ONE of the weirdest instruments in the world – the “trautonium” – will be played by Munich musician Peter Pichler in Perth this week. The proto-synth was created by scientist Freidrich Trautwein in the Weimar Republic in 1929. The most famous trautonium player was Dr Trautwein’s associate, professor Oskar Sala, who mastered the electronic instrument…

STIRLING councillor Suzanne Migdale has backflipped on her push to remove individuals’ names, including that of former mayor Terry Tyzack, from the city’s aquatic centres. Following the presentation of a 137-signature petition against the proposal at last Tuesday’s council meeting, Cr Migdale withdrew a rebranding motion. However she then lodged an alternative motion calling on…

FEDERAL Perth MP Patrick Gorman reckons the Morrison government budget has pinched the best bits of Labor plans. But he warns that Perth schools will still miss out. The Labor MP says Perth electorate residents can “be happy they’ve copied a range of Labor’s policies—they’ve copied Labor’s tax cuts for low to middle income earners,”…

FOR the second time in just over five months, Vincent council has voted unanimously to stop a homeowner from Airbnb-ing his heritage-listed cottage. The 58 heritage-listed workers cottages in the Moir and Brookman Streets precinct are the kind of neighbourly area you’d see on a 1950s TV show: Everyone knows everyone, they hold community events…

A BROAD cross section of the community turned out at the Perth Mosque last Saturday (March 23) to remember victims of the Christchurch shooting. Muslim leaders welcomed Aboriginal dancers from Corroboree for Life, Maoris from Haka for Life, and many locals at their William Street mosque for the service. Imam Mohammed Shakeeb thanked the Kiwi…

THE campaign manager for a national pro-vaping lobby group is confident vaping nicotine legally will become a reality in the near future. Legalise Vaping Australia campaign manager Brian Marlow and fellow supporters took to the streets of Fremantle this week for a flash mob protest against “convoluted” laws they say are increasingly at odds with…

NORANDA town centre has a new funky outdoor community area. Picnic furniture, lighting and an outdoor ping-pong table with colourful artwork have been installed under the shady trees between Hawaiian’s Noranda shopping centre and the Morley Noranda recreation club. Bayswater mayor Dan Bull said the space would create a better connection between the shopping and…

A FORMER assistant police commissioner is among the victims of a series of bizarre bird bath thefts in North Perth. Retired ex-copper Bob Kucera told the Voice his bird bath was stolen on Monday night (March 25), his neighbour had theirs pinched, and thieves also attempted to nick garden ornaments from a third property, but…

DODGY door-to-door tradies are targeting residents throughout Perth, with scammers sighted in Inglewood and North Perth this week. This week the Voice heard of two very pushy blokes offering tree lopping services in Inglewood, and roof repair scammers targeting the elderly in North Perth. Consumer Protection WA reports that in a recent case, two men…

AFTER nearly four decades of mystery, a Facebook post has revealed it was a Highgate woman who made her friend’s 30th birthday cake out of buffalo poo. It was up in the Northern Territory in 1981 when Marilyn Herd, now living in New Zealand, was having her 30th birthday. Her friends gathered to celebrate, but…