WHAT could you do for Beaufort Street for a thousand bucks? Plenty, the Beaufort Street Network reckons.
The network’s made up of local businesses and residents and they’ve reached into their own pockets for the Better Beaufort competition, asking people to come up with ideas to make the street better for humans.
• Some of the artwork paid for by the last round.
While it’s not the art world’s richest prize, the network reckons there’s plenty you can do with a wee bit of cash, from stencil art projects, a street busker competition, guerilla gardening or a pop up loungeroom in the street, and last year the cashed helped finance the murals by local artists in the Mount Lawley carpark near Fresh Provisions.
A PLAN to bury powerlines in the Brookman and Moir Street precinct looks likely to be canned due to soaring costs.
Originally, residents were told they were up for about $8260. With 53 per cent approving the plan Vincent city council forged ahead. But now, Western Power says residents’ share of the cost is more than $10,000 each and 63 per cent have told the council to can it.
Staff now recommend dumping the project, which the council will vote on next week.
”I can’t think of a project anywhere on earth that’d start without knowing what the costs are,” Cr Josh Topelberg said.
At a council briefing this week, former councillor Dudley Maier pointed out an holistic plan to install underground power across the city was meant to have been developed years ago. One option would have been to follow Subiaco’s model, where undergrounding is paid for in rates over many years, instead of slugging residents with big one-off costs.
Mayor John Carey says “it has been driving me mad” the idea was never investigated.
“We had a strategic director who was supposed to deliver on this and hasn’t,” he says.
“It is completely frustrating as mayor that we haven’t received clear advice to council on a way forward.
“Could we please, finally, have a clear model for underground power?”
AFTER threes years of failed attempts, Bayswater council may finally get its own men’s shed.
Mayor Sylvan Albert says there have been many failed attempts to set up a local workshop but this time it’s different.
“The project is now to be driven from the ground up and led by [the community],” Cr Albert says.
One important decision will be choosing between the council’s three preferred sites: Bedford Bowling Club, 15 Wright Street in Bayswater or Whatley Hall on Hardy Street and a nearby abandoned tennis court.
A public meeting on the issue starts at 6pm Wednesday, July 26, at the council’s Embleton Room, 61 Broun Avenue, Morley.
Cornish congrats
CONGRATULATIONS Cr Chris Cornish on your willingness to address contemporary issues of concern to the community and the drive to bring them to a successful resolution (Voice, June 27, 2015). I refer to the greening of Bayswater, the establishment of community gardens, acknowledgement of the First Australians and more recently the use of apps to expedite repairs to footpaths, graffiti etc; a very “smart” idea.
Thanks also go to councillors who supported these motions. Cr Terry Kenyon’s amendment to the town planning scheme to ban large discount liquor barns from residential areas will be applauded by the Maylands community which has suffered alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour for too many years. ‘Onya’ COB! Jan Wheare Maylands
Community before concrete
I AM so incensed at what has been told to the media and others regarding conversations people held with Roger Stephens (of WA Premix) in May whilst cameras were rolling in the park on the subject of opposition to the proposed concrete plant on Collier Road.
In my opinion, the claims of what was said is just as concerning as the vandalism. Roger was treated with the utmost courtesy by all the community during their discussions with him in the park, regarding the dust emissions, etc. No rudeness from any member of the community, just an explanation of the community protestation.
For Roger Stephens to slant vandalism allegations towards the protestors is mischievous and he needs to either apologise publicly or send a letter rescinding the claim.
On top of this, we have a mayor who jumped up and down about the vandalism alongside the concrete people.
Mr Mayor, where were you during all the times of community protestation, and indeed, where was central ward councillor Michael Sabatino? It seems no words and no backbone has been shown in support of the community suffering the dust dilemmas, and soon this may be compounded with another dust emitter.
I’ve searched through various radio stations, TV news items, articles, but no news from our mayor. Unless he’s saying something patronising and generalising, and even that is few and far between.
Mr Mayor, where were you when the neighbour’s letterbox was bombed on election night? Where were you when all the tyres of a party here were slashed on another election night? Where were you when a goat’s head was thrown over my garden gate? Not one word to the rangers from you and no public condemnation!
Where’s your loyalty to the community suffering here? But you jumped up and down for the concrete club! Sally Palmer McGilvray Ave, Noranda
No proof big is better
IN response to Gary Clyne’s letter (Voice Mail, July 11, 2015) I agree it is true the “philosophy behind the amalgamation process…was to achieve greater efficiencies of scale, and as a result, to keep rates down”.
Unfortunately, the state government failed to provide any evidence this would occur. “Large” simply does not equate to lower rates, as evidenced by the significantly larger City of Swan imposing higher rates (as determined by cents per GRV) than the smaller City of Bayswater, or indeed the Town of Bassendean.
