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4 Celebrity Chefs Joining Taste of Coogee 2021

Tap your friends and get ready as Taste of Coogee returns for a bigger food and wine festival at its new home in Moore Park! This year, four celebrity chefs will be heating up the Celebrity Kitchen masterclass series.

Now in its 8th year, Taste of Coogee is a must-not-miss event especially after months of staying at home. This COVID-safe celebration, filled with fabulous food, wine, and good times, is just what you’ll need!

If you’re planning on going to the Celebrity Kitchen on 20 and 21 November, be sure to be dressed to the nines. Due to limited seating, this program will be a first in best-dressed style allocation.

Here are the four chefs who have confirmed their support for the Celebrity Kitchen masterclass:

Jason Roberts

Jason Roberts is the star of the cooking show “Fresh” and the author of three best-selling cookbooks. An internationally in-demand chef who has headed many top Sydney restaurants, Jason is also sought-after in New York. He is an advocate of gluten-free food and fitness.

Learn More About Chef Jason Roberts

Tom Walton

An accomplished chef with a passion for fitness, health and well-being, Tom encourages Sydneysiders to eat local, support local farmers and producers, and relish food by incorporating a good diet. This celebrity chef heads the Dux Nutts and Deus Bar & Kitchen in Camperdown and he’s a contributor for various magazines like Delicious Magazine, Gourmet Traveller, Wellbeing, and Women’s Health.

Learn More ABout Chef Tom Walton

Colin Fassnidge

The MasterChef judge and author of “The Common-sense Cookbook,” Colin Fassnidge was the Executive Chef at Four in Hand who earned a 2 Hats ranking from the Good Food Guide. He is the star of two successful cooking shows — “Colin’s Ireland” and “Four Kitchens.”

Learn More About Chef Colin Fassnidge

Rowie Dillon

The Queen of Gluten-Free Indulgence, Rowie Dillon has prepared batches of healthy baked goods for those onboard Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia, Etihad, and Emirates. Her dairy-free baked goods are also easily available at many retail stores in Australia. She has baked for Ellen DeGeneres, Cate Blanchett, Mick Jagger, Geri Halliwell, Baz Luhrmann, and Nicole Kidman.

Learn More About Rowie Dillon

For Taste of Coogee 2021, Rowie will also head the Kids in Kitchen workshop for 6 to 13 years old.

Book A Slot for kids in Kitchen

The Celebrity Kitchen will be hosted by Peter Everett, a well-respected TV personality who loves food, wine, and entertainment.

Secure tickets for Taste of Coogee

Popular Coogee Bus Route to be Retained Following Outcry from Locals

Residents have won against the plans to change a popular Coogee bus route, the 373 bus from Coogee to City Circular Quay, after nearly 9,000 locals submitted their objections during the consultation period.

Following the outcry, the 373 bus route will continue to travel from Coogee to Randwick, and through the CBD, every 10 minutes during the day as the government ditches its original plans to overhaul Eastern Sydney’s public transportation.

In May, a proposal to cut the 373 bus service along with 20 other routes was immediately met with rejections from the commuters. Transport for NSW also planned on modifying 23 other routes whilst adding 11 new buses.

The overhaul was supposed to encourage people to use the light rail line as the “more sustainable” public transport network amidst the population growth in the area.

However, residents in the southeast said this network involved more interchanges. They staged rallies in Randwick and opened two petitions to save the buses.

Whilst the 373 bus will remain, minor changes will still be carried out for some routes by 5 December 2021. Capacity for buses 348, 356, and 375 will also be improved to help the students in 90 local schools, as gained from the feedback during the consultations.

“We will re-engage with schools to help them understand and communicate relevant changes to their communities,” said Transport Minister Rob Stokes.

“This is a great win for our community but the campaign to Save Our Buses is not over as this Government still has 24 local bus routes on the chopping block,” Member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill wrote.

Welcoming 2022 With Coogee NYE Fireworks A Big Possibility

Photo credit: Randwick City Council/Facebook

Following its cancellation twice in a row due to COVID-19 restrictions, plans are underway to bring back Coogee’s iconic NYE fireworks in welcoming 2022.

