Autumn Issue March 2012

SANDRINGHAM FORESHORE ASSOCIATION (SFA)

Founded January 2007
ABN 42947116512

A CHARITABLE NOT FOR PROFIT VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION

SFA
PO Box 52
Sandringham 3191
E-mail: sandyforeshore@optusnet.com.au Website www.sandyforeshore.net.au

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Clean Up Australia Day March 4th Sunday 10am-11.30am

We invite you to join one of the following groups this Sunday:

Abbott Street Carpark Catherine Lancaster Sandringham VIC 3191 Bayside City Council
Foreshore Rotunda - Murray Thompson Sandringham VIC 3191 Bayside City Council
Sandringham Beach - Vicki Black Sandringham VIC 3191
Sandringham foreshore Jo Hurse Sandringham VIC 3191
Sandringham Yacht Club Cameron Duck Sandringham VIC 3191 Bayside City Council
On a traditional note, once again our local MP Murray Thompson has organised the
bagpiper to entertain us at the Sandringham Rotunda.
You can register your interest with the following link:
http://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/join/?location=sandringham&kw=

The Mad Paddle

Community Event 18 March 2012 Individual or Team entries

For details and entries, visit www.supvic.com
30 km plus downwind ending at Sandringham Yacht Club where a BBQ lunch for paddlers, friends,
families, celebrities and our local community will take place to celebrate Silent and Live auction
items.
All proceeds to Sandringham Hospital raising funds for a $25,000 mobile ultrasound unit for the
emergency department.
For inquiries contact
Felicity Frederico 0425 296 845
Or Kathy Naoumidis 0411 406 927

Indigenous history of Half Moon Bay and our local beaches

SFA are organising a free community event in May/June 2012 with special guest speaker and
local resident Dr Valerie Tarrant PHD (Doctrine on Melbournes Indigenous Plants
Movement: The return of the Natives 2005 Deakin University) to discuss the life and
activities of local Aborigines in the past.
We will have the opportunity to see first-hand middens, Aboriginal wells and hear about
how our ancestors lived and what they ate at Half Moon Bay.
The SFA respectfully acknowledges the original custodians of the Bayside foreshore that
include the Boonerwrung and Wurundjeri Tribe of Aborigines for their rich culture, deep
affinity with the land and spiritual connection to it.1
Are you available to help us promote the event and be involved with other SFA activities?
Do you have skills to help make this event a success? If so, please e-mail
sandyforeshore@optusnet.com.au

OToole, G. The Sandringham Historical Series No1. Published by the Sandringham City Council (Black Rock
House Sub-Committee) 1991.

LATEST NEWS
Death sparks more calls for Jet Ski restrictions:
Following the tragic death of a 51 year old gentleman after being struck in the head by a
high powered Jet ski at Port Melbourne beach on February 26th, SFA have called on Bayside
City Council to help address this issue here locally in liaison with the relevant bodies such as
Parks Victoria.
A number of locals have expressed concern with jet skis riding close to swimmers, even up
to the shoreline, and particularly on busy crowded days here at our local Bayside beaches.
Water police are doing their best. We often see them chasing jet skiers to provide warnings
and fine offenders. However, we believe tougher restrictions and no mixed zones for Jet Skis
with swimmers should apply.
We appreciate that this is not a simple fix. Finding a suitable area that would welcome jet
skis to operate exclusively is probably not that straight forward. Other areas that we feel
need to be revisited are noise, licensing, the skill, age and mental capacity of Jet Ski
operators. Jet skis and incidents such as this are well documented world-wide.
Click on following link for article on this issue published in the Age newspaper on 27 th
February 2012:
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/death-sparks-calls-for-more-jetski-restrictions20120226-1twkp.html
SFA MEDIA RELEASE 26th Feb 2012
Swimmers and Jet skis just dont mix
The Sandringham Foreshore Association (SFA) is not surprised by the recent head injury
following the impact from a fast moving Jet Ski of a 51 year old at Port Melbourne
yesterday. This is a tragic accident that was bound to happen sooner or later, and its time
authorities review the laws about jet skiers especially near popular swimming beaches says
Dr Vicki Karalis a medical practitioner and President of the SFA. With temperatures soaring
up to 39 degrees yesterday and beaches heavily populated with swimmers and children,
there is just no room for jet skis. There are many jet skiers who are cautious but there are
equally many jet skiers who are not following the rules. This is similar to cars and road
accidents. You will always have your cautious drivers and your reckless ones. The beaches
are not roads and should not be an experiment for local traffic laws. Safety is of paramount
importance for beach users and children who go to the beach to relax. Jet skis move at
incredible speed and are not only an environmental concern to marine life, but a real hazard
for swimmers.
Dibbie a 92 year old daily swimmer of the local Sandringham beaches yesterday witnessed a
male who steered a jet ski to the shoreline surrounded by swimmers and children. Again,
the same driver came to the foreshore this morning. The situation is getting worse,
especially in the last 2 years. It may be that more and more people are purchasing jet skis
explaining the increase traffic on our local beaches.

