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Maroubra SLSC Volunteer Robert Allchin Earns National Medal

Robert Allchin from Maroubra SLSC has been recognised with a National Medal for long service in surf lifesaving, reflecting years of verified patrol and safety work carried out through the club.

Community Service Recognised

The recognition places Maroubra SLSC among clubs represented in the latest national honours round announced by Surf Life Saving Australia.

The National Medal recognises long service carried out in roles involving personal risk, including beach patrols, rescues, first aid, and preventative actions. Allchin is listed as the recipient from Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club in this honours batch.

What The National Medal Represents

The National Medal forms part of Australia’s official honours system and was established in 1975. Eligibility is set by Commonwealth regulation rather than Surf Life Saving Australia and follows strict service requirements.

Members must complete a minimum of 15 full years of operational service, record at least 30 patrol or lifeguard hours each season, and remain proficient throughout their service. All service must be active, verified, and completed before an application is accepted for assessment.

Maroubra SLSC In Context

Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club is a volunteer-based organisation with deep roots in the local community. The club patrols Maroubra Beach, supports member training, and promotes water safety across Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Its history documents long-standing community involvement in surf lifesaving, patrol activity, and skills development.

Recognition At Club Level

National Medals are presented at club or service level to keep recognition grounded in the communities where the service occurs. At Maroubra, Allchin’s award reflects sustained commitment across many patrol seasons rather than a single incident.

The recognition links a national honour back to local surf lifesaving service and ongoing community beach safety efforts relied on by residents and visitors.

Published 31-December-2025

Maroubra Coastal Foraging Walk Listed in Ocean Lovers Festival 2026

Photo Credit: Ocean Lovers Festival

Maroubra is included in the published program for the Ocean Lovers Festival 2026, with a coastal foraging walk scheduled as part of the festival’s month-long series of ocean-focused activities across Sydney.

Maroubra Added To Citywide Festival Program

Founded in Bondi in 2019, the Ocean Lovers Festival returns in March 2026 for its sixth year, continuing its evolution into a citywide event spanning Sydney’s coastline and harbour. The festival now runs across multiple locations throughout March, reflecting its expansion beyond its original Bondi setting.

The 2026 program operates under the theme “Dive into Discovery & Wonder” and is structured around the pillars of discovery, action and fun. Maroubra is listed among the participating suburbs, alongside Bondi, Manly, North Sydney and other harbour-side locations, as part of this broader coastal approach.

Coastal Foraging Walk Scheduled At Maroubra Beach

The Maroubra-based activity listed in the program is a coastal foraging walk scheduled for Saturday, 21 March 2026, commencing at 10 a.m. The event will begin outside the Pavilion Beachfront at Maroubra Beach and take place along South Maroubra.

The walk will be led by plant-based chef Elijah Attard, who is known for his work with wild and foraged ingredients. Participants will be guided along a route of approximately 1.5 kilometres, covering a mix of pavement, sand and grass, with some uneven terrain.

Learning Through Coastal Exploration

The session focuses on identifying edible coastal plants and developing an understanding of the diverse flora found along Sydney’s shoreline. The walk combines food knowledge with environmental awareness, encouraging participants to engage directly with their local coastal landscape.

Children aged six and over are permitted to attend when supervised. The event is weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of heavy rain or strong winds. Attendees are advised to wear comfortable shoes and bring sun protection and water.

The walk concludes near the starting point, with participants given the option to join a post-walk ocean dip or coffee, with coffee not included.

Chef Elijah Attard — *Photo Credit: Elijah Attard/Instagram*

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Festival Timeline

The Ocean Lovers Festival 2026 runs from 1 March to 31 March, beginning with beach clean activities linked to Clean Up Australia Day and concluding with the SEA the Weed sunrise ceremony on 27 March at North Bondi.

Published 23-Dec-2025

Phillip Bay Family Seeks Help for UV-Safe Backyard for Two Sisters

Photo Credit: GoFundMe

A Phillip Bay family needs help to finance and build a UV-protected backyard so that their two daughters, who live with a rare genetic condition, can safely spend time outdoors during daylight hours.