Read: Coogee Carols Cancelled for 2021 but Santa Claus Will Drive Through Town

The Randwick City Council announced that they are currently working hard to plan a beachside Coogee Sparkles New Year’s celebration if public health orders at the time allowed. The decision comes after NSW eased its pandemic restrictions, now that the State has hit the 80% double-dose vaccination target.

“With the changing climate, Council staff are currently investigating how the event could be held safely provided that the Public Health Orders, applicable at the time, permit an event of this type without requiring fencing, ticketing or seating,” Randwick City Council stated.

Council believes hosting the Coogee NYE Fireworks would provide a short but significant free public celebration for the Randwick City community acknowledging the difficult and challenging year that’s been.

Proposals for NYE Celebration

Photo credit: Randwick City Council/Facebook

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore reiterated that the Council does not have the capacity to fund or stage the full event during the pandemic given the additional challenges linked to health, transport and crowd management.

In spite of that, he welcomes the idea of hosting a midnight-only fireworks display and began planning for that event.

Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan, on the other hand, is encouraging fellow councillors to support a motion regarding the use of drones and laser displays on big celebrations such as New Year’s Eve.

London’s 300-drone light show (Photo credit: https://skymagic.show)

Cr Regan emphasized its benefits to the wildlife, the environment and even domestic animals who find New Year a traumatic event with traditional fireworks. It can be recalled that Council already rejected the use of drones and lasers due to the added expense, but Cr Regan said many countries around the world are already doing it, including Singapore, the UK, and India.

Rainbow Footpath in Coogee Beach Reinstated Permanently

The 47-metre rainbow footpath on the steps of the Coogee Beach promenade has been reinstated permanently in a bid to acknowledge diversity and boost tourism as Sydney reopens after months of lockdown

Originally installed in February 2021 to celebrate the Mardi Gras, city officials have decided during a meeting in September that the art installation will not be removed.

Former Mayor Danny Said confirmed the decision to uphold Council’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. He also said that removing the rainbow footpath would take time and money as it will entail grinding, blasting, and sandbagging the site.

Since the installation, visitors to Coogee Beach have had their chance posing on the rainbow footpath for a quick snap and post on social media, whilst kids play on the coloured steps or learn the colours. Business owners around the beach said that the attractive path is a significant visual draw for more visitors.

“The rainbow follows the existing arch shape of the beach promenade and has become a much-loved and much-photographed addition to the beach receiving national media coverage,” per Council.

Whilst some residents lauded the decision, others questioned the lack of consultation with the public and called the decision a “political statement.” Councillor Philipa Veitch, however, said that public consultation could create division as inputs may veer off from the painted footpath to LGBTIQ issues. Ms Veitch said that councillors had to step up in this case.

The cost to install the rainbow footpath was around $19,000.

Coogee Carols Cancelled for 2021 but Santa Claus Will Drive Through Town

For the second year in a row, the annual Coogee Carols will not go on as planned to ensure the health and safety of the community.

In a statement, leaders of Randwick City have met and agreed to drop the iconic event yet again due to the uncertainty of the pandemic. Despite the easing restrictions in Sydney, an alternative celebration will be prepared for the holidays across the town centres, including Coogee.

Instead of converging at Coogee Beach, this year’s Christmas events will include roaming entertainment, pop-up buskers, and potential village carols with a small number of people at various places. This will give the local choirs a chance to reconnect with an audience after being confined to Zoom and online performances for the last 18 months.

Santa Claus is still expected to drive through town aboard a Christmas bus that will visit public spaces. There will be opportunities to take some photos, albeit with social distancing.

Public artworks will also be on display around Coogee, Matraville and Clovelly.

The Coogee Carols from 2019
Photo Credit: TheCoogeeCarols/Facebook

Former Mayor Danny Said revealed that they had to make the decision to cancel the carols in August since planning for the event requires a longer lead time.

“The uncertainty around what restrictions may be in place in the coming months and the significant planning required to produce these events, means we’ve had to make this tough decision now,” the mayor confirmed.

