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On Sunday 9 October, the Bassendean Rail Museum will come alive for ‘Railfest’: an annual rail history extravaganza which features guided tours of full-size and model trains, swap meet stalls full of stuff for train buffs, plenty of trainy activities for kids and a buffet lunch in a railway carriage. It’s at 136 Railway Parade 10am to 4pm (with a free shuttlebus from Bassendean train station), head to http://www.railheritagewa.org.au for more details.
NEWLY minted WA local government minister Paul Miles is rejecting calls to intervene in the year-long Perth lord mayoral travel scandal saga.
Just before he resigned, his predecessor Tony Simpson, was under pressure from Labor to take action and bring the Lisa Scaffidi court case to a conclusion.
At the time Labor MPs David Templeman and Margaret Quirk got stuck in at parliament asking for a quick solution, with Mr Templeman saying it had “damaged the reputation of the office of the lord mayor and the City of Perth”.
Former Perth city councillor Alannah MacTiernan’s also called for a swift resolution, as has Bayswater councillor (and Liberal party member) Brent Fleeton.
In a Facebook post Cr Fleeton said Mr Miles is “a fantastic MP and will make a great minister”, but added “surely his most pressing issue is to show leadership by working to resolve the Lisa Scaffidi situation as soon as possible.
“I firmly believe that all the hard work many councils are doing to increase transparency and accountability is largely disregarded by the wider community because the state government is seemingly dragging its feet on prosecuting the lord mayor for failings of office [as found by the WA corruption and crime commission and the WA department of local government]. “
Cr Fleeton, who attended the most recent Perth council meeting as an observer, said “we all deserve to have faith in the integrity of the system that governs us. Right now that integrity is seriously called into question but I have faith the state government will do the right thing and uphold the rules.”
The local government department has already referred its findings to a hearing in the state administrative tribunal.
Like his predecessor, Mr Miles says it’s not his place to get involved.
“This matter is currently in the hands of the SAT and the legal processes it determines. As the new minister, I have received a full briefing and have complete confidence in the department’s handling of the matter,” he emailed the Voice.
“In order not to prejudice the outcome of the proceedings it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
by DAVID BELL
STIRLING has joined a burgeoning list of local governments to condemn the WA Property Council of Australia for producing a shoddy report on planning performance.
Released earlier this month, the ‘Benchmarking greater Perth local governments’ report ranked councils on how up-to-date their planning schemes were, how much they delegated to officers, and how quickly they processed applications.
The WA property council said Melville and Belmont were the only local governments to meet expectations across all four criteria, but Cockburn quickly slammed the report for being superficial, and East Fremantle said it missed crucial information.
Now Stirling is crying foul as well, lashing out at the report for being “inaccurate” and “entirely unhelpful”.
Acting CEO Ross Povey said there were errors in the report which caused Stirling to rank eighth out of 29 when it should have placed equal fourth.
He also noted Stirling’s excellent performance reporting, which was ignored by the WA property council because too few councils provided data in this criteria.
“It is fair to say if it is incorrect for us, then it is probably incorrect for other local governments, and WA Local Government Association has been highly critical of the report, labelling it ‘erroneous’,” Mr Povey said.
“As far as the performance of the city goes, the facts speak for themselves and our concerns with the report will be taken up directly with the property council.”
Mayor John Carey said Vincent (which ranked 12th on the report) didn’t shy away from benchmarking, but they did think it was unfair the property council gave low marks for their dated planning scheme when they had a new scheme awaiting WAPC approval for two years.
Mr Carey said upping their planning game was a priority for Vincent, which has recently appointed a new planning director to speed up approval times.
Deadline
Claremont and Victoria Park didn’t submit data for the voluntary survey, and Bayswater councillor Brent Fleeton found out his council wasn’t included because staff didn’t submit the information to the property pouncil by the deadline.
by TRILOKESH CHANMUGAM
GET the kids down to Perth Cultural Centre for the school holidays to soak up the fun of the 2016 AWESOME International Arts Festival for Bright Young things.
There’s an exciting line up of dance, music, visual arts and plenty of free activities for the whole family.
The cultural centre will be a labyrinth of artistic adventure with a raft of activities, shows and exhibitions, including A Sausage Went for a Walk One Day, a charming retrospective of 40 years of Fremantle Press.
