SFA Newsletter Summer 2022

Email: sandyforeshore@optusnet.com.au
Website: http://sandringhamforeshore.tumblr.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com//sandyforeshoreassociation

"We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the waters and lands on which we live and work,
and pay our respects to the Elders past, present and emerging”

Acknowledging the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation

Bayside City Council has revised its Acknowledgement of Country to recognise the Victorian
Aboriginal Heritage Council’s appointment of the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation as
the Registered Aboriginal Party and traditional owners of the City of Bayside
 Dr Vicki Karalis AM
President, Sandringham Foreshore Association

Dear Friends and Members of the SFA,

Welcome to 2022! We hope you have had a refreshing beginning to the year and have enjoyed
your holidays. Summer has been a little wetter than usual, thanks to La Niña, but at the SFA it's
not dampened our mood as we have a lot of exciting things going on! This year marks a major milestone
in the association's history: it's the 15-year anniversary of the founding of SFA! As we roll into a new
year, we continue to work towards the goals necessary to promote here in Bayside: to protect its coast,
natural and cultural heritage. Together, our care for the landscape has helped maintain good practices
and made significant changes in areas that deserved greater care and protection. We continue to
advocate for our beautiful coastline and promote environmental welfare in harmony with the Bayside
community. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting the SFA for all these years!

In this issue, we have featured Elizabeth Jensen, President of Marine Care Ricketts Point to
showcase the incredible work Elizabeth has done for Bayside and beyond. Her support and advocacy for
coastal welfare is remarkable. We shine the light on her achievements, to thank her for continuing
such important efforts!
Read more about Elizabeth Jensen below.

We thank Artemis Siourthas, a Monash University student, for her tremendous efforts in putting
this newsletter together and providing a snapshot of the history located below. Without further
ado, lots to be excited about with SFA and community. We look forward to catching up with you all
soon online or in person:

1. Meet the SFA committee members and our Patrons

2. Vicki gets interviewed on 88.3 Southern FM radio station! She talks about the erosion we are
currently witnessing that started in November 2021 as the sand is moving to the north due to
strong wave action from the south, and likely to continue till early April when the northerly winds
will return most of the sand to the Sandringham beaches. SFA advocate the importance
of protecting our beautiful coastlines, not just in Bayside. The link to the full podcast is below.

3. Together with Marine Care Ricketts Point, the Rye Community Group Alliance and the
Bayside Recreational Group we are striving to ban Jet Skis in the whole of Port Phillip Bay
and the three marine sanctuaries. If you are able to help and/or provide us details of any other
interested groups, please write to: banjetskis@gmail.com

4. Recognising marine pests and how you can help!

5. Beach safety takes priority: La Niña brings changes to the Bayside coast, like jellyfish and
algal blooms feasting the nutrients brought in by the rains and stormwater . More storms also
means EPA warnings for swims during summer. Read more below for instructions.

6. Pig-nosed turtle fossil discovery in Beaumaris! Bayside plays an invaluable role in piecing
together Australian prehistory and this time, the results have extended the timeline of the tropical
turtles in coastal Victoria by 5 million years. Dr James Rule and Dr Erich Fitzgerald of Museums
Victoria publish a paper on this significant fossil find. Read below.

7. Koolasuchus was voted Victoria's fossil emblem. Read below about the extraordinary 125-
million-year-old monster amphibian.

8. DELWP update: Sandringham beach renourishment is finally finished at the Edward St

beach.

9. Bayside City Council update: Smoking banned along entire Bayside coastline and cliffs
and single use plastics

10. Celebration of 15 years of SFA advocacy - enjoy the trip down memory lane, complete with
pictures and links (all available on the SFA website as well).

11. Please connect with us on our newly formed Facebook page by clicking on a "Like":
https://www.facebook.com//sandyforeshoreassociation

We hope you enjoy the newsletter jam-packed with lots of exciting

news and images, commemorating years of achievements! We value your support!

