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| January 1, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Newsletter
for
Offshore Residents
of Pittwater, Australia - Volume 11, Issue 453
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Editorial Something really special happened on Pittwater, the evening of December 22nd. A group of offshore residence came together with nothing other than a desire to create something incredibly beautiful specifically for our community. Nearly 40 people had spent considerable time rehearsing and refining their voice for a carols recital aboard one of our working barges at Frog Hollow, then at Church Point. To say it was fantastic understates the magical atmosphere that was created by the calm waters – the incredible colours - the sweet voice of the choir, the camaraderie and the genuine sense that something quite unique and memorable was happening before our very eyes and ears. The amazing success of this evening has prompted many discussions and comments, such as; ”… so amazing that it has got to happen next year” and “maybe it will become another offshore institution, just like the dog race“. Whatever happens is in the hands of those involved, but you can be assured that if it does happen next year, there will be a bigger and even more appreciative crowd than there was this year, because the word is already out – the Offshore Floating Christmas Choir is something really worth seeing! To all those involved; the organisers, the singers, the assistants, the choirmaster, everyone, you have done this community proud. We thank you for your commitment and the selfless spirit with which you gave up your time to create something so wonderful for all of us. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year. Enjoy Contents
Beware Boats Stolen Possibly an Islander A couple of smaller craft that generally tie up in front of the car park have been stolen and used by someone to get across to the island. This has happened on a couple of occasions and usually happens very late at night. The offender, who has been seen, and a description has been given to the police, usually abandons the boat, damaged, on the south side of the island. Most of us have a fair idea of who comes and goes around our part of the island, so if you do see anything unusual - a boat floating untethered - somebody using a boat other than the usual owner, especially at unusual hours, please let you local police know. Likewise if you see someone unfamiliar fiddling with a boat and you know the owner, take note of some details and let the owner know. No harm in letting them know and you might just be able to give some pertinent information that may assist with the apprehension of a thief.  ArtZpace, The Emerging Artist Show  15 talented artists of diverse backgrounds, ages and art practices will come together to put on the third in the series of hugely successful annual shows under the aegis of Pittwater Council. In the past, the event has attracted an enormous response from the Peninsula and visiting holidaymakers alike, as the place to find new work by some of the best young and older artists before they're too famous to be affordable. The work is diverse as well, ranging from orthodox to edgy in a variety of media: painting, ceramics, printmaking, photography, drawing and collage. Because the show has been so popular, it has been extended an extra weekend this year. Gallery owners and museum directors also attend the show and a place in ArtZpace offers its artists the possibility of gallery representation. Opening night is Friday, 8 January 2010 from 6-9pm and wine will be served. After that, the show is open daily from 10am to 5pm and closes on the afternoon of the 17th. Free Home Sustainability Assessments available on Scotland Island The Australian Government’s Green Loans Program is providing free home sustainability assessments and interest-free Green Loans for recommended improvements. The assessments (valued at over $ 250) recommend tailored energy and water saving options. These may range from simple actions like switching to energy efficient lights and replacing showerheads, to larger scale changes such as solar panels. Step 1 - Book your Free home sustainability assessment. Step 2 - Receive your free tailored home sustainability report. Step 3 - Choose which recommended actions you’ll take to improve your home. You can also apply for an interest-free Green Loan of up to $ 10’000 to make the bigger changes. Your home sustainability assessment is the first step in qualifying. Book your free home sustainability assessment. At no cost a qualified assessor will visit your home and will advise you of the best actions to reduce your energy use, increase the comfort of your home and reduce environmental pollution. Assessments are now available on Scotland Island. Call Ueli on 0414 088 999 (or e-mail to Barbara.ueli@bigpond.com) to get more information and book your assessment. You can also visit www.environment.gov.au/greenloans The Illustrated Journal Workshops Pittwater Workshop Jan 9th 2010 Creative Illustration and Writing Techniques  We are delighted to announce our first "Pittwater Illustrated Journal Workshop" to be held on January 9th from 10 am till 4pm at " Art Space Rouge" a roomy artists studio just a short stroll from the ferry which connects to picturesque Elvina and Lovett Bay's from Church Point. Faye and Netty will be working together to