Although many of our Winter sports were delayed and finally cancelled from mid year on, when and where there was an opportunity Pittwater Online News went out and captured that fun and that action. We were backed up by the excellent photography of Bill Sheridan and Malcolm Trees - when we couldn't get there these two gentlemen did.
The cancellation of many surf carnivals over the summer of 2019-2020 meant we were all champing at the bit to get on the beach and in the water when some returned over the Australia Day weekend and again when surf sports recommenced in November.
This year could have been a challenging one to bring you visions of the Seasons, the wildlife, wildflowers, the sports, the social events and wonderful people who live here - but it wasn't too hard to fill one of the favourite and most visited pages each week as all those already mentioned, and many more, 'get' that not all can scale tall hills in several bounding strides or venture out onto the water or even into the water but love seeing what's been happening anyway - whether they live here, around Australia or are ex-pats now living overseas who drop by via the internet each week to see what the weather has been like.
This Issue a small sample of the thousands of photographs by these many talented photographers close the year as we began it - absolutely loving Pittwater and all that surrounds her.
To view all of these - see the lists of pages archived in:
January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021
Thank you very much for your input this year - you have all brought information, shared insights, caused big smiles and also sighs of relief to people you may never know, may never meet, but whom you have reached with good cheer for all of 2021.
And as an especial sign off for 2021 - from our first Issue for this year:
And We Are Back!
- wonderful local businesses who had all their festive catering cancelled delivering the same for free to hungry people manning and womanning clinics at Mona Vale Hospital, Narrabeen and all points north - and kept that up with coffee etc., with whatever they could give - and giving that special Pittwater 'wave' to the circling old media/news helicopters - bit sharky out there!
- wonderful social media community forums sharing the love and trying to make each other laugh with a silly photo or glory in the beauty of the place we live in with snapshots of OUR PLACE - + the frank admittance by many that they rarely stray outside of Pittwater anyway ...
- birdsong and children's laughter
- packed beaches with visitors from Mosman or Blacktown despite the 'verboten!' orders
- another 'boating' fiasco
- also witnessed virtual hugs to each other as our Christmas get togethers were cancelled - same again as New Years outings were 'NOT' for all in Pittwater
- and this week witnessed wonderful community stalwarts from Narrabeen to Palm Beach, as well as our local MP for ... wait for it... Pittwater!, getting together to figure out how they can help everyone who has lost all their Christmas and Summer trading or work in any other capacity to get back on their feet and survive - nay, thrive in 2021 E.G.: https://www.facebook.com/BuyOnTheBeaches/ - and more announcements to come it would seem - Shop Local!
- a wonderful community spirit comprised of loving individuals giving a damn about each other throughout the December 19 2020 to January 9 2021 lockdown of Pittwater (Principality of) and deftly and kindly steering each other clear of any silliness, anger, arrogance or ignorance
Residents have expressed opposition to a proposal to demolish a 1920’s Heritage Farmhouse in Warriewood, a structure originally determined to be maintained and retained through the DA process.
The proposal for 81 dwellings comprising 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units within 4 residential 3-storey buildings and 14 dwellings in multi dwelling housing in Warriewood is slated to be placed on land adjacent to a section the community put forward a proposal in 2019 to acquire for public use and for conservation purposes and to complete the Mona Vale and Ingleside Escarpment through Ingleside Chase from Narrabeen Creek to Mona Vale Road. The land has high environment value with many species of flora and fauna present.
Nearby residents are also angry, stating the documentation proposes to add at least 160 cars to already overloaded Warriewood streets and seeks for these to be allowed access through their private access road and over a private bridge they have to pay to maintain.
Residents opposed this development when it was first mooted but it was then shifted to court proceedings and approved. However, one of the conditions attached to that approval stated the existing house was to remain, was to be kept and renovated.
Kristin Zindel, who once lived in the farmhouse, and was among those who opposed the project, was given orders to vacate the property in 2017 by the new owners.
Ms Zindel says her pleas to ensure the conditions of the 2015 approval were kept have been ignored.
‘’The Council, despite being advised untold times from 2015 to 2019 that the house was under threat, refused to protect it for heritage, and despite notifying them the house was getting damaged and vandalised, did not enforce the conditions imposed upon the owners to maintain the house. It was never secured, fenced or any protection afforded in any way.’’
