PARENTS whose kids are being ousted from the soon-to-close Citiplace Child Care Centre say they’ve been met with a wall of non-answers from its owner: Perth council. Perth councillors voted behind closed doors in March to close the centre without consulting parents or staff (“Secret vote closes Citiplace childcare,” Voice, April 9, 2022). The council’s rationale…

THE first Aboriginal woman employed as a teacher in WA was honoured at Mount Hawthorn Primary School this week. A classroom block was renamed the May O’Brien Building and a mural unveiled to commemorate her 10 years at the school. Mrs O’Brien (nee Miller) was born into the traditional life of the Wongatha people at…

FLAGS were at half-mast at municipal buildings across Perth this week to mark the funeral of Doolann Leisha Eatts, the Aboriginal elder who ensured the survival of many stories of Noongar lore across Perth. Ms Eatts (October 10, 1939 – March 29, 2022) was a Whudjuk Ballardong woman born in Badjaling and lived most of her…

A COALITION of scientists, traditional owners, and five environmental groups met with state forestry minister Dave Kelly this week calling on him to halt the harvest of pine trees needed by endangered cockatoos. The pines are currently being cleared from the Gnangara Mound, a huge sandy patch above a groundwater reservoir spreading from the Swan…

A PEACE concert in North Perth on May 22 promises to help the audience explore their feelings toward the Russo-Ukranian war through music. Fremantle Chamber Orchestra’s performance has been titled To Peace, and reflects creator, director and cellist Hans Hug’s response to war once again breaking out in Europe. Mr Hug grew up in Switzerland…

THE Perth Rotary Club is collaborating with the Ukraine Association of WA on a fundraising lunch to help support victims of the Ukraine invasion. UAWA president Mykola Mowczan will be guest speaker at the event, being held on Friday May 6 for anyone who’s picked up an early copy of the Voice.  The UAWA represents…

• THE CBD bounceback looks to be underway with Perth having its biggest footfall count for a Friday night in months. Lord mayor Basil Zempilas reported at the May 3 AGM that “the Friday night just gone… figures showed an increase of 14.6 per cent in activity on the previous week,” the biggest number of people…

CASH-STRAPPED Bayswater council will spend up to $50,000 figuring out why it doesn’t have enough money. Concerns over the council’s long-term financial health were raised at a closed-doors workshop in March, and this week mayor Filomena Piffaretti moved to obtain “an independent detailed analysis of expenditure, revenue and financial management over the past five years…

ARTISTS from all walks got together this week to slather some colour on one of the most boring walls in town. The Melrose Street noise wall was until recently a slab of olive drab panels separating a slice of residential Leederville from the freeway traffic.  Last year the local town team Leederville Connect put in…

A PLAN to fence off part of a Bayswater park for a Metronet contractor’s office has been fended off after public outcry.  The state government’s Metronet team sent a letter dated April 14 to residents around Mills Avenue Park saying it was planning to fence off about 2000sqm as a construction HQ for Bayswater station contractor…