I also agree with Mr Clyne that what “big” does give residents is the very thing Mr Clyne laments about the City of Stirling, namely that the smaller City of Bayswater is “more innovative and customer-serviced than Stirling”.
As such, I maintain my opposition to the full-throttled eagerness to spend ratepayer funds in order to deliver the state government’s agenda. And, I maintain that the actual ratepayers in Bayswater should have been consulted prior to more than a million dollars being wasted. Catherine Ehrhardt Railway Pde, Maylands
IAN CHIN may own Noodle Forum but readily bows to the experience of Erich Wong, who is teaching his younger boss the ancient art of noodle-making.
As the Voice looks on, 57-year-old Wong bounces his body weight on a thick bamboo pole, compressing a wad of dough. It’s a process repeated many, many times before the thin dough is cut into delicate, thread-like strips.
The pair eschews modern technology, saying it’s this process, dating back hundreds of years, that gives their noodles a far superior taste and texture.
“We can cut it so fine because of the firm texture,” Chin says.
“With machines you need additives to compensate for the process. We don’t use crazy additives—it’s just the pounding.”
Noodles originated in China before spreading throughout SEAsia, and were once only for the rich and privileged, “because they are a lot of work and use a lot of eggs,” Mr Chin says.
These days they are enjoyed by people far and wide but few are still made traditionally: it’s a skill Mr Wong learned from his Malaysian father more than 40 years ago.
My lunch companion and I joined the queue waiting for a table, while inside the small eatery was buzzing like a crowded bazaar.
Chatting to fellow queuers I discovered many are regulars, including one who is there six days out of seven.
The service is fast, efficient and warmly welcoming. Before long we were chowing down—me on delicate, pale green spinach noodles and my mate a bowl of beef brisket noodles. Both $11.90.
The WA-sourced wagyu beef was so tender it almost fell apart at the touch of a fork and the sauce was “superb”, was the verdict.
Topped with stir-fried local mushrooms, wilted choy sum and bean sprouts my dish was equally delicious, the freshness of the noodles clearly evident. And I loved the crispy fried tofu.
As good as the food is, this isn’t the sort of place one lingers, so we stepped across the arcade to Pulp for coffee and cake, well actually coffee, cake and a strong hot chocolate: “Properly hot and strong, which is a rare thing,” my mate opined.
He was pretty happy with his slightly warmed chocolate and coconut slice ($3.80) too.
Being virtuous is easy I thought, tucking into an absolutely delicious house-made crunchy granola biscuit ($4), while sipping a very fine long black coffee ($4).
by JENNY D’ANGER
Noodle Forum Pulp Equus Retail Arcade, 580 Hay Street, Perth
PLAYS where the understudy upstages the star are legend, but what about being called in cold with just a couple of days to learn your lines?
Like the spirits her character Madame Arcati conjures during a seance, Alison van Reeken rose to the occasion when replacing Roz Hammond, who’d stepped aside due to illness.
Popping through the magnificent red velvet curtains of the State Theatre, director Jeffrey Jay Fowler received a round of applause as he asked for the audience’s understanding that van Reeken—who’d had mere days to learn her lines for Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit, would be waving a script about.
She may have needed the paper as a prompt but van Reeken’s theatrical timing was perfect as the over-the-top medium, and at times the script was more a prop to her eccentric character than an aide-memoire.
Hero of the play, the cool, urbane, Charles Condomine, (played by Adam Booth), holds a seance as research for a thriller he’s writing about a homicidal medium.
But Mme Arcati inadvertently conjures the spirit of his first wife Elvira, whom only Charles can see and hear.
• Photo supplied | Gary Marsh Photography
With skin an ethereal white, and clothing a matching non-colour Jo Morris is light hearted, and coyly manipulating, as she declares she’s here to stay, cuddling up to her husband for a little post-death loving.
Condomine is looking rather pleased with himself the next morning, but his living wife Ruth, played with perfect, sophisticated coolness by Adriane Daff, is furious, thinking her husband had been shouting at her when he’d called Elvira a “little guttersnipe”.
“Blithe Spirit is a comedy about warring wives, laughter, magic and mayhem and is an hilarious and fantastical comedy about astral bigamy,” Black Swan artistic director Kate Cherry says.
Written more than 70 years ago, Coward’s humour shines through the years in this wicked farce about relationships.
And Ella Hetherington almost steals the show with her comic performance as the simple but try-hard maid, Edith.
Blithe Spirit is on at the State Theatre until August 9.
FROM the outside this Stuart Street, Inglewood home is a cute and modest abode. Beyond the front verandah is a beautiful marriage of old and new, with sweeping spaces for the entire family.
The four bedrooms are in the original section of the early 1900s home, with mellow jarrah floors, fireplaces and a couple of ceiling roses.
