Perth Voice Interactive

THE North Perth Bowls Club is celebrating a massive resurgence, going from being on the brink of closing the doors just a few years ago to now being reconnoitred by other clubs looking to follow its success.

A few years back the club’s finances were struggling to the point it couldn’t pay the power bill. 

Club president Dick Camp says when Covid then hit, it was a real “fright” for the club.

Now the club’s doing well enough to give back and is about to hold its third annual charity carnival, setting its biggest target yet of $25,000 for the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“We get visits from the other clubs to see what we do, and how we do things, and that’s because they’re struggling,” Mr Camp says.

Since 2015 the club’s membership has gone from 250 to 1350.

Mr Camp says one big change is “we’ve gone for a different financial setting: high numbers, low cost”. A social membership’s only $20. 

The club’s now in the enviable position of having so many people down on a weekend night that it’ll have to look at increasing the capacity above 100 in the future.

Another change that’s had a monumental effect, Mr Camp says, is “we’ve changed the beers”.

Historically most bowls clubs had eight indistinguishable lagers on tap, ranging from the full-bodied slightly-hoppy Emu Bitter to the full-bodied slightly-hoppy Emu Export. 

But tastes have changed and NPBC’s made a point of keeping up with the demand for more varied beers, teaming up with local breweries and searching out far-flung crafters to bring specialty niche brews to the taps, and the result’s been clear to see.

“That brings in the different crowds,” Mr Camp says. “Hipsters – the 25s to 35s. And the mums and the dads, and lots of social bowlers.”

While the social scene is pumping the club’s also had a boost at the competitive level with teams getting promotions through divisions in the past few years. Mr Camp puts it down to “team spirit – everyone’s working together”.

The club’s bowlers will go up against competitors from all over town at its big “Charity Fours” four-person team carnival on Saturday July 30.

And to help raise funds club regulars David Wirrpanda and Amos “The Beer Walrus” Polglaze are putting themselves on the line on July 31.

Mr Wirrpanda, a club mainstay who’s taken up bowls after a celebrated AFL career, has pledged to shave his head and beard if donors pitch in $2000 for PCHF. 

The Beer Walrus – known for his online reviews of beers he drinks in the shower – will go under the needle of ink artist Wayne Watson to get a tattoo of club legend Ian Duncan if his $2000 target is hit. 

The club’s still looking to grow and info on times and memberships are up at npbowling.com.au

by DAVID BELL

BAYSWATER council has been split near down the middle over a contentious budget, with the new mayoral regime blaming the old regime for a rough financial situation.

Rates will go up an average of 4.95 per cent, and to prevent them going any higher the council is putting a cap on new employees. It’s also cutting back on projects and immediately ceasing funding for free immunisation clinics set up to boost local vaccination rates.

Mayor Filomena Piffaretti, appointed by a majority of the new council line-up after the October 2021 elections, said at the July 18 budget meeting: “I’ve been charged with overseeing the preparation of this budget under less than ideal circumstances.

“The financial challenges we are currently facing are no secret,” Cr Piffaretti said, blaming “legacy issues”.

“I am mindful that cost of living pressures are causing financial distress for many as we face increases in the cost of food, petrol, utilities, rent and mortgages, and we are still recovering from the impact of Covid-19.”

The council’s also taking out loans to cover $7.1m needed to finish the Bayswater Waves upgrades and $7m to fund underground power in Maylands.

One ratepayer with some financial nous and experience as an accountant, Warren Lance, warned councillors against taking on debt.

Debts

“Is this council going to be the one that runs up debts of – round numbers – $20 million? And we’re supposed to pay for it?” Mr Lance queried. “I’m bitterly disappointed.”

Cr Elli Petersen-Pik was also concerned, saying the council should keep looking for external funding for Bayswater Waves.

“Without having a long-term financial plan that clearly shows that we can pay out this new loan, it is a risk that I am deeply concerned about,” he said.

“I want to remind councillors that we used to be, not long ago, a debt-free city. Look what is happening now.”

The budget just squeaked through with ‘yes’ votes from councillors Piffaretti, Catherine Ehrhardt, Josh Eveson, Assunta Meleca, Steven Ostaszewskyj and Michelle Sutherland. The five against were Cr Petersen-Pik, Dan Bull, Lorna Clarke, Giorgia Johnson and Sally Palmer.

Cr Johnson also tried to put up an amendment to keep the free immunisation clinic program, which costs about $120,000 a year to immunise 750 to 1000 infants, but it was lost with the same vote ratio. 

“It just leaves so many people vulnerable,” Cr Johnson said. 

“We have a lot of people in our community that are referred to these services; that’s a really important part of their public health, and it is going to reduce preventable disease in some of our most vulnerable communities.”