Rare Condition Shapes Daily Life in Phillip Bay

Amielle, 12, and Taya Walker live in Phillip Bay with Xeroderma Pigmentosum, a rare genetic disorder that prevents their bodies from repairing DNA damage caused by ultraviolet light. Medical advice provided to the family states that no amount of UV exposure is safe.

As a result, the sisters spend most daytime hours indoors, with outdoor activity largely restricted to after sunset.

Phillip Bay family fundraising — *Photo Credit: GoFundMe*

Severe Health Risks Linked to Sun Exposure

Xeroderma Pigmentosum places the girls at an estimated 10,000-fold increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer and a 2,000-fold increased risk of melanoma compared with the general population. Even brief exposure can cause severe burns and permanent DNA damage that cannot be repaired.

Protective clothing is required whenever the girls are outdoors, including full-length UV-rated garments and face shields. Their primary school has also been modified with UV-filtered windows to reduce daily exposure.

Planned UV-Safe Backyard at Phillip Bay Home

To improve daily life, the Walker family has planned a fully enclosed UV-safe backyard at their Phillip Bay home. The structure is expected to measure approximately seven metres by ten metres and will use treated glass and UV-blocking blinds to prevent harmful exposure.

The UV structure itself is estimated to cost about $280,000. Fundraising materials indicate the total project cost, including additional home modifications, is approximately $530,000.

Fundraising Progress and Community Response

As of December 2025, more than $106,000 has been raised through community donations, with a current target of $250,000. Messages of support accompanying donations consistently highlight the importance of safe outdoor play and improved quality of life for the children.

Fundraising updates confirm plans have been finalised and approved, with remaining funds required before another summer season.

rare genetic disorder — *Photo Credit: GoFundMe*

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What Comes Next

If completed, the UV-safe backyard would allow the sisters to play outdoors during the day without full protective gear, host friends, and experience routine activities currently unavailable to them. The family says the project would also allow doors and windows to be opened safely, improving daily living conditions at their Phillip Bay home.

Published 17-Dec-2025

Harris Farm Markets Launches Pacific Square Store in Maroubra

Photo Credit: Harris Farm Markets/Facebook

Harris Farm Markets has opened a new store in Maroubra, with the retailer launching its latest location inside Pacific Square Shopping Centre.

New Store Opens in Maroubra

The Harris Farm Markets store officially opened on 4 December 2025 at Pacific Square Shopping Centre, Maroubra. The opening marked the arrival of the retailer in the beachside suburb, welcoming shoppers to a new fresh food destination.

The Maroubra opening is one of several new stores launched by Harris Farm Markets in 2025, following openings in Dural, Marrickville and Miranda.

Fresh Food and Grocery Range

The Maroubra store offers a selection of seasonal fruit and vegetables, alongside everyday groceries and pantry staples. The store brings together fresh produce and food items in a market-style setting.

Shoppers can also access a wide cheese range featuring local and international options, as well as a curated selection of premium pre-packed meats and charcuterie.

Harris Farm Maroubra — *Photo Credit: Harris Farm Markets/Facebook*

Sustainability and Local Products

Sustainability remains a focus at the Maroubra store through the continued use of the Imperfect Picks range. This includes fruit and vegetables that may not meet cosmetic standards but are suitable for consumption, helping reduce food waste while supporting Australian farmers.

The store also stocks artisan and gourmet products made by local suppliers, with an emphasis on products produced without artificial colours.

fresh food Maroubra — *Photo Credit: Harris Farm Markets/Facebook*

Opening Activities and Early Feedback

To mark the opening, Harris Farm Markets Maroubra ran in-store specials and hosted tastings from selected suppliers. Early feedback shared on social media reflected positive reactions from customers, with comments welcoming the new store and noting its size and product range.

Looking Forward

With the Maroubra store now open, Harris Farm Markets adds another location to its growing network across Sydney suburbs, offering fresh produce, grocery items and sustainability-focused initiatives at Pacific Square.

Published 15-Dec-2025

Historic Maroubra Property Changes Hands Outside Family for the First Time

Photo Credit: Ray White Dulwich Hill

A historic Maroubra property with deep ties to one of Australia’s most significant food culture pioneers has been listed for sale, marking the first time it has changed hands outside the family in 95 years.

