Week One August 2025 (July 28 - August 3)

 

Killing of Ruskin Rowe Heritage Listed Tree 'authoritarian'

Ruskin Rowe tree vigil, June 2024. photo supplied

Pittwater residents have called the way the council has killed a tree community members stood vigil around for weeks a year ago authoritarian and lacking transparency. 

Residents of the street were informed in a letter dated July 23, two days out from Tree Day 2025, that the tree, a flooded gum, was judged to be at risk of dropping branches.

Exactly 7 days later, July 30, the trucks rolled into Ruskin Rowe again to cut down T2 and prune T1.

The street was closed in its entirety, and police tried to move Canopy Keepers members, who were peacefully observing, and other residents on

screenshot from CK video of the Ruskin Rowe gum tree trunk

MORE HERE

 

Manly Warringah Sapphires WIN!!!

Photo: Manly Warringah Sapphires

MANLY WARRINGAH SAPPHIRES NETBALL NSW PREMIER LEAGUE OPENS CHAMPIONS 2025 - Congratulations Girls!

Sapphires coach and support staff stated: ''What a season, what a team! Congratulations to our Manly Warringah Sapphires on taking out the 2025 Netball NSW Opens Grand Final!

A huge thank you to the Manly Warringah Netball Association for rallying the Manly Blue Family troops, to our amazing Sapphires parents, families and friends, and all the wonderful Sapphire supporters who cheered us on- your energy and sparkle made all the difference!''

MORE HERE

 

Trial to remove shark nets - NBC - Central Coast - Waverly approached to nominate a beach each

North Narrabeen where Lagoon meets sea. Photo: Kevin Murray

The state government has written to Waverley, Northern Beaches and Central Coast councils asking them to join a trial to nominate a beach where shark nets could be removed.

When asked on Sunday July 27, senior government minister The Hon. Ryan Park said the government was "looking at the data" on shark nets.

"I think it's an opportunity for them to use the technology," he said.

"We know the problems with nets are widespread, in particular around getting other species of marine life caught in those areas."

Northern Beaches Council, which is among a number of coastal councils that have passed a Motion calling to remove shark nets from  beaches due to the impact on non-target species, stated it "welcomed" the move by the government.

Central Coast Council said on Monday July 28:

''Central Coast Council received correspondence from the NSW Government last week, to be one of three NSW councils to take part in a trial, which would see one beach nominated in each LGA to have shark nets removed permanently. Council has until 22 August 2025 to respond to the NSW Government on a preferred approach.  

Council will take a co-ordinated approach with NSW Department of Primary Industries who are responsible for the Shark Management Program and Surf Life Saving, to make an informed decision on which beach to select to trial the removal of nets for the 2025/2026 patrol season. 

This will involve reviewing the current shark management program technology in place across the region, findings from the recent trial of the removal of shark nets in March 2025, visitation of beaches and any additional risk factors. ''

Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh told the ABC should shark nets be removed at Bondi Beach he expected "additional measures" to be funded. 

"Waverley Council's position is clear: the safety of our community comes first,"  he said.

"This is why we are only supportive of shark net removal if there is a significant increase in additional shark mitigation strategies provided for and funded by the state government."

On August 1st 2024, the NSW Government announced they would shorten the shark net season by one month because of the toll on endangered turtles. The nets were subsequently removed on March 31 2025.

The Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program 2023-24 Annual Performance Report, released August 1st 2024, recorded a total of 255 marine animals were caught in the SMP during the 2023/24 meshing season, comprised of 15 target sharks and 240 non-target animals. Only ninety-two animals (36%) were released alive.

The 2024-2025 SMP Report has not yet been released.

The 2024/25 Program included a suite of new measures to be trialled, which will increase protections for marine life whilst shark nets remain in use, including:

  • Removing shark nets one month earlier, on 31 March 2025, to respond to increased turtle activity in April (from 1989 - 2024 nets came out on 30 April).
  • Increasing the frequency of net inspections by the net contractors during February and March from every third day to every second day.
  • Using SLS NSW drones to inspect the nets during March on the days the net Contractors aren’t inspecting, effectively providing daily net inspections.
  • Trial of lights on nets to deter turtles and prevent their entanglement (February-March 2025).

