-January 2004 -

Newsletter for Offshore Residents of Pittwater, Australia  Volume 6, Issue 51; January 2004

Editorial:

Welcome to 2004! There are many issues facing the SIRA committee this year. All the usual ones of course, such as the Roads, Emergency Water and the Community vehicle. But many new ones will appear and the committee are dedicated to making our community the very best in Sydney. If you are concerned with something that is 'not quite right' in our part of the world, please feel free to contact your local committee, whether it be on the island, or one of the Western shore committees.

Finally: The ice cream recipe below is magnificent!

In this Issue:

Your Subscription Information

Energy Australia spent a number of days in December 2003 on removing the superseded and dangerous substations scattered around the island. SIRA has been working on 'persuading' Energy Australia to remove these unsightly structures for some time and it is pleasing to see that a little more of our pristine environment is returned to its natural beauty!

A little more work needs to be done by way of repairs and EA have promised to do this in late January.

Pittwater Walks for Older People
Walking as a form of exercise is fantastic for fun, fitness and friendship.
‘Easy Walks in Pittwater for Older People' is a Pittwater Council initiative encouraging older people to become active and start walking in the beautiful areas of Pittwater. The project, funded by the Department of Health & Ageing demonstrates that walking is great for providing physical activity and social opportunities.

The 'Easy Walks in Pittwater for Older People' booklet describes and maps some easy walks in the Pittwater area, provides tips for walking safely and a list of walking groups in the local area. Some walks also have access for wheelchairs, strollers (for grandchildren) and walking frames.

As part of the project, a group of older people has been trained by the Department of Sport and Recreation as volunteer walking leaders to guide people on these easy walks. This group, called The Wanderers, plan to walk in the local area on the first Wednesday of each month, starting January 2004 with a walk around Palm Beach. Enquiries: Kim on 9999 1870.

Joining a walking group not only allows you to gain all the physical health benefits from exercise, but also gives the bonus of making new friends, improving your mood, relieving stress and tension and enhancing energy levels for other activities throughout the day.

For a fun way to exercise and make new friends try an easy walk today!

The booklet is available on the Pittwater website – www.pittwaterlga.com.au under Community Development, Active Ageing, as well as at Customer Service Centres at Warriewood and Avalon, at Avalon and Mona Vale Libraries and Pittwater community centres. Enquiries: Jennifer Walker at Pittwater Council on 9970 1199.

Public Signage on Scotland Island

As you are probably aware, Pittwater Council has recently placed a number of public 'awareness' signs in various places around our paradise precinct. Some residents were sufficiently annoyed as to take action to remove them. This has caused some friction between SIRA and Council and has been the subject of a number of meetings and much correspondence.  Below is an edited copy of the text of a recent letter from council and your committee accepts that in the interest of safety (and for legal reasons) we must accept a standardisation of the signage. However, SIRA is insisting that the signs are erected on jetty wharf sheds rather than in an indiscriminate manner on the land.

I refer to your conversations with Council’s Senior Officer for Reserves & Recreation, detailing some concerns that SIRA have with the Public Signage that has recently been erected at certain points throughout the Pittwater area, and more specifically on Scotland Island.

Council’s policy regarding Sign’s is available for inspection at any time on the web-site or at Council’s Offices. Since being adopted in November 1999, it has been Council’s mechanism for determining appropriate signage at Council facilities in order to bring any foreseeable risk to the attention of the users of Council facilities. The priority being the safety of the residents and visitors to the Pittwater area.

Council has a ‘duty of care’ to its residents and visitors to inform them of known dangers or
potential risks in all areas owned or under the care, control and management of Council.

The recent placement of signs at certain points within the Pittwater area and more specifically at a number of Wharves on Scotland Island, has been to inform the public of inherent risks at these locations. This has been determined largely due to a number of reported incidents over the preceding months in the Pittwater LGA specifically at Wharves within the area.

Your committee will continue to work to produce an equitable result for island residents.

Fool's Ice Cream Recipe

I have a simple recipe for Ice cream which is foolproof!! (and it's very good for you ha ha!)

Fool's Ice Cream
Serves 6-8
4 eggs separated
110g (4oz) Caster sugar (Gran is OK)
425ml (1 pt) Whipping cream
a few drops of vanilla essence
Method
Beat together egg yolks and sugar till pale and fluffy. In separate bowls, beat egg whites until they form soft peaks and whip cream until it holds its shape. Gently stir the cream, vanilla essence and egg whites into the egg yolk mixture until well blended. Pour into plastic container, cover with lid and freeze for 5-6 hours.
It works every time.

Vehicle Cleanup - get rid of unwanted vehicles

As part of a campaign to remove old and unwanted vehicles on Scotland Island, you are invited to submit details about your vehicles to council so that they can be removed (at a very moderate cost).

 Please click on this link to notify the appropriate council officer. Click here to notify council (your message will be forwarded)

SIRFB Thanks You!

The Scotland Island Fire Brigade wishes to thank everyone for their support during the past year, and wish all offshore residents a very happy and safe new year.

 

The local guide

As our newsletter continues to grow (nearly 600 readers) we are including some links to other nearby organisations and events that may be of interest. If you would like to contribute, please send a message to the editor by clicking here.

Local Real Estate Agents:

Government Organisations:

• Local Pittwater Council, or email them at pittwater_council@pittwater.nsw.gov.au  or by clicking here.
• State: John Brogden, Member for Pittwater, or email him at jbrogden@nswcoalition.com or  by clicking here
• Federal: Bronwyn Bishop, Member for Mackellar, or email her at Bronwyn.Bishop.MP@aph.gov.au or by clicking here

Local Transport:

Airlines, Buses and Railways

Weather

• Tides for this week and month for Pittwater
• Weather Forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology in Sydney, Australia

Join SIRA

You can now join the Scotland Island Residents Association by clicking here. Please print the page you see and return the completed form to SIRA at this address: The Treasurer, SIRA, PO Box 70, Church Point 2105. Please NO CASH.

Archived Newsletters

A complete set of past electronic newsletters since 2000 can be found and read at http://www.scotlandisland.org.au/archive.html  or by clicking here

Spread the Word:

The future of this newsletter is in your hands. More than 650 residents and friends read this electronic newsletter monthly. Please tell your friends and neighbours to subscribe. If you are particularly literate in matters computing, you might like to help them follow the very simple path to subscription. It is easy to join. Simply click here to join, leave or change options or go to following address: http://www.scotlandisland.org.au/signup

Finally:

If you would like to contribute to this newsletter it's easy!. Send an e-mail to the editor by clicking here. Type your short contribution (100 words would be fine) and assuming it is of general interest to the community, does not include matter of a political nature and is not offensive to your neighbours, it will appear next month.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION:

To get on and off this newsletter, or to change your options,  - click here or got to: http://www.scotlandisland.org.au/signup

The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the Scotland Island Residents Association, or any of the associated Pittwater Offshore Resident's Committees