Manly MattersOctober 2026 |
Dear Resident,
Welcome to the October edition of my monthly e-newsletter, Manly Matters.
In this edition, I share some of the latest news and events from around the Manly electorate, including the 17th Annual Bear Pit Public Speaking Competition, updates from NSW Parliament, and tributes to some very special and valued members of our community.
Should you wish to get in touch to discuss an issue, or would like to learn more about what I’ve delivered and what I stand for, please head over to my website: https://jamesgriffinmp.com/
You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin for further news covering the Manly Electorate.
Yours sincerely,
James Griffin MP
Member for Manly
Thank You
Thank you to the many residents who have taken the time to reach out and pass on their lovely and thoughtful messages following the announcement of my retirement. Serving the electorate of Manly as the State Member has been the greatest honour of my life, and I am incredibly grateful for the support and trust the community has shown me over the years.
Until the State election in March next year, it will be business as usual in the Manly office, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if there is anything that I or my team can assist you with.
17th Annual Bear Pit Public Speaking Competition
It was wonderful to welcome so many talented students from across the Manly area for the 17th Annual Bear Pit Public Speaking Competition at NSW Parliament. There were plenty of nerves to begin with, but the young speakers did so well. It was a terrific day showcasing some incredibly intelligent, articulate and very funny young speakers.
Thank you so much to all the mums and dads, carers and teachers who have spent so much time and effort giving their young person the confidence to get up and have a go. It was an extra special Bear Pit, being my last, but the day simply reinforced my view that our future is in great hands.
Well done to everyone who took part, and thank you to our wonderful judges, Pauline Gilchrist, Max Maddison from The Sydney Morning Herald, and President of the NSW Legislative Council, Ben Franklin.
Vale Jim Frecklington OAM
Sadly, one of Australia’s and Manly’s most visionary craftsmen has passed away. Royal coachbuilder Jim Frecklington OAM dedicated much of his life to creating some of the most beautiful pieces of moveable history you’d ever likely to see. His Manly-based warehouse was home to an astonishing amount of history, and his globally recognised Coaches.
Jim has an amazing story, ultimately building the Australian State Coach as an official bicentennial gift to the late Queen in 1988, which was also used during the coronation of King Charles III. In our modern era, the sort of craftsmanship that Jim practiced is increasingly rare.
He was so generous with his time and in fact invited me up to his secret warehouse for a tour. It was amazing so see all the moving parts coming together and the history behind them. Thanks Jim, and well done on a good innings. You can read more about his incredible life by clicking the button below:
Manly Business Chamber AGM
It was a pleasure to attend and address the many wonderful businesses and organisations that make up our local economy at the Manly Business Chamber Annual General Meeting.
The Chamber plays a critical role in supporting and connecting owners and operators to ensure our local area continues to thrive.
Being a small business owner is not easy, and it is incredibly tough at the moment, so please continue to support local and pay your local cafe, retailer or restaurant a visit if you can. Every visit makes a difference and helps keep our local business community strong.
Manly Village Public School Visit
It was great to drop by Manly Village Public School to have a chat with the Year 5 students about different aspects of leadership. Some wonderful questions from a very inquisitive group of young people.
Leadership comes in many different forms, but the values that I think will always keep you on the right track, and were certainly taught to me, are simple: integrity, passion and results. Thanks to the students and teachers for a great chat!
John Platt CSC (Retd) – NSW Government Community Service Award
Our community is very fortunate to be home to so many impressive individuals who have contributed so much to our country and our local area. Colonel John Platt CSC (Retd) is one of those people, and it was an honour to present him with the NSW Government’s Community Service Award.
John was commissioned as an officer in the Australian Army in 1973 and rose to the rank of Colonel. He served overseas in the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, the Philippines and East Timor and in recognition of his outstanding leadership, John was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2000 Australia Day Honours List.
Today, John is Chairman of the Australia Remembers Committee – Northern Beaches and North Shore, working with the Committee to preserve our local military history, support Australian Defence Force welfare and honour those who have served our country. He is also actively involved with Manly Life Saving Club as a Director. This award is thoroughly deserved, and I extend my sincere thanks to John for his service to our country and for everything he continues to do for our local community.
Sign our Petition to Protect Defence Sites in NSW
The Federal Government’s planned divestment of some of our nation’s most significant defence sites, including Victoria Barracks in Paddington and HMAS Penguin in Balmoral, is deeply concerning.
Last month, I wrote about how the NSW Liberals and Nationals had introduced a Bill in NSW Parliament that would require the approval of both Houses of the NSW Parliament before any planning changes could materially alter their use, density, scale or development potential. Recently, along with my colleagues, I spoke about the importance of protecting these sites in NSW Parliament.
Disappointingly, the Minns Labor Government chose not to support that Bill and voted down a motion to debate the issue.
If this issue is something you feel strongly about, please sign our petition by clicking the button below and help protect Victoria Barracks, HMAS Penguin and other defence sites for future generations.
One Meal Northern Beaches Hamper Appeal Returns
One Meal Northern Beaches is one of our local area’s most important charity organisations, with its network providing more than 50,000 meals every month to people in need.
Their annual Christmas Hamper Appeal is back, and my Manly office will once again be a pick-up and drop-off location for hampers. Please swing by, pick up a box and return it filled with food to help provide a meal to someone in need this Christmas.
You can find more information about the appeal by clicking the button below:
Vale Lloyd Keen
In NSW Parliament, I delivered a Community Recognition Statement to pay tribute to a local hero, Lloyd Keen, who sadly passed away last week.
Lloyd was a passionate advocate for our local environment, and along with his wife Denise, founded Friends of Ivanhoe Park Botanic Garden. Tucked away from the bustle of Manly’s CBD, Ivanhoe Park is one of our area’s best kept secrets and one of the oldest botanic gardens in Sydney.
As President of the Friends of Ivanhoe Park, Lloyd championed its preservation and its rejuvenation and he leaves behind a proud legacy. He will be sorely missed, and my thoughts are with Denise and his family during this difficult time.
Last modified: October 2, 2026