The shark net removals came just before it was observed sustained warm waters and the state government's listening stations, in place at North Narrabeen, Palm Beach and North Steyne, reported a prolonged presence of sharks.

See: 

It's a 'Bit Sharky' out there: 5 Tagged Bull Sharks Pinged at North Narrabeen on Same Day - Bull Shark spotted at Bayview + some historical insights into Sharks in the estuary and along our beaches (March 10-16 2025 Issue 640 - Week 3)

Sea Waters off NSW retaining sustained above average heat: BOM States May 2025 Sea Surface Temperatures are highest on record + ‘Like an underwater bushfire’: SA’s marine algal bloom is still killing almost everything in its path (June 10 - 15 June 2025 Issue 642 - Week 3)

On August 2nd 2025 DPI Fisheries advised: ''tagged White Shark #2386 was detected by North Narrabeen receiver at 11:24:24 AM (AEST) on 02-August-2025. Last detected at 11:18:33 AM (AEST) on 02-August-2025 by North Narrabeen receiver. Tagged and released 08-September-2024(AEST) at Nobbys Beach, Port Macquarie''.

A ping for a White Shark off North Narrabeen occurred on Tuesday last week as well.

This past week residents have reported a Grey Nurse Shark off Bangalley Headland feasting on a salmon and a GNS swimming peacefully past them at South Avalon, along with a one approximately 4 meters long and very black with a white underbelly off Palm Beach pool which breached in front of a group of young surfers who decided to head back to shore. 

Fishers report there have been a fair amount of salmon and tailor off the Barrenjoey peninsula beaches in recent weeks, which has been drawing feeding sharks closer to beaches.

MORE HERE

Week One August 2025 (July 28 - August 3)

Killing of Ruskin Rowe Heritage Listed Tree 'authoritarian'

Trial to remove shark nets - NBC - Central Coast - Waverly approached to nominate a beach each

The Top Predator by A Dad from A Pittwater Family of Dog Owners & Dog Lovers

Pictures Turimetta Moods: Winter Visions by Joe Mills

Avalon Beach SLSC's 100th Annual General Meeting by Roger Sayers OAM, Life Member ABSLSC

Speed limit for Newport to Palm Beach Lowered to 50k from August 7Pittwater MP calls for Review of decision + More than 183,000 school zone speeding offences recorded in NSW in the last financial year

IPART Draft Report on the review of prices for Greater Sydney from 1 October 2025: Have your by August 25

NSW cracking down on illegal vapes-tobacco shops on high streets + School OurFuture program prevents teen vaping - open to Secondary schools

Man charged with allegedly producing child abuse material at six out-of-school hours care services in northern Sydney - NSW to Introduce Working With Children Check reforms this week

Disaster-ready housing starts local: Landmark Inquiry from AHURI Urges fourth 'R' for Councils

Aquatics Watch out, Shorebirds are Permanently About and now building nests - With More Annual Visitors coming from this Month!! + CSIRO: We used tiny sensors in backpacks to discover the extraordinary ways birds migrate to find water

Government to deliver 21-metre high-tech ‘thunderbird’ to protect NSW waters: will be a 'floating command centre'

