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Parramatta Road to house 60,000 new dwellings

BY ELLIOTT BRENNAN The Baird Government has been forced to release the draft plan for the future Parramatta road which reveals 60,000 new dwellings as the target.

The development being labelled the ‘new’ Parramatta Road will be the biggest so far in terms of housing that is planned for Sydney.

The number of houses along the corridor is set to almost quadruple from 18,000 to 69,700 by 2031.

The NSW Minister for planning, Pru Goward said that the corridor has long been in need of a facelift.

“The NSW Government is committed to considered, sensible revitalisation of this corridor, which has been an eyesore in our global city for too long,” Ms Goward said.

A total of $28 billion is expected to be invested in the development which encompasses ten councils.

Underground cabling and cycle paths as well as traffic diverted to the WestConnex motorway are all listed in the report as being the key to the revitalisation of Parramatta road which was once a crucial hub.

On weekdays an estimated 100,000 trips per day are taken on the road and for 8 hours of the day the average speed is 20 kilometres per hour due to gridlock.

Camperdown, Leichhardt, Homebush, Granville, Auburn, Burwood, Taverners Hill, and Kings Bay have been identified by the draft report as the key areas for growth and development.

Homebush and Granville are shown to be the two precincts which will see the majority of the development under the plan.

Homebush which has three train stations along the road will see a 16,000 dwelling increase or one quarter of the total development.

Granville which has two stations will see

a 19,000 dwelling increase, roughly one third of the total.

The report hinted at a change in local government planning controls to accelerate development in a passage which has been met by with contempt from local governments.

“Precincts are special areas identified for growth and change where planning rules and zonings may change in the future,” the report read.

The Mayor of Leichhardt, Rochelle Porteous said the passage proved “it is another expensive, sugar coated public relations exercise to disguise the Government’s intention to remove local planning controls from local councils and force high-rise development into the residential streets of the inner west.”

But the State’s representative body for development, Urban Taskforce, saw some sort of inter-council body as vital to the success of the project.

“The current 8 councils may need to be amalgamated or form a joint organisation of councils. The State Government could take the leadership role through their urban renewal arm Urban Growth or the proposed Greater Sydney Commission could emerge as the lead agency. A single agency must be responsible for implementation so that the vision is realised,” a statement from Urban Taskforce read.

The Shadow Minister for Planning, Luke Foley, described the draft as a “recipe for disaster” as amenities were not outlined.

“A plan for 60,000 new apartments, with not a single school or childcare centre, and no parks and playgrounds is not urban renewal,” he said.

“This explains why Pru Goward was determined to keep these plans under wraps until after the March 2015 election.”

Parramatta road in Camperdown Source: blogspot.com

“Labor wants to see guarantees around design excellence and there must be adequate provision of essential community infrastructure.”

Cr Porteous also expressed concern about what was missing from the draft.

“It is frankly insulting to the community to put such a document out to consultation,” she said.

“The only money on the table is $200

million for amenity works along the corridor from Parramatta to Camperdown, which is not even a fraction of what is needed for real infrastructure upgrades to accommodate a much larger population.”

Pru Goward has responded by saying that the draft never endeavoured to include these details as they would be part of the second stage of the plan, due next year.

State Government reports indicate that

Sydney will need 600,000 new dwellings in the next two decades to house a predicted 1.6 million person increase.

Parramatta Road will remain toll free but Luke Foley believes this will cause a “rat race” to avoid the heavy tolls of the WestConnex Motorway which will serve the same route.

The draft will be open for comment until February 15 next year.

Hammer falls on the Italian Forum

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BY ELLIOTT BRENNAN After over a year of uncertainty and bitter disputes the Italian Forum on Norton Street has been sold to the Italian cultural organisation Co. As. It. The contracts were exchanged on Friday (November 28) and the organisation paid $2.8 million for the site.

The Italian population in Leichhardt has drastically reduced and the Forum has been struggling to fill the Pia a with people for some years.

The previous owners, The Italian Forum Limited went into voluntary administration in August 2013.

The General Manager of Co. As. It, Thomas Camporeale, called the sale “a great victory for the community”.

“It was a long, protracted battle, so we’re happy to see that it’s finally over,” he said.

“This is the best outcome for the community.

Not just the Italian community, but the broader community as well.”

“We’d like to see increased activity in the piazza through some fiestas, some markets, some outdoor events and exhibitions. Internally we’d like to see some Italian language and cooking classes for everyone.”

Stephen Hathaway of S Partners who were in charge of the site, also said it was a relief to finally have the issues resolved and the property sold, but said it was a long and frustrating process.

“Leichhardt Council and particularly the previous Mayor, Darcy Byrne, had a very strong opinion that the forum should have only been sold to this one Italian group. He took it upon himself to see that Co. As. It would be the only buyers considered,” he said.

There were two other groups bidding for the site and initially their offers were much higher than that of Co. As. It.

The Italian forum Source: homeaway.com

“When there’s one group who know they’re the favored buyers, of course they’re not going to offer the highest bid,” Mr Hathaway said.

Co. As. It initially had the lowest offer of three potential buyers at $2.4 million. The market price set for the Forum was $2.8 million. The Glorious Gospel Church GGS and the Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts had already at least matched this market price.

Leichhardt Council gave S Partners a deadline of June 2, 2014 to confirm a sale to Co.As.It and indicated if S Partners do not meet this deadline, council would liquidate the property and assign a new administrating body.

S Partners sought an injunction to stop council from doing so, which was granted by Supreme Court of NSW. Mr Hathaway said that his role was to see that the creditors were repaid in full while respecting the cultural mandate of the site and said that he needed market price to achieve this.

GGS’s final offer was a conditional $3.2 million bid.

Leichhardt council agreed to reduce their legal costs attached to their mortgage to compensate for Co. As. It’s lower offer.

Mayor of Leichhardt, Rochelle Porteous said Co. As. It would be a good fit for the Forum.

“Being a local, not for profit organisation will ensure that the Italian Forum Cultural Centre continues to serve both the Italian-Australian community and the wider Sydney community,” she said.

