02/01/2025
Pittwater Unleashed's third speech to Council on December 10. It was read by Michele on behalf of Richard Menhinick, a retired Commodore in the Australian Navy and President of the Avalon RSL Sub Branch.
'My name is Michele Robertson and I’m the pest who started Pittwater Unleashed.
When Council changed the signage at Bangalley Reserve to properly reflect the rules permitting dogs to walk on leash for 160 metres along the reserve, Richard Menhinick reached out to us.
Richard is a retired Commodore in the Australian Navy. He had tactical control of Coalition ships and aircraft from the US, UK, Singapore, Iraq, Pakistan, Germany; and Australia's “HMAS Stuart”. He was commanding officer of the “ANZAC” and saw service in the Gulf War and Afghanistan.
Richard would like to be with us to speak to you but he has leukaemia and is currently receiving treatment and he has asked me to read this on his behalf.
"Thanks so much, again for getting us access to Bangalley Headland. This is great news, a major success for our mental and physical health. We used to walk up there all the time but since we have had our dog, Romsey, we don’t.
It is like the beach access issue. We used to walk the beach all the time, now we don't. I am a Navy veteran of 40 years permanent service, including two wars, and 8 years Reserve Service.
I have leukaemia and also a related mental health issue and the Department of Veteran Affairs has accepted responsibility for both, as they were caused by service. I just mention this because, as President of the Avalon RSL Sub Branch, I meet with numerous other veterans and their families, most of whom have issues, both mental and physical.
Not being able to access the beach as responsible adults and walk along the edge of the surf early morning or evening, when the beaches are empty, is a real stress issue for me, and for many of us. It does cause depression and is a real blight. It spoils the joy of living in this beautiful area, for the years we have left to us. Our beaches are no different from other beaches up and down the coast of NSW.
I am more than happy to go along with you to a Council meeting and speak on the issue if you think it would make any difference. Mental Health was at the forefront of the recent Royal Commission into Defence Suicides and Veteran health. I put in 4 submissions.
The Council is culpable for mental cruelty for no apparent, logical reason.
I mean really, what is a dog on a beach going to do to the environment, that some youths and other people don't already do, to a far worse extent, with litter, and destruction of the natural environment, which is evident all through the Avalon sand dunes, and elsewhere?
The Council must be made to see some sense in access to our beaches, which are deserted, in the early mornings and evenings. We just stand at North Avalon and look down on an empty beach with Romsey next to us and wonder how they can be so awful to us.
The silent majority are very supportive of Pittwater Unleashed.
Kind regards, as always, Richard Menhinick"
And my response to Richard was:
'I think we are only just starting to better understand what our military people endure after they have been to war. You have accomplished much, Richard'.
Thank you, Richard, thank you Councillors.'
To listen to the speech. https://www.youtube.com/live/ZLYwMhG8e5Eyou
You will need to go 1 hour and 8 minutes into the Council meeting to hear the speech.