The two-storey residence at 3/730 Anzac Parade, known as Bettina, was built by Joachim Tavlaidis, better known as Mick Adams – the Greek immigrant who opened Australia’s first American-style milk bar in 1932.

Adams arrived in Australia from Greece as a 14-year-old in the early 1920s. A decade later, he would change the nation’s food landscape forever when he launched the Black & White 4d milk bar at Martin Place in Sydney on 4 November 1932, according to historians Effy Alexakis and Leonard Janiszewski.

**The Black and White 4d. Milk Bar in Martin Place**
Photo Credit: Facebook / ShirleyAnn Williams

The milk bar concept proved wildly successful. By 1937, approximately 4,000 milk bars were operating across Australia, transforming how Australians socialised and consumed food.

**Inside the Black and White 4d. Milk Bar**
Photo Credit: Facebook / ShirleyAnn Williams

Adams constructed the Maroubra property as a wedding gift for his daughter. The building, distinguished by its clock tower, has served various commercial purposes over the decades – operating as a milk bar, butcher shop, pizza restaurant and other ventures.

“He gave the property to my mother as a wedding present, and she owned it until her passing last year,” grandson Michael Gerondis explained in a statement.

Mr Gerondis and his sister purchased the property from their siblings and undertook extensive renovations to preserve its heritage while creating modern living spaces.

The restoration revealed fascinating glimpses into the building’s past. Workers discovered newspaper and linoleum from 1937 beneath the kitchen carpet, with floorboards underneath that had never been walked on.

“The floorboards had never been walked on – they’re pristine. We’ve polished them and they’re being used for the first time in nearly 90 years,” Mr Gerondis said.

The property’s iconic clock, frozen in time for 30 years, is now working again following the restoration.

The building has been converted into three family terraces, with the property for sale featuring generous proportions and significant original character. The former milk bar space became a recreational room during Mr Gerondis’s son’s tenancy, complete with a pinball machine and basketball court.

Ray White Dulwich Hill agent Steve Kremisis is handling the sale, with the property carrying a guide price of $1.8 million.

The listing describes the residence as smartly upgraded with impressive proportions, traditional charm and a deep rear garden, positioned in Maroubra’s sought-after Golden Triangle precinct.

Adams’ legacy received formal recognition in July 2024 when a commemorative plaque was unveiled in Martin Place, Sydney, after a seven-year campaign. The plaque acknowledges Adams’ achievement in establishing what historians believe was the world’s first modern milk bar, though both of Adams’ daughters had passed away before seeing the plaque installed.

The property is being offered for the first time in its history to buyers outside the Adams family, representing a rare opportunity to own a piece of Australian food history in one of Maroubra’s most recognisable buildings.

Published 11-December-2025

Maroubra Tree Painted Blue to Support Mental Health Awareness

Photo Credit: RandwickCityCouncil/Facebook

A dead tree at Nagle Park in Maroubra has been painted blue as part of a national mental health awareness initiative involving local community members.

Mental Health Symbol Installed in Maroubra

On 14 November 2025, community participants gathered at Nagle Park to paint a dead tree blue as part of the Blue Tree Project. The project began in 2019 and now includes more than 1,500 trees across Australia, each serving as a visible reminder to encourage mental health discussions.

The Maroubra chapter of The Man Walk proposed the idea earlier in the year to encourage connection and reduce social isolation. The group conducts weekly walks designed to offer men a supportive and open environment.

Details of the Blue Tree Project

The Blue Tree Project places painted blue trees in public spaces to help break down barriers around mental health. The newly painted tree in Nagle Park joins the national network of symbolic installations aimed at prompting conversation.

Members of The Man Walk highlighted that the tree is intended for the wider community and hoped it would prompt questions from people passing through the park. Suicide remains a leading cause of death for males aged 15 to 44 in Australia, underscoring the importance of such initiatives.

Plans are underway to install signage next to the painted tree, offering guidance on where to access support.

Support services listed include:
• Lifeline 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
• MensLine Australia 1300 789 978

The Man Walk Maroubra meets every Friday at 7:15 a.m. outside the Heffron Park Tennis Centre.

Blue tree Maroubra — *Photo Credit: RandwickCityCouncil/Facebook*

Growing Community Support

The Man Walk has expanded nationally, now running weekly in more than 80 Australian locations. Participants have collectively walked over 2.25 billion steps, reflecting the growing interest in simple, accessible community connection.

