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| November 1, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Newsletter
for
Offshore Residents
of Pittwater, Australia - Volume 12, Issue 626
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Contents
 Teacher Stop Work Meeting at Newport Public School Wednesday 2nd November till 10.30am We have just been informed that Newport public school teachers are having a stop work meeting on Wednesday. Classes will resume at 10.30am. There will be no supervision for the children until then. So the ferries will run a school run leaving Church Point at 9.30am. We will then pickup in this order; Elvina North - Elvina South - Bells - Tennis - Eastern and then Carols, then over to Newport where Paula will meet the younger children and walk them up to school. The Lovett bay kids will have to make their own way to one of these pickup points or their parents can drive them to school. For the Carols wharf commuters we will still do the 9.20am pickup that goes directly to Church Point. Also a very heartfelt thank you to Lizzy from Interlace for her donation to the ferry kids of some Halloween decorations. Very much appreciated and verrrry scary. Church Point Ferry Service Crew Melbourne Cup at the Scotland Island Fire Shed
Tuesday 1 November from 2pm  $5.00 per head - Kids Free $2.00 and $5.00 Sweeps Halloween in the Park.  What a lovely event we all had on Sunday. Several families came down the Catherine Park to celebrate All Hallows Eve eve. There was a witch hunt, (poor Anne Willman was never going to outrun the teenagers, but she gave it a good try). Emma Valente your ghostly meringues were gorgeous! There were some ghoulish and gruesome costumes. Thanks all the mums and dads. Special thanks has to go to Betsi Beem Pippa, Kat and the SICKOs (Scotland Island Crotchet and Knitting Organisation) for designing an amazing spider web installation that delighted and entertained all age groups with the challenge of tracing the web line to a treat or trick. I was so proud of our older kids who buddied up with the little ones to find a treat for each of them before attacking the challenge for themselves. Thanks to Jon Duhig for the photo, it says it all. (Susan Duncan feel free to use any or all of this in your next book, I loved re-visiting some of our more colourful stories) Farewell and Looking Forward Origins of the Café The “Kindy Café”, as it was originally known, was the inspiration of volunteers to support SIOCS with fundraising during a difficult time in 2008. SIRA supported this initiative and provided $5,200 to fund the purchase of the coffee machine, barista training, electrical requirements, catering equipment and supplies. It is to the credit of Maddy Bandfield and the hardworking volunteers that by early December, 2010 the loan had been reduced to $1,253.00. By March 2011 the loan had been reduced to $733.00 and SIRA agreed that this amount should be treated as a community contribution. Why the Café Ceased Operating Pittwater Council put SIRA on notice that the present location of the coffee machine and operation of the Café was not permitted. Council advised SIRA that the existence of the Café was brought to their attention which prompted the initial visit. During a subsequent inspection of the Hall and Kindy, Pittwater Council personnel advised that as a “one-off” event special consideration for the Café to operate could be given perhaps two or three times per year, but not as a regular activity. Alternatively, the Café could operate out of the Community Hall, but several modifications and purchases would be necessary. How Can the Café Continue? To operate the Café out of the Community Hall and comply with Council regulations would require an upgrade of the sink area to satisfy food handling guidelines (see summary), an electrical upgrade, and the purchase of a trolley on which to house the coffee machine. The approximate costing for this upgrade and equipment is $3,500 - $4,000. A regular Café booking for the Hall would have to accommodate usage by the community and other hirers. SIRA is willing to consider the possibility of these upgrades and would be happy to receive a proposal from anyone interested in running the Café together with a business plan for its operation. SIRA gratefully acknowledges the volunteers who gave their time and effort to the “Kindy Café” and the subsequent fund raising that assisted SIOCS and other organisations. Some of the wonderful residents who have kept the Café running so well over the years are Maddy and Scott Bandfield, Karl Mallon, Lisa McDonald, Petra Godfrey, Kerry Green, Anthony Pugh and the many others who chipped in to wash dishes, bake cakes and clear up. Thank you to all of you who have given up your Sunday mornings as a community service so cheerfully. SIRA Committee 30.10.11 Food Premises Guideline can be downloaded HERE Proposed Expansion of Church Point Commuter Wharf  The following notice was