Perth Voice Interactive

LAST year’s Miss Italy Australia Dana Bechelli missed the opportunity to vie for an international title when the competition’s Italian leg was cancelled.

And for the foreseeable future she’ll be the last Australian Miss Italy. The pageant is on hold following the death of founder Enzo Mirigliani, Italo-Australian Welfare and Cultural Centre president Enzo Sirna says: “We have taken a little break.”

The IAWCC will honour its commitment to Ms Bechelli and when Italy reinstates its pageant, she will be Australia’s entry—as long as it’s before the 22-year-old turns 27, the cut-off age for taking part, he says.

The beauty competition for Italian women living abroad (or foreign women with Italian parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents) started when the late Mr Mirigliani visited the US and was stunned by the large number of American-Italians.

“He was bowled over and thought he should do something to recognise Italians abroad,” Mr Sirna says.

Ms Bechelli says she had such a good time vying for the title in Adelaide in 2012 she was happy to give it another shot in 2013, and was surprised to win.

The role is one of ambassador for the Italian community at events, and while Ms Bechelli says she enjoyed Italian Day at the races, “the real highlight was the honour of winning”.

All money raised goes to good causes, in the case of WA the IAWCC’s aged care service.

For the first time, this year Miss Italy will MC the gala ball at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Perth, Sunday June 1. 

by JENNY D’ANGER

PINA NICOLETTI isn’t sure whether she has six or seven trophies for the torte she’s whipped up for the annual Italian Festival’s “la competizione dolciaria” (sweets competition).

“I didn’t compete one year, and mum won,” she tells the Voice.

There’s a tradition, and passion, for sweets-making handed down the family’s generations of women: “Mum was my teacher, and I’m going to teach my girls so they can pick up where I leave off,” Mrs Nicoletti says. The secret of her success is to make everything herself, including the sponge and custard and using quality, fresh cream: “And I use mum’s home-made liquor inside the cake.”

Taste is vital, but decoration makes it a lot of fun: “I try to do an Italian theme, with the Italian flag and I use edible glitter.”

The winner of this year’s “la competizione dolciaria” will be announced at the Italian Club, Wednesday May 28.

PERTH Voice photographer Matthew Dwyer snapped this happy gang of around 60 Italian seniors heading off for a day of exploration. The trip was organised by the Giovani di Una Certa Eta (it means “youth of a certain age” says Licia Stazzonelli, who was on the bus). The day ended with a visit to a Gingin olive oil farm. The social group has around 700 members and regular outings include a three-course lunch and dance at the Italian Club each month for just $25.

 

A $72 MILLION development with 347 units, two offices and a restaurant will be built on Railway Parade in Maylands.

The mammoth 17,259 sqm Finbar project, bounded by Kennedy Street and Tenth Avenue, includes a convenience store and car parking.

The site is in a special planning zone near the line that allows higher density than normally permitted by Bayswater city council.

During public consultation some 14 locals objected, with concerns over increased traffic and height.

Marina Malorgio says surrounding streets could be crammed with parked cars.

“Although parking is planned for the site, in the event the shopping and proposed plan for Dan Murphy’s at the Peninsula Tavern site proceeds, these developments may well push street parking in 9th and 8th Avenue beyond breaking point,” she wrote to council.

“We already have a high number of clients visiting Dome on Railway Parade which does not have sufficient parking bays.

“The lack of parking has resulted in the avenues being constantly blocked and cars dangerously navigating the avenues around numerous vehicles.”

The local development assessment panel green-lit the development after it was recommended for approval by Bayswater city council last month.

“The site is close to the Maylands railway station and other public transport,” says mayor Sylvan Albert.

“We are allowing higher density in that area because it will encourage more people not to drive to work.

“It is part of a wider move to establish ‘activity corridors’ along the railway line.”

Maylands Labor MP Lisa Baker says when trains reach Maylands station during rush hour, passengers are already squashed in like sardines.

She is calling for the Barnett government to buy more carriages for the Midland line.

Ms Malorgio backs up Ms Baker’s call.

“Current residents are already denied entry onto trains which are overflowing,” she says.

Under Bayswater’s percent for public art scheme, the developer will contribute at least $720,000 towards a public artwork onsite.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

IT’S not the sort of thing you expect to see at 1pm on a Tuesday, not even on Charles Street: a man seemingly unconscious on the dirty paving of a bus-stop, a bottle of liquor at his feet, traffic zooming past.

Voice photographer Matthew Dwyer stumbled across the scene while out taking photos: he tried speaking to the man to see if he was alright but couldn’t get much response.

He didn’t figure it was a police emergency so, since it was a City of Vincent-marked bus stop—advertising bourbon, no less—he called the rangers. A passing bus driver was also asked to radio home base about it.

Our snapper moved on to his next job and was surprised to get a call 10 minutes later from the rangers saying they weren’t equipped to deal with it after all, weren’t going to attend and he should call the cops or an ambulance.

