Perth Voice Interactive

PROVIDING SOLUTIONS & SATISFACTION TO YOUR NEEDS

February 13, 2015

Speak to anyone who has experienced the PROCESS of buying or selling Real Estate and often their findings are a combination of stress, disappointment and ultimately compromise! One of the many goals of Acton Mount Lawley is to ensure your next move is a positive one.

Acton Mount Lawley was founded around one simple mission.

“To deliver RESULTS that exceed our clients EXPECTATIONS”.

We have created ‘Best Practice Systems’ that provide solutions and satisfaction to your most desired wants and needs. At the foundation of our ‘success system’ is a philosophical shift from being a ‘facilitator’ presenting to a Real Estate Consumer to becoming a ‘catalyst’ for a Real Estate Client to find success in an industry that for decades has been inefficient and often ineffective.

“Disappointment is the difference between what a client EXPECTS and what the agent DELIVERS”

Acton Mount Lawley has thoroughly researched what a client requires from their agent. What they have told us is that they are craving a ‘professional’ who can ‘listen’ to their individual wants and needs and provide solutions for them!

Acton Mount Lawley is that professional!

ACTON MOUNT LAWLEY
678 Beaufort Street, MOUNT LAWLEY 6050
T 08 9272 2488
F 08 9272 2388
www.acton.com.au
Camp conundrum

February 13, 2015

MT HAWTHORN community church is desperately trying to find a location for its Easter camp after two preferred venues fell through.

For 20 years the camp has travelled to Holiday Haven in Jarrahdale to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, but last month the campsite abruptly shut down.

Church leaders hastily booked accommodation at Lake Leschenaultia, only to find out Tuesday there had been a double booking.

“With only six weeks to go, the church is now desperately trying to find an alternative, short of simply having extended activities in the hall over the Easter weekend,” church member Robert Paparde says.

“Most people accepted that the camp was going to be in some way different this year, but still having a camp is very important to many people in the church. This event always brings a special kind of togetherness over the Easter long weekend that people don’t get from the services at the hired hall at the Mt Hawthorn Community Centre.”

If you can help the church find a venue for its Easter camp, contact Rob Paparde on 0404 143 149.

Holiday Haven was managed by Grass Roots, a charity founded by parents of children with disabilities. It leased and ran the campsite for nine years with an option to buy.

Grass Roots planned to convert half the units into a lifestyle village for people with intellectual impairment.

The plan fell apart after an owner died and the relationship between Grass Roots and the remaining owners, the Catholic Church, soured.

In February 2006, Grass Roots met with the then-minister for disability services to ask for assistance in purchasing the property. “If money for the purchase price is not raised, unfortunately, the WA public will lose an invaluable respite service,” said independent MLC Shelley Archer. The funding was never secured.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK
Bali candlelight vigil

February 13, 2015

THIRTY Amnesty International supporters held a candlelight vigil January 29 for Perth residents on death row in Indonesia. They gathered outside Wesley Church to demonstrate support for Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, expected to face a firing squad within the month over drug smuggling offences in 2005. The pairs’ supporters say they’ve been rehabilitated in the 10 years they’ve been imprisoned. All avenues of appeal and clemency have been exhausted.
150th anniversary

February 13, 2015

St Mary’s Cathedral has just celebrated its 150th anniversary. Benedictine Oblate Brother Joseph Ascione designed the cathedral in the Norman gothic style. The cathedral’s walls were built from clay bricks from a property in Adelaide Terrace. Between 1897 and 1910, alterations were made to the cathedral to emphasise its gothic character, including the addition of a spire to its bell tower. The cathedral was blessed and opened on January 29, 1865.

Photos by Matthew Dwyer
99 not out

February 13, 2015

THE ANZAC Cottage in Mt Hawthorn has celebrated its 99th birthday.

Originally built as a memorial to those who died at the landing at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915 it now serves as a salient reminder of soldiers who also died in subsequent conflicts.

In February 1916, 4000 turned out to witness 200 workers construct the Mt Hawthorn cottage in one day.

