AN innovative program which aims to combat loneliness amongst LGBTI+ elders while opening up secure and affordable housing for their young LGBTIQA+ peers has been launched by Mt Hawthorn-based organisation GRAI.
The Pride Intergenerational Housing Program will match older LGBTI+ people who’ve got a spare room, with an LGBTIQA+ student.
With older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people more likely to be affected by social isolation through factors such as not having a partner or children, or living alone, it’s hoped the PIHP will help them stay in their own homes longer and empower them to age within their communities with dignity and support.
GRAI chairman David Gibson said Perth’s rental crisis was biting.
“We know that Perth’s housing crisis hits LGBTQIA+ renters hardest, especially lower-income students, and that loneliness is the next epidemic older people in our community face,” he said.
Epidemic
“GRAI is stepping up and offering a unique solution to these challenges.”
The program places special emphasis on supporting international students, particularly when English is not their first language, as it would give them an opportunity to brush up on their language skills and integrate more fully into their new environment.
This can be very important if compatriots from their home country don’t accept them because they identify as LGBTIQA+.
Funded by a Lotterywest grant, the 18-month pilot program is backed by a reference group including university representatives, the Department of Communitie4s and the Youth Pride Network.
GRAI – Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Rights in Ageing Inc was formed in Perth in 2005 to protect the rights and well-being of older LGBTI people.
ARTISTS have stepped up where Extinction Rebellion were once the tour de force, taking on WA’s fossil fuel companies over their CO2 emissions.
Last week art group PVI Collective delivered giant “invoices” to five of WA’s biggest energy companies under the guise of satirical debt collectors The Social Licence Watchdogs.
They took the name from former Obama administration chief economist Michael Greenstone, who described the social cost of carbon (the extra society should pay to avert future climate chaos) as “the most important figure you’ve never heard of”.
• PVI Collective founder Kelli McCluskey ready to deliver BHP’s ‘invoice’ for carbon emissions. Photo supplied
PVI co-founder and artist Kelli McCluskey said it was the collective’s most “perilously” important work in its 25-year history.
“While the watchdogs as a ‘regulator’ may be our invention, the social cost of carbon is very real,” McCluskey said.
“Despite the majority of Australians’ concerns for the fossil-fuelled climate emergency, the world’s biggest contributors to it, some of which have huge WA operations, are largely continuing business-as-usual or even expanding their exploits with seemingly little or no credible plans to decarbonise.”
PVI sent BHP and its coal subsidiary an invoice for $194 billion, but it got off lightly compared to fellow coal diggers Glencore, which has $241 billion to pay – though there is a handy 21-day payment plan to help them through.
Glendora has been valued at $50 billion.
PVI Collective’s satire follows some more serious artistic attacks on fossil fuel companies, with Fringe Festival dropping main sponsor Woodside earlier this year (“Fossil free,” Voice, Saturday January 3, 2024) and Perth Festival dropping Chevron a year earlier.
FIVE of Vincent’s largest parks will be prohibited to cats as part of new laws that come into effect this year.
The local law provides for the management, control and regulation of dogs, cats, poultry, bees and other animals and was adopted by Council in October 2023.
Cats will now be prohibited from Britannia Road Reserve, Smiths Lake Reserve, Robertson Park, Banks Reserve and Hyde Park.
This means they are banned from bushland, parkland, wetlands and vegetation areas and the back of residential and industrial properties within the parks’ boundaries.
“The cat prohibited areas will not only keep our local cats safe from health and safety risks, but also protect our local flora, fauna and environment,” mayor Alison Xamon said of the new laws.
“Cats are perfectly happy to stay at home and do not need to roam freely in major parks and reserves.
“In fact, cat welfare organisations like the Cat Haven plead for owners to ensure cats are not roaming around our suburbs.
“We will be communicating more about these areas in the coming months to give cat owners more clarity.”
Under the State Government’s Cat Act 2011, local governments have the power to enact their own local laws and are responsible for enforcing the Act.
Vincent’s current local law includes clauses relating to the keeping of cats, prohibited areas and the number of cats per premises.
A number of councils have been trying to introduce stronger laws to ensure all cats are restricted to their owners’ property unless they’re on a leash, but have so far been stymied by a powerful committee in Parliament’s Upper House that says that conflicts with the Cat Act.
