Perth Voice Interactive

THE Friends of Anzac Cottage has walked away from the historic building following a simmering spat with the leaseholder.

The volunteer group has been running open days and educational events at the cottage since forming in 2006, but says the Vietnam Veterans Association Australia (WA) has been slow to communicate and isn’t looking after the building or its grounds adequately.

The veterans restored the 1916-built cottage in the 1990s and have a peppercorn lease with Vincent council.

The friends put an offer to take over the lease to the VVA in November, saying they’d take over the $3000 annual running costs and rent it back to vets for meetings, but that was rejected.

A second offer including free meetings was only conveyed to the VVAA on the day of the February 7 deadline– not enough time for the vets to convene a meeting – before FOAC president Peter Ramsay announced his group’s shock withdrawal. 

“This situation has been simmering for some time,” Mr Ramsay said. 

“We have been concerned about the lack of communication between the groups, poor maintenance of the building and its grounds, and the scant regard the VVA seems to hold for the significance of this irreplaceable memorial.”

Mr Ramsay, a life member of VVA and past president, was involved in the restoration of the building in the ‘90s, but hasn’t been able to broker peace with his comrades. 

Wounded

FOAC member Anne Chapple is the granddaughter of wounded Gallipoli veteran Private Cuthbert John Porter, who was the first resident of the community-built cottage. 

It’s been her life’s work and she said she wouldn’t step away easily.

“It just got to the point where it wasn’t sustainable,” she said sadly.

“There is a lot of bitterness … my health has suffered.” 

Some of her concerns are small but hold sentimental significance: including the lawn dying off nearly every year.

“I guess it just really resonates with me because my grandmother nurtured every blade of grass on that place, she took great pride in it,” Ms Chapple says. 

“I always equate it to the Kings Park memorial: How would people feel if the lawn died around that?”

VVAAWA president Richard Williams says communications were slow but never bitter; he needs to run decisions past his members for a vote. 

Mr Williams says the building’s in good nick (and structural maintenance is the owner’s responsibility), but acknowledges the lawn has been a casualty of the heat and water restrictions.

“I’m working on it,” he says. “A few years ago for a period we actually had participants from the Wandoo Reintegration Facility at Murdoch coming here, and it looked quite good.” 

He says the vets are still willing to work with the Friends, noting he and Ms Chapple were the prime movers behind the cottage’s 100th anniversary in 2016. 

Vincent mayor Emma Cole says the council has been trying to help the two groups come to a resolution.

She says keeping Anzac Cottage open to the public was a priority for the council.

Ms Cole says the council’s was unaware of any maintenance issues apart from the lawn, but she’s asked staff to double check. 

The VVA ran the cottage’s monthly open day solo on the weekend, and Mr Williams says they’ll continue the community engagement side. 

“There might be a little bit of disruption in the short term, but we’re certainly aiming to have a similar program and to try to fit in the school visits. We’re certainly intending to have a full calendar of events for the year.”

A new Anzac Cottage community group might be formed to work on the open days, and Mr Williams says anyone’s welcome.

by DAVID BELL

THE trial of WA Extinction Rebellion coordinator Jesse Noakes for trespassing at The West Australian newspaper’s Osborne Park offices was adjourned last week in order for a magistrate to consider a verdict.

Mr Noakes is the first of the alleged trespassers to come to trial. He pleaded not guilty on the basis the West’s provocative October 8 front page offering the protestors a blank placard to fill in was an invitation to visit. 

The trial saw Mr Noakes, who is representing himself, cross-examining West editor Anthony De Ceglie, who said the newspaper supported free speech, but only where it complied with the law.

The trial hasn’t stopped the group, who are planning a two-week vigil at Solidarity Park across the road from WA Parliament, with demands for the McGowan government to adopt an agenda guided by advice from the Conservation Council WA, 350 Perth and the WA Forest Alliance.

“We’ll even invite the MPs to join us, so that they can learn how to make better decisions,” Mr Noakes said.

His trial was adjourned to yesterday, February 14.

by MARYAM EL-MALAK

VINCENT council has ordered a Northbridge firearms dealer to remove security shutters he was forced to install by police in order to keep his licence.

Tony Yozzi and Son Sports has operated on William Street for more than 50 years, but after a series of gunshop robberies around Perth last year, police audited his shop and told him he’d need shutters to keep the guns from sight or they wouldn’t renew his license.

The 93-year-old reluctantly agreed and forked out $13,500, with police on hand to ensure the shutters were fitted securely.

But Mr Yozzi hadn’t sought approval from Vincent council, which has planning rules banning roller shutters so they don’t give streetscapes a fortress-like feel.

Mr Yozzi’s 105-year-old building is also on the state’s heritage register, and while the heritage council said the shutters were unsightly but okay as a temporary solution to the security issue, Vincent’s planning staff dug in their heels. 

They said the shutters reduce “activation” and visibility which could lead to trouble on the street, while it could also set a precedent for other store owners. 

