The Newsletter of the Scotland Island residents Association

- December 2001 -

Newsletter of the Scotland Island Residents Association   Volume 2, Issue 24; December 2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

Editorial:Ho Ho Ho

On behalf of the entire editorial staff, their families and associates, may I wish you all a safe and relaxed Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year. We have really appreciated your contributions through the year and invite you to continue in 2002. Christmas may well be a great time for kids but why not make it a terrific time for YOU. Relax, sit back, open a can of your favourite refreshment and consider your great good fortune to live in Australia's top residential site.

In this Issue:

Why I live on my Island!

Our dream.
Unbelievable. It's in Pittwater and we can afford it!
Their reaction.
Reasons why we were told not to move to Scotland Island. Packs of wild dogs roam the island attacking humans. Rats cover the island. Cockroaches cover the island. There's nothing to do. What do you do if you run out of bread and milk? It's alright when your kids are young but what are you going to do once they go to school it's too inconvenient/boring/isolated. What do you do if you get sick? What do you do if there's a fire? Why would you want to live there. The island is full of stoned bed hopping hippies.
My response.
I stood at cargo wharf deciding if this was to be our sea change. I wouldn't be taking my mainland negativity with me. Little did I know how much wisdom and foresight I had accumulated in my short 33 years. I stared at our five bedrooms of house contents and pondered my husbands constant nagging about my limited spatial/organisational capabilities.
A floating platform arrive cheekily nudged by a small boat. But where was the barge? I left to make lunch for the volunteers and returned to find everyone and everything I loved balanced and floating to the island. There precious persons the only thing between my stuff and the deep. "If something falls in don't go in after it" I shouted. I could hear their laughter as they teetered across the channel.
I took a deep breath and shored up my resolve to be positive and jumped into our "commuter boat/dinghy" much to the derision of all our relos and proceeded to make even slower progress than Tim's weighted barge as the engine took a few (hundred) goes to start but wow there's nothing like zipping along to your first home. Hot tip: never act like your boat will start first go.
Found the house. We'd only seen it twice and we'd spent everything now and in the next 30 years on it - go figure. No flush! No water! "No worries" I said. Luckily, blessedly, karmically, etceterally our neighbours lent us water. By 9.30 pm that night we were tucked in, pommy showered, counting the mozzies so we drifted off.
A neighbours TV reception had gone bung and I helped her carry a borrowed ladder. As she descended from the roof Carmel informed me she had been living on the island for years. I suggested she should check her reception and I'll go on the roof to make final adjustments. As I clamoured along the joists my residual mainland cynicism returned as I checked the surrounding bushland for chuckling locals. Was I the target of some bizarre island initiation. Carmel discovered it was just the outlet playing up so my ladder, community spirit and I returned home. Just a hint: don't do better homes and gardens inspired D.I.Y. jobs in Chinese silk thongs. High fashion but your resistance to mud and mozzies can be affected.
My neighbour dropped in to borrow bread. I contained my urge to cry. After 10 years of living in Seaforth hardly anyone had ever asked for my name, let alone to borrow bread. I think she thinks I'm a bit emotional and hard of hearing as I gushingly gave her double. But as a teacher I know the importance of incentives. She made my day. Another lady said hi at the wharf and dropped in the following week with half a dozen home grown eggs. How nice is that.
Final hot tip from the new kids on the block is from my husband - don't leave your five metre lock up cable trailing underneath your four metre dinghy. Oh the shame ..

Beautiful Garden Competition

Pittwater Council is conducting its fourth annual Beautiful Garden Competition in
September/October. The competition is open to all gardens in Pittwater and carries prizes in some categories donated by sponsors - Kimbriki Recycling & Waste Disposal Centre, the Pittwater Natural Heritage Association and the Nursery & Garden Industry NSW & ACT.
The competition aims to encourage the beautification of Pittwater through gardens which are both beautiful and environmentally friendly.
Categories are Residential, Australian Native, School, Balcony/Courtyard, with two new categories added to the list - Eco and Habitat Gardens. An Eco garden is one which reuses, recycles, composts, worm farms, mulches, grows herbs, vegetables, etc. A Habitat garden is one which establishes a place where native fauna can live. Contact council for more information.
 

Pittwater Australia Day awards nominations

Pittwater Council is calling for nominations for the Pittwater Australia Day Citizen and 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. This contribution/event must have demonstrated active concern for the rights, welfare and well-being and/or advancement of others. Such contribution/event could have been given to individuals, community groups or the community at large.
The awards will be presented at Pittwater's Australia Day Breakfast at the Beach celebrations at Newport Beach on the morning of January 26, 2002.
Nominations close at 5pm, Friday 14 December 2001 and should be sent to Gay McCorby at Pittwater Council, PO Box 882, Mona Vale 1660 or via email to gay_mccorby@pittwater.nsw.gov.au
Enquiries should be directed to Gay on 9970 1119
 

Scotland Island Directory Supplement 2002

If you wish to be part of this supplement please click here to view and print the application or phone or email for your application form at the address or number below.