The Actors Centre Australia ACA who had been fighting to stay on the site are understood

by City Hub to be in negotiations with the new owners about a two year extension of their lease.

“We’d be more than happy to facilitate them,” Mr Campreale said.

ACA did not wish to comment on the developments.

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New Sydney harbour tunnel proposal reignites Westconnex debate

BY JOE BOURKE The NSW Government has announced a $20 billion plan for the state’s infrastructure, which would include a new western Sydney harbour tunnel which has reignited public debate about the state’s struggling sector.

The western Sydney harbour tunnel would start in Rozelle and run to Gore Hill or the Warringah Freeway.

NSW Greens spokesperson for Roads and Transport, Dr Mehreen Faruqi said that the Government’s plans “have no stand-alone business plans” and are “reliant on billions of dollars being spent”.

“This latest thought bubble from the Government is for yet another harbour tunnel which again demonstrates this Government’s tunnel motorway madness at a cost of tens of billions of dollars that will come at the expense of hospitals, schools and public transport.” Dr Fahruqi said.

Leichhardt Labor Councillor Darcy Byrne is also opposed to the tunnel proposal, calling it an expensive idea.

Mr Byrne said “It is high time the Government released a cost benefit analysis and traffic modelling for WestConnex rather than redesigning and extending it every three months.”

Dr Faruqi released revenue modelling on November 27 calculating that the WestConnex project has a “black hole” of more than $600 million every year, which will total $4.6 billion by 2029.

“The community already knew the WestConnex will not solve transport problems and it will increase pollution and congestion. Now we also know that there is no economic case for it either. Yet this Government is pushing ahead with its addiction to motorways,” she said.

“If the Government has alternative numbers they must release them and hold the project up to public scrutiny.”

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WestConnex

The NSW Government said in a November 4 media release that the WestConnex project is “expected to generate up to 10,000 jobs during construction and deliver more than $20 billion in economic benefits to NSW.” Cr Byrne said that the WestConnex process has been secretive, and has called for a more transparent way of dealing with Sydney’s congestion issues.

“The truth is the Government has been very secretive about the justification for WestConnex.

Tony Abbott promised at the election that any federal Government investment in infrastructure exceeding $100 million would be referred to the independent body, Infrastructure Australia, for assessment. In this case, he is spending billions of dollars on WestConnex but is refusing to allow Infrastructure Australia to look at it,” he said.

Cr Byrne believes that a mix of public transport and roads backed by independent analysis is the key to solving Sydney’s congestion woes.

“I don’t see any reason why we can’t be more ambitious for the future of Sydney and plan for a citywide underground metro system like every other global city has. London has the Tube, China has 11,000 km of rail lines for very fast trains. We need to improve transport in Sydney, we need investment in roads and we need investment in public transport, but it all has to be based on independent, expert advice.”

Marrickville Greens Councillor David Leary condemned Marrickville Council’s “weak position” on the WestConnex motorway.

This followed Labor, Liberal and an Independent Councillor’s refusal to support the Greens motion that Marrickville Council strongly opposes WestConnex

during Council debate on the issue.

Cr Leary said that the motion also asked that the council commit $20,000 towards “providing information to local residents and other forms of support for the community campaign against the motorway.”

“The Greens believe that the best way to deal with Sydney’s traffic grid-lock is to invest in better public transport. WestConnex will destroy our community and it should be abandoned rather than simply re-routing or modifying it as Labor is advocating through its weasel words that hide its real agenda,” Clr Leary said.

Leichhardt’s Cr Byrne said that the Greens’ response to WestConnex is a “knee jerk reaction of opposing WestConnex based on ideology,” and that he was willing to consider any suggestion from transport experts about how to improve congestion in Sydney.

“Councils like Leichhardt and Marrickville have a real problem in that there’s many people in Sydney that believe that we just oppose everything.

We have a long history of campaigning against development and infrastructure projects and where that is based on the facts and evidence, that is justifiable, but if we just have a knee jerk response as suggested by the Greens every time anything is proposed, then our views will be discounted by the Government and by the general population in Sydney. They will rightly see in that case that we don’t look at issues based on their merits but oppose them based on our ideology.”

Community opposition to WestConnex is growing, with a street festival ‘Reclaim the Streets’ set to take place on December 13.

According to the group organising the festival, it is opposing the compulsory acquisition of eighty homes on Campbell Street in St Peters and what it calls “health risks” and a bad approach to climate change, among other things.

5

Sydney Dads campaign for White Ribbon Day

BY SOPHIE TRIGGER Over 1000 residents marched to oppose violence against women. The march from Randwick to Coogee was to support the National White Ribbon Day campaign.

This is the fourth year that the Randwick City Council has teamed up with the NSW Police to produce the event, 2014 saw record numbers.

A spokesperson from the Randwick City Council said that the focus of 2014 was engaging fathers to set a responsible message for their sons.

“People aren’t going to stay silent about it, or turn a blind eye like they might have in decades gone by,” the spokesperson told City Hub. “We had people from all different walks of life, we had local resident, we had people who had travelled from all over Sydney. We had Dads and their sons, we had men in uniforms, we had members of the police force, of the army, and from surf-life saving.”

The White Ribbon Campaign is the world’s largest male-led movement to end violence against women. It was started in Australia in 2003 and is now active in 60 countries across the world.

2012 data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that 38.5% of Australian women have experienced male-perpetrated violence since the age of 15.

According to NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, “domestic and family violence takes up more police time than any other crime type,” equating to around 120,000 incidents in 2013 alone.

“Domestic and family violence affects people in

all parts of our society – it is not exclusive to any socioeconomic group, gender, age or culture,” said the Police Commissioner.

Labor City of Sydney Councilor Linda Scott has long been supportive of the White Ribbon day campaign, and criticizes the NSW Liberal Government’s decisions to cut funds to women’s services.

“We’ve seen dramatic cuts to funding for women’s services and youth services,” Councillor Scott told City Hub. “Sadly, we’ve seen a corresponding increase in the amount of people sleeping rough – anecdotally, it seems that those people are women and young people . . . this is when the state should step in and help.”

