Pittwater Offshore Newsletter

History Corner

In 1804, Broken Bay was again carefully surveyed, this time on the order of Governor Hunter, who had succeeded Phillip. The number of settlers had greatly increased and the natives, in an interview with the Governor complained "most ingenuously" as he reported, that they were being driven back from the river and the shore by the settlers. They asked that a certain portion of the shore might be assigned to them as their own. The Governor promised that no more settlement should be made on the lower portion of the river or bay, and that this part should be their own.

It seems probable that after this they congregated in Pittwater for some years. Old inhabitants have recorded the great number of "blackfellows" who lived on the shores of the inlet. They also told of their middens which may still be found from time to time which show shells of oysters, whelks and cockles which they must have eaten in enormous quantities. These middens or aboriginal refuse dumps have been found far up the hillsides as well as near the shore and some caves were found full to the roof with shells and the wood ash of long burnt-out fires. (My wife and I can remember erosion of the sea wall near Catherine Park which revealed just such a midden with huge shells, much larger than those seen today. L.W.)

The survey of the inlet carried out by Governor Hunter probably gave impetus to the naming of the different Pittwater localities. From the time of Phillip the south head of the bay had been called Barrenjuee, with the final syllable pronounced and each one equally accented as the natives did. Barenjuee has, since those early days, been spelt Barranjo, Barenja and Barrenjee, with other possible variations and has only been permanently accepted as Barrenjoey in the last hundred years. Many may regret that the use of native names should be altered or vulgarised to save a little trouble in pronunciation..

The only other name that can be definitely attributed to Phillip besides Pittwater is the first identification of Lion Island. He called the rock, which stands at the entrance to Broken Bay, Mount Elliott ,because he thought that it resembled Gibraltar. Gibraltar was where his friend, General Elliott, had inflicted a tremendous defeat of the united fleets of France and Spain, then at war with England, in 1781 and again in 1782. The island was shown as Mount Elliott on many early maps and was remembered as this by many early residents. But it is now accepted as Lion Island and it certainly does resembled a lion couchant gazing like a guardian through the heads to the Pacific.

Next month: What was the Hundred of Packenham?

Leicester Warburton

Pittwater General Manager Retires
Angus Gordon, Pittwater Council’s General Manager, will retire on 1 May 2005, after serving at the helm of the young council for nine years. He achieved the council’s top administrative role just four years after it was formed on 1 May 1992.

At its meeting on Monday 28 February, Pittwater Council granted Mr Gordon’s request to retire due to ill health, and released him from his current employment contractual obligations. Mr Gordon’s contract was due to expire in October 2006.

In the nine years that Mr Gordon has served Pittwater Council as General Manager, he has achieved significant change and has raised the council’s profile to be that of one of the best councils in New South Wales. Under his leadership Pittwater Council has won numerous awards in a wide range of fields, including the most prestigious in local government – the Bluett Award – in 2003, which rated Pittwater as the most progressive council in the State.

Pittwater Councillors voted to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of Mr Gordon to Pittwater with the presentation of the Pittwater Medal at a dinner to be held in his honour.

Mr Gordon said: “It has been a great honour to serve the community of Pittwater, to have worked with the Councillors in a team effort to improve the area and to have had the pleasure of heading up such a magnificent staff.”

Pittwater Mayor Lynne Czinner said: “It was with great regret that Pittwater Council accepted the request by Angus Gordon for early retirement. It is through Angus’ expertise and guidance that Pittwater Council has flourished and become a leader of local government in various areas in New South Wales. The General Manager and staff had visions of what they wanted to achieve for Pittwater, and it is with pride that we saw those visions become realities. The acquisition of the Warriewood Wetlands, the Greenhouse Park at Winnererremy Bay, the innovative designs of new community facilities such as Mona Vale Library, Avalon Recreation Centre and the Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre, and partnerships with our community are prime examples of how Angus led the way to success. Council, General Manager and staff have been a really cohesive team, and we are very sorry to see Angus go. With his departure we will all lose a good friend”.

