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Your Feedback Please! Survey About Woolworths Metro Avalon

Following confirmed plans that the Avalon Beach Woolworths outlet in Old Barrenjoey Road will be transformed into a Woolworths Metro store, three groups have come together to collect more feedback from the residents.

The Avalon Preservation Association, Palm Beach Whale Beach Association, and the Clareville and Bilgola Plateau Residents Association are looking to survey a large group of residents to determine how much the planned change will impact the community. The groups also plan to speak with senior executives at Woolworths based on the responses in the survey.

In late October 2021, Woolworths said that there were no plans to switch to a Woolworths Metro after a Bilgola resident learned about the potential changes from a staff when she asked about the price changes to the Woolworths Supermarkets special catalogue. However, a week after the confusion, Woolworths Metro General Manager Justin Nolan confirmed that this branch will become a Metro store by Easter 2022.

As a new Woolworths Metro Avalon, shoppers could expect a more extensive inventory of fruits and vegetables, essentials, meat and seafood, packed dinners, and other ranges of grocery products.

Mr Nolan also said that they will have community drop-in information sessions before implementing the changes. Customers will have more information in the coming months.

Woolworths Metro Survey

Click to download the survey form here and then mail or drop off responses to:

Management Committee
Avalon Preservation Trust
Incorporated as Avalon Preservation Association
PO Box 1
Avalon Beach NSW 2107

Meanwhile, a resident said she received information from the corporation’s legal team that Woolworths Metro Avalon isn’t the typical Metro store that residents have in mind. Instead, it will be a “Neighbourhood Metro,” which is already in more than 50 locations across the country, and not an “On the Go” Metro most commonly found in the CBD.

“Neighbourhood Metro stores focus on a strong fresh food offer, particularly fresh Australian fruit and vegetables, artisan bakery, entertaining etc. This is backed by a great range of everyday essentials for a grocery shop, tailored to meet the needs of the local community.”

However, the residential groups said that there are concerns about the product ranges that will be offered in a Neighbourhood Metro.

“Everyday grocery items may not be so readily available, or prices may rise. This could mean it may then be necessary to travel to Woolworths in Mona Vale or Coles in Newport, or order online.”

Grab Your Healthy Breakfast At This Popular Avalon Beach Cafe

If you’re looking for an Avalon Beach cafe that not only has great caffeinated beverages, but also features a healthy menu so you can start the day right, you’ve got to visit The Sneaky Grind along Old Barrenjoey Rd.

Read: Sea Wave Thai Makes a Splash in Avalon Beach

Established in 2014 by James Sledmere and Lauren Morris, The Sneaky Grind has become a neighbourhood favourite for years now because of their great coffee, decent selection of food, and friendly staff. The place itself is very inviting, with its chilled vibe and spacious laneway seating outside, where fur babies are welcome to dine with their pet parents.

They have a range of beverages aside from usual cappuccino, flat white, and latte. They also have hot choco, mocha, babycino, and English Breakfast Tea. One of the most popular choices on the drinks menu is Dandy by Jake, a highly spiced, organic, sugar free dandelion root chai.

If you wish to stay longer, pair your drinks with a serving of their all-day brekky, with options like The SOHO (their version of classic toastie), The Avolonian (avo on toast), baked falafel, banana bread, and fruit/raisin toast.

This cafe is not just all about coffee and good times though, because they are also known for their healthy dine-in or grab-and-go food including some banging vegetarian and vegan options. They have the Morning Glory Bowl, a protein-packed bowl of cocoa and oat milk infused rolled-oats, with fresh fruit, berry reduction, almond butter and pepitas; and their own take on vegetarian Reuben.

Sneaky Grind is open seven days a week and is available for both dine-in and takeaway. You can check them out on Facebook or on Instagram @thesneakygrind for more details.

Historic Agreement to Benefit Preschool Students in Avalon and Elsewhere in NSW

Do you have a preschooler? Did you know that two preschools in Avalon have been rated “Excellent” by NSW Education? Also, did you know that for the next four years, every family in New South Wales with children in preschool may have access to high-quality early childhood education regardless of their background or where they live?

In a historic deal, the NSW Government has been the first state to sign the $840-million agreement with the Commonwealth Government to ensure that families will have quality preschool options to prepare them for primary school. NSW has committed $560 million for this initiative whilst $280 million will come from federal funding.

Stuart Robert, the acting Federal Minister for Education and Youth, said that this deal will provide all preschool kids “at least 15 hours of preschool a week in the year before they start school.” The state may also use the money for more programs to boost the quality of early education, targetting more disadvantaged kids.

According to NSW Treasurer Matt Kean, this is the state’s most important economic asset.

“Investing in our people, our families and our kids will help us grow today’s economy by increasing workforce participation rates and it will help our future prosperity by giving our kids the best possible start in life,” Mr Kean said.

“This is a game-changing deal for families in NSW, providing parents and carers the freedom to participate in the workforce in ways that better suit their needs.”

The Preschool Reform Agreement will cover the 2022 to 2025 school year. Per the statement, the Commonwealth has “guaranteed ongoing funding for preschools” during this four-year agreement.