With kindness,
Dr Vicki Karalis AM
President SFA

Meet the SFA committee members

who play an important role in SFA
 A massive thank you from the Committee members of SFA!
From left to right, top to bottom:

Dr Vicki Karalis, AM, President, Founder SFA

Alison Horton, Vice President & Public officer
Helen Gibson, Chair, SFA
Cassandra Karalis, Social Media Coordinator - most of the Facebook content has been
created by Cassandra.
We thank her!
Ike Solomon, Committee member
Artemis Siourthas, Website & Newsletter Administrator - most of the newsletters are created
by Artemis!
We thank her!
Adrienne Smith, Committee member

Most of the Committee members - Vicki, Alison, Helen, Ike, and Adrienne have been with SFA
since its inception in 2007. We'd like to thank them for their dedicated and inspired work over the
years. We are grateful to our newly joined committee members Artemis and Cassandra, and our
Patrons!
 Patrons: (left to right) Professor Tim Flannery & Professor John Long

Thank you for supporting the SFA for all these years and for helping bring Bayside into the global
spotlight with its rich archaeological and cultural history!

Dr Vicki Karalis AM speaks on radio! A guest of 88.3 Southern FM

In this podcast from Friday On My Mind, Vicki speaks to Craig Francis about her work as founder and
President of the SFA. She talks for just over 15 minutes about its mission in protecting Bayside’s coast,
natural and cultural heritage. Called "Saving the Sandy Beaches", it's a great summary for people who
aren't familiar with environmental issues facing our seashores and why the the Bayside beaches are
experiencing erosion now. Give it a listen!
Click here for the full podcast.
 Reduce Jet skis numbers in Port Phillip Bay to help prevent
harm to beach-goers & marine life

Guest Editorial
Beaches should be a haven, not a Hazard, Herald Sun Newspaper. Guest editorial:
Dr Vicki Karalis, page 18, 25 January 2021

Together with Marine Care Ricketts Point, the Rye Community Group Alliance and the Bayside
Recreational Group we are striving to ban Jet Skis in the whole of Port Phillip Bay and the three
marine sanctuaries.
The NSW Government banned recreational jet skis in Sydney Harbour in 2001.

If you are able to help and provide us details of any other interested groups, please write to:
banjetskis@gmail.com
SFA's first campaign was in 2012 when a swimmer was killed by a Jet Ski in Port Melbourne. We are
concerned by the increasing numbers of powerful Jet Skis at Half Moon Bay and believe they are
hazardous to beach users.

Our sincere thanks to Brad Rowswell who set up a meeting in early 2021 with concerned local
stakeholders such as the HMB Lifesaving Club and Marine Care Ricketts Point to help address this issue.
Jet Skis are a hazard and risk for swimmers, snorkellers, beach users, and marine life.

See further links about our ongoing campaign:

• Push to ban 'very dangerous' jet skis from popular Victorian beaches - Mornings with Neil Mitchell -
Omny.fm, 26th Jan 2021
• Calls for ‘very dangerous’ jet skis to be banned from Port Phillip – 3AW, 21th Jan 2021

More news to come soon!

President of Marine Care Ricketts Point, Elizabeth Jensen

Elizabeth Jensen has been President of the Marine Care Ricketts Point since 2016, and MCRP
Committee member since 2013.
Among her many achievements, Elizabeth established the Ricketts Point Beach Patrol 3193 in 2014,
which was awarded Bayside Council’s Community Group award in 2016. She led a successful campaign
to ban single use plastics in Bayside Council premises; led MCRP advocacy roles on climate change
action, protection of the Ricketts Point Sanctuary and its public foreshore land, banning smoking on the
whole Bayside foreshore, as well as the jet ski ban in the Sanctuary.

We thank you, Elizabeth, for such dedicated work and support for coastal protection!

Educational qualifications:
BA (Hons) University of Queensland; MA (War Studies) Kings College, University of London.
Occupation:
Retired, involved in several community groups and activities mainly related to environmental issues and
seniors.
Previous Occupations:
Long career in Senior Executive positions in both the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments in
various agencies, including women’s affairs, defence, immigration and ethnic affairs, refugee review, and
government employment programs.
Previous State Director of the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs in both Queensland and
Victoria.

