- May 2001 -
Volume 2, Issue 15; May 2001
Editorial:
Edition 15 - it is amazing how quickly the last 15 months have passed. I am a little disappointed at the lack of contributions to our newsletter. More than 350 people around the world read it each month and your contributions are eagerly sought. 50 words would be fine! Looking for work, have something to sell? Just tell the editor (click on the link at the bottom of this page) and it will be included in the next newsletter for free!
You have a choice of two styles of newsletter. You have elected to take the full colour version but you can change to the plain text version at any time. Plain text does not have the snappy links or graphics but may suit your computer. Any changes to your free subscription can be made by going here while connected to the 'net.
In this Issue:
Annual General Meeting Report:
The AGM was held on May 20th in the Community Hall and attended by around 30 residents, together with Simon Winchester, President of the Western Pittwater Community Association (WPCA). There were 15 apologies. We welcomed 5 new residents. Questions and discussion were centred around the Newsletter items. If you didn’t get one, then please let us know, so we can put you on our data base. Greg Roberts brought everyone up to date on the Mona Vale Hospital situation and the need to keep the pressure on the Northern Beaches Area Health Service to ensure that we both retain and upgrade Mona Vale Hospital. He referred to a fund raising evening to see the new film ‘Moulin Rouge’ (details are in this Newsletter).
The new committee was
voted in, and it is pleasing to see that whilst 3 members had to drop out
through pressure from their commitments, 4 new members were elected and
welcomed – Shar Jones, Leicester Warburton, Dale Felton and Annette Ritchie.
The members re-elected are Greg Roberts (President), Trudi Engler (Vice
President), Shirley Page (Treasurer), Marion van den Driesschen (Secretary),
Barry Haycock, Gillian Unwin, Jennifer Knox and Brian Cross.
This team has very considerable collective experience and skills. The number of members means that the load will be moderate and well spread. Mark Morgan is the designated representative from the S. I. Rural Fire Service, and Sharon Kinnison is representing Landcare. Behind this group is a significant assembly of talented Islanders involved in Emergency Water, Roads and Drainage, Island Communication etc.
Moulin
Rouge - Care to Attend?
By special arrangement with the Warriewood Cinema complex, the Save Mona Vale Hospital committee has pleasure in presenting:- 'MOULIN ROUGE' on Wednesday 30th May at 8.45 pm (film starts at 9.00pm) Tickets are only $15 each (the management is supplying everything at cost) All profits go towards our campaign to retain and upgrade Mona Vale Hospital.
For tickets, ring:
Greg Roberts 9979 9599 Ken Hughes 9918 9170 or 0417 287 320
(Already some 20 offshore residents are going. One theatre is already filled and the management has kindly arranged another theatre for us.)
If you are
concerned about the terrible state of our roads, and the very poor condition
they
were left in following the departure of the organisations who erected
out new transmission poles, please respond urgently to this request. So that
SIRA can evaluate the cost of the road damage caused by the installation of
new equipment in recent
years by Energy Australia and Telstra, it would be appreciated if you could
let us know of evidence of such damage by replying to the editor by clicking here.
Neighbourhood Watch - Marine
Keen
observers of the Island Newsletters, may have detected very little action in
the last year! Do not despair, the organisation has not foundered, hibernated
maybe, but still alive & kicking. We have had no General Meetings or
Co-ordinator get togethers for some while, and for this I can only apologise,
however, during these months I have, accompanied by Greg Roberts, (until he
became heavily involved with "Saving Mona Vale Hospital") been
attending the Public Meetings of the Pittwater Region Marine Neighbourhood
Watch, at the Royal Motor Yacht Club, as your representative, thus ensuring
that all concerned do not forget that we exist!
Most of the newsworthy items, in recent months were dominated by the
Olympics, and the strain that the Games put on Police resources, but they did
get some shiny new Police Boats out of it, and are now undoubtable better
equipped than they have ever been. There have been quite a few
changes in the faces of your favourite Force.. Brian Friend has retired, and
Dave Molloy has moved on to greater things in the Special Ops. Group in
Sydney. Glen Finniss has returned to run the show, and we still have Dave
Buchanan, whereas most of the other guys seem to be transferred in and out as
staffing levels change. Waterways have also had a few changes, most notably
the retirement of Ian Sinclair, and so Paul Scurry, Steve Nugent & Peter
Chessil, are names to look out for.
Thefts of Boats, Outboards, Fuel tanks etc. continue to be a problem, and
with the loss of Daylight Saving, un-lit boats are a major worry! During
March and April, Police have issued around 40 infringement notices to owners
who are not displaying the correct lighting, so: BE WARNED!
The one thing that we need, if we are to be of any real help as Neighbourhood
Watch, is INFORMATION, SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO RING US, if you spot anything,
or persons that you consider suspicious, or just for information. IF WE DON'T
KNOW, WE CAN'T HELP!
