MIDWIFE Tamzin Mondy says she’s seen many new mums left disappointed and dejected by the mainstream maternity system. “I often describe them as refugees,” she says. “They’ve been through the mainstream system and realised it doesn’t meet their needs.” She reveals she’d felt troubled when women told her they “weren’t allowed” to do things their…

SUPPORTERS of Australia’s paralympic soccer team the Pararoos have taken their fight to save its federal funding (“Pararooted”, Perth Voice, July 19, 2014) to the Australian Sports Commission’s major sponsors . The team, which includes local goalkeeper and state representative Chris Barty, had virtually all its funding pulled by the ASC because they weren’t considered…

WHEN the choir kicks off the opening off the Commonwealth Games this week, 7-year-old Leo from North Perth will be among them—virtually. He’ll be among 2292 youngsters around the world singing in Eric Whitacre’s virtual choir at the Glasgow games opening. Leo recorded his version of Whitacre’s song What If from the musical Paradise Loft and sent it…

THE derelict site has long been a source of complaint for neighbours, but after years of inaction Leederville’s Baymoon apartment project is moving ahead. The famously weed and rubbish-ridden Brentham Street site has been sitting empty for years, with plans for a 53-unit block falling victim to the global financial crisis. In 2010 site project…

PERTH doctors say young office workers who participate in a White Collar Boxing match at the WA Italian Club “have a problem and should seek help”. “The only aim of the game is to punch another person in the head and body, the ultimate goal being to bash them unconscious with your fists,” says Australian…

HAVING a leafy tree on the verge outside your house increases your median property value by more than $16,000, according to a new academic study. Conducted by three academics—including UWA assistant professor Ram Pandit—the study analysed data from 23 northern Perth suburbs, including Stirling, Bayswater, Perth and Vincent. It found broad-leaved trees (not pine needle…

MORE than $300,000 was flicked the arts community’s way at Perth city council this week, with councillors unanimously endorsing three big artsy spends. The Black Swan Prize for portraiture was handed $41,000, with Cr Jim Adamos saying it “is an important part of Australia’s art calendar” and its free events draw people into the city…

ROLF HARRIS’ commemorative plaque on St Georges Terrace is to be pulled up with nary a word, with laconic Perth councillors unanimously voting Tuesday night for its removal. The chamber was near-silent as lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi presented her motion to remove the 1959 plaque “due to community concerns relating to the guilty verdicts relating…

A NASCENT community group led by Catherine Ehrhardt is set to take over the running of the Maylands Hawkers Market. The Maylands Lions Club oversaw a successful 12-month trial of the markets, but struggled to get enough volunteers to support the weekly event at The Rise. The Lions have agreed for it to be managed…

WITH a bid to ban plastic bags stalled, Vincent council’s moved to at least allow residents to recycle them. Up till now the bags just ended up in landfill to rot over the next 500 or so years. With the average person using about 200 a year, that’s 270 tonnes of bags for Vincent alone.…