Pittwater Online News

The Inaugural Pittwater RSL Boardriders Inclusive Classic: To Run Saturday May 4th 2024 - Great Raffle Prizes Available!!

An initiative by Northern Beaches Para Surfer Boardriders and supported by Mona Vale Boardriders and Surfing NSW

Northern Beaches Para Surfer Boardriders Inc First Official Competition crew, 2023
Left to Right: Lee Ferrier, Lori Foti, Michael Foti, Jack Jackson, Max Devery (from WA!), Sam Bloom, Chris Astill
Back Row: Kirk Watson, John Crampton, Chook Harris
Front Row: Em Dieters 
Notable Absentees: Cam Bloom, Jaz Astill
Photo Byron Chadwick - nomoredahl

Northern Beaches Para Surfer Boardriders (NBPSB) has organised the inaugural Pittwater RSL Boardriders Inclusive Classic to raise awareness of para surfing, encourage more to get involved, raise funds and build community.

NBPSB would like to extend a warm invitation to everyone to join them for what NBPSB hopes will become a major event in the surfing community’s calendar.

Inspired by her experience at the ISA World Para Surfing Championships in 2022 and 2023, Emma Dieters had the opportunity to participate in a professional event. This led to the idea of creating a collaborative experience between Mona Vale Boardriders and NBPSB through a "Mini Pro" event, featuring commentary during heats and finals, post-heat interviews, and a festive atmosphere at the beach with food trucks, and music that rolls into a social evening.

Northern Beaches Para Surfer Boardriders are thrilled to announce that Surfing NSW is fully supporting this event and shares the vision of the NBPSB. Together with these two  organisations, NBPSB are working to make the para surfing grassroots pathway a reality.

A full day of sharing the stoke

The inaugural Pittwater RSL Boardriders Inclusive Classic begins at 8:00am with Mona Vale Boardriders and NBPSB's regular competition and a BBQ Breakfast. Competition continues and then a Spit Lunch will be available around midday.

An Exhibition will be kicked off by past and present Para Surfers of the Australian Irukandjis Team and finish with an Expression Session Crew showcasing surfing legends.

NBPSB will then run the finals and start to dry off and de-sand to move up to the Mona Vale SLSC and Cooks Terrace to chillout, listen to some live music and enjoy a few beverages with a grazing table.

NBPSB is also be running a major raffle leading up to the event and on the day to help raise funds - details and HUGE prize list below.

This is to be a full day of fun! 

Come for an hour, come for the day and support these two great clubs to do the great work that they do.

Join in Pittwater RSL Boardriders Inclusive Classic

NB: You must have signed up by 8pm on the Thursday evening, May 2nd prior to the Pittwater RSL Boardriders Inclusive Classic event.  

You will be surfing under NBPSB, however we are currently still integrated with Mona Vale Boardriders so heat times will be up on the MVB LiveHeats website on the evening before the comp, approx. at 9pm. 

Sign up here 

NOTE: If you are not a current active member of the club (ie not financial) you do not need to sign up to become a member for the Pittwater RSL Boardriders Inclusive Classic and May round unless you would like to and NBPSB would of course be very grateful.

Lucky Door 

Book tickets HERE for the lucky door prize ticket and entry to MVSLSC Cooks Terrace for the music. 

Raffle Prizes

Don't miss out on the chance to win some fantastic prizes in the raffle as well!!  Buy your Raffle tickets HERE

1 for $10, 3 for $20, 10 for $50 and 25 for $100

Prizes

1st Prize valued at $2,770
QB Interiors - DiroDi E-Bike

QB Interiors are generously sponsoring our major prize: The DiroDi Rover Gen 3 is 2 person electric bike with a vintage design, powerful motor and massive battery. It offers up to 100km of range and can carry up to 150kg of load.

QB Interiors are the Sydney landmark building Interior Design experts, specialising in corporate premises fit-outs, interior refurbishment and end of trip facilities. When you enlist the services of QB Interiors, you can rely on commitment to responsibility, innovation and integrity. QB stands for Quality Built, an outcome these professionals achieve with every project.

2nd Prize valued at $1,200
Anytime Fitness - 12 months Gym Membership

Find your fit at Anytime Fitness! Whether you want to tackle a new challenge or take it slow, Anytime Fitness is here to help you make it happen. One membership unlocks access to over 500 clubs around Australia open 24/7 – so you can workout when it suits you. Whatever you look like, wherever you’re from, however you like to work out – you’ll be welcome at Anytime Fitness.

3rd Prize valued at $1,000
Jagger Surfboards - Voucher

Handcrafted surfboards from start to finish. Have your very own unique Jagger surfboard shaped to order. Any style up to 7,4 long. Colour spray or resin tint included. FCS or Futures included. Matt finish. E Poly construction

4th Prize valued at $999
Chilli Surfboard - Voucher

Since 1996 // Shop over 300 boards available online now, ready to ship!

5th Prize valued at $500
Outfall Art Collective - Voucher

Northern Beaches born and raised, artist Matt Wilcocks' affinity with the ocean reaches across his artistic practice, his sport and leisure pursuits, right through to his deep appreciation for the natural world. His sculptural works represent his connection to the ocean and its inhabitants, the human need to be connected with water, memories of time well spent in and on the living ocean, and the intricate workings of an ecosystem that is essential to the health and well being of all life and the planet we live on.

