Colleen is very community-minded. When she was asked by the NBSLSC to write the biographies of its members she didn’t hesitate. That was 250 people she got to know very well.

“Having grown up in between Newcastle Beach and Nobby’s Beach, I have to be near the ocean.

Being an ocean swimmer, my day doesn’t start unless I have a swim. Bronte is really my beach, but as we all know it’s not always swimmable, hence the transition to Bondi. I swim every day, regardless of the weather – unless there is a tsunami!

Bronte and North Bondi Surf Clubs are a big part of my life, and through these two fabulous clubs, I have really become part of the community. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone come out of the surf without a smile - it really sets a great platform for the day.

A small group of nipper parents from Bondi and Bronte Surf Clubs started talking about what we do in winter at the end of the Surf Life Saving season and came up with the idea to meet every Saturday and Sunday morning @ 8am and swim the length of Bondi Beach - this was the beginning of the North Bondi/Bronte Winter Swim group (NBSW). This is now all year round and is followed by coffee and great chats. The NBSW has been going for over 20 years, and some amazing friendships have been formed.

All I can say if you want a great start to your day come to Bondi and have a swim. There is always someone there to have a chat to and you will always learn something.”

Black Cockatoo

This was very exciting. Our part of the street in North Bondi is usually over run by Indian myna birds but yesterday there were three native yellow-tailed black cockatoos feeding on the seeds of the local banksias.

Thanks Sarah K for alerting us to this magnificence.

NOT NOT’s Bees

These are scattered around the neighbourhood. This one was with a few friends on the corner of Warners Avenue and Gould Street.

Jonathan with the Book

Jonathan Nolan thumbing through Love, Bondi. He appears on pages 26 and 27.

Love, Bondi

Available later this month from Gertrude & Alice and REMO Since 1988 and other book sellers.

Chloe and Tay-la, a proud Ngemba and Wiradjuri couple living and working on Darug Country, spent nearly 3 days creating this artwork for the Bondi community.

Olive took a real shine to them. (We did too!).

“The artwork represents people coming together, celebrating the diversity of those who live in, work in and visit Bondi every day. Each of us carries our own story and follows our own journey, represented through the different pathways woven throughout the artwork. While our journeys may be unique, they cross, connect and bring us together, reflecting the strong sense of community, belonging and connection that makes Bondi so special.”

Make Kindness the New Normal

Scott Rathman is an Arrente man living in South Australia. He was recently in Sydney and created this mural for us while he was here.

Extract from his Instagram:

“Kindness is not just something we do when the moment calls for it. It is a responsibility carried by every one of us. Every word we speak, every action we take, the way we choose to treat another person leaves something behind. Like footprints in the sand our actions become part of the path that others follow and young people are watching where and how we walk.”

When the Gymea Lilies Bloom

“When the gymea lilies bloom the whales sing their song”

By Georgina “Batsy” Kenyon and naturebooks.com.au

Peter Drew Pasting

Adelaide artist Peter Drew got his glue out again.

From the Archive

Joel is a peace loving man and very approachable. He is a bricklayer who has lived in North Bondi for 4 years. He is originally from the west but says this “was the best transition he’s ever made”.

Joel is “super friendly and loves meeting new people”.

You are looking at 5 years worth of work on Joel’s body.

Joel is featured on page 85 of Love, Bondi which out later this month.

We see Joy’s husband Longy at the pool every morning. But we only see Joy occasionally. She always has a smile for us.

Longy told us that Joy (nee Ivill) is an artist. Her works of joyful embroidery storytelling have been collected by the Powerhouse Museum.

“Joy is a keen walker and an excellent cook!”

What the Actual Cup?

That should have read ”what, the actual cup?”. Yes it is!

The actual Melbourne Cup was brought down to the beach on Saturday as part of a promotion for the race coming up in a few months.

Spring has Sprung

There was some excitement on the Iceberg’s board this morning. Spring has sprung!

Marathoners come to Bondi

Bondi has had a lot of Sydney marathoners coming for a visit since Sunday’s event. How they’re not lying prostrate somewhere is a bit beyond us.

Jean March and Afra, who had come from France for the marathon were here for the day before flying home.

