The Avalon Beach Culture Collective Inc Committee and Avalon community are ready to continue rolling out their series of Avalon Beach 100th year celebrations in March with a focus this month on the Nature of Avalon.
This month visitors may learn more about Powerful Owls, our local indigenous culture, plant a tree so our canopy can 'branch out', take a sail on Pittwater in a heritage couta boat, or tune into a new show, The Avalon Story, on local community radio station Radio Northern Beaches (88.7/90.3 FM), with an opening episode featuring historian, Jan Roberts, who remembers the Avalon of the 1940s and 50s as “a child’s adventure playground” where she grew up playing in the bush and sliding down the sand dunes, hear from environmentalist and bush care volunteer Marita Macrae explain how her passion for nature and her desire to protect Avalon’s native bush is a driving force in her life, and Professor of Indigenous Entrepreneurship at the University of Canberra, Dennis Foley, who has a matrilineal connection to northern Sydney, talks about the continuous Indigenous connection to Avalon.
March 2022 events include:
The Nature of Avalon: Art Exhibition 2
March 18 to April 19: Avalon Art Gallery, 39 Old Barrenjoey Road (in the cinema complex)
The second Avalon 100 Art Exhibition opens Friday March 18 at 6pm with an opportunity to meet the Artists. The Avalon Beach Culture Collective Inc are being supported by internationally renowned photographer Andrew Gregory whose stunning works have featured in Australian Geographic over the last 18 years. A resident, Mr. Gregory has another passion, for Powerful Owls and become involved in the Powerful Owl Project and local group Canopy Keepers.
Along with Andrew's stunning photo essays on local Powerful Owls this exhibition will feature the essential tree hollow these birds require if they are to survive.
''Owls aren’t doing well in the bush and are moving into urban areas. Breeding pairs are dedicated to a nest tree, trees with suitable hollows are rare in urban backyards and reserves and competition amongst species for them is fierce.'' Andrew explained
''I believe in the last few years there has been so much tree felling and clearing that the balance has changed. Pittwater wasn’t set up with wildlife corridors in the plan. Native wildlife in urban areas aren’t just confined to large reserves - our backyards form corridors and provide areas for breeding and shelter, particularly for the owl’s prey species.
There are also many other factors that contribute to a successful nest tree. It has to be the right tree in the right place. Many are in pocket reserves close to houses and the loss of surrounding trees can have an impact on the integrity of the reserve, also affecting the micro climate. Owners of properties in areas near nest trees also aren’t being informed, so clearing on land adjoining sensitive areas happens. There is also the 10/50 rule to contend with.''
To redress the balance Andrew has started making tree hollows.
Sydney Wildlife will also be there showing us how to build possum boxes.
Artists whose works will also form part of The Nature of Avalon Exhibition are Architectural Designer Mia Asker and Builder: Simon Robertson who together have formed Asker-Robertson; a boutique design and construction company specialising in high quality timber construction and the fusion of existing and modern architecture in design, a featured owl painting from the brush of Tara Winona, Karen (Blue) Stuart; ceramist who is inspired by our oceans and al living in them, repurposing sculptor Rob Cole, Owen Crick's drawings, soulful imagery from photographers Louise Whelan and Greg Barrett, the wonderful marine life focussed works of bronze sculptor Brenda Ingham, and work by painter Nikki Quarry.
Centenary Celebration of the Nature of Avalon Beach and our Indigenous Culture in Dunbar Park
Saturday March 19, 2022: 10am-2pm
Sponsored by Johnson Bros Mitre 10 Hardware, Avalon Beach, this day on Avalon Beach's 'village green' provides an opportunity to connect with our local indigenous peoples and learn about their culture. At 10am Neil Evers, local Garigal man and a descendant of Bungaree, will give a Welcome to Country, followed by a Smoking Ceremony to prepare the ground for the commencement of planting of the Centenary 100 Native Canopy Tree Memorial by students from our four local schools.
Accompanied by didgeridoo and singing in language, and clapping sticks to join in with, this will be followed by stories and an artefact display, boomerang painting, grass weaving workshop and an opportunity to meet members of the Aboriginal Support Group Manly Warringah Pittwater.
Canopy Keepers will be handing out 100 native tube stock for planting in your garden and information on best species for your area, and why tree canopy and hollows are so important to our local fauna.
Sydney Wildlife will give another demonstration and information on how to build a possum box and a sample micro bat box as well as insights into other local fauna.
