Manly Archives - Manly Today

From Football Boots to Pickleball Paddles: Cox Park’s Changing Life in Lota

Long before pickleball paddles arrived at Cox Park, the patch of open ground off Richard Street was already being fought for.

During the 1920s, as Lota was being divided into residential estates, local campaigners pushed for part of the suburb to be kept aside for recreation. A proposal was put to BCC to secure about five acres for Manly and Lota, including land along Richard Street, at a time when the district had no recreation ground of its own.

The Land Lota Chose To Keep

The campaign gathered around the Lota Progress Association, with secretary W. Binmore recognising an opportunity when part of an estate was offered for sale. Rather than see the whole parcel broken into residential allotments, efforts were made to preserve a section for recreation. BCC later acquired the land and moved towards dedicating it as a park.

Alfred Edward Cox was already living in the area by the early 1920s. Electoral records place him at 65 Richard Street in 1923 and again in 1925. A family history preserved by South Canterbury Museum says Cox helped obtain land for a park from the developer during the 1920s and that BCC later named Cox Park after him. His family home was said to overlook the grounds.

From Recreation Ground to Football Home

By 1954, Cox Park had become a base for organised sport. Horrie Stephens and Bert Taylor formed the Lota Recreation Club at the park that year, giving children in the area access to organised football. The club operated until 1963, according to a later local history.

Football shared the grounds with other activities. Bayside United’s club history records badminton, table tennis, basketball and fencing among the sports associated with the recreation club, with the football games played on Cox Park under a BCC lease.

The next football chapter began in 1971-72, when Wondall United Soccer Club was formed and games returned to Cox Park. Bayside United Football Club followed in 1974 as player numbers across the bayside district continued to grow. Cox Park remained the club’s home ground until 1984, when Bayside United moved to Don Randall Oval in Lota.

Pickleball Takes The Next Turn

More than 40 years after Bayside United left Cox Park, another sport has brought the ground back into local debate. Plans for four pickleball courts at the southern end of the park drew opposition in 2026, with about 40 people gathering there in July to discuss the proposal. Nearby residents raised concerns about noise, safety, the proximity of the courts to homes and the consultation process.

Some also wanted the existing hardstand retained, saying it was regularly used by children on bikes and scooters. Pickleball players argued the Wynnum-Manly area needed dedicated facilities, with participants otherwise relying on school courts when available. Ms Alex Givney backed the project, saying the ageing court area could be put to greater recreational use.

By 2026, Cox Park was again at the centre of a discussion about recreation in Lota. The argument had changed from whether five acres should be saved for play to what kind of play should occupy them.

Published 29-September-2026

No Injuries After Manly Boat Harbour Fire, Paramedics Say

Photo Credit: Harvey Shore/ Facebook

No one was hurt when fire tore through two boats at Manly Boat Harbour, even with a gas bottle close to the flames.

Several vessels caught fire shortly after 3pm on Monday, according to PressNewsAgency. Residents and passers-by reported thick black smoke billowing from the harbour and drifting across nearby Royal Esplanade.

Emergency services arrived at about 3.20pm. The fire was on the eastern side of the marina, along a spit of land that juts out from the shore, and two boats had been fully engulfed.

One detail explains it. Police said a burning vessel was close to a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) bottle. Officers moved people out of the marina and helped fire crews while they worked.

Neighbours played their part too. Residents rang the office of MP Joan Pease to report what was described as a yacht fire at the harbour. In a public post, Joan Pease thanked those who called and confirmed the blaze had been put out.

Fire crews had the fire contained about 20 minutes after they arrived and extinguished it at about 3.45pm, roughly 25 minutes after reaching the scene. Paramedics reported no injuries but stayed on site while firefighters searched both vessels. How the fire started, and who owned the boats, has not been reported.

Published Date 28-September-2026

Where Bayside Cooking Oil Can Go Instead of the Sink

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Pranav Kumar Jain

Manly and Manly West households with used cooking oil have an alternative to pouring it down the drain, with Brisbane’s resource recovery network accepting the material for recycling at centres including Chandler.

Brisbane City Council accepts up to 20 litres of cooking oil at each of its four resource recovery centres. Residential quantities of many recyclable and reusable items can be dropped off free, while general waste and green waste may attract fees or require waste vouchers.

A Busy Centre on Brisbane’s Eastern Side

Chandler is one of two smaller resource recovery centres operated by Council, alongside Ferny Grove. Nudgee and Willawong are classed as the city’s two major centres.