Artwork deadline 15 December 2001
Michele Irwin 9979 1139 Email: michele@kaytow.com.au
This supplement will be in circulation for 12 months before further updates.

Water Safety Advice

Take care in the waterTwo water safety brochures - “A Fence Makes Sense” and "Swimming Pool Fencing Requirements” are available from Pittwater Council.  Funding was awarded to the Children’s Safety Group from NSW Safe Communities to produce these publications, which are aimed at raising community awareness to the danger of having unfenced pools and keeping children safe from drowning using the following four strategies:

  • Supervise your child near water
  • Fence your pool and keep your pool safe
  • Familiarise your child with water
  • Learn resuscitation

For more information please contact Children’s Services at Pittwater (9970 1167), Warringah (9942 2522) and Manly (9977 6611) councils.

Taxi for sale?

Rumour has it that Annette is moving along and is looking for a buyer. Interested? No previous experience necessary, just a good attitude!

Avalon Computer Pals for SeniorsComputer Pals

This group was established last year following a public meeting of interested parties. Its 221 members are all Pittwater residents.  Volunteers teach basic computer skills to seniors, retirees and people with disabilities at minimum cost in a friendly atmosphere. They believe that computer education helps to enrich older people’s lives by creating self-reliance in today's technological world, as well as the added benefits of social contact with others. If you are interested in joining or helping, give council a ring. Tell them where you read this!
 

Hard Copy Newsletter

You are about to receive, or have just received, a copy of the SIRA newsletter in printed form. This newsletter reviews the activities of the SIRA committee during the last six months and provides those unfortunate souls who do not have access to email, with a copy of the newsletter to read.

Much of the information has been previously seen in these newsletters but some of it is new and you would be wise to peruse it carefully. In particular, please take note of the item about the directory update. This is your opportunity to have your business or service included in the next edition for a remarkably low cost.

The local guideDirections to Paradise

As our newsletter continues to grow (nearly 500 readers) we are including some links to other nearby organisations and events that may be of interest. If you would like to contribute, please send a message to the editor by clicking here.

 

Local Real Estate Agents:

Government Organisations:

Local Transport:

  • Church Point Ferries (02-9999-3492)
  • Land Taxi Manly Warringah Cabs (02-9997-9111)
  • Palm Beach Cruises (02-9997-4815)
  • Pink Water Taxi (0428-238-190)
  • Scotland Island Community Vehicle (1800-069-592)
  

Airlines, Buses and Railways

Sydney Airport: Arrivals and Departures

Qantas Information

Ansett Information

Virgin Blue Information

NSW Railway Timetables and Information.

Sydney Buses information.

Tides for this week and month for Scotland Island: Flinders University

Join the Scotland Island Residents Association

You can now join SIRA by clicking here. Please print the page you see and return the completed form to SIRA at this address: The Treasurer, SIRA, PO Box 70, Church Point 2105. Please NO CASH. If you must pay in cash, contact the treasurer, Shirley Page on (02) 9997-1875 to arrange collection/delivery.

Archived Newsletters

A complete set of all past electronic newsletters can be found and read by clicking here

Spread the Word:

The future of this newsletter is in your hands. More than 500 residents and friends read this electronic newsletter monthly. Please tell your friends and neighbours to subscribe. If you are particularly literate in matters computing, you might like to help them follow the very simple path to subscription. It is easy to join. Simply click here to join (or leave) or go to following address: http://www.scotlandisland.org.au/newsletters

Surf the NetGreat Internet Sites to Visit:

 

Click!If you have friends and relatives overseas it is useful to know the exact time in that country to avoid the call at 3 in the morning! This great site has a real time map of the world showing times in most major centres
Click!A constant discussion in my circles is the price of property in Sydney. It seems unstoppable and certainly prices are forever spiralling upwards. Check out the current position at this new site
Click!Attracting the right fauna to our island gardens should be an important consideration. This excellent new site tells you what to plant to get the right birds to visit. Even Scotland Island gets a mention!

Finally:

If you would like to contribute to this newsletter it's easy!. Send an e-mail to the editor by clicking here. Type your short contribution (100 words would be fine) and assuming it is of general interest to the community, does not include matter of a political nature and is not offensive to your neighbours, it will appear next month.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION:

  • To get on and off this newsletter, or to change your options - click here
  • OR go to this site: http://www.scotlandisland.org.au/newsletters

The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the Scotland Island Residents Association Committee.
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