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The Pearl Beach GEM

The Pearl Beach GEM is going digital!
  • This decision was made in consultation with Progress Association members
  • It was influenced by the size limitations offered by the print option (we can put much more information in our online version, and have the option of using colour images)

This is the last edition that be available in hard copy. Spring onward, it will be distributed via email only.
The President's Report
As we head into winter the busy cultural life of our community continues and over the next few months we have before us a busy schedule of events: notably the June Long Weekend Music Festival and Jazz in the Arboretum on Sunday 6 October. The year 2019 of course marks the 90th anniversary of our Association, so check our website for upcoming events and other opportunities to get involved.

Looking back briefly, the Easter Book Fair was once again a great success, not only raising a little less than $9,000 for the Association, but also a fun social occasion that brought together both locals and visitors looking for a great holiday read. Thanks to Victoria Crawford and her dedicated team of volunteers for organising the event.

Members will recall that the Association is working on a number of projects to further enhance the functionality of the Pearl Beach Hall which acts as the centre of our community. We have recently submitted grant applications to assist with funding two  projects under the NSW government’s My Community Project Scheme. The projects are, first the proposed alterations and extensions to the rear of our Hall, and secondly a plan to equip the Hall to be able to function as a coordination centre in the event of an emergency such as a major bushfire. The successful projects will be selected through a popular vote by residents living in the electorate, so this means we need our members and friends to vote for our Hall projects. Voting will be open from 15 July to 15 August 2019 through the Service NSW website,. Unfortunately it seems that each resident can only vote for one project. We will upload further details onto our website as they eventuate.
-Peter Romey
Tawny Frogmouth Owls in Pearl Beach
Photo: Peter Romey
Pearl Beach Progress Association
The Pearl Beach Progress Association meets the first Saturday of each month at 5pm in the Hall (except for June and January.) Come along to find out what is happening in our beautiful village.
 
EXPLORE OUR WEBSITE                pearlbeachprogress.org.au
JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE         @pearlbeachprog

HIRE OUR HALL                                It is available for functions
                                                            Contact Tom Sarti (02) 4344 1023                                                                  tsarti@gmail.com


Pearl Beach Progress Association Membership Renewal Notices
Renewal notices have been sent to those whose membership falls due in 2019. Not everyone will have received a notice, as some members last paid ahead for 2 or more years.
Relocation from Pearl Beach
Three long term residents have recently moved away from Pearl Beach to be closer to family members.
  • Carol Serventy has moved to the far north coast.
  • Penny Carle and Julie-Anne Phillips have each moved back to Sydney
All three were great supporters of local activities for many years. We wish them well in this new phase in their lives.
Farewell to John Greenway
A village tribute to John Greenway, who tragically died on February 26, 2019, following a cycling accident.
The Friday bowls “boys” miss you, John.
He was a keen regular with a fluid style and unerring eye. Being John, he was never quite satisfied with his performance, though he encouraged others and was always eager to “get on with it lads”. A joking reference to punishment for slow play (usually missing a turn because of the chat and friendly banter) resulted in John turning up the following week with a perfectly made and painted set of yellow and red cards.

The Thursday night darts players miss you too, John.
He was the instigator of the weekly event and, with his wife Marijke, was a regular attendee and head scorer. Again, keen as any and sometimes exasperated by his performance, John would roll his eyes and groan: “Two and six - bed and breakfast”, an old darts players’ call for a score of 26.

The Arboretum team of volunteers misses you too, John.
No sooner had some woodworking job been identified than John would turn up with his tools and it would be done. No fuss, no thanks required. Just like the magnificent signboards at the entrances to the arboretum. He was that sort of man, our good friend John Greenway. We miss you, mate
- Written by Tony Grantham
Royal Spoonbill At The Lagoon
- Photograph by Paul Wickham
My Community Project 2019
The Pearl Beach Safety Advisory Group (PBSAG), sponsored by the Pearl Beach Progress Association, has lodged a $26,830 grant application under the NSW Government “My Community Project 2019”.
 
The purpose is defined in the grant as ‘Security and Safety’ being the establishment of a Pearl Beach Community Support facility at the Memorial Hall to cater for residents in the event of an emergency which isolates the community and restricts communications.
 
Under the terms and conditions of the NSW Government "My Community Project 2019", the success of the application is to be based on the number of votes we receive for our community project from Pearl Beach residents and others within the Gosford electorate.
 
"Voting will be open for four weeks from 15 July to 15 August 2019. People in NSW aged 16 years or older will be able vote for the projects in their electorate".
 
So watch this space as this means we’ll be canvassing support votes from Pearl Beach residents through Email, Gem news, PBPA meetings,……
 
Assuming ultimate success with the grant application, to be announced in September, the Pearl Beach Memorial Community Hall will be resourced to provide power/lighting, communications equipment through the installation of solar energy (new with battery), radio communications equipment together with essential first aid equipment and emergency food supplies. The project will be completed within 12 months.
 
PBSAG is two groups, First Aid and Beach Safety and Fire and the Neighbour Alert group. Both are a sub-committee of the Pearl Beach Progress Association Inc.
 
PBSAG group conveners: Paul Toohey and Richard Stewart.
Koala Reintroduction to Pearl Beach
Sketch by Pim Sarti

The Arboretum has approached the University of Sydney with the view of getting koalas re-introduced to the Arboretum. The Wildlife Corridor which has many koala trees would allow koalas to wander from the Arboretum via the University Research Station to the Brisbane Water National Park. Many of you may remember seeing koalas at Pearl Beach. 