Jesus with the Book

Jesus is holding an advance copy of Love, Bondi, which is being launched at Gertrude & Alice next month. Jesus is on page 29.

We have had a nodding acquaintance with Tory for many years. Our kids, now in their late 20s and 30s were at the same primary school (but different years) and she has been slogging up and down the promenade for about as long as we have. Finally the planets aligned and we actually stopped and chatted.

“My day starts with coffee, word games and some gentle stretches. I get some work out of the way then hit the promenade for a walk where invariably I’ll stop and chat to the locals.  Every day will include a walk with a friend, a swim or Surf (depending on the conditions) or all of the above.

I’ve been a part of the Bondi community for over 35 years, having raised three kids in the area. I am a long service member of a local Surf Club and have made many lifetime friends through this club. My work can be challenging so I need my Dr Bondi fix at least once a day. I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather live and come home to.”

Matteo Ernandes

We first met Matteo nearly 3 years ago. We had spotted him and his trainer in a garage on Warners Avenue.

We recently saw him in the sauna at the pool so it was good to get an update.

“I moved to Sydney in 2014, and just two days after arriving I started working in Bondi. My cousin was already living there, so actually on my first day in Sydney I went straight to Bondi to see him.

I still remember going down Bondi Road on the bus and suddenly seeing the beach appear through the window. I fell in love with it straight away. I come from Lampedusa, a small island in Sicily, so being close to the ocean immediately gave me that feeling of being at home.

I continued working in Bondi for the next four years, and in 2016 I moved there permanently. Since then, I’ve never left.

I usually wake up pretty early and go straight to the gym at Bondi Icebergs. I’ll do my workout and, around three times a week, I love finishing with a couple of rounds between the sauna and a dip in the ocean pool.

For me, it’s genuinely one of the best places in the world to train. The view is insane, the people are great, and starting the day next to the ocean always puts me in a good mood.

Today I own Regina La Pizzeria in Surry Hills Village, so even though I have to drive from Bondi to Surry Hills pretty much every day, I don’t think I could ever leave Bondi.

I spent most of my twenties here, built a big part of my life here, and I think Bondi is one of the reasons I still call Sydney home today.”

From the Archive

It was such pleasure to meet this family. We were just coming out of the post office and there they were.

“I moved to Bondi 17 years ago when I got my teaching job here [at Bondi Public School]. The draw card for living here back then was the nightlife, the beach, and meeting new people. The draw card for staying here now is the people, and community we are ingrained into. As a keen spear fisher I’ve now got my local favourite spots to catch my family tasty dinners too. The rhythmic swelling and diminishing population that take place in the summer - winter changes was always fascinating, and our social circle has grown and evolved into a huge collection of wonderful friends, now like family here. As a teacher we fear that we may be soon priced out of what feels like our forever home here in Bondi, but we aren’t giving up the good fight yet. Hopefully we can find a way to remain here, and continue contributing to making this wonderful community the best it can be.”

We can’t let them be priced out. Bondi would be the loser if Alex and family have to move away from the ‘hood.

Happy Birthday Imogen!

Imogen was being celebrated on her 27th birthday by her fellow local-living Irelanders.

Andrew J. Steel New Mural

Andrew J. Steel aka AJS has a new mural on the promenade.

New Zealand born and working between here and there, you will have seen his work dotted around the neighbourhood.

An earlier work on the Bondi Art Wall from 2015 was organised through the Make a Wish Foundation and done in collaboration with 11 year old Andrea.

Rosco moved from South Africa to Bondi with his family 20 years ago. He still remembers the first time he rounded the corner onto the south end of Campbell Parade, with that vista (and the next 20 years) before him.

His days start with a combination of one or more of the following:

“Sunrise on Ben Buckler, early morning beach swims, Kettle Bell Maniacs (KBM) training sessions, or negotiating the traffic on the way to the office.

Ultimately it begins with appreciation of living in this little slice of paradise.”

What would we like to know about him?

“I’m fairly easy going, I don’t mind having a chat, appreciate good food and the occasional beverage.”

Elia Longo

Another training session done for the day.

Rio and Matteo

You’ll often see these two waiting patiently in front of the NBSLC for owner Luke to get his morning swim in. And they’re watching his every move.