The Centenary Celebration of the Nature of Avalon Beach and our Indigenous Culture in Dunbar Park includes:
- Welcome to Country- Neil Evers
- Smoking Ceremony
- Didgeridoo, Singers & Clap sticks for kids to play
- Dancers and dance instruction
- Aboriginal History Talk + Boomerangs and Paint for children workshop 11-2
- Aboriginal Grass Weaver Workshop 11-2
- Bush Tucker Talk
- Canopy Keepers 100 native tube stock give away
- Aboriginal Support Group Manly Warringah Pittwater
- Sydney Wildlife - Possum Box demos
Avalon Beach: 100 Years, 100 Trees - Branching Out!
As promised, Canopy Keepers is back with another 100+ native tube stock to give away! This time we're branching out, spreading the love wider, and inviting new Canopy Keepers from Narrabeen to Palm Beach, from The Basin to Scotland Island to join us in strengthening our precious canopy.
Please register online using the link below and then find us at our stall at the Avalon Centenary Celebrations: March 19th at Dunbar Park between 10am and 2pm, to collect your tube stock.
We’ll have knowledgeable people on hand to talk to you about the best tree choice for your location.
Become a part of the regeneration generation.
This event in Dunbar Park is one of many on the Centenary Celebrations calendar. The focus of the day will be on The Nature of Avalon, and the traditional Indigenous custodians of this wonderful area we call Pittwater.
Canopy Keepers acknowledge that we are on the land of the Garigal Clan of the Wannangini/Guringai People. And we pay our respect to the Elders past, present and emerging.
To sign up in advance for a tree please go to this link: https://forms.gle/km6mwBfQedvFZQf29
Online registrations for trees closes Saturday March 12 at 12 noon.
To make enquiries please email 100trees@canopykeepers.org.au
To check out canopy keepers go to www.canopykeepers.org.au and sign up for our newsletter.
Canopy Keepers thanks the Northern Beaches Council for their support of this initiative.
The Avalon Story
Premieres 9am on Saturday 19 March, tune to 88.7/90.3 FM, stream from the RNB website – rnb.org.au
Avalon Beach is famous for its surfing culture and village atmosphere. But to those who live in this Sydney suburb, it’s much more than that.
Over the past 100 years, this thriving community, on the land of the Gai-mariagal people, has given birth to scores of artists, musicians, architects, scientists, and businesspeople, as well as passionate community volunteers and activists.
They all have stories to tell, and you can hear many of them in a new show, The Avalon Story, on local community radio station Radio Northern Beaches (88.7/90.3 FM).
In association with the Avalon Beach Culture Collective, The Avalon Story is being produced to mark the centenary of the naming of the suburb, after businessman and land developer Arthur J. Small subdivided land there in late 1921.
Radio Northern Beaches presenters Wendy Frew and David Stewart-Hunter chat to locals including publisher and historian, Jan Roberts, who remembers the Avalon of the 1940s and 50s as “a child’s adventure playground” where she grew up playing in the bush and sliding down the sand dunes.
Environmentalist and bush care volunteer Marita Macrae explains how her passion for nature and her desire to protect Avalon’s native bush is a driving force in her life.
And Professor of Indigenous Entrepreneurship at the University of Canberra, Dennis Foley, who has a matrilineal connection to northern Sydney, talks about the continuous Indigenous connection to Avalon and other parts of the Northern Beaches.
Radio Northern Beaches presenters Wendy Frew and David Stewart-Hunter
These are just some of the interviews that will be broadcast on Saturdays at 9am on Radio Northern Beaches.
To hear the first interview at 9am on Saturday 19 March, tune to 88.7/90.3 FM, stream from the RNB website – rnb.org.au – or listen via the Tune-In app.
You will also be able to listen to all the interviews on-demand, as they become available, at https://www.mixcloud.com/TheAvalonStory
Finally, to close out March's Avalon Centeneray Celebrations, head west along Avalon Parade to the Avalon Sailing Club and get some salty estuary water and air.
Sail of the century
March 26th at the Avalon Sailing Club
Have you ever had the opportunity to hitch a ride on a boat on Pittwater's blue green waters? As part of the Avalon Centenary, the Avalon Sailing Club is inviting everyone to join them on their fleet of wooden boats for a day out on Broken Bay.
Our Couta boats, named because they were the original boats used to catch the Barracouta for Melbournians fish and chips in the 19th century, are waiting to take you for a ride. The boats are comfortable, stable and fast, making them the ideal experience for those less familiar with sailing.
Where: Avalon Sailing Club, 28b Hudson Parade, Clareville
When: Saturday, March 26th from 2pm
Sausages and refreshments will be served on the deck and fancy dress - 1920s theme - is encouraged (though of course not essential!)
The event is part of the Avalon Beach Centenary Celebrations. It is free but booking is recommended to secure your spot, at: https://www.revolutionise.com.au/avalonsai.../events/131406/
Couta Boat Cariad on Pittwater. Photo: A J Guesdon.
