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Generous Pensioner Leaves $4.5 Million Home to Charity to Feed the Homeless in Clovelly

The late Malcolm Mawhinney, an unassuming pensioner, has left a lasting legacy by bequeathing his multi-million dollar Clovelly home to charity, a generous act that will help feed the homeless.

The property sold for a remarkable $4.55 million in August 2023, exceeding the suburb’s median house price.

A former public servant who lived a modest life, Mr Mawhinney often appeared as though he was struggling financially. Thus, charity founder Reverend Bill Crews, known for his work in homelessness outreach, was astounded when he discovered that Mr Mawhinney had left his entire home, a two-bedroom property located at 23 Northumberland Avenue, to the reverend’s homelessness foundation.

Rev Crews only learned about the remarkable bequest when he fulfilled Mr Mawhinney’s last wishes by scattering his ashes on the Sydney Cricket Ground, where he had a dedicated annual seat for the Sydney test match.

A Simple Life and Hidden Generosity

Despite appearances, Mr Mawhinney maintained a simple life. He was known to live frugally, often having baked beans for dinner and enjoying a few schooners at the local bowling club in the afternoons.

Rev Crews described him as “a lovely gentleman, always kind and gentle, but he looked like one of our [homeless] guests” and “as poor as a church mouse.”

Unbeknownst to many, he volunteered with the Exodus Foundation, even showing movies to homeless individuals in the foundation’s hangout hall, ranging from action films like “Rambo” to classics like “The Sound of Music.”

Clovelly, Malcolm Mawhinney — Photo Credit: Google Maps

An Unassuming Cricket Fan

Malcolm Mawhinney was not just a generous benefactor but also a dedicated cricket, AFL, and rugby league enthusiast. He supported teams like the Sydney Swans and Wests Magpies.

Mr Mawhinney’s memorial service was held at the iconic Clovelly Bowling Club, a place he frequented for an afternoon beer, located just 250 meters from his home.

His impact on the community and the homeless population will be felt for the next six months, thanks to his remarkable act of generosity. The pensioner’s legacy serves as a testament to the hidden kindness that can exist within the unassuming residents of even the most affluent neighbourhoods.

A Lifeline for the Homeless

The substantial windfall from the sale of Mr Mawhinney’s Clovelly home will greatly aid the mission of the Bill Crews Foundation, renowned for its work in feeding Sydney’s homeless population, and providing essential support to those in need.

The foundation offers food services through its food vans and the Loaves & Fishes restaurant in Ashfield, in addition to free dental clinics, legal assistance, laundry services, food parcels, clothing, and financial aid to struggling individuals.

Homelessness has become a growing concern in Australia, with an increasing number of “working homeless” people living on the streets and in makeshift tent villages due to soaring rents and low vacancy rates. According to Mission Australia, over 122,000 Australians are homeless on any given night, with another 1,660 joining their ranks monthly.

Published 8-Nov-2023

Actor’s Childhood Home in Clovelly to be Auctioned Off to Benefit Charity

The late Australian stage actor Richard Hughes has bequeathed the full sales proceeds of his childhood home in Clovelly to the Starlight Children’s Foundation, a charity that supports seriously ill children and young people.

The property, located at 24 Park Street, will go up for auction on Saturday, 5 Aug 2023, with all funds raised being donated to the foundation.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom semi-detached house, situated on a 280-square-meter block with picturesque views of the water, has a price guide of $3 million to $3.3 million, according to Colliers agent Nelson Dueza, a long-time friend of the late actor. The property has remained in the family for an impressive 83 years since Mr Hughes’s parents, Dick and Beryl, purchased it around 1940.

Clovelly Richard Hughes — Photo Credit: Colliers Australia/YouTube

Mr Hughes, who passed away at the age of 77 in late 2022, had a remarkable career in the theatre, appearing in productions with Kirribilli’s Ensemble Theatre. He was known for his playful and witty nature, often entertaining his loved ones with puns and jokes.

In his retirement years, Mr Hughes focused on family, caring attentively for his mother, Beryl, and his aunt June, until they both passed away in their nineties. He was also the organiser of regular family reunions, strengthening the bonds among his extended family.

The childhood home holds cherished memories for the actor, who grew up there as an only child, enjoying the stunning views of Coogee and Wedding Cake Island, which are just a short distance from Clovelly Beach. The property’s location is one of its standout features, as it offers breathtaking ocean views from multiple rooms.

The Starlight Children’s Foundation, the chosen beneficiary of the auction’s proceeds, creates over half a million Starlight experiences for sick children annually through their various programs. These experiences provide a much-needed respite from the challenges of illness, allowing the children and their families to laugh, play, and connect during difficult times.

Clovelly, an idyllic beachside suburb located 8km southeast of Sydney’s CBD, is highly sought after, with Domain’s House Price Report for the March 2023 quarter showing a median house price of $3.8 million.