“As a local government, we do need the power to determine our own laws for our area,” Ms Xamon said.
“It is frustrating that we can only include clauses identified in the Cat Act but anything beyond those, we need further state government approval.
“In terms of talks of a uniform state local law for cats, there would need to be further changes to the Cat Act itself and it needs to address local community concerns.”
EAST PERTH resident GLEN MORGAN is donating his father’s war medals to the Army Museum of WA, and in honour of the occasion penned the following, “in memory of Ronald Spencer Morgan, 2/11th Battalion, Crete veteran; and all Allied soldiers and Germans who fought valiantly for the fate at Crete during WWII”. The 2/11th was the first WA battalion raised for overseas service during the Second World War, leaving Fremantle on April 20, 1940.In the Middle East they helped capture Libya from the Italians before being redeployed to the unsuccessful defence of Greece and ultimate evacuation to Crete.
MEMBERS of the Friends of Prevelly met earlier this month at St John the Theologian Chapel, Prevelly, for what is now an annual commemorative service of the chapel.
Dignitaries included bishop Elpidios of Perth and reverend Terry Gerovasilis.
The service began with the haunting strains of the Mandurah Pipe Band, before an address by Sean O’Connell, representing the Friends of Prevelly, who spoke of the need to receive government grans and continued fundraising to sustain maintenance to both the chapel and surrounding grassland.
• Ronald Spencer Morgan
The little chapel, with its white stone walls, stands against the dramatic coastline at Prevelly, built through the inspiration of the first owner of the Prevelly caravan park, Geoff Edwards, an Australian veteran of the Battle of Crete in May 1941.
Geoff’s daughter Marilyn Sadleir gave a moving address as she recounted the events leading up to the invasion by German troops in Crete, and the subsequent 10-day battle that saw losses in the thousands.
She said the Germans placed a critical need to take the island for its geographical location in the Mediterranean, and for resupplying vital oil supplies for the German military machine.
At Crete, Australian troops fought with Greeks, British and New Zealand forces in an attempt to hold onto the island from the Germans.
Hitler’s Crete airborne assault was the first parachute attack in the history of warfare.
It was an unrelenting battle; 274 Australians were killed and over 500 wounded.
Combined allied losses amounted to more than 4000 killed or wounded.
The Germans sent in thousands of paratroopers from low-flying gliders operating from various sites in Greece.
The Germans won the battle due to superior numbers; however, it was a pyrrhic victory, for they captured the island with the loss of 7000 lives.
After such terrible losses, Adolph Hitler claimed he would never again attempt an airborne invasion, and didn’t.
Recalling the battle many years later, my father once explained to me: “First Messerschmitt planes strafed us as Stuka dive bombers came in with their bombs; the shrieking engines of the Stukas frightened us as much as the bombs they dropped.
• The 2/11th Battalion on their way to Greece.
“Then Junkers, Ju 52s, wave after wave, came clattering in low and fast – suddenly the sky was pock-marked with parachutes.
“Some Germans were killed as they stood in the doorway of the gliders; they plummeted to earth like sacks of lead.
“Others were shot as they floated through the air.
“Then, as paratroopers landed, it became brutal man-to-man fighting.
“It was kill or be killed, simple as that.
“We fought and held on for 10 days, securing vital airstrips, but in the end, their superior numbers won out,” he said.
Following the defeat, some 3000 Australians were captured.
Others, including Geoff Edwards, escaped and were sheltered and cared for by local Cretans.
This was done at enormous peril, for they were told by the conquering Germans that anyone caught harbouring allied troops would be shot, and many were.
So grateful for being sheltered by the Cretans, Mr Edwards was determined to honour them permanently for saving his life.
He did this with the construction of the Prevelly chapel in 1979, dedicating it to the monks of the Preveli Monastery in Crete.
For the thousands of captured Allied soldiers like my father, came an appalling 10-day train journey from Greece, across Germany, to be dispersed in Austria, Yugoslavia (as it was called then) and Poland.
They were POWs for three-and-a-half years until war’s end.