Meanwhile, vaccination checks will likely be required for those joining in the small-scale celebrations.

After 13 weeks in lockdown, NSW has slowly transitioned to the first stage of the state’s reopening plans as LGAs reached their target vaccination milestones. However, Premier Dominic Perrottet warned residents to expect newly acquired infections since restrictions have been eased.

“This is a natural part of opening up,” the premier announced during the press conference. “We will see case numbers increase and hospitalisations increase.”

“We believe that our conservative approach here ensures that we keep people safe but importantly get people back to work as quickly as possible.”

Deadly Blue-Ringed Octopus Seen at Ross Jones Rockpool in Coogee

Editor’s Note: The Blue Ringed Octopus was taken out of the Ross Jones Pool by Scott Benson Jimenez, who scooped it out using a coffee cup and returned it safely to the ocean.

Swimmers in Coogee are advised to take precautions and be on the lookout for a deadly blue-ringed octopus, which was spotted by a young boy at the Ross Jones Rockpool.

The boy and his mother reported the sighting to the Coogee Surf Life Surfing Club, prompting the temporary closure of the pool facility on Friday, 1 October 2021.

Randwick City Council was also alerted to the incident and posted makeshift signs informing the public of the pool’s closure as a precaution. However, an official from the Council said they could not find the sea creature as there were plenty of seaweeds in the water.

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Plans to drain the tidal pool were broached to catch the blue-ringed octopus but as there were no other sightings, Council has reopened Ross Jones Rockpool to the public as of the weekend.

Ross Jones Rockpool, built in 1947, is at the southern end of the beach and it’s a popular family spot. The facility is regularly cleaned on a Monday, depending on the weather conditions as the tidal wash usually brings in seaweeds and other creatures.

Meanwhile, blue-ringed octopuses are a common sight on Sydney beaches, especially in the summer season. However, they are very hard to spot as they could camouflage and hide well.

These shy, beautiful marine animals release a powerful venom to protect themselves and could “bite” or inject what they perceive as threats.

Coogee swimmers are advised not to touch the octopus if they find one. In the event of a bite, they must seek medical attention as soon as possible as the venom from a blue-ringed octopus can cause full paralysis that can constrict a person’s breathing muscles, per the Australian Museum.

Public Pools, Including Wylie’s Bath in Coogee, Reopen in NSW

Did you know that outdoor public pools in NSW, such as Wylie’s Bath in Coogee, have been allowed to reopen, including in areas of concern where the lockdown restrictions are still in effect?

The decision to reopen these public recreation sites, to vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, came after the mayors from 12 local government areas (LGAs) appealed to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. The NSW Government has updated its guidelines to include the opening of public pools.

“From Monday 27 September 2021, you will be able to resume swimming at outdoor public pools either within your local government area or within 5km of your home,” the new guideline reads.

Councils with public pools are expected to enforce a stringed COVID-19 safety plan based on the recommendations of NSW Health.

In a press conference a week prior to the reopening, Berejiklian said that the state’s encouraging vaccination rate for the over 16 years old was a factor in the decision. As of mid-September 2021, NSW has reached 81.9 percent (first dose) and 51.9 percent (second dose).

“As a result of these positive signs, the New South Wales Government is pleased to announce that from next Monday, all public pools will be open in a COVID-safe way,” the premier said.

“And those COVID-safe plans will be formalised and made public, making sure that we keep community safe as much as possible and prevent seeding, and that all of us appreciate the importance of enjoying the warmer weather and the positive mental health and recreation and exercise.”

In Coogee, Wylie’s Bath has initiated the selling of season passes for 2021/2022. Employment opportunities have also reopened as the public pool is expected to have many visitors for the summer.

However, Wylie’s Bath will not reopen on 27 and 28 September due to a private event on Monday and a “weather hold” on Tuesday. The site was booked for a photoshoot on the 27th, which will help with the public pool’s maintenance fund whilst Tuesday’s opening will hinge on the conditions in the water. Visitors may keep tabs by checking the official site for the announcements.