Alison is a mother of two children and regular user of the beach at Half Moon Bay where jet
skis launch from the ramp has also witnessed recurring concerns with jet skis. Ive seen
them fly in and out. They come right up to the beach where they are not meant to be. The
worse situation I have witnessed was last summer when a mother allowed their 3-4 year old
to steer the Jet Ski in the swimming area of Half Moon Bay whilst she sat at the back, and
my daughters were swimming right in front of them. When I told the mother this was
unacceptable she looked at me aghast that I should raise this with her.
Yesterdays Cerberus swimming event attracted about 800 swimmers at Half Moon Bay.
Andy was a spectator at the event and saw up to 12 jet skis passing swimmers. Most were
cautious but there were a couple of riders who exceeded the 5 knot speed limit. There were
up to 60 children jumping off the pier. It is not uncommon that children jump off the pier at
Half Moon Bay awfully close to where jet skis come in and out of the Bay.
Whilst water police are doing their best to fine jet skis when they break laws and warn
children who jump off piers, but children will be children. The case of the gentleman
yesterday at Port Melbourne swimming near the pier is a good example where swimmers
are not familiar with local beach laws and it is difficult for riders of jet skiers to see them
...who would expect restrictions when in the not too far past, there were few restrictions for
swimmers?
SFA says its time authorities review laws for jet skis; create restrictions especially during
popular beach use and increase markers on these beaches near piers and in swimming
areas. They are a new introduction to popular swimming beaches in the last 10 years or so,
and a real hazard and risk to swimmers. We dont want to wait for another disaster before
authorities act, stresses Dr Vicki Karalis. Its only a matter of time another injury will occur.
Greater care is required to help create safer beaches for swimmers and jet skiers.

In Memoriam: Vale Associate Professor Jim Peterson (1939 2012)

The SFA is saddened by the recent death of A/Professor Jim Peterson, a prominent coastal
geomorphologist and an enthusiastic supporter of the Sandringham Foreshore Association
for several years. He sadly passed away on 7 January 2012. A champion of coastal
geomorphology and archaeology across Australia and the world, A/Prof Jim Peterson will be
remembered for his dedication and voluntary work for our community, as a respected
colleague, educator, mentor and friend. Jim prepared a number of expert reports for SFA,
some of which are available on SFAs website. We extend our sincere sympathy and
condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
Vicki Karalis attended Jims memorial on behalf of SFA at Monash University.

Prof. Jim Peterson (1939 -- 2012)

