Here we go again... Hot on the heels of my last editorial and no doubt buoyed by the publicity the attempt to ban nude bathing at Lady Jane beach generated ... again in Sydney, Mosman council has successfully passed their own motion and will now lobby the state government to remove the designated nude bathing status from both Cobblers and Obelisk beach. I hate to say I told you so... Meanwhile just days after we went to press last issue the police raided Little Congwong, an unofficial nude beach in Sydney, supposedly following complaints from the "community". More than 140 people were present on that little stretch of sand and while no one was charged, nudists were officially cautioned and asked to leave the beach. Superintendent Gavin Dengate who oversaw the raid was reported as saying that if school age children had been naked he would have: "looked at a referral to the department of community services"; the mandatory reporting threshold for which is ...at risk of significant harm... Grow up Gavin! ... as if DOCS isn't dealing with

enough real problems; even if NSW police have nothing better to do. What really worries me here, is the use of children as political tools. Positioning the "protection of kids" as a front for whatever needs to get pushed through, is a vile and offensive tactic, but after all, who doesn't want to protect the kids? In 2007 Cr Denise Wilton, long time campaigner to close the beaches, and then the mayor of Mosman council, when referring to cobblers beach said: "...and I was relieved to say on the day I visited that all children were wearing costumes [though] I do not know if this is always the case."

This sort of political manoeuvring completely disgusts me. Exactly what is so offensive about kids being natural I've never understood, but seriously, political agendas aside, can anyone find me even one adult who honestly can suggest that a naked child is more offensive to them than a naked adult? ... Yet this is the focus.

It's shameful that politicians can use kids this way and it absolutely disgusts me.

It's working, though. Just recently I was looking through some old photos, with beaches and resorts full of kids being kids! The fact that there aren't naked kids at these beaches now shows how effective and insidious these tactics are; but let's be clear, there is nothing inherently offensive about a naked child. Given that there are no kids at these beaches, maybe the nudist community should have a think about that too. To be fair, Obelisk beach at least has some problems. Similar to Lady Bay beach it has a reputation for unsavoury behaviour, but you'd think that would make the cops jobs all the easier wouldn't you? I am all for a police presence at nude beaches, if the police were visibly doing their job then we wouldn't be in this situation and genuine nudists could feel comfortable using the beaches they have; without fear of being exposed to deviant behaviour.

As I said last issue, these beaches are in no immediate threat. Cobblers and Obelisk are in national parks administered by the state government, their status as nude beaches is enshrined in state law and nothing short of legislative changes can remove that.

Though not a designated nude beach, Little Congwong is also in a state run national park, and it's been interesting watching Randwick council running around like a spoilt brat for the last few years trying to assert control; whilst national parks and wildlife ... despite recognising the use of the beach by nudists in their management plan, has remained more or less silent, paralysed by their own bureaucracy.

A beach down a dead end track, well protected and removed from public view, and already well used for more than 30 years; it's difficult to image anyone accidentally being offended, without the use of binoculars or a telescope... a better candidate for a nude beach I can't imagine. Can 140 nudists really be wrong? If there's a plus side to all this, it's that at least nudism has made the mainstream media, if the coverage hasn't exactly been positive it at least gives us a forum to argue our case and that's important. Because we shouldn't think that this timing's a coincidence, with a state election up for grabs, things could change very quickly.

Let's make sure we do something to see the change is in our favour. So why not contact Free Beaches Australia (www.freebeach.com.au) or Free Beach Action NSW (www.gangart.com/freebeach) and see how you can help.

Kind Regards

Sarah Scriven,
Editor, Australian Sun and Health