Not Your Average Playground

Plans for the playground foreshadow a creation that will be a step up from other parks in the region and lightyears from the metal slides and swings of the past that used to heat to baking temperature under summer sunshine.

This will be a work of the imagination built to be brought to life by the locals who will have the chance to enjoy the many separate areas for activity it will provide.

Flying Whale Fox is a chimera – defined as an imaginary monster comprised of incongruous parts.

Its body will merge features of a grey-headed flying-fox and a humpback whale, with wings, rib cage and whale tail providing protection from the elements and an amazing setting for swings, a slide and other play areas.

Playful, Strange and Beautiful

“The playground is intended to be joyful, playful, strange and beautiful,” says architect Dylan Wood, the creator of the amazing 30 metre by 30 metre beast. 

“Flying Whale Fox playground is my attempt to combine the disparate play elements and structures of a typical playground into a single unifying and fantastical functional sculpture. 

“The combination of a flying fox and a whale reflects the site’s proximity to Bongil Bongil National Park (where flying foxes roost) and the ocean (a migratory path of the humpback whale). The whale element also reflects Gowings’ ongoing sponsorship of Sea Shepherd and Gowings Whale Trust.

“The playground is made from a combination of natural and recycled materials so that it ages gracefully and requires minimal maintenance. The use of these materials also makes the playground beautiful in a way that I think most play structures are not.”

Climb, Splash and Barbecue

From head to tail, Flying Whale Fox will be created for family fun. Its tongue will be a slide, while the head will form a cubby house where children can play and the eyes will be lookout holes.

The belly of the beast forms a picnic shelter designed for about 40 people and will house tables and two electric barbecues, while the rib cage made from reused steel bow-string trusses and galvanised steel columns will provide protection and comfort for those below.

Wings spanning 30 metres in total will be created from bush poles and shade fabric, as well as supporting swings and hammocks above a soft-fall area.

The sloping spine of Flying Whale Fox will allow children to climb up and over the picnic shelter as they venture from the tail towards the head, while the whale tail will be a shade structure and water play area where on hot days visitors will be met with a cooling mist. This area will also have a sandpit and rock gardens.

The project will also include a hardwood walkway, while a zipline run of 30 metres will take advantage of the natural fall of the ground to provide thrills for children of all ages.

What do you think? Would your children enjoy playing on it? Would you?!

The post Fantastic Creature Designed for Fun appeared first on Coastbeat.

Dwindling Numbers 

There is every chance the coastal emu – cut off from its more numerous relatives across the Great Dividing Range – never had a huge population, although early Europeans recorded them as being plentiful along the coast before going into rapid decline during the next century. Numbers are now so small they are difficult to count or estimate.

The sparse remaining groups live in areas between Diggers Camp, near Wooli on the Clarence Coast, in the south and Bungawalbin, near the Richmond River, in the north and bounded by the Clarence River to the west. According to the Coastal Emus: Sighting Data Analysis, released in July 2020, there could have been as few as 26 adult birds remaining, with a slightly smaller number of juveniles, although the scarcity of the animals and difficulty accessing their home range make getting an accurate count problematic.

Hotspot for Sightings 

It wasn’t too long ago coastal emus were sighted on the Coffs Coast, with a few birds regularly seen between Red Rock and Corindi. Locals say, however, that after a male was killed by dogs about 2005, the remaining emus seemed to leave the area.

With their range contracting, the Coastal Emu Register organised by Clarence Valley Council has been established so people can record when and where the birds are seen. The hotspot for sightings is along Brooms Head Road between Maclean and the coast, with more than 200 seen there in the past two years, although this number will include multiple sightings of the same animals.

This was where Nicky Priest spotted the remarkable sight of a dozen of the emus crossing on May 20 this year.

Threats to Survival

Proximity to vehicles is, however, one of the biggest threats to their survival.

“Vehicle strike continues to be a threat to coastal emus throughout their range,” Coastal Emus: Sighting Data Analysis states. Most recently, a male nurturing five chicks was killed after being hit by a vehicle on Brooms Head Road on February 19 this year.