There’s also a delightful, cosy central lounge for those times you want to relax in glorious solitude.
Polar opposites coexist in harmony in the rear extension, a thoroughly modern space, where the mottled texture of bleached jarrah floors is a warm contrast to white walls and a massive wall of steel and glass overlooking the garden.
High overhead, a micro-pressed tin cathedral ceiling is a grand statement in an already grand room.
A sweep of caesarstone benches, including an island/breakfast bar, and a huge six-burner stove ensures cooking is a breeze, and you have to love a spacious walk-in pantry.
A gas powered tile-fire had warmed the vast expanse of the open-plan area and I was tempted to make myself a cuppa in the pristine kitchen, curl up in the spacious living area and wait out winter.
But a cute dog was wagging its tail on the other side of the glass, so I ventured out onto the covered alfresco area for a greeting as warm as the interior had been.
The neat backyard has it all, a spacious patio, a swathe of green lawn for the kids to play, grapevine covered arbours and at least three fruiting lemon trees (great for G&Ts come summer, or put those kids to work on a lemonade stall).
A weatherboard studio, currently office and storage, at the end of the garden is a mini-match for the heritage credentials of this home. But with two rooms, a loo, and plenty of space it could easily be converted into a granny flat or teenage pad or — with access off a rear right-of-way — short-term accommodation (check with the council first).
This leafy, tree-lined street is a stone’s throw from the Beaufort Street strip with its fantastic selection of shops and cafes, not to mention the Inglewood and Maylands precincts.
And there’s a choice of primary and high schools and colleges within walking distance.
by JENNY D’ANGER
124 Stuart Street, Inglewood from $1.099 million Natalie Hoye | 0405 812 273 Acton Mt Lawley | 9272 2488
Camerich is a high-end global brand that specialises in modern yet timeless items for the home. With over 90 stores worldwide, the brand is making serious waves in the UK, USA and all over Europe and now has a flagship store in Claremont. With more than 100 pieces now available, including sofas, tables, chairs, beds, desks and storage, Camerich has a stylish solution for every room in your home.
The new Camerich Claremont showroom is filled with beautiful, practical furnishings. Owners Lua and Lyle Henri are excited to showcase the inspirational Camerich brand to a new market, saying it’s the outstanding quality and attention to detail that sets Camerich apart.
Lua & Lyle Henri with Jackson & Silvie
With a background in architecture and design, the couple were first attracted to Camerich when renovating their own home. Considering the aesthetic appeal and quality of production, the designer duo were pleasantly surprised by the price point the products were retailed at.
“We jumped at the opportunity to showcase such a coveted brand in Perth. It not only matched our standards of design, but we knew we could stand behind its quality with confidence,” said Lua.
Camerich oversees every stage of design, including material selection through to quality craftsmanship. And the range is constantly growing, with the help of an international design team who tracks trends and responds to what people want.
“The designers use both traditional and innovative techniques in their pieces. For example – equal-ratio leather sectioning both looks better and makes better use of leather. This translates into cost savings which we pass onto our customers,” added Lyle.
Camerich products come in an amazing range of colours and materials including fabric, leather, hide and wood. There are over 70 types of fabrics to choose from, all of which are environmentally safe and provide excellent wear resistance. “And our leathers are soft and wearable, naturally contouring to your body, giving you unparalleled comfort,” explained Lua.
“We’re not only interested in selling you a piece of furniture. We are passionate about what we do and are dedicated to making a designer home obtainable by all. That’s why we offer free interior styling consultations.”
Visit Lyle, Lua and their dogs Silvie and Jackson at the Camerich showroom to discuss how they can help you pull together your dream home.
Camerich is offering a free interior design consultation for a limited time, valued at up to $600. An interior designer will choose furnishings to achieve a look and feel that suits your home, lifestyle and aesthetic.
As a bonus, any purchase from Camerich’s designer range made within seven days of the presentation will receive 10% off the retail price.
For more info call Lua on 9389 6669 or head to their Claremont showroom, 204 Stirling Highway.
It was a sunny winter afternoon when the 90s Club met to induct the latest group of residents who are eligible for membership. Now in its fourth year the Club is growing and 2015 sees 13 new members join its ranks. Total membership is now 41 with 28 residents living in Menora Gardens and 13 living in Pearson Village. Sadly, during the year, we have farewelled 10 members.
The function was held in the Menora Gardens Village Garden Restaurant where Village Manager, Kaye Ireland started proceedings by welcoming our special guest and sponsor, Ray Coffin State Manager for Programmed Property Services. After the vote of thanks to Programmed Property Services for their support the spotlight turned to the Residents Committee, who also provided funding for this event. Mervyn, Committee Chairman, and his happy band of helpers were thanked for their dedication in keeping this function bubbling along. Rob in the kitchen, and our restaurant staff, Annette and Lisa, were also thanked for their efforts in preparing the event.