Despite suffering lack of food and basic amenities during his confinement, my father never criticised his German captors, saying that by and large they were treated well, adding that they, too, suffered food shortages.
This is testament to his ‘forgive and forget’ attitude he always displayed to the German troops he once fought.
The commemorative service concluded with the Australian and Greek national anthems, followed by a hearty luncheon; a time to reflect on the deeds of those from all sides, who fought at Crete those many years ago.
THIS North Perth butcher shop has a great pedigree.
Originally M Princi Butchers, it was owned by Michele Princi who emigrated from Italy to Perth in the 1970s.
The Princis clearly know a thing or two about meat with eleven generations of butchers in the family.
After more than five decades in the trade, Michele decided it was time to hang up the apron and recently sold his popular Fitzgerald St store to nephew Pasquale Princi and his cousin Pasquale Leuzzi.
It was a good fit as Princi did his apprenticeship at the shop in the 1980s and Leuzzi started working there about 10 years ago.
The pair rebranded to Princi The Butcher, but kept the old-school traditions and quality control that made Michele one of the best-known butchers in town.
Or did they? We fired up the Voice jalopy and spluttered up the Canning Highway to investigate.
Parking on Fitzgerald St can be a nightmare, especially near the busy North Perth Plaza, but Princi is situated further up beside Woodville Reserve, where there is plenty of free bays.
It’s not that far from the Italian Club, so members probably pop in for same ex-pat treats on the way home.
I like the facade – it’s got a traditional red and white awning, and a classy sign with various nods to Italy including some heraldry and an over-excited cow standing on its hind legs.
The shopfront wasn’t overly busy like some butcher’s and although traditional, it had a pinch of modernity. There was no frippery or pretentious decor inside and the star of the show – the meat – took centre stage in a massive L-shaped display cabinet.
Behind the cabinet, three men in aprons were beavering away – cutting meat, retrieving meat or serving meat. The vast range included pork, veal, lamb, beef, goat and chicken with everything from beef shortcut ribs and marinated goat to pork belly and lamb rack.
No self-respecting butcher’s would be complete without a decent range of snags and Princi had a whole section devoted to quality bangers including Sicilian, aniseed, beef chilli cheese, mild Italian, BBQ and chicken, bacon and leek.
For those who like quality meat but aren’t into cooking, there were beef ribs in a bag, pork ribs in a bag, lamb in a bag and complete roasts in a bag. I was struck by how fresh and vibrant the produce looked, with the beef a gorgeous shade of red. I couldn’t go past the red wine kebabs ($33/kg).
The tender cubes of beef tasted delicious with a complex marinade and a nice punch of garlic.
The red and greens peppers added a subtle sweetness, and were nice and fresh.
These were big chunky kebabs with large pieces of meat and one was enough for an adult with veg. Extremely delicious.
Across the table my wife “Special K” was tucking into her Florentine stuffed Chicken ($23.90/kg).
“The thigh meat is good quality with a subtle tomato coating,” she noted. “I’m loving the cheesy filling which is perfect comfort food on a wet, cold night.
“The spinach helps to keep the dish fresh and gives the palate some respite.”
The kids rounded off the meal with some veal schnitzels ($31.40/kg). I had a sneaky taste and they were tender with a light coating of breadcrumbs and parmesan. Very enjoyable.
My only gripe was the service – there wasn’t much chat from the staff and they were talking amongst themselves which is a pet peeve of mine. But the shop is open from 5am-5pm, so I will cut them some slack, and it’s unfair to judge them on one visit.
The new owners have done a great job with their revamped website and Facebook page, which looks clean, modern and inviting.
Princi The Butcher is off to a good start and I’m sure Michele would be proud.
Princi The Butcher 527 Fitzgerald St, North Perth princithebutcher.com.au
THERE’S still time to catch the tail end of the Lyric Lane Jazz Festival in Maylands.
The three-day festival wraps up on Saturday with a great bill that has a little bit of everything.
Kicking off at 7pm is the Ray Walker Trio.
A veteran of countless sessions for TV and radio, Walker is a seasoned and versatile Perth guitarist who has enjoyed a 50 year career, playing with the WA Symphony Orchestra and guitar greats like Martin Taylor, Peter Leitch and John Pisano.