“NPWS data shows that 74 endangered coastal emus were killed by vehicles since the start of 2000. 

“A study into the frequency and causes of emu-vehicle collisions in the Clarence Valley by Sinclair Knight Merz (2018) found that there is a higher incidence of vehicle strike on roads when the road is within 40 metres of a waterbody, is adjacent to forested areas rather than cleared paddocks, has vegetation greater than two metres high within 10 metres of the road edge, when the roadside is unfenced, or when the fence is within 5 metres from the road edge. 

“This suggests that emus are moving through the landscape and crossing roads for food and water resources, but unable to cross with ease when fences are present. When crossing a road, a coastal emu is more likely to be struck by a vehicle when visibility at the road edge is poor or a fence close to the road edge prevents the emu from leaving the road efficiently when a vehicle is approaching.”

Other threats to the coastal emu’s survival are pigs, wild dogs and foxes preying on eggs and chicks, habitat loss and degradation of ecosystems.

How You Can Help Coastal Emus

• Take care when driving through areas of known habitat to avoid collision with birds and use signage to notify drivers of the presence and risk of harm to emus.
• Control feral predators and restrain domestic dogs.
• Protect known and potential habitat from frequent fires and protect nesting birds from fire.
• Protect areas of known and potential habitat from clearing or development.
• Report records of emus, especially nesting birds or chicks to the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) as well as on the Coastal Emu Register.
• Report illegal killing of emus to the OEH.

The post Trail of Coastal Emus Growing Faint appeared first on Coastbeat.

Coastbeat’s David Moase caught up with the master. 

One of his signatures is the crafted plywood furniture that goes into kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms, and is likely to soon feature throughout a display home at the Sawtell Commons housing estate that is continuing to take shape to the south of Coffs Harbour.

“I started making furniture when I was at university because I couldn’t afford to buy my own,” says Dylan of his distinctive computer-cut, interlocking joinery.

“The display home will be a big step for the process.

“Hopefully it will be a faster way of building.”

The 42-year-old will have a big influence on the way Sawtell Commons develops. As well as the display home, which he hopes to submit for council approval within the next two months, he has been tasked by developer John Gowing to also design a shop-top housing development and what promises to be an eye-catching playground.

“I want to make something joyful,” he says of his plans for the playground. “Something for kids to lose their shit over!”

Based in Taree, the four to five years of Dylan’s career after leaving university were spent with award-winning Austin McFarland Architects before they headed to Sydney and he went out on his own in 2012. He says working from on old agricultural produce building in Chatham is the perfect vantage point to watch as new construction gives the Mid North Coast its 21^st century character.

“The only thing well out of the area that I’ve done was working on John Gowing’s place in Coogee,” he says.

“Dealing with Randwick Council on that job made me realise how lucky we are up here where the councils are much easier to work with.

“It’s a dream job to have up here, I can pick and choose the jobs to do.”

The connection with Gowings continues to evolve, with Dylan also responsible for the installation of woodwork in the business’s new head office above its Coffs Central shopping centre in the Coffs Harbour CBD.

Among the most striking of Dylan’s designs in recent years have been a breathtaking beachfront house in Forster and three tower-shaped homes in Taree. The towers are an attempt to satisfy the need to make the most of urban housing space, with areas across three floors that are compact but allow residents to feel they have plenty of room to move.

“With a tiny house – and these are bigger than a tiny house – people seem to live in them for two to three years but then want something more,” he says. “The towers were designed so people can live there permanently.

“The feedback from those who live there is that it’s a successful project.”

The towers’ design is a world away from the normal box-like unit development and contains some of Dylan’s favourite materials – plywood, timber and concrete.

“I like to work with natural materials that age well,” he says. “Terracotta tiles are another favourite, where they can get chipped through use, but you can still see the colour there.” 

Dylan says he hasn’t seen any particular design trend developing on the Mid North Coast and climate change has not had any new influence on what is being built. 

