - there was an obvious air of despair amongst locals. On the first morning we decided to take a relaxing walk down the beach but soon acquired an entourage of 15 people virtually hanging off us trying to sell us everything and anything. Young kids butted heads in competition to sell us coconuts and women started kneading our shoulders in hopes of giving us a massage. Hessian bags filled with souvenirs and trinkets were thrust into view and a rainbow of sarongs waved in the wind before us. We had become accustomed to these sales tactics by this point in the trip and found it comical at the time, despite the chaos

undermining the serenity of the location. It was easy to become frustrated and dismissive, but we had to remind ourselves of the deeper issues involved and made an effort to buy a few coconuts and some souvenirs to bring back to Australia.

The following day we had a morning swim and once again became very popular very quickly. One particular bloke introduced himself as 25-year-old fisherman ‘Fidi’. He proposed that he and his brother would dive for some lobsters and catch some fish and then cook them over the coals for us to enjoy at sunset for a small fee. We sensed that this was one of those rare and authentic opportunities and knew that we couldn’t pass it up, especially being a 25-year-old fisherman myself!

We met Fidi at sunset and brought with us a bottle of sweet Malagasi wine. We sat on a balsa wood canoe while he tended to the fish and lobster over the coals, dowsing it with spices and vinaigrette. I told him we were from Australia and that I too was a fisherman, although it was obvious that the crude handmade vessels and rugged, ad-hoc sails he used were very different from the modern conveniences I knew at home. Despite the language barrier, we still managed to salvage some sort of mutual understanding for one another and left with our stomachs and hearts full. It was an experience that opened our eyes just that little bit more to the world and a place that we will both never forget.

The Beast Supercross

ACROSS

1. Australian actress known for her role in Bridesmaids (4,5)

7. Runner up in this year’s Australian Tennis Open, ... Djokovic (5)

8. Seasoned fatty pork or beef sausage (6)

9. Making perfect or complete (6)

10. Jet of vapour (5)

13. Spear used in athletic field event (7)

16. Sharp, hooked claw (5)

18. Dishonest scheme to gain fraudulently (4)

19. Occurring every other year (8)

20. Organ for hearing (3)

Trivial Trivia

21. Cool box (4)

22. Bearded garden decoration (5)

DOWN

1. Richest person in Australia, Gina ... (8)

2. Learned person (6)

3. Two-piece bathing suit (6)

4. To move upwards (4)

5. Overshadow (7)

6. Italian spirit made with herbs and spices (7)

11. Island in the Persian Gulf (7)

12. Bechamel sauce with cheese (6)

14. Chinese fruit (6)

15. Italian number (6)

17. Spanish goodbye (5)

1. Do dates grow on lacquer, oak or palm trees?

2. What is the French town of Roquefort famous for?

3. In which Austrian city was Mozart born?

4. Who sang Grammy winning song of the year ‘Wildflower’?

5. Ghana was previously known as Silverton, Seborga or Gold Coast?

6. Which gas makes your voice sound squeaky when inhaled?

7. Which Olympic sport involves sliding face-first down an icy track?

8. What is the term for a word that is the same spelled backwards?

9. What vitamin is primarily produced when human skin is exposed to sunlight?

10. What type of creature is a minnow?

Fackham Hall

Genre Comedy

Reviewer Linda Heller-Salvador

British aristocracy gets a light-hearted spoofing in this seriously ludicrous Downton Abbey-style period comedy that was co-created by brothers Jimmy (8 out of 10 Cats) and Patrick Carr (Brotherhood).

Lord (Damian Lewis) and Lady (Katherine Waterson) Davenport must marry off one of their daughters to ensure the ancestral home remains in the family. But when the adult orphan, Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe), appears on the scene, all plans are thrown into absurd comedy chaos.

With over 270 snappy one-liners, slapstick clichés, sight-gags, pop culture references and rib-tickling innuendos, there’s barely time to breathe before the next wave of unapologetically silly humour hits. And if you’re a lover of double entendres, absurd witticisms, Monty Python and Mel Brooks humour, as well as the opulent grandeur of period dramas, then you’ll totally get Fackham Hall’s farcical humour. If you’re looking for more incentive to see this, keep an eye on the background and you’ll be rewarded with an extra array of giggle-inducing details hidden in plain view. A mustsee for those with a childish sense of humour.

Joyce Manor I Used to Go to This Bar

Label Epitaph

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

Traditionally the domain of hormone addled teenagers looking to blow off steam, pop-punk often has an air of disposability, but Joyce Manor brings a touch of sophistication to the genre. All the hooks, but they’ve read some books. Previously, I’ve found their albums a little dull in parts, but at a tickle over 19 minutes I Used to Go to This Bar is as lean and refined as a perfectly cooked eye fillet, served with one roast potato and a baby carrot, by a heavily accented waiter who may or may not be trying to seduce both you and your partner.

Zach Bryan With Heaven On Top

Label Warner Records

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

Enjoying a country star’s music can be fraught with danger. One minute you’re tapping your toes to a catchy, heartfelt ballad, next their face is on the news liberally dropping the N-word and endorsing Trump. Zach Bryan is not that guy (I hope). Think Ed Sheeran, but straight up country. With Heaven on Top is surprisingly anti-establishment (‘Bad News’) and awash with tales of heartbreak, too much liquor and frequent references to a loyal dog. He does have a dog. Two, in fact. One’s a rescue, so you know he’s a good guy and it’s safe to enjoy his music (I hope).

Softcult When a Flower Doesn’t Grow

Label EASY LIFE ENT

Reviewer @aldothewriter

Rating

Shoegaze is not for everyone. You certainly want to have some decent wheels if you’re into it. With most kids wearing Crocs these days, I shudder to think what must be going through their heads as they stare into the musty holes of society’s cultural decline. At least a flower may grow if their toes are dirty enough and they spend some time in the sun, but Softcult are a band for a dark room. That’s not to say they’re dreary. When they steer towards the heavier end of their spectrum, in their look up and yell at the sky moments, it gets really good.

Star Signs

Visions Beardy from Hell

Taurus Apr 21-May 21

Stop going on about your new ‘community’. Real community can’t be manufactured; it needs to develop naturally over time.

Gemini May 22-Jun 21

When you or your partner’s hair looks like tiny little people walking (illegally) on Uluru, it’s probably time to shave it all off.

Cancer Jun 22-Jul 22

You’re always going to be disappointed if you expect your mates to care as much about your life

Leo Jul 23-Aug 22

Despite your aversion to pseudoscientific nonsense, your mood is primarily determined by moon phases, whether you like it or not.

Virgo Aug 23-Sep 23

Your compulsive lying serves an evolutionary purpose and will get easier as your brain’s emotional response dulls with repetition.

Libra Sep 24-Oct 23

If your hourly rate is less than what you’d pay to have an hour off, then you should either charge more or just take the time off.

Scorpio Oct 24-Nov 22

You only have the sunk-cost fallacy to thank for your long-lasting relationship. And maybe a crippling fear of being alone.

Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21

If you need to rely on religious beliefs and sacred texts to define right and wrong, then you should probably just keep doing that.

Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 20

Your annoying tendency to laugh at everything is a psychological defense mechanism to manage anxiety, stress and awkwardness.

Aquarius Jan 21-Feb 19

Your wardrobe is about ten years behind where you currently are in life. Don’t wait for the sales; do something about it, now.

Trivial Trivia Solutions