bring you a varied and highly practical workshop which introduces you to techniques in both creative writing and illustrating, as well as general information about artist materials and how to combine them. You will even learn how to make your own bamboo ink drawing pen. There will be studio activities as well some short excursions into the beautiful, lush surroundings of Elvina and Lovett Bay - so bring your walking shoes, camera, hats and sunblock. The cost of the full day workshop is $230 and includes all artists materials and a quality, hard cover, bound artists journal for you to begin your journaling adventure. A non refundable deposit is required to secure your place for this course as numbers are limited to 15. Bring your own lunch or book a delicious catered lunch for an additional $35 p.p. Booked lunches need to be paid for when making your booking so that catering arrangements can be made. Group size is strictly limited and places are filling fast, so don't miss out on this inspirational workshop. Details at www.illustratedjournalworkshops.com ...or contact Faye on 0438 824 690 faye@fayewilson.com or Nettie Lodge on 9997 8429  Local Council Notices January Art Attack Avalon Recreation Centre will be showcasing works from emerging and local young artists as part of the yearly ArtZpace project, as well as a photographic exhibition and a display of handmade textiles during the month of January 2010. Pittwater Council has been setting aside space at the centre since 2008 for established and emerging young artists to display and sell their work in a professional setting. Artists displaying their work include Christine Mackinnon, Sarah Johnson, Liz Dunn, Tess Barnard, Donna Ravenscroft, Eunice McAllister, Frederic Veniere, Guy Hawson, Caroline Munro, Julia Sample, Liz Macdonald, Elli Mundell, Jimi May, Jack Shanahan and Kate Dutch. Council’s Community Development Manager Lindsay Godfrey said that the ArtZpace project forms part of Pittwater Council’s five year cultural plan and helps artists promote their work to a wider audience. The photographic exhibition running along side ArtZpace is called the ‘Elements of Nature Series’ and is by Malcom Walsh. The exhibition includes beautiful images of the northern beaches taken over the last two years and is Malcom’s first exhibition. The handmade textiles on display are designed by Sally Campbell. Working with villagers in different areas of India, Sally’s aim is to keep alive the disappearing art of handmade textiles. Opening night for ArtZpace, along with the photographic works and textile display, takes place on Friday 8 January 2010 from 6pm at the Avalon Recreation Centre, 59a Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon. ArtZpace runs from Saturday 9 to Sunday 17 January 2010 from 10am to 5pm and all artworks are for sale. The photographic exhibition and the textile display will run from 10am to 5pm from Saturday 9 to Thursday 14 January 2010. Newport Community Centre will also feature artwork from local artist Simon Barlow whose work includes distinctive floral pieces, seascapes and landscapes. The exhibition opens on Friday 8 January 2010 from 6pm and will run from Saturday 9 January to Sunday 17 January from 10am to 6pm daily. Newport Community Centre is located at 11-13 The Boulevarde, Newport. To find out more information about activities at Council’s community centres in 2010 visit: www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au Media contact: Pat Rudgley, Community Facilities Coodinator Ph: 9970 1156 or 0417 218 884  Mona Vale Library Newsletter Including forthcoming events Reading activities Author Talks Book reviews etc Click image to load flyer Jazz on the Water at Church Point First Sunday of Every Month at Waterfront Store/Cafe  World Match Racing Champ Nicky Souter Doing Long Division with a World Champ For World Match Racing Champ, Nicky Souter, the long of it has been the many years that it has taken to be an overnight sensation. The short of it, is that there are just three places on the Australian 2012 Olympic Women's Match Racing Team. Fifteen of them started in the squad over a year ago and already there are just nine!  'Out on the water - winning. © LG Womens Match Racing Championships' John Curnow Nicky got to be that sensation by working her way from her first boat, a Manly Junior to Ynglings and then went on to win the Flying Eleven Nationals. She is the only women ever to do so, by the way. I asked her recently about her dinghy origins and the learning curve contained therein. 'Definitely small boat sailing teaches you so much. After moving on from my Flying 11 in 2000, I spent five years in the RPAYC Youth Development program, which is designed to introduce you to yacht racing and match racing as a pathway out of the smaller dinghies.' Clearly already a talent in the making, she was handpicked from the youth squad to travel to the UK with Bob Oatley's 66 Foot ‘Wild Oats X' team to compete in the 2003 Admirals Cup with the crew. This was the year Australia won the Admirals Cup again after a very long hiatus. 'What a tremendous trip and I really got a taste of what International sailing at the elite level is all about. Afterwards my Match Racing and big boat sailing took off', Nicky commented. Fortunate maybe, but the wisdom of that choice was very sage indeed. After the many years of dedication to the task, today she is the reigning Women's World Match Racing Champion.  Gold suits you Nicky. © LG Womens