“You should expect that from an architect already,” he says when asked if designs should take into account a warming climate.

And what is his No.1 piece of advice for people thinking of employing an architect to plan their new home or a commercial project?

“Be open to being challenged.”

The post Daring Designs: Meet Architect Dylan Wood appeared first on Coastbeat.

Scouts Falls, north of Coffs Harbour near Glenreagh, is only about 22km from where I live as the crow flies (thanks to Pythagoras for helping me with that one), either 32km or 44km by road depending on which way you travel, with either route taking about 40 minutes.

Exploring Your Own Backyard

Not too far away, but after nearly two decades living on the Coffs Coast I had never been there. Heck, until about five years ago I hadn’t even heard of it, so with the “holiday at home” message dominating as COVID-19 keeps travel options limited, we decided to make the trek to see for ourselves what has been described as a hidden gem.

Like any well-preserved natural treasure, this one doesn’t give up its location easily, which is why it is not overrun by visitors. The drive is easy enough, with the 5km trip via Glenreagh meaning only a short stretch of unsealed road. Approaching from Corindi, through the rising hills along Sherwood Creek Road means much more gravel to negotiate but it is well maintained and safe.

It is when you park near the new bridge across Middle Creek (a tributary of the Orara River), cross the road and head past the sign for the Sherwood Nature Reserve for the 20-minute trek to the falls that the challenge begins.

A Worthwhile Adventure

The path is a scramble up and down banks and rocks, over (and sometimes under) tree roots, balancing along ledges. It’s not for everyone but that is what makes visiting the falls a worthwhile adventure. The day we went, we ran into a family at the falls that included a toddler who was carried in one arm by mum or dad, and they seemed to have few problems so most people should be able to negotiate their way.

For those who don’t want to do the whole path, there is a pretty plunge pool not far from the start where you can relax and soak in the clear, cool water.

Past that pool, the path criss-crosses the creek bed as you hop across the top of boulders smoothed by the flowing stream over the centuries. Just where the path goes can be confusing in parts – there are no signs – but there is always the sound of the falls ahead to give you a target. The path is the only way in or out so, if you’re lucky, walkers coming the other way will give you a guide of where to head.

Behold, Scout Falls!

Finally, just as your legs start to burn and the humid summer air has you craving cool relief, it’s up and down a few massive rocks before the beauty of Scouts Falls is there before you – water cascading 10 metres into a large pool that allows you to stand in most parts but drops away in the centre. It is surrounded by the cliff face on one side, a large fallen log on a 45-degree angle into the water and plenty of rocks where you can sit and soak in the scenery before splashing in for another swim. There are even rocks directly under the falls where you can stand for a bush shower.

It is a stunning place to spend part of any summer day – there are no facilities so you probably won’t want to stay more than an hour or two – and the challenge of the access means it is unlikely to be ever overcrowded.

The view from the top of the falls is said to be special and three young men who arrived while we were swimming made the climb up and along the cliff ledges look easier than it probably is.

We decided to leave that climb and the view from the top for another day – it certainly won’t be two decades until we return to this special place.

QUICK TIP: If you want to see a waterfall while you are in the Coffs Coast’s northern beaches area but don’t fancy the trek to Scouts Falls, take the short drive west of Woolgoolga to the Woolgoolga Creek picnic area from where you can walk the much easier 3.6km return trip through the Sherwood Nature Reserve to the scenic Woolgoolga Falls.

Need all the gear to explore the great outdoors? Head to Kathmandu at Coffs Central

The post Scouting for Something Special appeared first on Coastbeat.

We wanted to share with you some of the personal stories as told to us by the proud family members of servicemen and women. Join us in commemorating their heroism in pursuit of freedom.

Ted Gowing, WWII Veteran

John Gowing – Managing Director of Gowing Bros Ltd. Holding a photo of his father

My father, Ted Gowing, joined the army pretty much on the day war was declared. He would have preferred to join the Air Force as a Fighter Pilot however he was deemed to old being 25 at the time. However due to the appalling casualties during the Battle of Britain the age limit was lifted to 25 so Dad resigned his commission with the AIF and joined the Air Force.

