Perth Voice Interactive

FREE clinics during the school holidays will teach kids how to fish down at Hinds Reserve in Bayswater.

Run by Recfishwest and the local council, kids will learn about making the most of nature, safe fishing skills, and how to look after the environment while landing a whopper.

Bayswater Mayor Dan Bull takes his kids Harrison and Willow fishing in the Swan River.

They mostly pull up blowies, but get the odd bream, and Harrison once snapped up a snapper.

“These clinics teach children about the importance of sustainable and safe fishing practices,” Cr Bull said.

“The great thing about the City of Bayswater is that we have the river right here on our doorstep, so you can literally fish in the city.

“Learning to fish is a great life skill for kids and a fun and interactive school holiday activity.

“These clinics encourage children to be outside and enjoy the fresh air while also learning something new.”

The first workshop is December 20 and the second is on January 22.

All fishing gear, tackle, bait and sunscreen are provided, and there’s a sausage sizzle.

It’s free but spots are limited so register via nina.zupins-hodgson@bayswater.wa.gov.au or 9270 4115.

It’s open to under 17s, but kids under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

VENOMOUS anti-gay comics are being letterboxed in North Perth.

Last week the Voice reported that religious “tract” comics, by US-based fundamentalist Chick Publications, were being anonymously distributed to West Perth letterboxes.

That comic had an inoffensive Jesus story, but a Voice reader from Palmerston Street says they’ve received a far more disturbing comic, featuring an extremist religious woman caring for men in an AIDS hospice.

The woman tells the men that they have AIDS because of the devil, and says “now you’ve got full-blown AIDS and your days are numbered!”

It says of gay people: “Almost every one of them was sexually molested as a child”.

The character says she was raped as a child and tells the men “if Jesus hadn’t saved me and cast out that devil with its nasty thoughts, I could have become a lesbian—or worse—and dying from AIDS just like you are now.”

The comic also claims “the gay community fulfills Christ’s prophecy [of the end of the world] by terrifying politicians, strong-arming the media, and creating little sodomites in our school systems. They want the world to become like Sodom.”

The comic ends with one of the men with AIDS thanking the evangeliser: “I asked Jesus to kick that powerful monster and his spirit buddies out of me… and He did! He set me free! And I know I’m going to heaven real soon.”

The reader who got in touch says the tracts are concerning because the comic-book style is appealing to children, but the content is repugnant.

WA AIDS Council president David Kernohan says “unfortunately such prejudice and fear still exists.

“As an ex-minister of religion it is unfortunate the message they try to convey is muddied by their fear, anxiety and uncertainty.”

The WA AIDS Council is currently undertaking a campaign “This is what HIV looks like in 2017”, in an attempt to reduce the stigma around the illness, and demonstrate people with HIV can live healthy lives.

“The risk of these perverted messages is the potential damage it does to young LGBTIQA+ young people who are perhaps less resilient to this hatred and animosity,” Mr Kernohan says.

Chick Publications is considered a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Centre, a US non-profit that tracks extremist organisations.

CP has also published anti-Islam comics, that have been distributed in the eastern states, and anti-Catholic comics.

There’s a blank space at the back of the tracts that’d usually contain the details of whoever’s distributing them, but like the ones in West Perth, this section was left blank.

by DAVID BELL

LISA SCAFFIDI has successfully appealed some of the State Administrative Tribunal’s rulings against her.

On November 30, the court of appeal overturned 26 of the 45 “serious breaches” of undeclared gifts and travel found against Ms Scaffidi by the three-member SAT panel.

Many of the breaches that were overturned related to Ms Scaffidi travelling to speak at a conference or attending press council meetings, as they were an integral part of her mayoral duties, and weren’t gifts.

The breaches relating to accepting BHP Billiton’s Beijing Olympics package, and the Broome trip paid for by Hawaiian, remain upheld, along with undeclared travel to Seoul, Houston, Kagoshima and Dubai.

Ms Scaffidi will now have a new penalty hearing in front of a new set of SAT members.

The decision overturns Ms Scaffidi’s 18-month disqualification, while we wait for a new hearing, and the court of appeals ordered the department of local government to pay for Ms Scaffidi’s breaches appeal, and half the cost for her penalty appeal.

