Perth Voice Interactive

Put Tsukie Ba on your bucket list

July 29, 2016

AHH, the power of good sushi; head over the bucket thanks to kid germs, my wife had barely the energy to lift a finger, but as I came through the door with a selection from Tsuke Ba a pallid face rose above the rim: “Can I have the tuna?”

She had an admirable go — albeit without the pickled ginger she usually craves — praising the freshness of the fish.

It gave her enough confidence to tackle the chicken and avocado version with a sweet, tasty teriyaki sauce, and before long she was back on her feet helping co-ordinate baths and bedtime.

Not that I’m claiming magical healing properties for Tsuke Ba, but they have been making good Leedervillains smile for what seems like donkeys years.

The gastro obviously put in-house dining on hold, but given there’s limited seating at its tucked-away home in Oxford Street’s Tip Top arcade, and take-away’s their forte, it wasn’t a great loss.

I’d already tucked away a chicken teriyaki bento box before heading home, so got a chance to soak up the atmosphere.

Patrons were mostly funky youngsters, including a couple of estate agents trying to out-bravado each other about how they’d screwed their bosses for better commissions and uni types catching up on the goss and singing Tsuke’s praises.

While I would have liked my teriyakid fowl a degree warmer, it was still delicious.

The rice was an excellent consistency, the salad on the side fresh and crisp and the chicken lean and well coated in the thick, sweet sauce.

Bento’s pretty much Japanese for lunch box, and over there some have turned them into an artform, recreating cartoon characters or landscapes using the food and even entering them in art competitions. I get excited when I wrap the kids’ sandwiches neatly.

Speaking of kids, mine tucked in to a California roll with relish, even setting up a little “sushi, sushi” chant along the way. Given that their senses are so refined they can tell most of my meals are “YUCK!!” before they even hit the table, that’s a pretty cool rap.

I couldn’t fault any of the sushi rolls, as they all had a decent portion of the tasty ingredients, which were also beautifully fresh.

Tsuke Ba’s great if you like a bit of variety, as the counter’s stacked with all sorts of combinations for whatever mood you’re in. And if you can’t pick your mood, they’re one of the rare places you can score a mix of sushi rolls.

And probably the best thing about them is the price. I came away with enough food to feed a family of four and had enough leftovers for a small lunch the next day, and it all came in at just under $45.

Tsuke Ba might not be in the running for a Gold Plate, but that’s a sterling price.

by STEVE GRANT

Tsuke Ba
3/139 Oxford St, Leederville
Monday – Friday
9.30am – 6pm
Saturday
9.30am – 5pm
Raucous read for kids

July 29, 2016

JUST don’t wake the panda whatever you do,” Perth children’s author Chris Owen warns in his second book Pandamonia.

Webster’s defines pandemonium as a wild and noisy uproar, rumpus or commotion. Change an E to an A and Pandamonium is complete and utter chaos: “Often following the disturbance of a blissfully sleeping panda,” Owen says.

• Chris Owen, with sons William (9) and Marcus (7). Photo by Annie Owen

The book is a joyful romp through a zoo, the lyrics in the vein of Roald Dahl.

“So you’re here at the zoo on this glorious day

“You’re sure to have fun – it’s a great place to play

“Come through. Look around. Relax and explore

“Inside you will find there are creatures galore

“You’ll have a magnificent time at the zoo…just don’t wake the panda whatever you do.”

For those ignoring the decree, there’ll be hopping hippos creating a “hullabaloo”, sloths creating a “kerfuffle” and flamingos and dingos doing a fandango

“It was my aim to write a book that’s good to read out loud, [but also] a get up and dance and clap your hands kind of book,” says Owen.

The target audience is 7–11 year olds, but Owen’s use of big words is quite deliberate.

“I don’t try to dumb down vocabulary,” he says.

Before Cupid lured Owen to Perth, he was a broadcast journalist in London: “It sounds grand but there are a lot of very small radio stations,” he says, telling the Voice he’s now a dad of two boys aged 9 and 7.

The book is illustrated by Chris Nixon, a graphic designer at the forefront of the explosion of public art around Perth, who’s also done an album cover for Tame Impala.

The drawings in Pandamonia keep pace with the beat of the story: “The number of animals builds as the chaos builds,” Owen says.

The book, published by Fremantle Press has already interested buyers in Taiwan, the US, Europe and the UK.

“[And] it’s already been launched in Singapore.”