DIY Ideas Father's Day 2025: A few Gift Ideas to Spoil the best Dad in the world

Food Pumpkin Season: Ideas for the Lunchbox and at Home

Environment Killing of Ruskin Rowe Heritage Listed Tree 'authoritarian', Newport job site: run off into Pittwater, Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay 2025 AGM + Free Screening of Ocean with David Attenborough, IPART Draft Report on the review of prices for Greater Sydney from 1 October 2025: Have your say, 622kg of Rubbish Collected from Local Beaches in 6 clean ups, Coastal and Estuary Grants Program: guidelines for applicants 2025–26, Tricking herbivore noses to aid plant conservation: local species include Grevillea caleyi + Haloragodendron lucasii, New data reveals land clearing rates in NSW have risen 40% across the state, Sydney Basin Koala Network’s 2025 Report, Warranmadhaa National Park announced, Warmer with a chance of ice: hailstorms could hit Australian cities harder, Citizen science behind countless new discoveries, Gas exports have tripled Australian gas prices and doubled electricity prices: Australia Institute, More Wing Flaps from our yard: exhale!, Notice of 1080 Poison Baitin, The giant cuttlefish’s technicolour mating display is globally unique; The SA algal bloom could kill them all, As oceans warm, tropical fish are moving south. New friendships may be helping them survive, Have your say on changes gas and pipeline regulations and guidelines for NSW, Weed of the Week: Mother of Millions - please get it out of your garden, Marine climate interventions can have unintended consequences – we need to manage the risks, We used tiny sensors in backpacks to discover the extraordinary ways birds migrate to find water, Australia’s rat uprising: footage provides first evidence of native rakali attacking introduced black rat, UN climate chief tells Australia to ‘go big’ with its 2035 emissions reduction target, 5 reasons why wind farms are costing more in Australia – and what to do about it, An underwater observatory keeping the pulse of the Southern Ocean for nearly 30 years yields fresh results, Rockabye baby: the ‘love songs’ of lonely leopard seals resemble human nursery rhymes, A World of Water exhibition asks: ‘Can the seas survive us?’, Flames to floods: how Europe’s devastating wildfires are fuelling its next climate crisis, US government may be abandoning the global climate fight, but new leaders are filling the void – including China, As US climate data-gathering is gutted Australian forecasting is now at real risk, Solar for apartment residents: Funding, Volunteers for Barrenjoey Lighthouse Tours needed, Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 Recycling Batteries: at Mona Vale + Avalon Beach, Reporting Dogs Offleash - Dog Attacks to Council, Plastic Bread Ties For Wheelchairs, Stay Safe From Mosquitoes, Mountain Bike Incidents On Public Land, Report fox sightings, Marine Wildlife rescue group on the Central Coast, Watch out - shorebirds about, Possums In Your Roof?: do the right thing, Aviaries + Possum Release Sites Needed, Bushcare in Pittwater: where + when, Friends Of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment Activities, Gardens and Environment Groups and Organisations in Pittwater, Ringtail Posses, Pittwater Reserves, Environment History insights + Walks, Birds, + 

Inbox News Governments are becoming increasingly secretive; Here’s how they can be made to be more transparent, More than 2 in 5 young Australians are lonely: This is what could help, Want to save yourself from super scams and dodgy financial advice? Ask these questions, Australia's Disability Strategy updated, Ground-breaking research to identify early signs of multiple sclerosis, Precious finger traces from First Nations ancestors revealed in a glittering mountain cave in Australia, China’s greening steel industry signals an economic reality check for Australia, ‘I was very fearful of my parents’: new research shows how parents can use coercive control on their children, Albanese government to include YouTube in social media ban for under-16s, Prac payments must be extended to medical students to bolster rural workforce: AMA, AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship reaches historic milestone, Work to begin on New Richmond Bridge, New chapter for readers and writers at the State Library with the Sydney Writers Festival hub, NSW Government will legislate to limit pollie pay, Should I limit how much fruit my child eats because it contains sugar?, ‘No filter can fix that face’: how online body shaming harms teenage girls, How conspiracy theories about COVID’s origins are hampering our ability to prevent the next pandemic, What is chikungunya virus, and should we be worried about it in Australia?, Celebrating 60 Years Of Manly Warringah Netball, Release of rules another step towards a new Aged Care Act, Online Registration FREE Scams Awareness Training, Support for Senate inquiry into Home Care package delays, Combining medication and exercise could greatly reduce osteoporosis risk: RNS Trial open for applicants aged 50-80, Aged care service delivery: Senate Inquiry - submissions close Aug. 22, Walk & Talk: Narrabeen, The ghost of Robodebt – Federal Court rules billions of dollars in welfare debts must be recalculated, AvPals Term 3 2025, Take fish, salt in vats, leave in sun for months: why ancient Romans loved fermented fish sauces like garum, ‘Provocative in a good way’: John Hirst was a rigorous historian, independent thinker and passionate believer in Australia, Sydney Writers Festival will program year-round, partnering with State Library of NSW. Is this ‘Sydney’s Wheeler Centre’?,  Manly Warringah Sapphires Opens Team Set for Grand Final at Ken Rosewall Arena,  Malta to host 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games + CGA Updates; Glasgow 2026 session schedule unveiled + A legacy takes root – Commonwealth Games Alumni Recognition Program launched + Diamonds squad named for 2025-2026, Broken Section: the story of Pittwater's anti-submarine boom net, Opportunities: Young Filmmakers Comp + Underwater Photography Contest + Take the Polar Plunge + Open Mic at Palm Beach + Innovative jobs program for women, Financial help for young people, School Leavers Support, Word Of The Week: Warble, How poetry can help to fight polarisation and misinformation, ‘Fibremaxxing’ is trending – here’s why that could be a problem, 6 simple questions to tell if a ‘finfluencer’ is more flash than cash, ‘Provocative in a good way’: John Hirst was a rigorous historian, independent thinker and passionate believer in Australia, Water recycling is paramount for space stations and long-duration missions − an environmental engineer explains how the ISS does it, As Spotify moves to video, the environmental footprint of music streaming hits the high notes, The Man from Hong Kong at 50: how the first ever Australian–Hong Kong co-production became a cult classic, Top Australian writers urge Albanese to abolish Job-Ready Graduates, calling their humanities degrees life changing

