THE amazing Fremantle Chamber Orchestra is celebrating its 20th anniversary.  What an incredible achievement by founder and cellist Hans Hug, who decided 20 years ago to start his own orchestra so classical guitarist Milica Illic, a Balkan war refugee, could have her first concert. Hug says in the beginning it was difficult to get musicians…

THE Blue Room Theatre continues its tradition of experimental and “unorthodox” storytelling with its 2025 season which launches this weekend. Block Party: Glimpse marks the beginning of the season, exploring the work of Australian artists through a mix of improvised music, dance, and experimental compositions.  The event will take place this Friday (March 21) in…

A WHO’S who of Perth’s art scene has banded together to try and convince Perth council to repair the iconic Ore Obelisk statue and not put a gifted US artist’s work in its place. Ore Obelisk, also colloquially known as The Kebab, was designed by Perth’s first city planner Paul Ritter as a celebration of…

WHILE one of the world’s most popular actors turned his focus to mining in WA’s jarrah forests this week, local activists are planning a world record “tree pose” in protest at its expansion. On Tuesday film star Leonardo DiCaprio highlighted the Australian government’s approval of mining company South 32’s expansion of its bauxite operations in…

NEWLY minted Bibra Lake MLA Sook Yee Lai says concerns raised about donations her father’s company gave Labor are “unfounded” and she’s just ready to get stuck into local issues. Ms Lai replaces retiring Labor MLA Peter Tinley, who represented Bibra Lake under its former name Willagee from 2009, with the current count showing her…

NORTH FREO residents say they are “frustrated” and “angry” by the gridlock already being caused by construction of Fremantle’s new traffic bridge.  The North Fremantle Community Association issued an email to residents to “address the mounting traffic chaos” caused by the partial closure of the old traffic bridge while it is being redeveloped.  According to…

A NEW cultural cycling experience is cruising into Perth this month as WestCycle invites the community to explore the deep cultural Whadjuk roots of the city’s latest landmark, the Boorloo Bridge in East Perth. Next Saturday (March 22), cyclists and pedestrians will hear from Whadjuk elder Aunty Karen Jacobs, who will share the environmental, historical,…

MAYLANDS resident Kevin Russell attended a recent meeting held by the City of Bayswater to discuss the Maylands lakes masterplan and remediation options, which was attended by consultants Alluvium and Josh Byrne and Associates. This was his take on the meeting. THE degradation of the lakes has been festering for a significant number of years…

TURTLE TRACKERS are celebrating a “small win” after Cockburn council voted to consider increased funding for fox control.  At its meeting on Tuesday the council approved a funding increase from $20,000 – $50,000 to be “considered for inclusion” into its 2025-26 budget, according to Cockburn director of sustainable development and safety Dan Arndt.  The City…

THE GIRLS Festival of Community Soccer will be returning to Fremantle Oval next week, still buoyed by the Matildas’ success two years on from the Women’s World Cup.  Now in its third year, the festival will play host to over 650 girls on 80 teams from 18 clubs around Perth, with age categories from 7-17. …