Meanwhile, visitors to the outdoor pools will be asked to show proof of residence. They must be within the five-kilometre range of the site. QR code app check-ins will also be required whilst the facility will strictly follow a limited capacity. Mask wearing is mandatory except when swimming, eating, or drinking.

Demolition Planned for Iconic Selina’s Entertainment Centre in Coogee

Did you know that Selina’s, the iconic home for many indie, rock and folk music artists in Sydney will soon disappear as the popular live music venue will be demolished to make way for Coogee Bay Hotel’s nearly $112-million redevelopment?

Proposal for the hotel’s revamp (DA/437/2021) is still under assessment with Randwick City Council but should the development gain approval, Selina’s will be the first to go. In its place will be a supermarket, a new hotel accomodation, and a five-storey residential building with a laneway of restaurants and cafes.

Coogee Bay Hotel owner Christopher Cheung said that there is no plan to reopen Selina’s in the new development, not even for a smaller venue. Mr Cheung said that despite the venue’s history, which hosted concerts from INXS, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, and David Bowie in the 70s through the 90s, they are moving with the times and focusing on safety first, referring to legislations that minimises alcohol consumptions.

Once upon a time, headlining a show at Selina’s gave performers the seal of approval amids the other beer barns spread out across Sydney. The space could hold about 2,500 guests, which was a big deal for musical acts on their way to stardom.

Up-and-coming musicians will no longer have such as a special space if Council signs off on the demolition. However, some residents have thumbed down the proposal due to overdevelopment, that will also block the views and sunlight for a large section of Coogee Bay Road.

Name and Shame Policy at Priceline Pharmacy Coogee Sparks Debate

Priceline Pharmacy in Coogee has set up a new shoplifting deterrent following the rise in retail theft in their premises. The store has put up a “name and shame” sign at the front window, with photos of the shoplifters caught in the act from the CCTV.

According to Yvonne Yung, who is in charge of the Coogee outlet, the initiative has prompted some of the shoplifters to return what they stole, which mostly comes from the beauty aisle since the products are on display are out in the open. The shoplifters also ask Yung to take down their photos, persuading Priceline to conclude that its name and shame policy works.

However, the move has sparked a debate among Coogee locals and some officials.

“I think you void your privacy when you steal from other people. They don’t deserve any,” said one resident via Coogee Local Loop.

“Innocent until proven guilty? If they are guilty, then it’s the legal system to punish, not anyone else,” another chimed.

“Call the police and let the individual deal with having a criminal record.”

Priceline said that businesses in the precinct have been dealing with this worsening issue for months with no action from the police. However, reports cited that the Eastern Beaches Area Command has not been aware of shoplifting activities on Coogee Bay Road.

Coogee Precinct Committee has written Randwick City Council about the validity of the name and shame sign after residents complained that it is a violation of privacy. Councillor Kathy Neilson said that she doesn’t like seeing the sign at the store’s front window and believes there is a better way to address or help shoplifters set their ways.

However, Bernadette Summers of the Coogee Chamber of Commerce doesn’t see anything wrong with Priceline’s move and said that this speaks volumes of the many challenges businesses have to deal with, on top of the pandemic. For Summers, the rationale for the name and shame sign is simple — if customers don’t want their photos exposed, then they shouldn’t steal.

Where to Find Reliable Food Security Options in Coogee, Eastern Sydney

Food insecurity exists all over the world even in an abundant country like Australia, where more than 20 percent of the population lacks secure access to safe and nutritious food. The lockdowns in Sydney, including Coogee, have impacted the food supply of three in five individuals as distribution logistics and workforce issues arise.

The restrictions have been a great reminder of the fragility of the food system in the country even as the majority of fresh food sold in Australian supermarkets is produced locally. Panic-buying has also been a factor in the shortage of food supplies.

Fortunately, local non-profits and some businesses have been working harder to provide food for families for as long as their resources and access to supply chains are open. By offering free meals or discounted food packages, residents in Coogee and Eastern Sydney suburbs won’t have to wonder where their next meals will come

If you know of families or vulnerable communities who may need help with food, let them know of this comprehensive list of reliable food security providers in Coogee and nearby suburbs. This is a mix of charity providers targeting specific groups and commercially available options.

