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  • LETTERS 27.8.19

    LETTERS 27.8.19

    Brrrrrrrr…..
    I HAVE been visiting the Terry Tyzack Aquatic Centre indoor pool for over seven years.
    I first started going when a physio recommended walking in the warm waters and doing stretching exercise to relieve my sciatica, which I no longer have, but have kept going twice a week since then.
    This morning the water was so cold that after one lap I had to get out. I then went to the ‘Baby’s pool area as I had been told that this was always warm.
    It was, thank goodness. I could warm up again.
    I asked a staff member in the pool area why the 25m pool was so cold, and was told it was the air temperature outside of the pool that made the water seem cold.
    Then went on to say the people doing laps didn’t like it so warm.
    What about the people who need the warmth to do their walking/physio exercises? Obviously they don’t count.
    So I have to ask, why are we being fobbed off with excuses about fixing the air temp when in reality they are really controlling the heat of the water in both pools?
    Others this morning were very unhappy with the cold water and an acquaintance at the pool who has been going probably longer than me and who does do laps, said he was leaving early as he had never experienced it so cold and he liked it to be warm for his lap-swimming.
    A lot of people don’t have the time to write, but just vote with their feet–the numbers in the mornings are significantly down from my observations. The other morning I was the only one there in the walking lane.
    You know as soon as you drive into the car park, how quiet it is.
    I wrote to the City of Stirling a month ago complaining about the water being too cool, but basically got fobbed off with excuses about fixing the air temp.
    I went back to the pool a few weeks ago to see if it had improved; it had slightly but is very inconsistent.
    They even suggested I go to the Balga pool which is always consistent.
    So I am seeking the support of those who have experienced the same problem and haven’t said anything before, but are not attending the pool now for this reason.
    Let us speak out and get this pool warmed up to an acceptable level.
    Susan Moss
    Plantation Street, Menora

    Where’s Lisa
    WELL, what happened to the iced cake that appears to be a challenge for the City of Perth commissioners (“Save $3.50 on the next cuppa”, Voice, July 20, 2019)?
    They can certainly afford it, but have they earned it?
    One wonders how many times they practised their posing?
    Our capital city voters are unlikely to find again any cake or comfort from your picture that also lacks credit.
    What’s desperately needed is the return of our cruelly suspended Lord Mayor, seen scoffing with obvious delight a slice of that cake.
    Winsley Hurst
    St Georges Terrace, Perth
    The Ed says: Yes, we’ve been well pinged for the lack of credit, Winsley; well spotted. It was supplied by the City of Perth which should have been noted.

  • Love that Theo and Co

    Love that Theo and Co

    THE D’Angers will definitely revisit Theo and Co in Leederville.

    Not just because the pizzas were the best we’ve ever eaten, but because we didn’t get to try the dessert one.

    We sat in awe as a chocolate pizza base – crowned with vanilla ice cream and lavishly drizzled with chocolate sauce and nuts ($20) – whisked past our table.

    Heading to the movies we had arrived early, but tables were already filling fast and we were lucky to squeeze in.

    Best wedges

    While we waited for our meal in the frantically busy restaurant, my hunger pangs were assuaged by some of the best wedges I’ve ever tried.

    The serve was so big we ended up getting a doggy bag and having them for lunch the next day.

    D’Angerous Dave fancied the mushroom pizza ($25 large), made with fresh and meaty Wanneroo mushrooms cooked in garlic.

    Mozzarella, crumbled feta, parmesan and thyme topped the delicious chewy base in a magnificent burst of sharp flavours that left the tongue zinging.

    I’d ordered the farmers market pizza ($25 large), with its chia seeds base.

    It was a colourful cartwheel of red capsicum, grilled zucchini, baked pumpkin and beetroot.

    Circles of yoghurt drizzled around the pizza turned this dinner into modern art; a delicious canvas with diverse flavours coalescing in wonderful harmony – just like a Pro Hart.

    There’s a mind boggling assortment of pizzas on the menu including the grandma, made with focaccia-style dough cooked in a baking tray, pizzas served in a heavy cast iron skillet, and one baked on a stone with a sprinkle of semolina.

    There’s gluten-free and vegan options, and if you can’t decide on a a topping you can have a half and half (large only).

    For those not keen on pizza there’s pasta with meatballs ($19), or creamy chicken, bacon and mushroom pastas ($18).

    by JENNY D’ANGER

    Theo and Co
    147 Oxford St, Leederville
    open 7 days from 5pm
    fully licensed  

  • Motherhood gives Steele wings to fly

    Motherhood gives Steele wings to fly

    PERTH muso Katy Steele says motherhood has helped give her upcoming album Soul Bride a looser feel.