The sale of this beloved childhood home is not only an opportunity for a new chapter in the property’s history but also a chance to make a significant impact on the lives of seriously ill children, thanks to Richard Hughes’s heartfelt bequeathment to the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Published 26-July-2023

St Luke’s Anglican Church Renovation Approved, Locals Express Traffic Concerns

St Luke’s Anglican Church in Clovelly has been granted approval to proceed with its $1.8 million renovation project, amidst vocal opposition from local residents concerned about potential traffic congestion.

The decision was made during a recent meeting of the Randwick Local Planning Panel, where objections from neighbouring residents and the Varna Street Action Group were raised.

The proposed upgrade works for St Luke’s Anglican Church involved the partial demolition of the church hall and excavation of the basement. The Anglican Church Property Trust Diocese of Sydney, the owner of the site, submitted DA 417/2022 in August.

The primary goal of the renovations was to make the church fully wheelchair accessible for the first time. This would be achieved through the installation of a lift connecting the basement, first and second floors, as well as the addition of a new first-floor meeting room, office space, and accessible bathrooms.

However, residents expressed concerns about traffic congestion caused by the church’s activities. With Clovelly Public School located opposite the church, residents feared that the existing congestion would worsen, especially during school hours.

The Varna Street Action Group, representing concerned residents, also raised objections about the size and scale of the proposed building, as well as the potential overshadowing of neighbouring properties. Dance classes operating within the church had also been identified. In total, Council received 19 unique objections to the development plans.

Despite this, the Randwick Local Planning Panel approved the renovation project, citing the need to make the church facilities accessible to all members of the community. The panel acknowledged the concerns related to existing traffic and parking conditions but clarified that these were not the subject of the current application.

To address the residents’ worries, the panel imposed conditions to regulate activities within the site and facilitate better communication between the church and the properties around it. However, the commercial use of the hall was not part of the planning panel’s consent and would be addressed separately.

David James, the spokesperson for the Varna Street Action Group, expressed support for the church’s goal of improving accessibility but maintained that the area already suffered from significant traffic problems. He believed that expanding the commercial space in the church hall without providing additional parking would exacerbate the congestion issue.

To foster community engagement and address concerns, a condition of the approved plans includes the establishment of a community liaison committee consisting of senior church representatives. This committee will meet four times within the first year following the completion of the renovation work. Additionally, an acoustic consultant will review a management plan to ensure compliance with all acoustic requirements.

St Luke’s Senior Minister, Reverend Dave Rogers, emphasized that the development would not significantly increase the church’s size but would greatly enhance accessibility and create a more welcoming environment for the community. The church has been an integral part of Clovelly since 1894 and seeks to accommodate various community activities.

Published 22-June-2023

Newly Renovated ‘Village on Cloey’ Relaunches as Tuga X Village

Photo credit: Facebook / Tuga x Village

After undergoing renovation, Village on Cloey rebrands to form Tuga x Village offering patrons the best of both worlds.

Diogo Ferreira, who also owns Tuga Pastries, felt that seven years since Village opened, the venue needs a makeover and a new identity to go along with it. And after undergoing a renovation, the rebooted version gave birth to Tuga x Village which now combines the concepts of both businesses.

Village on Cloey Undergoes Renovation and Rebrands as Tuga x Village — Tuga x Village’s Torricado | Photo credit: Facebook / Tuga x Village

The former Village on Cloey which has now joined forces with its sister venue will focus heavily on Portuguese-inspired pastries, breads and dishes. Many of the offerings will take inspiration from Ferreira’s trips to Portugal including one of his favourites, bolo de caco.

Ferreira discovered the tasty bread during one of his trips to Portugal and fell in love with it. It’s a sweet potato bread that he said looks like an English muffin and has a delicious texture that is great for sandwiches.

Apart from bolo de cacao, expect to find pastéis de nata, and traditional Portuguese bread Pão Alentejano and Torricado – made with slices of bread that are toasted over charcoal rubbed with garlic and olive oil before serving with toppings.

Peri peri chicken, almond croissant, and Portuguese doughnuts are also on offer as well as Village on Cloey’s crowd-favourite bacon and egg roll on house-baked Turkish bread.

But Diego is not done yet. He is also planning to open his flagship store and bakery in Marrickville which will supply pastries and breads to Tuga in Alexandria and Clovelly as well as the new Tuga x Village.

Published 16-February-2023

Woman Dies in Gordons Bay Following a ‘Medical Episode’

Photo credit: Google Maps

A 47- year-old woman has died after being pulled unconscious from the water by three teenage girls at Gordons Bay near Clovelly. The woman reportedly suffered a medical episode.

On the afternoon of 9 January 2023, three young women, all aged under 16, found a woman floating face down. They pulled her out of the water performed CPR on her.