Match Racing Championships - John Curnow
Bob Oatley has always been good to me. I got such a thrill in 2005 when Mark Richards and the rest of us crew took ‘Wild Oats XI' on to win the treble of Line Honours, Handicap and Race Record for the Sydney to Hobart', she added. I would think that just may be a little understated when it comes to discussion of their achievements with that McConaghy built, Reichel-Pugh speedster. Always happy and polite (just like her Mum Louise), Nicky is one focused athlete, thrilled to be at the top of her game. For example, when I asked Nicky about her thoughts on being in canvassed as a possible Australian Female Sailor of the Year, she replied, 'For sure it would be a great honour, but I know that there are some very talented girls in that group. You have my fellow squad mate Katie Spithill and of course, there's Elise and Tess with their Beijing Gold!' Now that Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson have been awarded that title, Nicky was just as quick to applaud them. 'They worked hard and won Gold in some pretty interesting conditions. It is fantastic and they're thoroughly deserving winners', she added. It is fair to say that Nicky definitely has her eye on London and the 2012 Games. As mentioned, there are just three spots for that journey and the squad of the original 15 was cut back to 12 in March this year and is currently standing at nine since they got home from Nicky's win in Europe. By March 2010, it will be down to just six or seven. Make that cut and you're at least a 50/50 bet, but then somehow I would not think Nicky is going to rest there. 'To make the team for the Olympics, you have to have a lot of determination and drive, especially seeing that there is only room for three girls on the plane! If I make it, it will show that all the hard work over years have paid off. With so many girls going for just three places, it's very competitive on the water, but thankfully, we all get along really well.' Phew is all I can say. Presently, the road to 2012 involves three days a week with on-the-water training in Sydney and a stint in Canberra at the Australian Institute of Sport for intense fitness testing and training. 'After that, our Summer racing kicks off with a very busy schedule, including a massive line up of international regattas both for the World Cup events and Grade 1 & 2 Regattas, which are mainly in Europe', Nicky informed me. They start with Miami in January and then a busy nine months of activity to follow, so her only large craft activity this time around was aboard ‘Wild Oats XI' for the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge. Nicky won the World Match Racing title at Lysekil, Sweden and also the Australian Women's Match Racing Championship on Sydney Harbour recently in the Elliott 6. The later, she has done six out of the last seven years, in fact. I asked her what it's like to sail the new McConaghy built Elliott 6m at Kieler Woche in Germany, when they will be getting their own McConaghy Elliott 6m's back here in Australia and how they any different to the original ones. 'We recently received Yachting Australia's brand new Elliott 6m's, fresh from McConaghy's in China. Incidentally, I did a stint on reception at McConaghy's Mona Vale facility, as well as sailing on the two ‘Wild Oats' that they built, so it is kind of a bit like coming home with the new McConaghy Elliott 6m. Anyway, in the middle of October we took the plastic wrapping off and set them both up. I loved racing them at Kiel. They're very similar to the original Elliott 6 fleet here in Sydney and NZ, with changes to the hull shape and keel and come with carbon rigs and smaller sail areas etc. These boats are very dinghy like - very quick and responsive for Match Racing. Let's hope the umpires can keep up!' Nicky mused. Simply put, Nicky draws her motivation from 'Winning!' Her biggest goal right now is to survive the next cut in Feb/March 2010, so she can keep on campaigning towards 2012. You would have to be motivated, because unlike other professional sports, she has to work a normal day, as well as train. A week looks a little bit like this:
Smile on the dial factor was my next question for Nicky. Is it all just training now or is there still a buzz? 'I definitely do get a buzz from it, especially when we won the Worlds a few months back. It's also great that we have a massive support base here in Australia and it showed on October 10, when RPAYC held a celebration for us at our club in recognition of the things we (Nicky and fellow squad members) have been able to do because of their support and backing. The clubhouse was packed with family, members, employers, sponsors and supporters. This really showed how many people back at home are supporting our squad. We are doing a lot of training, but you need to put the hours on the water in to make results.' No disputing that. Good miles makes good champions, as my rowing coach used to say. All those miles make it a long road for sure. Hopefully for Nicky, the answer will be a very short ‘YES!' (you're going to London) and unlike those umpires she mentioned, we will definitely be keeping up with your progress Nicky.  Sometimes there’s even enough time
for a laugh. © LG Womens Match Racing Championships - John
Curnow
 by John Curnow 9:35 PM Wed 16 Dec 2009 GMT courtesy of www.sail-world.com/Australia Caught up in Xmas madness? 