ORGANISATION	CONTACT DETAILS	PROVISIONS
*Coogee*
Community PantrySt Pauls South Coogee	1 Gregory Street South, Coogee Tel: 0407 891 306	• Fill bag with groceries for $10 • Bring pension or health care card • Every second Thursday at St Pauls South Coogee (20th August then every second Thursday) • 3:30 pm-4:30 pm
*Maroubra*
Junction Neighbourhood Centre	Shop 2/669-673 Anzac Parade, Maroubra Tel: (02) 9349 8200 to register Text: 0447 046 606 if you have a mobile & no credit as JNC will call you	• Personalised list shopping service & delivery available for those 65 years plus and 50 years plus for Indigenous communities with health & mobility issues • Registration required • Secure payment facilities available
The Salvation Army 100	Boyce Road Maroubra Tel: (02) 9314 2166	• Free Community Breakfast every Monday & Tuesday – 9 am-10:30 am • Free Community Lunch every Thursday – 12 pm-1 pm • Food Boxes available
Malabar Bakery Pty Ltd	737 Anzac Parade Maroubra Tel or Text to order:0401 963 227	• Manoosh Pizza, Falafel Wraps, Pockets, Home-cooked lunch specials • Order fresh and baked • Option to order fresh and freeze • Delivery service available • Payment by card and electronically • Hours: Mon-Fri: 7 am-4 pm – Sat-Sun: 7 am-3 pm
*Malabar*
Kooloora Community Centre	167 Bilga Cresent Malabar Tel: (02) 9661 9160 or0481756759	• Emergency food relief including hampers and cooked meals, electricity and gas vouchers • Vegged Out program What you’ll receive: o 1 bag of locally chosen fresh fruit, vegetables and baked bread/rolls per person/family o Cost $15 per bag, once per fortnight (please pay at Kooloora 1 week in advance and keep your receipt for collection) o Collection/Delivery Pick up at Kooloora, 10.30 am fortnightly on Fridays during school term
St Mark’s Anglican Church	Cnr Franklin Street & Victoria Lane, Malabar Tel: (02) 9311 0309	• Mobile community pantry, 10.00 am-11.00 am, every second Friday • Grocery & fresh food items available for $10 • Pension, &/or Health Care Card required
*Matraville*
Randwick Meals on Wheels	Shop 1, 523 Bunnerong Road, Matraville Tel: (02) 9661 3781 for an assessment	If under 65 years old please call (02) 8745 0086 to discuss needs • Food relief service
*Bondi*
Our Big Kitchen	36 Flood Street Bondi Tel: (02) 8084 2729	• Hot meals provided • Vegetarian Kosher
Wayside Bondi Norman Andrews House	77 Roscoe Street Bondi Beach Tel: (02) 9581 9193	• Community Services Centre new opening times from 9 am – 1 pm • Take away service available including free breakfast • Lunch: 12 pm-12:30 pm (Lunches from $1, $1.50, & $2)
*Kingsford*
Kingsford Church of Christ	399 Anzac Parade Kingsford Tel: (02) 9663 2272	• Free take-away frozen meals and bags of fruit and veg available 4.00 pm-4.45 pm Sunday fortnightly
St Vincent de Paul Community Support Centre	Level 2/1A Meeks Streets Kingsford Tel: (02) 9662 7380	• People experiencing hardship and/or social isolation can access financial and material assistance. • During the current health situation, vouchers will be posted to a secure letterbox or can be picked up in the office (case by case) • Monday – Friday 9 am-5 pm
*Kensington*
Oz Harvest Market	147 Anzac Parade Kensington Tel: 1800 108 006	• Food Supermarket now open Tuesday – Friday 10 am-2 pm. BYO Bag • Pre-packed hampers available to collect at the main entrance. Tuesday – Friday, 10 am-2 pm

These charities and businesses may also need volunteers and donors to sustain their operations. Those interested to help out may also contact the organisations to enquire about donations and other logistical requirements.