Frank Woodley ventures into his first comedy show for kids with Noodlenut.
And festival artist-in-residence Lex Randolph will surprise and delight with some colourful textile inventions.
Make the last week of the October holidays AWESOME!
For the full program go to awesomearts.com
Long wait for bus, minister
So former transport minister, Dean Nalder, lamented recently that he couldn’t get a meeting with the premier for six months. Boo Hoo!
We tried to get a 15 minute meeting with Mr Nalder for over a year about the reduced number 15 bus service in Mt Hawthorn that was affecting the disabled and elderly, and we were emphatically told by his appointment secretary that there was no time in his diary at all.
Yet he certainly not only found time for a rich businessman recently, but commissioned a $77,000 inquiry into his transport department to make sure “that everybody who deals with the government is treated fairly, equitably and honestly.” [Hansard, 13.9.16].
We, on the other hand, were told the PTA could do no wrong. Mr Nalder’s recent spill produced 15 votes for him – the curse of the altered bus number 15 strikes back!
Yours Sincerely
Tad Krysiak
Senior ANd Disabled Bus Action Group
Soils ain’t all that
Composting at home and within the community, through organised not-for-profit associations should be encouraged. (“Big bin’s no rubbish idea,” Voice, September 24, 2016).
The North Perth Community Garden (NPCG) ran a project funded through both the City of Vincent and the WA Waste Authority, to collect waste from cafes and eating houses locally, and take it to the garden and produce first class quality compost. It’s not difficult when you know how.
The NPCG now advocates for a grants program to facilitate other groups (and not necessarily gardening groups), to try their hand at community composting. These grants are coming on stream right now. The final compost product is easily sellable and a valuable commodity. It is also organic and not contaminated.
WA soils are ridiculously lacking in nutrients. Adding compost helps to make healthier soil.
By taking organic food waste locally and composting it locally, Mayor Carey is quite right in saying that the carbon kilometres of the waste disposal are greatly reduced. Otherwise a trip to the Mindarie landfill site is 25 km. We got around that easily by keeping everything local. Think global, act local.
If anyone wants to look into furthering their expertise in composting either at a local ‘at home’ level or at the larger ‘community composting’ level, they are welcome to contact North Perth Community Garden at northperthcommunitygarden@gmail.com
Colin Scott
President – NPCG
Rifici’s alright
In your article (“Cr called out on Attendance,” Voice, September 24, 2016) your respected journo wrote strongly on reports concerning the attendance of Cr Rifici of the City of Bayswater, south ward, Maylands.
It seems a numbers game is in progress here, with the paper criticising the attendance of Cr Rifici, according to the new ‘governance portal’ of the City’s website.
Cr Rifici ran against me in south ward during the previous local election and won, therefore I have no hidden agenda here, but I do believe that using statistics on a website to criticise any councillor is a bit below the belt.
Cr Rifici has attended meetings correctly. His time on other unspecified residential meetings is not part of the governance portal and would be difficult for every councillor to ‘report’ in any detail. It’s an ongoing, time consuming element that each councillors accepts in this position, and criticism in this type of kangaroo court, in this Voice article, is totally unjustified. His voting decisions are respected by all councillors here present. His ongoing life experiences, like all other councillors, assist in his deliberations.
We all have different methods of council attendance. Some councillors achieve advisory or subcommittee meeting times, others prefer to attend various EMRC, DAP, WALGA meetings. But when you take the whole council balance, it’s very healthy and all of our different ideals, beliefs and political persuasions form a good think tank and everyone does their utmost to achieve wise decisions.
Sally Palmer
Bayswater Councillor Central Ward
Tender point
David Bell should be ashamed of himself for promoting simplistic physical determinism in calling Stirling Towers the “ugliest blights on Perth’s skyline and social fabric,” (“Tower demo tender call”, Voice, September 24, 2016).
Homeswest’s decision to demolish Stirling Towers in Smith Street, Highgate illustrates why we have a housing affordability crisis. Robbing Peter to pay Paul. Comment on sustainability should not be required.
Greg Smith
Rose Avenue, Bayswater
Maier walkout
I ATTENDED the September 20 Vincent council meeting and spoke about the city’s proposal to radically change the residential parking permit system.