At the time, no soldier had been selected to live there: Private John Porter was the lucky one.

• Marjorie Williams, born in the front room of ANZAC Cottage, cutting the property’s 99th anniversary cake. Photos supplied | Sandra Playle

“He was wounded on the 25th of April, 1915 and he was in the 11th battalion, one of the first groups of soldiers to hit the beaches in the first wave,” says local historian Valerie Everett, a member of the Friends of ANZAC Cottage.

Twelve months later Porter was back in Perth, living in the small house.

Marjorie Williams, Porter’s daughter, was born in the cottage 99 years ago and is still going strong.

She came down to the cottage to join in the celebrations and cut the birthday cake.

The property was handed over to the Vietnam veterans in the early 1990s and, through voluntary work and fundraising, they have painstakingly restored it as a heritage gem.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK
Dunnies do better

February 13, 2015

IT’S been three years since Canadian Frank O’Brien first deemed Hyde Park’s toilets “abominable” “third world” and amongst some of the worst he’d come across in his world travels.

The usually easy-going organic farmer had been shocked to find poo on the floor, no soap and no means to dry hands in many Perth toilets. From Greece to Mexico, public dunnies around the world left ours for dead.

As he’s back in Perth, we visited a few toilet blocks to see if they’d improved.

• Frank O’Brien returns to see if much has changed at Hyde Park’s dunnies: soap’s an improvement, the Canadian says. Photo by Matthew Dwyer

Liquid soap dispensers and repaired tiling had “drastically improved” things but the block remained dark and dingy and had all the charm of a 1900s lunatic asylum.

“When you go in there you feel a bit scared, you want to run out,” he says.

“It’s the olde worlde feel about it, it’s kind of spooky.”

Soon to return home to harvest his Vancouver Island farm, Mr O’Brien says the best dunnies in the world are along US state highways: “There’s always somebody on the lookout, and they’re always impeccable. Even down to the landscaping.”

by DAVID BELL
practical. Functional. Efficient

February 13, 2015

At Duomark our philosophy is simple. Be practical, be functional and be efficient

These philosophies shape the core of our designs, our commitments, our relationships and our work.

For general enquiries please write to us at:

Unit 23/ 20 Royal Street, East Perth,
Western Australia. 6004
Fax: 08 9421 1241
info@duomark.com.au
www.duomark.com.au
LETTERS 14.2.15

February 13, 2015

A poor decision
I WOULD like to add my voice to the many letters of complaint you received regarding the article “A funny thing about rape,” (Voice, January 15, 2015).
By now you have realised what a poor decision it was to print such a sexually explicit and suggestive article in a local paper that is indiscriminately distributed to all the residents of Perth’s inner suburbs, often by minors.
You have offended a great number of people; women, rape victims, parents, and anyone who does their best to maintain the dignity of women and protect them from exploitation.
I trust that you will be much more discerning in the future regarding the articles you publish and especially the images you choose to include with them.
Siobhan
Mt Lawley

