KU will not be running the Kindie next year.
The community has formed an association (SIOCS*), which is setting up playgroups, mums groups, family day care, vacation programmes & is applying for a licence to run the Kindie.
A team of dedicated parents will be conducting a door knock all over the island and bays in the next few weeks with a questionnaire & petition: we’d like to thank you in advance for your participation.
The fundraising events started at the SIRA 50th Birthday bash, with a raffle for a painting by Nettie, along with many other fantastic prizes. Call Jenny on 9999 0990 for tickets.
If you are interested in our proposed services for 0-2’s, 2 –5’s or primary school aged kids give Anne a call on 9999 3478. *Scotland Island & Offshore Children’s Services

Citizen of the Year Awards

Nominations are called for Pittwater’s Australia Day Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the Year Awards.

Nominees must be Pittwater residents who have contributed significantly to Pittwater in any field over a number of years. Such contribution must demonstrate active concern for the rights, welfare and well-being and/or advancement of others, and could have been given to individuals, community groups or the community at large. Please send nominations by Tuesday 13 December to Gay McCorby at Council Offices – email gay_mccorby@pittwater.nsw.gov.au, fax 9970 7296 or post to PO Box 882, Mona Vale 1660.

Hungry? Indian food offshore!

Rajiv, at the Bollywood Indian Restaurant in Newport (opposite the Newport Arms) is offering beautiful Indian meals delivered to the Newport public wharf.

Minimum order is $35. Tuesday to Sunday between 5.30pm and 9.30pm. Phone Rajiv on 02-9997-4116. The food is terrific - give it a try one night.

Iskybibble - Grab your seats quickly!

Iskybibble is returning to Pittwater for a very limited season. Previously seen on the Northern Beaches in 1996, this live stage show is real children’s theatre with a story more than a panto. Adults love it!

Producer and co-writer Martin Erdman says that there is a sad lack of live theatre for children and too much television. TV is often violent, and studies have shown that too much viewing can stunt brain growth. Erdman believes that television seldom allows children to use their imagination, whereas a stage play with its painted sets, colourful costumes, fantasy characters and room for plenty of audience participation can provoke imagination and be an important part of a child’s development as well as fostering a love for live theatre in later life.

The Scotland Island Players will present just four unique performances in December 2005 with a dedicated local cast directed by Martin’s daughter, Rebecca Erdman.

Whilst the play has its hero (Iskybibble) there is the Wizard who performs magic, two crazy, zany witches who the children laugh at, a villain to ‘boo’, the beautiful princess who the little girls admire and dream of becoming one day, plus a live band on stage to provide the music. Also participating in these performances will be children from Trudy Engler’s Dance Studio who take the roles of the King’s courtiers and the chorus in the Magic Forest.

Church Point Ferries will run a return ferry trip from Newport Wharf to Scotland Island at normal local fares for the two afternoon (3pm) shows, leaving Newport at 2pm and returning approx 6pm - making this a great family outing.

Performances will be held on Saturday 10th December at 3pm & 6pm and Sunday 11th at 11am & 3pm. Tickets cost $10 for children and $15 for adults plus $2 booking fee per ticket if paid for by credit card over the phone.

The music is presented live by Tim Byrne, John Marshall and Graeme Richmond.
Tickets can be purchased from Rosemary at 'The Lodge' and Annette at 'The Point' or by calling Martin Erdman on 9997 1403.

With only four performances this show will sell out quickly so book now!!
The ferry journey is limited to fifty passengers only per trip, so early booking is recommended.

For more info, photos etc. please call Martin Erdman on 9997 1403

Congratulations islanders, so intelligent!

Just one booth in the recent by-election produced a zero informal vote total - Scotland Island! Well done to the locals who knew the importance of making their vote count. It might be worth remembering that offshore residents can vote at the kindie on Scotland Island. Our next election (unless something happens earlier) is in sixteen months.  So that we can keep our booth on the island it would be good to make the effort to use it rather than using a booth on the mainland.