One woman on average dies each week in Australia, as a result of domestic violence, a figure that is on the increase in NSW. It seems that although incidents of domestic violence have risen, so too has the support for campaigns such as White Ribbon Day. “Each year the march seems to have grown and grown,” said the spokesperson for Randwick City Council.

“More and more people are coming on board to this important cause and … the feedback we’ve had from police is that it’s effective in sending out the message.”

The Dads of Sydney were encouraged to take a photo of themselves and their sons, and to share it to social media with the hashtag ‘A Real Man Says No’.

The CEO of White Ribbon, Libby Davies

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White ribbon day Source: Randwick Council

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“Men are the backbone of the White Ribbon Campaign,” she said.

In addition to the White Ribbon day March, the City of Sydney campaigns by promoting an anti-violence against women message on the back of their garbage trucks.

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BY EMILY CONTADOR-KELLSAL NSW Labour is calling on the Baird Government to change its plans to cut pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation in Sydney hospitals.

The state government plans to scrap pulmonary Rehab at Balmain, Royal Prince Alfred, Canterbury, and Concord hospitals, effective December 19.

The rehabilitation programs are being replaced with a “Self-Management Support Service”. The government is offering affected outpatients 10 free gym sessions as part of the transition.

The affected outpatients who suffer from chronic lung problems are largely pensioners in their 60s, 70s and 80s.

Labor candidate for Balmain Verity Firth said this “self-management” is sugary language to coat a cruel and insensitive abolition of a long running and extremely successful government health program.

“This program has shown significant improvement in people who have chronic illnesses. It allows them to manage a chronic illness in a way that improves their quality of life, gives them regular social interaction and increased confidence.”

“It is such an important program, beloved by the people who use it.”

Dr Genevieve Wallace, the acting general manager of Balmain Hospital said the hospital is restructuring the service to ensure those who are stable and have completed post-acute rehab can move into the community, leaving room in the program for those acutely unwell or recently discharged.

“That model of care, based on international best practice and developed in consultation with senior clinicians and consumers, ensures that the service is available to those most in need” NSW Shadow Health Minister Walt Secord said the direction of health under the Liberals and Nationals is about putting patients second – after the financial bottom line.

“Health is not a business and this is the Liberals

8

Cartoon: Peter Berner

Elderly patients told to ‘fend for themselves’

Patients will be given ten gym sessions and then be left to their own Source: agedcareguide.com

putting patients into the private sector.”

“The patients in the pulmonary lung rehabilitation at Balmain Hospital have been treated with the utmost disrespect. Giving an 80-year-old, 10 gym session passes and telling them to look after themselves is so wrong.”

Outpatients would be required to pay for a gym membership after the 10 free gym sessions.

Ms Firth said the patients would pay around $650 a year at the Audrey Hawkings Commnuity Centre where there is a 3-4 month waiting period and that a lot of the fixed term pensioners, who are those affected, simply do not have the money.

“One of the patients told me, that one of the other reasons why they’re worried about being forced to this community gym is that there’s no specialists there.”

Dr Wallace said encouraging patients to aim

toward self-management is an important goal to instil confidence and strengthen their sense of wellbeing.

“In regard to those affected by the restructure, clients who are clinically well will continue to be offered their maintenance sessions until the end of this year.”

“The District has offered each of these well clients a voucher for 10 sessions of maintenance rehabilitation at Lungs In Action in Lilyfield, starting in January.”

Miss Firth said the consequences of closing the rehab are extreme.

“It’s a program that has been showed to work” “It’s about providing people with preventative health care, or maintenance health care, that allows them to get fit, manage their condition and live in their community, to be brutally honest, to live a longer life with a better quality of life.”

Sydney big business supports World AIDS day World AIDS Day has been significant for both Sydney and around the world.

Local companies have followed the lead of multinational giant Apple, who donated 75 million to AIDS related charities, as well as donating a portion of retail sales toward finding a cure.

On Friday, Alex Greenwich, along with SBS newsreader Ricardo Goncalves promoted the event with large corporations of the Darling Park precinct, including Commbank, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and Rabobank. They sold red ribbons to people in their lunch hour.

The important symbolism of red ribbons was matched by the government with action on Monday, when NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner marked the day by opening the first permanent rapid testing clinic for the disease on Oxford Street.

“Making HIV testing easier is a priority of the NSW

Government’s HIV Strategy 2012-2015, which aims to dramatically drive down the number of new HIV infections,” Mrs Skinner said.

“The new permanent rapid HIV testing shopfront is a significant step in delivering quality, integrated, patient-centred care to the community. Oxford Street is also the perfect location for the shopfront given the local community’s commitment and success in facing the challenge of HIV over many, many years.”

Playing with the theme of red, the Redhot Down Under exhibition is raising awareness and money for the AIDS cause, exhibiting red headed male models at the Deutcher and Hackett Gallery in Darlinghurst throughout December.

It comes at a time when social media is getting heavily involved in awareness around AIDS. This year, the twitter hashtag, ‘weareALLclean’ was coupled with selfies of men while showering to encourage more inclusive treatment of those with HIV.

Coal Seam Gas mining could be harming Sydney’s drinking water Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham has criticised the Baird government for risking the safety of Sydney’s drinking water by not legislating against coal seam gas (CSG) exploration in catchment areas.

The controversial form of gas extraction is steadily becoming an energy staple for NSW and Queensland but activist groups in the Shoalhaven, Illawarra, the Blue Mountains and Sutherland areas have raised concern about licencing parameters.

In November last year a moratorium was placed on exploration in catchment ‘Special Areas’ in order for a report to be prepared about environmental, social and health impacts of the CSG. The findings were released this September and were considered by the Baird government.

Author of the independent review, NSW Chief Scientist Mary O’Kane has since made sixteen recommendations to the government saying the industry can be safely managed if it is transparent, integrated into the community and overseen by an advisory body.

The report reads: “In particularly sensitive areas, such as in and near drinking water catchments, risk management needs to be of a high order with particularly stringent requirements on companies operating there.”

