Northern beaches top 20 most influential people from number 15 to 11
A big-name politician, much-loved former athlete and global superstar musician are among the identities ranked from 15 to 11 in the northern beaches’ top 20 most influential people list. Check them out and let us know if you agree.
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They are experts in their fields, whether that be sport, business, fashion, politics or the law. They are the people whose opinions and actions we value and watch with sometimes envy, sometimes disdain and disagreement.
The Manly Daily staff debated over who should be on the list and where they should rank.
We considered their positions as role models and/or decision makers, starting from position 20 through to position 1. Today we list those from 15 to 11.
All 20 will be listed on our website, manlydaily.com.au, over coming days with your opportunity to agree, disagree or suggest others who should be on the list of the most influential people on the peninsula.
#15 Tony Abbott: Former Prime Minister/Warringah MP
ALMOST three years removed from the nation’s top job, Warringah MP Tony Abbott has taken out number 15 on our list.
Some may believe it is too low for the parliamentarian of 24 years and it was a tough call to put the former Prime Minister outside of the upper echelon.
He still has considerable authority on the northern beaches, but nationally his influence has faded. And even some recent events have suggested his influence is fading within his electorate.
He was criticised as being “out of touch” with the Warringah electorate after his strong stance supporting a “No” vote in the same-sex marriage plebiscite was dismissed by 75 per cent of his constituents who voted.
But Mr Abbott can still dominate a national agenda, often making headlines for his alternative stance to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
And he still has the gusto to get things done locally, with his campaign against overdevelopment, mostly in Frenchs Forest, has ensured action and attention from both the State Government and Northern Beaches Council.
His stance, echoed by Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan, was that there should be no more density until infrastructure was put in place.
The campaign launched by Mr Abbott and the Manly Daily led to Planning Minister Anthony Roberts freezing planning policies.
It would have fast-tracked medium density developments, also taking the power out of the council’s hands.
He was also instrumental in the campaign to ensure a congestion-busting Beaches Link tunnel, connecting the northern beaches to the city, which has been promised by the State Government but is yet to have final determination.
His $12.5 million is still on the table for an upgrade of Brookvale Oval, but locals are starting to rightfully wonder whether or not the State Government will ever come to the party.
#14 Dick Smith: Business Entrepreneur/Population Activist
Business entrepreneur, adventurer, philanthropist and population activist Dick Smith lives at Terrey Hills.
Mr Smith, 74, is also a vocal critic of some national aviation policies as well as Australian immigration rates.
He made millions in 1982 when he sold his chain of Dick Smith Electronics stores, which grew from a small taxi radio repair business he started in the 1960s. The money he made from selling to Woolies, he invested in property, making him even richer.
Mr Smith also introduced his own line of grocery items, Dick Smith Foods, including a spread called OzEmite, to highlight the fact that many iconic Australian brands, such as Arnott’s, were being sold to overseas buyers. His brands were produced in Australia by Australian-owned companies.
The more than $10 million profit he made from this venture was all given to charity.
During his lifetime he helped to financially support many causes and organisations including the Australian Museum, the Salvation Army, the Scouts and children’s charity Variety.
The entrepreneur has been openly critical of tax evasion by the wealthy and their failure to give more to charity.
He founded popular Australian Geographic magazine and in recent years he has expressed support for action on climate change, including the introduction of a carbon tax.
Mr Smith became known internationally for piloting a helicopter solo around the world in 1982-83.
As a former chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, he has campaigned against the over-regulation of the industry, often complaining about the need to reform airspace rules and regulation around flight training.
In recent years Mr Smith has been outspoken about what he describes as the nation’s “excessive population growth”.
He has been trying to convince policy makers that the current immigration intake of about 190,000 a year is not sustainable and will just fast track the worsening problems of high real estate prices, traffic congestion and overcrowded suburbs.
Mr Smith wants to cut the immigration rate to 70,000 a year.
#13 Christine Del Gallo: Mackellar Girls Campus principal
AS an ongoing advocate for education and the region, Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus principal Christine Del Gallo has scored the 13th position on our list.