Recognising Marine Pests in Port Phillip Bay

e.g., Northern Pacific Starfish [below]
We need your help to keep watch for marine pests. Know your area. Keep a look out. Learn what to
look for. Some pests look very much like the native species. If unsure take a photo and/or contact
Julianne Stuart of Earthcare, St. Kilda to help identify the marine pest / creature. If you see something
unusual, please report it.
Contact Julianne Stuart: juliannestuart@yahoo.com

National register of marine pests is available from the following websites:

https://www.marinepests.gov.au
https://www.marinepests.gov.au/pests/identify
Best Practice management:
http://www.bay-keeper.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/best-practice-sea-star-FINAL.pdf

Red jellyfish swarm beaches in 'unbelievable' numbers

this summer
 This lion's mane jellyfish was spotted in the Elwood canal (photo by Isaac Herman, ABC).

Experts say above average rainfall may be the reason behind the spread of lion's mane jellyfish in Port
Phillip Bay this summer. Port Phillip Baykeeper Neil Blake says La Niña weather system causes the
rainfall to flush much more nutrients into the bay, therefore "firing up the food chain" and
generating unusually large jellyfish blooms.

Sam Dimopoulos, President of Brighton Life Saving Club, says jellyfish numbers in Port Phillip Bay are the
worst he has seen in 20 years. He recommends swimming in groups to be less afraid of the jellyfish - that
is, if you want to swim at all. Dr Vicki Karalis recommends trialing a stinger suit [she bought one online
with a cap and gloves and worked well].

While the lion's mane jellyfish can sting, for most people it is mild. The main concern is if individuals have
allergic reactions to them, which needs immediate medial attention. Read the full story by Matilda Marozzi,
ABC

What to do if you get stung (from the article)

"If someone gets stung by a non-tropical jellyfish like the lion's mane, St John Ambulance training team
leader Alison Osborne suggests the following:

• Do not rub the stung area

• Remove any remaining tentacles (try not to use your bare hands)
• Rinse the area with seawater to remove any invisible sting cells (do not use fresh water — this
can set off additional stinging cells and cause more pain)
• Put the stung area in hot water for 20 minutes (hot water will help to deactivate the jelly fish
toxins and reduce pain)
 • If the pain does not ease from the application of hot water, or if you do not have access to hot
water, apply a cold pack

If the pain is ongoing or you are unsure what you were stung by, seek further medical advice."

Bayside fossil mystery unlocked after 100 years!

The turtle fossil of Beaumaris that has rewritten Australian history

The SFA is so proud of the great work achieved again with the latest new research findings on the pig-
nosed turtles in Australia by Dr James Rule, Dr Erich Fitzgerald, and the team at Museums Victoria.

Museums Victoria curatorial research assistant, Dr James Rule, has published new research on the
fossils of pig-nosed turtles in Australia. A fossil discovered in the 1920s at a site in Beaumaris, sitting
unidentified in Museum Victoria's collection for 100 years, has provided the oldest evidence of pig-nosed
turtles in Australia. Native to Northern Territory and New Guinea, modern pig-nosed turtles are living
representatives of a group of freshwater turtles only found in the tropics. However, this fossil not only puts
the turtle thousands of kilometres outside its typical ecosystem, it's also 5 million years old.
It helps solve the unknown evolutionary history of tropical turtles in Australia, especially since scientists
thought it had arrived here only a few thousand years ago. It also changes our understanding of the
history of life on this incredible continent.
The thumb-sized missing puzzle-piece is an example of the many scientific national treasures waiting to
be uncovered in the museum's collection (in image below).
 Artistic representation by Jaime Bran (copyright holder) of the Beaumaris pig-nosed turtle.
The superimposed photo is of the pig-nosed turtle fossil in comparison to a modern pig-nosed turtle shell
(Daily Mail).

Note the publication has acknowledged the generous support of Bayside City Council, Sandringham
Community Bank, SFA, BESSI and the BMYS in their publication (link below) and in The Conversation
article (link below):

“This research on the Lost World of Bayside is supported by Bayside City Council, Beaumaris Motor Yacht
Squadron, Sandringham Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank, Sandringham Foreshore Association,
Bayside Earth Sciences Society and generous community donations.”