The four major catchments that supply Sydney with drinking water are the Shoalhaven, Upper Nepean, Warragamba, and Worona systems, which stretch north from Lithgow to Braidwood in the south.

NSW Greens Activist and activists such as David Williamson of the Southern Highlands Coal Action Group (SHCAG) want a blanket ban on CSG in catchments because they consider it a threat to safe drinking water.

After confronting the minister for Trade and

A coal seam gas well Source: coalseamgasnews.org

Investment Mark Patterson about three years of inaction on the issue, Buckingham outlined CSG’s potential effect on metropolitan areas.

During a Budget Estimates hearing he said: “Sydney-siders should be particularly concerned that the government refuses to rule out toxic coal seam gas development in the special areas of their drinking water catchment.”

Williamson, a resident of the Shoalhaven Sydney Catchment area, says although CSG is a huge threat to the productive capacity of agricultural water supplies and farming communities across NSW, there may be confusion over the types of mining that exist locally.

“The Nepean Catchment in particular is much more threatened by mining than by gas . . . as far as I know there are no active gas permits over the water catchment, but there are lots of coal mining

activities nibbling around the edges and increasingly encroaching on the catchment.”

They were joined by Opposition Leader John Robertson who criticised Liberal-National for ‘rolling out the red carpet’ for companies such as AGL, Santos and Apex Energy to drill. The state government hit back, arguing that in the interest of being competitive in the global gas market and satisfying energy consumption domestically Coal Seam Gas. Energy Minister Anthony Roberts sited O’Kane’s Review when he told The Sydney Morning Herald that the regulation of gas activities were previously too complex and assured the state that the CSG companies have a reputation for industry bestpractice.

He said “all gas exploration will still have to go through a rigorous assessment process.”

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9

BY ELLIOTT BRENNAN Negotiations between the City of Sydney and The Department of Education (DEC) have broken down after a year of planning for the conversion of a council depot into a 1,000 student public school.

Both parties are blaming each other for the failed talks, while residents and other politicians are desperate to get the site back on the table.

The DEC released a statement of their position on the matter.

“Although remaining committed to building a new public school in Ultimo/Pyrmont that meets local needs, the Department of Education has withdrawn in frustration from negotiations to buy land for that purpose from the City of Sydney,” the statement read.

“Despite detailed, ongoing discussions and several solid financial offers from the Department, The City of Sydney refused to act reasonably in considering the educational needs of the ratepayers’ children in those areas.”

The City of Sydney and Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, insist that they have always negotiated in good faith with the DEC. “I made it clear that the City is committed to working with the DEC until this matter is resolved and the Minister seemed committed to concluding an agreement,” Clover Moore said.

“The Minister for Education (Adrian Piccoli) must now explain to the local community what plans he has to provide a new school in the area given the NSW Government has abandoned the Fig and Wattle Street site.”

It is understood that the tipping point was the question of who would remediate of the heavily contaminated site.

Greens spokesperson for Education, John Kaye, said that this was constitutionally a matter for the State.

“The Education Act gives the Government the responsibility to provide quality public education to every child,” he told City Hub. “That means looking ahead, securing sites, and even

10

Photo: Joanna Kelly

Plan for new Ultimo Public School falls through

Five students outside the would-be school

remediating them if need be.”

Ultimo Public School Parents and Citizen’s Association spokesman Bill d’Anthes has called for both parties to look past partisan politics, sending a letter to both asking that negotiations be resumed.

“I think both sides should have done more,” he said.

“The City should have asked for less given that other Cities and councils are doing more and I think that the State should have offered more - they definitely shouldn’t have cut off negotiations after so long,” he said.

The Independent Member for Sydney, Alex Greenwhich, and Greens Member for Balmain, Jamie

Parker sent a co-signed letter to Adrian Piccoli insisting he keep his promise of having a new inner city school up and running by 2017.

The Liberal Candidate for Sydney, Patrice Pandeleos, said that Alex Greenwhich could not wash his hands of the issue as the Member for Sydney.

She took to Facebook to express her frustration.

“I am disappointed that the Lord Mayor and the Member for Sydney have played politics from the start on this issue,” the post read.

“It is now clear that the Member for Sydney cannot work with the State Government to achieve outcomes

like this one for the community.”

Mr d’Anthes completely rejects the claim that Alex Greenwhich had not done enough.

“Alex has worked quite hard with the community to see that the school is built - it’s dissapointing that it wasn’t successful, but I don’t think he is at all to blame for what has happened here,” he said.

John Kaye believes that the issue needs to be seen as above politics as a critical issue.

“There’s a critical moment in time where securing new sites and increasing the capacity of existing inner city schools can be done without interrupting educational outcomes. That moment is fast passing,” he said.

City of Sydney data estimates that in the next four years the number of primary school aged children will increase by 1,700.

This comes in conjunction with estimates that high schools in the inner city will reach absolute capacity by 2018 at the current rate.

“The Department has taken its eye off the ball and we are headed for a crisis,” Mr Kaye said.

The DEC insist that the search for a new site is still a high priority.

“The Department is investigating options for a new Ultimo/Pyrmont Public school which will be discussed thoroughly with the community before a solution is implemented,” a statement read.

The prospect of the Bays Precinct has been raised as possible avenue, but has met stiff resistance.

“Redevelopment of the Bays Precinct is still in very early stages and with the need for projects of this size to involve extensive community consultation and planning, it is unlikely to be able to provide for the urgent education needs for Ultimo and Pyrmont residents,” Alex Greenwich told City Hub. Premier Mike Baird’s claim that he would see the Powerhouse Museum moved to Parramatta has opened the would be vacant site, but the proposal to move the museum is not expected to be successful.

Photo: James Morgan

Rupert RUPERT Guy Edmonds James Cromwell and Danielle Cormack

David Williamson’s recent play is not so much a rags to riches story as a rich to filthy rich story, a tale of tyke to tycoon if you will.

