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Help Plant 100 Trees in Avalon Beach to Mark 100 Years

Did you know that Avalon Beach is celebrating the centenary of its naming in December 2021? To mark this monumental event, Canopy Keepers will need 100 volunteers to plant a canopy tree sapling in their backyard.

The initiative aims to “turn the tide against tree loss” in the suburb and planting trees should also provide animals and birds with more natural habitats. This act will also leave a “wonderful living legacy” for the children.

Canopy Keepers will distribute free canopy tree sapling at the Avalon Car Boot Sale on Sunday, 19 December but other arrangements may also be made. If you would like to take part in this initiative, sign the form from Canopy Keepers and someone will contact you for additional details.

Centenary of Naming Avalon Beach

Per “The Book of Sydney Suburbs” authored by Frances Pollon, the name Avalon was based on a mythical Celtic place. It’s also the name of the earthy paradise where the legendary King Arthur was buried.

In 1921, businessman and land developer Arthur J. Small identified and named a Northern Beaches area as “Avalon Beach” as he sought to establish Palmgrove Estate.

*Photo Credit: Northern Beaches Council*

In 2012, the name was formally adopted as Avalon Beach was given full suburb status, alongside Bilgola Beach.

“This outcome is the result of widespread community consultation over several years, involving residents and the Geographical Names Board,” then Minister for Finance & Services Mr Greg Pearce said.

“The details recorded on the GNB register are used for publishing maps and directories and will greatly assist emergency services and delivery services to find the correct address.”

“A number of locality names around the Pittwater foreshore that have been in common usage for many years have also been formally adopted ensuring there is clarity for local residents and visitors to the Pittwater area and its surrounds.”

Students at Avalon Public School Will Have Cooler Classrooms

Students from Avalon Public School will soon enjoy cooler classrooms, thanks to a scheduled approved installation of an air conditioning system under the $500-million Cooler Classrooms Program.

In June 2021, the NSW Government approved the tenders for the aircon installation at Avalon Public School, Bilgola Plateau Public School, and Elanora Heights Public School. These schools were part of the over 400 schools that were enjoined to apply for the installation of the reverse-cycle units in 2019.

Over 600 state schools experiencing temperatures above 30°C in January were automatically included in the Cooler Classrooms Program. However, schools with lower temperature averages that still experienced a warmer environment during the summer, were asked to submit their applications.

Avalon Public School averages a January temperature of about 27°C. The new smart air conditioning systems are expected to deliver a more conducive environment for learning.

Studies have shown that temparature impacts the students’ ability to focus and concentrate in class and the optimal classroom temperature should be between 22°C to 24°C. According to the experts, some two per cent of favourable learning environment is lost for every one-degree rise in temperature.

However, questions have been raised on the process of application approval, as schools with average temperatures reaching almost 30°C have been turned down. Of the 447 schools that applied in the second round, only 15 were approved, including Avalon Public School.

Meanwhile, several schools within the Penrith, Blacktown, and Windsor triangle, which have warmer microclimates that sometimes reached 37°C, missed out on the program. Critics said that the NSW Govermment should have identified and targetted these schools instead of basing the decision on the applications.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said that applications were audited based on the technical requirements, the electrical capacity of the school, and the number of classrooms. Ms Mitchell also said that the government will look into the additional requirements from other schools after the “rollout of the current delivery priorities.”

Since the announcement of the program in 2018, 922 schools have received or will soon get the cooling systems in the first and second rollouts. The government plans to complete its target by June 2022.

Avalon Local Launches Petition To Keep Darko Desic In Australia

Photo credit: Leroy_Skalstad/Pixabay

A number of Avalon locals haven’t stopped helping Darko Desic, the 64-year-old prison escapee who turned himself in to police custody in September 2021, after being at large for almost three decades. After raising funds to help him rebuild a new life, locals joined a petition to keep him from being deported from Australia.

Read: Darko Desic Fundraiser for Prison Escapee Who Hid in Avalon Gains Over 400 Donors

Concerned local Anne Barrowclough started a Change.org petition to urge Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to prevent a deportation order from being placed on Mr Desic, and allow him to be released back into his community where he can live out his remaining years in safety and peace.

Ms Barrowclough emphasised that Mr Desic, who is more known to the locals as ‘Dougie,’ had not committed any crime whilst on the run. He worked as a cash-in-hand builder and handyman but became homeless due to the pandemic.