Rather than take the opportunity to provide a system that uses technology to provide a better service to residents and radically improve the efficiency of the rangers, the proposed recommendation is a backwards step.
It will make rorting much easier; it will encourage even more cars in areas that are already experiencing problems at night; it will not be much more efficient that the current practice of rangers chalking tyres; and it will see residents refreshing permits more often than they really need to.
But that’s not why I write.
The standing orders, which govern the conduct of council meetings, stipulate that items brought forward by members of the public are discussed first. This simple courtesy means that members of the public do not have to spend all night waiting to hear the discussion.
Rather than discuss the item in the order specified by the standing orders the mayor chose to bring forward other items thus delaying the discussion on the parking permits.
He continued to do so after it was brought to his attention by a council member. After two and a half hours I left in disgust.
Dudley Maier
Chatsworth Road, Highgate
The Ed says: We put this to Mr Carey who told us “this meeting was one of the longest on record for this council – with 16 planning agenda items, including 8 planning items raised from the public gallery. Two hours into meeting we had dealt with only the first six items. “I made a decision to bring forward the most significant and largest planning reform in the past decade – the Built Form Policy, which includes setting new heights for density across the city, rear setbacks and landscaping requirements. “
David Bell (pictured here drinking in a whiskey bar in a completely legal and civilised manner) usually sticks to the hard facts in the news section of the Perth Voice, but in this week’s Speaker’s Corner he argues the ability to participate in that long-held Australian tradition of street drinking without police intervention is a “white privilege”—a neologism referring to the subtle privileges white people enjoy, often without even noticing.
I street drink. All the time, probably at least once a week. I love taking the dogs for a stroll with a Little Creatures pale ale in my hand, or walking to the train station on the way to a gig while enjoying a beer.
I’ve never been pulled up by police on it, ever, and I’ve probably done it 50 times a year since I turned 18. Last time Bruce Springsteen was in town, me and 780 of the whitest people you’ve ever seen were walking down Wellington Street on our way to the Perth Arena, and approximately 775 of them had a beer in hand. Not one person was pulled up.
Having a drink
So on my way home tonight it was a wake up call to see three police who’d pulled up a couple of Aboriginal women (one an older lady, the other weighing about 48kg) who were having a drink while sitting on a bench on that exact same street. I overheard one of the officers talking about how many hundreds of dollars the fine was, and one of the women saying “but only one of the bottles was open, the others are still sealed” or something. That’s rough, because I’ve never been taken to task like that, and I’ve done some blatant street drinking in the approximately 560 times I’ve broken this law since I was 18.
I get that there’s a fear that if people are drunk that they may cause violence, and so street drinking isn’t allowed. But hey, violence is already illegal right? Why are we jumping to conclusions here that if you have a beer on the street that you’ll go on a rampage, while if you have that same drink as a $14 pint in a bar then you’ll be totally chill? I’ve never done any violence all the times I’ve had a beer while out for a walk.
Illegal
No matter how drunk I’ve been I’ve never done any violence to anyone, and I don’t think these two women were likely to cause any mischief either. The worst thing I’ve ever seen a street drinker do was yell at me across the park asking to borrow a lighter. So yeah, it’s the law right now, street drinking is illegal, I get that. But it’s clear this law is selectively enforced.
I don’t think I’m oversensitive. I think people are whiny babies when they jump on tumblr complaining that Matt LeBlanc is sexist because he made a joke that he likes seeing that Game of Thrones dragon woman naked (one article said he should “Quit Hollywood” because he admitted he might start watching the series again after hearing Emilia Clarke did some nudie scenes), or when they say Stephen Colbert should be banned from TV because he makes a joke about Asian stereotyping (the satirist who portrays an ultraconservative character was sending up the “jokes” about Asian accents that were last popular circa World War II, but some who were intent on taking offence took it at face value). I think some of my lefty friends can be oversensitive, and sometimes people enjoy being offended.
Sipping wine
But what I saw tonight—that I can street drink 560 odd times in my life and never be pulled up on it, that I have a neighbour who walks his dog around the block with a glass(!) of red wine in hand every afternoon, that all of us regularly see white families popping a chardonnay in the park—but two Aboriginal women sipping some white wine from a water bottle require three police to corner them and read them their rights? That is some blatant white privilege right there.
