TIM WINTON worries about our boys. The celebrated WA author says Australia has to rethink how it helps youngsters make the transition to manhood, saying we’re miserably failing them at the moment. “I think one of the problems we have is that we don’t have clear and mutually understood pathways to manhood,” says Winton. “There…

RE-INVENTING Barbie dolls with burqas is a bold move for an aspiring artist given the current climate, but Perth College student Miranda Fox says she’s not having a go at Islam, just consumerism and notions of assimilation. Fox was one of two students from the college chosen to go in the Year 12 Perspectives exhibition…

VINCENT mayor John Carey has announced his resignation, which will be effective January 30. As Labor’s candidate for Perth Mr Carey’s up against incumbent Liberal MP Eleni Evangel at the March state election and had previously flagged staying on until its outcome was known. But with Vincent already having to hold a by-election on February…

MORE public open space for cramped Vincent is the aim of a new plan floated by councillors Emma Cole, Dan Loden and Susan Gontaszewski. The trio put up a notice of motion at Tuesday’s council meeting saying they want a 20 per cent increase in parks, fields, ovals, piazzas and the like. It’s been an…

IT’S D-Day for a contentious five-storey Highgate development. The metro central JDAP was  due to decide the fate of the 40-unit complex on Thursday December 15 (“Too high for Highgate Folk”, Voice, November 5). At the Vincent council meeting on Tuesday, a spokesman for residents opposed to the development presented councillors with a 145-signature petition…

A GEOTECHNICAL report has thrown a spanner in the works for a planned housing development adjacent to the Eric Singleton bird sanctuary. The Galt Geotechnical report, released by Bayswater council this week, says the ground underneath a block owned by the D’Orazio family is riddled with debris from constructions and demolitions; all sitting on four…

A LAST-DITCH attempt by deputy-mayor James Limnios to entice Christmas shoppers into Perth’s CBD with free parking has been stymied. The council will instead offer free parking during two weekends in January, a compromise suggested by lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi at last month’s council meeting when she sent Cr Limnios’s suggestion back to committee. The…

TRINITY Uniting Church director of music Jangoo Chapkhana promises a mix of contemporary and traditional music and readings to provide a Christmas service with a difference. Trinity will host a Festival of Lessons and Carols on Sunday 18 December at 10am, as well as Christmas Day celebrations including an Afrikaans service at 8.30am. Mr Chapkhana…

STIRLING council is on track to meet the objectives of its reconciliation plan says a local elder, although there are still grumbles more could be done to help young people facing racism. Council officers recently met with indigenous leaders to gather feedback on the plan, which received national recognition earlier this year as the most…

BAYSWATER council will open the ailing Maylands Waterland earlier in an attempt to boost patronage. After pressure from families who want to bring the younguns out before it gets too warm, Waterland will now open at 9am during the school holidays and on weekends. A council report cited research that young children love a mid-morning…