    The former Little Birdy frontwoman is still putting the final touches to the album, but will showcase some of the new material at her gig at the Rosemount Hotel next Saturday (August 3).

    Steele and her partner Graham McLuskie had a baby girl, Iona, in April last year.

    • Former Little Birdy lead singer Katy Steele has a second album coming out soon, but you can get a taste of her new material at the Rosemount on August 3.

    Survival

    “Motherhood’s kind of helped me to give less of a fuck,” Steele says.

    “It’s about survival and evolution…it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, you see the world differently, as I’m sure that almost anyone who’s had kids can [attest to]”.

    Steele says the new album represents a “departure, but it’s still the same me, kind of finding new territory, being really calm about it…not analysing it too much”.

    The singer-songwriter says over-analysing and trying too hard was the “downfall” of her previous record: “[It] festers, turning into this massive deal”.

    The new album was inspired by the likes of Foxygen and The Beatles and has more of a “classic sound”.

    Steele says she was influenced by Carole King and other artists who wrote on the piano.

    She says she has “always written on piano but disguised that on guitar”. The new album features a 20-piece choir and a string section which adds “a lot of colour” and is “very grandiose”.

    Soul Bride will be released early next year and a single from the album will be out later this year.

    Steele says she will “keep fine-tuning things … bake it a bit more in the oven”.

    The new album has been recorded in Steele’s home studio.

    She has moved back to Perth, but says living all over the world helped her creatively and has not ruled out moving overseas again.

    She says Perth “is a beautiful place to live – it is nice to come back and find my feet again and to enjoy the beautiful weather”.

    Steele and her band will play the Rosemount Hotel in North Perth on Saturday (August 3).

    by ALEX MURFETT

  • Not so cool

    Not so cool

    A NEW exhibition open this weekend at the Bon Marche Arcade examines the struggle of retired farmers in China.

    They receive just 88 RMB (the official Chinese currency) a month to survive. To put that in context, that’s less than $20 Aussie dollars. Photographer Tami Xiang gave obliging farmers 88 RMB to spend and captured their purchases with a red background.

    Peasantography: Lucky88 is at Cool Change Contemporary on Barrack Street until August 24.

  • Rainbows and lullabies

    Rainbows and lullabies

    I COULD hear Somewhere Over the Rainbow in my mind as a huge chandelier in the soaring mezzanine flashed iridescent light onto the walls of this Dianella home.

    “There’s a land that I’ve heard of once in a lullaby,” sums up the children’s wing on the second level, which has study nooks in the bedrooms.

    Judging by the toys, colouring books and colourful dress-up costumes, the spacious sitting room is a great play area for kids.

    Or it could be a nice den for teenagers to hang out with their mates and stare at their phones.

    The huge main bedroom on the ground floor has a dressing room and an en suite with double vanities, a shower and a deep bath.

    The fourth bedroom is currently a study with a built-in-desk and shelving.

    For those who like a tipple, there’s a spacious wine cellar beside the study.

    Blue birds

    There’s certainly room for those blue birds to fly in the vast living area, which has a gas-powered coal fireplace and massive windows.

    The kitchen is equally spacious with a huge expanse of stone benchtops, a walk-in-pantry and pantry cupboard. All the appliances are Bosch, including a built-in coffee machine.

    Sliding doors provide access to the alfresco, which is sheltered on two sides and has high fences for privacy.

    With a huge barbecue kitchen, including a plumbed-in sink and a sweep of stainless steel benchtops, it’s a great entertaining space.

    Soothing neutral colours have been used throughout the home, creating an almost blank canvas for new owners.

    Located on Lynmouth Road, this two-storey home is a few minutes away from Dianella Plaza, the lovely Breckler Park and close to Yokine Golf Club and several private and public schools.

    by JENNY D’ANGER

    47 Lynmouth Road, Dianella
    mid $800,000s
    Pam Herron 0413 610 660
    Jodi Darlington 0413 610 661
    Dylan Halliday 0403 563 018
    The Agency

  • Award for a caring model

    Award for a caring model

    STIRLING council’s Linda Kuuse has won a state award for a successful dementia care program at day clubs across the city.

    Ms Kuuse spearheaded a two-year partnership with Alzheimer’s WA to deliver tailored-made care for seniors attending the Nollamara Day Club.