Green Waste Collection - Scotland Island

Vegetation collection day Tuesday 13 December 2005

The vegetation collection day is for the purpose of reducing fire fuel on the island

Lawn clippings, weeds and leaves must be presented in hard sided containers

Branches must be bundled and tied. Branches are to be no longer than 1.2m and no wider than 0.75m. Materials placed out after 6am on Monday 12 December will not be collected
Unacceptable items that will be stickered and not collected include:

• Vegetation which is not bundled and tied
• Vegetation that is tied with plastic
• Vegetation in Hessian bags, plastic bags, polystyrene boxes and cardboard boxes
• Tree stumps, soil
• Non-organic materials
• Treated, painted, stained or laminated timber
• Particleboard, plywood
• Wire contaminated material
• Garbage, recyclables, general clean up materials

Vegetation will only be collected from the roadside. Do not place vegetation on public or private wharves. For enquiries regarding this vegetation collection day
Contact pittwater council’s waste education officer, rennae projceski
Phone: 9970-1216 fax: 9970-7150

Blake Prize for Religious Art

You may be interested to know that even though the Many Daily (Friday 25th Nov.) thinks we are a “backwater” the real art world consider at least two of our local artists Tracy Smith and Dimitri Lihachov of a calibre high enough for selection for the 2005 Blake prize. They were 2 of 67 entries selected from a field of 465. Congratulation to you both.
The Exhibition is on at the Sir Herman Black Gallery, Level 25, Wentworth Building, Sydney University. Until 17th December 2005
Time: 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday; Saturday 11am to 4pm
Contact: Nick Vickers
Phone: 953 6029
Email: gallery@usu.usyd.edu.au
More info: http://www.sirhermannblackgallery.com

Bush Care Corner

Bush Regeneration Groups
Top of the Island: Saturday, December 3. Come for all or part of the morning! Morning tea, all equipment and convivial company provided free. Meet on the southern slope just down from the high point of the island (where there is a wooden platform and a seat).
Katherine Park: Sunday, December 11, 10:00-12:30. This group has done a lot to beautify the park – come and help continue and expand this project. After this working bee we'll share a snack or two.
Foreshores: The regular foreshores group will not meet in December as the fourth Sunday of this month is Christmas Day.

30-Second Stress Buster Exercise:

One of the first steps to changing our negative thought patterns, and therefore actions, is to become aware of our types of thoughts. Here is an interesting 30-second stress buster to try: -

Sit upright with the spine self supported, and away from the back of the chair, have your eyes downcast or closed. Breathe comfortably in and out of your belly.
Wait for a thought to arise...
When it does so, catch it at the beginning (there is no need to follow it or get involved with it), simply observe what type of thought it is. Give it a label if you need to, and then put the thought on one side. Wait for another thought. Observe what is happening in your body while you are waiting for another thought. After 30 seconds or so, become aware of your immediate environment again, and raise or open your eyes. (thanks to : zenatwork)

SIRA presents Cyndi Boste in concert

at the Scotland Island Community Hall – 8:00 pm. 3 December 2005. $10 Admission

Cyndi Boste is a contemporary, alternative, country singer-songwriter from Melbourne, Australia appearing for one night only on Scotland Island.
You can’t pigeon-hole her music, or the artist herself, in a specific genre. Boste's work can't be tagged conveniently. Whilst it is true to say there is a country flavour, there's also a strong blues/roots component, which, combined with her singer/songwriter style, delivers a unique musical experience that skirts many boundaries. (Think Lucinda Williams.)

Her rich, soulful voice can penetrate the hardest of hearts. It's raw sugar and milk... blue cotton and silk. This is country with a twist, blues with a twang, and everything in between.

To those who know her work, Cyndi Boste is more than their favourite Alt Country singer/songwriter: she’s a passionate cause. Type her name (rhymes with 'toast') into Google, and of the 600 or so results – from Australia and overseas – most will be rave reviews of Cyndi’s first three critically acclaimed CDs and her riveting live performances to spellbound audiences from Copenhagen to Coffs Harbour via Berlin, Battersea and Bellingen.

Check out her website and listen for a taste of her music. www.cindyboste.com.au

To book tickets, email Gordon Floyd at floydcbg@ozemail.com.au or ring 9997 2035. OR tickets at the door (cash only).