Our number is 9997 8820 and the other Contact numbers are
in the Island Directory.
Finally, if you would like to enrol, in N.W.M. (it's free!) - you can use the
form at the back of the directory, or give us a ring . Brian and Audrey
Cross
Quays Marina Pump Out - Good News!
The Federal
Member for Mackellar, Bronwyn Bishop, recently announced a $100,000 funding
grant to help the Quays Marina at Church Point establish a pump-out facility
which will contain untreated sewerage water waste from recreational boats in
Pittwater. This will help enormously to prevent pollution and improve water
quality in our beautiful waterways.
Household
Chemical Collection
Sydney Water
is are holding a Household Chemical Collection at Rowland Reserve, Pittwater
Road, Bayview on the weekend of 14 & 15 July 2001. The collection will
assist householders to dispose of chemicals which may be hazardous to the
environment, your family, garbage collectors and operators of the sewage
system. Collection times on both days are from 10am to 3pm. A maximum of 20
litres or 20 kilograms applies unless prior arrangements have been made by
calling 1800-814-719.
Free Legal Advice
The
legal system is often daunting and difficult to understand, but some simple
and practical advice can often help to resolve problems. The Pittwater Legal
Advice Service operates between 10am and 12noon every third Saturday of the
month from the Early
Childhood Centre in
Pittwater Road, Mona Vale (behind the Library). It is staffed by solicitors
from local Northern Beaches law firms, who are all experienced, qualified
practitioners, with wide-ranging expertise. For more information please
contact the Northern Beaches Neighbourhood Service on 9982 3044
Journey
of Healing
Everyone
is invited to participate in the Journey of
Healing event, which focuses on bringing home the Stolen Generations and
commemorates Sorry Day. A lakeside ceremony
including performances, stories and music will be followed by supper. The
event will take place from 4.30-6.30pm on Saturday 26 May at the Elanora Scout
Hall on the northern shore of Narrabeen Lake, at Billarong Reserve on
Wakehurst Parkway, North Narrabeen. Please bring a candle to light, a plate of
supper, a reading to contribute and a chair/blanket.
Enquiries: 9913 7940 - 9913 9388.
Pittwater
Business Database
To
assist the Pittwater business community, we are compiling a database of
businesses in Pittwater, which will be published on the Pittwater website. If
you wish your business to be included on this list, please send all contact
details, including Managing Director, company name, address, telephone and fax
numbers and email address, to Nicki McLachlan at:
nicki_mclachlan@pittwater.nsw.gov.au
or c/- Pittwater Council, PO Box 882, Mona Vale 1660. Enquiries: Nicki
McLachlan, Tel: 9970 1114.
As our newsletter continues to grow (now more than 310 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 electronic newsletter's editor.
Local Real Estate Agents:
- Botham Real Estate
- Ferry Wharf Real Estate
- PMC Hill (subscribe to their newsletter here)
Government Organisations:
- Local Pittwater Council, or email them by clicking here.
- State: John Brogden, Member for Pittwater, or email him by clicking here
- Federal: Bronwyn Bishop, Member for Mackellar, or email her by clicking here
Local Transport:
- Buses and Ferries: Sydney Buses and Ferries
- Water Taxi: Pink Water Taxi
- Church Point Ferries (02) 9999-3492
- Scotland Island Community Vehicle 1800-069-592
- Land Taxi Manly Warringah Cabs (02) 9997-9111
Airlines, Buses and Railways
|
Sydney Airport: Arrivals and Departures |
Qantas Information |
|
Ansett Information |
|
|
NSW Railway Timetables and Information. |
Sydney Buses information. |
Tides for this week and month for Scotland Island:
Join the Scotland Island Residents Association
You can now join SIRA 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. If you wish to pay in cash, contact the treasurer, Shirley Page on (02) 9997-1875 to arrange collection/delivery.
A complete set of all past electronic newsletters can be found and read by clicking here
Spread the Word:
The future of this newsletter is in your hands. More than 350 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 (or leave) or go to following address:
http://members.optushome.com.au/sira
Great Internet Sites to Visit:
- For windows users: Change your desktop and/or wallpaper on a regular basis Frees software and highly recommended. Click here for more information
- Test your modem speed. Concerned that your internet service provider is a tad slow? Maybe it's your modem. Click here to check it out.
- Interested in astronomy? This site gives you a new picture of our heavens each day. Click here Another really good astronomy site may be found here
Finally:
If you would like to contribute to this newsletter it's really simple. Just 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 go to this site: http://members.optushome.com.au/sira
If you have any comments about the design of this newsletter, please feel free to e-mail the designer & editor by clicking here.
The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the Scotland Island Residents Association Committee.