‘’I know of no other example of this style house still existing on the Northern Beaches; I know of no other even in Sydney.''
After years of living on the site and witnessing the adjacent bush and its wildlife residents, Kristin has compiled a list of all the species present that is pages long.
''There is also some of the most amazing wildlife you can see here, much of which many people have never heard of, let alone realise they live next to. And it is all in one spot.’’
The DA2020/1489, for demolition, is open for feedback until February 2nd. Added to the associated DA2020/1480, pending lodgement, costs for the works of demolition, razing the bush habitat on the site and raising 81 dwellings are just over 35 million dollars.
Kristin has recently launched a petition she intends to present to Council that has already had over 500 signees.
History Of Oaklands
By Kristin Zindel
Sale of Lot 1 Collins five grants near Mona Vale Road were sold to F.C. Hedemann, a licensed surveyor, including what would become Lot 1 Jubilee Ave and known as part of Portion 5 in plan 5055, on 3 December 1883. Henry Ferdinand Halloran, a realtor, then purchased this lot (among eight large portions in total) on 22 February 1908. Around this time much land in the area became subdivided. On 9 July 1914 William Thompson Jr purchased the land now known as Lot 1 in plan 5055. William Thompson transferred Lot 1 to Elizabeth Thompson, “married woman” and presumably his wife, on 14 September 1916. Elizabeth Thompson then sold Lot 1 to Ernest Sydney Wilson, banker, on 26 March 1923. Up until this stage the land had still not been built upon.
The deed relating to the sale of Lot 1 to Ernest Wilson has notations of a mortgage taken by Ernest and his brother, Harold, on 28 May 1923, presumably to buy the property. These two men then took a further mortgage on 17 April 1925. Both these mortgages were discharged on 20 August 1931 in full. Therefore it can be safely assumed that the building of the current house commenced around 17 April 1925.
Ernest Wilson was one of five siblings in the Wilson family. Four of these siblings proceeded to live in the house on Lot 1 for nearly 30 years, until Ernest first leased the property to Bartul (Bert) Nemcich on 28 August 1953. It was Bert Nemcich who erected the glasshouses and farmed tomatoes on the land. Bert then purchased the property from Ernest on 8 October 1956, after securing a mortgage from Ernest himself on 5 October 1956, which was subsequently paid in full by 21 October 1960. Bert Nemcich never lived in the house whilst carrying on business as a ‘market gardener’, but rented it out whilst living in a smaller cottage on the edge of the property.
Bert Nemcich
Having had no children himself, Lot 1 (amongst other land in the area) was subsequently passed to Bert’s brother’s sons, Vinko (Vince) and Ivan (John) Nemcich on 9 March 1988.
Upon the passing of Vince and his wife, the property was now in the hands of developers, who were originally purported to be retaining the house for renovation and resale.
The Wilsons
Details of the Wilson siblings are as follows, from youngest to oldest:-
Name - Born - Died
Florence Australia Wilson 1866 12 September 1951 (age 85)
Eva Bertha Smith (nee Wilson)* 1869 27 May 1948 (age 79)
Ernest Sydney Wilson 1873 23 November 1964 (age 91)
Harold Frank Wilson 1880 7 August 1951 (age 71)
Daisy Beatrice Wilson** 1883 1970 (age 87) –
A fourth sister, Lillian, was born in 1877 but died less than a year later.
* Eva was the only one of the five to get married, to Percival Armstrong Smith. They first lived in Eastwood together, and then around 1930 they lived at 47 Victoria Street, Avalon. They then moved to 32 Alexander Street, Collaroy.
** Daisy was born in Dubbo and died in Guyra. All the others died in Manly.
Their parents, Archdeacon of Dubbo Frederick Sydney Wilson (born in Dubbo, 1839, died 1901) and Caroline Jemima Wilson (nee Robinson) (born 1844, died 1917) lived in Leichhardt, Sydney, where Caroline was living.
Prior to owning the property at Lot 1, Ernest Wilson served in World War I from 1914 to 1920, in the 9th Field Company Engineers. He was listed as a bank officer at the time of purchasing the property. None of the siblings had any children or married except for Eva, and therefore all except Eva lived together in the house at Lot 1. By 1943 Eva’s husband had died and Eva remained in Collaroy.
