Contents:
A new online compilation
of 40+ years of plays, reviews and more
Roy Baker
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John
Travers, Tracy Smith, Nettie Lodge and Mark
Morgan performing in Caravan
(2004)
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These coming weeks see two theatrical offerings offshore.
First, on 11 February, we have Shakespeare’s As You
Like It (see the listings below for details and tickets). The cast includes islander
Tyler Johnson, who plays music live, and takes on the
roles of Corin (the shepherd), and old Adam, the trusty
servant. Shane O'Neill, from the top of the island, is
co-producer, and the production is directed by Paul
Kininmonth, a long-term island resident.
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Shakespeare's
The
Tempest,
performed in Catherine Park in 2020.
Photo courtesy ONeill Photographics
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Paul’s appreciation of the Bard will be familiar to many,
as are his previous offshore productions: The Tempest
(2020), Hamlet (2021), Much Ado About Nothing
(2022) and Othello (2023). All were performed in
Catherine Park, and this year’s venue will be the same.
Even if you aren't immediately attracted to Shakespeare,
do come along for the park ambience alone. There is
something consolatory about seeing a community gather in
the summer dusk to appreciate, or at least work towards
appreciating, this cultural colossus. People have done
this for over 400 years, first on the banks of the Thames
and now on those of Pittwater. Long may the tradition
continue.
On a different brow, 1 March sees the opening night of Secret
Island, a play written especially for offshore
Pittwater by an island resident. What’s more, the cast and
crew (and director) are drawn entirely from the island and
the bays. You are warmly invited to attend, if only to
find out how the play slanders you and your neighbours.
See the listings below for details and to buy tickets.
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Anyone
for Tennis?
(2005): one of many revues held in Scotland
Island Community Hall.
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Secret Island follows a fine tradition of island
farce, one stretching back many decades. That history is
now celebrated on the PON’s YouTube channel, where you
will find:
- footage from island productions from the 1980s: Sinbad
(1983), Out of This World (1984), Club
Gothic (1984), Flight of Fancy (1984), The
Wizard of Oz (1985), Halley's Review
(1986), Theatre Restaurant (1986), Magician's
Curse (1986), Variety Show (1987), Café
Vereaux (1987), Camelot (1987), Magic
Pudding (1987) and Murder Mysteries
(1988);
- more irreversible damage suffered in the 90s,
including material from the Silverfest Review,
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Out
of Asia Review, Off the Planet Review, Dimboola,
Canterville Ghost, Club Gothic Review
and Cadwells Comedy Capers. There's also The
Infamous Supercol, a short film featuring Col
Bailey.
- full-length recordings of more recent productions:
- SI Unco-operative, performed on the island
in April and May 1999;
- Caravan (2004);
- Open For Inspection (2006);
- The Rocky Horror Show (2007).
If you have recordings of any other shows that you would
like to share with the community, please contact me at editor@scotlandisland.org.au
and I can upload them to the PON YouTube channel.
It would be impossible to list everyone who has
contributed to offshore theatre over the decades. But
perhaps a few names stand out: Bob Blackwood, Rod Blaine,
Tracy Smith, Martin Erdman, John Travers, Annette
Freeland, Kerry Borthwick and Bob Bolton, among many more.
Kerry and Bob’s involvement in island theatre ended
several years ago, but, thanks largely to Robyn Iredale,
the offshore thespian tradition was revived last year with
Jasper Marlow’s Two Catherines play.
The PON YouTube channel isn't limited to
island theatre. It also includes:
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A
scene from the 2004 Scotland Island fare
closing ceremony
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- coverage of the 2004 Scotland Island ’28 Days on an
Island’ celebration of community, including a fire
ceremony devised principally by Emmie Collins and
Claire Atkins;
- footage of the 2004 Woody Point Yacht Club Christmas
party;
- material celebrating Trudi Engler, who taught ballet
on the island for many years;
- a 2005 film commemorating Karmel Patterson’s last
week on the school ferry;
- submissions to the 2006 island H20 360 short films
festival;
- a video I made, relating to the Fitzpatrick family,
who subdivided Scotland Island and Elvina Bay in the
1920s;
- interviews with the 2015 SIRA committee;
- a talk on the island’s Indigenous history, given in
2021.
Again, if you have any material appropriate for uploading
to the channel, please let me know.
To view the PON YouTube channel, click here. Much of the material appearing
on the channel was produced and collated by Boyd. We thank
him for these and his many other contributions to offshore
theatrics.
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Open
for Inspection (2006), featuring (l to r)
Justine Kimi, Tracy Smith, Jon Hazelwood, Bob
Bolton, Barbara Labram, Gordon Floyd and Larry
Woods
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What you didn't know about
your neighbour
 
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In
rehearsals, reading the hilarious script was
enjoyed by cast and crew alike.