WRITTEN more than 350 years ago French playwright Moliére’s biting satire Tartuffe has plenty to say about life and politics circa 2016, Black Swan director Kate Cherry says.
“It’s about shining a light on hypocrisy and people endowed with qualities they don’t have.
“You don’t need to go further than Donald Trump to know there are people who take people in.”
Tartuffe is a “morally bankrupt” priest, who plays on the gullible nature of the wealthy Orgon (Steve Turner).
Although everyone else can see Tartuffe (Darren Gilshenan) for the fraud he really is, Orgon is blind to their entreaties and the relationship between the pair threatens to cost him his wealth, home and possessions, and even his daughter.
Ozzie wit
The Catholic church used its clout to have King Louis XIV ban the play.
Filled with biting satire Justin Fleming’s adaptation of Moliére’s rhyming couplets is transformed into an Australian vernacular, with a liberal lashing of subversive Ozzie wit.
“Orgon – you do realise she was taking the piss?” his brother-in-law Cléante (Hugh Parker) asks.
And I don’t want to get your back up about all this
But I must say in this case her piss-taking is just
It’s as if you fell and hit your head – I mean, are you concussed?
Like Moliére we live in an age of spin, Fleming says.
“And the spin doctors of religion are a rich field.”
The play isn’t about those good people who help the poor, comfort the sick, educate the young and inspire communities to moral action, Fleming says: “But those charlatans who exploit families at their most vulnerable, those wolves who call young people their flock and proceed to ruin their lives, those hypocrites who talk of heaven while plundering the earth.
“For these Moliére is uproariously funny and gut-wrenchingly merciless. He spoke to his century – and he speaks to ours.”
Tartuffe will be Kate Cherry’s last play before she heads east to head up the prestigious acting academy NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art).
It’s on at the State Theatre, October 22 to November 6.
by JENNY D’ANGER
AS the curtain comes down on Moliére’s Tartuffe at the State Theatre, in November director Kate Cherry will take her final bow in the Perth theatre scene.
Joint CEO and artistic director at Black Swan State Theatre Company for nine years she’s going east to head up prestigious acting academy NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts), where she’ll be responsible for training a new generation of actors.
“When I finish directing I pack up my office and say my goodbyes—not without regrets,” she tells the Voice.
Cherry has been behind a swag of successful shows during her stint at BSSTC, including last year’s A Street Car Named Desire and Angels in America.
As the Voice took a tour backstage the cast and crew of her current—and last—production Tartuffe, filed through, the hugs and smiles belying rumours she’s difficult to work with.
“I’m complex and non-compromising, maybe that means some people find that difficult,” she says.
“But I’m many things, sensitive, tough and patient.”
Cherry considers the highlights of her time with Black Swan working with board chair Sam Walsh, former head of Rio Tinto.
The hard-nosed businessman and the artistic director formed a strong bond that saw Black Swan grow: “Sam said I have my head in the clouds and my feet on the ground.”
Together they brought Rio Tinto on board as major sponsors.
And when the new State Theatre was completed they ensured finances didn’t suffer, as happens to many theatre companies.
“[They usually] go into deficit because it’s so expensive to set up.
“It was a huge accomplishment that we could move in and maintain a surplus,” Cherry says.
She’ll continue to direct at NIDA, with Madame Butterfly her first show in Sydney.
Clare Watson will take up the role of artistic director at BSSTC.
by JENNY D’ANGER
THE vowel challenged tbsp. Cafe in Bayswater had us intrigued from the start.
Add a bustling mix of diners, interesting décor and the enticing mix of sweet and savoury aromas and the deal was sealed for my lunch partner and me.
The staff were quick to seat us and my mouth watered as I read through the diverse menu trying to make a decision.
Crunch
All that drooling and pondering, came down to the black sesame pancake ($16) for me while my friend went with the brisket benedict ($23).
The restaurant was full, but the service fast and our food came out promptly.
The dishes were beautifully presented, and for a nano second we hesitated to destroy the symmetry, but hunger won out and we descended like a Mongol horde.
