WHEN the Layup Cafe changed managers recently, owner Vicki Sorrenson wanted an inviting eatery where denizens could meet, so she renamed it The Local.
“I want it to be a place to catch up, as a community base,” she told the Voice.
I was heading elsewhere for lunch, but the beaming smile of a young women serving alfresco customers at The Local, and her astute advice on where to park made me change my plans.
Everything except the cakes are made in-house, using fresh, seasonal produce, Ms Sorrenson says.
I ordered the barramundi, which was the most expensive item on a well-priced menu.
Perched on a potato cake, with a wonderfully fresh and crunchy coleslaw, the fish was well worth the $25.
The flesh was firm and moist, with a lovely orange and caper sauce, but a generous squeeze of fresh lime juice made all the difference.
Meanwhile, my new friends Kirsty and John were demolishing a couple of burgers.
He had the surf and turf—an amazing tower of grilled steak and crab meat—and she had the trusty old beef burger (both $20 with chips).
“The tomato sauce is homemade and it’s awesome, zesty and tasty,” Kirsty said.
John loved his burger and was really excited about the “big, chunky” chips
“Each chip was likable in itself–and you get a whole basket full,” he enthused.
Regulars at the cafe love the coffee: “It’s always wonderful,” Kirsty said.
“Excellent,” John agreed, who was just back from the Pilbara and had been hanging for The Local’s brew.
I opted for a pot of earl grey tea, and a slice of banana bread ($8 together).
Served toasted, the bread had a hint of spice and a lovely caramel crust, and was so moist it hardly needed the butter it came with, but I slathered it on anyway.
NORTH Perth singer/songwriter Davey Craddock has gone all “gnarled” and dark in his second album One Punch.
It’s a stark departure from his debut City West, which had a classic Aussie country sound.
“There are no love songs, no country songs in One Punch,” Craddock says.
The songs examine men’s relationships with other men.
“Or perhaps their inability to relate, to connect…Whether fathers or friends.”
The title song is about the growing number of one-punch attacks—there’s blood on the pavement, helicopters overhead and a racist shouting over a fence, as the blurry-eyed protagonist leads us down a taxi rank, where each bloodied customer is given the chance to explain themselves and their bruises.
• Davey Craddock and the Spectacles: Mo Wilson, Craddock, Pete Stone, Bryn Stanford and Luke Dux. Photo supplied
“What the hell are these people so angry about?” Craddock sings.
“What are we all so angry about?
What the fuck is going on.”
The singer/narrator could be an observer standing on the other side of the road, or he could be the perpetrator of an unprovoked attack, Craddock says.
“The song is trying to work out why men belt the shit out of each other.”
Half of the songs on the album were written while Craddock was touring the US and the presidential election debates were on television.
“An anxiety-inducing time, a tumultuous time to be writing an album,” he says.
Davey Craddock and the Spectacles (Mo Wilson, Pete Stone, Bryn Stanford and Luke Dux) will launch One Punch at Mojos, in North Fremantle, February 10.
COULD 21-year-old Ellen-Hope Thomson be Perth’s next impresario?
She’s already established her own contemporary dance company, Fonder Physical Theatre, and is set to premier her third Fringe Festival show, Here Moving.
The WA Academy of Performing Arts graduate has a penchant for straightforward names, and says she chose Here Moving, “because we are here and we are moving for you.”
• Ellen-Hope Thomson (back), Lauren Catellani (right) Ayesha Katz (seated). Photo by Dan MacBride
Fonder Physical Theatre, meanwhile, came from a brainstorming session with fellow graduates.
“We wanted something fresh, but something that had punch,” she says.
Here Moving is a collective of seven performers fresh out of WAAPA, in a “tasting plate” of dance theatre, with each performance lasting about 15 minutes. “If you don’t click with one, there is the next one,” Thomson says.
Here Moving is at Perth Town Hall, February 2 and 3.
IT’S been about two years since video shop owner Mel McInerney took a wage, but she refuses to close, despite living in an online age.
She says customers taking out a membership at Network Video in Mt Hawthorn often ask: “You’re not going to close on me are you? The last few stores I signed-up to shut down shortly after”.
But McInerney says she’s committed to the old-school business, explaining that its not the movies, but the store’s long-term customers and staff that keep her going.
“I think people do expect me to be some film buff, and I have to say I’m far from it. This is my childhood DVD store”.
Nostalgia
About five years ago McInerney heard the shop was up for sale and wanted to buy it, but she faced some initial resistance from her accountant husband.
“I’m of the ‘if you build it, they will come’ school,” Ms McInerney says, “and he’s saying ‘it’s not the right time in this economy’,” but nostalgia eventually won out.
