A LOCAL film director has helped bring WA’s multicultural history to the Arab world while shedding some light on a little-known connection between the two far-distant lands. After receiving critical acclaim at the Venice Film Festival, first-time director Roderick McKay’s feature film The Furnace made its official Arab premier at the El Gouna Film Festival in…

Art project helps deal with loss A GROUP of women whose children were forcibly taken by authorities are finding solace through a collaborative artwork with Fremantle ceramic artist Jenny Dawson. The women belong to an 80-strong national organisation known as the Association Representing Mothers Separated from their Children by Adoption (ARMS) which lobbies for awareness…

A NEW ground-breaking improv group will tackle the lack of diversity and female-friendly venues in Perth’s comedy scene. Only The Human will be the first cooperatively controlled arts organisation in WA, with members deciding what artistic direction it should take and how it should be run. Any money generated from classes or festivals will be ploughed back…

STIRLING’s 2020 Blink Photography Awards winners have been announced and voting is now open for the people’s choice awards. The judging  panel commented that this year’s entries were of the highest standard.  Annabelle Watling’s Remorse won best photograph by a young entrant (under 18), Jesse Pretorius won best photograph for 2020 for HK Bathers, and Alan…

APARTMENTS are planned to be built on top of Maylands’ former Lyric Theatre on Eight Avenue. Australian Development Capital, who are also doing the Perth Girls School precinct project, are planning 52 apartments. Two levels will be “heritage-character style apartments, followed by four levels of more contemporary apartments designed to respect and celebrate the rich history,…

“HIGH risk” flaws in Vincent council’s computer systems leave it wide open to internal malfeasance and external attacks. A report by the WA auditor general has found the council’s security gaps have left its confidential and sensitive information vulnerable to unauthorised users.  The external audit found there’s no restriction on which staff  can access or change…

BAYSWATER council’s domain has been ranked the worst in the nation for its paltry urban tree canopy. Bayswater also took the un-coveted award for the greatest spread of pavement, roads, roof and carparks. A new report “Where Will All the Trees Be?” ranked the areas with the highest “grey growth” (pavement etc) across 131 urban councils.…

YOUNG men are struggling to deal with gambling habits picked up during the Covid-19 shutdowns. Levels of sports betting among young men increased dramatically during the coronavirus lockdown, with a study by the Australian Gambling Research Centre finding they were spending nearly $400 extra each month. But many, like local student Luke, are finding it…

MORE than a year after a state government audit warned Vincent council was vulnerable to fraud, almost nothing concrete has been done to fix it. The state Auditor General reviewed Vincent and four other councils in August 2019 in response to high profile fraud investigations in the sector.  It didn’t set out to find instances of misdeeds but…