Prof. James Andrew Peterson, friend and highly valued colleague to all in the School of
Geography and Environmental Science and to the wider community of scholars, passed
away on 23 January 2012 aged seventy-three.
Peterson undertook his undergraduate degree at the University of Tasmania (1957-1960)
and began publishing on the glaciation of Frenchmans Cap (the subject of his Honours
thesis) and other geomorphic topics in the mid 1960s. He subsequently undertook summer
field seasons in northern Canada, extending his knowledge of cirques and cirque glaciers,
and completing an MSc thesis on the Whitegull Lake area in Labrador at McGill University in
1964. Having returned from Canada, Peterson joined the then Department of Geography at
Monash to undertake his PhD research.
His seminal thesis, The cirques of south-eastern Australia, in two large volumes, was
submitted on 1 February 1969. Subsequently, Peterson faced the issue of just what a glacial
specialist would teach in an Australian university, on a mainland lacking even permanent
snow. With his usual enthusiasm and wise scholarship Peterson developed popular and
influential courses dealing with coastal geomorphology, with the volcanic landforms of
western Victoria, and began training students in fieldwork and sound scientific observation.
Always keen on new approaches and new methods, he was quick to embrace new methods
of remote sensing and satellite observation that were in their infancy in the early 1970s.
With his graduate students, Peterson built up facilities to support the use of these new
research tools and extended these in stages as rudimentary remote sensing gave way to
increasingly sophisticated geospatial mapping and modelling. He was the foundation
Director of the geographical information systems laboratory in the School and this stands as

one of the notable legacies of Petersons time at Monash University; it reflects his belief
that, for the School to succeed, it needed to embrace new methods and remain at the
leading edge of innovative teaching and research.
Petersons legacy also includes the many thousands of undergraduate students whom he
taught and inspired and a substantial cohort of research students, many of whom are now
in significant academic or Governmental positions. His colleagues will greatly miss a man of
wisdom and integrity, ever cheerful, and with a unique and stimulating view of how
academic life can and should be lived.
Source: Monash University, Faculty of Arts
http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/news-events/2012/01/24/in-memoriam-vale-associate-professor-jimpeterson-1939-2012/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-memoriam-vale-associateprofessor-jim-peterson-1939-2012

Bayside City Council update

Dredging of Half Moon Bay public boat ramp
Bayside City Council dredged a small area in front of the public boat ramp at Half Moon Bay
on 27 February. A long arm excavator completed the works in three hours, deepening the
area in front of the ramp to approximately 0.6 m below low water mark and all dredged
sand was placed in the water nearby.
Due to weather conditions there were no boaters and few visitors to the area and there was
no disruption to the beach or use of other facilities. It is expected that this operation will
ensure that the boat ramp is kept open over the coming months before a larger, more
comprehensive dredging operation is carried out later in the year.
Thanks again Vicki
Kind Regards
Joe Lockhart
Open Space Projects Officer
Bayside City Council
SFA value our relationship Bayside City Council who we meet on a regular basis to raise any
concerns with our local beaches and address areas that require attention. If you have any
concerns, feel free to write to us: sandyforeshore@optusnet.com.au

Application for the removal of indigenous/native vegetation for the

construction of the Bayside Coastal Trail (path).Planning
Application 2012/37/1, Beach Road, Beaumaris

The Beaumaris Conservation Society Inc, (BCS Inc.) has recently lodged an objection to the
above application for the removal of indigenous/native vegetation for the construction of
the Bayside Coastal Trail (path). The proposal incurs the removal of more than 100 mature
indigenous trees, much soil and understorey vegetation for the construction of a 2.5 metre
concrete road with associated 2.0 metre buffer strips, for use by cyclists and pedestrians.
For more information, click on following link to BCS website:
http://www.beaumarisconservation.net/

Our local foreshore today

North of Royal Avenue groyne at Royal Ave Sandringham beach 29 February 2012

North of Southey St groyne at Southey St Sandringham beach 29 February 2012

SFA member profile

John Amiet: Sandringham resident, Chairman of the SFA, SFA webmaster, professional
photographer. A gentleman dedicated to our local community for many years

John Amiet trained and worked as an engineer, taught for several years, but has spent the major part
of his life following one of his passions. Photography! He has lived in Bayside for 58 years and in
latter times, spending at least an hour a day on the beach, with his other passion. Merlin, his German
Shepherd Dog.
He is a prominent competitor in the annual International One Challenge photography competition,
which takes place in a different capitol city each year. John won the competitions in Krakow and
Venice and finished third in Paris.
He has published eight photography book on his international travels and they can be viewed at the
following link, which contains clickable links for viewing the books.
http://www.johnamietphotographer.com.au/Books.html
There is also a facility to buy the books.

All the very best over the autumn period

Dr Vicki Karalis, SFA President