Following training at Narromine and in Canada as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme, he eventually ended up in the UK with 20 other successful Australian Flight Sergeants. Of that 21 young men, only two returned to Australia.

For a period of time, Dad was assigned to convoy duty. This meant you needed to attach long-range tanks to your aircraft and fly out to the extreme limit of your fuel, circle the convoy then fly home. The catch was of course if you encountered the enemy you needed to ditch your tanks and engage them. When you then ran out of fuel you had to ditch in the North Sea and hope someone from the convoy would pick you up.

I find it hard to imagine how brave it must have been for someone to fly out every morning knowing that there was a real chance that you would not return. My Father, along with so many other brave men and women, put their lives on the line for Australia every day. He was fighting to protect our way of life, and to fight against a great evil that was threatening to engulf the world.

Whenever I am feeling down or finding a challenge too hard I think of the great sacrifice so few made for so many, and realise my problems are really trivial.

My mother Barb also joined the armed services as a Physiotherapist, Lieutenant Barbara Crago. They were engaged before the war. However, he decided not to marry as Dad felt there was a real risk he would not return. After five years away with little communication, they were married very soon after Dad’s safe return to Australia.

John Eighan, WWII Veteran

Belinda Eighan – Sales Consultant at Gowings Bros Ltd. with David Moase and a photo of her father

In New Zealand, conscription was introduced in 1940, so my father simply went along with an 18 year old friend to join the Army – despite being only 15 at the time. His sights were set on the Air Force, however, they wanted to see a birth certificate so he eventually managed to produce a stat dec indicating he was of legal age – while barely able to grow enough whiskers to shave.

Once in the Air Force, he was dismayed to find that having left school at 12 meant he could not become a pilot or navigator, so a wireless operator/air gunner, or Wop/Ag, he was to be. Training was in Calgary, Canada, as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Graduating as one of the top three meant he was retained as an instructor where he was able to indulge in his desire to be a pilot with, in his own words “the enthusiastic assistance of the pilot in charge” as they were all getting a bit bored with the trainee navigators getting them lost all over northern Canada. 

Once his war in Europe was over he returned to NZ and rejoined the Army to serve in Japan in the Occupation Force.  By June 1946 he was a Sergeant Major docking at Kure, Hiroshima’s port. “The devastation was incredible. People were wandering around with cotton masks over their mouths and noses, a common practise in Japan when they have a cold. They were aware that the bomb had had some after-effects and apart from the number that were killed outright, there were still people dying. The town had literally disappeared, but away from the epicentre, I could see trees that had had all their limbs blown away while the trunk still stayed upright and then further out, concrete buildings that although damaged were still standing.”

His year here was spent establishing telephone communications from Shimonoseki to Tokyo, under the direct command of General Douglas MacArthur, before returning to the UK as part of a Communications Unit in the new, post-war RAF. After finally becoming a Navigator he flew VIPs around before being posted to Germany to act as personal crew to General Sir Brian Robertson, the Commander in Chief of all British forces in the occupation force.

This was officially as part of the Berlin Airlift, after the Russians had effectively barricaded Berlin inside Russian Territory and cut off supplies of food, clothing etc. The Airlift lasted 14 months, during which time he covered a lot of Europe, either flying into Berlin, where they had a margin of 15 seconds either way over a signal beacon before turning to line up to land (those who missed this turned round to fly the 300 miles back to base as the aircraft were spaced just one minute apart) or taking high ranking officers for trips away for the weekend or back to the UK.

As he ended the memoirs he wrote for my children: Like all things I will one day wither away and die. You must not be sad when you hear of this. I have had a full life and for that I can be grateful. So many of my contemporaries had theirs foreshortened because of the war but, because of timing, I managed to survive. I could not ask for anything more.

