For many SLS athletes the best way to begin the year is to join in that carnival run on the first Friday of January annually; the Adrian Curlewis Twilight Masters Teams Carnival.
The series of swims, a board relay, ski relay and a Taplin comprising the racing clears out the New Years' cobwebs and is a great precursor to other carnivals run through February, March and April.
This year teams from right along the peninsula attended along with a strong showing from surf clubs from Sydney's southern beachesr, with those aged in their 30's up to their 80's taking part. In fact, this years' opener carnival has become so popular two areas were utilised this year so the 43 teams competing weren't cooling their heels on the sand waiting to get into the water.
The 2024 Edition was the 12th Adrian Curlewis Twilight Masters Teams Carnival, held on the beach in front of Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club and followed by the traditional back lawn BBQ and Presentation held in PBSLSC.
The beach events always attract interest from those still on the beach at that time of a long Summer afternoon, showcasing what surf lifesaving is all about and how maintaining and honing the skills in surf sports ensures volunteers are well-equipped to help people who may get into difficulties in the ocean, no matter what their age is.
As founder of the carnival, Palm Beach SLSC, and past president of the SLS Sydney Northern Beaches Branch, PBSLSC’s Gordon Lang explains,
‘’The Adrian Curlewis Masters Carnival was started for two reasons, the first is to honour and recognise Adrian Curlewis, one of our club’s founding members and known to many as ‘the father of surf lifesaving’ in Australia.
The second reason was to provide a fun, fast and enjoyable event and a chance for us to all get together afterwards, share some food and a few laughs and catch up.’’
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Gordon Lang, at front, with the team from North Steyne
This carnival celebrates the camaraderie between individuals across all surf life saving clubs that take part. Many of these 'Masters' will meet up again at Branch, State and Australian championships over the forthcoming weeks, and there too they will form a team of one that has as its purpose supporting each other, even if they will be vying for medals against each other.
Who won the ACMC for 2024?
Everyone who participated or attended, including special guests such as Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps, Pittwater MP Rory Amon and Councillors Bianca Crvelin and Karina Page.
Newport Pool To Peak Swims 2024
The first Ocean Swim for 2024 was Newport SLSC's Pool to Peak set of swims as part of the Pittwater Ocean Swim series. With a 400 metre swim, a 800 metre offering and a 2 kilometre challenge, over 600 residents and visitors lined up to dive on into the new year, including Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps in the 800m who was back to the beach among the early finishers.
Mitchell Green (Eloura SLSC) was 1st in the 800m and 2k event while Zannah Dixon and Max Barbour were both over the line in 5:03 in the 400m.
VIP guests included Mayor Sue Heins, Councillor Michael Gencher, Member for Pittwater Rory Amon and Member for Mackellar Sophie Scamps, both of whom helped out with the starts this year in great style.
Rory Amon MP for Pittwater said this week,
“The Pittwater Ocean Swim Series is iconic!
“The Pool to Peak at Newport was a spectacular start to the 2024 series, with over 600 swimmers taking part. Followed by one of the more challenging swims of the series, the Billy Swim at Bilgola Beach, which had almost 300 participants.
“Each swim would not be possible without the support of our vibrant Pittwater community. Thank you to amazing our local surf clubs, businesses, community organisations and countless dedicated volunteers.
“It has been wonderful to see people come from near and far to get active and enjoy Pittwater’s world class beaches. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the series brings!
“If you’re visiting any of Pittwater’s beautiful beaches this summer, please stay safe and follow the directions of our surf lifesavers.”
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Pittwater MP Rory Amon at Newport's Pool to Peak Swims with Newport SLSC Volunteers
With a range of swims to choose from swimmers, of all levels are catered for, David Madew, coordinator of the Pittwater Series, says swimmers can test their ocean swimming skills at some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. All entrants will go automatically in the draw for an OceanFit Swim The Whitsundays tour for one, valued at $2,295.
''To be eligible to win, the Oceanfit Whitsunday holiday prize, swimmers must enter at least three of the swims in the series. “It is a dream prize for ocean swimmers. The winner is drawn from those who have entered three swims, so the winner can come be any swimmer,” David added.
''Each swim is an important fund raiser, for the surf clubs involved, so that they can purchase and maintain essential lifesaving equipment. This in turn makes our beaches safer for the many swimmers who visit Pittwater each summer,“ said David.
