A 17-YEAR-OLD youth has been charged with grievous bodily harm over an assault in Northbridge that left a 44-year-old man with a brain injury.
Police say the victim had been involved in a physical altercation with the youth around 5am on Sunday April 1 while walking through the Perth Cultural Centre, but his friends had convinced him to walk away.
He later returned to the centre with a female relative when the youth allegedly approached and struck him to the side of the head, causing him to fall back and hit his head on the ground.
The man had to be taken to Royal Perth Hospital where he underwent surgery for a brain injury. The youth appeared in court on Wednesday but wasn’t required to enter a plea.
THIEVES are targeting drone shops across Perth, with a Bayswater outlet the latest to be hit.
Crooks stole goods worth around $1000 from Drone Shop Perth in the early hours of Good Friday, in what owner Mike Severn has called an “extremely professional” heist.
The basic drone sells for $2000 and there is a great demand for second-hand devices.
“They had cased out our place prior … they had really done their homework,” Mr Severn says.
“My thinking is that they’re just after the money; I don’t think they’re too interested in the drones.”
Police arrived at the Goongarrie Street shop within 10 minutes of the alarm going off, but the crims had absconded.
• Elk FIsh Robotics entrance was smashed by robbers attempting to steal drones. Photo Supplied
Stolen devices
Some of the drones stolen were non-working display models and have been found in bushland beside the Tonkin Highway.
Thieves also targeted Elk Fish Robotics in Fremantle on Good Friday, reversing a car through the shop’s glass doors.
Shop assistant Abraham Shapiro says they do not leave stock in the store overnight and all that was stolen was empty boxes.
“It’s an inconvenience to us and that’s about it,” he says. “They didn’t take anything of value. The shop front’s insured—it’s just annoying.”
“Just about all the main drone shops in Perth have been hit”.
Mr Shapiro says stolen drones can be traced using their serial numbers.
The Autumn River Festival’s back on this Saturday April 7 at Riverside Gardens. Bayswater council’s annual free family-fest runs 2pm to 9pm down at the water near Milne St.
There will be food vans, market stalls, music, free carnival rides and an outdoor movie later in the night, so bring a picnic blanket.
Local Andrew Main says they are sick of footpaths broken for years at a time, construction debris scattered about and streets littered with cracks and potholes.
He says a lot of the footpaths around town are in such poor condition they pose a danger to pedestrians, especially kids, the elderly and people in wheelchairs.
He knows of a seven-year-old lad who’s lost four teeth in two scooter accidents, and a woman who ended up in a sling after going for a walk, all because of poorly-maintained footpaths.
A neighbourhood physio told him they’d love to get patients walking around the area as part of their rehabilitation but they just won’t risk it.
There’s some regular dolts who’ll park their cars across the footpath, as well as tradesmen, making life dangerous for those in a wheelchair or pushing a pram.
There’s one spot in North Perth where the footpath’s been damaged beyond use for three years as construction drags on.
• North Perth residents Amy Hills, Adam Greay, Marta Perez Rey, Andrew Main, Sonia Hills and Geraldine Box want footpaths improved. Photo by Steve Grant
Vincent council requests builders repair footpaths at the end of construction, but that can still leave them in disrepair for long stretches.
“For able-bodied people it’s okay, but for young people, people with prams, older people, and people in wheelchairs … I think it’s a serious issue,” says Mr Main.
He wants Vincent to crack down on these offenders and force them to fix things in a timely manner.
“I think Vincent needs to be tougher on them.”
Mr Main would like to see a fraction of the attention and expense given to cars, extended to those on foot.
“We’re trying to raise the point that walking should have a higher priority. It seems to be a forgotten mode of transport.”
He says if our roads were in as poor condition as our footpaths there’d be outrage from motorists.
Vincent Mayor Emma Cole says they’re working on improving things for pedestrians.
One issue previously was that they had two separate advisory groups dealing with traffic and roads: There was the cyclists and pedestrian group (which Mr Main used to be a member on) and then there was the car-centric group.