James Cromwell plays the older, reflective Rupert Murdoch who narrates his past while the ensemble cast literally dances around him. The exuberant Guy Edmonds portrays the younger Murdoch’s journey from disillusioned student at Oxford who is out to prove his worth to his mother, to the powerhungry mogul that we know today.

Director Lee Lewis adeptly uses the stage to tell an upbeat cabaret full of meta-theatrical and self-referential gags with fun costumes and set changes. The acting is strong, the most delightful are performances by Jane Turner, Glenn Hazeldine and Bert LaBonte who play a horde of colourful characters that leaves the audience in stitches.

But ultimately the show’s downfall is that it raises more questions than it answers. We are told that even though Murdoch has made enough money to last him five lifetimes he can’t stop working. We see a man who is at the office from 5am to midnight, not afraid to get his hands dirty and take on the most basic editorial roles. We already know that Murdoch will stop at nothing to get what he wants. But what does he want? And why does he want it?

Whether you love or hate him, or love to hate him, Murdoch’s power and ambition is fascinating. However, surely what is even more fascinating is the motivation behind his ambition. But that is a story for another time. (ES)

Until Dec 21, Theatre Royal, 108 King Street, Sydney, $60-$120, ticketmaster.com.au

The Year that Was: Rupert Murdoch

BY SHAUNA O’CARROLL Scandalous, influential, powerful, billionaire, media magnate - these are just some of the words to describe the perplexing man that is Rupert Murdoch. His life, scandals and stories will be played out this month with the Sydney premiere of the David Williams play, Rupert, a production that explores the life of ‘The Man Who Owns the News’.

In a career that has spanned over 60 years, Murdoch is showing no signs of slowing down. Despite his old age, Murdoch is still as busy as he ever was in his glory days. Here are some of the high profile stories involving the media mogul this year: Top of the Food Chain Murdoch’s fortune grew from $9.13 billion in 2013 to $12.61 billion this year and he was named as the wealthiest person in BRW’s Executive Rich List. Just to give you an idea, his fortune is worth more than the rest of the top five combined. The Murdoch empire was also deemed the 32nd on Forbes 2014 list of Powerful People, a step up from his 33rd spot in 2013.

Acquittal of Phone Hacking Charges The Murdoch Empire have demonstrated a remarkable recovery after the News Corp phone hacking scandal of 2012, coming out relatively unscathed during the trials this year. Rebekah Brooks, former head of the Murdoch British newspaper empire was acquitted of all charges in the phone hacking trial in June.

Time Warner Takeover Murdoch put in an $80 billion bid with 21st Century Fox to takeover Time Warner, a media mega deal that was scrapped at the last minute. The takeover was being touted as the crowning deal of his media career, however, Time Warner rejected the ‘hostile takeover’. Murdoch has himself released a statement saying, “Time Warner management and its board refused to engage with us to explore an offer which was highly compelling.”

Big Bucks Divorce The divorce between Murdoch and his former wife of 14 years, Wendi Deng, is being finalised in courts, with the battle coming to an amicable end.

Murdoch filed for divorce in June 2013 and hit a roadblock in proceedings about splitting their homes in New York and China, and custody arrangements for their two girls.

Print Falls In Australia the Murdoch empire was reported to be in decline this year after the rapidly declining advertising and circulation revenue of News Corp newspapers. Publications such as The Australian, The Daily Telegraph and

The Courier Mail showed such a decline in revenue and operating income that financial circles are concerned News Corp Newspapers will struggle to break even this financial year.

Twitter Attacks Murdoch took to Twitter to defend the new blockbuster for 20th Century Fox, Exodus: Gods and Kings for casting a number of white actors as Egyptians, tweeting: “Moses film attacked on Twitter for all white cast. Since when are Egyptians not white? All I know are.”

All in all, Murdoch has quite the busy year, from court proceedings, to social media, to major media takeovers and everything in between.

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EAT & DRINK

Keg & Brew Sydney has a new home of deep-fried everything.Well actually it’s an old home – the former KB Hotel – done up a bit fancy-like, and rebadged as the (slightly-new) Keg & Brew.Amidst the brown leather banquettes, cowhide bar panels and assorted taxidermy, you’ll find an odd mix of (mostly male) blue-collar workers and $ - mains less than $15

$$ - mains between $15-$22

ROCKS & CBD Mr Tipply’s Though the name might lead you to believe you’re entering a small bar, the cavernous surrounds decked out with wall-sized murals of exotic-looking women clue you in it’s a modern pub.

General Manager Matt Comensoli, who started The Fox Hole, one of Sydney’s first small bars, has focused his attention on the food. It shows in Chilled Silken Tofu ($11), one of the best tofu dishes I’ve had in a while.

Vegetarians take note: the Organic Quinoa Salad ($18) is also a beauty.

Carnivores are not ignored, with high quality Mongolian Lamb Cutlets ($21) and sticky ‘Char Siu’ Beer Ribs ($35) dished up with Asian ‘slaw; both great with an Asian-inspired China Doll

By Jackie McMillan bearded hipster types.They’re well-served by busy bar staff manning thirty-three beer taps, with only six pumping out mainstream beers.Their focus on locally brewed craft beers is epitomised in the Angstrom Voltaic Pale Ale ($8.50); brewed – if you didn’t guess from the name – by three physicists from Sydney University.

Bourbon’s their other love, and they’re pouring over thirty. If you’re not familiar with American whiskies, the easy-drinking Old Fashioned ($15) is a great place to begin.After slaking your thirst, get stuck into crunchy golden bar bites, starting with compelling Fried Monterey Jack Cheese Sticks ($10).You can up your beer and deep-fried quotient with the Young Henrys Lager Battered Flathead ($15).They’ll even batter and fry your Oysters ($30/12), though I took mine natural and passionfruit. egan Cauliflower Steaks ( 1 ) will help your arteries not harden, with the little, white florets taking on good char from the grill. I suspect the Deep Fried Twinkie ($10) is a bridge too far…

26 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills (02) 9212 1740 kegandbrew.com.au American, Pub Bistro $$ $$$ - mains between $22-$30

($16) cocktail.