Bad for business
I WAS astounded to learn the Vincent council passed a motion to allow a music event to be held in the laneway next to our business premises (Siena’s of Leederville) on Saturday February 21, 2015.
Does the council realise how loud the music will be? Does the council realise how disruptive the loud music will be? Does the council realise how much it will affect us, as a business?
A couple of years ago the council approved a fashion parade for the same laneway and that totally destroyed our night. The music was so loud that people could not sit in our enclosed back section and the music could be heard throughout the whole restaurant. We had customers walking out of our restaurant, and that was just a fashion parade with only “catwalk” music.
Now, the Vincent council has approved a “music event” with alcohol from 5pm to midnight. The music will be many times more loud and disruptive than a fashion parade.
What is most disturbing is we did not find out until the day of the vote (by another concerned business owner) that this was happening. We did not receive anything to inform us that something like this was planned.
Furthermore, you would think the council would actually come to see us personally to discuss the matter, considering the fact the laneway is right next to our premises and that an event like this will completely destroy our Saturday night…..our busiest night of the week.
This was an incomprehensible decision by the Vincent council. More so, because some councillors argued against it and it was passed by a split decision.
I have questions to ask the council:
• why could you approve an event like this next our business, when you would surely realise how disruptive it would be?
• why are we treated like this when we have been here for 15 years paying our rates and taxes?
• why would you close the laneway that is the main thoroughfare for the carpark to Oxford Street?
• why could you make it harder for the disabled people parking in the back to get to Oxford Street?
I can only assume the Council listened to the people who argued against it but decided it knows best.
After all, Siena’s only has families eating there! They won’t care if their dinners are ruined. Siena’s only has locals eating there! They won’t care if they can’t hear themselves talking.
Siena’s has only been there for 15 years. Let’s help this promotor from nowhere instead. The Siena’s owners live in Vincent and pay rates and taxes personally, but don’t worry about that! Let’s help some one-off promotor make a quick buck at the expense of a business that’s been there for 15 years.
Yes, let’s look after this promoter so we can encourage other promoters to come and do the same at the expense of people who have been here for 15 years paying rates and taxes.
Yes, let’s look after the music and alcohol event rather than the family restaurant.
Well done Vincent! That’s how you envisage our council.
As you can see we are not happy with the decision and we are unhappy to not have been consulted. We will look at taking action against the promotor and the council for loss of business and disruption of business. The council knows we will be losing money on that night and losing goodwill as well.
The people of Vincent need to know the kind of decisions this council is making.
Andrew Parissis
Siena’s of Leederville

Confidence in the chair
ONE of the critical issues that has set the cities of Perth and Vincent at loggerheads approaching amalgamation is the composition of a future Perth city council.
The City of Perth proposes retention of the status quo, that is, a council comprising a mayor and eight councillors. A most cogent argument that Perth advances is that: “…Council House is fitted out to accommodate the meeting and administrative requirements of the Lord Mayor and eight councillors. Any change to the numbers will result in significant costs.”.
Therefore, I have written to the mayor of Vincent suggesting a potential solution to this sticking point: that, to achieve a quick and satisfactory compromise, following amalgamation Vincent offers its surplus chairs to future Perth council meetings to accommodate any increase in the number of councillors, whilst henceforth also making it a condition of standing for election to council that candidates be of small to medium physique only.
I await the outcome of this vital, albeit sensitive, issue with bated breath.
Geoff Cooper
Glebe St, North Perth
The Ed says: All a moot point now, Geoff…for now.
Spin & Skin

February 13, 2015

NED: Ideas You’ll Never Have is a parody of the popular TED talks.

TED is a US-based non-profit organisation devoted to the lofty notion of Ideas Worth Spreading.

People like Bill Clinton win TED awards for their 15-minute oratical flourishes on subjects as diverse as health for Rwanda to graphic design for newspapers. The clothes worn are urban cool, the microphone’s invisible, the stage beautifully, moodily lit and the ever-moving speakers invariably hip, with a little nerd thrown in.

It’s all grist to the mill for comedian Dylan Cole, right, who combines theatre, stand-up and motivational speaking to poke fun at the worthiness of it all.

He plays three speakers who each have 15 minutes to share their knowledge and insight on their chosen subjects.

In this case the Science of Possibility, Creating the Creation of Creativity and Being Successful, happy and generally alright through achieving your goals, aspirations and being true to yourself.

“The razzle-dazzle spin of the self-help and feel-good genre, seen frequently in speeches by the Dalai Lama or written about in best-selling books…is highlighted,” Cole says in his Perth Fringe blurb.

“It parodies intellect and political spin, whilst demonstrating how powerful words and ideas can be, if said in the right way by the right person.”

NED, Ideas You’ll Never Have is on at the Pleasure Garden, James Street, Northbridge February 18–22. Tix at http://www.fringeworld.com.au.

———————

FROM Brazilians to full body waxing, botox, and a raft of indignities in between there’s no limit to what women—and men—will endure in the search for beauty.

Skin Deep is a whimsical musical on a serious subject, a look at the beauty industry through the eyes of three beauticians.