She is the deputy president and executive member of the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council, and has previously stood in the political forum — in a bid to call for more funding to upgrade schools.
Ms Del Gallo was also one of six leaders from NSW to be recognised in the annual John Laing Awards for professional development — managed by the Principals Australia Institute — in 2017.
As part of the awards, Ms Del Gallo was described as an outstanding school leader who has worked in a diverse range of education settings. She bases her leadership on evidence and critical reflection — she was described on the Principals Institute website — and has always identified and articulated the philosophies of the school.
Ms Del Gallo has been very open to tackling and speaking about controversial topics and education policies such as cyber-bullying, NAPLAN tests and improving education outcomes at state, regional and local levels.
Ms Del Gallo, the face behind the only state girls high school on the northern beaches, is greatly admired by her students and peers, and her efforts in the community have not gone unnoticed.
#12 Brad Fittler: NSW Blues coach
BRAD Fittler became the toast of NSW and stamped himself as a “true Blue” sporting legend on a recent Sunday night out at ANZ Stadium.
That was where the Terrey Hills resident orchestrated the NSW side’s victory in the second State of Origin game against arch-rivals Queensland.
That win gave the Blues a 2-0 lead and sealed the Blues only their second series win in 13 years in what was his first as NSW coach.
The enormity of that achievement cannot be underestimated as years of heartache ended for long suffering NSW supporters.
Prior to taking on the head job with the NSW Blues, Fittler enjoyed a distinguished playing career, winning premierships at the Panthers in 1991 and with the Roosters side that he captained in 2002.
Fittler also played 38 games for Australia and 31 games for NSW
His already high standing in the game has subsequently gone to another level as the NSW Blues coach.
And two key members of the NSW side were Sea Eagles local products Jake and Tom Trbojevic.
It was Fittler who introduced Tom Trbojevic and a number of players dubbed “Baby Blues” into the NSW squad.
Fittler’s success came as he brought a fresh new approach to not only selecting but also coaching his team.
“I am going to pick players who are going to think about their teammates,” Fittler said prior to naming his side for the first game.
He got away from the traditional preparations for a State of Origin series by banning mobile phones, introducing yoga sessions and having barefoot training sessions so the players could absorb the earth’s minerals.
And the players bought into everything that Fittler introduced to the new NSW regime which initially may have appeared to be out of left field. .
Fittler also has a high profile as an expert commentator on Channel 9.
#11 Flume: Award-winning musician
For all its influential residents, the northern beaches hasn’t traditionally been a known breeding ground for musicians to carve out international fame.
But young northern beaches man Harley Streten, 26, has done just that — and he would likely win the most votes on our list from residents aged under 30.
Better known as Flume, the electronic music producer has won a string of ARIA awards and claimed his most coveted gong last year when his album Skin was announced as the world’s best dance/electronic album at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.
Flume’s rise to fame has been swift.
The former Seaforth Public School student became hooked on the idea of being a music producer when he was a young boy and his father bought him a cereal box that had a music-making program inside.
Credited with being a pioneer of the future bass genre, Flume’s self-titled debut solo album was released in 2012 to positive reviews.
He won four 2013 ARIA music awards for the album Flume,including best Australian male artist.
Flume has won a further two ARIA awards since then.
In addition to his Grammy win, Flume was nominated for Best Dance Recording (for hit song Never Be Like You) at the same awards.
Last year a petition — which is currently backed by nearly 800 people — called for a statue of Flume to be erected outside Manly Wharf.
“Manly is home to Australia’s finest electronic music export, Flume. It just makes sense that the GRAMMY winning artist is immortalised on the wharf, right?,” Joseph Smith, who launched the petition, said.
Northern beaches music teachers have previously detailed how Flume has inspired a generation of aspiring musicians on the peninsula.
Singing teacher Erana Clark, a former child star who has worked with singers on reality shows including The X Factor, said: “My younger students know of him because he’s from the beaches. The ones about his age all know who he is — it’s encouraging when they see somebody that’s doing something really good in that genre.”
Tomorrow morning the most influential people ranked 10-6 will be revealed at manlydaily.com.au.
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