347 King Street, Sydney (02) 9299 4877 mrtipplys.com Pub Bistro $$$-$$$$ The Lemon Tree A little ray of sunshine has burst through the concrete brutalism of Australia Square. Its warmth can be felt in the greeting of Kate McMahon, bringing her expertise (and a martini) from Catalina. Co-owners Tim Holmes à Court and Daimon Downey, get their own nod on the cocktail list, in the form of a well-balanced Pelicano Martini ($18). Chef Peter Streckfuss dishes up a short menu of simple Italian food using premium ingredients, from Antipasti ($16/person) to Veal Milanese ($34). Pasta portions, like Lasagna Di Carne ($24), seem geared

$$$$ - mains over $30

towards ensuring the predominantly female audience get to eat dessert.

And Ilaria’s Ricotta Cake ($14) is a lovely way to finish, taken alfresco on a gloriously balmy night.

Australia Square Piazza, Corner Pitt and Bond Streets, Sydney (02) 9241 1685 facebook.com/ thelemontreesydney Italian $$$-$$$$ DARLO, KINGS X & SURRY HILLS Gazebo The revitalised Gazebo dining room runs in a gentle curve from grand piano to kitchen, the ceiling studded with low-hanging lights. Outside seating is prize territory at sunset.

Everyone seems to be enjoying

Bonarchè Burgers Made By The Chef & The Butcher

Open Thursday – Sunday

Gourmet burgers British style fish & chips Craft beers and wine Classic “old school” milkshakes Award winning service Functions welcome

14 Norton St Leichhardt www.bonarche.com

WRITERS AND OPINION MAKERS WANTED The Alternative Media Group of Australia is looking for writers.

Opportunities in print and online are available to opinion makers and up and coming journalists.

Send a CV, writing samples and a covering letter to: cityhub@alternativemediagroup.com

Din Tai Fung Central Park

By Ryan Kennedy The signature item at Din Tai Fung is Xiao Long Bao ($10.80), the semi-legendary pork soup dumplings that have carried this restaurant across continents. Let me confirm that this reputation is not unwarranted.

These are seriously good dumplings; but be warned: the crunchy Carrot Crisps ($6) with Chantilly goats curd and balsamic.

Creamy Polenta Wedges ($9) are outrageously crisp and worth coming for alone. Cucumber Cured ingfish ($19) is artfully strewn on a striking black plate with shards of green apple and a smoked oyster sauce, but it’s the Duck Breast ($28) with earthy beetroot, honeycomb and a smoked almond sauce, that really steals the show. The pick of the desserts is Chocolate ($15) - cookie dough parfait spiked with raspberries and yogurt caramel.

2 Elizabeth Bay Road, Elizabeth Bay (02) 8070 2424 thegazebo.com.au Modern Australian $$$ Surry Hills Eating House Sujet Saenkham, owner of the popular Spice I Am restaurants, has done it again.Taking over the upstairs of Triple

unctuous soup is delicious, but perilously hot. Similarly delightful is the Braised Beef Noodle Soup ($16.80) with its dark and well-flavoured broth and falling-apart tender beef.The roasted chilli warmth of Shrimp and Pork Wontons with Tangy Sauce ($10.80) had me scraping around for leftover morsels. In fact, all the classic dishes seem to hit the mark. By contrast, the seven different flavoured Dumpling Gems ( 1 . 0) are fun to try, but include cheese, Bolognese, and golden corn—all of which I could definitely have gone without.The perfect foil to the salt, umami and spice of the dumplings is the sweet and fresh Lychee Mint Freeze ($8.80), or the mild but firm-set Mango Pudding ( 6. 0). However the Choice of Mini Buns ($6) featuring taro, black sesame, and red bean, are the best way to experience a trio of traditional Chinese dessert flavours. My take: stick to the classics and you won’t be disappointed, but be sure to let those legendary pork soup dumplings cool a little bit first.

Central Park, Level 2, R201 28 Broadway, Chippendale (02) 8072 9427 www.dintaifungaustralia.com.au/central-park Chinese $-$$

Ace Bar, Sujet explores Southern Thai.

Pub prices for booze remain; and the Plan B 2012 Chenin Blanc ($36/bottle) makes an affable companion to Asian cuisine, starting with gloriously sticky and stretchy Pak Mor Youan ($9) porkstuffed rice rolls. Follow them with crunchy and compelling banana flower fritters – Hua Plee Tod ($12) or Mieng Ka Na ($16), sweet and sour pile of pork floss, lime and chilli you wrap in supple Chinese broccoli leaves.Your must-have dish is the Gaeng Het Pho ($28), a well balanced bar cod curry with explosive Thai black mushrooms.

Level 2, 198-200 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills (02) 9212 4092 spiceiam.com Thai $$-$$$ Golden Age Cinema & Bar I’m very taken with this gorgeous bar, complete with electronically controlled curtains that silently glide to reveal

a mirrored stage and microphones.

The Maple Pecan Old Fashioned ($18) made on smooth Bulleit Bourbon suits the space, but if you’re sleepy-tired and planning a flick, their espresso martini Paramount House ($19), uses beans from Paramount Coffee Project upstairs. Dip into (another) interesting Ned Brooks wine list against snacks like Tiger Sharks ($10) - canned anchovies – or Szechuan Popcorn ($5).

The 2012 Ngeringa Growers Series Rousanne ($65/bottle) makes an affable companion to movie-inspired toasties like The Spielberger ($9.50) – basically your Reuben – to The Big Cheese ($8).

They’re small, so you’ll also need a Gelato Messina Sundae ($8)…

Lower Ground, 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills (02) 9211 1556 ourgoldenage.com.au Bar, Cocktails, Bar Food $

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EAT & DRINK

By Jackie McMillan

La Tratt La Tratt, the flagship of Fairfield RSL, is a surprising restaurant; delivering everything you’d expect from a CBD hotspot without any pretentiousness.As you settle into the rich brown restaurant – or start in their comfy lounge – a circulating drinks trolley will pay you a visit, offering Champagne and other traditional aperitivi like

GREATER SYDNEY SoCal Led Emmett, General Manager of SoCal, provides an expert introduction to the liquid aspects of The Golden State.With my lips tingling from Chica Chipotle ($17) that teamed chipotleinfused reposado tequila with Mezcal and a chipotle salt rim, Led introduced me to his list. It’s heavy, as you’d hope, in Californian wines.A man after my own heart, Led categorises pinot noir between feminine and “smells like my bedroom after sex”. Bliss Pinot Noir ($60) is one of the former, but for a quaffable red, it is not without roundness and balance. It lends itself to liberal, chilled applications against crisp Sriracha Chicken Quesadillas ($20),

as you watch moonrise in the openroofed space.