See links to:

The original research article | The Age article

There was also widespread media coverage with a focus on Beaumaris, Bayside!

The Conversation | Channel 9 News

So, thank you very much for your generous support and grants during our fundraiser this year.
You can see our community efforts have been well rewarded! Dr Erich Fitzgerald, senior curator and
palaeontologist, Dr James Rule and his team are an inspiration, and the Bayside community are so
honored and proud to continue supporting their great work!
The Lost World of Bayside Fossils donation
Museums Victoria
If you would like to support their continued work on the exploration of Bayside fossils -
The Lost World of Bayside please click on this link to provide a tax deductible donation:
https://museumsvictoria.com.au/join-support/make-a-donation/the-lost-world-of-bayside-fossils-project/
Donations are 100% tax deductible. The donations support Museums Victoria palaeontologists to continue
their valuable work of exploring and scientifically assessing the Bayside fossils and bringing international
significance to the sites.
The Age publication in landscape print
The Beaumaris Monk seal (artistic representation by Peter Trusler, copyright holder)

Announcing New VIC fossil emblem Koolasuchus

Victoria's State Fossil Emblem
 Image of Koolasuchus cleelandi courtesy of Peter Trusler.

After 11,563 votes, the 125-million-year-old monster amphibian has been confirmed as Victoria’s
fossil emblem.

So what was Koolasuchus?

It is an extinct primitive amphibian from the Cretaceous Period, 125 million years ago. The car-sized,
ferocious-looking creature lived alongside dinosaurs in Victoria, when its average temperature was just
above freezing. Koolasuchus was adapted to life in the rushing rivers that once separated Australia and
Antarctica. The Cretaceous rift valley was an area highly populated by dinosaurs—everything from large
carnivores to smaller wallaby-sized herbivores. And this may be the reason they survived here when they
were extinct everywhere else. It is the long-lost member of its lineage, known as the temnospondyls.
It lived in Victoria as much as 50 million years after all other temnospondyls went extinct
worldwide.
Its fossils are only found at a few beaches and coves in south Gippsland. This makes it unique
and worthy of being Victoria's first fossil emblem!

Click here to watch Museums Victoria talk about the State fossil.
Click here to read Museums Victoria description of the creature's history.
 Department of Environment, Land, Water, Planning
(DELWP) update

Sand renourishment of Sandringham beach

SFA are grateful to DELWP. 20,000 cubic metres of sand was pumped onto Edward St beach in 2021.
Sand source was one kilometre offshore for similar grain size. The project commenced in March 2021 and
completed on 14th December 2021! Unfortunately, with various delays related to COVID and severe
weather events, the dredger was not able to get to the Half Moon Bay section this time to pump sand.
SFA thanks DELWP, as regular sand renourishment is an important method of protecting the
Sandringham beaches, dunes, cliffs, and coastline. $8 million dollars was allocated over four years across
Port Phillip Bay. Sandringham beaches were considered a top priority to help combat the erosion.
 Bayside City Council update

SFA are grateful to Bayside City Council. We have a very good relationship with Council, and we are
particularly pleased in being involved and supported by Council in a number of relevant local Bayside
issues such as:

• Bayside fossils - Lost World of Bayside Fossils fundraiser, through several grants each totaling
$5000 to Museums Victoria, Lost World of Bayside, and for their media coverage
• Banning single use plastics in Bayside
• Banning smoking on all Bayside beaches and the cliffs
o SFA played an instrumental role in helping to ban all smoking along the Bayside cliffs,
not just along the Bayside beaches, a combined community effort]. This will help reduce
the risk of bush fires and exposure of smoke to young children especially in the
playground areas situated at the top of the cliffs. There are many strategies to help
mitigate smoking on cliff tops by providing ashtrays at car parking areas and good
educational signage. We may not be able to stop all smokers but hopefully it will
significantly reduce the number of cigarettes butts we find on our beaches and walking
tracks along the cliffs daily. Many of our members spend considerable amounts of time
picking rubbish and cigarette butts on the beaches and in the foreshore cliffs.
• SFA President met with the Mayor, Councillors and Officers to discuss various issues in Bayside
including how to help keep our beaches clean in a positive way, and the recurring erosion of the
Bayside beaches.
o We appreciate the volunteers who make an enormous effort to help keep our beaches
clean! Thank you for all your support for these causes!