Old School Sand Prank

This family had just arrived from Ireland. They lived in Bondi for 10 years but were just back for a visit.

Paddle Out Mural

The paddle out is a heartbreaking but beautiful tradition.

Surfers and swimmers gather past the breaking waves to memorialise a person who has died or to support a community after a tragedy.

The mural was created by beckfeiner_illustrations

We approached Petra while she was taking in some winter sun before her day got going.

It was a brief but lovely encounter and we hope to bump into her again.

“I moved to Australia from London with my family in 2003, unprepared and shamefully ignorant of the country and its history. Before I left, I met a lovely Scottish woman at a party, married to an Australian and living in Bondi. She gave me her number and said ‘call me when you get there’. It was almost the first thing I did and I’m not sure we would have stayed if it weren’t for her taking us under her wing. I had heard of Newtown as being an interesting place for us to live – but ‘why travel across the world and not be by the ocean’ she said! So we rented nearby and the children went to the local public school. She introduced us to her friends and to other iconic coastal places like Byron Bay.

Three months after our move I can remember crying uncontrollably, feeling bereft of a sense of identity – I don’t think I’d realised how much personal history, particularly friends and places, contributed to a sense of knowing who I was.

Once I started working at the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) and became part of a great team of people, I started to find my feet. There I was introduced to the work of Australian contemporary artists, in particular the work of First Nation artists like Karla Dickens and Fiona Foley, and I began to learn so much about Australia, Aboriginal culture and the atrocities of European colonialism.”

Nikita Sukhanov

It’s always fun to meet the artists behind any new work appearing on the wall.

Nikita was born in Russia (with an accent to prove it!). He has been here for nearly five years but still not sure if this is where he’ll stay.

In regards to his mural he says:

“I just wanted to create a contrast between Australian winter and snowy winter in other countries. I miss snow a bit and also miss snowboarding.”

Check out Nikita’s work at CXPK.art

PS: We’re always a bit flummoxed that those naughts, crosses and/or squiggly lines can turn into a completed artwork.

Janet and Paul

These 2 were visiting Bondi from Peru but looking every inch Greek Islanders

Which Way?

We like to call this the ‘This Way Cloud’

From the Archive

From this time two years ago:

The bride-to-be was surprised by the groom-to-be last Sunday evening. She thought they were just coming to Bondi for dinner with friends. It was the perfect evening for it.

We did wonder though, will there ever be a ‘get-down-on-one-knee and propose’ sort of proposal again? Still and all, it was lovely to see.

You can’t miss these two. Mostly because Stanley (sorry Matt!) is usually wearing this sweet little cap and seemingly finding himself quite becoming in it.

“I have been living in North Bondi for ten years now since moving from South Africa. I can say, this is now definitely home for me

The first hour of my day typically starts with a run to and from Bronte followed by coffee at Glory Days. If it’s a rest day it’s normally taking Stanley (my dog) for a walk along the promenade and then to Glory Days (his favourite) so he can get pats and attention from all the staff and locals there who love seeing him in the morning.

I’m a pretty easy going, friendly guy so if you ever see Stanley and I walking on the promenade, come say hi.”

Art Not Ads

We was had! A fashion brand. Next time we will do our due diligence before we post.

Life Happening at Gertrude & Alice

Winter Morning Yellow

Art Wall Archaeology

One of the best things about the renewal process on the Bondi Art Wall is this stage of the clean that’s like an archaeological dig of past art works.

From the Archive

Luke Cornish AKA E.L.K.’s stencil art has been popping up around Bondi over the years. Luke’s astronauts symbolise emotional escape and the search for hope.

Skye was being celebrated by her friends on her 28th birthday when we came across her last Tuesday.

“I moved to Bondi from London just over two years ago. I’ve been coming here to visit my family friend since I was 16 and always loved it. I decided to leave  my job in fashion and embrace a new lifestyle by the beach. I’ve always loved being outdoors, swimming and running since I can remember so for me it was the perfect fit. I’ve been so lucky to make amazing friends who are like family out here as we are so far from home. It’s changed my whole perspective on how I want to life my life and I’m so grateful for that.