The City’s engineers would suggest a plan to solve car traffic issues, but then it’d get kicked over to the pedestrian and cycle advisory group where they’d spot big problems for non-car users. Those two groups have now been merged.
Ms Cole says several pedestrian crossings will be upgraded, including the one at Vincent Street near Beatty Park.
Narrow
Currently the Vincent Street median strip is so narrow that if you’re on a bike or pushing a pram, half of it sticks out into the road.
In 2015, former Vincent mayor John Carey got so fed up with builders destroying footpaths and leaving debris everywhere he asked council staff to investigate stiffer penalties.
The idea was workshopped by councillors last August and will come before council later this year.
THE Friendship Group for seniors in Bayswater is going from strength to strength and about 50 people are now attending monthly morning teas.
80-year-old Polly Lawson—who says “I feel fantastic”—started up the group a few years back after becoming Bayswater Seniors Citizens Association president.
“I wanted to start a group for people who had lost their partners, who were lonely, who just wanted to have a chat,” she says.
Ms Lawson is not a widow: “I was too smart, I didn’t marry. Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe,” she chuckles.
“They just love coming and having a nosh up and a chat and a good belly laugh.
“Now and again I throw in a dirty joke and they laugh and laugh.”
• Pinkies up! Bayswater mayor Dan Bull loves coming along to Polly Lawson’s friendship group for seniors. Photo supplied
She says; “there’s definitely a need for it … some of them when they lose their partner they feel it’s the end of the world.
“And all they need is to talk about it, because it’s happened to a lot of people”.
Ms Lawson says people share their troubles and solutions to whatever’s going on, whether it’s bills or pills.
But sometimes they just share memories. “They’ve all got something to have a chat about, ‘oh do you remember this, or do you remember that,’ they just start on a gentle scale and they get into why they’re there and the things that are going on in their lives.”
The Friendship Group meets at the Bayswater Seniors Centre, at 27 King William Street, on the first Wednesday of every month (call 9271 5198 for info).
But on May 21 they’re having a Biggest Morning Tea event at 9am if you want to pop in for a cuppa and a chat.
PUSSY CATS and bookworms are joining forces to de-stress youths in Bayswater.
Kittens from Cat Haven will stretch alongside 12 to 18 year olds in special yoga sessions at the Morley Library during Youth Week.
“Juggling homework, assignments and extra-curricular activities can be particularly stressful especially at the start of a new school year,” says Bayswater mayor Dan Bull.
“Many studies have found that regular yoga sessions can help minimise stress and increase productivity.
“We knew offering a free yoga class would be popular with our young people, but adding kittens to the mix is something particularly special.”
Kitten Yoga is a free event on April 17 at 4pm, and you can register at bayswater.evanced.info/signup or on 9272 0980.
If you can bring along a donation for Cat Haven they would love some cat food, toys, kitty litter or towels.
Wheel of fortune
IT is disappointing to see Liberal Democrat MP Aaron Stonehouse blatantly and purposely breaking the law by not wearing a helmet while riding to promote a law change (“MP flips lid over law”, Voice, March 24, 2018).
Breaking any law is clearly not acceptable for any leader, and I was very disappointed to see Mr Stonehouse on the Voice’s front page showing what some political leaders find acceptable.
We need “law abiding citizens” as political leaders. Todd Hutchison
Palmed off
I HAVE to wonder if the 1500 people in the Refugee Walk on Palm Sunday (“Message getting out”, Voice, March 29, 2018), gave any thought to the families of the two people murdered by Man Haron Monis in the Lindt Cafe siege, who was one of the “refugees” they were marching for. Patrick F. Whalen Blythe Ave, Yokine The Ed says: Why focus on the actions of one mentally ill person rather than the thousands upon thousands of people who’ve found asylum in Australia and have gone on to make an immeasurable contribution to this country?
THERE are two things Perth’s restaurant scene lacks—authentic Moroccan cuisine and affordable BYO joints.
That’s why Mashawi in Mt Lawley is such a Godsend, because it ticks both boxes.
Situated on bustling Beaufort Street, the restaurant serves up the best Moroccan food I’ve ever had in Perth.