Council-funded immunisation clinics are more common in other states but only about four councils run them in WA. 

PLEASE find my contribution to the “Feed the Chook” campaign. Symbolically it represents $2 for every copy of the paper I loved and worked on for 30 years, from the first edition in 1989 till 2019.

I am enormously proud of the newspaper we all created for our readers, the unheard people we gave voices to, the artists, thinkers, causes we gave support to, the festivals and events we promoted, the advertising we created to generate income for our businesses, the stories we broke, the “uniques” like Sudhir and Angie and all the time the Herald kept its ethics, its cheeky sense of fun, its creative character and its drive for quality – all having to be accomplished on a shoestring! 

With controversial stories and limited resources we always copped criticism but we also received a lot of LOVE. I can’t imagine how different Fremantle and surrounds might be if the Herald had not been on the beat, questioning, delving, Thinking Allowed.

I used to chuckle when people accused us of sensationalism “to sell papers”. But I also have to remind all readers that the Herald isn’t a “ free” newspaper.

Scramble

In my time as advertising director when at our height we were printing and distributing to over 120,000 letterboxes weekly, every paper cost about $1, a cost wholly borne by our advertisers. The papers were slim (but good!) and every week the ad reps and I would scramble to raise the revenue to get the papers funded, production and editorial would beaver to produce the content and lay it out, distribution queens Marie King and Stephanie Campbell would do logistic magic to ensure close to every letterbox was covered. The Herald and Perth Voice is a big and expensive operation!

There were always more stories than we could squeeze into our advertising funded, “free” newspaper and so one year chief chook Andrew Smith decided to produce a second midweek $2 edition called The Rooster with three times the content, beautiful white paper, big photos and all the things we would have loved to have in the Herald but couldn’t afford or fit, and offer it all for $2, half the cost of a cup of coffee. The Rooster didn’t fly despite all our best efforts but it’s a model which has become more common today: asking people to contribute towards something they consume or care about.

That modest $2 a week or $100 a year contribution would keep the Herald full and strong for all of us. During the Rooster period a well-known foodie who’d invested in bottled water to compete with San Pellegrino said to me at a lunch, “Why would people pay for something they can get for free?” 

I extolled the enormous dedication of our journos, the unique local perspectives we could offer, the quality of the product, all met with 

his bemused raised eyebrow. It was only on my way home I thought of the perfect comeback, “Why would anyone pay for your water when they can get it out of the tap?” 

Well, the Herald is much more than bubbly water or tap water so I urge all you readers who love the paper to think of feeding the Chook. 

To you wonderful advertisers: keep on booking more ads and thank you for the 33 years you’ve been backing us. To governments, corporates and organisations: realise that the Herald and Perth Voice offer absolutely the best means to reach people in our geographical areas – take a little out of your PR budget and put it into advertising to keep our local ecosystem healthy. 

Finally to Andrew Smith, partner Pip and all the wonderful past and present Herald staffers: Thank you for the incredible work you all do (or did) EVERY week to bring us our chook. 

Lots of love
Natalie Hug

A LONGSTANDING ban on billboards and other third party advertising signs will remain in Vincent council’s domain.

The existing few exceptions that snuck past the keeper will gradually be phased out under a refortified policy.

Companies have tried and failed over the past 22 years to erect valuable billboards in Vincent’s relatively ad-free surrounds, lured by the lucrative opportunities of renting them out for up to $4000 a month for the small ones to tens of thousands for the biggies.

Former lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi even once made the point that “cities” have billboards, after Vincent council ordered the removal of an unauthorised billboard on one of her properties on its side of the border.

After reviewing the old policy and consulting the public the billboard ban is to stay. 

Mayor Emma Cole says: 

“According to our vision statement in our Strategic Community Plan 2018-2028, we are a leafy, vibrant place and that doesn’t come through a proliferation of large billboard advertising.

“We want Vincent to continue to be a unique inner city area, known for our interesting shopfronts, open windows, public art, leafy streets and alfresco lifestyle.

“With increasing applications for billboards, and the move towards large format digital advertising, it was time to check in with our community.

“With this support, we are effectively saying that we will see the phasing out of temporary billboards and maintain our position of no new billboards in Vincent.”

The few billboards in Vincent are mostly there because they were approved by the old Perth council before Vincent came into existence in 1994, and Vincent’s powerless to undo those approvals.

A bad sign for retiree

THE phase-out of Vincent’s billboards is causing financial woes for a retiree relying on the regular income from signs at the corner of Loftus and Newcastle Streets (right).

In 2004 Graham Cerini got a rare exception from Vincent council to put up billboards on his narrow block since it was a tricky spot to develop and construction trucks would have trouble accessing it. Instead of having it left as an empty dirt lot, the council of the day struck a bargain that Mr Cerini could put up signs if he turned the lot into a park. 