Most mornings, I start the day with a run followed by a dip in the ocean. I’ll usually meet friends for a coffee before work so we can catch up before heading to the office. It’s the perfect way for me to start the day as I feel so energised and positive for what’s next.

One thing about me is that I absolutely love fashion. I love how creative you can be with your style and accessories, and how everyone expresses their personality in a different way. I’ve been reading Vogue for as long as I can remember, and I’ve been lucky enough to work in the fashion industry, which has only made me appreciate it even more. It’s so fun how creative you get bringing ideas to life through colours, accessories and textures.”

City to Surf 2026

The race started at 7:35am. These photos were taken at 8:25.

Paddle-Out for Zak Michael

Bondi suffered a very sad loss when born and bred Bondi boy Zak Michael died in a free-diving accident in Indonesia recently. There was a paddle out for Zak on Friday, organised by the North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club. He was much loved. There were many people in the water and watching on for the memorial.

Friday was Zak’s 29th birthday.

Clean Pool Day

We earned our self-righteous badges on this particular morning. It was clean but very cold on clean pool day last Thursday.

Eddie the Woma Python

You need a license to carry.

Piñata

Damian was carrying some serious equipment and so we were just a little bit humbled to approach to ask if we could photograph him with our iPhone. He was lovely so it really didn’t matter. 😃

“I came to Bondi in the early 90s and immediately connected to the area. My connection to the ocean has always been part of my life and Bondi just took it to another journey for me.

Depending on the weather, I start the mornings down the south end doing my exercises then photographing daily life on the beach.

Bondi has a very strong spiritual connection for me, like a magnet.”

Flo et Alain

We had to brush off our VERY rusty French when we met Flo and Alain.

They have been in Australia for the last month but only have a week in Bondi before heading back to Lille, France.

It might look very summery but this photo was taken last Tuesday, just past the mid-winter mark. You’d feel you’d hit the travel jackpot. The only time that’s better to visit Bondi than your average Autumn day is a sunny winter’s day. Glorious, but nuts at the moment.

Flo and Alain haven’t paid for a single night’s accommodation for the whole time they’ve been here. They are members of a house swap organisation.

Timely New Mural

City to Surf 2026 is happening this coming Sunday. Let’s ask all the runners how much fun they had going up Heartbreak Hill.

Let’s Go Surfing

Jitte te Pas

The first thing we noticed about Jitte was that she was upside down. We were impressed.

We chatted briefly with her and the next thing we noticed was her lovely Dutch accent.

“I came to Sydney / Bondi first time September 2025 and I’ve instantly said I wanted to live here. Just fell in love with this place and how people live their lives here. June this year I finally made the move (after having lived in Melbourne for a year).

The first hour of my day is usually getting up, having breakfast, watching sunrise and going to my workout. Nothing special, just a relax start of the day.”

Glenn Orgias Book Launch

Last Thursday we went along to our favourite bookshop, Gertrude & Alice for the launch of Glenn Orgias’ new book, Teeth Kicker.

Caroline Overington did the launching and she had a lot of great things to say about the book. We left with a copy that we look forward to reading.

Warm Hug

Bondi Beach is a warm hug even on a cold day (not that it’s been terribly cold lately).

Dianne Bors

We have dubbed Dianne the Op Shop Queen. When we remarked on her jacket she was quick to point out that it cost her $4 and came from her favourite op shop in Lake Macquarie. She and husband Tibor have dubbed Hillview “the church” as Sunday morning is the best time to go. Queen Dianne can tell you the best op shops to go between here and the Central Coast (and beyond, no doubt).

Dianne used to volunteer at the Wayside Chapel Christmas lunches but now divides her time with Tibor between Watsons Bay and Lake Macquarie where they have a place.

The Sydney Invitational Carnival 2026 at the Bondi Icebergs Pool

This year’s Invitational Meet was held on Sunday 26 July 2026. The event is a friendly, community-focused competition where the Bondi Icebergs Winter Swimming Club hosts visiting regional clubs, winter swimming groups and local life-saving clubs.

A Perfect Winter Morning

The winter water was a bit warmer today.

New Murals on the Bondi Art Wall

There is still a lot of activity down there on the Promenade but this is what we have captured so far:

There were several things that could have drawn us to Jules but if we’re being honest it was the sparkly helmet. Anyway, we’re glad we did. It was a very nice connection.

