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Set Your Calendars for these Plant With Us Events in Maroubra

Several ‘Plant With Us’ events are going to take place in Maroubra from May to October 2022, as part of the city’s project to promote greening, combat climate change, and help preserve the planet.

On Thursday, 28 April 2022, Plant With Us will be underway from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Heffron Park. The ‘Greening Our City’ tree-planting activities are done during the cooler months of the year to ensure their survival.

Everyday is Earth Day in the Eastern Suburbs, so those who cannot make it to Heffron Park in April may still join the other scheduled planting days at the following dates and locations:

DATE	LOCATION
Sunday, 8 May 2022 Mother’s Day	Heffron Park, Maroubra
Friday, 20 May 2022	Heffron Park, Maroubra
Sunday, 5 June 2022	Cromwell Park, Malabar
Sunday, 26 June 2022	Heffron Park, Maroubra
Friday, 29 July 2022 Sunday, 31 July 2022	Heffron Park, Maroubra
Thursday, 1 September 2022	Environmental Park, Randwick
Saturday, 8 October 2022	Latham Park, Coogee

Participants are asked to wear sturdy shoes, a hat, long sleeves, and long pants. They also need to bring their own gloves and a water bottle. While face masks are no longer mandatory, participants may use them if they are unable to maintain a safe distance from others.

Meanwhile, residents may also fill out a Request a Tree form to support the Greening Our City project and receive an appropriate tree for planting outside their own home on the nature strip or verge.

Per Council, “If you request a tree as we approach summer or early autumn, you may find it takes longer for your street tree to be planted. As most of our street trees are native or indigenous trees that we often source from our Community Nursery, they are usually better suited to local weather conditions and this tends to give the trees the best possible start to a long life.”

“The final decision on tree species and planting approval will be made by the assessing tree officer.”

Proposed New Outdoor Gym at Snape Park in Maroubra Now Open for Feedback

Photo Credit: Randwick City Council / yoursay.randwick.nsw.gov.au

Community consultation is ongoing for a proposed new outdoor gym at Snape Park, Maroubra.

Randwick City Council has unveiled its plan to establish a new outdoor fitness facility at Snape Park as part of its Open Space and Recreation Strategy which aims to provide more access to free, informal outdoor recreation opportunities. The gym is proposed to be located on the corner of Percival and Storey Streets, next to the children’s playground.

Beginning with the installation of Randwick’s first outdoor gym in 2013 at Maroubra Beach, the number of installations has since grown including gyms delivered at Clovelly, Chifley, Frenchmans Bay, Kensington, Coogee and Malabar. Another new outdoor gym is also being planned for Barwon Park in Matraville.

Once complete, the Snape Park Gym will deliver a range of equipment for personal fitness including pull down, leg press, elliptical trainer, aerobic cycle, dexterity builder and a challenge station with roman rings and gorilla bars. Made from corrosion-resistant metal with attached instructional signage, each outdoor gym equipment is designed for use regardless of one’s age, abilities and fitness level.

Proposed new outdoor gym at Snape Park, Maroubra plan view — Plan view | Photo Credit: Randwick City Council / yoursay.randwick.nsw.gov.au

The plan also includes a walking track around the perimeter of the fitness gym complete with distance markings to allow older users to determine the farthest they reach in 6 minutes and encourage them to improve it by regularly using the track.

The community is encouraged to have their say on the proposal which can be made by:

Taking a short survey
Dropping a pin on the map – to suggest a different location to the one being proposed
Sending comments to the General Manager via email with the subject “Snape Park outdoor gym” to Council@randwick.nsw.gov.au or by post to 30 Frances Street, Randwick 2031.

The consultation period runs until 26 April 2022.

90-year-old Randwick Artist Wins Women’s Day Art Prize; Maroubra Gallery Exhibits Winning Artworks

Did you know that a 90-year-old artist from Randwick who has only been painting for a year has won first place in the 20+ category of the 2022 Randwick International Women’s Day Art Competition? Some of the winning artworks are now on display at the Lionel Bowen Library Gallery in Maroubra.

Elena Guerrera, a Randwick resident, is originally from Naples. As a hopeful 27-year-old, she followed her husband to Australia in the late 1950s. Her artwork, “The ship I arrived in,” has won the top prize in 20+ category of the competition.

Elena started painting as therapy to help her recover from a stroke which had paralyzed her left hand. According to her daughter, Anna, painting has given her mum a new passion, purpose, and meaning in her life.

Professional artist Tesha Malott, who judged the competition, described Ms Guerra’s work as a “skillful, naive-style painting.”