Even in 2018 there’s a few things people like about a video store: loyal customers enjoy chatting to staff, getting movie tips and sometimes a hug from Mel, or recommendations a bit more nuanced than Netflix’s automated “Because You Watched…” algorithm.
• Network Video owner Mel McInerney: a physical retailer in a virtual age. Photo by Steve Grant
When the Voice was down at the store taking photos, Peter Chance—one of the regulars Ms McInerney is on first-name terms with—wandered by to drop off a few titles. A cousin of former state minister Kim Chance, he says it’s the last convenient video store around, and well worth the 10-minute walk because he’s not all that much into computers.
Network Video also has more than 47,000 titles, while Netflix currently has 3,844 movies and TV shows, and they come and go as licensing agreements expire.
The foreign and obscure movies also keeps customers coming through the door.
Business at the store improved in 2015 when the makers of Dallas Buyers Club pursued thousands of people who’d illegally downloaded pirate copies of the movie.
Their attempt to get customer information out of iiNet ultimately fizzled (the company didn’t want to put down a $600,000 bond to go ahead), but it spooked many pirates into going legit.
Community hangout
McInerney says that if people don’t pay for movies, eventually good films won’t get made.
“What I have to remind people is: what if your child wants to become an actor or a musician, and here you are ripping off music or a film without paying for it?”
But McInerney says she’s looking into other business ideas that she could add to the shop to keep it viable into the future.
“I’ve got this funky place in mind: a 50s diner.”
She wants it to be a community hangout, where young people can feel relaxed, even if they’re not buying anything, with the diner side of things making it viable.
The location’s still up in the air, but she’d love to still be in Mt Hawthorn.
“With the new venture, if I can take a wage, there doesn’t have to be a profit on top of that,” she says. There is much more to life than being some bigwig driving a top Mercedes, having a flash boat and house. For me it’s about creating jobs, that’s beneficial not just to my local community but everyone.”
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20) The presence of Mars in Sagittarius is a happy occasion for you. You sense possibilities to the left and the right of you. A wave of happiness is rolling through you. Life is presently effortlessly adventurous. You don’t have to put in any effort at all. Just follow the existential cues.
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20) Venus has been shaking you up since she has been in Aquarius. She has been doing her level best to lift your gaze up from the clover that’s been keeping you happy, to wider horizons. Things settle down this week. This is because you see that opportunity is not a threat to security after all.
GEMINI (May 21 – June 21) It’s a struggle to match one’s ideals with reality. There are always shortfalls. There’s a difference between idealism and awareness. Others won’t necessarily pick that you are having a moral crisis. Rather than expecting people to mind read, try talking up about what you are going through.
CANCER (June 22 – July 22) In a moment alone early in the week, perhaps writing in your journal, or maybe sitting wistfully at a bus stop, you strike inspiration. It appears in a relaxed moment. You will understand how to intervene where intervention is needed, in such a way that your actions don’t provoke reaction.
LEO (July 23 – Aug 22) Relationship is proving a challenge. You are being asked to prove your emotional credentials, every step of the way. Far from being a showy lion, when it comes down to it, you are a very warm and courageous lion. It is true that you sometimes have to be challenged to show your colours.
VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22 Mercury has entered Aquarius. You are looking at the world from an unorthodox perspective. For now you are laying low and keeping quiet. Sooner or later you will surprise those around you with unexpected views. To stand out from the crowd invariably triggers reactions. Go slowly.
LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23) In being elegantly indecisive, you are putting on airs to mask any insecurity that is shaking you at the core. Life has been inviting you to open up and expand. You like the idea but the reality makes you tremble. The good news is that things settle down this week. Relax and take your chances.
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21) In taking a progressive position it’s natural that others will attempt to thwart you. You are shifting important matters around on their axis. A certain amount of resistance is inevitable. Know it’s coming and communicate your position clearly. To get defensive will make things tricky.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21) With Mars in your midst, you start discovering you can actually do the things that you have been struggling with. Where you have been working hard to master a skill, suddenly you discover you have the knack. Others are going to want a piece of your expertise. Prepare a good response.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19) When you go deep and explore the pools of feeling in the subterranean caves of your being, everything goes smoothly. If you try to stay on a light and fluffy trajectory and not honour your depth, then obstacles appear out of nowhere. Relax and go with what is. Fight won’t work.
AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18) Mercury has come in to join Venus and the Sun in Aquarius. The dilemma of Mercury is originality of insight. If you are functioning according to others understanding, you will be lead up a winding goat track to nowhere. If you move according to your own insight, your light will shine.
PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20) Your understanding and talents are being honoured. Your approach is not always understood but your results are. The cosmos is watching out for you. Someone has an eye on what you are up to and is willing to back you. The sincerity behind your offering is being appropriately noted.