recently posted by Pittwater Council advising plans for the expansion of the Church Point Commuter Wharf. Proposed Expansion www. p i t t w a t e r.nsw. g o v. a u As part of the works adopted under the Church Point Plan of Management (PoM), Council is proposing to redevelop the commuter dinghy wharf. Council will complete the works in a number of stages with Stage One to be completed by early 2012. The initial stage will involve the purchase and installation of new pontoons forming the central spine to the facility with two pontoons reused from the existing facility to make up the proposed wings. The proposed commuter wharf will accommodate up to 110 boats when completed (Stage One) and alleviate issues of double and triple stacking. The completed project, with all fingers installed, will accommodate 130 boats and provide better protection for individual vessels. Upon completion of Stage One, a fee of $275 per annum will be charged for use of the facility (as approved in the adopted PoM), used to repay the capital cost of the facility’s construction. Council has also been successful in obtaining grants from both MSW Maritime and the Federal Government’s Regional & Local Community Infrastructure Program (RLCIP ) for the initial works. As funds build from the fee for use charge, further additions to the facility will be undertaken. The proposal to date has been fully liaised with both Scotland Island and Western Foreshore Community representatives. The proposed masterplan for the facility and associated drawings are on Council’s website under Major Projects. Here is the link to the full Church Point Plan of Management, adopted by Council in November, 2009, for your information Pittwater Council Website-Church Point If you have any enquiries in relation to the proposals please contact Council’s Landscape Architect, Mark Eriksson on 9970 1356 or email: mark_eriksson@pittwater.nsw.gov.au. The Offshore Choir has two gigs this November! 1) November 6: Art, Afternoon Tea and Acapella @ Manly Art Gallery, 3-4pm, Sunday November 6th (this weekend!) Last Chance to catch the artwork of your offshore community, at the final day of the Exhibition 'OFF SHORE - Artists of Scotland Island and Pittwater's Western Foreshore' Have some afternoon tea and listen to the sweet tones of 'The Last Ferry Home Choir' - the offshore community's own acapella group Manly Gallery Website http://www.gallery.manlyaustralia.com.au/events/?eID=16 2) November 13th: 'Ferry Cakes' @ Scotland Island Community Hall, 4pm on Saturday November 13th Free concert of two Choirs! 'Icing on the Cake,' who performed on the island to great applause at Watermarks 1 with 'The Last Ferry Home' our offshore songbirds Coffee and Tea and Cake will be provided so bring the kids, bring your friends, bring your granny!  The offshore choir is always keen for new members so come and join us. We rehearse in the SI Hall every Saturday from 2.30-4.30 (except School Holidays.) Sadly, Go Get is going  After 3 years at Church Point, Go Get car share is suspending the service from 12th December, as it isn’t commercially viable for them to continue. Go Get have been very supportive over the 3 years, wearing losses while local membership has grown slowly. While we have several very keen users – the committed few – and many more who like the security of having the shared car available even if they seldom use it, sadly it isn’t up to the level of usage in the inner city. Car sharing works best in the densely populated inner city, where several cars are available within walking distance, and individuals and businesses use the cars at various times of day and night and over the weekends. Here, we only have the one car which is mainly used on weekdays (why leave Paradise on the weekends?) and in the early days the dedicated car park was often pinched, which put people off joining the service. After all, hassle-free parking was the key benefit. (Now Council has painted the spot with bold stripes that rarely happens). Car sharing did benefit the whole community by reducing the number of cars in the Church Point car park. I know of 6 cars that weren’t kept, replaced or bought because of Go Get being at Church Point, and there were probably more. Sadly, we didn’t get enough people to use it regularly and to build up a fleet of shared cars here which would have made the service really viable. “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.” Niccolo Machiavelli But at least we tried. Go Get is contacting members direct via email and you can arrange to refund any unused membership fees. They will also arrange for Council to repaint the spot after the Go Get car has gone. Thanks to everyone who helped set it up here and to the many Go Get users. Caroline Adams, Towlers Bay. For further information please contact Go Get on 1 300 769 389 or www.goget.com.au. Or locally: Caroline Adams (Towlers Bay) on email caroline@davidadams.com.au Scotland Island Offshore Children's Services Progress Update October 2011  Since I started at the kindy in April lots of changes have happened and have been successfully implemented. In May we had a Working Bee which saw people not just from the Island but also from the mainland come together to revamp and re-orgainse the Kindy. Thank you to everyone for your amazing help that weekend. It was also a great way for me to get to know the parents and locals on the island. We have had many donations to the kindy since I started a big thank you to the following companies and people:-