He’s also a fantastic educator and lectured in jazz guitar at WAAPA from 1984-2005, before moving into a part-time guest role.
Walker started playing guitar as a young boy in the late 1950s, trying to emulate the sound of Hank Marvin’s stratocaster in The Shadows, before diving into jazz via the popular book at the time – Mickey Baker’s Complete Course in Jazz Guitar.
• Veteran jazz guitarist Ray Walker (above) and up-and-coming saxophonist Oliver Taylor are playing this year’s Lyric Lane Jazz Festival, which has been held annually in Maylands since 2021.
Mostly self-taught with a great “ear”, there’s an originality and musicality to Walker’s phrasing and tone.
It’s probably a by-product of learning the old-school way, playing along to records and in bands, rather than going to a music college that sends you down a well-trodden path.
Some of his favourite albums include Django Reinhardt’s Djangology, Wes Montgomery’s Smokin’ at the Half Note and Pat Metheny’s Bright Size Life.
Following Walker on the bill is young Perth saxophonist Oliver Taylor, whose lyrical and breathy tone perfectly suits a small club.
He’s been a member of the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra since 2020 and last year was one of their “Composers in Residence”.
He’s been composing and arranging for jazz, contemporary and funk ensembles for the past seven years and is influenced by the Maria Schneider orchestra and impressionist pianists like Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy. On the jazzer side of things he digs Jan Gabarak, Keith Jarrett and Ornette Coleman.
Taylor’s planning to do a master’s in music in Europe in the next few years, and is hoping to release his debut album soon.
A night out wouldn’t be complete without some fun dancing, so the folk at the Lyric Lane Jazz Festival have booked the Nueva Salsa Orchestra to close out the festival.
Combining high energy salsas, mambos, bombas and cha chas, the sprawling band has rollicking percussion, punchy brass, Latin piano and uplifting vocals.
Formed in 2011 by musical director and trumpet player Marty Pervan, they are one of the most entertaining Cuban and New York-style salsa bands in WA.
The last night of the Lyric Lane Jazz Festival is on today (Saturday August 24) at Lyric’s Underground, 22 Lyric Lane, Maylands from 7pm until late.
THE outside of this 4×2 Embleton home has lovely clean architectural lines.
Its minimalist look is enhanced by the cool colours on the stylish facade.
The inside is just as uncluttered with the open plan dining/kitchen/living area a masterclass in less-is-more.
It’s almost futuristic-looking with the sleek black benchtops in the kitchen contrasting with the pristine walls and premium floor tiles.
There’s plenty of room for a spacious lounge and dining setting, so entertaining visiting family and friends will be a cinch.
We’re beginning to feel the first buds of Spring, so slide back the glass doors in the dining area and walk out to the patio, where you’ll find a nice lounge setting and plenty of space for a BBQ and pizza oven.
This area is actually at the side of the house and there’s another large paved area at the back.
It’s a bit of blank canvas and could be a great spot for a pool or another alfresco with a shade sail or permanent structure.
There’s a little flight of stairs leading up to a large strip of artificial lawn (slashing your water bills come summer and making the garden super low maintenance).
The carpeted bedrooms continue the high standard with the main featuring a big walk-in robe and a lovely ensuite with double vanities and large shower.
The main bedroom also has direct access, via a set of sliding glass doors, to the alfresco at the side of the home.
Featuring lots of living space, this property includes a study/office space, fully ducted reverse cycle air con, remote double garage with rear access, water filtration system, and ILVE stainless steel appliances in the kitchen.
Built in 2023, the abode is a modern beauty and 100 per cent walk-in ready with all the mod cons.
It’s a great family home, but there’s still room to put your stamp on things.
Home open today (SaturdayAugust 24) and tomorrow10am-10:30am Offers in the high $800,000s 36 Sudlow Street, Embleton Beaucott Property 9272 2488 Agent Aaron Storey 0417 931 604
PERTH lord mayor Basil Zempilas has stepped up his fight with the Cook government over a site earmarked for a new primary school, accusing the state of “stealing” the land from council ratepayers.
Earlier this week education minister minister Tony Buti announced legislation would be introduced to Parliament to free the Queens Garden carpark behind the WACA from a restriction that prevents any other use, while it also compulsorily acquires some of the council-owned land for the school.
