Perth Voice Interactive

A MODERN-DAY adventurer has completed an epic journey from Perth, Scotland, to Perth, Australia—entirely by land and sea—reviving the spirit of Scottish emigrants who once set sail for new opportunities abroad.

Liam Cavanagh, 41, embarked on his journey in September, seeking not only a new home but also a career change. 

Mr Cavanagh recounted his journey to the St Andrew’s Society’s annual Burns Supper last week, held each year in honour of Scotland’s great bard Robbie Burns. 

Waving Mr Cavanagh off from Perth, Scotland, was Provost Xander McDade, while local Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas gave him a warm welcome shortly after his arrival in WA on November 30, coincidentally St Andrew’s Day.

“It’s a good question,” Mr Cavanagh said when asked why he chose Perth, Australia, for his studies. 

“I’m looking for a career change, and I was really looking to push myself, to get outside my comfort zone in the UK. I wanted to go abroad to study.”

Mr Cavanagh’s journey mirrored the historic routes of Scottish emigrants and was inspired by Jules Verne’s novel Around the World in 80 Days. 

After departing from Scotland by train, he boarded the Sun Princess cruise ship in Southampton, following the transatlantic route his grandparents once took. 

Stops included Spain, the Canary Islands, and Florida, where he visited NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre. Walking the beaches of Honolulu felt like stepping onto the set of one of his favourite childhood television shows Hawaii Five-O.

His adventure wasn’t without its setbacks. A battle with seasickness was constant, and hurricane Milton disrupted his US arrival, delaying his plans by two days.

After traveling across North America by train and car, Mr Cavanagh embarked on another ocean voyage aboard The Westerdam, which took him across the Pacific via the South Pacific islands before he finally reached Australia.

National Records

Previously working at the National Records of Scotland, Mr Cavanagh is now studying web development at TAFE. 

“The course really seemed to tick all the boxes for me,” he said. “It’s far more practical, hands-on, rather than a university academic style.

“I’d been studying in Gibraltar, and that hadn’t really worked out because of the political situation there with the border and everything like that. 

“I had studied in Sydney before on exchange as part of my original undergraduate degree, and I liked the education system in Australia. I didn’t really want to go back to the east coast, because I felt I’d done that. And I decided to see what the other side of the country had to offer.

“Perth seemed like a great opportunity, a totally different offering from the east coast; far more isolated, obviously, but a bit more laid back, a bit sort of friendlier, less busy than the east coast.”

His arrival in Perth was marked by a formal welcome from lord mayor Basil Zempilas. 

“It was a lovely meeting down at your fantastic Elizabeth Quay. A great way to finish off the journey—kind of full circle almost.”

Reflecting on his encounters with both Scottish and Australian civic leaders, Mr Cavanagh noted their contrasting styles. “The Provost in Scotland was very much a product of Scottish government—understated, with procedure and the badges of honour. The mayor here, obviously the media personality, was confident and had a big presentation at Elizabeth Quay, a fantastic location for a photo shoot.”

Now settled in Perth, Cavanagh is embracing his new chapter. “The weather is fantastic, far better than in Scotland. Everyone’s been really friendly,” he said. “I only had course orientation yesterday, so it’s early days, but I feel like I’ve made the right choice.”

He says the decision to swap careers was also inspired by catching the travel bug.

“I’m trying to get a career that lends itself more to location independence,” he says.

by STEVE GRANT

IT’S at least 40 degrees outside, the concrete and asphalt on Victoria Quay pushing the mercury a few notches above the Met Bureau’s prediction, while inside Fremantle Ports’ old mechanical workshop it feels like being in an internal combustion engine.

Despite these sweltering conditions, a young circus troupe is leaping, tumbling, climbing and flying through a blistering performance of CircusWA’s Eclipse for a select audience. 

The drenching sweat leaves no doubt of how hard they’re being pushed, and as the narrative reaches its denouement you can’t help but marvel as eastern states performer Chris Higgins balances two of the youngsters he’s here to inspire on his broad shoulders – one above the other. How he can still take a breath is a mystery, but these guys are committed.