Newly painted fun Sandringham Lifesaving Club by artist

Diana Ingleton 2021
 EPA monitoring of Beach pollution
Safe swimming in Bayside for Summer 2022!

The EPA monitors water quality on bay beaches from 1 December until the Labour Day long weekend
each summer.

Beach reports are issued for Dendy Street Beach (Brighton), Hampton, Sandringham, Half Moon Bay,
Black Rick and Beaumaris beaches.

The Beach Report involves twice daily forecasting and weekly sampling at 36 beaches around Port Phillip
Bay.

When a forecast is not available, you can protect your health by not swimming near drains or river outlets
for 48 hours after rain.

Children, older people and people with a weakened immune system are most at risk of getting sick from
polluted water.
You can also keep up to date with EPA forecasts via their website, Twitter, and signs at lifesaving clubs
(on weekends and public holidays).

In 2021-22, the Bureau of Meteorology announced a La Niña weather pattern is now active. This has led
to increased rainfall, which has caused increased algal blooms this summer compared to previous
summers.

Click here for the Bayside safe swimming summary

Click here for the EPA beach report

The Sandringham Foreshore Association is 15 years old!

A summary of 15 years' worth of SFA advocacy!

SFA is a charitable not-for-profit association. Beginning with a dedicated group in 2007 founded by Vicki,
the association has grown in pursuit of fostering and promoting good natural conservation principles to
Bayside foreshore management. We aim to assist public education by aligning ourselves with scientific
experts in fields of conservation and natural environment. Membership of the SFA is free of charge.

Objectives and Aims

1. to sustain our Sandringham foreshore & neighbouring beaches
2. to preserve its natural beauty and aesthetic value
3. to prevent sand and cliff erosion
4. to maintain healthy clean beaches and cliffs
5. to conserve natural wildlife e.g., marine life, native flora, and fauna
6. to ensure a “sense of place”
7. to ensure archaeological, cultural & heritage sites are protected
8. to conserve cultural values

Our Bayside, Sandringham coastline and its neighboring beaches are such a valuable local asset and
should be cared for with the utmost respect. We have one of the best natural beachscape environments in
the world that is located close to a major city, Melbourne. The Sandringham foreshore and its
neighbouring beaches have a long history of beach and holiday use.

We want to make sure the future generations get to be a part of the rich history and experience the
beautiful landscapes it has to offer.
A chronological brief snapshot of the history of SFA over time by
Artemis Siourthas, Website & Newsletter Administrator

Credit: photo by John Amiet- founding committee member of SFA in 2007.

Above: photo from the top of Red Bluff demonstrates the saw-tooth effect of the groynes at Sandringham
beach
Below: the erosion north of the Royal Ave [left] and Tennyson St [right] beaches 2007

2007 - the birth of SFA

Southey St rock groyne was built in January 2007, and virtually overnight caused severe erosion north of
the groyne at the Tennyson St beach, which we continue to witness every year from November till April
with prevailing southerly winds which push sand to the north. This gave rise to the Sandringham
Foreshore Group, later Association!

The Sandringham Foreshore Association is founded by a group of local residents in response to

community frustration regarding the groyne effects on the coast. The SFA gathers over 5500 signatures of
Victorian residents on a petition to remove the rock groynes. This petition was submitted into Parliament.

2009
The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald newspapers. “Sandringham beach groynes prove a strain for
residents”, January 16, 2009. Click here to read.