The Maroubra initiative reinforces this approach by providing a visual symbol aimed at strengthening mental health awareness within the suburb.

Local Messages of Support

Members involved in the initiative expressed that the blue tree is meant to reassure the community that seeking help is acceptable. They hope the installation encourages conversations and prompts individuals to check in on others.

What Comes Next for Maroubra

The painted tree will continue to stand in Nagle Park as a symbol of mental health awareness in Maroubra. Planned signage will guide residents towards support services and reinforce the message of connection and care.

Published 21-Nov-2025

Woman Struck By Wrench During Violent Altercation Between Teens

Photo Credit: Google Maps

A 23-year-old woman has been hospitalised after being struck by a wrench during a violent altercation involving teenage males outside the Bay Hotel in Maroubra on Monday afternoon.

NSW Police were called to McKeon Street just after 12.45pm following reports of a brawl involving approximately four male teenagers. According to a police spokesperson, the woman sustained head injuries after being hit by a wrench that was thrown by one of the group during the confrontation.

Authorities have confirmed the woman had no connection to the group involved in the fight.

Paramedics from NSW Ambulance treated the woman at the scene before transporting her to Prince of Wales Hospital for further medical care.

Officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command attended the incident and established a crime scene. Police have seized the wrench for forensic examination as part of their ongoing investigation.

Video footage of the incident has circulated on social media, showing several young males engaged in the altercation on McKeon Street, near the popular beachside hotel. The confrontation occurred in broad daylight in the busy Maroubra area.

Police are continuing their inquiries and have appealed for anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The investigation remains ongoing, with officers working to identify those involved in the brawl.

If you witnessed this incident or have any information that could assist police, please contact Crime Stoppers.

Published 20-November-2025

Powerful Surf Re‑Exposes Hereward Shipwreck off Maroubra Beach

Powerful surf in recent months has shifted large volumes of sand from the northern end of Maroubra Beach, uncovering a significant section of the Hereward, the three-masted iron clipper that ran aground more than a century ago.

Read: Maroubra Beach to Get Expanded Outdoor Gym Beside Skate Park

In the past two months, large surf events have removed enough sand to reveal a much larger portion of the Hereward’s hull than is typical. The wreck lies about 50 metres from shore in roughly three metres of water depending on the tide, and it sits under a surf break.

Lifeguards are advising caution: because of surf conditions and underwater structure, only snorkellers with good experience should consider approaching.

Hereward in 2013 (Photo credit: Facebook/Randwick City Council)

The Hereward has long been of interest to local heritage and maritime historians. When it was previously exposed in 2013, a bronze cannon was recovered and is now displayed at the Maroubra Seals Club. The wreck is protected under federal heritage legislation, and removal of any part is prohibited.

History of the Hereward

The Hereward was a full-rigged iron clipper built in Glasgow in 1877. It weighed around 1,513 tons and had three masts. The ship was making a coastal passage up the New South Wales coast on 5 May 1898 when it encountered a violent storm that ripped its sails to pieces.

Despite the chaos, the Hereward managed to avoid two rocky reef formations near Maroubra and came to rest on the soft sand at the beach’s northern end. Miraculously, all 25 crew members reached shore safely, reportedly making their way to a nearby wool-scouring works.

Attempts to refloat the vessel later that year were unsuccessful. Tugs pulled the ship off the beach, but another gale forced it back out, and subsequent wave action broke the hull into two. Over time, most of the wreck buried beneath shifting sand. By 1937, only a triangular “dorsal fin” of the hull was visible, according to historical records.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Randwick City Council and navy divers carried out controlled blasting of exposed metal to reduce danger to swimmers and surfers. Nonetheless, substantial parts of the wreck remain under the seabed, occasionally resurfacing when conditions permit.

Read: Bluebottle Research Aims to Protect Local Beaches, Including Maroubra

A Window into Maroubra’s Coastal Legacy

For residents of Maroubra, the re-emergence of the Hereward is not just a historical curiosity—it’s a tangible link to the suburb’s past and an ongoing reminder of the power of nature. As the ocean continues to reshape the beach, the Hereward periodically offers glimpses of a bygone era, resurfacing when the surf allows.