The Perth launch kicks off Book Week at the State Library on Saturday August 20, and the book and artwork will be on display for the week.
Deconstructing democracy

July 29, 2016

MATTHEW NGUI has a foot in two countries, but they come together in two artworks showing at the Fremantle Arts Centre; Every Point of View and Swimming: At Least 8 Points of View.

Singaporean-born Ngui came to Australia to study at Curtin University, but fell in love and never really went back, dividing his time between family and his Aussie partner.

In the process he knocked back an opportunity to work in Berlin and New York, a decision that doesn’t seem to have hampered his artistic career as his large-scale installations have appeared at major biennales in Germany, Brazil, Venice and South Korea.

He was artistic director of the Singapore biennale in 2011 and his permanent works can be found in galleries nationally.

Every Point of View is an Australian premiere, but was one of five major works commissioned by the Singapore Art Museum to mark 50 years of the country’s independence.

Artists were asked to come up with a piece based on Singapore’s five values, as represented by five stars on the flag – peace, justice, progress, democracy and equality.

“I got democracy, which is hard. How do you do democracy?” Ngui says.

• Matthew Ngui’s Every Point of View was commissioned for Singapore’s 50th year of independence, and he was given the brief of creating an artwork based around democracy. Photo supplied

Navigating a forest of almost 300 PVC pipes his installation moves visitors through fragments of sentences glimpsed fleetingly.

They seem to whisper phrases such as “power of the people”, “ballot box”, “feedback” – and obscurely “farmer” and “apples” – in a labyrinth to be negotiated by the viewer.

In a summation of “democracy” the many fragments only come together from one specific angle in the vast gallery.

“Every Point of View is an exercise in seeing, but not necessarily understanding. You have to be at a particular point to understand each perspective,” Ngui says.

“Democracy is a way to work with these conflicts. In any society we have competing viewpoints and desires which democracy can help to balance.”

In Swimming, a 15-metre wide projection follows Ngui swimming laps in a pool, a life-sized image that will fill the main gallery.

Shot under water he transforms an ordinary act into a hypnotic, sensual performance.

Along with the video, there’s a recording of Ngui describing the sensation of swimming and a coach analysing his style.

The joint exhibitions are on at the Fremantle Arts Centre Friday, July 29 until Saturday September 17.

by JENNY D’ANGER
ASTROLOGY July 30 – August 6, 2016

July 29, 2016

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
Mars is nearing the end of Scorpio. The emotional intensity that has possessed you of late, is easing. You can safely brush yourself off and get back to the business of shining. The Leo Sun is setting up all the appropriate scenarios for you to do just this. This is rejuvenation week.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)
Less and less is this moment about grandstanding, and putting flags up for this opinion or that. Propagandising leads down a whole range of dead end streets. Leave defensiveness and hysteria behind. Rediscover the beauties of maturity. Invite and relish collaborative truth-seeking.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)
The Moon begins this week in Gemini. This is likely to fire up that twin part of you that lies just out of range of your consciousness. If you are overly logical, expect to become more emotional. If you are overly emotional, expect to be suddenly linear and logical. Balance yourself up.

CANCER (June 22 – Jul 22)
Slowly you are coming out of your self-imposed state of retreat. The idea of socialising, connecting with groups of people you can relate to, becomes appetising again. You’ve needed time out to re-group. And now you need people to get your creative juices flowing again.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)
The Sun is shining proudly in Leo. Venus is unashamedly showing her love in Leo. Mercury is doing his best to dazzle with wit and wisdom in Leo. You are host to a crew of wily astrological characters. Keep yourself on a healing trajectory, lest you be dazzled by your own light.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)
Sudden change is your friend. This is counter-intuitive for one who generally breathes most easily when everything is settled and ordered. You are craving the new. If all your cards go up in the air, be sure to note it as a moment of pure liberation, rather than an unmitigated calamity.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)
Go about your business quietly. You are in the slow business of building upon your resources, of getting your foundations down. The presence of the Sun and Venus in Leo should give you confidence. It suddenly feels exactly right to be doing the things you do, free from doubt.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)
Mars is nearing the end of his journey through Scorpio. You’ve been dealing with the presence of the warrior god being in your land. The warrior god is a happy camper as long as his energy is involved in action and adventure. He’s not so happy when he’s trapped and unable to move.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)
Saturn has a powerful positive face. To discover it is to discover the wisdom that is at the very heart of your being. His is the sound of your most essential intelligence. Mostly we have been conditioned to believe that it is not there, or that others hold its power. Reclaim this voice.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
The Gemini Moon lightens you up early in the week. Life becomes funny, playful, or gloriously theatrical for a moment here and there. This is enough to remind you that the journey you are on need not involve a furrowed brow. Take help from those who understand patterns and order.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
Even though others may be so self-absorbed that they are missing all your cues, persist with relationship. There is likely to be a chink in the armour sooner or later. This is not necessarily an easy time, but it is one of those times when you will get to understand a lot about yourself.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)
The presence of three planets in Leo gifts you with confidence. Who knows when or how our confidence gets dented but in one way or another it generally does. To reclaim self-confidence is a radical act. Life doesn’t have to be a serious affair. It is theatrical. Be the fish that roared.
Matchless quality