"Sandringham Foreshore Association President Vicki Karalis says the groynes behind her cause
erosion." Photo by Rebecca Hallas, 2009.
Originally published in The Age & Sydney Morning Herald newspaper; Sandringham beach groynes prove
a strain for residents, by Denise Gadd, 17 January 2009
http://www.watoday.com.au/national/sandringham-beach-groynes-prove-a-strain-for-residents-20090116-
7j7g.html#ixzz35Kl4EJ2B
http://www.smh.com.au/national/sandringham-beach-groynes-prove-a-strain-for-residents-20090116-7j7g.html

2010
The SFA is officially registered with the Australian Government and Taxation office as not-for-
profit charitable organisation!

Reports prepared by Dr Wayne Stephenson of Melbourne University and A/Professor James Peterson of
Monash University, both coastal geomorpohologists, report how the Sandringham beach can be best
managed! This is part of the early beginnings of academic foreshore research collaborating with SFA. This
commences a long dialogue and respectful relationship with the Department of Environment, Land, Water
and Planning [DELWP] to explore the best options to help our Bayside beaches since 2007.

SFA features in Geography textbook!

Did you know that SFA appeared in a Geography book?! We feature in the 2010 publication of Geography
VELS Level 6, taught to students in Years 9 to 10. It explores the impact of the Southey St groyne built on
our beach that initiated the community to come together in 2007 to create the SFA!
Click here for the chapter on Sandringham (pages 86-89). See if you can spot Vicki inside!

At the Aborigines in Half Moon Bay - their life and heritage community event for Reconciliation Week,
June 2012.
Left: Dr Valerie Tarrant teaching about Indigenous plants
Right: Boonwurrung Elder Carolyn Briggs and Vicki Karalis

2012
On 2nd June 2012, we celebrated National Reconciliation Week at Half Moon Bay, as part of their
acknowledgement of the Traditional Custodians of our land. Over 100 people attended the walk-and-talk.

SFA’s campaign against jet skis in Bayside begins. The busy beaches of Sandringham and
surrounding shores have since been at risk of boating accidents, noise pollution and increased waves
from the generated water pressure. The campaign to improve boating and swimming zones thus is borne.

The Age writes about Beaumaris: Trove of ancient secrets submerged under the sea. Peter
Trusler's artistic impression of the 5-6 million year old Bayside landscape and animals are included. "Once
a magnet for marine mega fauna that plunged and paddled, hunted and hovered over the Southern
Ocean, the bayside suburb is rated by paleontologists as among the best sites for marine life fossils in
Australasia." Click here for link.

2013
The "Summer by the Sea" program was launched at Ricketts Point by our Minister for Environment
Ryan Smith, DSE, Council and Ray Lewis, former President of Marine Care Sanctuary. The event was a
huge success with over 300 activities occurring along our beaches. Vicki and Helen Gibson, a geologist,
conduct walk-and-talks, and guided tours of the Sandringham beaches on an annual basis - organised by
Council and DELWP.

SFA commence annual walks and talks on the heritage values of the Bayside beaches with guest
expert speakers e.g., Helen Gibson: geologist, and Sean Kelly: Aboriginal Heritage worker of the
Bunurong Council.

2014
Furthering the campaign on jet ski use in Bayside - jet skis are banned in Sandringham area of Port
Phillip Bay. “Bigger sections of the bay will now be off-limits to power water craft from mid-February after
complaints swimmers were being put in danger.” Click here to read.

2015
The first two Fluker posts were installed at the Sandringham beaches to monitor erosion!
https://www.flukerpost.com/
Please download the FLUKER APP SAN 1, 2, 3 to view 100’s photos SFA have posted over many years.
SAN 1 post is located at Royal Ave groyne
SAN 2 post is located at Tennyson St ramp
SAN 3 post is located at the top of the cliff at the Sandringham harbour to capture the accumulation of
sand.
Some of the photos are from the wrong sites unfortunately, and some in different directions to capture the
erosion at Royal Ave and Tennyson St beaches as the posts are too far away to appreciate the erosion, or
unable to view the erosion as it is located behind a headland.

Proposal to expand the Beaumaris Yacht Club brought concerned community groups,
stakeholders and palaeontologists together to protect "world-class fossil site". Click here to read
The Age article.

The inaugural Beaumaris Bay Fossil Site of International Significance event was visited by over
1000 people from all over the state. It raised money for further research, as well as to showcase the area
beyond the local vicinity. See image below.