Early August we had a spot check from accreditation which went very well and we passed everything so here is to being fully accredited in 2012, still a lot to do but what an achievement. Pittwater council have agreed to make some much needed repairs to the kindy and we are in the process of looking into designing a new playground so watch this space and keep fingers crossed. Due to all these changes and the implementation of The Early Years Learning Framework, numbers have increased and we are starting to fill up for next year so please get your names down for next year. ENROLLMENTS 2012 Please see attached a new survey regarding enrollments for next year and what care families may need. Please complete and all information will automatically return to us and we will be able to determine numbers for next year. Click this online link - Online Survey Thank you very much Liz Power – Director
The Council is hosting a free forum for parents who are concerned about their children’s use of social media and its effects on relationships. The forum is the second in a series of free information sessions the Council is organising for Pittwater parents. Community Services Manager Lindsay Godfrey said the forum was aimed at improving parents’ knowledge of how teenagers use social media and how they can help prevent bullying online. The forum will show a short film called Best Enemies, which is based on the true story of a teenage girl’s experience of being bullied online. Since it was first screened in 2009, the Best Enemies film has been shown in over 75 communities around Australia. Best Enemies CEO Ross Bar, youth worker Kim Huckerby and the young actor who plays the part of the teenage girl in the film will be at the forum. Parents will be able to discuss a range of issues and get advice on online privacy, cyber safety, bullying and how to prevent it and communicating with your child. The forum is on Thursday 10 November between 7pm and 9pm at Mona Vale Memorial Hall. Bookings are essential as places are limited; to RSVP call 9970 1152 or email suzi_pawley@pittwater.nsw.gov.au by Thursday 3 November. The forum is primarily aimed at parents but teenagers can attend if they wish. SPRING INTO BUSHCARE Now Spring has well and truly sprung Pittwater Council is inviting the community to help out at bushcare activities across the area. Acting Reserves and Recreation Manager Steve Lawler said there were three bushcare events being held over the next few weeks across Pittwater. “These events are a great opportunity for the community to get together and help protect the local environment,” said Mr Lawler. A community field day helping to rehabilitate and restore the Nareen wetlands on Saturday 29 October from 9am to 12pm. Help with planting and mulching and receive a morning tea and a free native plant. Meet at the Narroy Park playground cnr Narroy and Venetian Roads. This project is supported by the Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority. Revegetation of Careel Creek on Sunday 30 October from 9am to 12pm. Help with planting and mulching and receive a morning tea. Participants can also register for free native plants. This project is supported by the Hawkesbury Catchment Management Authority. This year’s Asparagus Fern Out Field Day is on Saturday 12 November. Help control one of Pittwater’s worst weeds, the noxious Asparagus Fern. The work will also assist in regenerating the endangered Pittwater Spotted Gum Forest. The event takes place at scenic Rocky Point, Lovett Bay. Catch a free ferry ride departing from Newport Wharf (Queens Parade) at 8.30am and return from Elvina Bay North at 3.00 pm. Volunteers receive a free morning tea and gourmet lunch on the day. This event is organised by Pittwater Natural Heritage Association with support from Pittwater Council, National Parks and Wildlife, Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority and DATS Environmental Services. Please rsvp on 9970 1367 or email peter_ziegler@pittwater.nsw.gov.au. Participants are encouraged to wear a hat, covered shoes, long pants and long sleeves and bring a water bottle to these events. Tools and training will be provided. For more information on any of the above events call Council’s Bushcare Officer Peter Ziegler on 9970 1367. COUNCIL TO CONSULT ON SHARED WASTE SCHEME Mosman, Manly, Pittwater and Warringah Councils have agreed to enter into a joint tender process for a new