Concerned no-one had seen to the guy Dwyer scooted back, to find the man had cracked his face open on something.

The man got aggro when Dwyer tried helping him up. He then managed to stumble his way onto a bus and that was it.

A NEW bike library will let wannabe cyclists check out treadlies to give them a whirl.

Vincent council’s new system will let anyone (with ID) to borrow bikes for a few hours to try them out for free. Residents can check them out for a few days for a nominal fee, while non-residents must shell out a few bucks more.

The idea is to get people to try out cycling and see if it’d work for them better than hopping in a car and contesting with traffic.

Eastern states research shows many don’t get involved in cycling because of the “perceived high costs”.

In 2013 the council’s surveys showed a lot of people wanted a bike-share scheme, with electric bikes available for the oldies.

The RAC will kick in cash for four bikes, while Zap Electric Vehicles will pitch in $6000 for three electric bikes, two hybrid bikes and one cargo bike.

With Vincent’s roadways thoroughly clogged and WA government public transport schemes delayed, the council’s hoping the new $2.5 million bike path network rolling out out across major routes will help ease congestion.

by DAVID BELL

BAYSWATER mayor Sylvan Albert says council mergers will cost ratepayers at least $1.5 million—and possibly more—with the Barnett government telling councils this week it will not pay the entire cost of its program.

The WA government has budgeted just $15m over three years to pay for mergers and expects councils to take out low-interest loans to make up a $45m shortfall.

Cr Albert—the Liberals’ candidate for Maylands at the last state election—says he is disappointed the Barnett government has “not lived up to our expectations”.

“Given that reform is a state government initiative, council expected a greater financial commitment from state government and it is fair to say the level of funding provided by the WA government does not live up to our expectations and that is disappointing.

“With respect to the costs associated with reform until we have a firm decision from local government minister Tony Simpson it is difficult to put a figure on the cost of reform. However, as a minimum initial transition costs in the order of $1.5m are envisaged.

“Only when we have that decision and have liaised with all of our reform partners will we be able to work up an accurate cost.

“Whether we will need to take advantage of the loan provisions is something we will have to decide when the costs become clear.”

Meanwhile, Stirling mayor Giovanni Italiano is refusing to tell his ratepayers what he thinks about mergers: “The mayor will not provide further comment on any aspect of local government reform until the new boundaries of Stirling have been determined by the minister, probably the end of July,” says council media adviser Joanne Hocking.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

MARK McGOWAN and Maylands Labor MP Lisa Baker are hosting a community forum to protest the Barnett government’s treatment of the Swan River Trust.

Last week the government introduced a bill to fold the Trust into the WA parks and wildlife department.

Ms Baker claims the cost-cutting measure will strip the Trust of its powers: “They don’t care: they are gamblers, prepared to risk the health of our defining natural heritage feature, just so they can attempt to appease their appetite for development.”

The forum is at The Rise in Maylands on Sunday May 18 at 11am.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

THE fences are coming down at Leederville’s HQ skate park, making it free and fully accessible.

It currently costs $5 to use the park making it “cost prohibitive for some” says deputy mayor Ros Harley.

The council had been considering building another skate park but decided it made more sense to make better use of HQ, which is run by the YMCA on a peppercorn lease with the council.

The YMCA receives $60,000 a year from the council to run youth services such as all-ages music gigs—$15,000 will be added to that to cover lost revenue. The Y will also get a five-year lease extension and two five-year options.

The Voice called the YMCA for comment but HQ staff said they weren’t allowed to talk. No-one from head office got back to us.

Cr Harley notes there is no skate park in Perth city council’s borders, and in the event of amalgamation the YMCA would welcome lease certainty.

Cr Matt Buckels, a Leederville resident, says with all the upgrades going on around Oxford Street “it’s going to look a million bucks, that end of the street”. “Well, we spent more than that actually… I’m really looking forward to it.”

by DAVID BELL

STEAMPUNKS will invade Government House ballroom next weekend for the grand steampunk charity ball.

The science fiction subgenre imagines a world where steam-powered machinery brings technology to a Victorian era, with gentry wearing sprocket-laden gear going on wild adventures.

Medical researcher Ngaire Lowry and personal trainer Gavin Downes are two members of the Perth steampunk subculture.

Their interest was first fanned by artwork: they collected odds and ends over months to construct their elaborate costumes (though for those wishing to merely dip a toe in, an old-timey suit with some brass paraphernalia is an easy entrance point). Welding goggles are good too.

They’re inviting newbies along to the ball for the what they call “freeform interactive theatre,” with a storyline attached to the evening’s events.

“We don’t know how the events will go,” Ms Lowry smiles.

“Only the director knows the story,” Mr Downes adds. “But he doesn’t know how people will react.”

The group chose Lifeline as the beneficiary charity, as issues of anxiety and mental health were common in the community.

The ball is on May 24, for tickets and info Facebook “Grand steampunk charity ball”.

by DAVID BELL