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.”
Photo Credit: Philipa Veitch/Facebook
The ‘women-only’ art event was a way to encourage and support the women of the Randwick City community to showcase their creative talents.
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.
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 Maroubrahave 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:
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.
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.
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.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
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.
Photo Credit: Randwick Library Services
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.
Photo Credit: Randwick Library Services
Today, the library is thriving and still providing its valuable service. The internal spaces were last enhanced and renovated in 2011.
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.
Photo Credit: Randwick City Council
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Photo Credit: Google Maps
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.
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.
Surf Life Saving Australia is calling on the public to observe increased safety measures for rock fishing following the tragic drowning of a father and his son in Little Bay near Maroubra.
Shane Daw, the general manager for coastal safetyof Surf Life Australia has been advocating for those engaging in rock fishing to wear lifejackets and he believes that this should be mandated nationwide. The safety expert also wants more education on the importance of a lifejacket, including in areas where it has become compulsory.
A 40-year-old father and his nine-year-old son were believed to have been swept by the tide as they were rock fishing in Little Bay on Monday, 31 Jan. The pair were not wearing lifejackets when paramedics took them out of the water. According to reports, the dad and son were in critical condition and could not be saved.
According to Mr Daw, every council in Australia should have laws about mandatory lifejackets, as well as continued enforcement and education about its use. He said that even in councils where it has been required, many fishers are still not aware of the law, especially among recreational fishers. He believes that this safety guideline should also be taught in schools and community groups as the death toll has been climbing.
Data from Surf Life Saving Australia showed that 80 per cent of all rock fishing fatalities were not wearing a lifejacket.
Little Bay, under Randwick City Council, is considered one of the most dangerous places for rock fishing. In 2018, the Council mandated lifejacket use for rock fishers.
However, according to NSW Police, only two violations have been logged in Little Bay since its enforcement. The recent accident is the fourth rock fishing-related death in the area since 2017 and the 21st since 2001.
A review of the lifejacket policies, education, and implementation will be conducted by Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker. Meanwhile, the victims’ family and friends have launched a GoFundMe page for the mother, who painfully watched her husband and son drown in the water.
Upsizing, home improvements, and other renovation activities are on an all-time high in 10 suburbs in NSW, including Maroubra, as the volume of jobs and demand for tradies increased in 2021.
Hipages, the largest online marketplace for tradies in Australia, determined the 10 hottest renovation suburbs from 1 January to 21 December 2021 based on the number of jobs posted by homeowners on its app. Aside from Marouba, residents from the suburbs of Kellyville, Blacktown, Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, Quakers Hill, Campbelltown, Sydney, Penrith, and Schofields had a huge demand for tradies as well.
With homeowners unable to travel for leisure due to the lockdowns and restrictions during the pandemic, Hipages’ app usage for homeowners had a 56 per cent increase in the last year. Stuart Tucker, Hipages’ Chief Customer Officer, said the demand has continued into the New Year with new job postings at an average of 20 seconds.
Photo Credit: Hipages
However, some jobs are highly sought-after that he advised homeowners to start discussing with their tradies earlier to schedule the job and avoid delays or hitches in the renovation projects. Among the most in-demand jobs include:
Handymen
Plumbers
Electricians
Fencers
Painters
Cleaners
Builders
Concreters
Tilers
Carpenters
The Hipages app also saw an increase in job listings for project managers and landscape architects for larger projects. During the pandemic, most homeowners have decided to renovate their kitchen, home theater, house extensions, attic access, pool, and landscape or gardens.
It comes as Property Market Updates reported a 22.22 per cent growth in Maroubra’s property market for the period covering October 2020 to September 2021. In this Eastern beaches locale, even rundown Maroubra homes are seen as good value because of the water views and the size of land per block, where new homeowners envision restoration projects to build their dream homes.