Lifeguards quickly rushed to the scene and took over CPR but unfortunately were not able to revive the woman after 30 minutes and died at the scene.

Surf Life Saving‘s Ben Hennan said that the three teenagers did a fantastic job under the circumstances. He added that the location was difficult to navigate on foot, but lifeguards were able to respond quickly as they have access via water.

A witness said the police arrived at about 1.30 pm and rushed to pull the woman up from the water’s edge.

Another witness said that a stretcher was brought in along with defibrillators. They saw about 20 police officers and paramedics who scrambled across the rocks to reach the woman. They did CPR on her for about 20 minutes and then stopped. The beachgoers were then asked to get off the rocks.

The Gordons Bay incident is the eighth coastal drowning that has been recorded this summer and the 18th since 1 July 2022. It comes just days after an off-duty officer died at Bogola Beach near Narooma on New Year’s Day whilst trying to save his teenage son.

Over Christmas and New Year, NSW surf lifesavers performed 1,200 rescues, the highest ever recorded in the past five years. Likewise, in the last five years, lifesavers and lifeguards have performed more than 50,000 preventive actions and attended to 85 emergency incidents.

The public is reminded to swim only at a patrolled location and between the red and yellow flags. And when caught in a rip current, one has to stay calm, conserve energy, attract the attention of a lifeguard or a lifesaver, and wait to be rescued.

Some Locals Oppose Proposed Amenities and Field Upgrade at Clovelly Crocs Home

Photo credit: Randwick City Council / .randwick.nsw.gov.au

The proposed upgrading of amenities and field at Burrows Park, the home ground of the Clovelly Crocs Junior Rugby League Club, has met strong opposition from some community members who have raised several concerns about the plans.

Burrows Park, its sports field, and associated amenities building, have been proposed to undergo an upgrade as the building is deemed old and non-compliant with current building codes.

The upgrade would also mean that the ground, which is currently smaller than the NRL standard size, will be extended by 10 metres to allow U13-aged teams and above to play games at Burrows Park.

Council is reported to have allocated $250,000 to investigate the project which is expected to cost about $4 million to deliver.

“This upgrade is essential to retaining and attracting participation in the local Rugby sporting codes and community-based sport, including continuing to grow female participation which has seen significant growth over the past 3 years,” the Clovelly Crocs statement last October 2022 reads.

It will also ensure the continued survival of both the Clovelly Crocodiles and Clovelly Eagles. The Clovelly Crocodiles have been based at Burrows Park since inception and with over 100 years of history in our local Clovelly community, this essential upgrade will ensure the success of the club for many more years to come.”

Just recently, though, the Crocs has reportedly abandoned the plans to have the sportsfield expanded following a strong opposition from some residents who raised several issues against the proposal. The club, however, would still support the ground re-turfing and upgrading the facilities at Burrows Park.

Some of those who oppose the proposal fear that the field becoming bigger would mean that it would be used by the Sydney Roosters.

Likewise, Friends of Burrows Park said that residents, as well as recreational users of the space including runners, dog walkers, bird watchers and beachgoers, are opposed to the idea. These groups are said to be concerned that the dog park would later be used as a parking area to accommodate the expected increase in the number of visitors.

Locals also fear that the project would impact their quiet enjoyment of their homes and the recreational space, given the noise and parking congestion the project would create.

Clovelly Eagles, which also uses the ground, is said to be opposed to the proposed upgrade as well.

In its announcement last October 2022, Council said that residents will be consulted about the proposal once a scope and concept have been developed.

Burrows Park Field Upgrade Now in Initial Design Investigation Phase

Photo credit: Randwick City Council / randwick.nsw.gov.au

An initial design investigation has been launched on the proposed amenities and field upgrade at Burrows Park in Clovelly, after the existing amenities building was found to be ‘old and non-compliant’ during a recent Council inspection.

Located immediately north of Clovelly Beach, Burrows Park Sportsfield features a football field, toilets block and picnic shelters.

Randwick City Council has deemed the existing amenities building as old and non-compliant with current building codes. Funding has been allocated to investigate upgrading the building for it to better meet the needs of local juniors utilising the field.

Although Council has announced the commencement of the initial design investigation on the proposed project. At this stage, no design brief or project scope has yet been confirmed.

Representatives from the junior sporting clubs that currently use the park were invited to a meeting organised by the Council to help better understand their needs and challenges, in preparation for design work and community consultation.

Some of the early feedback gathered from the meeting includes the concern that the sub-standard size of the playing field prevents children 13 years and older from playing rugby league, prompting them to seek other fields to play home games.

The possibility of providing a standard and compliant NRL-sized field to accommodate junior games for over 13s will now form part of the design brief investigation currently underway.

However, further investigation needs to be completed to determine whether this will be included or excluded from the final project scope.