The ‘women-only’ art event was a way to encourage and support the women of the Randwick City community to showcase their creative talents.

International Women's Day Art Competition Winners Randwick — Photo Credit: Philipa Veitch/Facebook

The other winners in the competition are Tanya Duckworth for “Dames d’Heremes: Selle des steppes” also in the 20+ category and Niranjana Ghosh for “Joker” for the 12-19 category. Jessica Mang’s “Mistress” took home the Councillor’s Prize.

Lionel Bowen Library Gallery Maroubra — Photo Credit: RCC

The exhibit at the Maroubra gallery has over 168 beautiful artworks to admire until Saturday, 24 April 2022.

Four School Pedestrian Crossing Upgrades in Maroubra Completed

Photo Credit: Randwick City Council / randwick.nsw.gov.au

Four school pedestrian crossing upgrades in Maroubra have been completed. The upgrades include raising two existing pedestrian crossings, installation of pedestrian refuge in two areas, and even a wombat crossing.

The upgrades involve converting pedestrian crossings into raised “wombat” crossings, installing pedestrian refuge islands, and installing signalised intersections at an accident blackspot location on Anzac Parade.

The various pedestrian crossing safety projects, funded under the Federal Stimulus Road Safety Program School Zones project, are situated in 29 locations near local school areas.

In Maroubra, four projects were already completed:

Loch Maree Street, Maroubra – Raise existing crossing
Fitzgerald Avenue (at Robey Street), Maroubra – Install pedestrian refuge
Fitzgerald Avenue (at Walsh Street), Maroubra – Install pedestrian refuge
Moverly Road, Maroubra – Raise existing pedestrian crossing, create wombat crossing

The pedestrian crossing safety project on Wride Street (at Duncan Street), Maroubra involving the installation of pedestrian refuge is now in its design phase.

Did you know that a study on raised platforms published in the Journal of the Australian College of Road Safety revealed that “wombat” crossings reduce casualty crashes by as much as 63 per cent?

Raised “wombat” crossings are zebra crossings placed on a raised section of the road to allow better visibility of pedestrians and encourage approaching vehicles to reduce speed. The same principle applies to raised pedestrian crossings.

A refuge island, on the other hand, is a median with a refuge section installed to help pedestrians determine when it is already safe to cross the road.

The list of Council’s school pedestrian crossings upgrade projects and their status are as follows:

Status	School area	Location and project
Completed	Clovelly Public School / St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School	Varna Street (at Arden Street), Clovelly – Install pedestrian refuge
Completed	Coogee Boy’s Preparatory School / Randwick Coogee Preschool / Randwick Public School	Botany Street (at Waratah Avenue), Randwick – Upgrade existing pedestrian refuge
Completed	Coogee Public School	Howard Street (near Lee Street), Coogee – Install pedestrian refuge
Completed	Coogee Public School / Rainbow Public School / Randwick Boy’s High School / Randwick Girl’s High School	Oberon Street & Higgs Street, Coogee – Install pedestrian refuge
Completed	Emanuel School / St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Primary School	King Street, Randwick- Install pedestrian refuge near Montifiore Randwick (Head Office)
Completed	Kensington Public School	Bowral Street (near Doncaster Avenue), Kensington – Raise existing crossing
Completed	Kensington Public School	Bowral Street, (near ANZAC Parade), Kensington – Raise existing crossing
Completed	Maroubra Junction Public School	Loch Maree Street, Maroubra – Raise existing crossing
Completed	Our Lady of the Annunciation Primary School / South Sydney High School / Champagnat Catholic College	Sturt Street (west of Paton Street), Kingsford – Install raised pedestrian (wombat) crossing
Completed	Our Lady of the Annunciation Primary School / South Sydney High School / Champagnat Catholic College	Fitzgerald Avenue (at Robey Street), Maroubra – Install pedestrian refuge
Completed	Our Lady of the Annunciation Primary School / South Sydney High School / Champagnat Catholic College	Fitzgerald Avenue (at Walsh Street), Maroubra – Install pedestrian refuge
Completed	Our Lady of the Rosary Primary School and Our Lady of the Rose College	Villiers Street (at Addison Street), Kensington – Install pedestrian refuge
Completed	Randwick Girls’ High School/ Randwick Boys’ High School	Barker Street West of Easy Street – Pedestrian Refuge
Completed	Randwick Primary School, Coogee Preparatory Primary School	Church Street (at Frances Street), Randwick – Install pedestrian refuge
Completed	South Coogee Public School	Rainbow Street (at Hendy Avenue), Coogee – Install pedestrian refuge
Completed	St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School	Arden Street, Clovelly – Raise existing crossing
Completed	St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School	Clovelly Road (at Knox Street), Clovelly – Install pedestrian refuge and kerb nibs
Completed	St Anthony’s Primary School	Arden Street (north of Clovelly Road), Clovelly – Raise existing pedestrian crossing, create wombat crossing
Completed	St Bridgid’s Catholic Primary School	Arden St & Bream St , Coogee – Pedestrian Refuge
Completed	St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Primary School	Avoca Street, Randwick – Raise existing crossing
Completed	The French School (Lycée Condorcet)	Moverly Road, Maroubra – Raise existing pedestrian crossing, create wombat crossing
Construction Phase	Brigidine College and Claremont Primary School	Perouse Road (at Aeolia Street), Randwick – Raise existing pedestrian crossing, create wombat crossing
Construction Phase	St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Primary School / Emanuel School	Carter Street (at Avoca Street), Randwick – Install continuous foot
Construction Phase	St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Primary School / Emanuel School / Randwick Primary School	Clovelly Road (at Centennial Avenue), Randwick – Install pedestrian refuge
Design Phase	Coogee Public School	Bream Street (at Mount Street), Coogee – Install pedestrian refuge
Design Phase	Emanuel School	Chepstow Street (at Stanley Street), Coogee – Install pedestrian refuge
Design Phase	Matraville Sports High School	Anzac Pde at Franklin Street (southern intersections), Matraville – Signalise multi-carriageway intersection
Design Phase	Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Primary	Dutruc Street (at Alison Road), Randwick – Install pedestrian refuge
Design Phase	South Coogee Public School	Rainbow Street (at Ellen Street), Coogee – Install pedestrian refuge
Design Phase	St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Primary School / Emanuel School / Randwick Public School	Gilderthorpe Avenue (at Frenchmans Road), Randwick – Install pedestrian refuge
Design Phase	St Mary, St Joseph Catholic Primary School / Maroubra Public School	Wride Street (at Duncan Street), Maroubra – Install pedestrian refuge