Once the house and Lot 1 were leased to Bert Nemcich in 1953, only Ernest and Daisy were still living, and went to live with their sister Eva at Alexander Street in Collaroy. At some point Daisy must have left Sydney, as she is noted as having died in Guyra. This would probably be once Eva and then Ernest had died, leaving her as the sole surviving sibling.
The electoral rolls list the four Lot 1 siblings as living at “Oaklands”, Vineyard Street, Mona Vale. “Oaklands” is carved in the sandstone block remaining at the door of the house to this day. Harold was listed as a farmer, and Ernest as an orchardist, probably utilising the property. Florence and Daisy were listed with an occupation of ‘home duties’. Unfortunately as none of the Wilsons had children, finding any more information is proving difficult.
WILSON. Harold Frank-August 7, 1951 at his residence Oaklands, Vineyard Street Warriewood, second son of the late Venerable Archdeacon F S Wilson of Dubbo and beloved brother of Florence, Ernest and Daisy, also Esa (deceased) aged 71 years. Dubbo papers please copy. Family Notices (1951, August 9). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 22. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18216022
The death occurred at her residence, "Oaklands," Warriewood. of Miss Florence Australia Wilson, eldest daughter of the late Ven. Archdeacon F. S. Wilson, formerly of Dubbo, aged 85. A brother (Earnest), and sister (Daisy), survive. The funeral took place from the St John the Baptist Church, Mona Vale yesterday afternoon to the Northern Suburbs Crematorium. PRESIDENT'S REPORT (1951, September 20). Gilgandra Weekly (NSW : 1942 - 1955), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112849374
Oaklands - Dining room ceiling
Oaklands - Original floorboards
Oakands - Main hallway
Oaklands - Original vent
Oaklands- Kitchen
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Oaklands - Kitchen fireplace
Oaklands - Lounge
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Oaklands - Dining Room ceiling
Oaklands - Sunlit living room
Oaklands - Living room fireplace
Oakands - Storage benches in living room
'Oaklands' in stone
Oaklands - Front Verandah
Oaklands - Sandstone foundations
Oaklands - Kitchen entrance
Oaklands - Yard to kitchen door
Oaklands - View from kitchen door
Art sculptures in yard
Oaklands - Left hand side steps
Oaklands - Right hand side steps
Oaklands - Manually cracked stone
Oaklands - Yard, fallen tree and bush
Oaklands - The house
Oaklands - The house at sunset
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Newport Community Garden A TV Star - March
NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services The Honourable David Elliott MP and MRBB Unit Commander Jimmy Arteaga at commissioning of the Michael Seale. AJG photo
Bilgola Bends Clean-Up
The inaugural Patrick Alexander Soars Cup for the Newport Breakers Colts vs. Grade Test Cricket Match was played on Saturday 30 January 2021, at Newport Oval.
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Palm Beach SLSC's Under 23's, Plumbers - winners. photos by Malcolm Trees
Palm Beach have won FIVE out of the last SIX Under 23 Male ASRL Open Championships, with Peter Spence sweeping four of those victories.
In addition, the club has won the past three Australian Titles in the category.
Newport Breakers Rugby club had a home game against St Patricks on Saturday, as well as their "Pacific Islander Day". Initially, this week was to remember Moape Ravuvu who tragically passed away during a 2nd Grade game at St Ives in May 2012. His family has asked for it to be changed from "Mo" Day and reimagined as "Pacific Islander Day".
“Mo’’ as he was affectionately known is survived by his loving wife Julie and their three beautiful children.
Mo was a gifted athlete, a quiet down to earth family man that had a big smile to go with a great sense of humour.
Mo joined the Newport Breakers Club in the late 90’s and played over 200 games for Newport. He was instrumental in the clubs 1999 Kentwell Cup and 2003 Barraclough Cup grand final victories. His career included representative honours with NSW Suburban Rugby from 2000 to 2004 and also participated in the 1996 Hong Kong Sevens. He was also a gifted soccer player who coached the Tailevu soccer team in Sydney.
Moape Ravuvu holdfing trophy
This is a huge day in the Breakers Calendar when they enjoy our friendships with the Pacific Islanders of our club and experience their food and culture.