Maple syrup gave the dutch pancake a lovely peppery zing, while the crème fraîche, matcha crunch (a type of granola) and fresh fruit offered a delicious combination of sweetness and crunch.
However I would have liked a bit more substance to the pancake, which was so thin it was almost a crepe.
My partner was in awe of the slow cooked eggs on his brisket which spilled out over the toasted ciabatta, pulled beef and beer-braised onions to mix with the hollandaise sauce.
Shifting to our separate dessert stomachs we checked the sweet menu, where the pandan pound cake grabbed my eye with its bright green hue.
The colour comes from the pandan leaf which is used throughout Asia to flavour food, and feeling adventurous I gave it a go.
Besides, if food is green it must be healthy, right?
The description of a tropical flavoured sponge fired my imagination, but it tasted like the madeira cake I buy from the shop.
But as I love madeira cake, I devoured it with gusto.
My friend ordered the pandan doughnut, which he described as having a “delicious vanilla” flavour.
We still had room to share a coconut slice – a biscuit base with coconut cream – topped with coconut meringue.
Great food
You need to love coconut to enjoy this slice, and I do, so it was a win, win.
Great food, great staff and a great atmosphere, tbsp. is definitely worth another visit.
by HOLLY COOMEY
tbsp.
10 King William Street, Bayswater.
Tues- Thurs 7am-3pm
Sat & Sun 8am-3pm
9371 9334
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
Use this time to complete practical projects that have been hanging around minus their finishing touches. You will find traction with practical matters. Your spirit of adventure may languish for week or so, but you will get through that. Build relationships slowly and carefully this time.
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)
As you let all those feelings that you have held inside slowly unravel and unwind, so you will start to once again become emotionally available. Venus’ trajectory through Scorpio ensures that you will get to feel and then get comfortable with your sensitive underbelly. Open yourself up.
GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)
As much as you would like to spread your wings, life is continuing to keep you firmly grounded with eyes focussed on practical things. To feel constricted would be a natural reaction. To be able to identify the genius of existence in the midst of tricky passages of play, is exceptional.
CANCER (June 22 – Jul 22)
This week plays host to a new Moon. It’s time for a new shoot, a fresh beginning. Others may be caught in idealistic notions that for you seem to lack feeling. Don’t struggle with them. Attune yourself to what you know to be true in your heart and soul. Keep yourself beautifully real.
LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)
As the Sun moves deeper into Libra, so you are brought face to face with all the places in your life where you are hesitating, being overly cautious. At some point you will have to actually move towards the things that are most meaningful to you and leave your trembling belly in the dust.
VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)
Even though you are operating behind the scenes, you have a lot of influence. Others are taking note of the way you are thinking; of the kind of things you are sending out as coded messages from your hiding place. Make sure you keep abreast of your deeper feelings. Stay authentic.
LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)
The new Moon unfurls a fresh set of leaves under the auspices of your Libran skies this week. Keep bringing yourself back to what means the most to you. Each time you veer away from your truest possible sense of who you are and what you are here for, call yourself back. Stay on track.
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)
Venus is providing all the interest. She is hooking you up with deep currents of love and delight. She is helping you to stay on track with your spirit’s call. She is making sure you keep moving towards birthing all the projects you need to birth in the world at large, to stay fulfilled.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)
Equanimity is more important than ever. The journey of Jupiter and the Sun through Libra is giving you access to a good dose of it. If you get pedantic, you’ll hit a snag or two. If you get so farsighted that you lose track of where you are planting each foot, you’ll misstep. Balance is all.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
You’d be best to operate behind the scenes this week. You are likely to have more effect and find more allies. If you get into a tangle with those you imagine are overly immersed in thinking about what to do, you may just discover that you are less informed than you think you are.
AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
There is a general lightness in the air. The new Moon in Libra bodes well for you starting afresh. Life is putting some fresh wind into your sails. It’s been quite a journey to stay on track with the changes you know you have had to make. Be alert to each practical step you have to take.
PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)
Life is a juggling act. Work is pressuring you from all sides. Rather than feeling hard-put, figure out first of all how to stop your anxiety in its tracks and get back to a steady rhythm. Running around in a frenzy helps nobody at all. Find your feet and you’ll keep with the program.
Perth Voice Interactive 