Profile of the Week Manly Warringah Netball Association to Celebrate 60 years + Manly Warringah Sapphires Opens Wins 2025 Grand Final at Ken Rosewall Arena

Website: www.mwna.com.au

Manly Warringah Netball Association (MWNA) is one of the largest and most vibrant netball communities in New South Wales. The Association had 17 affiliated local clubs and over 3000 players for its Winter 2025 Season.

With a rich history spanning over 60 years, MWNA is dedicated to fostering a love for netball at all levels—from grassroots to representative competitions. 

The association proudly supports thousands of players, coaches, and umpires across all ages and skill levels, providing opportunities for development, teamwork, and community spirit. Whether you're new to the game or striving for elite performance, MWNA offers a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone to enjoy netball.

The Manly Warringah Netball Association (MWNA) is about celebrating Community in Community Sport. 

With the Manly Warringah Sapphires playing in the 2025 Grand Final this Sunday, August 3, the MWNA Semi Finals and Grand Finals to be played Saturday August 16 and Saturday August 23 respectively, and a 60th Anniversary Dinner and Celebration on Friday August 8, and their Spring 2025 Competition registrations now open, a few details on the Association and the Sapphires pathway to this year's Grand Final runs this Issue.

Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby said:

“As a local MP and mum of a dedicated young netballer, I’ve seen first-hand the energy, joy, and community spirit that Manly Warringah Netball Association brings to the Northern Beaches. From early morning warmups to nail-biting finals, MWNA is where confidence is built, friendships are made, and life lessons are learned. 

For over 60 years, it’s been the beating heart of weekend sport, and I’m proud to support everything it stands for – especially as we cheer on the Sapphires in this Sunday’s Grand Final. Good luck, girls!"


John Illingsworth's brilliant Pittwater Pathways films are a boon to local residents, sharing insights and news as well as great Historical features he has clearly spent a lot of time and effort making.

Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day in 2025 will be commemorated on Friday, August 15th in 2025, and will be mark the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender to the Allied forces in 1945. This day signifies the end of World War II in the Pacific and is a time for Australians to remember and honour the service and sacrifice of all those who served in this conflict, and particularly in the Pacific.

A combined Sub-Branches VP Day Commemoration Service will be held at the Avalon Beach RSL Cenotaph, commencing at 11.30am, led by Vice President Tamara Sloper-Harding, OAM.
In the lead-up to VP Day in Pittwater 2025, one of Mr. Illingworth's great insights into Pittwater's World War Two defences runs as the second insight.

 

Winter in pittwater

First one in

Turimetta beach - sunrise fisherman

Turimetta beach sunrise - looking north. All photos by Joe Mills, more in this week's Pictorial.