MORE HERE

Recovery Support For April 2024 Flood-Affected NSW Communities Extended To Northern Beaches LGA

Narrabeen and Warriewood earlier this month. Photo courtesy: NSW SES Warringah / Pittwater Unit

Disaster assistance will be extended to the Armidale, Campbelltown, Lismore, Moree Plains, Northern Beaches and Port Stephens Local Government Areas (LGAs), following heavy rainfall and flooding across NSW from 1 April 2024.

The assistance measures, announced on Friday April 26, are being provided by the Albanese and Minns Governments through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

The announcement has been welcomed by communities still cleaning up debris, especially the volume of materials that have been carried by floodwaters down the Hawkesbury, and by those who have lost household items and seen their homes damaged.

The support includes:

• assistance for eligible residents to help meet immediate needs like emergency accommodation or small cash payments to purchase essential items generally provided from evacuation or recovery centres
• grants for eligible residents to replace lost essential household items to maintain basic standard of living
• grants for eligible residents to undertake essential structural repairs to restore their homes to a safe and habitable condition
• support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets
• concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers, and non-profit organisations and grants to sporting and recreation clubs to repair or replace damaged or destroyed property
• freight subsidies for primary producers to help transport livestock and fodder.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt said the extent of the flooding impact is still being assessed.

“This flood event has caused damage across communities, impacting homes, farms, businesses and volunteer groups,” Minister Watt said.

“Many Government agencies and community groups are still out on the ground to assess the damage and continue the mammoth clean-up effort.

“I know the Minns Government is continuing to assess the situation and is adapting as we gain a clearer picture of the impact of this disaster, and our Government stands ready to support as needed.”

NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said the extension of the Natural Disaster Declaration is part of the NSW Government’s ongoing response to the flooding and storm events earlier this month.

“The extension of this disaster declaration unlocks assistance for additional communities in need, as the full extent of the damage becomes known,” Minister Dib said.

More information and support

For information relating to financial assistance, replacing lost documents, location of your nearest recovery centre and more, please contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or visit www.nsw.gov.au/floods and Support to apply for flood grants, loans or payments and the NSW Government's Natural disaster declarations from financial year 2023-24 webpage - Disaster declarations are issued by the NSW Government and incorporate an Australian Government reference number (AGRN).

To apply for a concessional loan or primary producer grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au

Further information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au

Background

The rainfall totals BOM gauges for April 6 2024 recorded Mona Vale Golf Club: 140.2mm, Belrose (Evelyn place) recorded 150.0mm, and Terrey Hills AWS was 161.2mm.

NSW SES Units carried out more than 160 flood rescues overnight and into the morning of Friday April 5 and April 6, following a severe weather event that resulted in flash flooding and damage to properties and roads throughout Sydney, the Illawarra and South Coast.

More than 200ml of rain impacted parts of Sydney and the Illawarra, with around 4,000 NSW SES volunteers responding to 3135 calls for help over a 24-hour period.

Anzac Day In Pittwater 2024 - From Dawn To Dusk: North Narrabeen, Anzac Village Narrabeen, Warriewood To Mona Vale At Pittwater RSL Cenotaph, Newport, Bilgola Beach, Avalon Beach, Whale Beach, Palm Beach, Collaroy Beach

Includes the Anzac Day Addresses given by Pittwater RSL Sub-Branch President Deborah Carter and Avalon Beach RSL Sub-Branch President Commodore Richard Menhinick AM, CSC, RAN.

Cockatoo Feed Time: Careel Bay 

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) eggs are laid in a suitable tree hollow, which is prepared by both sexes. Both parent birds also incubate and care for the chicks. The chicks remain with the parents all year round and family groups will stay together indefinitely.

Breeding Season: August to January in the south; May to September in the north.

• Clutch size: 1 to 3
• Incubation: 30 days
• Time in nest: 65 days

The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo's normal diet consists of berries, seeds, nuts and roots. Feeding normally takes place in small to large groups, with one or more members of the group watching for danger from a nearby perch. When not feeding, birds will bite off smaller branches and leaves from trees. These items are not eaten, however. The activity may help to keep the bill trimmed and from growing too large.

Pics: AJG/PON (April 24, 2024). Info.: Australian Museum

Flowering Now: White Paperbark Trees

Melaleuca quinquenervia, commonly known as the broad-leaved paperbark, paper bark tea tree, punk tree or niaouli, is a small- to medium-sized tree of the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. It grows as a spreading tree up to 20 m (70 ft) tall, with its trunk covered by a white, beige and grey thick papery bark. The grey-green leaves are egg-shaped, and cream or white bottlebrush-like flowers appear from late spring to autumn. It was first formally described in 1797 by the Spanish naturalist Antonio José Cavanilles.

Native to New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and coastal eastern Australia, from Botany Bay in New South Wales northwards into Queensland, M. quinquenervia grows in swamps, on floodplains and near rivers and estuaries, often on silty soil.

The paper-like bark is used traditionally for making coolamons and shelters and for wrapping baked food and lining ground ovens.[7] The nectar is extracted traditionally by washing in coolamons of water which is subsequently consumed as a beverage. The scented flower also produces a light to dark amber honey depending on the district. It is strongly flavoured and candies readily. 

Melaleuca quinquenervia is often used as a street tree or planted in public parks and gardens, especially in Sydney.[39] In its native Australia, it is excellent as a windbreak, screening tree and food source for a wide range of local insect and bird species.

The essential oil of Melaleuca quinquenervia is used in a variety of cosmetic products especially in Australia. The oil is reported in herbalism and natural medicine to work as an antiseptic and antibacterial agent, to help with bladder infections, respiratory troubles and catarrh.

Melaleuca quinquenervia, also called white bottlebrush, Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, April 25th, 2024