Published 17-November-2025

Fatberg Crisis: Malabar Wastewater Traced to Sydney Beach Closures

Residents across Sydney’s eastern beaches are learning that the murky balls of waste that washed ashore last summer likely came from the Malabar wastewater system, after environmental experts traced the source of the pollution to fats, oils and grease built up deep within the city’s sewer network.

The findings stem from a partly redacted report commissioned by Sydney Water and obtained under freedom of information laws by the media. The report, backed by an investigation from the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), concludes that Malabar’s deepwater ocean outfall — a major part of Sydney’s sewage network — was the most likely source of the greasy debris that closed beaches between October 2024 and February 2025.

The EPA confirmed that tests matched the debris with human-generated waste, including fats and faecal material, and said further investigations are under way to locate the exact build-up within the Malabar system.

Experts trace pollution to Malabar outfall

Experts including Professor Stuart Khan, a wastewater engineer from the University of Sydney and chair of the EPA’s advisory panel, explained that the sewer feeding into Malabar had decades of accumulated fats, oils and grease that had adhered to the inner walls of pipes. These materials, combined with heavy rainfall, dislodge and flush waste deposits through the outfall tunnel, releasing them into the ocean.

According to Khan, the composition of the debris also matched industrial hydrocarbons consistent with wastewater from western Sydney, which is serviced by the Malabar catchment. He noted that the city’s growing population and rising number of food outlets without proper grease traps have intensified the problem, allowing more fats to enter the system and form blockages.

Rainfall and fats create a perfect storm

Environmental modelling by consultant firm WQ Data, commissioned by Sydney Water, showed how these fats and particulates could accumulate and then be swept into the sea following storms. Once expelled, the waste was rolled by waves into the black balls seen on beaches from Coogee to the state’s south coast.

The EPA’s findings indicate that while the Bondi and North Head treatment plants were also considered, Malabar’s heavier industrial inflows made it the most probable source.

Investigations and cleanup efforts continue

Sydney Water and the EPA are now working to prevent future events by strengthening trade waste controls, enforcing grease-trap maintenance, and exploring infrastructure upgrades. The agency is developing programs to reduce fats, oils and grease entering the wastewater system.

Planned upgrades to the Malabar and Georges River facilities are due by 2029, with further improvements at North Head and Bondi expected by 2031. The utility is also advancing recycled water initiatives to reduce the overall volume of sewage discharged into the ocean.

Community concern remains high in beachside suburbs such as Maroubra and Coogee, where residents recall last summer’s clean-up efforts.

Published 27-Oct-2025

Maroubra Beach to Get Expanded Outdoor Gym Beside Skate Park

Photo Credit: Randwick City Council

A new outdoor gym is taking shape at Maroubra Beach, offering locals more space and equipment for exercise by the sea.

Construction and Timeline

Work began in early October 2025, with the gym scheduled to open in mid-November. The new facility will sit beside the Maroubra Skate Park at the south end of the beach.

It will replace the existing gym near the Surf Life Saving Club, which is being removed to make way for improvements to the playground area. The project by Randwick City Council aims to upgrade community recreation facilities and promote healthy living for residents.

Features of the New Facility

The new gym will feature a wide range of strength and cardio equipment, including an elliptical trainer, step-up station, chest press, pull-downs, leg press, parallel bars, monkey bars, pull-up bars, and sit-up benches.

This marks a significant upgrade from the 2013 gym, which focused on low-impact exercise for older residents. The equipment will cater to a wider age group, encouraging both casual and fitness-focused users to work out outdoors.

Community Consultation and Feedback

Council consulted the community in February and March 2025, receiving 170 responses on equipment preferences and surface design.

Residents supported relocating the gym to a more open and accessible area near the skate park. The consultation reflected local interest in inclusive recreation spaces and durable fitness infrastructure.

Council’s Broader Health Focus

Deputy Mayor Clare Willington said the project reflects the council’s ongoing investment in public health and social connection.

The Maroubra upgrade follows the opening of Little Bay’s first outdoor gym in August 2025, with another planned at Coral Sea Park in the coming year. Together, these projects support the council’s goal of improving public open spaces and encouraging active lifestyles.

Published 13-October-2025