waste collection system to support the development of an alternative waste disposal facility at Kimbriki. The Council considered the scheme in a detailed report presented at its meeting this week and gave it in-principle support. The proposed system will be the subject of extensive communication and engagement before its introduction in 2014. The new system would see food and vegetation waste collected together in one bin and bottles and paper collected in another, to increase the potential for recycling of all waste products. Other features of the scheme include residents being given the choice of bin sizes; a change to fortnightly recycling collections; provision for a special ‘nappy service’ if compostable nappies are not introduced, plus a free kitchen tidy for householders to encourage the collection of food scraps. No changes are proposed to the general household clean-up collection, which would remain as two services each year. General Manager Mark Ferguson said Pittwater Council would begin consulting its residents immediately on the scheme. “We believe it can deliver great benefits in terms of recycling and cost recovery for our communities, with the amount of recoverable waste increasing significantly.” “Overall, the new scheme will give the northern beaches a long-term solution for its waste management.” “Recoverable waste will be turned into compost and other recycled products at Kimbriki when their new waste processing facilities open.” Mr Ferguson said that the proposed scheme would come into effect from 2014, provided agreement was reached with the other councils and Pittwater residents on the practical details. “Pittwater’s record on recycling is good and our community is aware of the importance of cutting down the amount of waste that’s going to landfill.” “However before implementing such a scheme we want feedback on the feasibility of what’s proposed.” To view the Council report on the shared waste scheme visit www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/council Mark Ferguson, Pittwater Council Ph: 9970 1105 COUNCIL TO CONSULT ON SHARED WASTE SCHEME Mosman, Manly, Pittwater and Warringah Councils have agreed to enter into a joint tender process for a new waste collection system to support the development of an alternative waste disposal facility at Kimbriki. The Council considered the scheme in a detailed report presented at its meeting this week and gave it in-principle support. The proposed system will be the subject of extensive communication and engagement before its introduction in 2014. The new system would see food and vegetation waste collected together in one bin and bottles and paper collected in another, to increase the potential for recycling of all waste products. Other features of the scheme include residents being given the choice of bin sizes; a change to fortnightly recycling collections; provision for a special ‘nappy service’ if compostable nappies are not introduced, plus a free kitchen tidy for householders to encourage the collection of food scraps. No changes are proposed to the general household clean-up collection, which would remain as two services each year. General Manager Mark Ferguson said Pittwater Council would begin consulting its residents immediately on the scheme. “We believe it can deliver great benefits in terms of recycling and cost recovery for our communities, with the amount of recoverable waste increasing significantly.” “Overall, the new scheme will give the northern beaches a long-term solution for its waste management.” “Recoverable waste will be turned into compost and other recycled products at Kimbriki when their new waste processing facilities open.” Mr Ferguson said that the proposed scheme would come into effect from 2014, provided agreement was reached with the other councils and Pittwater residents on the practical details. “Pittwater’s record on recycling is good and our community is aware of the importance of cutting down the amount of waste that’s going to landfill.” “However before implementing such a scheme we want feedback on the feasibility of what’s proposed.” To view the Council report on the shared waste scheme visit www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/council Mark Ferguson, Pittwater Council Ph: 9970 1105 CR HEGARTY ELECTED TO NSW COUNCIL EXECUTIVE Pittwater Councillor Julie Hegarty has been elected Vice President General of the Local Government Association of NSW (LGA). The elections took place this week at the annual conference in Nowra for all NS Councils. A new President, office bearers and 20 executives were elected by fellow delegates to the NSW Executive Board of the LGA. Popularly elected Mayor of Coffs Harbour, Cr Keith Rhoades AFSM was re-elected as President for a two year term. Cr Genia McCaffery of North Sydney Council remains on the LGA Executive in the position of Immediate Past President until October 2012. Cr Julie Hegarty will assume the position of Vice President