“Desic has nothing to return to in the former Yugoslavia, a place that has fractured since he left, and where ancient hatreds still splinter communities,” Ms Barrowclough said.

“In Australia, on the other hand, he has friends, a neighbourhood that loves him – and to which he has contributed much over the years – and the promise of employment and a home,” she said.

Impending Deportation

Mr Desic’s defence solicitor Paul McGirr revealed in October 2021 that the Australian Border Force (ABF) has sent a letter to Mr Desic advising him of deportation at the end of his sentence.

Ironically, he escaped jail in 1992 out of fear of being deported to Yugoslavia, where he could become a deserter or be put on the frontlines for the war. Mr Desic was spending 13 months out of his three-and-a-half-year sentence for cannabis cultivation when he broke out of the Grafton Correctional Centre 29 years ago.

Mr Desic’s legal team is now doing everything they can to stop the deportation. They vow to continue to fight for him, believing that he’s a loved member of the community.

Australia Detention Laws

Under the Migration Act 1958, Australian Border Force Officers must detain unlawful non-citizens. According to ABF, a person might be unlawful because:

they arrived without a valid visa
their visa was cancelled
their visa has expired

Meanwhile, Ms Barrowclough reiterated that Mr Desic was granted residency in Australia more than a decade ago.

“Police told the media that Desic said he’d escaped because he feared being deported back to Yugoslavia, where he expected to face punishment for fleeing without completing compulsory military service. Police also said that, unbeknown to the fugitive, he’d been made an Australian citizen in 2008,” she revealed.

Woolworths Avalon Beach Not Switching to Metro Store Format

Woolworths Avalon Beach (Photo credit: Google Street View)

Woolworths’ Avalon Beach store will remain a full supermarket and not a Metro store, contrary to what is being circulated online. This was confirmed by Woolworths in October 2021.

Read: Avalon Market Day Permanently Scrapped After 3 Decades

A Bilgola resident shared on neighbourhood app Nextdoor that she allegedly received an email promotion from the company showing huge discounts for items. Some products were half their original price, so she immediately headed to the store to buy her essentials. The dishwashing tabs, for instance, were priced $15 cheaper in the email she received.

To confirm this, the local enquired at the service desk before heading to the cashier as the prices were different to the specials marked in her email. This was when she was allegedly told Woolworths specials don’t apply at Avalon anymore because it has changed into a Woolies Metro where prices are different.

Inside a Woolies Metro store (Photo credit: Woolworths/Twitter)

However, a spokesperson from the store reiterated that the Avalon Beach store has not changed its format and continues to operate the way it has for years. If there are changes to be made, it’s the fact that they are planning to refurbish the store in 2022.

Woolworths Metro is a chain of convenience stores launched in 2013. The first store opened in Sydney, and the chain now has over 80 stores across Australia.

Meanwhile, Woolworths will further investigate the matter. For concerns, kindly get in touch with their customer service at https://www.woolworthsgroup.com.au/.

Playground Renewed at the Gunyah Reserve in Avalon in Time for Summer

Did you know that a revitalisation of a beautiful children’s area at the Gunyah Reserve in Avalon took place during the lockdown? As Sydney reopens to normal activities, young residents will now be able to enjoy the new playground equipment.

Set in a small pocket surrounded by nature, the Gunyah Reserve playground has been fitted with a new swing set, slide, rocker, a new bench seat and a see-saw. Materials used for the equipment are made from natural wood with muted colours to blend with the natural setting, per Northern Beaches Council.

This secluded spot is metres off the street so kids can play freely without their parents worrying if they would wander off onto the road. The Gunyah Reserve is also a good and quiet spot for adults to read and rest whilst their kids play with their friends.

“My kids grew up with this lovely safe place where we had many birthday parties and community Christmas Eves at the end of our quiet cul-de-sac. Good to see Council have made it lovely again,” said Nina Gow, whose kids grew up playing in the park in the 1980s.

“We live nearby and our little granddaughter visiting from Melbourne loved this little park. She always asks to go there whenever she’s here,” said grandmum Stephanie Bush.

Along with this Avalon playground’s update, the 30-year-old playground located at the Quarry Reserve in North Manly also received improvements to meet the safety standards. This playground is now fitted with three swings, junior and senior climbing units, and a balance beam.

The revitalisation is part of the Council’s plan to provide “exciting and vibrant play spaces” for the Northern Beaches community, as well as the physical, mental and social stimulation of the kids.