It’s not a production, but a “showing” that CircusWA’s artistic director Jo Smith admits she hopes might be a little “nudge” for political parties leading up to the March state election, given the conditions it’s being performed in. The audience has to shift rooms no less than four times to keep up with the work.

That’s because CircusWA still doesn’t have a permanent home, and with its big top on Princess May Park reaching the end of its life, crunch time is looming.

“It’s really highlighting that CircusWA is alive and well, and we’re punching above our weight,” Ms Smith says of Tuesday’s performance.

“CircusWA is actually creating, making, delivering extraordinary things.

“And then look at the venues they have to work in to create and make this astounding work. 

“What message does that send to our young people, to our young emerging artists, and to our community, about what we think about young people, about youth, about youth arts.”

Back at Princess May another seam on the big top is coming apart and threatening to split all the way to the top within 24 hours, forcing an expensive and time-consuming pull-down.

“So this will be the fourth time in three months,” Ms Smith says.

“It costs about $2500 each time to lower it down, glue it up, and put it back up.”

It’s money and time the company doesn’t really have.

CircusWA had been hoping to land the renovated C-Shed on Vic Quay as a new home, and got as far as discussing their needs with Fremantle Ports’ engineer and having a five-year deal within their grasp, when suddenly it was taken off the table last year, the Chook hearing the sticking point being “risk appetite”.

Ms Smith says other options, such as the Midland Railyards, a site in Cockburn Central or alongside the WA Academy of Performing Arts in its proposed CBD campus, also came to nothing so they accepted the Ports’ workshops just to have something.

Despite the setbacks, CircusWA also has also managed to create a show that debuts in Fringe World’s Spiegeltent this weekend.

The Raft comes out of a CircusWA program to support emerging directors, featuring Fremantle-based 20-somethings Ella Norton and Mackenzie Brown.

It’s a youthful look at the state of our environment.

“It’s absurdist, mad circus and physical theatre with a very, very strong subtext, which is global warming and wealth disparity, but it will make you laugh the whole way through,” Ms Smith says.

“Environment is kind of our theme at the moment.”

It’s a key element of Eclipse, which starts in a dystopian world cluttered with rubbish and antipathy, but ultimately emerges as a salute to youthful hope.

The show was developed and an early iteration performed during Covid, but with strife engulfing the world in the last year, it’s message is important to the current performers such as Archie Ryan. He says they spoke about their view of the world before tackling the work.

“When we had that discussion, a few of us shared the opinion that we wouldn’t reach this better future within our own lifetime,” Archie says.

“I held onto that belief as well a little bit, but through doing this work, because it is so hopeful, it kind of germinates that seed.

“I now feel a tiny bit more hopeful for the future.”

Ms Smith says its a work of national importance, the threadbare nature of this week’s performance notwithstanding, and she’s hopeful that at some point they’ll get the opportunity to tour the eastern states.

by STEVE GRANT

THE newly refurbished Langley Park Pavilion has officially opened, offering upgraded facilities and new community spaces along Perth’s riverfront.

The revitalised site, formerly Langley Park’s changerooms, now features improved toilet and changeroom facilities alongside three multi-purpose rooms available for community events and activities. 

Booking options for these spaces will soon be available on the City of Perth’s website.

Lord mayor Basil Zempilas said the redevelopment focused on sustainability by repurposing the existing structure and incorporating modern energy-efficient measures, including solar panels and a battery system to power the air-conditioned spaces.

“It’s fantastic to see the space redeveloped to meet the needs of the local community,” Mr Zempilas said. 

“Langley Park Pavilion reflects our commitment to creating inclusive, sustainable spaces that align with the community’s values. 

“We’re excited to see this project come to life and add to the community facilities and amenity along our stunning riverfront,” he said.

THE Wetlands Centre Cockburn is celebrating World Wetlands Day tomorrow (Sunday February 2), while it’s annual conference later this week will feature the launch of a book about a little-known Perth treasure.

Tomorrow’s community day runs from 8.30 – 11.30am and will be brimming with activities such as a reptile display, first nations and wetland films and art, mulching and watering for those keen to participate, a walk through the Roe 8 rehabilitation, games, badge and clay-making, and a wetland walk.