    Aspirations

    The new model caters to seniors’ needs and aspirations, incorporating interests like gardening, cooking and knitting into sessions to give their life more purpose.

    The “household model” was so successful Stirling has introduced it to all the day clubs in Scarborough and Stirling.

    Ms Kuuse manages five adult day clubs in Stirling with about 400 clients, 30 staff and 35 volunteers.

    • Linda Kuuse (centre) with Stirling Day Club clients Filomena Di Giallonardo and Attilio Romano.

    She snagged an individual award in this year’s Excellence in Age Services Awards for helping to introduce the new dementia care model.

    “The opportunity to provide the best possible support to people and have them still be valued by their community they helped create is what drives me,” says Ms Kuuse, a qualified “Dementia Champion”.

    “We’re working with people so they still have a voice and so their needs are still met.

    “At the city, we continue to support our seniors by providing services where they can build capacity, stay in their home for as long as possible and have that social connection.”

    Ms Kuuse is now up for a national award at the Leading Age Services Australia National Congress in October.

  • Top-shelf Reserve

    Top-shelf Reserve

    LAST month Alchera Living launched a new facility for seniors in Willagee that’s really pushed the boundary for aged housing.

    The Reserve, as the name suggests, overlooks a popular park in the southern suburb; but if you’re a wine buff and it conjures images of the pricey bottle on the top shelf, you might be surprised to discover affordability has been one of the driving forces behind the development.

    Affordability hasn’t come at the expense of quality and design, though; I took a tour of the display unit just prior to the launch and quietly said to myself; “I’d live here in an instant”. I’ve never said that about a unit in a retirement village. Ever!

    I loved the interface between the apartments and the park, and could easily imagine sitting on the big balcony with friends enjoying a wine while locals walk the dog or kick the ball.

    Housing minister Peter Tinley was interested enough in The Reserve to attend the launch and we both agreed our state’s planners really missed the mark by surrounding parks with roads rather than a bit of housing.

    Oustanding

    This was an outstanding exception, he said.

    Inside, there’s emphasis on comfort, security and independence with features such as removable shower screens, wheelchair access and appliances at the right height.

    Architect Ron Edenburg from Peter Hunt Architect was lead on the design and said the board of Alchera set up a strong design committee.

    “There was lots of research into what is a state of the art facility,” Mr Edenburg said.

    He told the crowd that providing a well-lit interior was seen as an important component that he felt they’d achieved.

    “And balconies that are big enough that you can entertain guests,” he said to murmurs of appreciation.

    Alchera Living CEO Alan Marshall said he’d heard nothing but praise for the development.

    “I can’t recall how many residents have told me they are going to be the first to swim in the pool,” he said. Alchera completely renovated its shared residents’ facility as part of the development and included a new pool and gymnasium.

    For more information head to http://www.thereserve.net.au

    by STEVE GRANT

  • Focusing on better vision

    Focusing on better vision

    MULTIFOCAL lenses were introduced to the Australian market in the 1980s and superseded Benjamin Franklin’s bifocal design.

    As society has become more technology focused the demands placed on vision at different distances has increased dramatically.

    Multifocal lenses help people see clearly in the distance, close up or with computer work.

    Some people experience difficulty adapting and are disappointed they don’t perform as well as they had hoped.

    Spex Design Optometrist are multi-focal lens specialists and can share their expertise and help people understand the technology.

    “There is a great range of multifocal lenses available and many designs are just outdated,” Marijan Lazarev said.

    “New technology is delivering some amazing results. “We have the experts who are happy to share their expertise and explain how your visual experience could be improved.”

    COMMITTED TO YOUR VISION: Spex Design wants to help get your vision sorted. If you’re interested in lens design or just want to talk about any difficulty with your glasses get in touch with them today.

    ImpressionIST® 4 3D-video-centering-system using facial recognition technology to achieve total individual and precise spectacle measurement.

    ImpressionIST® 4 takes measurements accurate to 1/1000 of a millimetre. This data is used to make a highly customised, individual lens.

    “It’s a very exciting time to be in optics and innovation like this is really delivering some outstanding results,” Yani Lazarev said.

    “We can now offer a customised lens design that considers your facial features, the frame you select and your main visual activities and lifestyle.

    “This level of customisation is the way of the future. It really does deliver a high-definition experience.”

    Some common concerns of multifocal wearers are narrow reading area, having to raise the chin to read, sore neck and too much distortion in the periphery of the lens.

