It’s that magical time of year again, when the Randwick City coastline comes alive with awe-inspiring acrobatic displays by migrating humpback whales.

Once hunted to the brink of extinction, these thriving whale populations are a great success of the modern conservation movement, but their story stretches back many thousands of years.

Known as Migaloo and Buriburi, humpback whales hold great cultural significance to First Nations communities.

This Saturday, join wildlife scientist and the author of Humpback Highway, Dr Vanessa Pirotta, and Gamay Rangers Bruce Liddell and Robert Cooley to learn about these majestic creatures from a scientific and cultural perspective. Places are limited, so book your spot now.

I’m excited to open our annual Beach Breaks Carnival at Maroubra Beach this Sunday.

We’re inducting three more community legends into the Australian Surfing Walk of Fame and – for the first time – hosting a new surfing competition, the Southern Beaches Boardriders Storm.

Live music and entertainment kick off from 11am, with activities for the kids, and more food and product stalls than ever before. I hope to see you at this free community event!

We’re teaming up with UNSW and Juvenilia Press to uncover the writing talents of young people in Randwick City, with submissions now open for divisions and categories for the Lionel Bowen Young Writers' Award.

This year’s theme is ‘The Future is Wild’, so if you have a young, talented writer in your orbit, please encourage them to let their imagination run wild, and submit a story or a poem before midnight on Sunday 11 August 2024. Check out our website for further information.

Cr Philipa Veitch
Mayor or Randwick