The conference, on Thursday and Friday, is themed around “Protecting wetlands for our common future, with presenters exploring the latest developments in conservation, restoration and sustainable management.

Biologist Felicity Bairstow says this year they’ll be focusing on practical management solutions in the face of climate uncertainty.

“We will be showcasing how various disciplines, including education and the humanities, foster the scientific, aesthetic, historic, social and spiritual value of wetlands,” Dr Bairstow said.

“Holistic approaches for our wetlands to remain vital connectors of humanity and nature.”

On Thursday the Wetlands Centre will launch Reflections on the Anstey-Keane Dampland by Bryony Fremlin and David James.

The dampland is described by the Urban Bushland Council WA as a “botanical jewel” with more plant species than Kings Park.

Located about 30km south of Perth in semi-rural Forrestdale, the Bush Forever site has been under threat from developers and even the state government, with a wastewater pipeline, road and urban development chipping away at its fringes.

A SPACE for “celebration, resistance, and community” will be opening at the Fremantle Fibonacci Centre this weekend at the latest iteration of Chilli Jam Open Mic. 

Held on the first Saturday of every month, CJOM is a platform for poetry, stories, and music, with a focus on amplifying diverse voices who have “been marginalised” by Perth’s existing open mic scene. 

Chilli Jam was founded by acclaimed Singaporean writer and creative Judith Huang and her partner, Bobby Liow in an effort to “shake things up” and actively create a space for diverse musicians, poets, comedians, and writers to share their work. 

Ms Huang is a three-time winner of UK Poetry Society’s Young Poet of the Year, and has graduated in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard. 

Her 2018 novel Sofia and the Utopia Machine was shortlisted for the Epigram Books Fiction Prize and the Singapore Book Awards, and Mr Liow is a comedian and spoken-word poet under the stage name Bobby Sun. 

There’s long been an issue with diversity and inclusion in the Perth writing scene according to Ms Huang, who describes it as “quite cliquey” and “very old, white, and straight”. 

“When I came to Perth, I realised I had to start from scratch, because nobody cares if you’ve been published elsewhere… it’s actually really hard for somebody who is of a different background to get published here. 

“I’ve found that the attitude of a lot of writers here have been that if you’re not published in Perth, you’re no one to us… it doesn’t matter what the quality of your work is. 

“I mean, I’m published in many anthologies and have my own book out, and it felt like people were patronising towards me because of my race… it was exhausting.” 

The idea for Chilli Jam was borne when Ms Huang performed as a resident poet at the Perth Poetry Festival, where she performed a love poem for Mr Liow called We Are Just Two Hats Together in a Rainstorm at the festival’s finale. 

Confidence

“It brought the house down,” Ms Huang said. 

“It just gave me the confidence to try and start our own thing and see whether people join me, because I know my work is good.” 

The first iteration of Chilli Jam 2025 is happening this Saturday, and will feature performers Ange Yang, Juan Mora, Ross Belton, Suraj, Sophie Burrow, as well as Ms Huang and Mr Liow. 

It’s “so important” for performers to have a safe space to share their work which can often be an incredibly personal experience, according to Ms Huang. 

“You’re really bearing a bit of your soul to the audience, and sometimes you do that without knowing anyone there,” she said. 

“I wanted to create a space where people feel safe to present new work, and work that is very meaningful to them, where they will not be judged… if we keep feeling excluded from [the existing] spaces, then we have no space to perform.

“My primary aim is to form a community through having these events where we can have creative exchange and just enjoy each other’s work.” 

In performing more dynamic and culturally diverse work, Ms Huang hopes Chilli Jam will cater for an audience who can appreciate having their stories told in a communal and understanding environment. 

“We try to publicise our events so that we can reach people who normally wouldn’t think of coming to a poetry, music, or stories event,” she said. 

“We have had some pretty decent ticket sales so there is definitely a market for it.”

The next iteration of Chilli Jam Open Mic will be held at the Fremantle Fibonacci Centre today (Saturday, February 1) at 6.30pm. 

Tickets are available via Humanitix.

by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER