• Lord mayor Basil Zempilas says the McGowan’s response to homelessness has been too slow, with rough sleeping numbers on the rise.
FRUSTRATED by the McGowan’s government slow response to solving homelessness, Perth council is planning to open “pop up” accommodation for rough sleepers in carparks or vacant buildings.
Lord mayor Basil Zempilas moved the motion at Tuesday’s council meeting, noting the number of people sleeping rough in the city was up to 191 in March, rising from 126 in October 2020’s count.
“This simply cannot continue … it’s not fair to those people experiencing homelessness, and it is not fair to our city,” Mr Zempilas said.
“We have been very patient. Homelessness is a state government responsibility. While their housing first model is to be commended and the Common Ground facility offers hope, the reality is that facility is still three years away.”
He noted a McGowan election promise of an interim 100-bed facility at the YMCA backpackers, but “the lease on that facility, which offered hope, did not exist. And still we wait for the state government to propose and establish an interim facility.
“Winter is coming, the time for procrastination is over.”
The pop up accommodation model is based on Brisbane’s “Beddown” project that’s been running since 2019. Service providers are on site for security and to help with showers, health, and periodic services like haircuts or clothing help.
Mr Zempilas said “to those who criticise or are inclined to criticise this model of a safe night time space, just remember the alternative for these people: If we don’t put them in a safe space, out of the rain, out of the cold, and out of danger, with a roof over their head, they will be sleeping out in the open. Which is the better of those two options?”
The motion was carried unanimously and preferred locations and a service delivery model will now be drawn up.
A NEW exhibition at Tafe’s Gallery East by 65 artist challenges the notion of what is a book at the fifth biennial Between the Sheets.
Printmakers, photographers, wordsmiths, textile artists, painters, sculptors, digital artists have all had a crack at creating – or un-creating a book.
While many artists have dealt with content, others draw upon a vast variety of media, shapes and structures to create unique and intimate objedcts.
And, unsurprisingly, several books reflect on the unsettling effect the Covid-19 pandemic has had on everyday life, including Margaret River artist Britta Sorenson, who took her speciality of making recycled and found objects into contemporary textile to create a book written entirely on toilet paper; the work titled The Pause.
“As a kid I loved traditional crafts and treasure hunting – I still do,” says Sorenson.
“Currently we drown the world in ‘stuff’ so I work with the found, the used – to tell stories, to find meaning, to bring joy and offer new values.”
Bayswater photography student Sarah Matheson is also represented, and while it’s just a coincidence, her work is also based around a pile of toilet paper (organisers assured us it wasn’t all just a musing on the loo).
Between the Sheets: Artists Books is at Gallery Central in Aberdeen Street from April 30 to May 22, open weekdays 11am-4.30pm and Saturdays 12noon-3pm.
AN exhibit in our new Museum Boola Bardip caught my attention: an old cavalry sabre.
Apparently the weapon belonged to one Henry Dyson Naylor who as a 19-year-old in the English 13th Light Dragoons was one of the few to survive the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade on October 25, 1854.
This notorious stuff-up was one incident in the Crimean War where England, France and Turkey combined to oppose a Russian push for naval supremacy in the Black Sea with its warm water ports.
On the morning of the charge the English were assembled at the western end of the Balaclava valley formed by the Fedioukine Heights to the north and the Causway Heights on the south.
About two kilometres east along the valley the Russians were firmly entrenched with cannon and cavalry.
Making the situation worse, the Russians held the heights on either side, the Causway Heights having been wrested from the Turks only a few days earlier. In that bloody skirmish an English redoubt with cannon had fallen into Russian hands.
Lord Raglan (think sleeves) was in charge of the English forces and observed all from his vantage point on Sapoune Ridge.
From this high position Raglan saw that the Russians were about to remove the cannon.
Raglan had fought under Wellington (think boots). It was said that Wellington had never lost a cannon; Raglan, though he had lost an arm at Waterloo, was determined not to lose a cannon now!
He gave the order that the Light Brigade gallop over, give the Russians hell and “spike” the cannon, that is, drive an iron spike or bayonet into the touch hole thus making it inoperable.
The officers in the valley, unaware of the activity on the Causway Heights, assumed the order, relayed through several messengers, referred to the cannons at the far end of the valley – a suicide mission!
Lord Cardigan (think… cardigan!) led the charge; Henry Naylor was in front but to the far right of him.
Naylor made it to the Russian guns and found himself in hand-to-hand sabre contest with a Russian whom he eventually cut down. (Ragged notches in the sabre bear witness to the fight.) Then his horse was shot from beneath him and his jaw and shoulder were shattered. He and a few others limped to safety.
Of his regiment 125 rode in and only 39 returned.
His injuries were so serious he was sent back to England to recover.
His sabre is on display in the Connections Gallery.
Connections?
Yes – Henry joined the Pensioner Guard and on 9 June 1862 with wife Henrietta, two children, a troupe of fellow Guards and two hundred convicts, arrived in Fremantle on the Norwood.
He died in Fremantle on March 26, 1894 and was interred with full military honours in Fremantle’s Skinner Street Cemetery.
When I searched for his grave I was told he lay beneath John Curtin College Oval.
Tread gently girls and boys in your sprigs and spikes: beneath that land rests a hero!
Mike Roeger Maylands
Alcohol not warranted
THANKS for drawing attention to the future of the Maylands tearoom situated near Tranby house.
I have been walking and canoeing in this area for over 30 years and believe that this part of the river foreshore is a real treasure.
Like previous correspondent, Helen Oxnam, I hope that the tearooms will be renovated in a simple and tasteful way and that this cafe will remain a lovely quiet place for pleasant family gatherings.
While a bottle of wine with lunch is not a problem, it is not a place which is suitable as a bar or a night venue.
A CLEVER labour-saving device or a glimpse into a soulless future with automatons?
That is the question philosophers might ponder after eating lunch at Spice Market in Fremantle.
In the Thai restaurant you order and pay on your phone, and the meal is delivered to your table by a robot waitress that says hello and wishes you a pleasant meal.
The human waiting staff were more like IT Support – traipsing behind the robot like an extra in a Kraftwerk video.
The novelty factor was high and for the first 15 minutes I was besotted with the minimum-wage R2-D2, watching it zoom about the restaurant.
Spice Market’s interior was also interesting with sheer curtains, colourful tiles and lush plants creating a bright and exotic vibe.
The restaurant runs from High Street Mall to Market Street, and a nice breeze funnelled through as we ate, causing the curtains to flit and billow in artistic waves.
Spice Market opened in the redeveloped Manning building in March and it’s gone down well with locals – the place was heaving with patrons on Thursday including plenty of Asian folk, which is usually a sign the cuisine is authentic.
The dinner menu was comprehensive and had every base covered from bao buns to roasted duck with plum sauce, but since it was 1pm we opted for the lunch menu, which seemed good value.
Unfortunately when the big moment came, Metal Mickey had a hissy fit and went to the empty table beside us – maybe it didn’t like my WD-40 cologne – but fortunately a lowly human was on hand to save the day.
After a few mouthfuls my wife was raving about her Massaman wagyu beef with coconut saffron rice ($18.90).
The beef had been slow cooked for six hours and hit the spot.
“Oh my God, it tastes divine and the beef just melts in your mouth,” she said.
“The cashew nuts and fried onions add some nice texture, while the baby potato is nicely cooked and goes well with the rich curry sauce.
“It’s got just the right amount of heat with the coconut providing a cool balance.”
My Tom Yum Noodle Soup ($16.90) didn’t quite hit the same heights.
The broth had plenty of flavour, especially when you mixed in the chilli jam paste and dipped in a crispy wonton skin, but unfortunately a lot of the slices of BBQ red pork and regular pork were slightly tough.
It was still a very tasty and filling dish, with the boiled egg, marinated pork mince, peanuts and noodles creating a moreish swamp.
There were three levels of spiciness with the soup and I selected one, which still had a decent kick, so err on the side of caution if you have a timid palate.
The human waiting staff were very pleasant; providing us with a bottle of tap water on arrival and explaining how to order using our phone.
If you didn’t have a mobile you could still order and pay the “old fashioned” way.
If you’re a social creature who likes the personal touch then Spice Market may not be for you, but for a part-time misanthrope like me it wasn’t a big deal and the robot was lots of fun.
My wife’s Massaman curry was very, very good and I’d like to go back and try some dishes from the full menu.
Maybe by then the restaurant will be like Westworld and human staff will be a novelty.
Spice Market 135 High Street Mall, Fremantle spicemarketthai.com
AN innovative one-woman show blends storytelling, poetry and science in a moving ode to migrant mothers in Perth.
MoR is performed by Dureshawar Khan, who was an impressionable 15-year-old when her family emigrated from Pakistan to Perth in 2003.
She’s now lived in Australia longer than her country of birth, and has not seen her relatives in Peshawar in some 17 years.
In her unique show, Khan explores the complex relationship she had with her mother as they both adapted to a strange new life in WA.
“Writing this show has been challenging. Despite being fluent in three languages, I still fail to find words to describe how grateful I am for the role my mother has played in my life and the lessons she has passed on to me,” Khan says.
“I am sure many migrant children feel this way about their parents. And sometimes that debt of gratitude can feel crippling.
“I see it as an opportunity to explore the unique challenges faced by migrant and first generation children.
“But at its core, MoR is a love letter written by the migrant child to any person whom they have ever called mum.”
Khan’s mother was a high school science teacher in Pakistan, but her qualifications weren’t transferrable to Australia so she had to retrain as a teacher in Perth (In a quirky nod to her mum’s love of science, Khan does some experiments in MoR).
This led to the unusual situation of mother and daughter studying at Edith Cowan University at the same time.
“It was such a surreal yet memorable time for me,” Khan says. “We would often catch up on campus and have a coffee before classes.
“However, my favourite memory was the time I bumped into her at the ECU Library with her classmates. Most of them were my age when she introduced me as her daughter, they were all so excited to tell me how cool my mum was and how she was so good at explaining tricky concepts to them.”
Khan is part of Third Culture Kids, a group of multicultural and multilingual performers in Perth who have roots stretching across the globe.
The collective use theatre to bridge cultural divides and tell stories that might otherwise be ignored, forgotten or silenced.
MoR director Susie Conte, who founded feminist theatre company Tempest Theatre, describes Khan’s writing as “phenomenal, poetic and urgent”.
“Mothers are often the ones that weave culture, family history and folklore into day-to-day affairs, keeping us tethered to our identities and ancestry,” Conte says.
“I wanted to make a show about being the daughter of an immigrant mother because I wanted to acknowledge the delicate balancing act that most ‘third culture’ children participate in.
“It’s not always beautiful, poetic moments of cultural sharing over a cup of chai; there are also darker, more confusing moments where we find ourselves torn between loyalty to our mothers and self preservation; moments where we have to choose between our parent culture and our new Australian identity.”
MoR is at The Blue Room Theatre in Northbridge from May 18 – June 5. Tix at blueroom.org.au
IF you’re after a “character home”, this Mt Lawley property could be the perfect fit.
Nestled behind hedging and a bank of trees, there’s a bit of a secret garden vibe as you walk towards the leadlight front door.
The manicured front garden adds to the fairytale feel and it all makes for a charming entry statement.
But this is no tiny cottage, with the three bedroom one bathroom home situated on a 513sqm block.
It’s got all the heritage bells and whistles including vintage fireplaces, polished jarrah floorboards and decorative cornicing.
The owners are clearly art lovers, going by the numerous prints and paintings hanging on the walls.
It complements the vintage feel of the home, especially in the lounge where a large landscape frames the fireplace and dark wooden floors.
There’s also a retro pinball machine in the lounge, reinforcing the feeling that the owners liked their unique touches.
Things get decidedly modern in the lovely kitchen, where stainless steel contrasts with white cupboards and black benchtops, creating a cool, sleek vibe.
There’s also a built-in pantry cupboard and plenty of appliances including a gas cooktop and dishwasher.
One of the highlights of this home is the huge bank of bi-fold doors in the open plan dining/lounge room, which flood the area with natural light and provide a seamless connection to the shaded alfresco in the back garden.
Out here there’s a stylish pizza oven couched in limestone and an array of potted plants, olive trees, and flowers in raised garden beds.
The garden is super low maintenance and there’s also a built-in kitchenette and servery window for added convenience.
It’s a lovely area to entertain and would be a great on a summer’s night.
The main bedroom is a thing of beauty with the bed framed by a beautiful arched window.
It’s a great spot to relax and there’s a chandelier above the bed.
The home includes a single garage with additional off-street parking, air conditioning and a gas bayonet in the dining room.
Situated on Whatley Crescent, you are a few streets away from all the delights of the Swan River foreshore including Bardon Park, and close to all the pubs, cafes and restaurants in the Maylands Eighth Avenue precinct.
With Mount Lawley train station and numerous bike paths so close-by, the owner doesn’t even bother with a car.
This a lovely character home in a great locale.
Home open today (Saturday May 1) 1pm-1:30pm Buyers over $789,000 64 Whatley Crescent, Mt Lawley ACTON Mt Lawley 9272 2488 Carlos Lehn 0478 927 017
CURTIN University is looking for seniors with mild cognitive impairment to participate in its world-first trial Balance on the Brain.
The large scale WA trial will investigate if innovative balance and movement exercises reduce cognitive decline, prevent falls, and improve quality of life in participants.
For older people with no cognitive issues, balance programs can reduce the risk of falling, however it is unclear whether they help those with mild cognitive impairment.
You can participate in Balance on the Brain if you are 50 or older, live in the Perth metro area, have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or experience memory issues, and do less than 150 minutes of moderate activity a week and do not take part in regular balance training.
Lead researcher Dr Elissa Burton says the 396-person study may be ideal for those not wanting to participate in drug trials.
People with cognitive impairment tend to experience poorer mobility, balance and physical fitness, have poorer quality of life and greater depressive symptoms, according to research.
They are 72 per cent more likely to fall and will use more health care services than those of the same age without cognitive impairment.
The trial is funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and Curtin University.
It will take a year and participants will have conversations with a research officer about their age, health, memory and alcohol intake.
To find out more go to balanceonthebrain.com or contact Dr Burton on 9266 4926.
Tommaso means “twin”, and this stylish Italian restaurateur is equalling his renowned North Perth eatery in the city’s liveliest suburb
On a foothill of the Apennine Mountains in the Italian province of Perugia, Umbria, lies Spoleto, just two hours from “Roma Capitale” where pizza’s better half – pinsa – has been a part of artisan baking and cooking for more than a century.
At the head of a large valley, and surrounded by mountains, olive groves and vineyards, Spoleto is home to a Roman theatre dating from the middle of the first century BC, and the Roman flatbread that has been enjoyed since, well before pizza evolved.
And from the green heart of Italy, to North Perth, and now Mt Lawley, Tommaso Laureti has your fresh slice of Italy ready and waiting at Tommasino’s – one of Perth’s trendiest eateries.
He and wife Georgina Laureti (nee McBride) have closed North Perth and refit the new Mt Lawley space epitomising the high-style of the world fashion capital Rome, their menu continuing as a reinvention of traditional peasant delicacies that have underpinned modern Italian cooking.
Offering authentic pinsa romana, it’s an Italian taste experience sure to seduce the most discerning of pizza-loving palates, and guilt free (well, almost … pinsa has less carbohydrates and fats than pizza, and is far more digestible due to its different dough hydration and the water used is always cold).
Tommaso told the Voice the first step to perfect pinsa is to source the right flour.
“Quality is key, and at Tommasinos we use premium flour imported from Italy,” he said.
“Great food takes patience. We don’t believe in rushing the process of the perfect pinsa. Dough is left to rise for 72 hours. A long cold fermentation combined with high levels of hydration guarantees gourmet pinsa that is light, crispy, and easy to digest.”
“The Tommasino’s team has endlessly tested topping combinations to create mouth-watering pinsa, the kind that tantalises taste buds and fires up the soul,” Tommaso muses.
“Toppings are imported from Italy or sourced locally from the freshest produce. Customers can enjoy the savoury and rich signature tastes of Italy, complemented by succulent home grown ingredients on a fantastic base.”