Excellent Preschool Options in Avalon

Mr Robert and Mr Kean visited one of KU Children’s Services facilities in announcing the good news. In Avalon, two preschools received an excellent rating in a recent assessment from the NSW Department of Education.

KU Avalon Preschool

KU Children’s Services, which has 128 facilities across the country, including KU Avalon Preschool in Avalon Parade, specialist education tailored for young learners to build their competencies and readiness for big school.

“Throughout KU’s 130 services, children experience high-quality early education preschool, child care, early intervention and inclusion programs, and small acts of kindness happen every day. They learn it’s OK to be different, and we can all be different, together.”

Rosey Pot Kindergarten

Rosey Pot Kindergarten follows the Reggio Emilia education approach that encourages the children to develop their natural curiosity. The programs offered in this school are geared towards holistic learning in literacy, numeracy, science, and the arts.

“Providing children with a holistic approach to early childhood education we honour the child’s whole being, including their families supporting their learning in a more tangible, relevant and meaningful way.”

Childhood Dementia Initiative Ramping Up Support On First Year Anniversary

Childhood Dementia Initiative (CDI), a distinct organisation formed in the Northern Beaches, is ramping up support for funding and raising awareness about an illness affecting more than 700,000 children across the world.

The organisation’s CEO, Megan Donnell from Freshwater, and Head of Care, Gail Hilton from Avalon, have been working at Childhood Dementia Initiative with a primary goal of having Greg Hunt, the Commonwealth Minister of Health, acknowledge that this is a concerning health issue in Australia.

Ms Hilton said that they approached health professionals, researchers, and families with children who have symptoms of childhood dementia in CDI’s first year to gather data that could drive change and fill in the gaps. As there is no specialised treatment for dementia for children anywhere in New South Wales, families turn to the NDIS or palliative care services.

Ms Donnell and Ms Hilton believe that there should be programs, medical studies, innovation, collaboration, and awareness focussed on treatments for the children, in the same way that childhood cancer received much attention 30 years ago.

“Focusing on dementia, the commonality, rather than the underlying genetic cause will drive progress in therapeutic development and care for the 70+ genetic disorders as a collective,” the group stated.

“Seventy-five per cent of children with dementia have a life expectancy of 18 or less, with fewer than 5 per cent of childhood dementia disorders having any therapies. Care for these children and their families is often inadequate and inequitable.”

In early November, Mr Hunt confirmed that $239 million will be provided for 248 research projects, including childhood dementia.

On the other hand, Dementia Support Australia (DSA) has also been extending its support to families with kids living with dementia by offering practical support strategies and behavioural support programs specific to each child.

“The support provided by Dementia Support Australia was the most practical, useful and effective service that I’ve accessed since Isla and Jude’s diagnoses,” Ms Hilton said, referring to her kids with dementia due to Sanfilippo Syndrome.

Get involved with the Childhood Dementia Initiative by becoming a donor. Follow their Facebook page for updates.

Keoride On Demand Transport Now Permanent in Avalon, Northern Beaches

After a four-year trial, the Keoride On Demand Transport servicing Avalon and the rest of Northern Beaches has been permanently adopted as another option for commuters. To mark the permanent arrangement, four additional small buses were added to the fleet for Keolis Downer Northern Beaches.

Mark Dunlop, the Keolis Downer managing director for Northern Beaches said that customers gave their Keoride On Demand Transport a 98 per cent satisfaction rating during the trial. With the addition of the new mini-buses, residents and visitors around this Sydney area are guaranteed flexibility and convenience during their commute.

Keoride On Demand Public Transport is an app-based public transport system operated by Keolis Downer in partnership with Transport for NSW and the Via, a leader in transit technology.

“We are delighted to continue to partner with Keolis Downer to deliver flexible journeys to riders in the Northern Beaches,” Ben Hague, Via’s APAC Regional Manager, said.

“The continuation of Keoride is a testament to the enduring impact that efficient, flexible, and sustainable public transportation can bring to a community — ultimately helping residents and visitors more easily connect with both essential and leisure opportunities.”

At the height of the COVID-19 crisis, Keoride operated for essential workers passengers who need to go on essential errands.

“The Keolis Downer customer culture Think Like a Passenger, is a major part of the success of this service,” said Keolis Downer CEO David Frank. “Our drivers are part of the community, and go through an extensive training to enable them to deliver an optimal passenger experience. They are committed, and go above and beyond to keep our customers happy”.

Keoride’s main base in Northern Beaches is in Warriewood with transport hubs in Avalon, Narrabeen, and Mona Vale. The buses run on these schedules below:

DAY	TIME
Monday to Wednesday	6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Thursday and Friday	6:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Saturday	7:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Sunday	7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Public Holidays	7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m

To use Keoride’s services, download the app on the Android Play Store or iOS.

Register for an Opal Connect account and then input the pick-up or drop-off locations. Use the app to track the vehicle. Commuters may also book via the website or by calling 1800 536 743.

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.