Council figures show Chandler received about 69,700 tonnes of residual waste in 2024–25 against a stated annual design capacity of 50,000 tonnes. The figure put the facility at 139.4 per cent of its design capacity for the year. Chandler has consistently exceeded its operational capacity limits, partly because it accepts kerbside residual waste.

The same Council document identifies traffic pressures at the site. Chandler’s current operating capacity was listed at 812 vehicles during peak periods, while weekend vehicle numbers recorded in March 2021 reached about 1,300. Council said traffic volumes had continued to rise after 2021, although no newer modelling had been undertaken.

Cooking Oil Has a Use Beyond the Kitchen

Chandler also played an early role in the growth of Brisbane business Gold Oil Solutions.

The company began in 2020 after directors Chris Chrysostomou and Len Hutton looked at the problem of waste oil entering Brisbane’s wastewater system. Collection points were later installed at Chandler, Ferny Grove, Nudgee and Willawong, giving the business its initial supply base before collections expanded to cafes and restaurants across South East Queensland.

*Photo Credit:* Grain Central/Gold Oil Solutions

Gold Oil Solutions processes used cooking oil by removing fine particles and heating the material to kill bacteria. Refined oil is then sold into the animal-feed market, where poultry producer Darwalla uses it mainly as an energy source in feed and as a dust suppressant.

The business has since grown beyond its original Council collection points and is looking for additional poultry and livestock customers as the amount of recovered oil increases.

What Happens When Oil Goes Down the Drain

Pouring fats and cooking oils into a kitchen sink can create problems much closer to home.

Once cooled inside sewer pipes, oil and grease can solidify and bind with wet wipes, food residue and other material. The resulting blockages are commonly known as fatbergs.

Queensland Urban Utilities reported more than 360 fatberg-related sewer blockages across its network in 2017–18. Its service area included Brisbane, Ipswich, the Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim. The utility also said at the time that one in four people poured cooking oil down the kitchen sink.

Brisbane has produced some sizeable examples. The biggest fatberg Queensland Urban Utilities had recorded by 2019 was found beneath Bowen Hills, measuring about seven metres long and 60 centimetres wide. A crane was needed to remove it.

Waste disposal is already a familiar issue for Manly and Manly West households, where Council kerbside collections provide another route for large household items that cannot fit into regular bins.

Resource recovery centres accept materials that are not suited to kerbside collections or household bins, including batteries, electronic waste, hard plastics, metals, engine oil and cooking oil.

Council Plans the Next Generation of Waste Centres

Brisbane’s four resource recovery centres are also earmarked for longer-term changes.

Council has consulted residents and businesses on plans to transform Chandler, Ferny Grove, Nudgee and Willawong into circular-economy hubs intended to support Brisbane’s waste-reduction needs over the next 30 years.

Published 12-Sept-2026

Historic Test Defeat Puts Australia’s Cricket Depth in Focus

Australia faces immediate questions over its batting after Bangladesh completed a historic nine-wicket Test victory in Darwin — a result with added interest for a Manly cricket community connected to one of Queensland Premier Cricket’s strongest clubs.

Bangladesh secured its first Test victory on Australian soil on Sunday and only its second Test win over Australia anywhere.

The result leaves Pat Cummins’ side under pressure ahead of the second and final Test in Mackay, starting Saturday, 22 August.

Bangladesh Takes Control in Darwin

Australia was dismissed for 198 in the first innings before Bangladesh responded with 426, establishing a 228-run lead.

Cameron Green led Australia’s fightback with 104 in the second innings — his first Test century on home soil — but Australia was dismissed for 284.

Bangladesh needed just 57 to win and reached 1-57 in 14.2 overs.

Hasan Mahmud finished with nine wickets for the match, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz took 5-66 in Australia’s second innings.

The result was Bangladesh’s first Test victory in Australia. Its previous Test win over Australia came in Dhaka in 2017.

Preparation Comes Into Focus

The manner of the defeat has prompted discussion about Australia’s preparation, despite players undertaking a structured build-up before the series.

Australia had no competitive matches immediately before the Test, with players instead using extended training sessions to prepare for the demands of five-day cricket.

Josh Hazlewood said before the series that the unusual break from matches had allowed Australia’s bowlers to structure their workloads specifically for Test cricket, including long morning and afternoon sessions.

Bangladesh’s own preparation had produced few indications of what was coming. The tourists were bowled out for just 54 by a Cricket Australia XI in a warm-up match in Darwin.

Once the Test began, however, Bangladesh took control. The visitors built a substantial first-innings lead and dismissed Australia twice before comfortably completing the chase on day four.

