Sandringham Foreshore Newsletter Winter Issue – June 2013

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

From the president of SFA

Dr Vicki Karalis

In this issue, SFA are proud to profile Ray Lewis a long-term Bayside resident
who is passionate about his local beaches and environment. We are privileged
to benefit from his ongoing service and dedication to the community and his
constant attendance to the needs of our Bayside foreshore. Ray plays a major
role in educating all ages (from young to old) about marine life, flora, fauna
and beach processes through Marine Care Ricketts Point in Beaumaris. We
thank you Ray for all your hard work - it is truly valued by the community!
We are also pleased to announce that we have secured a meeting with the
Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Ryan Smith (organised through
our local MP Murray Thompson) together with regional director of DSE Rodney
Warren. The meeting will allow us to discuss the concerns of cliff erosion of the
Sandringham beaches that we continue to witness over summer and autumn
periods, and to set up a community reference group. We are confident of
achieving some real outcomes to address these ongoing problems. We are
extremely grateful to Minister Smith, Rodney Warren, our local Council, Mayor,
Councillors and especially Murray Thompson for their ongoing interest and
support in our efforts to help protect our foreshore in Sandringham.
The SFA committee have been extremely active in meeting with relevant parties
and coastal experts. We are privileged that one of our committee members
Helen Gibson was able to make contact with Associate Professor Ian Goodwin
of the Marine Climate Risk Group, Climate Futures and Department of
Environment and Geography, Macquarie University, to discuss some of the
circumstances of the Sandringham beaches, and of the existence of the coastal
reports that were written for SFA in the past. In response he has provided us
with a template for discussion with DSE and coastal experts.
We are also grateful to receive on-going support from Dr Wayne Stephenson
who is now based in New Zealand at the University of Otago and to this day,
continues to support and liaise with us.

Below are sample old photos of our local beach that will interest you. Thank
you to Garry Allen, a local resident and committee member of the Beaumaris
Conservation Society, who helped me source these and many other photos
through our State Library. We also thank Shirley Joy, a local resident of
Sandringham for providing some original historical photos. If you have any
historical photos of our beach, we would love to see them. Please contact us.

Recently I was proud to attend the Beaumaris Conservation Society 60th

Anniversary celebration dedicated to their long-standing members who have
worked hard on a voluntary capacity to help conserve, restore and protect the
environment especially in the Beaumaris region. [See photo of the BCS
celebration below].

Do you have any environmental news or stories you would like to share with
SFA members in our next newsletter? We would love to hear from you.

Yours with kindness,

Vicki Karalis
Sandringham Harbour -note the water reaching the revetment wall

Hampton Beach looking at Hampton Lifesaving club Rose Stereograph Co [c1920-1954].

http://digital.slv.vic.gov.au/view/action/nmets.do?DOCCHOICE=423542.xml&dvs=1369133888339~984&locale=en_US&se
arch_terms=&adjacency=&divType=&usePid1=true&usePid2=true

Sandringham Harbour - note the sand siltation

Description: Pier and foreshore, Sandringham. Date: 1963 Source: Leader Collection
http://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/htm/imgal/1.htm
South of Picnic Point

Beach and Baths, Sandringham. Date(s) of creation: [ca. 1914] postcard : printed, b&w ; 8.8 x 13.8 cm. approx.
Reproduction rights owned by the State Library of Victoria. http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/gid/slv-pic-aab43963
 First Beach, Sandringham Rose Stereograph Co [c1920-1954]
http://digital.slv.vic.gov.au/view/action/nmets.do?DOCCHOICE=409355.xml&dvs=1369133346850~625&locale=en_US&se
arch_terms=&adjacency=&divType=&usePid1=true&usePid2=true

Sandringham Beach Date(s) of creation: [n. d.] 1 photographic print : gelatin silver ; 16.8 x 21.5 cm. Reproduction rights
owned by the State Library of Victoria http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/gid/slv-pic-aab73752
 Sandringham, Victoria Date(s) of creation: [ca. 1910-ca. 1940] 1 photographic print : gelatin silver ; 12.5 x 20.5 cm.
Reproduction rights owned by the State Library of Victoria. http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictures/gid/slv-pic-aaa41321

Sandringham. Melbourne. Date(s) of creation: [1928-1929] photograph : gelatin silver ; 6.2 x 8.9 cm. Reproduction rights
owned by the State Library of Victoria http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/gid/slv-pic-aab73757
Beach opposite Tennyson St

Rudd, Charles 1849-1901 photographer. Sandringham Beach Date(s) of creation: [1892-1900] photograph : printing out
paper ; 13.6 x 20.5 cm., on printed paper mount 19.3 x 23.3 cm. Reproduction rights owned by the State Library of Victoria.
http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/gid/slv-pic-aab53764