Church Point Ferries - Good News!
PENSIONER EXCURSION TICKET (PET)
It's not very often we can offer any good news re fares but this is one of them. After protracted (read: time consuming, frustrating and sometimes outright infuriating) negotiations with the MoT (by all private ferry operators) we are pleased to be able to announce the availability of a limited PET. The basic effect is that the cost per trip for those eligible will drop from $2.46 (blue 13 trip ticket) to $1.25 - plus most other public transport becomes free for the day.
The limitations, forced upon us by the MoT, are:

• It is only available to offshore residents.
• Until 29th May 2005 you must fill out a voucher every time you buy a PET.
It could have been a lot more onerous - contact Jack if you want all the gory details.
To ensure the residency condition is met you have to apply to us for a "PET pass". To do this:
Make sure you have either a Pensioner Concession, NSW Seniors or War Widower Concession card with you.
• Make sure you have proof of local residency with you (e.g.. drivers license, rate notice, telephone bill etc. that has your name and address on it).
• Make sure the address on the proof of residency is on Scotland Island or in Elvina, Lovett or Morning /Towlers Bay.
• Contact Alan (mobile 0419 946 566) and arrange to meet him to fill out an application for a PET pass.
• Fill out the application on the spot, Alan will help you where necessary.
• Alan will issue a "PET pass" to you on the spot and give you a book of vouchers.
To buy a PET:
• Sign and date a voucher.
• Show your "PET pass" to the ferry master. Be prepared to show the ferry master your concession card if he asks for it.
• Give the ferry master $2.50 and the signed and dated voucher.
• The ferry master will give you a date stamped PET, good for the rest of the day.
To use a PET on the ferry that you have bought earlier in the day:
• Show your "PET pass" to the ferry master.
• Be prepared to show the ferry master your concession card if he asks for it.
• Show the PET to the ferry master who will check the date and punch it (not on mag strip).
Jack Kirkpatrick Alan McGrath

The plain Truth

You may be interested in knowing how much data (approximately) you use when surfing the net. This can be useful to know when choosing a broadband plan. The figures below are typical per month usage.

500 plain text E-mails =2.5MB	500 HTML E-mails =12.5MB
60 E-mails attachments= 6MB	20 photo E-mails =20MB
1000 Web pages= 10MB	20 Music downloads= 60MB
4 Movie trailers= 88MB	4 hours Online Games= 200MB
Routine antivirus and windows updates for protecting your computer= 100MB

Thought For The Day
“It takes 72 muscles to frown and only 14 to smile.”
Are you burning energy, or conserving it, while you read your emails?

House Wanted

We are looking for a liveable waterfront island home for ourselves and three children. We are an interested buyer with finance approved, seeking motivated private seller. Please call Peter on 0417 062 061 or email details to option3@bigpond.com

HELP! I am looking for a kindly soul who has a water front property near Cargo or Bells Warf who would be interested in allowing my wife to use their Warf to tie up her tinnie. She finishes work after the last ferry and the cab costs are escalating so we are happy to pay for use of a Wharf. It is only a little boat so won't take up much room. Anyone interested please contact Richard on 0400 311 531.

Scotland Island Players “Secession Revue”

Calling all Actors, Singers and Dancers

The Players are going ahead with the Revue. We have had two meetings and there is plenty of interest.

If you attended one of the meetings or if you missed out but would still like to be in the Revue, we are having two nights of sorting out who will do what – these are not really auditions (so you don’t have to be nervous) but just a sorting out, as everyone will have a chance to do something! Everyone is welcome, you don’t have to have any experience just a willingness to join in.

We are having one night for Guys and one for Gals.

Guys are called for Monday 4 April at 7:30pm at Bob and Kerry’s home on Top of the Island, corner of Fitzpatrick and Thompson directly above Cargo.

Gals are called for Tuesday 5 April at 7:30 at Bob and Kerry’s.

Phone Kerry or Bob on 9999 4092 with questions or for directions on finding our home. Please contact Kerry on 9999 4092 or Sharon 9997 6017 if you have any questions

Crime Prevention Project for Pittwater

Pittwater Council is working with local Police and its community to prevent crime through a new project, Community Engagement – Crime Prevention Through Education.

The Council has received $40,000 funding from the Attorney-General’s Department to implement the program over the next 12 months. During this time, it will conduct three education campaigns focusing on Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault; Break Enter and Theft; and Reporting Crime/Personal Safety.