Now to our special guests. With an age span from 90 to 98 years there is 3,870 years of wealth, experience and knowledge within the Club’s ranks. These independent living residents are definitely proof of the Club’s motto of “living longer and living stronger”.
Kaye got the ball rolling by helping to put the birth year of our latest members (1925) in perspective. The reigning Monarch was King George V, our Governor-General was Henry Forster, the first Baron Forster and the Prime Minster was Stanley Bruce.
And in WA our Premier was Phillip Collier while the State Governor was Sir William Campion. April 1925 also saw WA holding a referendum on the topic of prohibition.
Australia’s population in 1925 was 5,939, 231 persons. In WA the total was 372, 817 persons (approximately 6.3 % of the national total).
In 1925 Geelong were the VFL Premiers and Windbag won the Melbourne Cup.
A few of the celebrities born this year included Ruth Cracknell actor (6 July), Shirley Strickland athlete (18 July), Laurie Sawle cricketer (19 August) and Don Chipp politician (21 August). And of course bread cost 9 cents a loaf, milk 56 cents a gallon and eggs 44 cents a dozen.
At this stage Mervyn Hill welcomed everybody to the ‘serious’ part of the proceedings. Kaye called up each inductee who was presented with a special gold name badge by Ray from Programmed Property Services. Our inductees for 2015 were Claire Strickland, Tony Berman, Henry Syme, Jacob Machlin, Theodora Shellabear, Ethel Bercove, Dorothy Rickson, Lyn Syme, Vera Lowrie and Bella Zeitlin from Menora Gardens and Jean Allen, Betty Harper and John Gallagher from Pearson Village. AND we now have three couples who are members of the 90s Club – Dorothy and George Rickson, Lyn and Henry Syme and Bella and Leon Zeitlin.
High teas available for special functions
The festivities really got going with much talk, laughter, food, and the cutting of the Birthday Cake. All in all it was a wonderful afternoon full of joy and camaraderie and shared with a remarkable group of residents. Thank you to all the willing helpers who made this function possible.
Menora Gardens Village situated at 16 Freedman Road Menora also runs a fully licensed restaurant which is open 3 days per week Wed – Fri. Community welcome.
We also host special functions for people wishing to avail themselves of private functions. High Teas have become a speciality for people celebrating a milestone birthday or maybe a special occasion.
Our Licensed restaurant 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 Buffett meal every fortnight on a Wednesday. Bookings are essential.
RSL Care WA offer retirement village living to over 55’s Located in Menora, Mandurah, Geraldton & Jurien Bay. Residential Aged Care in Menora and Mandurah and Community Care options. For further information on services available at RSL Care WA contact Kaye Ireland on 9370 0200.
Would-be renovators have a rare opportunity to see an amazing home makeover firsthand, thanks to the second “living” demonstration home from Dale Alcock Home Improvement. Opening its doors to the public from Saturday 25 July, the house at 4 Egina Street in Mount Hawthorn provides inspiration, ideas and information for anyone thinking about renovating or extending their own residence.
Showcasing a second storey addition as well as a ground-floor extension, Dale Alcock Home Improvement has transformed what was once a tired and tiny two-bedroom, one-bathroom 1940s cottage into a beautiful four-bedroom, two-bathroom family home.
Dean O’Rourke, Executive General Manager of Dale Alcock, said the project was helping the company strip away much of the mystery surrounding major home improvements.
“We’re not relying on the standard ‘before and after shots’ or a simple brochure. We’re giving people a renovated house that they can see, touch and feel. It helps them realise what can be done. It’s an innovative demonstration project that also serves as a unique step-by-step guide, helping would-be renovators feel far more familiar and confident with the home improvement process,” he said.
During the renovation, Dale Alcock Home Improvement posted regular videos and project updates on its website, from design and demolition, through to selecting fixtures and fittings at Dale Alcock Central, and constructing the second storey. The home improvement specialist retained 80sqm of the original 107sqm-cottage, knocking down a run-down ‘sleep-out’ and creating a new living room, kitchen, dining room, laundry, alfresco, garage and veranda. It also added the second storey with a master suite and parents’ retreat.
“Over the months, viewers have watched as the house more than tripled in size, making the best use of available block space and fitting the bill for contemporary living – while still retaining bags of original character,” Dean explained.
The value of the project was about $235,000 for the ground-floor extension, plus around $233,000 for the second storey. Dale Alcock Home Improvement opened Perth’s first dedicated “living” demonstration home two years ago, turning a 1930s two-bedroom cottage in Wembley into a spacious four-bedroom family home.
“That project attracted thousands of visitors and the feedback was so positive that it made sense to do it again,” Dean said.
Perth Voice Interactive 