Sandringham beach, opposite Sandringham Hotel 1910,

http://digital.slv.vic.gov.au/view/action/nmets.do?DOCCHOICE=2807672.xml&dvs=1369132779918~944&locale=en_US
&search_terms=&adjacency=&divType=&usePid1=true&usePid2=true
Beach opposite Edward St

Sandringham Beach Date(s) of creation: [ca. 1909] postcard : printed, col. ; 8.8 x 13.8 cm. approx. Reproduction rights
owned by the State Library of Victoria. http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/gid/slv-pic-aab38829

Beach Scene near Sandringham, Melbourne. Date(s) of creation: [ca. 1910] postcard : printed, col. ; 8.8 x 13.8 cm. approx.
Reproduction rights owned by the State Library of Victoria. http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/gid/slv-pic-aab42988
Red Bluff Cliff

Date(s): [ca. 1910 - ca. 1920] http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/52037

Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007 photographer. Red Bluff, used by Sandringham Council as a rubbish tip. Date(s) of creation:
1963. http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/miscpics/gid/slv-pic-aab28011
Bayside City Council
SFA value our relationship with Bayside City Council who meet with us on a
regular basis to raise any concerns about our local beaches, and to discuss
areas that require attention. If you have any concerns, feel free to write to us:
sandyforeshore@optusnet.com.au

Draft Bayside Coastal Management Plan 2012/13

Sandringham Foreshore Association thanks Bayside City Council for early
consultation with the community in developing the draft Bayside Coastal
Management Plan 2012/13. Committee members of SFA attended all of the
workshops. These events were well attended by a number of passionate and
enthusiastic locals – all sharing an interest in thoughtful management of our
foreshore zones.
The draft CMP will be produced and, once endorsed by Council, will go out for
consultation prior to being adopted. Completion is expected in June 2013.
The Coastal Management plan can be viewed by visiting the web link:
http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/Draft_Discussion_Paper_for_public_comment_
December_2012.pdf
For more information contact the Open Space Coordinator Simon Finlay on
9599 4444 and refer to Council's website:
http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/opencoast.htm

Banksia Bulletin
Banksia Bulletin relies on volunteered contributions from our wonderful
community. Please find the latest edition of the Banksia Bulletin by visiting the
web link: http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/environment_banksia_bulletin.htm
Congratulation to the Beaumaris Conservation Society for
their 60th Birthday celebration held on 19th May 2013
Photo by Pauline Reynolds

Guest speakers included Murray Thompson MP and Bayside City Council

Mayor & Councillor Stephen Hartney
 Profile of Ray Lewis OAM

Order of Australia
medal awarded for
Services to Ageing
and Technology.
Convener, Citizen
Science;
Marine Care Ricketts
Point, Beaumaris;
CEO Greypath Pty
Ltd.

By Cristian Silver,
Editorial board
member of SFA and
local resident

Looking west over the bay at Ricketts Point, the May morning tide is
low and the crisp air still - offering an expanse of tidal rock pools to
view from the shoreline. It’s there that I find Ray Lewis, former
president of voluntary organisation “Marine Care Ricketts Point
Sanctuary”, business professional, community activist and author.
An authoritative figure in his volunteer’s jacket, Ray doesn’t waste
time covering a broad time span and quantity of environmental and
community pursuits: RAAF service, and business & community
activity lends him a progressive air, though he softens as a wattle-
bird arrives at his hand: “This is the Father again – he knows what he
wants”, obliging with a serve from one of the sugar-sticks on the
table.

Born in Perth in 1936, Ray spent youthful days diving and swimming
around the port of Fremantle, gaining the knowledge that comes
from familiarity and time taken to observe the transience of marine
life. Service in the RAAF saw him graduate in 1957, with a Military
Science degree, followed by a postgraduate degree in Business
Studies from the University of Melbourne.

Ray mentions the geological history of Port Phillip Bay; of rich

swamp-life, waterfalls and freshwater lakes. Long before European
occupation the Bunnerong people lived around this idyllic setting,
and long before them, a sub-tropical pre-history continues to reveal
itself in the fossil record. We see the bay in only one of its many
forms.

Asked to write a short community guidebook about the Dromana

foreshore, Ray finished with Dromana Beach, a natural and social
history, and an approach that proves invaluable in reaching the
broader community. Other published works include Bayside Beaches
(2007); Best of Bayside – Marine Photographer’s Journeys (2012);
Marine Volunteering in Victoria and his regular contributions to City
of Bayside’s Banksia Bulletin. He’s even formed a World Wildlife
Wiki.