There are still 3 opportunities for everyone to get into the swim of things in the 2024 Pittwater Ocean swim Series: Warriewood To Mona Vale Swim (& Family Swim) hosted by Mona Vale SLSC, The Big Swim from Palm Beach to Whale Beach, and Avalon Beach SLSC Surf Swims which offers the 1.2km ‘family’ swim around the buoys off Avalon Beach and the pinnacle event, the ‘Around The Bends’ Newport to Avalon Beach 2.5km point-to-point journey swim.
Details for the final 3 swims and link to sign up in: Pittwater Swim Series 2024
While all this set-up and 'GO!' Pool to Peak activity was going on a full Patrol was also on the beach looking after those swimming between the flags - a quick picture just as they were finished setting up for the records:
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A few more pictures from this year's Pool to Peak. Album HERE for those who want to download some for their own family albums - results HERE
Going for first ever Ocean Swim in your 80's
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On November 8 2023 Infrastructure NSW released the updated NSW Major Infrastructure Pipeline and the 2023-2024 State Infrastructure Plan. The 2023-2024 State Infrastructure Plan outlines drivers and market context for the NSW Government’s infrastructure program over the next five years. It provides project specific information to support transparency to industry via the NSW Major Infrastructure Pipeline.
The Mona Vale Road West upgrade project was deferred for two years following the 2023 NSW Independent Strategic Infrastructure Review.
Listed on page 21 of the 2023-2024 State Infrastructure Plan document is the Mona Vale Road West upgrade, McCarrs Creek Road to Powder Works Road showing Procurement will commence in the final Quarter of 2025 and be completed in the first Quarter of 2026, with Construction of the works to commence in the second Quarter of 2026 and be completed by the second Quarter of 2029 (estimated completion dates).
The NSW Major Infrastructure Pipeline was updated to reflect relevant projects provided for in the 2023-24 Budget, which includes a $116.5 billion infrastructure commitment over four years with a focus on delivering more schools, hospitals and public transport for the people of NSW, Infrastructure NSW (INSW) stated in a release.
Transport for NSW also confirmed to PON queries that the $25 million budget allocation announced in June 2022 wasn’t spent due to additional time required to undertake further planning investigations. The 2023-24 budget allocation of $348,000 was towards the continuation of the detailed design phase of the project.
A Transport for NSW Spokesperson stated to PON in 2023;
''Earlier this year, the NSW Government undertook an independent review of the state’s infrastructure pipeline, tasked with identifying projects and programs that should no longer proceed, be delayed or have their scope altered. As a result of this review, the Mona Vale Road West project has been deferred for two years.
Transport for NSW remains committed to the delivery of this project. ''
However following a spate of accidents on this stretch of the MVR, where it becomes a single lane between Tumburra Street and Kimbriki tip, through which residents sustained serious injuries, and the passageway was effectively blocked for hours, Pittwater MP Rory Amon tabled a question in the NSW Parliament on November 29 2023 to the Minister for Transport; ''Does the Government have any current plans to commission a safety audit of Mona Vale Road West to understand the safety risks posed by the construction site and a road which halves in width along the western section?''
The reply, given on December 22nd, was; ''I am advised: The Mona Vale Road West upgrade project is deferred for two years following the 2023 NSW Independent Strategic Infrastructure Review. Transport for NSW commissions Road Safety Audits as part of its project development stages. As the project has been deferred, there will be no Road Safety Audits for the Mona Vale Road west upgrade commissioned at this time.''
“If Labor won’t fund the $340 million upgrade now, they must assess the safety of the road and implement temporary safety measures until the road is upgraded,” Mr Amon reiterated in a release on January 17 2024
“Every injury and life lost on Mona Vale Road West from here on lays at the feet of Chris Minns and his Government. I am again calling on the Government to urgently undertake a safety audit of Mona Vale Road West and implement its recommendations immediately,” Mr Amon said.
The Pittwater MP is calling for the implementation of interim safety measures.
Residents have pointed out that when the Wakehurst Parkway is flooded and closed as a result, all those north of Narrabeen would be effectively cut off from direct access to the Northern Beaches Hospital via ambulance and the west of Sydney for the work commute should both an accident and a flood event occur at the same time.
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MVR West section where it is a single lane each way between Kimbriki and Tumburra Street, Ingleside
Transport for NSW has made available further updates on completion of MVR East Upgrade - HERE
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