General in October 2012 when Cr McCaffery’s two year term of Immediate Past President ends. Mayor Harvey Rose said he was delighted that Cr Hegarty had been elected to this important role. “Cr Hegarty has been a member of the LGA executive since 2002 and is a worthy candidate for this important position, said Mayor Rose. “Ms Hegarty has also been a Councillor at Pittwater for 16 years and will bring her many years of knowledge of local government issues to bear on the role. Harvey Rose, Pittwater Mayor Ph: 9970 1104 Kate Carragher-Hughes , LGSA Senior Media Officer Ph: 0408 256 405   AUTHOR TALK ON FINDING INNER PEACE Mona Vale library’s next Author Talk will feature Buddhist teacher Gen Kelsang Dao discussing the book Modern Buddhism; The Path of Compassion and Wisdom on Thursday 3 November at 6.30pm. Through her clear and practical teachings, Dao shows how to use meditation to find inner peace and happiness in busy modern life. Dao will discuss the book Modern Buddhism which has been written by internationally renowned Buddhist teacher Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Geshe Kelsang has established over 1200 Buddhist centres and groups throughout the world and is the author of 21 books on all aspects of Buddhist thought and practice. The author has been described as ‘presenting the very essence of compassion and wisdom in a way that is easy to understand and put into practice’. As Geshe Kelsang emphasises, ‘the explanation is not given for the purpose of intellectual understanding, but for gaining profound realisations through which we can solve our daily problems and accomplish the real meaning of our human life’. The Author Talk presenter Gen Kelsang Dao is the resident teacher of Mahasiddha Buddhist Centre in Bondi Junction and Geshe Kelsang’s representative in NSW. Dao was ordained as a Buddhist nun in the UK in 1997 and has been teaching meditation and Buddhism for over 14 years in Australia, the UK and America. In 2001 she was asked to start the Mahasiddha Buddhist Centre in Sydney and since that time has taught many classes and courses throughout Sydney. Mona Vale Library is located at 1 Park Street, Mona Vale. Bookings are essential; to book phone 9970 1600. Following the talk there will be light refreshments. Admission is $8 adult, $6 concession. AUTHOR SHARES CRIME TALE WITH A COMICAL TOUCH  Mona Vale library’s Author Talk on Wednesday 23 November at 6.30pm will feature author Derek Hansen presenting his latest book A Man You Can Bank On. A fast-paced thriller with a comical touch, A Man You Can Bank On tells the story of two thieves who pull off what they believe to be the best crime ever. However that was before they have to bury their stash after crashing into a carload of nuns! Set in an Australian drought-stricken town, the book’s central character is a former bank manager who rescues the town and transforms it with the stolen cash. But now the crims want their money, the cops want the money and he has the insurance investigator and a couple of hit men after him too! Born in England, author and Pittwater resident Derek Hansen spent time in Auckland and London before relocating to Australia more than twenty-five years ago. Hansen now shares his time between homes in Avalon and the Sunshine Coast. Derek Hansen published the bestselling Lunch with the Generals series and has subsequently written a further five novels and three collections of short stories. Catherine Buddin from the Library said Mona Vale had 11 titles by Derek Hansen which were popular with readers of all ages. Mona Vale Library is located at 1 Park Street, Mona Vale. Bookings are essential; to book phone 9970 1600. Following the talk there will be book signings and light refreshments. Admission is $8 adult, $6 concession. BUSHCARE VOLUNTEERS IN TICK RESEARCH PROJECT Bushcare volunteers in Pittwater are being asked to take part in a university research project into ticks. Researchers from the University of Sydney are looking into the presence of the Borrelia bacterium found in ticks and its connection to Lyme disease. In the United States, Borrelia bacteria are known to be linked to the presence of Lyme disease, which is one of the fastest-growing infectious diseases in America. The official position of Australian health professionals and NSW Health is that Lyme disease does not exist in Australia, as the Borrelia bacteria are only found in minute quantities in ticks. The university researchers are collecting tick samples on the northern beaches to clarify whether this is the case. Bushcare volunteers working alongside Council staff are being asked to collect any ticks they find and place them in specially marked containers. The collected ticks will be kept by the Council in a refrigerated state until they are passed onto the university. Bushcare coordinator Peter Ziegler said the project was also being supported by local vets and WIRES volunteers. “We stress that volunteers are not being asked