Ray has also - after longstanding involvement, contribution and

support to government and community projects for seniors -
founded the Greypath Lyceum (www.greypath.com) as an online
network of support for seniors to help enrich their lives through skills
development and creative education.

Consolidation of environmental interest groups is necessary, Ray

believes, to gain a stronger voice by numbers. Recreational
fisherman, preservation societies, field groups and the like: “If you
could get [them] to form a human chain, right around the bay…” It’s
a picture that presents some challenges between ‘special’ interest
groups, but as often proved, community activism for other causes,
governments, both state and federal, tend to take notice. Especially
near elections…

Discussing development of foreshore assets, Ray is adamant that you

“…don’t give them an extra foot!” For ‘they’ will take it, and pretty
soon a skink or water rat “…has to cross a road to get home.”
Realistic and objective activism against inappropriate development
gives Ray a competitive edge. It’s ‘lethargy’ as he puts it, which
allows so much to be taken, manipulated or allowed to deteriorate.
Many of us – often unwittingly - let others do all the work, only to
lament the loss of our precious open spaces when they are gone.

It’s often visitors who remind us how important places like our bay
are. Ray remembers a group of elderly Germans, who during one of
his walking groups, told him how special this is, how lucky we are to
have it at any time, for free.

And this is true. As I continue my walk, the dog enjoying Ricketts

Point’s designated dog-off-leash area, there are artists painting the
arc of coastal heath toward Beaumaris Bay, children having a
birthday picnic, cormorants fishing and lorikeets chortling amongst
the banksia. Even a stirring rendition of What the World Needs Now
blaring from the public restroom does little to diminish the setting of
Ricketts Point.
Ray settles into the business of another meeting. One more for the
cause of his many interests to help improve and enrich the lives of
others.
RAY'S IMPRESSIVE CV:
GENERAL BUSINESS & COMMUNITY ACTVITIES by Ray Lewis

1980 – 85 PRESIDENT Electronics Mfrs Assn

1980 – 84 DELEGATE Defence Industries Council (WA)
1980 – 84 COMMITTEE Defence Suppliers Assn
1981 PRIME MOVER Project Manager and MD’ high tech circuit board
plant
1982 REPRESENTATIVE WA Government to New Zealand
1982 – 85 COMMITTEE Technology of Manufacture WA
1983 WA REPRESENTATIVE Australian High Tech Mission – North America
1984 - 85 COMMITTEE State Defence Projects Committee
1984 – 85 INDUSTRY REP. State Govt. Enquiry –Electronics
1984 – 86 COMMITTEE Electronics Industry Assn
1984 – 88 CHAIRMAN Technology/Defence Committee WAACI
1985 CHAIRMAN High Tech Industry Guide
1985 – 86 CHAIRMAN EIA Manufacturers Committee
1985 – 86 MEMBER Ministerial Defence Projects Committee
1985 – 90 COUNCILLOR WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry
1989 VICE PRESIDENT WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry
1989 MISSION LEADER WA Lighting Industry Site Tour of USA
1986 MEMBER Steering Committee VSLI Design Facility
1987 MEMBER Federal Government Think Tank – Components
Mfrg.
1987 MISSION LEADER Australian Defence Industries Trade Mission to the
USA
1987 – 88 CHAIRMAN WACCI Centenary Committee
1988 PRIME MOVER & DIR Universal Defence Systems Pty Ltd
1991 – 93 PRESIDENT/DELEGATE State Political Party Branch
2001 CONVENER Victorian Ageing and Technology Forum
2002 - 03 PRESIDENT Elder Abuse Prevention Assocation
2002 - 06 BUS. MENTOR Rural & Peninsula Disability Services
2005 - 06 MEMBER Kangerong, Ward Advisory Group
2006 - 07 MEMBER Kingston Council Positive Ageing Steering
Committee
2008 VICE PRESIDENT Marine Care Rickets Point Sanctuary
2009 - PRESIDENT Marine Care Rickets Point Sanctuary

Community Related Activities by Ray Lewis Since 2001

1. Various and continuing speeches and personally run free public seminars on technology and
ageing.

2. Co founder and inaugural Presidency of the Elder Abuse Prevention Association of Australia.

3. Continuing construction and full time application to a web site (www.greypath.com) whose
first and key objective is to: "Empower seniors and to enrich the quality of our lives."