Jules arrived in Australia over 11 years ago and very quickly found himself in Bondi, drawn here by his friends, the ocean and the “gym vibes”. He had a five year stint out of the Eastern Suburbs but came back to us after breaking up with his ex.

“I spend my first hour at the gym every week days and on a chill walk on week ends.
I have got a car dealership specialised in 4WDs and Campervans to allow people (mostly backpackers) to travel Australia.
I would say I am a pretty hard working person during the week who loves to disconnect during the week end.
I love pretty much anything with an engine, adventures and really interested in people, curious about what makes them who they are.”

Petrina, was on her way to meet her friends at the Bondi Festival’s Paw Parade at the Pavilion when we met her. We were on our way there too.
Talk about joyous chaos. Hopefully it will be regular event on the Festival’s calendar.

It’s good to change it up a bit. We swim at the Icebergs most days and reward ourselves with a coffee there before coming home. Sadly (for me!) the Bergs Café has been out of turmeric, an essential ingredient in my turmeric latte, and so we have swapped it up and been going to Surfish instead. This was fortuitous as we got to meet Alison who was remote-working there last week.

Alison was wearing a top that promoted the part of the world where she is from and reads “Great Lakes: No Salt, No Sharks, No Worries” which amused us immensely.

“I’d say my Bondi story is about taking a chance and keeping an open mind. Several years ago, I moved to Sydney from Michigan with my partner, despite never having visited Australia before. We initially thought Bondi would be a short-term stop, but after just a few months of living here, we were completely won over by the lifestyle. What started as a temporary move quickly turned into a place we were proud to call home.

As of late, I’ve been spending the first hour of my day either at a House of Sculpt Pilates class or going for a walk along the promenade before work. I love being able to balance more intense movement with slower, relaxed time outdoors, and Bondi makes it easy to take advantage of both”.

If you were lucky enough to attend the Golden Hour outdoor music concert featuring Crowded House in February or Mighty Hoopla the following night you would have seen Adelle in any direction you looked. As a founding partner of Fuzzy the events company with the motto “good times done properly” Wiradjuri woman Adelle takes the remit seriously. Both events took place on the beach with set up happening in the two weeks prior. There was minimal disruption but maximal joy.

“Swimming is my favourite thing. No matter what is going on a dip in the ocean will always make me feel better. As someone who grew up in western Sydney and used to spend hours on buses and trains getting to the beach I feel very privileged to call Bondi home. I love a morning swim with the locals, I love a middle of the day swim when the beach is packed with people from all over the world, I love an after work swim when you can wash the day away.

My morning varies but I will either be at Balance Moves doing Pilates, at Women’s Strength Training on Wellington St or swimming in the rock pools at Mackenzies with my dog Luna.”

We profiled Glenn in 2023 but have recently been alerted to the news that Glenn has just published his first book, Teeth Kicker published by Harper Collins so we thought an update was in order.

_____________

Glenn was in the news in 2009 when he was bitten by a shark. The first such incident in Bondi in decades. He seems to take it in his stride.

“I came to Bondi in 2007 when I got engaged to a “born and bred” Bondi local. I loved it immediately. Been here 16 years now. I miss Jeds. I love how there are share surfboards at North Bondi. I love the beach in the late afternoon. Oh, I was bitten by a shark here back in ’09, but it’s not such a biggie. (See!)

I love to surf and write. I love to spend time with my family and to go and see the ocean once a day.

The first hour of my day I help get the kids ready for school, walking the dog, and drinking coffee with my wife.”

The big red ball

The big yellow cones

Every day is a surprise down at the bach

“While I have been to Bondi before for holidays, this time has felt more like easing into the lifestyle and vibe of the place. That’s thanks to regular early morning visits to the Icebergs pool, but it’s not just the swimming, it’s the new friends I have made that make me feel so welcome.

I have met other mothers visiting their children here and I feel I am part of another evolution of an Irish emigration and diaspora story. I look back
to the times when people left Ireland for Australia and might never be heard from again ‘back home’. We live in such different times now, with instant connections to our loved ones around the world.”