Manly’s Links to a Championship Cricket Club

For Manly readers, the national result comes against a much stronger season closer to home.

Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club has just been awarded the 2025–26 Queensland Premier Cricket Club Championship, capping a season in which the club recorded seven premierships and had 12 teams reach grand finals across its men’s, women’s and youth programs.

Although the senior club is now based at Tingalpa, the Wynnum-Manly name has deep roots on the bayside. The club’s history traces its origins to the former Wynnum Manly club, which joined with Eastern Suburbs-Balmoral before entering Brisbane’s top-grade competition in 1961.

Today, the club describes itself as the senior grade club encompassing junior clubs including Wynnum, Holland Park, Carina, Bulimba, Mansfield and Villanova.

There is also an established junior pathway across the district. Developing juniors can be given opportunities to play senior cricket while still in the junior age groups and train with senior men’s and women’s squads.

For Manly’s cricket community, that local pathway provides a useful backdrop to the questions now confronting Australian cricket about batting depth and player development.

Australia’s Batting Faces Questions

Australia’s top order will be closely watched heading into Mackay.

Marnus Labuschagne made 1 and 31 in Darwin, while opener Jake Weatherald scored 23 and 0.

Cummins acknowledged after the match that Australia had to consider whether its batting problems represented one poor Test or a trend requiring changes.

Matthew Renshaw is among the batting options available to selectors, while Josh Inglis was the spare batter in Australia’s 13-man squad for the series.

There could also be changes to the bowling combination, with Scott Boland available after missing the Darwin XI.

Mackay Suddenly Carries More Weight

Australia now heads to Mackay unable to win the two-Test series.

Another Bangladesh victory would deliver the visitors a historic series win in Australia, while a draw would also be enough for Bangladesh to take the series 1-0.

Australia must win to level the series.

For cricket followers around Manly and the bayside, attention now shifts to Mackay to see how the national side responds.

The second Test begins at Great Barrier Reef Arena on Saturday, 22 August.

Published 17-August-2026

Manly Volunteers Celebrate Ten Years of Street Support and Hot Meals

Photo Credit: Rosies - Friends on the Street/ Facebook

Armed with hot coffee and open hearts, more than one hundred local volunteers in Manly are celebrating a decade of making sure nobody in their neighbourhood has to face hardship alone.

Building a Bayside Lifeline

Could a single conversation at a Sunday church service really spark an entire social movement? That is precisely how a quiet call to action evolved into one of the busiest support networks across Brisbane’s Bayside. Bruce Corrie answered his local priest years ago, laying the initial groundwork alongside community partners before the chapter officially launched its regular street visits.

Expansion happened rapidly. Instead of slowing down, the local crew added a Monday morning food relief program at a local Anglican church to keep pace with neighbourhood demands.

Rain, Hail or Shine

Why do roughly one hundred and forty helpers show up week after week without fail? Rain, hail, or shine, this crew turns out because approximately two hundred weekly visitors rely on them for more than just physical nourishment.

Recognizing people by name restores dignity. Sharing a friendly chat dispels the heavy fog of loneliness. For branch leadership, witnessing these positive shifts in everyday lives provides all the motivation needed to keep walking the pavement.

Street-Level Celebrations

Birthdays usually call for quiet reflection, but this milestone demanded action right where the work happens. Teams bypassed traditional venues, choosing instead to share conversation, connection, and birthday cake directly on the street with regular visitors.

Organizational leadership expressed deep gratitude toward the broader community for standing firmly beside the volunteers over the past ten years. Can the next decade match this momentum? If the unwavering dedication of the local team is any indication, the Bayside is in good hands.

Published Date 15-August-2026

Biodiversity Collage Comes to Manly for a Free Community Workshop

Biodiversity Collage will land at the Moreton Bay Discovery Centre in Manly, Queensland, on Wednesday, 19 August. The free session runs from 11am to 1.30pm. It offers locals a chance to stop and think about the living world around them. In a coastal suburb like Manly, that feels like time well spent.

People For Nature is behind the workshop. The session explores biodiversity, which means the variety of life on Earth. It also looks at why biodiversity matters for wildlife and people. Just as importantly, it tackles the forces driving its rapid decline.

A lunchtime session with a community feel

This is not a dry lecture. It is an interactive workshop built around discussion, reflection and shared ideas. That gives Biodiversity Collage a more relaxed feel from the start.

The event will use the shorter Puzzle version of the workshop. That runs for two hours. After that, guests can stay for a BYO shared lunch. So, if you go, bring your food and drink. Bring some curiosity too.