Their meal transformed a routine Monday-night dinner with my mum into a gastronomic delight.
The staff were attentive and friendly, but not pushy, and were quick to give us a complimentary pita bread basket, and two wine glasses for our pinot noir (corkage $3pp).
Before too long we were enjoying the mixed hot tapas platter ($22.90).
We chose the vegetarian option which came with falafel, spinach and feta ‘cigars’, dolmades, grilled haloumi, and tzatziki and hummus dips.
Nothing on the plate disappointed but I really enjoyed the falafel, which was crisp on the outside with fluffy innards, and went perfectly with the fresh tzatziki dip.
My mum couldn’t go past the grilled haloumi drizzled in lemon juice. The Cypriot cheese is one of those dishes best prepared by professional chefs, and Mashawi does it so well.
For mains we ordered apricot chicken ($22.90) and vegetable mousaka ($19.90) tagines, with a side of tabouli ($9.00).
The chicken was sweet and so tender it fell apart at the slightest touch, while the moussaka was rich and packed with flavour.
Both tagines were served on a bed of steaming couscous, sprinkled with crunchy almonds, and sultanas.
Our side of tabouli perfectly complemented the tagines, providing just enough zest without overpowering the dishes, unless you’re overzealous with your spoonfuls, like I was initially.
The servings were so generous we ended up taking our leftovers home, which I happily enjoyed for lunch the next day.
THE STEMS are one of those seminal 80s Perth bands that are still loved around the world.
The alt-rockers made their live debut in 1984, alongside The Triffids and The Saints, and over three decades later they remain a must-see act for music lovers.
The Stems celebrated the 30th anniversary of their debut album At First Sight Violets Are Blue with a national tour last year, and are about to play a series of dates in Europe.
Before they head off they will play a special gig at The Rosemount Hotel on Sunday April 15, marking the reissue of At First Sight … on vinyl.
Stems frontman Dom Mariani will be joined by original members Julian Matthews and Dave Shaw, and You Am I’s Davey Lane.
An architectural designer by day, Mariani still loves playing his “guitar pop” to audiences across the globe.
• The Stems will play The Rosemount Hotel on April 15. Photo supplied
European tour
“Its great for us, we get to go there and meet these people and it just keeps your whole interest in playing music alive,” he told the Voice.
“It’s a bit like sport: you’re going out there for that period of time and you’re in a zone.”
The band’s three-week European tour, which includes performances in Spain, Italy, Germany and the UK, is testament to their enduring popularity.
“It’s great people still want to hear the songs being played,” Mariani says.
“Our sound seemed to hit a spot with the Europeans and Americans. The 80s was a very fertile period for Australian music.”
Mariani said The Stems were different to most of the local bands in the 80s.
“We were breaking the mould of what was going on in Perth,” he says.
“Perth had these massive cover bands at these big venues, but there were a few places in Perth like the Old Melbourne, The Shenton Park and The Red Parrot that would have bands like The Stems and The Triffids”.
Spare Parts Puppet Theatre and the Western Australian Museum are excited to present the world premiere of Tom Vickers and the Extraordinary Adventure of his Missing Sock at the WA Shipwrecks Museum Fremantle from 14-29 April; the Museum of Geraldton from 10-13 May and the Museum of the Great Southern in Albany from 1-4 June 2018.
Involving 10 performers and 19 installations, the production invites audiences to go on a “choose your own adventure” as they explore different story lines through mysterious objects, curated artefacts and performance installations that are all connected to an event in 1914 on a battlefield on the Western Front.
Photo by Matt Sav
Artistic Director of Spare Parts Philip Mitchell said that the show is a rich tapestry of personal stories about the interconnected lives of people over the last 100 years and is intended to reveal how small acts of kindness can change the world.
“We all have the power to create positive change and everyday acts of kindness can have great impact over time. Audiences can expect a totally unique immersive and interactive experience,” says Mr Mitchell.
Tickets are extremely limited. For bookings and session times visit http://www.sppt.asn.au
Perth Voice Interactive 