to put themselves in jeopardy by collecting ticks.” “The aim is for volunteers to collect any ticks they find in the course of their work outside.” To find out more about the project and becoming a bushcare volunteer, contact the Council on 9970 1111. Investigation in Lyme Borreliosis and other Vector-Borne Diseases in People and Dogs in Australia Hello I would like to invite you to join a study I am conducting into several vector-borne diseases – Lyme Borreliosis, Bartonellosis and Rickettsiosis. As you may know, Lyme disease is an infection of humans and dogs that is caused by Borrelia bacteria that are usually transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected tick. In regions of the world where Lyme disease is endemic and well recognised, people’s dogs are also often infected by the same organism. This is because dogs, being ‘closer to the ground’ and having ready access to the undergrowth, are even more likely than their owners to be exposed to the vector ticks. Dogs are often regarded in these regions as “sentinels” of infection; in other words the dogs can act as an early warning of potential infection in humans in the area. Currently it is not clear whether humans are able to contract Lyme disease locally, here in Australia. Our research aims to helps answer this important question. We are sampling dogs in this area to test whether any of them are positive for Lyme infection (and some other organisms). In order for this research project to be fully informative I need your consent to obtain information about your dog(s) and I also seek your permission to take a blood sample from your dog(s). This is not expected to cause any harm at all and if we have any concerns, then it will not be done. This study has been approved by the Animal Research Ethics Committee at Murdoch University. If you wish to participate in the study I suggest that we proceed as follows: 1. You read all the information provided with this letter, sign the consent form and tell us that it is OK to collect the blood sample. If you live in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney you can take you dog(s) to one of the following vet hospitals that are participating in this study: Bilgola, Northern Beaches, Mona Vale and Pittwater. 2. Please would you also complete the short questionnaire about your dog? This information is vital for the study. The initial results of the blood test on your dog(s) will be available immediately. We will be using a test kit known as the Idexx Snap 4Dx. This provides information on whether your dog has been exposed to three bacterial organisms (Borrelia, Ehrlichia and Anaplasma) and whether he/she has heartworm. So this is a free heartworm test as well! You will be notified if there is any positive result. We will also be testing the blood using other tests (ELISA and Western Blots) with our colleagues in Germany. I am happy to discuss with you any concerns you may have about this study. All my contact details are provided below. Sincerely Peter Irwin, BVetMed, PhD, FACVSc (Canine Medicine), MRCVS Associate Professor in Small Animal Medicine Registered Veterinarian in WA and NSW, and Registered Specialist (WA) in Canine Medicine Direct office line: 08 9360 2590 Mobile: 0428 364868 Email: P.Irwin@murdoch.edu.au This study has been approved by the Murdoch University Animal Ethics Committee (Approval R2385/10). If you have any reservation or complaint about the ethical conduct of this research, and wish to talk with an independent person, you may contact Murdoch University’s Research Ethics Office (Tel. 08 9360 6677 or e-mail ethics@murdoch.edu.au). Any issues you raise will be treated in confidence and investigated fully, and you will be informed of the outcome. SCOTLAND ISLAND FLAG  Named in honour of the land of the Scots by Andrew Thompson 1773 - 1810, Scottish born pioneer, entrepreneur and local hero who was granted this ‘gem’ of Pittwater, circa 1809. The bold design features St Andrew’s Cross emblazoned with the stars of the Australian Southern Cross. St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. His saltire (cross) and the southern stars are proudly featured on Australia’s national flag of “Stars and Crosses”. The Constellation serves as a reminder of the local Indigenous people and their legends relating to the stars of the Southern Cross. The distinctive design acknowledges the history and heritage of Scotland Islanders. The Island flag can be flown or displayed ashore, aboard boats or wherever Scotland Islanders desire. John Vaughan Vexillographer, (Designer of the Scotland Island Flag in 2005) AUSTRALIANA FLAGS Showroom: 2/175 Sailor’s Bay Road, Northbridge NSW 2063 PO Box 38 NORTHBRIDGE NSW 1560 (T 02 9958-3246) john@australianaflags.com.au Andrew Thompson. (1773 - 1810) Thompson arrived in Sydney as a convict on the transport Pitt with the Second Fleet in 1792. He was sentenced to fourteen years transportation for the theft of cloth, valued at