    Multifocal lenses are like apair of cross trainers for the eye. Suitable for every day use and most activities but when you run a marathon you need a specific pair of running shoes.

    The advent of computers, mobile phones and tablets means we are needing perfect vision across many distances. This is where multifocal or digital lenses come into their own.

    The optical industry has responded quickly to this visual demand with many options.

    “With the exponential growth and reliance upon digital devices people are needing assistance across many distances with their vision,” Marijan Lazarev said.

    “A well-designed multifocal can help in these cases as it offers that very important intermediate distance.”

    Spex Design invites anyone who is interested in lens design or who wants to discuss their experience to reach out to them.

    “We have two Rodenstock lens experts who love solving problems. We are looking forward to showcasing our  ImpressionIST® 4 3D individual measurement technology.”

  • Tea with the tillermen

    Tea with the tillermen

    LABOR MP John Carey has defended Perth council’s commissioners following Opposition leader Liza Harvey’s criticism of the city as “rudderless”, “grotty” and full of “meth zombies”.

    In a brutal critique of the state’s capital, Ms Harvey told The West Australian this week the council’s bureaucrats were “completely out of touch and out of step for what we need”. She said families wouldn’t be safe venturing into the city given all the “meth zombies walking around”.

    But Mr Carey, whose electorate covers the CBD, said working with the state-appointed commissioners had been more fruitful than the former politically-fractured regime.

    He said business-orientated initiatives such as a free parking trial and reduced red-tape for alfresco approvals had been killed off by elected councillors, but passed by the three replacement commissioners.

    • Commissioner Andrew Hammond hopes a free one-hour parking trial will bring in customers and clean up Perth’s streets.

    Terrible mess

    “We were left with a terrible mess at the City of Perth,” Mr Carey said.

    “There is a full, independent inquiry that is undertaking a serious investigation.  Is anyone seriously suggesting that we should wrap it up for convenience’s sake?

    “We don’t want the mess that we had at the City of Perth to happen again, so let the independent process take its course.”

    On Monday Ms Harvey told 6PR presenter Oliver Peterson the state government needed to set up a taskforce with homeless agencies and government departments to develop a homelessness strategy.

    But WA already has a 10-year strategy in place and Mr Carey points out he’s currently co-chairing a homelessness working group with commissioner Gaye McMath that’s about to roll out an accreditation scheme to make sure service providers are better coordinating their efforts.

    The next step is to get drop in centres to run for longer hours, and eventually have a 24/7 shelter to help people transition into stable housing.

    “A lot of work has been done, but it’s not just ‘click your heels and it’ll be fixed’,” Mr Carey said.

    “We’ve actually never had a coordinated approach to homelessness in the city and for the first time it’s getting done.”

    He noted Ms Harvey was police minister from 2012 to 2017: “This never happened under Liza Harvey, this never happened under the suspended lord mayor. It’s now happening under [commissioners], and this state government.”

    He said calling people meth zombies was “sad and disappointing”.

    “We know we’ve got a big challenge ahead, and we’re working on it. But just inflaming the situation, using that kind of language, doesn’t help at all.”

    Chief commissioner Eric Lumsden denied the city was rudderless.

    “The commissioners are here to do a job and that job is to replace the council until such time as the Inquiry into the City of Perth has been completed.

    “In the meantime, the commissioners are addressing what we see the issues are. Issues such as parking, revitalisation and the city’s approach to homelessness, and providing initiatives to address them.”

    This week the city started trialling free one-hour parking in the high street precincts in the hope of attracting more shoppers.

    In proposing the trial commissioner Andrew Hammond hoped more patronage would lead to “improvements in street hygiene and general amenity” and “improved community safety perceptions”.

    by DAVID BELL

  • Save $3.50 on the next cuppa

    Save $3.50 on the next cuppa

    GETTING a coffee in East Perth’s town centre just got $3.50 cheaper, with the roll-out of the council’s one-hour free parking trial this week.

    The Royal Street parking machines have been covered between Trafalgar Road and Fielder Street.

    • City of Perth commissioners Gaye McMath, Eric Lumsden and Andrew Hammond catching up with local business owners from East Perth’s IGA, Kinky Lizard and Pharmacy 777, hopeful the scrapped hourly parking fee will entice more customers to visit.

    For the first two weeks parking inspectors will dole out one-off cautions for people overstaying the hour, but after that the fines return to prevent non-shoppers hogging a bay all day.

    The next precincts in the trial are West Perth and south of East Perth.