Source: Randwick City Council

The $4.365-million project is made possible through a grant awarded to Randwick City Council under the Federal Stimulus Road Safety Program School Zones project. The Australian Government committed a total of $3 billion for the Road Safety Program over three years from 2021 to 2021 and is offered to states and territories to help fast track their lifesaving road safety upgrade projects.

The program is being offered under a “use it or lose it” scheme where states and territories are to use their funding within each six-month tranche for them to receive the full allocation for their next tranche.

Malabar Library and Community Hall Due for Upgrades

Plans are underway to redevelop the Malabar Library and Community Hall on Anzac Parade with a design that will reveal its original 1950s brickwork.

The Council announced that the revitalised facility will also include new features like a lift for accessibility, kitchen facilities for community use, improved and accessible toilets, as well as a new entry foyer.

The redevelopment will cost $1.4 million but Council has yet to unveil the full plans for public consultations. When the plans reach the community consultation stage, please give your feedback through the official site.

Nonetheless, locals may also send an email to Council@randwick.nsw.gov.au for their input whilst the consultations are still being scheduled.

Whilst the Malabar Library and Community Hall is a small space, it boasts of a collection of 12,000 items, free Wi-Fi, four computers and photocopying, scanning and printing facilities. The venue has an outdoor seating area with shade as well.

Beside the library, locals use the Malabar Memorial Hall for various purposes, including fitness classes, birthday parties, and club meetings.

The Malabar Library and Community Hall operate under the Randwick Library Service which receives strong support from the local community. In the 1990s, when the Malabar Library was proposed for closure, the community took action to save the venue.

Today, the library is thriving and still providing its valuable service. The internal spaces were last enhanced and renovated in 2011.

Remediation Work Underway for South Maroubra Beach New Amenities Building

Remediation work will be underway at 307-327R Fitzgerald Avenue in Maroubra, in preparation for the construction of a new amenities building for South Maroubra beach, the start of Stage 2 of the proposed upgrades on the site.

In February 2022, JK Environments Pty Ltd received approval to proceed with the remediation work (DA/330/2021/A) to make the area sustainable and economically viable for the new building. Following the completion of Stage 1, which has delivered a new overflow car park alongside resurfacing and the planting of new trees, the project is moving on to the construction of the amenities building.