Edgar Arthur (Curly) Pascoe, WWII Veteran

Carina Pascoe – Graphic Designer at Gowing Bros Ltd. holding a photo of her grandfather

Edgar Arthur Pascoe was known by everyone as ‘Curly’, as he had a big curl at the front of his hair from childhood.

On the 17th September 1940 he enlisted in Sydney for service in the Royal Australian Air Force aged 22. He had to apply for service with the RAAF as they did not take enlistments without trade qualifications so he underwent an examination at Engineer School as a Fitter Class 11E and received a 75% pass.

He trained at Wagga, Richmond, Narromine, Canberra, Corowa and Sydney. He previously worked at the local Ford dealers as a mechanic for several years. Curly’s rank was of a Leading Aircraftman Corporal and later a Sergeant. He was with the 33 squadron unit and served in New Guinea from 1944 to 1945.

He discharged from the RAAF as there were no local tradespeople available in his home town and the wheat harvest was underway and the country desperately needed food so the local garages requested his return.

With regards to his service in New Guinea, he often talked about the planes he worked on and the runs they would do. He was not in combat but a team of them kept the planes for the likes of airdrop deliveries. He knew how fast the different planes went and how well they handled and serviced

The No. 33 Squadron transferred to Port Moresby in January 1943, providing air transport to Australian forces involved in the New Guinea campaign. Transport needs were so desperate in New Guinea that even the Tiger Moths were employed, delivering a total of 77 kilograms (170 lb) per trip. In September–October 1943, the squadron began taking delivery of fifteen Douglas C-47 Dakotas to replace its assortment of aircraft. By the time it transferred to Milne Bay on 1 January 1944, it was operating Dakotas exclusively and continued to do so for the rest of the war.

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George Leach, WWII Veteran

Damon Leach – Coffs Harbour City Council Member holding a photo of his grandfather

The Leach Brothers were all in World War 2. The Leach brothers, from Sydney – six in all – signed up to serve Australia in the AIF. Their sister also joined as a nurse.

All were sent overseas; five of the brothers going to North Africa and the Middle East to engage Rommel’s desert forces (Afrika Korps) and the Italians. The youngest brother, Norm, went to Canada to train as a gunner in the Air Force.

One of the older brothers, Ron Leach, rose through the ranks to become a Major. He was assigned to General Staff.

Among his duties, he became a Commandant of the Z Forces and trained special service personnel to fight the Japanese behind enemy lines. He was awarded an MBE for his services at the end of the war.

George Leach became a Sergeant in the 2nd 13th Battalion, leading a patrol in the front line in fighting Rommel’s forces across the Libyan desert and then in the defense of Tobruk. His brothers Ron, Harry, Alec and Bert were also involved in these battles. Bert was taken prisoner by the Germans but escaped by jumping off a Panzer tank when the guard was distracted. He rolled into the dust before running back to Aussie lines.

George was eventually shot in the shoulder by a German sniper and lay unconscious, severely wounded in an exposed position until one of his men, disobeying orders, crawled out and dragged him to safety. After many weeks in a field hospital, George recovered and was sent home where he was employed in training recruits in Queensland.

The youngest brother, Norm, was fortunate in that the war ended before he actively saw service, especially as gunners in the Air Force had a low survival rate.

The fact that they all survived (including their sister Maureen) and came home made headlines at the time of war’s end as many families lost sons and daughters from the war effort.

They have all now passed on, but left many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who cherish their memory. They are scattered throughout Australia and many live in the Coffs Harbour area.

George’s son, David, married Penelope, the daughter of one of George’s 2/13th Battalion comrades, (the late) Phil Jenkins. Damon is David and Penny’s son, and the grandson of two 2/13th Rats of Tobruk.

George’s medals: Infantry Front Line Service medal; The 1939-1945 Star; The Africa Star; The Defence Medal 1939-1945; The Australia Service Medal 1939-1945; Tobruk Siege Medal 1941.

The post Local Anzac veteran stories appeared first on Coastbeat.