The format suits a wide mix of people. It works for those who already know plenty about environmental issues. It also suits anyone who is just starting out. No prior knowledge is needed.

Big-picture ideas, close to home

The organisers say the session will help people build a clearer understanding of biodiversity. It also points towards solutions and practical action. That matters, because this is not some distant issue. It connects directly with the places we live in and walk through every day.

You see that clearly in a place like Manly. Birds, bushland and local habitats all shape the feel of the suburb. They also remind us that healthy ecosystems support community life. When nature thrives, people benefit too.

That is part of the appeal of Biodiversity Collage. It turns a global issue into a local conversation. It makes the subject easier to grasp and also makes it easier to care about.

An easy invitation to join in

The event is open to anyone aged 14 and over. It is free. It is also wheelchair accessible. Those details make it simple to say yes.

More than 90,000 people around the world have already taken part in the Biodiversity Collage. That is a strong sign that the idea travels well. Still, the Manly session has its own value. It gives locals a chance to learn together and talk things through face to face.

For anyone after a thoughtful midweek outing, Biodiversity Collage looks like a solid pick. It is local, free and practical. Most of all, it asks people to look a little closer at the world they share.

Published 12-August-2026

Manly Mums Invited To Weekly Hot Mum Walk Club By The Bay

Hot Mum Walk Club: Manly is landing in the bayside routine every Monday morning at Manly Boathouse.

Mums can meet from 9am for coffee and a chat. The walk sets off around 9.30am and runs for about an hour along the waterfront.

It is based at 4 Trafalgar St, Manly. And it is open to mums who want to come on their own, bring the kids, or turn up with a support person.

Mums behind the idea

Becky and Kirstie are the local hosts. They say they wanted to create a space where mums could connect, talk and get outdoors without any pressure.

Between them, they are mums to four young children aged from 8 months to 5 years. Becky describes herself as an extrovert and says she loves meeting new people. Kirstie has lived in the Wynnum and Manly area for most of her life.

They say motherhood can feel lonely at times. So, they set up the walk to help mums find company and build friendships a little more easily.

Easy pace, no fuss

The organisers say the walk is relaxed and set at a pace that suits everyone. There is no need to rush, and no need to keep up with anyone else.

That may be the real drawcard here. It is a simple way to start the week with fresh air, a coffee and a bit of conversation.

The event page also says some mornings may finish with a play at the park. That gives little ones a chance to have a run around and meet other kids too.

Hot Mum Walk Club runs in several Brisbane suburbs, but Manly feels like a natural fit. The bayside backdrop does the heavy lifting. The rest is just showing up and joining in.

Hot Mum Walk Club: Manly meets every Monday at Manly Boathouse, 4 Trafalgar St, Manly, with the walk starting around 9.30am.

Published 5-August-2026

Manly-Lota RSL Leads Nation With New Service for Modern Veterans

Photo Credit: RSL Queensland

The Manly-Lota RSL is making history this month by launching the nation’s first dedicated service specifically designed to honour the unique contributions of modern Australian veterans.

A New Chapter for Local Service

For generations, the Returned and Services League has been synonymous with the major dates that define Australia’s military past. While these moments remain vital to the national identity, members at the Manly branch recognised a growing need to better acknowledge those whose service took place outside of those traditional historical windows.

This new initiative aims to bridge that gap by highlighting the varied roles performed by members of the Australian Defence Force since the end of the Vietnam War. This includes the dedication shown by those involved in complex peacekeeping missions, various homeland defence tasks, and rigorous overseas deployments.

Honouring Modern Contributions

The idea for this event grew from discussions among local RSL members who are still actively serving in the Royal Australian Navy. Bruce Christensen and Fiona Ewington, who helped drive the creation of this service, expressed a strong desire to ensure that every generation of service is valued equally.

Mr. Christensen noted that many who served in recent decades have operated in demanding circumstances that sometimes feel overlooked by the wider public. By formalising this recognition, the branch hopes to reinforce the message that the RSL provides support and community for all veterans, regardless of when or where they wore the uniform.

Joining the Community

This event is intended to be a welcoming environment for all eligible service members, and there is no requirement to be an existing RSL member to attend. Organisers have specifically encouraged veterans to reach out to their former colleagues and bring a mate along, viewing it as a valuable opportunity to reconnect with those they served alongside. The inaugural service is scheduled to take place at the Manly War Memorial in Richard Russell Park.

Following the formal remembrance, a luncheon will be held at the nearby Manly-Lota RSL Hall on Melville Terrace to allow for further conversation and fellowship. Interested participants are encouraged to contact the Manly-Lota RSL for any additional details regarding the day.