One of the trio didn’t hesitate to get “skin deep” in preparation for the show.

“I actually had a Brazilian, for research, because I’m the victim in that scene,” Lindsay McNab says, her voice shuddering at the pain, and a tinge of embarrassment at her admission.

WA Academy of Performing Arts graduate Cynthia Fenton had always wondered what secrets beauticians held behind the treatment room door so she set about looking for answers.

What she found went into the mix as she and award-winning director Tyler Jacob Jones collaborated to bring Skin Deep to the stage.

“It appears the beautician often knows intimate details and secrets of people’s lives and bodies that are rarely shared beyond their walls. The stories will resonate with anyone who has stepped into that crazy world—or just looked on in bewilderment,” Fenton says.

The experiences of the women are told in a tongue-in-cheek frolic through some cringeworthy moments—through amusing parodies of pop songs by musical director Timothy How.

The stories are real, but the names have been changed, as they say.

“It’s funny and nonsense, with great stories,” McNab says.

A middle-aged woman (McNab), is anxious about her overgrown undergrowth, and heads to the salon, and a domineering mother schemes to make her daughter the standout of the school ball.

Meanwhile, a Hollywood starlet considers dramatic facial surgery, and a manic lesbian tries frantically to keep all her lovers in line.

“The stories are told from the point-of-view of beauticians. It’s a send up of ourselves and the lengths we go to to look good,” McNab says.

Skin Deep stars WAAPA graduate Cynthia Fenton, Grace Edwards and Lindsay McNab who are aged 20 and 40: “And I’m not quite 60 yet,” McNab says. As more Australians head down the slippery slope towards cosmetic surgery Skin Deep asks: “What does the future hold for the humble beauty therapist?”

Skin Deep is on at The Hellenic Club of WA, 75 Stirling Street, Perth until February 15. Tickets at http://www.fringeworld.com.au

by JENNY D’ANGER
Killer quinoa

February 13, 2015

I WAS surprised to discover my retired chef mother-in-law had never heard of quinoa, but I guess a Devon village isn’t exactly the centre of the universe for a trendy goosefoot grain.

Following lunch at Oxford Yard she’s a convert to the delicious native of the Andes—which on this occasion came in a fantastic salad consisting of pumpkin, mushroom, baby spinach and zucchini.

And she was pretty impressed too with the generous serve of ricotta slice ($14), leaving not a morsel on the plate.

Having first-hand experience of the usual fare at Tafes, this little eatery must be a godsend for the students next door, with well-priced food that is both delicious and healthy.

A couple of freshly squeezed apple and orange juices ($6.50) were icy cold and sharply delicious, and the hectic rush of our morning fell away as we gazed in awe at a magnificent ghost gum in the Tafe forecourt.

I couldn’t go past the special of the day, nasi goreng ($14), and was well satisfied with the flavoursome dish that harked back to balmy Bali holidays.

Eggs florentine with smoked salmon ($18) was the poison of choice for D’Angerous Dave, the hollandaise sauce was great, but the eggs could have been a little runnier to soak into the unbuttered toast, he opined.

We shared a serve of crispy ripped chips ($8) intrigued by the name.

The chunks of potato arrived looking, well, ripped (as in torn, not muscular) leaving me wondering how much strength might be needed to tear a raw potato into segments.

More baked spud than chip they were great, the rough texture allowing for more crunchy bits.

The cake cabinet beckoned, and D’Angerous took a punt on the peppermint slice ($4) which didn’t disappoint. The peppermint was perfectly balanced with the rich chocolate base and an argument ensued over which dessert was the best.

The M-I-L’s sticky lemon slice ($4) was sharp, and indeed sticky, and my blueberry and coconut frangipane cake ($4.50) was light and fluffy with a lovely berry sharpness, and none of us was prepared to give way on which was best.

But we did agree Oxford Yard’s coffee was great, and the earl grey tea delicious.

by JENNY D’ANGER

Oxford Yard
196 Oxford Street, Leederville
9201 2369
open Mon-Fri 6.30am-4pm,
Sat-Sun 7am–3pm