Avalon Beach Residents Urged to Check for Unclaimed Money with Revenue NSW

Residents of Avalon Beach and other parts of the 2107 postcode are urged to check for unclaimed money with Revenue NSW. You may have unclaimed refunds, commissions, dividend payments, deceased estates monies, superannuation, and unpaid wages and not know it!

Whilst 1,485 claims totalling $583,741 from Avalon Beach and 2107 ratepayers have been made as of 1 Sept 2021, some 22,000 individuals still have unclaimed money amounting to $6.5 million for Northern Beaches alone. State-wide, $467 million remain unclaimed from the agency.

NSW Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said that some residents might have missed the claims because they have moved or changed their addresses or misplaced the paperwork to ensure the correct disbursement.

“We know many people are doing it tough, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, with most households having to keep a close eye on their budget. This is why I am encouraging people to check their eligibility on the Revenue NSW website to see if you are owed any money, you could have hundreds or thousands of dollars that you didn’t know about,” the minister said.

“Anyone can search for unclaimed money on the Revenue NSW website. It is a free service offered by the NSW Government to get money back into the hands of its owners.”

Revenue NSW will hold the unclaimed money indefinitely.

Check for Unclaimed Money

Pizzico Italiano: Grab a Slice of Southern Italy in Avalon for the Summer

Summertime in the southern regions of Italy can be unforgettable with an abundance of tomatoes, fresh seafood, and gelato that you can enjoy al fresco. In Avalon, you can still relish a slice of Italy from the homestyle Italian dishes served at Pizzico Italiano.

This family-run restaurant has been around for more than five years in Avalon but it has recently moved to a new location a few steps away from its former site. In early 2021, Pizzico Italiano opened at 48 Old Barrenjoey Road and has been equipped with a new woodfire oven to allow them to serve more of those fantastic and tasty pizza choices that locals perpetually crave.

Pizzico Italiano is famous for its “slow dough” method, a carefully and meticulously prepared pizza crust with blends of imported Italian flours, which is then fermented and proofed for two days so it comes out crusty but light and easy to digest.

Pizza flavours range from Margherita, Marinara, Napoli, Siciliana, Capricciosa, Bianca, Diavola, Quattro Salumi, or Quattro Formaggi, using cured, fermented, and ethically grown Australian pork ingredients. Customers who order online can un-tick or add on the ingredients to customise their pizza orders.

Every dish from this restaurant is inspired by their grandmother’s cooking, who is originally from southern Italy, which may currently be picked up in-store or delivered. Nonna’s kitchen usually prepares on-site and changes seasonally, depending on the availability of the ingredients.

Whilst the lockdowns are still in place, Pizzico Italiano is also offering picnic boxes filled with antipasto and your choice of meals to take during your adventures around the beautiful green and breezy spaces of the Northern Beaches.

ORDER NOW

Follow Pizzico Italiano on Facebook for updates on trading hours and other deals.

“Fabulous food, highly recommend. We ordered a variety of pizzas and pasta for takeaway, service was friendly and efficient. Tried to snap a photo before the family dived in. We’ll be back.”
Xyz Abc

“Pizzico!! Lucky enough to enjoy with the people closest to me. Amazing authentic pizza I can’t rate high enough! Will defiantly be going back regularly!”
Luca Simec

“Magical atmosphere, excellent food, amazing authentic pizza, great italian wine and friendly staff. Love, love love a little bit of Italy always makes for a great night out. Perfect takeaway service as well. What more could you want!!”
Cate Hagan

Darko Desic Fundraiser for Prison Escapee Who Hid in Avalon Gains Over 400 Donors

A fundraiser for Darko Desic, the elderly prison escapee who has hidden in Avalon since 1992, has gained over 400 donors and more than $26,000 in funds since its launch on 15 Sept 2021. Concerned locals have rallied behind the man who was forced to turn himself in after jobs have dried up due to the lockdowns.

Mr Desic, 64, escaped Grafton prison in the 1990s following a three-and-a-half-year sentence for selling cannabis. He settled in Avalon where he did odd jobs whilst undetected from the police for the last three decades.

Due to the pandemic, Mr Desic ran out of opportunities to render his services as a handyman and was evicted from his home. After weeks of sleeping on the beach in Avalon, he surrendered to the police station in Dee Why on 12 September so he could have a roof over his head.

“Although I have never met him, I believe everyone deserves a second chance,” Belle Higgins, the organiser of the fundraiser wrote.