Fossil emblem for Victoria proposed. Patron Professor John Long wrote in the Conversation about
encouraging more state fossil emblems - only Western Australia had a fossil emblem at the time and
NSW had just announced theirs in 2015. SFA wrote to the Minister of Innovation who contacted Museums
Victoria and launched the first Fossil Emblem vote for Victoria. The Bayside Pellagornis fossil was
proposed but unfortunately did not win the votes. In 2022, after 7 years, Victoria finally has announced
ours! Find out what it is below in this newsletter. Click here for the article.

Our first fundraiser at Ricketts Point beach attracted over 1000 people despite temperatures soaring
over 40 degrees! Our guest speakers included Prof Tim Flannery and Dr Erich Fitzgerald.

SFA with the support of a consortium of local stakeholders submit the 1st nomination for
Beaumaris Bay Fossil site to be included in the National Heritage Listing.

Since 2015, due to the generosity of the BMYS, we have been holding annual charity events at the
BMYS subsequently leading to over $50,000 of community donations to Museums Victoria, Lost
World of Bayside!
This event helped highlight the significance of the Beaumaris Bay fossil site, and donations helped the
palaeontology team at Museums Victoria to research and publish a number of articles on fossils found at
Bayside.
Rare ancient sea turtle fossil finds on the Beaumaris foreshore again cemented the Bayside site as one
of the most important prehistoric relic hunting grounds in the country. Click here to read.

2016
After many years of lobbying and discussions with DELWP for beach restoration funding, the
Victorian Government pledged of $1 million to tackle erosion in Sandringham. More frequent storm
surges had worn away the beach and cliffs over the years. Click here to read the original article. The
Southey St rock groyne at Sandringham was shortened in length and height to help improve sand
movement on the beaches. SFA continue to meet and liaise with DELWP over these issues.
We are grateful to DELWP for all their efforts in helping restore our beaches which will become
more challenging with climate changes in the future.

Left: Boxing Day, Sandringham beach 1908-9, by Soffa (local newsagent)

Right: Beaumaris Bay 1910 printed in Prussia
Featured in SFA Summer-Autumn 2016 newsletter thanks to the wonderful Shirley Joy.

2017
In May a 143m rock groyne was announced to be installed at the Hampton foreshore [near the
Sandringham Yacht club] to stop the beach disappearing (click here for article). The SFA tentatively
agreed to this decision, as it is very large but coastal engineers carefully considered the size. There had
been little sand left on the beach and the bluestone seawall was being damaged by storms, with building

stones being knocked off by intense waves over time. Within eight weeks construction was completed,
with sand renourishment occurring the following year.
 The large rock groyne built at the Sandringham harbour in 2017. Picture credit: DELWP

2018
Bayside Councillors unanimously backed our bid for Beaumaris Bay to be placed on the National
Heritage List - this was our 2nd nomination. More than 30 scientists, archaeologists, palaeontologists
and local fossil collectors spoke of the importance of protecting the cliffs and fossil shelves at the council
meeting. Click here to read. DELWP and the Minister of Environment also back the nomination.

Ancient pygmy right whale ear fossil identified 60 years after being found on Melbourne beach by
Dr Erich Fitzgerald. It was 6 million years old. Reported by The Age, click here for the article.

2019
SFA organises and hosts the 2nd Bayside Fossil fundraiser event in support of Museums
Victoria's research at the Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron, with over 140 people attending. We
raised around $30,000 at this event alone.

The City of Bayside Councillors voted unanimously to ban all single-use plastic within its
venues following a campaign to clean up Port Phillip Bay. SFA attended the meeting and spoke why
we should ban single use plastics. All single-use plastics in libraries and corporate centres have been
banned since June 2019 and in community centres by 2020. Click here for the news coverage.

The no-smoking campaign in Bayside also progresses - the Bayside City Council decides to move to
ban smoking at all of Bayside’s valued beaches, including Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary, Dendy Street
beach and the Brighton Dunes.

