Columnists

You may have heard of Goodfields in Lindfield. They are one of the many wonderful cafés and small business we have locally. NSW Liberal Leader Mark Speakman and I chatted with owners George and Anthony about how cost-of-living impacts their business. We went through all their expenses – rent, electricity,...

Dreaming of a relaxing cruise holiday? Don’t let mobility challenges hold you back. With the right tools and a little planning, you can enjoy a stress-free and memorable experience. A Walking Companion: For those who need a little extra support, a foldable walking stick or a wheeled walker can be...

Cookie-cutter will templates are gaining traction for testators looking for economical will solutions. Will kits and online will platforms provide templates to be filled in, signed, and as the proverbial saying goes, “Bob’s your uncle”.  But not so fast, says Bob. Disclaimers, terms and conditions of online wills and will...

As 2024 draws to a close, it is a fitting time to reflect on the achievements of the past year and to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to our community’s progress. It has been a year of hard work and collaboration marked by achievements that would...

I recently visited a fantastic organisation in our area and I’d like to share a bit about them – it’s an organisation I’ve visited before but there’s been a lot happening with a lot more to come. Warrah Society is located in Dural and it is a fantastic not-for-profit service...

Welcome to November! Inside this edition you’ll find our wrap up of the Local Government Elections in September, and the recent By-Election results from October.  A big congratulations to all the new councillors across our North Shore and Northern Beaches, the elected Mayors and Deputy Mayors. Good luck for your...

In early 2024, I joined 1,295 Australians diagnosed with bowel cancer every month. My initial feelings were of shock, fear and denial. I woke up every morning hoping it was just a bad dream.  My cancer journey began when I attempted to donate blood at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood in...

One of the best parts of being your local Member of Parliament is getting to know the kids, families and volunteers involved in Berowra’s local sports clubs. Berowra’s local sports clubs do a great job fundraising for new uniforms, running end of year presentations and basically keeping the lights on...

The issue of social media access for children is one that every parent can relate to and as a father of three young kids, I am particularly concerned about it. We need stronger laws and a better approach to protect our children from the potential harms that social media can...

Retirement village living is marketed as a lifestyle choice meeting the needs for over 55s. However, it is an expensive choice by comparative standards of normal home ownership. Martha sold her home to enable her to enter into a retirement village contract, only to find that when she needed to...