Newsletter – May 2025

CONTENTS

TWO LIVES: Beverlie & Midget (Bernard) Farrelly.
PRESIDENT’S AGM REPORT – MAY 2025
EROSION ON THE BEACHFRONT ON OCEAN RD AT PALM BEACH
VISIT TO PARLIAMENT HOUSE
Sign the Petition for a Fully Public Northern Beaches Hospital
NORTHERN BEACHES COUNCIL “HAVE YOUR SAY”
MEMORIALS & NAMING HONOURS POLICY
UPCOMING EVENTS
WARRINGAH AND PITTWATER GARDEN HERITAGE
AVALON LIBRARY – AUTHOR TALK
AVALON BEACH PROBUS CLUB (ABLPC)
CHANGE OF DATES FOR JUNE & AUGUST COFFEE MEETINGS

So much of our focus recently has been on development, infrastructure, Council and State Govt issues so it was a refreshing change to listen to two presentations this month focussing on history, culture and people!

At the recent AGM our Secretary and historian Robert Mackinnon was “in conversation with” Beverlie Farrelly on the topic: Two Lives: Beverlie & Midget (Bernard) Farrelly.

Midget was Australia’s first international surfing champion and a complex and multi-faceted man, far more than a stereotypical surfer. Beverlie was by his side through all his successes.

Beverlie’s family was among the many who came to settle in Avalon after WWII and in fact the family lived for a while in a tent at the base of the sand dunes.
It was such an interesting, engaging conversation that we plan to hold “Conversation No 2” at a Coffee Meeting later this year particularly for those who were unable to attend the AGM.

At the recent informal Coffee Meeting we welcomed guest speaker Margot Riley, a cultural historian with a special interest in popular culture, photography and dress. Margot works on research, acquisitions and interpretation at the State Library of NSW.

Her engaging, humorous and interesting presentation included a collection of photos, articles and letters.

The topic was “PIX MAGAZINE: PALM BEACH EXPOSE – Exposing the hedonistic lifestyle of Sydney socialites at Palm Beach in the 1930’s” which appeared in the first edition. The article was designed to shock, entertain, inform and to titillate readers with sensationalist reporting about the carefree, hedonistic summer lifestyle at Palm Beach.

Guest speaker Margot Riley from the State Library of NSW.

PIX Magazine was launched in January 1938 and was the first Australian news pictorial magazine. It was ahead of its time and the first edition was an overnight success and sold out completely.

Margot has kindly provided links to further information and photos as follows –

OPENBOOK ARTICLE: SUMMER 2024: ‘A magazine like a newsreel’,
https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/magazine-newsreel

PHOTOSERIES: ON 388/Box 030/Item 092: Palm Beach, 6 Jan 1938 / by Ray Olson: 55 negatives: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-469385139

Some of the 45 attendees.

PIX MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Pix. Vol. 1 No.1, 29 January 1938, pp. 5-7: ‘They Pay up to 25 Gns. a Week for Houses — But You Can Live in a Garage for £6 a …’ :
http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-469385139

Click below for the first two pages of the Palm Beach story which are missing from the Library’s copy of PIX so not accessible online as part of the PIX set on Trove (Jan 1938-Dec 1954):
https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-389050162

Palm Beach was promoted by PIX as Australia’s Miami. The sensationalist article explained that people came from all over and stayed, not only in houses, but in tents, in garages and on boats. Shockingly people wore shorts, some swimwear was “inappropriate”, people drank alcohol using their car boot as a bar and played records on record players which they took to the beach!

Interestingly, as sunbaking became more and more popular PIX regularly warned readers about the dangers of sun exposure.

A sincere thank you to both Beverlie and Margot for their wonderful talks.

PRESIDENT’S AGM REPORT – MAY 2025

The AGM was held at Club Palm Beach on 13th May.
The President welcomed more than 40 members and introduced the Committee for 2025 which remains much the same.
Virginia Christensen has retired as one of the two vice-presidents but will remain on the Committee with Gordon Lang taking her place. We welcome Dr Paul Sanders to the Committee.

The Association’s main aim is to is to preserve and protect the natural environment, residential character, and beauty of Palm Beach and Whale Beach and to advocate for responsible development that respects and upholds the area’s conservation values. We have been doing this proudly for 107 years — a truly remarkable achievement for a community group. However, this task is becoming increasingly difficult, due to the New South Wales State Government (NSWG) taking over planning powers from Councils, and the Northern Beaches Council’s (NBC) failure to properly enforce the Local Environmental Plan (LEP).

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT.