4. Development of an on line ‘through life learning‘ institution, the Greypath Lyceum, that
carries an increasing number of free courses for seniors. The free Creative Writer Course
being the most successful so far, with 1000+ students from 20 countries.
5. The establishment of an on line National Ageing Issues Think Tank as a contribution to the
national debate on ageing and its implications for Australia. (2004 - 2006)

6. Author of ‘Dromana Beach’ a social and natural history community project, and ‘Recollections
of the RAAF College Years 1949- 1960’. Promoting environmental awareness via ‘Bayside
Beaches’ published late 2007.

7. Newspaper articles on ageing and technology, marketing to seniors, and submissions to

various public investigations such as the recent Senate enquiry into Through Life Education.

8. Joint founder of the Victorian Education Ageing and Technology on line forum.

9. Developed on line information gathering system to support the Centre for Education and
Research into Ageing (CERA) studies in to ageing and falls. Similar support for NARI research
students. Part author of final paper, published internationally. Data assistance to ANU, and
three or four other universities on ageing research.

10. Supported the Cancer Research Council of NSW in effecting 500 valuable cancer attitudes poll
form completions from seniors. Supported many other Ph D projects nationally mostly in
assisting to locate seniors for research.

11. Fund raising support for the Dromana Foreshore Committee via the establishment of a
marine art show and public marine life presentations.

12. Creation of many IT & Media projects for Swinburne University graduating students 2003 –
2008+

13. Occasional guest speaker to graduate students Swinburne

14. Deakin University Live in Summer School – Marine & Coastal Ecology

15. Business mentor to the Rural and Peninsula Disabilities Service from 2001 - 2006.

16. Creation of a World Wildlife Wikipedia to capture wildlife carers knowledge

17. Creation of video for Seniors. What You Need to Know in Retirement - 2008, taken up free
of charge by Metro community TV’s aged interests segments 2010.

18. Member Kingston Council Positive Ageing Committee 2006 – 2007

19. Senior Achiever of the Year Victoria – 2007

20. Member and President - Marine Care Ricketts Point -2007 - 2013

21. Awarded Coastcare Coastal Hero Medal – 2008

22. Keynote Speaker 4th Annual Elder Abuse Symposium - 2008

23. Regular public presenter/speaker on matters of marine ecology – 2005 +

24. Awarded OAM for aged and community services - 2009

25. Regular environmental contributor to Bayside Council’s Banksia Bulletin 2009 +

26. Ongoing volunteer creation and production of various marine educational videos and
digital stories for the Marine Education Centre at Ricketts Point Sanctuary – 2009+

27. Volunteer producer and concept creator and funder, of a DVD to help save the Wathaurong
Aboriginal Language, gifted to the Victorian Aboriginal Language Corporation. 2010 -11

28. Instigator of the establishment of two new marine care volunteer groups around Port Phillip
Bay – 2008 and 2009. Williamstown and Point Cook.

29. Provided key data from the Greypath website over three years, to Australian National
University study on ageing and technology 2010- 2012

30. Co-author with Dr Beaumont and Dr Foskey of a lengthy seniors and media paper, published
in the World Gerontology Magazine on Seniors and Technology. 2011

31. Author 250 page illustrated book.- Marine Volunteering in Victoria – 2011

32. Initiator of Children with a Disability’s (CWD) marine experience programme at Ricketts Point
2011

33. Qualified - Multicultural Coastal Guides Course – November 2011

34. Created annual Winter Solstice Walk, a public marine educational event - June 2011+

35. Creator of a world first, hands on, marine experience event, for Deaf Blind People, April 2012

36. Author Best of Bayside – Marine Photographers Journeys’ 2012 to showcase and promote
local marine photographic skills.

37. Conceived and ran a Melbourne Bayside environmental interest symposium called Gnargee

38. Author Marine Education Centre Volunteers Handbook 2012,

39. Representative for 1100 environmental volunteer groups via Vic Environmental Friends
Network inc (VEFN) on the Victorian State Governments Environmental Advisory Committee,
2012- 2013

40. Appointed Optus Independent expert on seniors and technology Ad. campaigns. 2012- 2013

41. Developed and continues to promote the Citizen Science concept for Victorian Marine and
Coastal Volunteer groups and provided on ground local science support to various University
projects from Hons to PhD students. 2010 +

42. Convener and Prime Mover a foreshore based Marine Science Education and Community
Centre development. 2012 +
We hope you have enjoyed reading the SFA Winter June 2013 newsletter.

Yours with kindness,

Dr Vicki Karalis,
SFA President

Assistant editors, SFA Newsletter: Helen Gibson & Cristian Silver

SFA committee members:

Alison Horton, Vice-President
Adrienne Smith, Secretary
Craig Francis, Treasurer
Helen Gibson
Paul Hede
Laurie Evans
Ruby Campbell-Beschorner