JUST between you and me, land banking can be a good thing sometimes.
I know councils and neighbours really hate big, empty blocks of land sitting around like a missing tooth in a beauty queen’s smile, but for buyers there are obvious benefits.
The owners of Verge Apartments bought their chunk of Bronte Street 15 years ago, which was just before Perth’s property went mining-boom mental and the average home cost a shade under $200,000.
Low fees
That means that Duomark’s able to offer its two-year-old Verge Apartments at prices significantly cheaper than some neighbouring projects, and without scrimping on the quality as some have in this tough market.
Verge is perfectly situated to take advantage of the re-emergence of East Perth – it’s convenient for anyone working in the city, but unlike years gone by when this area was a forgotten realm, there’s now a swag of facilities for residents.
There’s the obvious cafes and restaurants on Royal Street and along the river foreshore, the under-rated Queens Gardens is only a couple of blocks away, or if you’re a bit ghoulish you can check out the remains of pioneers in the heritage-listed cemetery at the end of the road.
Verge has been designed for those who want a minimum of fuss and low fees – there’s no razzle-dazzle in the common areas, but that means less maintenance and lower strata fees.
The architect ensured the 43 one- and two-bedroom units have passive design principles, with lots of effort going into ensuring cross-ventilation and making sure there was plenty of natural light via full-length balcony windows and bright colour schemes.
I like the fact there are no internal bedrooms – there’s a reason this has been outlawed in some states over east and WA should get on board sooner rather than later; there’s something gaol-like in waking up without being able to see the sky.
Each apartment comes with reverse-cycle air con in a bedroom and the living area, while they’re all pre-wired for Generation Next.
There’s not a whole swag of apartments left to choose from, which is hardly surprising, but there are one- and two-bedroom options available.
by STEVE GRANT
Verge Apartments 36 Bronte Street, East Perth Prices from $430,000 – $680,000 Kim Lim 0412 796 445 Duomark http://www.duomark.com.au
Perth Radiological Clinic will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2018. It marks a significant milestone for the clinic, which provides specialist radiological care to West Australians. It is the longest established, continuously operating radiology practice in WA. At its inception in 1948, Perth Radiological Clinic operated from four clinics.
Seventy years later PRC operates 20 clinics in the Perth metropolitan area.
It is not by luck that the business has thrived for 70 years. It requires dedication, expert care, the latest technology, careful management, ethical practices and above all a deep understanding and respect for the doctors and patients it serves. The partners and staff at Perth Radiological Clinic would like to thank everyone for your continued support. With five clinics situated in the
local area at Subiaco, Perth, Innaloo, Nollamara and Morley, Perth Radiological Clinic is here to assist you with all your imaging needs. For more information and enquiries, please visit the website.
THE GREENS have apologised to the City of Vincent after sending out a letter claiming the council had joined the campaign to change the date of Australia Day—it hadn’t.
A letter from Greens senator Rachel Siewert went out to WA councils on Friday, urging them to support changing the date of Australia Day because “January 26 reflects a day of mourning for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples”.
“The City of Moreland, the City of Vincent, and the City of Fremantle have already joined the push towards changing the date, to ensure everyone is welcome,” reads the letter. “Please join us in this growing movement”.
Vincent mayor Emma Cole says council hasn’t tackled the question of changing the date and wouldn’t do so without community consultation.
“I know we’re seen as a very progressive council and we are, but I place a high importance on being very clear and surefooted about where our community stands on issues,” Ms Cole says.
As of Friday, January 19, Ms Cole had only heard from one person who wanted to change the Australia Day date; following the Green’s letter, two people emailed her to say they were against a change.
• Perth Skyworks 2017. Photo by Jessica Wylde
Reconciliation
She says Vincent’s got a good relationship with Aboriginal groups, including Nyoongar Outreach, people who worked on their Reconciliation Action Plan, and elders who come to their citizenship ceremonies, and the city wouldn’t join the “change the date” campaign without speaking to them first.
Ms Siewert says “my office has spoken to the mayor and apologised for the confusion, as the City of Vincent have not progressed conversations on changing the date as much as we initially thought”.
If Vincent council did support changing the date it would be a symbolic move.
Vincent council doesn’t currently hold any big celebrations, unlike Fremantle which used to hold a big January 26 celebration (now moved to the “One Day in Fremantle” event on January 28).
Vincent only has the citizenship ceremony on January 26, and the Turnbull government has told the city it can only be held on that date. Last August the council received what Ms Cole describes as a “strongly worded letter” from federal MP Alex Hawke, assistant minister for immigration, telling them “where a council uses a citizenship ceremony, or the ability of its office-holders to preside over one, as a tool to protest the practice of celebrating Australia Day on 26 January, I will consider this a serious breach of the Australian citizenship ceremonies code, and will revoke the authorisation of office-holders of the council.”