The said building will feature the following:

Male and female amenities (including unisex accessible amenities and baby change facilities)
A communal wash basin area easily identifiable within the park
Cleaner’s storeroom
Storage areas for local Lifeguards, Maroubra SLSC and Surfing NSW
Accessible paths and landscaped areas
Accessible parking
External wash bay and showers
Natural ventilation

Plans for the building went on public exhibition in the mid-2021 and was welcomed by the South Maroubra Surf Club, whose facility is next to the site.

“Toilets, showers, utensil cleaning space for coastal walkers, park users and a storage space for our club, surfing NSW and lifeguards. It’s taken nearly 8 years but many will benefit from this environmentally-friendly amenities block!” the club shared on social media.

The current amenities for club members and the community “don’t meet today’s minimum accessibility standards and a new, accessible building is needed for the benefit of the community,” per former Randwick Mayor Danny Said.

“It’s great that in addition to the amenities, we can provide extra storage facilities for the surf club and Surfing NSW, to ensure they can continue to grow and be an important part of the local community,” he added.

Get To Know Maroubra-Born Ron Finneran OAM, Australia’s First Winter Paralympian

Photo Credit: Paralympics Australia / paralympic.org.au

As the lone Australian representative at the inaugural Örnsköldsvik 1976 Paralympic Winter Games, Ron Finneran OAM never got to participate in the games due to lack of events specific to his disability. That setback provided the impetus for his active involvement in the advancement of para-sports in the country.

Read: World Surf League Qualifying Series to Go Ahead in Maroubra Despite Recent Shark Attack

Born in 1944 in Maroubra, Mr Finneran contracted polio as a child that left him unable to use his legs and right arm. During a trip in Thredbo, sometime in 1973-74, he took an immediate liking to the sport of skiing. Because of his disability, however, he had to use improvised equipment to accommodate his training needs.

Overcoming the Winter Paralympics Setback

By 1976, he was ready to tackle Alpine skiing at the inaugural Winter Paralympics in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The events held in Alpine skiing and Cross-country skiing, however, were open only for amputee, deaf and visually impaired athletes.

Despite his disappointment over his exclusion from the Games, he opted to stay in Sweden where sympathising Örnsköldsvik locals raised money to help support his two-year study in physical education and recreation.

During his stay, he also developed ski equipment designed for people with a disability and tested skiing courses before an actual competition took place.

Playing A Pivotal Role

Ron Finneran returned to Australia in 1978 and established the Australian Disabled Skiers Federation, now known as Disabled Wintersports Australia (DWA), together with ski instructors Bruce Abel and Nick Dean.

He became instrumental in the granting of 50% concession by the Australian Ski Areas Association (ASAA) on lessons and lift tickets to ADSF members at all Australian ski resorts.

Finneran went on to serve as DWA Executive Director for 31 years. By the time of his retirement in 2010, he had contributed a number of initiatives to improve the training programs, facilities, and talent development.

He also became Chef de Mission of the Australian Paralympic Team for five consecutive Winter Paralympics and was a member of the working group responsible for the establishment of Paralympics Australia and became its president in 1993.

Read: Drowning in Little Bay Prompts Call to Observe Increased Rock Fishing Safety Measures

Finneran’s other sports administration roles include:

Chairman of the Bid Committee for the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games
Board Member of the Australian Paralympic Federation (1990-1995)
Chairman of the New South Wales Advisory Committee for Athletes with a Disability from (1987 – 1992)
Member of the Advisory Committee to the Australian Bicentennial Authority’s National Disabled Sports Program (1984 – 1988)

He was also a recipient of the Australian Sports Medal (2000), Australian Paralympic Medal (2002), Medal of the Order of Australia (2004), and Snow Australia Medal (2021) as well as a Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductee (2005) and Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame inductee (2016).

In 2016, Ron established the Sapphire Coast Youth Development Fund, a not-for-profit aimed at helping talented young athletes reach their full potential through sponsorships from various businesses, community, service groups and individuals.

World Surf League Qualifying Series to Go Ahead in Maroubra Despite Recent Shark Attack

Despite the tragic shark attack that gripped beachgoers and residents of Sydney, activities for the three-day World Surf League Qualifying Series will still proceed as scheduled in Maroubra.

Maroubra will be the third of four stops of the elite surfing event. Happening from 4 to 6 March 2022, the World Surf League Qualifying Series will be broadcasting a live webcast of the qualifying competitions via Surfing NSW’s Facebook page.

A spokesperson for Surfing NSW said that the Australian Surf Life Saving UAV Service will be monitoring from the land, water, and air to ensure everyone’s safety. This comes after the one-day closure of Maroubra beach after the shark attack in Little Bay, some 10 kilometres away, on Wednesday, 16 Feb 2022.