July 29, 2016

THE excitement of match day at Perth Oval is palpable from the balcony of this Brewer Street apartment – or it would have been if there’d been one on.

When there is, leave the huge plate-glass doors open and enjoy the ambience while watching the action on TV.

Or shut the door and a blessed peacefulness descends thanks to double glazing: “Last weekend there was an event on and you couldn’t hear a thing,” the agent says.

Being a non-match day bird calls wafted through the open door as I gazed down the tree-lined street.

“Location, location, location,” Dale Kerrigan proclaims in The Castle, and this two-bedroom/two-bathroom apartment has it in spades – sans the jets flying low overhead.

Free CAT bus

A free CAT bus whisks you into the centre of Perth in less time than it takes to butter your morning toast, and there’s more cafes, eateries and bars than you can shake a stick at within walking distance along Beaufort and Newcastle Streets.

This is an ideal starter home for those with a foot on the corporate ladder, or perhaps a city pad for country folk when they’re up in town.

Having passed the secure entry I was whisked to this second floor abode where the front door opens onto a generous open plan interior.

Floating timber floors add a dash of colour to neutral walls, while a series of windows large and smaller ensure plenty of light.

The kitchen is certainly generous, with a floor-to-ceiling pantry and plenty of drawers and cupboards – set off by soft-biscuit-coloured caesar stone benchtops that look a treat.

The main bedroom has huge windows to the balcony and street, built-in-robes and ensuite.

Separated by the living spaces the second bedroom is semi-ensuite.

Lush raised garden beds are a green welcome in the ground floor courtyard, which is close to a fully equipped gym and a communal barbeque area.

There’s no shortage of apartments on the market the agent says: “[But] 80sqm of living space at under $500,000, is very hard to find.”

And for that you get secure parking, and storage to boot.

by JENNY D’ANGER

26/59 Brewer Street, Perth
EOI $479,000
Wayne Heldt
0433 118 353
Acton Mt Lawley
9272 2488
ABEL MCGRATH

July 29, 2016

ADVERTISEMENT: Looking for a new home? Check out all the properties for sale as seen in the latest edition of your Perth Voice.
Comedy showcase for Fremantle and Perth

July 29, 2016

The funniest comedians from this year’s Sydney Comedy Festival are hitting the road and bringing all-star comedy showcase to Fremantle and Perth.

Now in its fourth year, the Showcase Tour is spreading its wings and hitting the west coast for the very first time. Expertly curated, the showcase offers something for everyone, featuring some of the hottest acts of this year’s Festival all live on stage for 2 hours of hard-hitting laughter.

The line-up includes animated and edgy comic Paul Ogata (USA) and the winner of the Sydney Comedy Festival Director’s Choice Award 2015, Luke Heggie.

Perth’s princess of Perthonality Famous Sharron (pictured) will be entertaining the audiences with her witty humour and comedy circuit veteran and heavy-hitter Jacques Barrett will be delivering consistent blows of killer lines. You can also catch WA born-and-bred comic Sean Conway, a National Finalist of Raw Comedy, and Michael Workman, the Perth-hailing comedian known for his dry wit and bitter fables.

Catch the tour at UWA’s Octagon Theatre on Saturday 6 August and Fly By Night, Fremantle on Sunday 7 August.

Book your tickets now from sydneycomedyfest.com.au/showcase
Ancient Wisdom

July 29, 2016

Chinese Medicine promotes a long and healthy life

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a holistic medical system used to assess, diagnose and treat diseases and health conditions. TCM combines modern medical knowledge with ancient wisdom developed over millennia. Beginning over 4000 years ago, TCM is beneficial for a wide range of conditions such as pain, stress, anxiety and depression, insomnia, chronic fatigue, digestive disorders, soft tissue injuries, immune problems, migraines, heart diseases , women’s health problems (including infertility, PMS and menopause). TCM practitioners employ a range of methods to analyse and treat each patient, including pulse and tongue diagnosis, acupuncture, herbal formulas, moxibustion and cupping.