Foodies and connoisseurs will tell you beautifully made Roman pinsa is a gastronomic gem.
“Now you don’t need to fly to Italy to find pinsa and pasta: just head down to Mt Lawley and enjoy the lightest dough in town,” says Tommaso.
“Come by and say “ciao!”. We love to talk pinsa and will happily answer any questions regarding ingredients, or our process. Perfecting pinsa pastry, crafting combos of delectable toppings—this is our calling. The high-quality offerings at Tommasino’s are fresh, flavoursome, and bursting with the Roman touch.”
Tomasso is a key-player on the Perth restaurant scene and moonlights as a DJ once a month at Geisha Bar.
What is Pinsa?
Did you know the name “pinsa” comes from the Latin “pinsere” which, in Italian, means stretch-spread out, which makes sense, as pinsa is shaped like an oval.
It’s far more digestible than pizza due to its different dough hydration and the water used is always cold.
It has less carbohydrates and fats so you can leave the guilt at home!).
The main ingredients are wheat, soya and rice and it was invented before pizza and what we can properly call “Pinsa Romana moderna” is the revisitation of the ancient roman recipe, revised by new ingredients and modern working techniques.
The original idea of the recipe takes shape in ancient Rome where peasant populations living right outside the walls of the great city cooked “schiacciatine”(or “focacce”) by grinding cereal grains (millet, barley and spelt) and adding salt and aromatic herbs.
What are Strangozzi?
Strangozzi is a handmade pasta, typical from our hometown Spoleto, in the green heart of Italy, the Umbria region.
The name “strangozzi” comes from a particular cut of pasta dough that recalls the form of the ‘stringa’, the laces of Roman sandals. The traditional recipe – egg whites, water, flour, salt, extra virgin olive oil and white wine – looks like a linguine but a bit more twisted.
Phone6156 0847 Email info@tommasinos.com.au Beaux Lane, 609 Beaufort St, Mount Lawley Mon CLOSED Tues to Sat 5pm til late Sun 12pm-3pm/5pm til late • Fully Licensed, BYO Tues-Wed Only • Booking recommended • Walk in’s welcome
Promote your business. Contact Jane on 0417 814 128, or email jane.grljusich@fremantleherald.com
PERTH CBD has lost out on WA Day celebrations after organisers didn’t get the cash they wanted from Perth city council.
The major events will return to Burswood Park where they took place in 2019.
Perth council had a chance to nab the big June 6 and 7 events but organisers Celebrate WA wanted $500,000 in sponsorship and the council was only willing to contribute $150,000 (“WA Day ultimatum,” Voice, April 17, 2021).
The $500,000 would be almost double what the council spends on both Perth Festival and Fringe World, which bring people into the city across a month each rather than just the two days of WA Day.
Fringe and the Perth Festival also bring in more people to eat and shop in the city: 355,000 and 325,000 respectively, compared to WA Day’s projected 130,000.
The return to Burswood was announced by Celebrate WA chair Michael Anghie, whose wife Sandy Anghie is Perth deputy mayor (she had to step out of the chamber while the council voted, along with lord mayor Basil Zempilas whose SevenWest boss Maryna Fewster is on the board, and Cr Brent Fleeton whose day job is working for the company handling PR for Celebrate WA).
The cancelled Perth possibility wasn’t mentioned but Mr Anghie said “we look forward to putting on the events that are loved by Western Australians and giving them a good reason to get out and about to enjoy their special long weekend” after a tough year that saw the 2020 event cancelled.
Burswood Park Board GM Linda Kut was ecstatic about retaining the event, calling it “a highlight of Burswood Park’s busy events calendar.
“The 2019 event was a terrific success, with tens of thousands of Western Australians of all ages and walks of life enjoying the celebrations in our beautiful parklands.”
Noelle the ultra-cute pooch tries out Ozone Reserve’s new dog agility park, the first one in the Perth CBD. It has jump bars, weave poles, a pyramid ramp and a few amenities for accompanying humans. The spot was chosen as there’s about 250 dogs in a 1km radius and the agility park’s a two year trial
by Perth council, part of the trend of trying to make the city more liveable for residents and not just a business district.
Perth Voice Interactive 