The 2021 Pacific Islanders Day was marked by all players will be wearing Ankle socks to remember Moape, raffles and donations to be collected throughout the day for the Ravuvu family, the Vuata, Osborne and Keresi families cooking (Hangi) - some food for players and supporters after the game - all proceeds to be donated.
There was also 1 minute of silence before 1st Grade in memory of Moape Ravuvu with all attending paying quiet tribute to this much missed Breakers player.
After finishing their Historic 2020 Season as Suburban Club of the Year out of all grades, as well as Division 3 club of the year, in the same season Newport won three Grand Finals playing at Macquarie University, Newport made history by winning the Colts (Nicholson Cup), 2nds (Farrant Cup) and 1sts (Clark Cup).
Vice President Alan Jones and President Jake Osborne received Newport Rugby's awards
The Breakers took a well-earned rest and even had a bit of cricket over Summer, with the Inaugural Patrick Alexander Soars Cup in between cooling lemonades.
Their 2021 Season started with three brilliant changes. Newport have been promoted to contest the Reliance Shield in Division 2 after a Championship winning campaign last season in Division 3 of the NSW Suburban Rugby Competition. The Newport Rugby Club, the Broken Breakers, are now playing in Division 2. Division Two is a five-team competition with clubs competing for the Barraclough, Stockdale, Robertson (U21 Colts), Blunt and Richardson Cups. The clubs in Division 2 for 2021 are: Epping, Hills (home ground is Yattenden Oval, Baulkham Hills), Hunters Hill, Lindfield, Newport, Old Barker, St Patrick's and UNSW.
The other BIG change is the first 'Breakerettes' women's rugby team has commenced this Season as part of the Sydney Women's Rugby Union 7's Series, commencing this year in Division 3 and winning, winning, winning.
The opening match of Season 2021 was vs. St Patricks at Hudson Park, Strathfield on April 17th. According to Club Vice-President Alan Jones the last time the Breakers and St Pats met was back 21 years ago in Season 2000. Since then all grades have been putting in some solid playing and getting great results.
Finally, the improvements at Porters Reserve continue with this season having a new lights system installed as well as a new scoreboard:
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Pittwater Birds That Can Sing Other Birds' Songs
Pittwater Birds That Can Sing Other Birds' Songs - for youngsters
We have a pair of Grey butcherbirds in our yard that can sing other birds' songs. Every morning you can hear them imitating all the birds around them, everything from the songs of magpies to the kookaburra family that lives here too, as well as lorikeets or rosellas, they can do.
They even come up to my office window here and perch on the fence or windowsill to sing to me - with other birds' songs!
Here's some photos I took of one of them this week - some outside the window, and some up in the spotted gum - singing away:
Monday 5 July, 2021 sunrise at Avalon Beach
NSW SES Warringah / Pittwater Unit's New Boat
Newport Community Garden
Commissioner Fitzsimmons Leads Charge For Graffiti Removal Day 2021
Marine Rescue New South Wales Deputy Commissioner Alex Barrell attended to congratulate the members individually and present the awards.
MRNSW Deputy Commissioner Barrell was appointed to his position in September 2020. Mr Barrell joined the NSW Police Force in 1994, initially serving in general duties before becoming a Police Diver. He then moved to the boats, being posted to the Eden Water Police before returning to Sydney, coordinating Botany Bay and Sydney Water Police sectors and leading Search and Rescue for the MAC.
He has spent time with the Police Emergency Management Unit, supporting the State Emergency Operations Controller and developing the Force’s emergency management capacity.
Transferring across White Bay from MAC to NSW Maritime, he worked across recreational and commercial boating safety and legislation and policy areas, before stepping in as Acting Executive Director for MRNSW prior to becoming Deputy Commissioner.
“I was fortunate to grow up on and around the water and that’s where I really got my passion for it. I didn’t really join the police with the goal to get into marine but then I went into the Diving Unit and opportunities came to move and I find myself still in the maritime sector 25 years later,” he said.
Mr Barrell is married with three children and lives in our area. He has a lengthy association with Surf Life Saving as a volunteer at the North Curl Curl and Pambula clubs and also worked as a lifeguard in Warringah and the Channel Islands, making him an excellent choice for understanding and supporting the work of our volunteers in Marine Rescue Broken Bay and all Marine Rescue units.