The court of appeals also said some of the criticism the SAT doled out to Ms Scaffidi, such as that her conduct was “grossly careless”, was based on incorrect findings.

It could take up to three months for the SAT to make a new order.

The decision means Ms Scaffidi could come back as lord mayor now, as she’s currently stepped down from lord mayoral duties while the appeal played out.

As we were going to print, Ms Scaffidi released a statement saying she wants to sit down for mediation with the local government department to negotiate an appropriate penalty.

She says if they continue to refuse mediation, “then I will have done everything within my power to bring this matter to finality as soon as possible and, accordingly, will resume my duties as lord mayor”.

by DAVID BELL

PUT a lock on your letterbox because thieves are out stealing mail.

As Christmas rolls around they’re probably looking for cards with cash in them, but it seems they often just grab everything and then sort through it later and throw out the boring bills.

Bayswater councillor Catherine Ehrhardt was down at the Bardon Park Friends Group busy bee and found “a heap of what I assume is stolen mail” down there. Among the bills there was also pathology results and even a child’s letter to Santa in the pile.

She dropped it off at the post office for redelivery.

The envelopes had all come from Kathleen Avenue and Eighth Avenue.

Cr Ehrhardt has previously found opened parcels dumped down at the Maylands Lakes area.

The Voice has also seen mail thieves operating brazenly around Glendower Street in North Perth, busting locks off in broad daylight and nicking mail (they left when we yelled insults at them).

Australia Post strongly recommends sticking a lock on your letterbox because some crims aren’t just seeking quick cash in cards, but your details for identity theft scams.

PERTH federal MP Tim Hammond made an emotional parliamentary speech on marriage equality, paying tribute to his late gay sister-in-law and the many Western Australians who spent decades fighting for change.

The marriage amendment was in front of the lower house this week and Mr Hammond said his views on the yes vote were formed by his late sister-in-law.

“Her name was Sharon. She was 42. She fundamentally formed my views in relation to why this should simply be a ‘yes’ vote. “Sharon was gay and she had a partner for 16 years. I could never possibly look Sharon in the eye and tell her that she didn’t have the same right to get married to her partner as I did to her sister. It was as simple as that.

Freedom of choice

“I don’t know what Sharon would have done knowing that she could actually make her marriage a reality subsequent to the passing of this legislation. We will never know—she died some years ago, very young—but it’s not the point; the point is that she would have had the choice.

“That’s all this legislation seeks to achieve: the freedom of choice to ensure that Sharon’s relationship with her partner, as she then was, is held on equal footing with the relationship that I have with her sister.

“It’s as simple as that. I heartily endorse those who have spoken before me on this. The answer is simple: no amendments, no excuses and no more delays. Let’s just get on with it.”

Mr Hammond continued by paying tribute to the brave parliamentarians who’d fought for marriage equality down the years.

“The first is Brian Greig, a former Australian Democrats senator who stood up in the other place as an openly gay man in his first speech, in 1999, and foreshadowed the long and bitter fight ahead simply in the name of equality and to recognise the equality of the value of relationships, not only in relation to marriage but in many other areas of unfair and unjust sexual discrimination and discrimination based upon gender or sexuality. Brian Greig, we salute you.

“A former state member for Perth, John Hyde, was one of the first openly gay men in our state parliament.

“He made his maiden speech in 2001. John, this moment is for you and for all like you and Brian, who fought so hard, for so long, so long ago. That is what we’re here for.”

Mr Hammond said he was proud the seat of Perth lodged a 71.5 per cent yes vote.

The yes vote in WA was 63.7 per cent, second only to Victoria, which recorded 64.9 per cent.

Nationally, 61.6 per cent of respondents were in favour of marriage equality.

by DAVID BELL

PICTURESQUE Harley Street in Highgate is set to become Vincent’s newest “character retention and heritage area”.

The scheme was introduced in 2015—after many years of debate and failed protoversions—to protect the theme and aesthetics of heritage areas around town.

It doesn’t prevent development, but means any new buildings should fit in with the area, be it height, house type or construction materials.