The commemorative service will be held on Sunday, 19 July, beginning at 1:00 PM.

Published Date 14-July-2026

New Live Music Series Brings Intimate Performances to Manly

Photo Credit: Mansfield Sessions/ Facebook

Local live music fans are transforming the way they experience performances as a new concert series brings world-class artists to an intimate setting in the heart of Manly.

The introduction of these regular events offers a fresh way for residents to connect with the arts. By converting the local arena into a space designed for listening, organisers are moving away from traditional large-scale concert formats.

This approach focuses on quality sound and a comfortable atmosphere that allows the audience to sit close to the stage. Whether it is a quiet jazz performance or an energetic blues set, the goal is to create a setting that prioritises the connection between the performer and the listener.

The jazz sessions scheduled for Thursday, 30 July 2026, starting at 6:30 PM, will feature the talents of Robyn Brown and The Indigo Collective. This group plans to lead the audience through a range of styles including early blues, swing, and original songs. The focus is on the skill of the musicians, who have a long history of performing in top venues across the globe.

The series also prioritises the discovery of new artists through its dedicated blues nights. The first of these gatherings takes place on Friday, July 24, 2026, beginning at 7:00 PM. This portion of the programme spotlights local acts such as Midnight Sound Machine, Sugarbag Blonde, and Shadie Hadie. By gathering these specific groups together, the organisers hope to foster a local scene where people can find new favourite bands and meet others who share an appreciation for soulful music.

These events are designed to be more than just a concert, providing a space where people can enjoy a meal or a drink while hearing music that is meant to be felt. The organisers believe that bringing original music to the local stage supports the broader creative community on the southside. By offering a consistent schedule of performances, the project seeks to build a lasting home for artists who represent a wide variety of musical backgrounds, from country and folk to rock and soul.

Published Date 14-July-2026

Missed Buses Disrupt Daily Travel For Manly Bus Commuters

Photo Credit: Pexels

Missed services, overcrowded buses and trips that disappear from tracking applications are disrupting everyday journeys for Manly bus commuters and other passengers across the Northern Beaches.

For some residents, the reliability problems have meant arriving late for work, paying for alternative transport or changing how they travel across the region.

Passengers have described scheduled buses counting down to their expected arrival time before disappearing from travel applications without reaching the stop. Other reported problems include cancellations and services becoming too crowded to collect people waiting along the route.

Manly Bus Commuters Face Delays

The problems have affected services connecting the Northern Beaches with Manly, the Sydney CBD, Chatswood, Dee Why and the Forest area.

Routes identified in passenger complaints include the 270, 271, 179, 181X, 154X and 174X. An online community discussion also included personal accounts involving the 172X, 142, 177 and 165X.

Some residents described changing between several services or travelling through Manly before continuing by ferry when their usual connections were unreliable.

James Bowman experienced the disruption while travelling from Manly to Wynyard on the 170X. The first two buses he would normally catch failed to arrive on a Wednesday morning, July 8, leaving him about 20 minutes late for work.

Bowman boarded the eventual service at the beginning of the route and secured a seat. As the bus continued towards Wynyard, it passed many passengers waiting at stops.

Manly bus commuters — *Photo Credit: Pexels*

Alternative Transport Adds To Costs

Other Northern Beaches passengers have made more substantial changes to their daily routines.

Hannah Challenor, who regularly travels from Collaroy to North Balgowlah, watched a 172X service count down to its expected arrival time at Warringah Mall before it failed to appear.

After being left without her connection, she called her employer to collect her. On another occasion, she paid $18 for a five-minute rideshare journey but still arrived late for work.

Her employer later lent her a car so she could reach her shifts more reliably. Challenor was also considering using her savings to buy a vehicle, despite primarily needing it for travel to work.

The experience demonstrates the practical decisions some passengers are making when scheduled services do not arrive, from arranging lifts to paying for other forms of transport.

Driver Shortages Continue Across The Network

Transport for NSW said industry-wide driver shortages continued to place pressure on Northern Beaches bus services.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union also linked cancellations and overcrowding with difficulties recruiting and retaining enough drivers.

Transport for NSW said 43 repaired high-capacity articulated buses had returned to service to help reduce crowding. A further 10 double-decker buses were also being added to the B-Line fleet.

The fleet measures follow reports of missed services and packed buses across the region, while Manly bus commuters and other Northern Beaches passengers continue to adjust their work journeys around unreliable trips.

Published 10-July-2026