Congratulations to Gregory Robinson on achieving 15 years service medal and pin with MRNSW presented by Deputy Commissioner Alex Barrell. Photo: Michael Mannington, Community Photography
Congratulations to Bruce Hale on achieving 15 years service medal and pin with MRNSW, presented by Deputy Commissioner Alex Barrell. Photo: Michael Mannington, Community Photography
Congratulations to Tertius Bezuidenhout and John Weaver on receiving their 5 year service pins presented by MRNSW's Deputy Commissioner Alex Barrell.
Tertius Bezuidenhout and Deputy Commissioner Alex Barrell. Photo: Michael Mannington, Community Photography
John Weaver and Deputy Commissioner Alex Barrell. Photo: Michael Mannington, Community Photography
Both members have not only contributed a large portion of their time volunteering with our Broken Bay unit, but helping our community keep safe and continually putting others first. Our members where lucky to have our Deputy Commissioner Alex Barrell (centre) available to present the awards. Thank you Gentlemen for your time and commitment.
Marine Rescue Broken Bay unit's new Competent Crew members David Calleja and Frank Costanzo were presented with their epaulettes.
Great work and thank you for your hard work to achieve your new rank.
David Calleja and Deputy Commissioner Alex Barrell. Photo: Michael Mannington, Community Photography
Frank Costanzo and Deputy Commissioner Alex Barrell. Photo: Michael Mannington, Community Photography
Jimmy Arteaga Unit Commander of Marine Rescue Broken Bay said:
''Thank you to all our 100 Broken Bay members who continually give up their time weekend after weekend, public holidays and miss those special family moments volunteering to keep our community safe by rescuing those in peril or providing assistance to ensure everyone gets back home to their loved ones. Your dedication and commitment to making sure everyone gets home safely is commendable.''
Deputy Commissioner Alex Barrell and Jimmy Arteaga. Unit Commander of Marine Rescue Broken Bay. Photo: Michael Mannington, Community Photography
Soon after these awards were presented the Marine Rescue vessel BB30 was activated to assist a disabled 30ft sailing vessel 1n.m. off Warriewood Beach, Due to poor sea conditions the tow back to safe harbour in Pittwater would be slow, estimated return back to safe harbour was 1800.
After a lumpy tow, BB30 rounded Barrenjoey Headland and made its way into Pittwater. The stricken vessel was towed to Scotland Island where it was be placed on its mooring.
Great work by the BB30 crew - thank you for your service.
Rescued yacht being towed into Pittwater. Marine Rescue Broken Bay photo.
The rescue may one of several the Marine Rescue Broken Bay unit will be deployed to meet over the coming season and comes just days after Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Stacey Tannos has urged boaters to be safer on the water at the 'Get Ready for Summer' media event hosted by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services on Wednesday December 1st, 2021 - the first day of Summer 2021-2022.
Petrophile pulchella, known as conesticks, is a common shrub of the family proteaceae found in eastern Australia. It is found growing on shallow sandstone soils, often in open forest or heathlands near the coast. It is also occasionally seen on the adjacent ranges.
Photo by Selena Griffith, January 18, 2021
Channel-Billed Cuckoos Fledglings 2021
Channel-billed Cuckoos (Scythrops novaehollandiae) have been particularly prolific this year and now their offspring can be seen in the trees - fortunately there seems to be around a gazillion Black Prince cicadas (Psaltoda plaga) to feed them. A pair was seen in Pittwater Spotted Gums at dusk on Monday January 18th 2021 being fed by a pair of Pied Currawongs (Strepera graculina).
Everywhere you look at present there are fledgling birds and most that live on insects seem to be in twin numbers this year - why? Perhaps because there is an abundance of food for insectivorous birds or ??? ...
Marita Macrae (PNHA) tells us; 'This large cuckoo spends our colder months in northern Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia, returning south to breed, arriving in Sydney about the middle of September. A lot of the racket they make is to distract their host birds from attending to their nest, so the female can quickly deposit an egg, or three. Wattlebirds and Currawongs can raise a brood of their own in early spring before these cuckoos arrive, ensuring there will be future hosts. Come the middle of March, adult and juvenile cuckoos head for warmer climes once more.'
Photo by A J Guesdon, January 18, 2021.