Through these campaigns, Pittwater Council hopes to:

• Increase community awareness of crime prevention principles and strategies through an extensive media and communication strategy.
• Reduce the level of fear of crime in the community via the promotion of positive messages about crime prevention and safety in Pittwater.
• Encourage residents to adopt protective strategies to reduce their rates of victimisation and to implement crime prevention practices.

Mr Tony Van Den Hurk, Project Co-ordinator, said: “We believe that this innovative project will help to prevent crime in Pittwater. We ask that all local community organisations who distribute regular newsletters or circulars to their members please contact us, with a view to participating in this project. We need the assistance of our community to help get the message across that crime CAN be prevented.”

Mr Van Den Hurk can be contacted on 9913 2522 or 0419 683 699 or email: tony_vandenhurk@pittwater.nsw.gov.au

SIRA Issues March 2005

1.. Water Supply
Main waterline to the island has been secured by a padlock
New water line: Quote more expensive than expected. Short deferment so that more of work can be completed at one time (cost saving).

2. Waste Strategy
Clean Up Australia Day was very successful. Thanks to Colin Haskell and area coordinators, as well as Toby Jay for collecting and removing waste with his barge

3. Community Vehicle
Concern re cost greater than grant
SIRA to explore ways to increase grant for new lease and economise on vehicle management costs
1800 number cost is currently in excess of $200/month. Decision made to change free call arrangement to user pays. 1800 number to be discontinued and a new prepaid mobile telephone established. Estimated cost reduction in excess of $2000 year.

4. Church Point Precinct Master Plan
Requests have been made to Pittwater Council by SIRA, Western Shores and On Shore residents to separate car parking from Master Plan. PWC unlikely to agree.

5, Car parking at Church Point
SIRA still waiting on ‘pro bono’ legal advice re car parking at Church Point. Additional ‘pro bono’ opinion being sought.
Special General Meeting of island and offshore residents to be called to discuss offshore strategy to fight potential car parking losses once legal advice received.
Need to raise money for General Funds towards future legal fees to fight car park proposal.

6. Roads and Drainage
Fitzpatrick Avenue run off working be scheduled for Saturday 23 April starting at 0900. Sleepers are on site and heavy work being done by contractor, however help needed from users, “locals” and anyone else who is willing to lend a hand
SIRA is taking action to arrest runoff damage down Fitzpatrick Avenue.

7. Public wharves
Date of Special General Meeting to be determined at April SIRA Committee Meeting. Aim of SGM: To facilitate consensus on residents’ needs and desires for inclusion in the consultation process with PWC.

8. Pittwater Offshore Directory (POD) 2005
A number of requests for full page ads have been received.
Ads will also be listed in the Pittwater Offshore Newsletter.

Still looking for volunteers to assist with the new POD.

9. Master Plan for Sewage and Water
First meeting of the sub-committee was held on Saturday 19 March. A major workshop is planned to inform and consult with stakeholders.

10. Hall Management
The hall management sub-committee met and agreed that there is a need to increase involvement in managing the SI Community Hall. Initial step would be to have a key on the island. A plan is being developed with the aim of increasing local “control”; investigating ways of increasing use and improving the facilities.

11. Historic Photos
A grant application has been lodged to assist in establishing this exhibit.

12. SIRA Committee Meetings:
Committee meetings are held the second Monday evening of each month except January. The next meeting will be held on Monday 11 April 2005.

13 SIRA Committee 2004-2005
Shar Jones (President)
Greg Roberts (Vice President)
Paul Purvis (Vice President)
Kerry Borthwick (Secretary)
Deryn Vokins (Treasurer)
General members: Claire Atkins, Pam Bradbury, Trudy Engler, Rosemary Haskell, Sharon Kinnison, Jennifer Knox, Colin Monger, Annette Ritchie, Guyren Smith, Gillian Unwin, David Wardman

Apologies to Jennifer Knox who was left off the list last month!

14. Contacting SIRA
Email address: SIRAPittwater@hotmail.com
Postal address: PO Box 70, Church Point, NSW, 2105

Come along to the Sale this Saturday at Michael Hall's house, 58 Florence Terrace, Scotland Island (Top of Carols Hill or Top of Eastern Wharf steps - pink ribbons on trees outside).

The local guide

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