CLICK HERE FOR UPDATES FROM THE PRESIDENT SINCE THE AGM RE:

• 15 Ocean Rd Development
• NB Hospital
• IPART Special Rates Variation

Article on the AGM and Beverlie’ s talk click here: Pittwater Online News

EROSION ON THE BEACHFRONT ON OCEAN RD AT PALM BEACH

We have alerted Council to the erosion which has been observed and is causing concern along Ocean Rd beachfront.
Council’s engineers are investigating three avenues –

• Private stormwater infrastructure in the vicinity (Environmental / Building Compliance team)
• Stormwater pooling on Ocean Road and drainage (Transport for NSW State Road)
• Sand and Dune movement / erosion (Coast and Catchments team)

Erosion along Ocean Rd

VISIT TO PARLIAMENT HOUSE

This month a group of Committee Members visited Parliament House at the invitation of our local member, Jacqui Scruby. After watching an hour of Question Time (not the most edifying of experiences!) we had morning tea with Jacqui in her office.

She is located on a corridor housing the Independent MPs and her office is a real workplace with no wasted time! She is thoroughly involved with local issues and we were able to discuss the following matters with her: Northern Beaches Hospital; Governor Phillip Park and Barrenjoey Headland; Coastal Walkway; E-Bikes and the State Government Inquiry; the Planning Process; Tobacco Shops

We will certainly continue to brief her on our members’ views and we are delighted that she is taking such an active part in attempts to solve some of the problems we have in Pittwater.

Not content with admiring the beautiful old building that houses our State Parliament, we were delighted to find that there is a direct connection with our newest Committee Member. Dr Paul Sanders found a photograph of his grandfather on the board commemorating MPs in the 1938 Parliament. He was E.L. Sanders, MP for Willoughby.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE PBWBA SUBMISSION TO THE NB HOSPITAL ENQUIRY.

Sign the Petition for a Fully Public Northern Beaches Hospital

NORTHERN BEACHES COUNCIL “HAVE YOUR SAY”

MEMORIALS & NAMING HONOURS POLICY

Click here: memorials-and-naming-honours-policy

The draft Memorials and Naming Honours Policy (the draft Policy) provides the Community a way to honour, celebrate or recognise the historical, cultural, environmental, social or community significance of an individual, event or location.

The draft Policy, once adopted, will replace the 3 existing memorial-related policies from the former Councils and the current Naming our Reserves, Roads and Facilities Policy. The draft Policy:

• integrates the memorial and naming policies to provide a consistent, equitable and transparent process
• supports meaningful, respectful and discrete ways to accommodate memorials, including memorial trees and seats, at suitable public spaces on Council land
• adheres to relevant NSW Geographical Names Board policies and procedures when naming a reserve, facility or road.

Submissions close: Sun 22 Jun 2025

For Pittwater Ward Councillor Korzy’s report of the last Council Meeting held on 20 May please
click here: From The Council Chamber May 2025

UPCOMING EVENTS

WARRINGAH AND PITTWATER GARDEN HERITAGE

Saturday 7 June 11am – 1pm The Annex, Dunbar Park, Avalon Beach. Free.

All are welcome to attend this special talk on significant local heritage gardens presented by expert Stuart Read, Chair, Sydney Branch of the Australian Garden History Society. Stuart is a landscape architect focusing on garden history, cultural landscapes and dry stone walls.

The talk is presented by the Avalon Armchair Gardeners club. No charge to attend.

Enquiries: Fran Colley 0468 959 078 francescolley@me.com

AVALON LIBRARY – AUTHOR TALK

Michael Robotham in conversation with Sandie Docker about his new book “The White Crow”. Click here for further info: Avalon Library Michael Robotham Author Talk

• Tuesday July 1 2025 at 5.45pm till 8pm Room 4 Avalon Rec Centre
• Cost $10 Book online click here Try Booking – Robotham
  or call Avalon Library ph 8495 5080

AVALON BEACH PROBUS CLUB (ABLPC)

Avalon Beach Ladies Probus Club meets on the first Tuesday of the month at Club Palm Beach at 10am. New members are very welcome.

Probus clubs are non-political, non-fundraising, and non-sectarian, focusing on keeping members’ minds active and expanding their interests and are for fun and friendship.

In July they are planning a visit to the Glen Street Theatre to see the Concert edition of “Carousel”.
Also in July local historian Jeff Searl, OAM will be presenting a talk on his trip to Tasmania on the Endeavour.

ABLPC has a book club, a knit and natter group and coffee mornings each month. Please call June Huston, Secretary for more information on 0439745302.

CHANGE OF DATES FOR JUNE & AUGUST COFFEE MEETINGS

We’ve had requests to occasionally hold coffee meetings on Tuesdays so those who have commitments on Mondays can attend.

We welcome any suggestions or recommendations for guest speakers.

Please note the following dates –

TUESDAY JUNE 24th

MONDAY JULY 28th – Guest speaker from AvPals Computer Group

TUESDAY AUGUST 26th

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any comments or concerns.

Richard West AM
0407 942 941 or email: https://pbwba.org.au/contact-us/

Moonlit night – Whale Beach