The World Surf League Qualifying Series has been the highlight of the summer at Maroubra for more than five years, showcasing the up-and-comers and best surfers in the country at one of Sydney’s most iconic beaches, according to Randwick City Councillor Danny Said.

“It’s a great event for the athletes but also the perfect place for the whole community and surf fans to come to watch future stars of the sport,” Surfing NSW CEO Luke Madden said.

“Events like this send a clear message to the world that NSW is open and ready for visitors to enjoy in a COVID-safe way,” NSW Minister for Tourism and Sport Stuart Ayres said.

“Maroubra has such a rich history with competitive professional surfing. The WSL is stoked to be continuing the tradition and returning to Sydney’s eastern suburbs once again this March,” WSL APAC Tour Manager Ty Sorati said.

The World Surf League Qualifying Series kicked off at the Boomerang Beach in Pacific Palms on 23 Feb 2022. Follow the live scores on the official site.

Marine Expert Explains Increased Shark Activity in Little Bay After First Fatal Attack in 60 Years

A marine expert from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) is shedding light on what may have triggered the deadly shark activity in Little Bay which took the life of British diving instructor and Royal Air Force veteran Simon Nellist.

Iain Suthers, a professor at UNSW, said that sharks should be swimming towards the cooler sections of the Tasman Sea during this season, where planktons are abundantly attracted to small fish.

It’s the small fish that bigger fish like sharks feed on but the shark that attacked Mr Nellist might have not been able to swim towards the colder water as the East Australian Current has brought uncharacteristically warmer waters this year.

Sometimes, sharks could just bump into humans as they swim towards the Tasman sea. This time, however, the hungry shark preyed on the man.

The professor believes the animal might have been a great white, which has a propensity for hunting warm-blooded animals, based on the victim’s injuries.

Prof Suthers, however, emphasised that this shark attack is a rare occurrence. It has been nearly 60 years since the last fatal shark attack on Sydney’s beaches.

The expert said that the public needs to understand the nature and movement of sharks, as well as the conditions in the water, to come up with better measures to prevent another injury or death. It would also be impossible to forecast a looming shark attack since there is still no proven “scientific reason ” why sharks suddenly go after humans.

Instead, he said that swimmers should avoid swimming in dangerous sections of the beach during dusk or dawn during the summer months, when sharks are actively moving towards the Tasman Sea’s colder areas.

Meanwhile, the NSW Department of Primary Industries has deployed SMART shark drumlines in the beaches from Bondi to Cronulla for the safety of beachgoers. At least six of these drumlines are now on the beaches between Little Bay and Malabar.

Photo Credit: SurfLifeSavingNSW/Facebook

Family and friends of Mr Nellist said he has been advocating for this improved technology for years and an aunt said that he likely would not want his attacker to be killed as he is a nature lover who has swum with sharks before.

Speeding Fines Jumped in Maroubra, Randwick In Just One Year

A number of school zones in NSW, including Maroubra and Randwick, saw an alarming jump in speeding fines within a 12-month period, according to the National Roads and Motorists’ Association, the country’s largest member organisation offering roadside assistance, car servicing, and motoring advice.

In February 2020 speeding fines in NSW totalled 8,937 but that number increased to 17,494 during the same month a year later. Some 85 per cent of the fines were for motorists who drove at least 10 km/hr above the speed limit.

Among the 10 roads with doubled speeding fines year-on-year include:

WHERE	2020 FINES	2021 FINES
Malabar Road, Maroubra	48	149
Avoca Street, Randwick	170	397
Botany Road, Alexandria	237	447
Bunnerong Road, Eastgardens	525	1,057
Edgar Street, Condell Park	83	228
Fitzwilliam Road, Old Toongabbie	41	103
Hume Highway, Ashfield	63	136
Pennant Hills Road, Oatlands	28	73
The Boulevard, Strathfield	240	492
Victoria Road, Ryde	53	1,131

Based on these statistics, NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury warned motorists to take heed and do the right thing as the school zone speed limit of 40km/h has been enforced yet again with the start of the new school term for 2022.

“If you are driving to take kids to or from school, or just happen to be driving through a school zone – follow the road rules,” Khoury said. He also asked parents to be on the alert when dropping off or picking up their children at the school by following parking rules and practicing safe behaviours.

NSW Metropolitan Roads Minister Natalie Ward also said that there is no excuse for speeding in school zones. She urged every single person behind the wheel to pay close attention and be more vigilant when driving near schools. She is hoping to see the number of speeding fines go down this year.