1 Young Street, Neutral Bay (02) 0 5671 socalsydney.com.au American, Bar, Bar Food $$-$$$

NEWTOWN & ENVIRONS Three Williams This unassuming space on the fringes of Redfern is sparse, with wooden furniture, brick walls and a postapocalyptic tree branch above the counter. However if you look closer, you’ll find a certain charm. Green smoothies and salads peppered with the season’s freshest ingredients abound, like the Super Smoothie ($8) with kale, apricot, apple, almond, banana, ginger and cinnamon, and the Organic Tofu Salad ($15) with charred broccolini, almonds, Japanese seaweed

LuMi Bar & Dining Against a magnificent painted sky, this gleaming glass box on Pyrmont Bay is awash with orange and pink. It’s the sort of night that begs to be made into a celebration, and this restaurant delivers with an imaginative (and obligatory) eight-course Degustation ( head). Owner Chef Federico Zanellato balances Italian passion with an intriguing Charing Cross Hotel The light, coastally inspired interior is a delightful surprise, especially considering the unassuming pub exterior. Relax in a wicker chair in the stylish, baby blue dining room as you explore a drinks list that hits the trifecta - great cocktails, wine and on-tap craft brew.A Locals Drop ($17) blending white rum, ruby grapefruit and Campari helps reduce the excesses of Chef Matt emp’s Crispy Pigs Head ( 1 ), pressed into fat, crumbed batons.

A relative cheapie - Sant Josep White Garnacha ($36/bottle) - is opulent enough to accompany Roast Pork Neck ( 30) with

Campari and Soda ($6).A complimentary platter of bread, oil and zesty house-marinated olives will accompany you through menu selection. La Tratt Restaurant Coordinator Maji Yau – a star on the floor – will list the specials and answer any questions.Though with clear dish descriptions and wine matches printed on the menu, you’re unlikely to find it intimidating.The Swordfish Carpaccio ( 22) special showed great restraint, allowing the fresh fish to take centre stage. House-made pastas are definite highlights.

Aragosta Gnocchi Di Patate ( 1 2 ) with plentiful slipper lobster (similar to Balmain bug), gentle tomato passata and a touch of chilli and cream, has been on the menu since they opened for good reason.A bolder Anatra Porcini Tortellini ( 1 2 ) – duck and porcini mushroom tortellini – is equally enjoyable; arriving drizzled with duck sherry jus and caramelised pear relief.The Caramelised Pear Tart ($16) will see you off into the night, likely with their take-home gnocchi, olives and cheeses tucked under your arm…

Fairfield RSL, 1 Anzac Avenue, Fairfield (02) 2 000 fairfieldrsl.com.au Italian $$$$

and peas. Don’t want to work on your physique? The Chicken Schnitzel Burger ($15) has your back - crispy and delicious with wasabi and avocado mayo; and the Brioche French Toast ($16) is a textural masterpiece with caramel bananas, hazelnuts and Belgian chocolate.

613a Elizabeth St, Redfern (02) 6 1111 threewilliams.com Cafe $-$$ Daisy’s Milkbar The Beach Boys on the speakers, pinup girls taking orders, a cordial station, jars of sweets and gingham curtains…

If this place was any cuter I’d be sick.

This inner west caf is the perfect old-fashioned milk bar.Think shakes, Jaffles and sundaes - but with a modern twist. Greg’s Jaffle ( 6) is loaded with bolognaise, while Uccella’s packs pulled

Japanese aesthetic. The result delivers date night on a stylish series of earthenware plates.Take Communion together with chef’s explosive caviartopped spelt ravioli if you don’t believe me.The opener – Parmesan chawanmushi – should stifle any doubts that these two culinary influences will be anything other than the best of friends. It’s followed by five excellent savoury courses, which demonstrate Zanellato’s grasp of light and shade.

A delicate mound of crab, Jerusalem artichoke and oyster powder sits in dramatic contrast to a deceptive twirl of stinging nettle chitarra – spaghetti well-coated with intense mussel cream and crumbled pork – packing an umami punch reminiscent of bottarga.The dish shrieks red wine, and the 2012 Garagiste Merricks Pinot Noir ( ) answers nicely.While technically excellent, the dessert of milk ice cream loses touch slightly with Zanellato’s culinary narrative. No matter – his Evergreen pre-dessert is outstanding – a garden of brightly green textures, temperatures and tastes.

Catch this rising star while he’s still underpriced…

6 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont (02) 11 lumidining.com Italian, Japanese,Wine $$$-$$$$

crackling, radicchio, honey and pears, without destroying a simple plate of Swordfish ( 2 ) with juicy cucumbers, pink grapefruit and perilla.

1 Carrington Road,Waverley (02) 3 30 3 charingcrosshotel. com.au British, Pub Bistro,Wine, Cocktails $$$ INNER WEST

Annandale Hotel The new-look Annandale Hotel allows canines in the courtyard styled like an Aussie back deck.

Even kiddies are welcome, except in the front bar, which retains some of the Annandale’s sticky

carpet charm - at least around the edges. A far cry from the crowded, sweaty, live band days, there’s now elbowroom to spare as you quaff a Kosciusko ($6.50) and tuck into a toastie from their interesting list. I tried Fontal ($12) with duck sausage, bacon jam and pickled leek.Traditional pub goers will appreciate the steaks, schnitzels and two fully customisable roasts.

Free Range Chicken ( 20) with duck fat gratin, gravy and seasonal greens will silence a monster appetite.