Michael tours Australia giving readings. His last visit to the island in September was sold out several times over, so this time he is here for two days. Book now to avoid disappointment: 0410 574 531 For more information, background, pricing etc open the poster. Heart Attack Slideshow What to do ...well worth 45 seconds of your life! Click "HeartAttack12.pps" to download the MS Power Point presentation. Note you need to have Microsoft Power Point software (or similar application capable of running this format slideshow) already installed on your computer to view this slideshow..... DEFINITELY WORTH 45 SECONDS OF YOUR LIFE ! You Asked.. Island Cafe needs helpers The Island Cafe will be opening again in 2010 and I am looking for people who are interested in helping out with either making coffee, serving food or making cakes and biscuits. If you would like more information, please contact Maddy as per the details below. (m) 0421 742 049 (e) maddybandfield@gmail.com Camera Lost Lost camera at Church Point at the Scotland Island Dog Race on Xmas Eve - Canon IXUS 970 Digital Camera in small blue/black case. If found please contact Iain or Tracy at ismale@blueglider.com or 9999 4766 House Sitter Required We are thinking of going away for the month of February and are looking for a responsible person/couple to look after the house and feed the pets - an old lab, 2 cats & some fish. We are on the waterfront on the east side of the Island with jetty & pontoon. Rent free but you need to be very reliable with references. Phone Col & Marjolyn Batt 9997 4037 Missing Family Member.. I am searching for a family member on behalf of my mother. Simon Anderson has a sister (name unknown) who lives on Scotland Island. Are there any women who live there that have a brother called Simon Anderson? This is just a possible lead I have. Simon's wife Kerry is my mothers half sister. They know each other but have lost contact as Simon & Kerry moved from their house at Arcadia Vale. Contact Virginia Casimatis - vcass@tpg.com.au For Sale If you have something for sale that you think locals would like - let us know and we will put an entry in the PON at the beginning of each month...  Moving
Sale 9 January 2010CLAIRE AND LUKE’S PLACE 12 Thompson St, SCOTLAND ISLAND Enquiries welcome now 9979 4709 Huge list of items for sale - just click the image to load the flyer... Commuter Berth & Parking A Rare Opportunity to Secure Your Own Commuter Berth and Parking for 25 years. Tony West from Quays Mariner is currently offering a limited number of transferable 25 year Sub-leases for seven metre commuter berths at The Quays Marina, Church Point. Of the six to be sold, there are two remaining. These will be sold on a first come first served basis. A single car space will be included in the reserved car park. For details or to register your interest please contact Tony West on 9997 2800 or Claudio on 0418 460 345. The Local Guide Community Information
Transport
Real Estate
Services, Clubs & Accommodation
Island Classes (Fitness, Dance, Art etc)
Groups
Government Organisations
Airlines, Buses and Railways
Weather Scotland Island Tides, Moon phases, Sun rise & set Local Weather Forecast Radar weather for Sydney (128k circle) Emergency Contact Numbers
Archived Newsletters A complete set of past electronic newsletters since May 2000 can be found and read at https://www.ymlp.com/pubarchive.php?sira or by clicking here or by visiting the Mona Vale Library. The Island website is at www.scotlandisland.org.au To Contribute If you would like to contribute to this newsletter it's easy!. Send an e-mail to the editor (editor@scotlandisland.org.au) or by clicking here. Type your contribution (100 words or so 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, it will appear next month. Subscription Information To get on and off this newsletter, click here or got to: http://www.scotlandisland.org.au/signup . To change your address, click the 'modify' link at the bottom of this newsletter or send an email to the editor@scotlandisland.org.au The
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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