Ms Higgins is a psychotherapist who wants to help Mr Desic get a lawyer who can permanently get him out of prison. The money raised will also help the prison escapee find a home where he could rebuild his life.

She and her husband, Peter, were able to find a solicitor for Mr Desic so he could receive legal advice. Paul McGirr will file for his immediate release after the Dee Why police charged him with an escape from lawful custody since he has no police record since his escape from prison.

Darko Desic, also more commonly known as Dougie among Avalon locals, has been refused bail by the Central Local Court in Surry Hills and will go back to court on 28 Sept.

Meanwhile, a long-lost cousin, Anthony Desic, 28, thought Dougie returned to Croatia after his prison sentence. Anthony’s father, Nikola, who died in 2019, was the prison escapee’s beloved uncle.

Anthony, who lives in Coffs Harbour, said he was surprised to see in the news that Dougie was living in Sydney for the last 30 years. He has written his cousin a letter and sent some family photos. Anthony also expressed his gratitude for the Avalon community and hopes his cousin will get his second chance.

New Avalon Restaurant Offers Freshly Made Takeaway Pasta And Sauces

Photo credit: Spaghetti 75 Pastificio/Instagram

Avalon’s Spaghetti 75 Pastificio is a dine-in and takeaway restaurant perfect for those who are craving fresh handmade pasta and delicious sauces.

Read: Park’nPay App Now Servicing Avalon Beach, Joining 22 Sydney Suburbs

Located along Barrenjoey Road, Spaghetti 75 Pastificio originally started offering take-home pasta packs, including spaghetti, penne, casarecce, Conchiglie or “shells” type of pasta, tagliatelle, maccheroni, and fusilli, as well as specials, like their squid-ink spaghetti.

Photo credit: Spaghetti 75 Pastificio/Instagram

Now they are ready to serve lunch and dinner on-site by allowing dine-in. Top picks on the menu include ‘Ragu Bolognese,’ a slow-cooked pork and veal bolognese; ‘Gamberi’ or local tiger prawns in a light tomato sauce;and for dessert, tiramisu, which consists of layers of coffee and liquer-soaked sponge biscuits, mascarpone, chocolate.

Chef Josef Elias (Photo credit: Spaghetti 75 Pastificio/Instagram)

Aside from all the pasta made by Anna Nichols using organic Italian flour ( also available gluten-free), they also have a range of sauces, freshly prepared daily by Chef Josef Elias.

“Recently moved to the area and am obsessed with this place. The pasta is incredible,” said local guide Elle.

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A post shared by Spaghetti 75 Pastificio (@spaghetti75pastificio)

Spaghetti 75 Pastificio is open daily except on Mondays, with options for takeaway and delivery via Uber Eats. They are also planning to open a new location soon in Northbridge. You can follow them on Instagram @spaghetti75pastificio or check out the website for trading hours and the menu.

Keeping Cats Safe at Home Program Launches in Avalon, 10 NSW LGAs

The RSPCA NSW has launched a new program to ensure that domesticated cats in Avalon, as well as 10 urban and regional sites in New South Wales, remain safe at home. The Keeping Cats Safe at Home initiative should help the experts understand how cats and wildlife can co-exist with the help of pet owners.

The new program will provide cat owners education and seek advice from communities on how to improve cat ownership. The Councils chosen for this initiative include Northern Beaches (Avalon), Blue Mountains City, Byron Shire, Campbelltown City, City of Parramatta, Hornsby Shire, Shoalhaven City, Tweed Shire and Kyogle, Walgett Shire, and Weddin Shire.

Environment Minister Matt Kean said that domesticated cats account for the deaths of millions of native mammals, birds, and reptiles across Australia every year.

“We all love living close to bushland and even though we love our pets, we know native species and domestic cats don’t co-exist well, so we need to make sure our native wildlife is protected,” Mr Kean said.

Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said that Keeping Cats Safe at Home will be “tailored to each council’s needs” and will engage local representatives, veterinarians, companion animal groups, cat owners, the general community, and wildlife groups. In due time, resources for schools will also be developed.

RSPCA NSW CEO Steve Coleman said that the Keeping Cats Safe at Home program is expected to facilitate real change in the next four years.

“Our job is to help people help animals, and in doing that we can ensure our furry feline friends will live longer, happier, healthier lives and so too will our native birds and wildlife.”

Avalon and Northern Beaches residents may begin contributing by answering this short online survey.