Mr Buti said the City of Perth would retain a portion of the carpark worth $27 million which could later be developed into housing, and $4.2m for lost revenue during the construction of the new primary school, which would be the only state public school in the council’s boundaries.
• Concept drawings for the proposed East Perth Primary School behind the WACA.
“The City of Perth has requested successive governments over several decades to repeal the Chevron Act and terminate the state agreement, none of which have progressed,” Mr Buti said.
“A new primary school is the ideal catalyst for this to happen.
“As education minister, my priority is ensuring young people, and their families, have access to a great public education close to home and this new primary school will offer that for people in our capital city.”
But Mr Zempilas was furious during a press conference earlier this week, claiming he’d only been given 30 seconds’ notice before Mr Buti’s announcement.
“Is 30 seconds’ notice before you make an announcement of this magnitude; is that negotiating in good faith, or is that a bullying style of operating, and is it a style that West Australians will continue to accept,” he said.
“The fact of the matter is, the City of Perth has been trying to negotiate in good faith for fair compensation for this land, which is owned by the ratepayers of the city of Perth, and rather than negotiate in good faith, they’ve been working on legislation behind the scenes and will introduce it to Parliament to steal this land off the ratepayers of the City of Perth. It is outrageous.
“There were six different options available to them, some cash, some land swap, some lease back, some others, but they did not even have the courtesy of negotiating with us.
“I want to be very, very clear on this; we all support, encourage, and want to help deliver a Primary School in East Perth.
“Our city needs it, our community needs it.”
‘Political’
Mr Zempilas said it was the state government’s slow response to the growing need for a school in the CBD that had led to the current impasse.
He also mocked a survey Perth MP John Carey presented to Parliament this week, claiming the Labor politician had only been able to gather 37 signatures supportive of the school.
But Mr Carey says the lord mayor was being “political” for only counting the physical signatures he’d gathered, while there were more than 1000 others who’d completed an online survey; they don’t conform to Parliamentary rules about petitions, but he says they’re still reflective of community support.
“I’m saddened by the approach of the lord mayor and the City of Perth,” Mr Carey told the Voice.
“It’s a $150 million investment in a public primary school, plus an uplift in the removing of a restriction on a lot of $30m, plus $2.4m for the lost revenue.
“That land has no value as it is, as it is governed by an Act and can only be used as a car park.”
Mr Carey said the City of Perth had previously ceded land for the construction of Elizabeth Quay under the Barnett government because of the broader benefits to the community, while there were other precedents such as Joondalup council which gave up 11.5 hectares for the Ocean Reef Marina.
“This is not a Club Med development.”
Mr Carey said the City could also afford to cede the land.
“The City of Perth has some of the biggest reserves, and it’s 0.05 per cent of their total turnover, so this is minuscule in terms of cara parking fees or the impact on ratepayers.
“The new East Perth Primary School will be the single biggest investment in a public primary school in our state’s history.
“We’re talking a $150m investment from the Cook Labor government to deliver the East Perth Primary School.
“Our government is getting on with transformative projects that encourage people to live in our city – the ECU City Campus, the WACA redevelopment, the Pier Street affordable housing development, and a state-of-the-art inner-city primary school.”
THE Department of Communities says it has stepped up security patrols at an inner-city housing complex residents claim is beset by druggies and anti-social behaviour (“Like living in hell,” Perth Voice, August 10, 2024).
A spokesperson for the department said it hadn’t received any complaints about one of the units other residents had pointed the finger at, but in response to their concerns would be upgrading gates and fences around the complex.
Voice questions to the department last week got scooped up in their spam software and missed, but they provided the following statement this week in response to our story, attributed to a “spokesperson”.
“The Department of Communities (Communities) manages public housing tenancies in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 and in the vast majority of cases, tenancy agreements are observed without concern or incident.
“The department takes complaints regarding tenancy matters seriously and undertakes investigations, where appropriate. Where any tenancy breaches are corroborated, the department will take appropriate action.
“However, any alleged criminal matters – regardless of where they take place – are matters for WA Police, and residents are advised to report any suspected criminal matters to WA Police.