Lost World of Bayside fundraiser at the BMYS 2019

2020
COVID hits Melbourne but not before Ben Francischelli and team find more amazing fossils in our
shores. "The material (found on the bottom of the seafloor) dates back roughly 5 million years,
allowing us to understand the evolution of entire groups of animals, such as whales and sharks."

On the 18th December 2020, rounds of applause and cheers for joy were heard in council
chambers, when the environmental groups who had spoken at the Council meeting heard Bayside
City Council unanimously declare there is a Climate Emergency.
 "A smattering of 5 million year old whale vertebrae we found from Site B. Human and dog for scale."
Ben Francischelli

2021
SFA co-hosted lecture on Discovering Blue Carbon - A natural climate solution with BCCAG,
MCRP and BRASCA on the 25th March. Click here to watch.

SFA organised and hosted the 3rd fundraiser event Expedition Bayside: Exploring Our Past for
Our Future, with a special presentation by Dr Erich Fitzgerald, senior curator, palaeontologist, at
Museums Victoria. The Lost World of Bayside Fossils event held on 7th April 2021 at the BMYS was an
absolute success! Our community combined efforts generated about $22,500.

The discovery of the 5-million year old seal fossil and tropical pig-nosed turtle at Beaumaris Bay
was published, thanks to Dr James Rule, Dr Erich Fitzgerald and corresponding teams. Click
the links to the journal articles. Their respective The Conversation articles are available: seal and turtle.
 SFA organised and hosted the 3rd fundraiser event in 2021 titled Expedition Bayside: Exploring
Our Past for Our Future.
Photos showing helpers to the left; Dr Erich Fitzgerald, senior curator, palaeontologist, Vicki, and
Dr Karen Roberts, Museums Victoria Sciences Collection Manager to the right during a break at
the BMYS.
Half Moon Bay cliffs - Spectacular images by photographer Albert Sulzer (SFA Spring 2017 newsletter)

Historial Images of Bayside

Thank you Shirley Joy, local historian, for many years of supplying us beautiful
historical photos of Bayside.
These photos have featured in past SFA newsletters and are a joy to revisit.
 Sandringham Sea Baths, formerly located south of Jetty Road, Sandringham. Cancellation date on
the back of the postcard - 25 Feb. 1909, 11a.m.

Left: Picnic Point, 1900.

The original Hampton pier was built in 1882. The location of the pier is directly below where the natural
spring is located where fishermen’s families collected fresh water.
Right: postcard of Beach and Baths, Sandringham, circa 1914.
Printed, b&w; 8.8 x 13.8 cm. Reproduction rights owned by the State Library of Victoria. Click for large
scale.
 Black Rock beach, circa 1900. View facing south roughly parallel to The Crescent.

Half Moon Bay beach huts, 1926. Photo supplied by Charles Lyne AM

Committee members of SFA

Dr Vicki Karalis
President; Medical practitioner, expert in environmental medicine
Alison Horton
 Vice President & Public officer; Perfusionist
Helen Gibson
Committee member; Geologist and Renewable Energy advisor
Adrienne Smith
Committee member; IT consultant
Ike Solomon
Committee member; Corrosion engineer
Cassandra Karalis
Committee member; Social Media Coordinator
Artemis Siourthas
Committee member; Website & Journal Administrator

Free SFA Membership

The Sandringham Foreshore Association is a charitable not-for-profit association. Membership is free. Our
self-acclaimed role is to foster and promote good natural conservation principles to Bayside foreshore
management. Our current focus is to assist public education by aligning ourselves with scientific experts in
fields of conservation and natural environment, and to facilitate effective communication between
community – council and state governments – and established environmental science publications and
position statements.
The role of SFA is to care for and help protect our local beaches and cliffs, but also to educate, raise
awareness and preserve our local archaeological, geological, cultural, indigenous and heritage sites such
as the Beaumaris Bay fossil site.
If you are interested in joining our free membership, to receive notices and our Quarterly Newsletters –
Please respond via our website
http://sandringhamforeshore.tumblr.com/MembershipForm

Copyright: Sandringham Foreshore Association All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is: sandyforeshore@optusnet.com.au

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