The police firearm division wrote a letter of support for Mr Yozzi, asking the council to “show some compassion”. 

The elderly trader was laid low by a dangerous flu last year and had to close the shop while he recovered, and the installation fee was a big financial hit.

His family wrote it was “causing immense unnecessary stress” on him and asked for some grace until the business transitioned away from selling firearms. 

Compromise

Mayor Emma Cole came to Vincent’s February 11 meeting armed with a compromise two-year temporary approval, but it was voted down by a majority of her councillors (Crs Alex Castle, Joanne Fotakis, Dan Loden, Josh Topelberg and Ashley Wallace favoured removal, while Ms Cole and Crs Susan Gontaszewski, Jonathan Hallett and Sally Smith wanted the compromise).

Once council staff send off the notice Mr Yozzi will have 28 days to remove them. 

Vincent planners say there are options that to satisfy both heritage rules and police standards.

One option adopted by some gun stores is an inner vault where all firearms are stored at night. 

It’s expensive to install and as Yozzi and Son has a lot of stock, it’d take hours to carry everything from the vault to the display and back every day. 

by DAVID BELL

Thought-provoking collages by artist Rosalyn Anderson have turned Eighth Avenue in Maylands into a surreal thoroughfare.

Combing photography and traditional mediums, Anderson’s semi-autobiographical art captures the fleeting, chaotic nature of life. Her work will be displayed on the side of the large planter boxes lining Eighth Avenue as part of the city’s ongoing Art on Eighth project.

“Maylands has become known as one of the creative hubs of the inner east, making this exciting project a perfect fit for the area,” Bayswater mayor Dan Bull says.

BMX bandits could soon be whizzing about Dianella, with Stirling council releasing plans for a BMX park.

Located in the natural terrain of the Dianella Regional Open Space, stage one of the project would include a pump track, viewing space, shelter, drinking fountain and bike racks. 

Stage two would include a jump track and skills trail.

Stirling mayor Mark Irwin said the city continued to receive requests for more diverse recreational amenities like BMX to keep kids active.

“One quarter of Stirling’s population is between the ages of 5-24 and our [skate and BMX facility] strategy has identified that a facility such as this will create an active and vibrant city while contributing to the health and wellbeing of residents,” he says.

For more details and to have your say on the project go to http://www.stirling.wa.gov.au/bmx by March 8.

The city will hold an information session at the Stirling Community Centres at Dianella Regional Open Space on Wednesday February 19.

A Mt LAWLEY woman is facing multiple charges following a dramatic car chase where she allegedly managed to get past police tyre stingers.

Police allege the woman stole a Holden Commodore from Clifton Street in Mt Lawley and later in the evening was spotted on Kwinana Freway heading onto Mill Point Road.

Police followed, but when the Commmodore went through a red light they pulled back.

A few days later police spotted the car in Fremantle and tried to stop it with the stingers, which failed to bring it to a halt.

The 31-year-old woman was arrested the next day at a residence in Guildford Road.

She was charged with driving without a license, reckless driving to evade pursuit, failing to stop and stealing a car.

PEOPLE power has prevailed at Bayswater council, with 13 out of 15 electors’ motions from December’s AGM being endorsed at January’s ordinary meeting.

Some motions are still in the “wait and see” stage, dependent on a budget allocation.

Those passed outright included:

• Relocate fruit trees on the King William Street path that dropped fruit into the adjacent wetlands, replacing them with more eco-friendly natives;

• Lobby the McGowan government to fix local rat runs and traffic problems while its giving the Bayswater train station a Metronet upgrade; and, 

• Open audit and risk committee meetings to the public.

Those awaiting the budget process include:

• Formally renaming Carter’s Wetland, consulting with Aboriginal people to give it a Noongar name;

• Commissioning a report on how to encourage landowners to retain trees when developing; and,

• Appoint arts and finance officers, and create a new position to enforce anti-dumping and pollution laws in the Bayswater Industrial Estate.

A motion narrowly passed at the AGM for a “tree on every verge” policy was unanimously voted down after ex-councillor Alan Radford returned to the chamber to implore his former colleagues to steer well clear of the idea.

The city plants about 2000 verge trees a year, but people can opt out if they don’t want one on their block, and Mr Radford said his neighbours had made their view clear when asked.

“84.5 per cent of the people do not want a tree on their front verge,” he said. 

Another “we’ll see” item was resident Greg Smith’s call to ban wheel clamps in private carparks. The council voted to keep an eye on how Stirling progresses with its clamp ban attempt. 

VINCENT council will soon look into seven motions passed at its January 28 AGM.

Former councillor Dudley Maier moved for the city to develop a long-term approach to underground power (similar to Subiaco’s model). 

He also wants a review of the council’s laneway naming policy to make it more “equitable”, as the first name thrown up by the applicant drives the consultation, rather than the community getting a blank slate.