The letter was part of a nation-wide Greens campaign to change the date.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Greens federal leader Richard Di Natale calling a date change one of his top priorities for 2018, saying he’d coordinate with more than 100 Greens members on local councils to prompt the debate.
Councils in Voiceland are lukewarm on the Greens’ proposal to change the date of Australia Day:
• BAYSWATER’S sticking to its Australia Day sausage sizzle. Acting mayor Chris Cornish says: “I am aware of the Green Party’s Australia Day letter and I am always disappointed when political parties try and bring party politics into local government. Frankly, that is something I think we can all do without.
“It remains my view that the discussion about the date for Australia Day needs to happen at a national level following extensive community debate.
“As a council we will be marking Australia Day with a community barbecue and citizenship ceremony.”
• STIRLING mayor Mark Irwin says: “There has been no discussion by the council on moving the Australia Day celebrations from 26 January. The city will continue to hold our Australia Day Awards followed by a citizenship ceremony and will to use this day to celebrate our great country, our inclusiveness and our diversity”. He says; “feedback received from the Aboriginal community is divided…the city of Stirling will continue to focus on fostering reconciliation, understanding and respect from all parties”.
• PERTH lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi says: “It is important local government councils and councillors remain apolitical, and state or federal political parties should not attempt to influence council decisions or lobby for favourable outcomes. The position of the City of Perth council is January 26 should be retained as the date for Australia Day. Any decision to change the date is a matter for the federal government, not local government.”
On February 4, Coogee Street car park will be decked-out with boxes, rails, kickers and a quarter pipe.
Organised by community organisation the Mt Hawthorn Hub and public skating advocates Skate Sculpture, they had a trial run on the top level of the Mezz carpark two years ago.
• A previous skate park pop-up in the Mezz carpark. Photos by Jumping Jigsaws Photography
“We had loads of people rock up to the pop-up,” Mt Hawthorn Hub chair Elle Gonzalez-Skuja says.
She says the idea came about “in response to our community consultation and engagement that we did last year. There was a resounding request for the community to have more events for young people”.
There’s already quite a lot of facilities in the parks and playgrounds for smaller kids, but the skate park aims to fill the gap for tweens and teens.
Ms Gonzalez-Skuja says if the response is good they’d like to advocate for a permanent skate park in Mt Hawthorn.
“That would be great. It would be important to find the right location…let’s trial it and see what the response is and take it from there.”
The pop-ups are on February 4, 3pm to 7pm, May 20, noon to 4pm, August 12, noon to 4pm, and August 18, 2pm to 6pm.
HOLDING Australia Day on January 26 is a relatively recent development in the nation’s history, and it only became a national public holiday in 1994.
In the early colonial days, January 26 celebrations were mostly held in New South Wales, commemorating the date in 1788 when Arthur Phillip and a contingent of royal marines landed on Eora Nation land and announced they were claiming it for the King of the United Kingdom.
The first fleets had arrived a bit earlier, but did some recce before finding a good spot to land.
Mr Phillip’s decision to have marines accompany him on his first steps ashore was portentous.
Their mission was “to form a military establishment on shore (not only for the protection of the settlement, if requisite, against the natives, but for the preservation of good order)”.
Greens senator Rachel Siewert’s letter to WA councils describes that date as “a day of mourning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples” that “started over 200 years of dispossession and oppression for our First peoples”.
• Perth Skyworks 2017. Photo by Jessica Wylde
Invasion Day
She wrote “Australia is a country rich with diversity and culture, and it should be celebrated on a day when everyone can come together. January 26 is not that day”.
The celebration date (and even the name) of Australia Day has changed many times since. According to the Australia Day Council, in the early 1800s Sydneysiders celebrated “First Landing Day” with a booze-up on January 26. It was proclaimed an annual public holiday in NSW in 1838.
It took until 1888 for other states to get on board, and even then only tentatively, with representatives from Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, WA, SA and NZ heading to Sydney to celebrate “Foundation Day”.
In the 1930s, the Australian Natives Association (referring to people of European ancestry born here) started campaigning to celebrate Australia Day with a long weekend around January 26, but it wasn’t until 1935 that all the states and territories eventually agreed on that date.
Early on it was recognised as a mournful occasion for Aboriginal people. The Australia Day Council states that In 1938 while state premiers gathered in Sydney to celebrate, Aboriginal leaders met there to protest their mistreatment and to seek full citizen rights.
In 1994 it was officially established as a public holiday, after the states and territories all agreed in 1988 to celebrate Australia Day on January 26. It was around the time of the 1988 agreement that some Aboriginal leaders started referring to the date as “Invasion Day”.
Perth Voice Interactive 