Federation style

But uptake’s been slow, as for character retention areas to be established, at least 40 per cent of affected properties must support it.

Harley Street’s keen though, with 70 per cent of property owners signing a petition in support of becoming a retention area.

The main objectives for Harley Street are:

• Retention and conservation of the original Federation style dwellings;

• Protection and enhancement of existing streetscape character;

• Retention of the visual dominance of late nineteenth to early twentieth century residential development.

New development should also fit in with the area, and they’ve even stipulated “recommended fencing styles”.

Harley Street becoming a retention and heritage area is up for debate at Tuesday’s Vincent council meeting.

THE annual Carols by Candlelight for Variety in picturesque Langley Park will be free again this year.

With the singing to be led by Australian Idol contestant and platinum album seller Damien Leith, it’ll be huge evening with Harrison Craig, Georgia Caceres, Susie Mathers, Chris and Courtney Murphy and the Variety Youth Choir also on the bill.

Food stalls and kids activities such as face painting will kick off at 3pm and there’ll be a Peppa Pig show at 4.30pm, while the ferris wheel and teacup ride will be available all afternoon. Then, of course, the carols kick off at 6.50pm and the spectacular fireworks display brings it to a big close at 9pm.

Variety WA general manager Phil Croot says he’s thrilled to be offering the 73-year-old event for free again.

“As always, I am most looking forward to seeing all the kids singing along and enjoying a real family event, which is of course also raising funds to help empower WA kids who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs to live, laugh and learn,” Mr Croot said.

A BEAUTIFUL, 15-metre Christmas tree looms over Elizabeth Quay, bringing joy to visitors to Perth’s new entertainment precinct.

But it’s also a reminder that for many people, the festive season can be a time of increased anxiety, depression and loneliness.

The tree was decorated with thousands of sparkling lights by Lifeline WA to represent the people who called its telephone crisis support line in the last year, and they’ve called for Perth people to share their own Christmas trees online in support.

Lifeline WA CEO Lorna McGregor said their services were under increasing demand and they’re really in need of donations.

“We encourage everyone to visit our special tree this Christmas, and get behind the campaign by decorating their own homes and trees and donating to help Lifeline WA answer calls to 13 11 14,” Ms McGregor said.

People can dedicate their own Chrissie decoration to the campaign by sharing photos on social media using the hashtag #shinealightforlife and making a donation at http://www.lifelinewa.org.au.

TRADITIONAL Chinese culture isn’t where’d you normally go looking for Santa Claus.

However, thanks to a Chinese government initiative aimed at preserving the country’s ancient arts, kids in Perth will get to hang out with Santa, his helpers and a favourite fairytale character at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, December 16 – 22.

Bringing all these disparate bits together is remarkable young Perth music teacher and WAAPA graduate Fay Gao.

Ms Gao started learning music as a 4-year-old back in her hometown of Shenyang, China, where she studied piano at the local conservatory.

But in 2002 she followed her heart and a young beau to Australia, taking up her studies at WAAPA and completing a masters in performance. To pay the bills she set up a day care centre and a music school which is still running today and employs eight music teachers.

Her big break came in 2007 when the Chinese government contacted her production company Meilan Music, which she’d set up as a 16-year-old back in Shenyang with fellow student Sui Xiaofeng. He’s since become something of a popstar in China.

With government funding, he composed the music for a puppetry show based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairytale Thumbelina, the tiny girl who emerges from a peasant’s flower and goes on quite an adventure after being carried off by a toad.

There’s been five performance of Thumbelina in China since then, while Xiofeng has since added Snow White and Cinderella to the repertory.

Ms Gao always dreamed of bringing a show to her new home, but says it’s so expensive it’s taken a decade to save enough money.

Now she’s locked in Thumbelina at the convention centre, and has roped in hundreds of local singers, musicians, actors and dancers to ensure it’s got a real Aussie flavour.

And her talented buddy has rejigged the score to add in an appearance from Santa and his tiny helpers, who have been co-opted from dance schools throughout the city.

Helping the whole thing along has been the generosity of the Chinese government, which has paid for a 40-foot container full of a million dollars’ worth of lighting and high-tech gadgetry to be shipped to Perth for the performance.