Dr Sophie Shen and Dr Robert Zhao

Long Health Care Clinic is owned and operated by Dr Haolong (Robert) Zhao and Dr Yun (Sophie) Shen, both very experienced Chinese medicine doctors. Dr Robert Zhao PhD has over 20 years experience practicing in Chinese hospitals, receiving his PhD in Shanghai in 2002, before continuing his work here in Perth. Dr Robert’s deep knowledge allows him to help people with acute/chronic pain, stress, anxiety and depression, male and female infertility, sleeping problems, gastrointestinal conditions, immune system disorders, heart diseases and other general health disorders. In addition to running the clinic, Dr Robert teaches Chinese medicine at Endeavour College of Natural Health. He is a professional member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS), and a registered Chinese Medicine practitioner with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency).

Another practitioner, Dr Sophie Shen also holds her PhD in TCM and has over 20 years of clinical practice and teaching experience. Dr Shen has vast experience in women’s health problems, especially with infertility, IVF support, irregular periods, PCOS, PMS and menopause. Dr Sophie is also very good with endocrine disorders, digestive health, skin issues, depression & insomnia, pain management and children’s health problems. Like Dr Robert, Dr Sophie is a professional member of ATMS and a registered Chinese Medicine practitioner with AHPRA, plus she is registered with the Australian Acupuncture Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA).

“While TCM is proven to help a wide range of health issues, it’s especially effective for improving fertility. In fact, a recent study from Homerton University Hospital in the UK indicates that acupuncture doubles your chances of falling pregnant through IVF,” said Dr Sophie.

To learn more about the findings, visit http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3674013

Rebates and HICAPS claims are available with major health insurers for both doctors.

LongHealthCare
Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Clinic
Unit 1, 45 Cedric Street, Stirling
6153 0318
info@longhealthcare.com
www.longhealthcare.com
Village People Live Longer!

July 29, 2016

Special club welcomes more members into the fold

It was a wintry afternoon when residents of the Menora Gardens and Pearson Retirement Villages welcomed the latest group of 6 members into the 90s Club. These new inductees have, or will, reach 90 years of age during 2016. Members of the club have an age span between 90 and 99 years, which means there is 3,044 years of knowledge, wisdom and good humour within its ranks. These independent living residents are definitely proof of the Club’s motto: “living longer and living stronger”.

A celebration was held in the Village Garden Restaurant, over champagne and high tea. Each inductee was presented with a special gold name badge which will forever identify them as part of this remarkable group of residents. The latest members are Ron Webb and Laura Williams (Pearson Village) and June Doddermead, John Kohn, Ivan Bercove and Ruth Medalia (Menora Gardens).

90’s Club 2016

Amid much laughter and chatter, Village Manager Kaye Ireland kicked off the festivities with a look back at 1926. Did you know that in 1926 the population of Australia was 6,056,360? Or that David Attenborough, Fidel Castro, Queen Elizabeth and Marilyn Monroe were born? The gathering was tested on its knowledge of local events and personalities. Who was the reigning Monarch in 1926? (King George V), Governor-General? (Henry William), Prime Minister? (Stanley Bruce), WA Premier? (Phillip Collier)

The Canberra Times was published, the nation had its first Miss Australia finalist (Helen Wayth), Ballerina Anna Pavlova was on tour, Melbourne defeated Collingwood to become VFL Premiers, Spearfelt won the Melbourne Cup and New South Wales won the Sheffield Shield. July floods resulted in the Upper Swan Bridge and a section of the Fremantle Railway Bridge being washed away. The Fremantle bridge partially collapsed on 22 July, five minutes after a train containing schoolchildren had passed over! Thankfully no one was injured in the collapse, however it created major disruption to commerce for several months.

Finally came the cutting of the birthday cake, bringing to a close a wonderful afternoon full of joy and camaraderie shared with inspiring people. The Village wishes to thank all the people that made the event possible, including the generous support of Ray Coffin and Mike Devenson from Programmed Property Services and the Residents’ Committee for all their hard work.

Contact Kaye Ireland
16 Freedman Road, MENORA
Ph: 9370 0200
www.rslcarewa.com.au

‘90’s Couples’ Leon & Bella Zeitlin, Ivan & Ethel Bercove & George & Dorothy Rickson

Did You Know?

RSL Care WA offer retirement village living to over 55’s.

Located in Menora, Mandurah, Geraldton and Jurien Bay. Residential Aged Care in Menora and Mandurah and Community Care options.