Mr Maier also had a second stab at getting council workshops opened to the public.

Cleaver Precinct stalwart Marie Slyth moved for the internal section of the precinct to be deemed a “character retention area” to protect existing buildings and ensure new ones fit in.

Carr Street local Wally Fryer moved that the city cancel its plan to upgrade bike lanes on Florence and Carr Streets. 

The council sent out consultation letters on November 15 telling residents the bike lane would be upgraded, but the letter only had the good news and did not reveal the loss of 17 car parking bars along the street. To discover that, recipients would have had to type out a lengthy URL to get to the city’s consultation website and read to the bottom of the page. One resident told the Voice they didn’t respond to the consultation by the December 9 deadline because the letter made it sound like there were no downsides.

STIRLING councillors considered their electors’ motions at the February 11 council meeting (the minutes are still in the pipeline) and Perth council’s February 4 AGM had no motions from the 19 members of the public who came along (a big turnout for the capital council, which has previously had a single attendee).

Nedlands residents John Boxall, who lives in newly nabbed terrain for the City of Perth, said people were still getting $200 fines for parking in their own driveways, despite the issue being raised at the last AGM. An apologetic CEO Murray Jorgensen said he thought the issue had been resolved and promised to get back with an update. 

by DAVID BELL

A WOMEN’S SHED in Stirling is a step closer after the city announced a series of women’s shed classes at the Innaloo Sportmen’s Club.

A city spokesperson said that following the success of its Women Working with Wood Association – who use the Stirling men’s shed on Saturday afternoons – there had been an increasing demand from local women to learn skills like car maintenance, basic plumbing and furniture restoration.

“The response to the women’s shed classes has been very positive with the first set of workshops already at capacity showing the demand by women to learn and take charge of traditional handiwork,” Stirling mayor Mark Irwin said.

The classes will teach women how to use power tools, repair household items and fix leaking taps.

After the pilot classes finish in December, the city will assess if there’s enough demand for a permanent women’s shed.

FORMER Labor MP and copper Bob Kucera has been appointed chair of WA’s Combat Sports Commission.

A long-time boxing fan who lists Danny Green, Lionel Rose and ‘50s Welsh flyweight champion Dai Dower as favourites, the North Perth local will now oversee the booming boxing and martial sports industry.

“I’m delighted,” he says.

“I had applied to join the CSC last year as a commissioner.”

Mr Kucera says the heavily-criticised sports have their positive side, which he saw in the city’s police and citizens youth clubs where fighting helped get some kids back on the straight and narrow.

“It teaches kids discipline, that’s what appeals to me.”

Combat sports are flourishing in WA; 558 contestants registered in 2019, up 54 per cent from the year before, while a high-grossing Ultimate Fighting Championship tournament sold out the Perth Arena in 2018.

One reason it’s grown is the McGowan government’s legalisation of “octagon” cages in mixed martial arts. Previously banned over perceptions it was unsafe, the sports community successfully argued it was  safer than wrestling in a boxing ring where fighters could slip under the ropes or get tangled. 

Mr Kucera says the focus will be on making the sports safer and increasing probity. The Australian Medical Association wants combat sports banned, except for Olympic wrestling. 

“There have been times when the industry has been brought into disrepute,” Mr Kucera said, noting it was often followers rather than fighters causing problems, particularly when gambling was in the mix.

A “dual roles policy” introduced last year limits conflicting roles, such as trainers or promoters acting as referees.

The commission is also moving to address the dangerous effects of weight cutting, where fighters sometimes go to extreme lengths to dehydrate themselves at their weigh in to qualify for a lighter class then bulk up in the 24 hours before their bout.

In 1982 South Korean boxer Duk Koo Kim, starved and dehydrated to make weight, died four days after being knocked out by Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, doctors finding 100 cubic centimetres of blood sloshing around in his skull. Closer to home, Perth Muay Thai fighter Jessica Lindsay died during an intense weight cut in December 2017 just half an hour before the scheduled weigh in. 

“The challenge for us is to change the culture within the industry … it’s right across the board, the practice [weight cutting], unfortunately, and it’s wasn’t until the unfortunate passing of young Jess that it’s really been highlighted,” Mr Kucera said.

He praised outgoing chair Cassandra Wright for her work modernising the industry and making it safer, including a proposal for a second weigh in two hours before a fight. Any weight gain over 10 per cent could see the commissioners order a fighter to be put up a weight category. 

The AMA has suggested one weigh in three days before the bought to give fighters a chance to rehydrate, but there are concerns it would still lead to weight cutting.

The commission is also mandating that fighters and coaches undertake online safety classes. Parents of kids involved in the sport will also have to complete the classes, to ensure they’re not going all Cobra Kai and urging their kids past their safe limits from the sidelines.

“It’s a sport where it’s not hard to get injured, so wherever possible the commission has over the past two and a half years in particular developed a vision that we want to make it as safe as it can be,” Mr Kucera said.

by DAVID BELL