It’s been a rolling agreement and the current 10-year deal expires in 2028, and the council’s decided there’ll be no more further extensions. 

Mr Cerini’s daughter attended last month’s Vincent meeting imploring councillors to give her dad some certainty and permanent approval.

“My dad is a self-funded retiree. He’s 83 years old. He is not a billboard company. He does not have superannuation,” Ms Cerini said.

Mr Cerini’s case for approval in perpetuity is at the SAT with a hearing scheduled  September 1.

Stories by DAVID BELL

PERTH’S stadiums will soon host world class soccer with the grounds now picked to host games and training sessions for the opening of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

Perth Oval (redubbed “Perth Rectangular Stadium” whenever it’s used for soccer) has been chosen to host all Perth games next July 22, 26, 29 and August 1 and 3. 

Vincent mayor Emma Cole says: “We’re lucky to be in the thick of the action when the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 comes to the west.

“The City of Vincent will provide a vibrant backdrop for the thousands of spectators and billions of television viewers around the world.

“The games at Perth Rectangular Stadium will be a huge drawcard for tourists and a boon for our local businesses.”

Dorrien Gardens in West Perth, home to the Perth Soccer Club, has also been chosen as a training site for the top teams.

Vincent council’s been trying to get more women and girls into sport the past few years and Ms Cole says this’ll be a big boost.

“Having a training site in Vincent will connect the grassroots with the world’s best players, inspiring the next generation of aspiring female football players in our community.”

Perth Oval/Rectangle got $35m state government funding for upgrades and work’s currently going on to bring it up to scratch to meet FIFA requirements for the world cup. 

MOUNT HAWTHORN’S iconic Castellorizian House has reopened following extensive preservation works. 

The Castellorisian Association of WA had work done to its Anzac Street home after getting a $247,500 grant from the WA Office of Multicultural Interests which helped reroof the entire Federation building, install solar panels, a battery and universal access ramps, and build a new community activities room that’ll be made available to other groups.

The not-for-profit association was set up by the Castellorizian diaspora to keep their identity, culture and history thriving.

Castellorizo (or Kastellorizo) is a small, hilly, rocky island about six kilometres long and three kilometres wide, and its isolation from mainland Greece helped it develop its own distinct culture of a proud seafaring people. 

As prosperity waned in the later 1800s many Castellorizions left. Perth was a particular hotspot, and a majority of WA’s early Greek residents were from the tiny island. 

Perth lord mayor Basil Zempilas is himself a descendent and was named Kastellorizian of the Year in 2018 and acknowledged for always proudly representing his island heritage. 

QUALIFIED stylist in May, award winning HotShot in June. 

Twenty-year-old Toni & Guy Perth hairstylist Tia Wright-Pihama has had a whirlwind welcome into the industry. 

Despite being labelled Apprentice of the Year at the Australian Hair Fashion Awards last December, Ms Wright-Pihama didn’t come into the Australian Hair Industry Awards in June with great expectations.

“I was prepared to just try again next year,” she said.

But the six hairstyles she submitted in her application and short spiel about her experience in the industry caught the judge’s eye and Ms Wright-Pihama was awarded one of the four HotShot positions at the finals in Sydney.

Judges included former Australian Hairdresser of the Year Jayne Wild, Dee Parker-Attwood, Benni Tognini, Stevie English, Kobi Bokshish, Sharon Blain and Brad Ngata.

AHIA owner and publisher Linda Woodhead said Perth should be proud of “the amazing” Ms Wright-Pihama. 

“She has firmly proven herself as one of the industry’s most exciting and upcoming talents and I can’t wait to see where this award will take her,” Ms Woodhead said.

Ms Wright-Pihama said she made the decision to go into hairdressing in her final year of high school in 2019, not even waiting until graduation.

“Sometimes [school] is for certain people, and isn’t for others,” she said.

“I always knew I wanted to do something very creative, and an office job just wasn’t going to cut it for me.”

“My mum said to me, ‘you’ve got a week to find a job or you’re going back to school’.”

Her mum had plenty of reason to be concerned about her hairdressing aspirations after a disastrous experiment with her best friend and a bottle of boxed bleach when she was 14 years old needed a total restyle with the kitchen scissors.

But she hit the phones for a week, and struck gold with her very last lead, when Toni & Guy offered her a job at Perth Central.

She watched the senior stylists in awe while delivering coffees and colouring bowls, but over the last three years has worked her way through the ranks and is now considered one of the salon’s senior stylists.

She completed her TAFE studies in May of this year in Australia’s hair capital, Sydney. 

Despite the recent successes, Ms Wright-Pihama says she’s not resting on her laurels.

“You never know everything, you can always know more,” she said.

by MIA KNOX