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As has been (endlessly) observed, the latest offshore
play, Secret Island, opens in Scotland Island
Community Hall on 1 March (see listings below for details
and tickets).
It’s standard practice, I believe, to shore up flagging
interest in an island play by repeatedly referring to the
playwright’s local credentials, besides cynically
exploiting decades of community creativity and goodwill by
launching an online collection of previous productions
just prior to opening night.
 With
that in mind, I recently met islander and long-term
offshore resident Bogue Anthill, author of the play, and
asked him what he thought of the newly expanded PON
YouTube channel.
‘I’m sure I’ll find it very profitable’, he replied,
handing me his claim for copyright infringement. ‘But it’s
good you left out that unfortunate incident when a llama
was brought in for one of the shows. No footage exists.
You can breathe easy, Col.’
‘So you’ve already watched the whole collection?’ I asked.
‘Not just watched it. Analysed it too. Here are the
ingredients in the order that I wrote them down: comedy,
music, drama, Karmel, plot twists, jokes, semi-nudity,
Brian, bright sets, period costumes, Larry, helmets, oars,
underwear, Toby, men in drag, the inebriated, the mayor,
hecklers, Nettie, line fluffing, line improvising, line
dancing. The list goes on.’
 ‘Many
longtime residents lament the plays and revues of the
past’, I observed. ‘You know, the really funny ones that
were performed slightly before most of us moved here.
Obviously they were better than anything we’re ever likely
to see on the island again’.
Bogue nodded sadly. ‘Yes, but for the latest production, Secret
Island, I’ve tried to honour that great offshore
stage tradition’.
‘And now you’ve got a whole cohort of new residents to
lampoon’, I said. ‘Mind you, I hope a few of the old hands
get a mention too. I suppose we can look forward to at
least one Cass joke?’
‘Yes’, said Bogue. Then, after a brief phone call, he
modified his answer.
‘No’, said Bogue. ‘Cass has been a stalwart of the island
for decades. She’s the only reason I have water to drink.
I won’t have her mocked’.
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Bogue
Anthill, Scotland Island's best-known
playwright
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‘Nor anyone else on SIRA? Not Robyn? Not Colin?’
‘Of course not’, said Bogue. 'It’s to those and other
selfless souls that we dedicate this play. And now we’ve
pissed in their pockets, let’s hope that that makes any
defamation action less likely. Mind you, it didn’t do Ben
Roberts-Smith much good. Just saying’.
‘Don’t you have anything nice to say about the present
cast?’ I said, feeling it was about time I got some
praise. ‘Aren’t they just as ribald, daring, shocking and
funny as anyone from the past?’
‘Lets see’, said Bogue, followed by an uncomfortably long
pause. ‘We've got Larry (that takes care of the ribald
element), daring (that’s Roy and Emma), shocking (thank
you Betsi), funny (Nettie and Whitey). As for being as
good as anyone in the past, I think that’s all of them.
And that’s down to our cracking director. Thanks Sophie!’
Roy Baker
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Mike
Kneipp, Ellie Shore and Hazel Malloy, three
members of the group which has received a
significant bushcare grant.
Photos courtesy of ONeill Photographics
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Hazel Malloy is known to
many as the author of Sydney Local Native: 150+
native plant profiles for gardeners. But she's
also the Top of the Island Bushcare Group coordinator.
Hazel recently entered a Northern Beaches Council
competition for an environmental grant and below she
tells us what the winning grant is for, and how you
can help.
The Top of the Island
Bushcare Group has been dormant for several years but we
are back - and we are the winners of this year’s
Northern Beaches Council competition for environmental
grants! The grant is for the rehabilitation of the
intersection of Thompson Street and Fitzpatrick trail at
the top of the island, an important wildlife corridor
between Elizabeth Park and the Fitzpatrick Avenue
reserve. It’s also adjacent to my house, which makes it
easy to serve tea and cake to the group.
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Hazel
Malloy
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The grant is employing professional certified bush
regenerator Brad Jones for the year-long program. Brad
is tackling the weed infestations at the site with
chemicals that target specific weeds, such as asparagus
fern and ehrharta - and you can already see the results.
Brad is patient and generous in sharing his knowledge
gained from decades of experience. His enthusiasm is
infectious and working with him feels like a masterclass
in native gardening. Mike Kneipp, another island expert
in plants and site regeneration, is supervising on
Saturdays, and we are very lucky to have him.
Would you like to help?
This is a great opportunity to support a worthwhile
project, while adding to your knowledge of weeds and
native plants, and meeting other islanders. The bushcare
group meets twice a month, on the second Wednesday and
third Saturday. All are welcome, even if you can only
work an hour, or only semi-regularly. Sessions begin at
8 am and finish at 11 am during the summer, to beat the
heat. Our friendly and knowledgeable supervisors will
direct the work and tea and cake will be served on my
deck near the working site at 9 am.
We had our first sessions
in January and each time we had four eager volunteers
show up.
To volunteer for weeding
(or cake baking to feed the volunteers), phone Hazel at
0428 062 398.
The Scotland Island
Residents' Association manages, on behalf of Northern
Beaches Council, two community buildings on Scotland
Island. These are the Community Hall in Catherine Park,
and the adjacent Recreation Centre (formerly the kindy).
SIRA is looking for someone
to manage the two buildings, commencing early April
2024. The Community Buildings Manager is responsible
for:
- working with the SIRA Halls / Recreation Club
Sub-Committee to ensure the smooth running of the
buildings;
- handling bookings of the buildings, whether for
community use or for private functions;
- checking community and Catherine Park assets,
reporting issues to SIRA and/or Northern Beaches
Council;
- supervising regular cleaning of the two buildings.
Subject to SIRA's
agreement, there's also scope for the manager to double
as community buildings cleaner, either solely or in a
job-share arrangement.
The manager is paid a
quarterly stipend of $250. The cleaner is paid $51.75
per hour (index linked to the CPI) and is usually
expected to clean for two hours per week. Cleaning
materials are supplied.
For further information,
please contact Robyn Iredale (SIRA President) at president@sira.org.au, or phone
Robyn on 0425 216350.
Tuesday 6 - Friday 9
February
The Scotland Island community vehicle will be off the
island for service and repairs between Tuesday and
Friday next week (6 - 9 February).
Normal service is scheduled to resume sometime Friday 9
February. Please ring in advance to confirm that the
vehicle has returned.
Apologies for this inconvenience. For emergency medical
evacuation, call 000.
Elvina Bay fire shed
Saturday 3 February, 6 pm
Embrace your inner señor or
señorita with a little Mexican dress up madness –
sombreros, ponchos, and mustachios are highly
encouraged! (men can also sport facial hair!!!).
Our hosts for the evening are Andy's Boot Camp
Caballeros, who are buffed up hotter than jalapeño
underwear.
For those who are sans-carnivore, there will be delish
sin carne (no meat) Mexican food–a–plenty and tub loads
of ice cream as a yummy sweet treat.
To help with catering, we
ask that you RSVP and prepay via EFT. Walk-ins cannot be
guaranteed a meal.
COST: $20 per person. Children under 16 free
BYO: Bring your favourite tipple
RSVP and payment: ASAP, via EFT:
EFT Details: West
Pittwater Fire Brigade
BSB: 032 196
Account: 960017
Ref: Please put your
name and 'Mexican' as reference on payment.
All proceeds go to support the work done by the
volunteer members of the West Pittwater Rural Fire
Brigade by improving safety, equipment and facilities.
All donations are of course gratefully accepted.
Fire Shed dinners are a volunteer community event. If
you would like to help in any way it would be greatly
appreciated. Please contact Louise Longhurst on 0418 415
914.
The West Pittwater RFS would like to stress that all
fire brigade dinners are NO DOG events – so please
leave pets at home for the evening.
Scotland Island
Community Hall
Sunday 4 February, 10 -
11.00 am
The SIRA Committee is the main governing body of SIRA.
All are welcome to attend.
If you’d like to ask a question or raise an issue, it
would be helpful if you could email the secretary a
week before at secretary@sira.org.au.
Saturday 10 February,
5 - 7.30 pm: Avalon Sailing Club
Sunday 11 February, 4
- 6.30 pm: Catherine Park, Scotland Island
For tickets to the
Avalon performance, click here
For tickets to the
Scotland Island performance, click here
Cargo Wharf,
Scotland Island
Sunday 11 February,
9 am
Scotland Island
Community Hall & Recreation Centre
Saturday 17 February,
5 pm, 7.30 pm, 9.30 pm
The acclaimed Flaming
Doghouse Pink Floyd tribute show featuring The
Dark Side of the Moon from heartbeat to heartbeat.
FREE ferry there and back!!
Three exclusive show times:
5:00pm - The Early Show (4:30 ferry from Church
Point)
Ninety minutes of fabulous live music at a gentler
volume. The Flaming Doghouse will perform the Dark
Side of the Moon album and other Floyd favourites
UNPLUGGED. Ideal for young families, kids,
grandparents, and their entourages. Special ticket
price. Ferry back to Church Point just after the
show.
7:30pm - The Evening Show (6:30pm ferry from
Church Point)
The Flaming Doghouse perform the Dark Side of the
Moon album and other Floyd favourites. Ninety
minutes of fabulous up close and personal live
music. Join the band in The Green Room before (and
after) the show for something tasty to eat or
drink. Make a night of it. Prime-time
entertainment. Ferry back to Church Point just
after the show.
9:30pm - The Late Show
The Flaming Doghouse, in full electric mode,
perform The Dark Side of the Moon from heartbeat
to heartbeat PLUS heaps of Pink Floyd faves. Full
light show and audio visual effects compliment
this amazing production of more than two hours of
incredible music. Have a drink and bite to eat in
The Green Room before the show.
The Green Room pop-up bar and snackery open
from 6:30pm.
FINAL tickets selling fast. To buy yours,
click here.
Scotland Island
Recreation Centre
Tuesday 20 February,
11 am - 12.30 pm
The Recreation Club runs
a discussion group, meeting on the third Tuesday of
each month, from 11 am to 12.30 pm in the Recreation
Centre. Everyone is welcome.
Members take it in turn
to design a session. For the January session Hazel
Malloy invited the group to consider the concept of
cultural appropriation: when does it arise, and why
is it problematic?
For the February
meeting, CB Floyd asks us is there such a thing
as free will?
This fascinating question
has preoccupied philosophers, theologians,
ethicists, lawyers, psychologists and neurologists
alike. In this discussion, we'll explore what free
will means, whether we have it in any meaningful
way, and, depending on your answer, the implications
for morality and behaviour.
Readings:
1. The Clockwork Universe: is free
will an Illusion? This excellent article
explores both the question of free will and the
implications of the answer.
2. Free Will This Wikipedia entry
provides an exhaustive overview of the various
philosophical debates concerning free will. It isn’t
necessary to read it all! If you read enough to know
the basic arguments and are familiar with the broad
ideas of compatabilism and incompatabilism that’s
enough.
'A Stanford Professor Says Scince Shows Free Will
Doesn’t Exist: Here’s why he’s mistaken' by
Adam Piovarchy, from The Conversation. In
this article the argument is made that we do indeed
have free will.
The group is
administered via a WhatsApp group, which will be
used to distribute further information about this
and future discussions. If you would like to be
added to the group, send your mobile phone number to
editor@scotlandisland.org.au.
Alternatively, contact Jane Rich ( janebalmain@hotmail.com) for
more information or to express your interest in
participating.
The Recreation Club asks for $5 per person per
attendance to defray expenses.
Scotland Island
Recreation Centre
Saturday 24 February,
10 am - 3 pm
Cost $65 per person.
For more information, contact Anthea on 0480 470695.
Scotland Island
Community Hall
Saturday 24 February,
7 - 9 pm
To help defray
expenses, the Recreation Club ask for $5 per
person per attendance.
Catherine Park,
Scotland Island
Sunday 25 February, 10
- 12 noon
Elvina Bay Park
Sunday 25 February, 10
am - 2 pm
AHOY, ME HEARTIES!
Set yer sights on a
grand adventure – where ye find no trash, only the
finest treasures in all the seven seas!
It be a day full of fun with:
- Loot Galore, Pearls-a-Plenty & Bountiful
Bootie!
- Roaming musikers serenadin’ ye with sea
shanties that’ll make yer timbers shiver!
- Sizzlin’ sausage feast to satisfy yer
hearty cravings!
- Best dressed Pirate Parade for young and
old — prize bottle o rum for adult winner and
something more appropriate for kiddies!
- Artists’ work on offer
- Activities for our little maties....
colouring in fun, pirate hat making workshop, pirate
parade with a prize on offer…between 11:30am -
1:00pm!.
Everyone welcome! Get
dressed up in your best pirate gear and join in the
fun!
SELLERS
Don’t dilly-dally — registration closes Friday, 16
February.
Proceeds from table bookings go to support the West
Pittwater Rural Fire Brigade (RFS). Proceeds from
your sales are entirely yours unless you’re feeling
generous and want to donate to the RFS (or any other
deserving entity).
To find out more, and to register as a seller, click here.
Scotland Island
Community Hall
Friday 1 March, 7.30
pm Saturday 2 March,
7.30 pm
Friday 8 March, 7.30
pm Saturday 9 March, 7.30 pm
NB:
FOOD, PLUS ALCOHOLIC AND SOFT DRINKS
WILL BE ON SALE. NO BYO.
To buy tickets,
click here
Scotland Island
Community Hall & Rec Centre
Saturday 16 March, 6 - 9
pm
Missed out on a
previous newsletter?
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you would like to contribute to this newsletter,
please send an e-mail to the editor (editor@scotlandisland.org.au).
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Scotland Island Community Calendar
For further information on island events,
click here
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Click here to load
SIRA Photo Archive
The
views expressed in this newsletter are not
necessarily those of the Scotland Island
Residents Association (SIRA),
or the Western Pittwater Community
Association (WPCA)
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