Menora Gardens Village runs a fully licensed restaurant which is open to the public for lunch on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 12.00 – 2.30pm, every Friday night for fish and chips 6.00 – 9.00pm and a buffet dinner every fortnight on Wednesday evening. Bookings are essential.

The restaurant is also available to host special functions – high teas have become a speciality for people celebrating a milestone birthday or special occasion.

RSL CARE WA
16 Freedman Road, MENORA
Ph: 9370 0200
www.rslcarewa.com.au
Filled for houses

July 22, 2016

A PRIVATELY-OWNED wetland neighbouring Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary has been partially cleared and will be filled in to make way for a 27-lot housing development.

Last Tuesday heavy machinery rolled in with little warning. Paperbacks have been felled, scrub cleared, and residents were furious no attempt was made to relocate oblong tortoises, banjo frogs or any of the other 37 species that have been recorded at the site.

The residents are now fighting a rear-guard action to try and prevent the development, which has sub-division approval from the WA Planning Commission but is opposed by Bayswater council.

Bayswater council is investigating what appears to be instances where workers sawed off the branches of publicly-owned trees close to the developers’ boundary.

• Workers have already felled mature paperbark trees in this Bayswater wetlands in preparation for filling it and building houses on top. It’s just metres from the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary, infuriating residents, environmentalists and twitchers. Photo by Steve Grant

Remnant bushland

The sanctuary itself is rehabilitated land that was once a dump, and Branka Radanovich from the Bayswater Urban Tree Network says its unthinkable the WAPC would clear the way to bulldoze a remnant bushland covered by ancient paperbarks for more apartments.

The sanctuary also has a minor infestation of introduced fish that feast on frogs’ eggs, meaning most of the amphibians were living in the block, which is owned by the D’Orazio family.

About 50 concerned residents, many visibly distressed, met with Bayswater councillors Dan Bull and Chris Cornish and council officers on site last Friday.

One muttered it looked like a cyclone had hit.

Prior to the meeting councillor Chris Cornish contacted the D’Orazios and convinced them to engage an environmental consultant, who took a canoe ride around the site earlier this week.

• A clearly displeased Maylands MP Lisa Baker and councillors Chris Cornish and Dan Bull discuss the clearing in the background with locals, many of whom were visibly upset and totally dejected (below). Photos supplied

The family has owned the parcel for decades. Late patriarch John D’Orazio was mayor of the city, which is currently looking into a memorial for him. A neighbouring block owned by the Carter family may soon follow suit.

Back in February a majority of Bayswater councillors asked the WAPC to refuse the subdivision because of the effect on animals and plants in the bird sanctuary. If it went ahead, they requested an additional buffer zone to protect the sanctuary, but the WAPC ruled the 20-metre road reserve was adequate.

Cr Alan Radford told last Friday’s meeting the council had the opportunity to buy the site more than a decade ago. For reasons lost to time (cost, or just not recognising its significance at the time) the purchase never happened.

Local Labor MP Lisa Baker also attended, saying she had serious doubts all approval conditions had been met.

“The WAPC’s decision to approve this development is another example of state government processes railroading the democratic process and local government authority,” she said, comparing it to bureaucrats from development assessment panels rolling over local sentiment.

“The state government must take action to restore democracy and community input into our planning process,” Ms Baker said.

“Additionally, the state government must do more to protect the fragile ecosystem of our sensitive wetlands. In this case, we have seen irreparable damage done to wetland habitat that is known to provide refuge to unique and endangered species.”

Environment House is a community environment centre neighbouring the sanctuary. Rachael Roberts from the centre wrote to planning minister Donna Faragher imploring her to step in.

In the letter she revealed a passerby went onto the land to rescue a baby tortoise but was “told to leave the site”.

“We don’t know how much fauna was destroyed along with the flora fringing the wetland. No survey was done before the works.”

“There is no community value in having houses in the area where this development is going ahead. This is one of the most well used riverside park lands in the whole of Perth.

“It is a leisure centre and an area where people can go to experience nature.

“Children don’t just need nature playgrounds. They need to be able to peer into the depths of wild wetlands like this and discover all of the life within.”

Bayswater staff had no idea the works were going ahead until they were alerted on July 12.

They raced down and wondered how this could happen on the back of a seemingly minor subdivision approval. An internal memo says the staff “sought clarification from the department of planning in respect of whether the works were authorised and whether the WAPC would take action”.

The planning department maintains the works happening at the site are allowed under its subdivision approval.

The D’Orazio family was contacted for comment, but we didn’t hear back before deadline.

by DAVID BELL