about 10 pounds, from the shop of a merchant. Thompson was born c.1773 and was therefore about nineteen on his arrival in Sydney. His father was a weaver manufacturer and dyer at Kirk Yetholm in Scotland and Andrew had been educated at a parochial school until forced to leave due to ill health. He was studying for the excise service when arrested. In the colony Thompson was appointed to the police service in 1793 and served with distinction at Toongabbie and other areas. In 1796 Governor Hunter appointed him to the Green Hills (later Windsor) and he rose to Chief Constable, a position he held until 1808. The Reverend Samuel Marsden praised Thompson's actions in the 1806 Hawkesbury floods when he saved the lives of 101 residents, plucking them from their rooftops in one of his boats. Thompson had received an absolute pardon in 1797. He built the first toll bridge at Windsor, established a brewery and a hotel, managed Governor Bligh's Hawkesbury farms, owned ships, a tannery and salt works. In 1804 Governor King had helped Thompson set up a salt manufacturing plant in Broken Bay. The first site was Mullet Island (now Dangar Island) on the Hawkesbury River but later Thompson moved his salt works to Scotland Island, named for his homeland. In 1809 Thompson was granted by Lieutenant Governor Paterson '120 acres on island near the southern extremity of Pittwater Bay - being the first bay on the south west side of the south head of Broken Bay. Rent: 3 shillings per year commencing after 5 years. Governor Macquarie later approved this grant. The grant reserved to the government 'the right of making a Public Road through the island and also reserving for the use of the Crown such timber as may be deemed fit for naval purposes'. At the salt works on the island Thompson extracted salt from seawater by means of an oil burner. He was able to extract 200 lbs (90 kgs) of salt a week. A house was built and a ship slipway. It was rumoured Thompson operated an illicit still on Scotland Island. Governor Macquarie was a valued friend and appointed him a justice of the Peace and Chief Magistrate on the Hawkesbury. Macquarie described him as a man of 'sober habits and good character'. The 'exclusives' of the colony hated and maligned Thompson. Macquarie appointed him a trustee of the new turnpike road from Sydney to Parramatta, which antagonised the Reverend Marsden, another appointee. Marsden retired in anger to his farms. By 1810 Thompson was ill as a result of his strenuous efforts in the Hawkesbury floods of 1809 and he died on 22 October 1810. His estate was valued at between £20,000 and £25,000 (pounds). In his will he bequeathed a quarter of his fortune to Governor Macquarie. Macquarie wrote that Thompson's death 'affected Mrs. Macquarie and myself deeply - for we both had a most sincere and affectionate esteem for our good and most lamented departed friend'. Thompson's was the first burial in the cemetery of St Matthew's Church at Windsor and Governor Macquarie composed the long epitaph carved on his tombstone, which may still be viewed today. Before his death Andrew Thompson had laid the keel of a vessel, which he named the "Geordy". "The Sydney Gazette" of 24 November 1810 states: On Wednesday, the 14th of the present month, a launch took place at Scotland Isle, Pitt Water, of a vessel of 18 tons, said to be one of the finest of her brethren ever built in the Colony.- She makes part of the devised property of the late Mr Thompson, who at the laying down of her keel gave her the name of the "Geordy". Following Thompson's death the island was initially rented to William Mason for £120 (pounds) for three years. Robert Lathrop Murray then purchased it. In 1812 Scotland Island was offered for sale and the Sydney Gazette advertisement declared it contains 'one hundred and twenty acres of good soil, extensive salt-works, a good dwelling-house and stores, labourers' rooms, and every convenience suitable for a fishery, or shipbuilding, also a vessel of about ninety tons, partly built, still on the stocks.' In the 1920s the foundations of Thompson's house and the remnants of a wharf were still in existence. (The text comes from a book on the history of the area called "Pittwater Paradise" by Joan Lawrence) Homes FOR SALE Gorgeous weekender or first home, Elvina Bay Price $625,000 Call 0416 212 098 FOR RENT Two bedrooms, split level, polished floors, NE facing, Elvina Bay Long term $400 per week, short term $650 pw Call 0416 212 098 Playpen wanted Grannie Sandy Walker is seeking a play pen without floor robust enough to contain a very active and strong 14 month old baby boy (If you have one please call me on 0417730056) The Local Guide Community Information
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views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the
Scotland Island Residents Association (SIRA), or
the Western
Pittwater Community Association (WPCA)
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