Randwick City Council is encouraging interested residents to register at the Your Say Randwick website. Once the consultation has commenced, all subscribers will be notified and invited to participate.

Burrows Park is bounded to the east by an area of remnant vegetation and to the south by the cliff top at the edge of Clovelly Bay. Walkers and joggers frequent the park for their daily exercises which also features a free outdoor gym. It is also home to the Clovelly Bowling Club.

Pop-Up Pedal Park in Clovelly to stay Until October

The pop-up pedal park in Clovelly Beach will stay in place until the first of October 2021, nixing original plans to dismantle the facility at winter’s end. The extension will be a welcome reprieve for kids home schooling during the lockdown.

Children will be able to safely play outdoors and have fun at the pedal park as it continues to be accessible until 5 Oct 2021. According to Randwick City Mayor Danny Said, keeping the facilities in place will “help lighten people’s burden” during this pandemic.

“Council has looked for additional ways for residents to make use of our outdoor spaces,” the mayor said.

“The pop-up pedal parks have proven to be a popular and effective way for kids to get outside, burn off some energy in a safe environment and feel like life is a little bit normal again.

“It was a no-brainer to keep them open for longer than was originally planned. The positive feedback we’ve received from the community tells us that this is a valued initiative that brings relief and happiness to many families.”

Since beachside car parks closed during the lockdown, Council installed temporary bike tracks for the kids on the site. The first pop-up pedal park was opened and trialled in May 2020, whilst another facility was installed at the Chifley Reserve.

The pedal parks were subsequently brought back in June 2021, following a Council vote to make this a regular winter offering. This year ramps, rails, and tunnels were added to provide additional skill-building opportunities for junior cyclists, skaters, and scooter users.

Meanwhile, residents may continue to provide feedback about the pedal parks to Council.

Make Your Home Stylish With Pieces From This Clovelly Store

Photo credit: Duke and D HOME/Facebook

With many choosing to remain indoors because of the current public health crisis, it doesn’t come as a surprise that people are more inspired to redecorate their places. To make the process easier, it helps to have a one-stop shop where they can buy all their home decor essentials.

Read: Why This Clovelly Mum Keeps Her Kids In Early Education Despite the Pandemic

In Sydney, one of the best places to shop for home decors is Duke and D Home. Located in Clovelly, Duke and D HOME is a delightful store filled with unique homewares and furniture to redecorate your home. They offer everything from thoughtfully sourced handmade creations by local artisans and illustrators; to an eclectic mix of contemporary interiors and unique finds from abroad.

Here you can find a range of pots and planters, as well as faux greenery. They also have linen, cotton, corduroy, feather filled, and outdoor cushions. There are vinyl floor mats which are colourful and come in a range of patterns and sizes.

To bring a decorative and personal touch to your home, they have scented candles and to organize better, hampers and storage baskets which come in various textures and sizes. On a slightly higher budget, you can even pick up some of their cowhide stools, metal side tables, armchairs, and bench seats.

Some of the items at the store (Photo credit: Duke and D HOME/Facebook)

Scented soy candles (Photo credit: Duke and D HOME/Facebook)

Decors (Photo credit: Duke and D HOME/Facebook)

Aside from home decors, Duke and D HOME is offering wonderful gift ideas such as jewellery, body products, crystal candles, and greeting cards. If you’re not sure where to start, you can browse their collection via Instagram @dukeanddhome or through their Facebook page. For gifts, they can post nationwide. Simply send them a message for sales and postage information.

As part of safety measures, Duke and D HOME requests customers to wear a mask and use their QR code when visiting the store.

Clovelly Surf Club Added as New Micro Wedding Venue for NSW Registry

How would you like to get married at the Clovelly Surf Club? The exclusive yet budget-friendly micro-wedding service provided by the NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages can make that possible!

NSW Registrar Amanda Ianna said that they have partnered with a few special wedding venues in Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong for couples to enjoy and afford their dream wedding. Their service covers four themes: city, coast, heritage, and country. The package includes a range of add-ons that couples may customise based on their preference and budget.

Weddings to be held at the Clovelly Surf Club fall under the coastal package, which the Registry opened in May 2021. Couples may now book the venue if they are getting married between October 2021 to January 2022.

Other venues included in the package are the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, Pullman Grand Circular Quay, the Old Clare at Chippendale, Vaucluse House, and the Chinese Garden of Friendship in Darling Harbour.

Ms Ianna said that over 2,500 couples availed themselves of the NSW Registry’s micro wedding services in 2020, which also gave brides and grooms a selection of wedding vendors like photographers, caterers, and florists. The Registry also takes care of the legal requirements, including the notice of intention to marry and the standard wedding certificate.

An average wedding in Sydney may set back couples at least $40,000 but this micro wedding service gives them a chance to have their dream wedding on a more intimate scale. This practical solution also allows the newly-married couple to start their life together with a healthy financial status.