The University has applied for a state grant to do a research project on this. The koalas would come from the Koala Hospital at Port Macquarie and would be checked out by the School of Veterinary Science and will be fitted with transponders to allow monitoring before their release at Pearl Beach. Both the Arboretum and Pearl Beach Progress have written to the University supporting the project.  

 

Foxes have recently been sighted in Pearl Beach including the Arboretum. The Arboretum has contacted NSW Land Services to get either baits or traps placed. Land Services are planning to do a risk assessment to determine which method would be the most appropriate. National Parks have also been contacted. 

 

Both the Arboretum and the National Park are dog free areas. To ensure that this project is successful it is important for the community to point this out to visitors who may have a dog in either of these areas. If a koala smells a dog it will leave the area. 

 

Koalas have been declared a threatened species in NSW and QLD.  

The NSW Government’s Koala Strategy plans to provide more natural habitat for koalas, tackle diseases, improve research and fix roadkill hotspots. The NSW Government has committed $45 million for this Strategy. 

 

Pearl Beach Community members may wish to adopt a koala at the Port Macquarie as way of supporting the koala project.
Click here for more information

 

-Ann Parsons (Vice President- Crommelin Native Aboretum Inc)
Local Crime
  • In early March a local resident reported that a car had been stolen from outside their home in the early hours of the morning.
  • Another resident discovered two young adolescents armed with a screw driver and WD40 trying to break into a back yard shed.
  • Another reported a bike stolen in daylight hours from their front drive where it had left while the owner was inside.
Local home owners and visitors are encouraged to monitor the security of their property (including home and car). If you have any concerns, contact Woy Woy Police Station on 4379 7399
Central Coast Students Shine at Pearl Beach Prestigious Scholarship Concerts
Click here for press release
ANZAC Day

Approximately 180 – 200 locals, families and friends crowded into the hall and surrounds on a glorious Anzac Day morning.
Thank you to Di Swalwell and Jeanette Sims for co-ordinating the ceremony which was very moving and Russell Grove for his planning. Thanks to Paul Wickham for his compilation of visuals and video clips that created a very moving atmosphere. Thanks to the guest speakers, Umina Public School students and trumpeter Jackson. In addition, morning tea organisers, Anzac Biscuit cooks, sound, lighting and miscellaneous helpers.

Donations of $370.00 was raised for Central Coast Legacy

--Lynne Lillico
Ben Quilty Literary Lunch
Two Turkeys Events and Catering hosted the Ben Quilty Literary Lunch on Saturday 18 May at the Pearl Beach Community Hall. The event was attended by 120 enthusiastic guests who enjoyed an afternoon of Ben Quilty in conversation with Margaret Pomeranz.       

Ben is one of Australia’s preeminent contemporary artists and a winner of The Archibald Prize. His experiences are far ranging, from his commission by the Australian War Memorial to travel to Afghanistan in the capacity of Australia’s official war artist to his times shared with Australian author, Richard Flanagan in Syria where he collated a book of paintings by the children who had survived the horrors of the war.
—Annie Karbowiak and Karen Ferguson  
Pearl Beach Events Guide
Click Here for Pearl Beach's Future Events Guide
Hot Dogs on Parade
- Paws for a Cause

Sketch by Pim Sarti
 
Sunday 8th September. The event will be held on the reserve next to the Tennis Courts between 9am and 12 noon.

Last year, we held a fun doggy event to raise money for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT. We all had a great time and raised over $4,000.

We are calling out for all Pearl Beach dogs, their owners and friends to save the date to attend this years Hot Dogs on Parade on

Again we encourage you to bring along your favourite Toy/Ornament Dog, your “family pet” or just come ...all live dogs must be on a lead. A small registration fee of $5.00 for each “doggy” entry will go to Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.

We will have Hot Dogs and water available for refreshments.
Remember all our entries can be “winners”, and who can forget the fun we had with Colin and Jo Jo’s “Pawtraits”....
So come along, have some fun and support a great cause!!
 
Woof Woof
Pearl Beach Darts Club
Darts on Thursday night 28th March produced two flukes… Robin Hood Andrew produced a dart in a dart, & half an hour later William Tell Tony did the same thing… what a record for Pearl Beach Thursday Darts club!!!
Not to be out done, the next week , Golden Archer John scored 2 bullseyes and one outer bull.
Poetry About Pearl Beach
Painting by Douglas Knaggs

Douglas Knaggs was the second of the seven children of Joan and Alan Knaggs, who lived in Diamond Road from 1976-1995. He cared greatly about nature conservation and befriended many of those who first set up the Aboretum, giving legal advice in the 1980s at the time of the Hartve's' bequests. This is one of his many poems that was inspired by Pearl Beach and its surroundings. Douglas passed away in 2017. His sisters Mary Knaggs and Julie Anne Philips reside in Pearl Beach today and his daughters love to come and visit them.
 
More Information About Douglas Knaggs
Click here to read his poem
For Sale
Rugged polyethylene kayak  
The superior Storm is at home on the seas, unique combination of strength and impact resistance. Always stored under cover. Minor scratches from beach landings.    $850
PH 4341 5170/ 0407 834 518
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Contact the Editor
The Pearl Beach GEM is published by the Pearl Beach Progress Association Inc.
9 Diamond Rd Pearl Beach
Editor: Donna Higgins - Photographic Editing: Duncan Bridel
No material may be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher
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Pearl Beach GEM · 9 Diamond Road · Pearl Beach, NSW 2256 · Australia

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