“The Department of Communities is not a law enforcement agency, and it does not have the power to investigate suspected or alleged illegal activities or criminal matters.
• Residents at the Wellington Street complex will get extra security patrols and upgrades to their gates and fences after raising complaints they’d become a magnet for druggies.
Patrol
“Communities has no record of complaints in relation to the tenant of the unit at the Wellington Street complex referred to in the Voice story.
“Notwithstanding this, Communities has increased its security guard and patrol presence at the complex, and the department is also installing new custom panels to the Prince Lane security gates and fencing, along with a metal screen to deter access for unwanted visitors.
“Communities has taken action on corroborated claims against other tenancies within the complex.
“This has included issuing strike notices where appropriate, in keeping with the department’s disruptive behaviour management protocols.
“Communities works collaboratively with WA Police Force to prioritise resident and community safety.
“Communities is not a law enforcement agency and does not have the power to investigate suspected illegal activities, which in the first instance should be reported to the WA Police Force on 131 444.
“Communities has no authority to prevent the WA Police Force from issuing move on notifications to any non-resident who is deemed to be causing issues within the complex or within adjacent areas.
“Communities advises its residents, all complaints regarding alleged criminal behaviour, should be directed to WA Police Force.
“A decision to terminate a tenancy agreement, ultimately sits with the magistrate, who will only grant an order for vacant possession if satisfied that there has been a breach of the tenancy agreement, and that the tenant has been given every opportunity to rectify the breach and has failed to do so.”
• MP responds: See Perth MP John Carey’s reponse to our story over the page.
THE City of Vincent says it has no plans to follow Melbourne council’s lead and cancel e-scooter contracts over safety and amenity concerns, but is considering dedicated parking to prevent footpath clutter.
On Tuesday Melbourne’s lord mayor Nicholas Reece dramatically derailed plans for its providers Neuron and Lime to present new safety features and instead successfully moved to have their contracts cancelled, saying he was “fed up” with poor behaviour by e-scooter riders.
Mr Reece later told Radio National he believed about half the e-riders he’d see standing out the front of his council building were ignoring the law and riding without helmets, speeding or hogging footpaths.
He said there were complaints for businesses tired of their customers being inconvenienced, while several medicos fronted the council meeting saying the rise in e-scooters had led to a sharp increase in accidents, about half involving head injuries.
Mr Reece pointed to Paris’s decision to ban e-scooters as a precedent, although he acknowledged that under Victoria’s traffic laws people were still entitled to bring their private scooters into the City.
But Vincent CEO David MacLennan told the Voice they hadn’t had the same issues as Melbourne and had received “minimal” complaints, mostly about ignoring rules, colliding with pedestrians, parking locations and roads or footpaths being blocked by fallen scooters.
He also pointed out that one of the City’s providers, Neuron Mobility, had done research which showed definite benefits for local traders.
“Feedback we have received from Neuron is that 62 per cent of trips on their e-scooters resulted in a purchase from a local business – 20 per cent of which were over $50,” Mr MacLennan said.
Similar results were provided by the City’s other provider Beam.
Research by Neuron also found that nearly half e-scooter trips replaced a car journey, avoiding 1553 tonnes of CO2 emissions, and supported the nighttime economy.
“We are actively engaging with local businesses to address their feedback and ensure that designated parking locations for e-scooters do not negatively impact their operations,” Mr MacLennan said.
“Additionally, we are exploring the possibility of creating dedicated e-scooter parking areas to minimise clutter on the footpaths and enhance the overall pedestrian experience.”
Mr MacLennan said Neuron and Beam had systems to ensure users wore helmets, but Vincent hadn’t been monitoring any lawless behaviour as that was a police job.
“Should there be evidence of high levels of unlawful share e-scooter use, we will work collaboratively with our providers and other agencies such as the City of Perth, WA Police and Road Safety Commission on suitable solutions.
“With the increasing popularity of e-scooters, both in terms of shared hire usage and private ownership, it is important that education around safety and rider courtesy continues to be a key focus in the community.”
The City of Perth also has e-scooter contracts, but it said a couple of its key experts were away this week and they’d get back to us for the next edition.
Perth Voice Interactive 