1 Parramatta Road, Annandale (02) 0 10 annandalehotel.com Pub Bistro,Wine $$

Montagne A notch down from neighbouring La Tratt, but no less committed to excellence, is Montagne. Created in the style of a convivial Parisian bistro, its black and white ceilings, complete with fabric shaded lamp chandeliers, are visually pleasing. In striking contrast to the monochrome, the bar - visible through lush red velvet curtains - is lined with bottles of vividly pork inside its golden, white bread pocket. Breakfast – like Zucchini and Corn Fritters ($16) - are served all day, alongside great milkshakes like Honeycomb, Malt and Golden Syrup ($5). Kick dessert old school with the Salted Caramel Banana Split ( 1 ), best shared with your sweetheart.

3 0 Stanmore Road, Petersham (02) 06 3 66 daisysmilkbar.com Breakfast, Café $-$$ EASTERN SUBURBS & BEACHES

Popolo This is a confident restaurant that knows what it is.The wine list, mostly populated by Southern Italian wines, need not be bewildering.Wine-savvy staff are well versed in matching wines

green Chartreuse. And in true French bistro style, the plat du jour (daily specials) are scrawled across a large, centrally located mirror. While the cocktail list offers up the opportunity to try a few classics, including the French Sidecar ($16) and the French ( 16), the drinking highlight is definitely the wine. For a collection of less than thirty bottles, the wine list over-delivers, with all (bar two premium Champagnes) available by glass, and with bottle prices under fifty bucks. Extended descriptions make selecting a breeze, or you can take it from me: the 2011 Cave de Clairmont Crozes Hermitage Blanc ($13/glass) is a lovely drop. Made on Marsanne grapes, it will set off a textbook twice-baked Cheese Souffl ( 1 ) or extend to a (fractionally sweet) tureen of French Onion Soup ($12) crowned with the requisite Gruyere croutons. Lightly browned Caf de Paris butter helps explain why the Steak Frites ($32) are so popular.

Fairfield RSL, 1 Anzac Avenue, Fairfield (02) 2 000 fairfieldrsl.com.au French $$$-$$$$

to drinkers, producing at my request for an easy-drinking red, a lovely 2013 Pietradolce Etna Rosso ( 2 bottle).

With tea and cherry notes, it suits the Pecorino Timballo ( 1 ), a firm, baked cheese dish presented with pear custard. Napolitana-style pizzas baked in their wood-fired oven are also menu highlights, particularly if the Burrata Panzerotto ($23) is on. It’s a plump belly-shaped pizza pocket stuffed with creamy-centred mozzarella, tomato and basil. Or there’s a textbook Octopus Ragu Risotto ( 2 ).

0 McLachlan Avenue, Rushcutters Bay (02) 361 66 1 popolo.com.au Italian $$$ The Golden Sheaf This leafy courtyard, alive with chattering birds and chatting crowds at sunset, is where the Eastern Suburbs

FOOD NEWS

set congregate after the Randwick races or the AFL.And despite the affluence of Double Bay, you won’t find yourself having to double pay at the popular Sheaf Bistro. Both pub classics like the ever-popular Beef Fillet ( 2 . 0) and the lighter Asian-inspired offerings like a Salmon and Tuna Sashimi Salad ($22) are generously proportioned. Handmade Pumpkin Tortellini ($18) balance the sweet orange filling with a nutty beurre noisette. My only complaint: even drinking at the top end of their wine list, the Simonnet Febvre Petit Chablis ($50/bottle) indicated there’s room for improvement.

2 New South Head Road, Double Bay (02) 32 goldensheaf.com.au Pub Bistro $$-$$$

By Jackie McMillan Buffets – you either love them or hate them. One of the best I’ve had recently was during Philippine Food Week, where the ShangriLa Sydney worked with the Philippine Department of Tourism to create something special. Ice sculptures loaded with fresh seafood, a carving station, and a halo-halo dessert cart (where you decorate your shaved ice with evaporated milk, sweet beans, fruits and jellies) were just the beginning. Not being well versed in Filipino cooking, I was keen to try as many new dishes as possible. Meaning I passed over plentiful Balmain bugs, crab and oysters for cold dishes like a bright oyster ceviche (kilawing talaba) and green mango with shrimp paste (manggang hilaw at bagoong). Filipino cuisine employs nose-totail eating, so expect to see everything from pork innards in vinegar (bopis) to oxtail in peanut sauce (kare-kare). Both are delicious.

For the less adventurous, there are many grilled and roasted meats, especially pig (crispy pata). Lucky dessert goes to a separate stomach, because the coconut pudding with sweet corn (maja blanca) is delicious.While you’ll have to wait until next year to attend this festival, you can try Filipino food including crispy pata at La Mesa in Haymarket. For buffet, the Shangri-La Hotel is running a festive buffet ($75/head) each Thursday to Saturday throughout December. www.lamesa.com.au www.36levelsabove.com.au

BAR FLY

By Viv McGregor

BONDY’S My date takes one look at the black, pink and bright turquoise d cor of Bondy’s and promptly declares a striking similarity to the board shorts he had in high school. Not the most compelling imagery to start an evening with, but we are in an ‘80s theme bar. Bondy’s is reviving not just the music, excess and colour scheme of the decade, but the taste palette as well. The finger food is classic ‘ 0s, like and the Devils on Horseback ($12), almond-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon, are tiny, tasty treats. Some of the cocktails, like the Pixie Skase ( 1 ), are outlandishly sweet (and bright blue) and most are laden with colourful garnishes. There’s a sense of fun and frivolity in the list, which my date disapproves of (garnishes are “disconcerting” barriers between his mouth and his drink), but then we’re both won over by the delicious Lethal Weapon ( 1 ): a Mezcal-based Negroni - sharp, smoky and conspicuously simple.

Level 1, 16 Philip Street, Sydney (02) 2 1 23 bondys.com.au

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT YOUR SKIN, MY SKIN Indigenous culture will be celebrated through contemporary dance, as Carriageworks hosts your Skin, my Skin this December. An initiative of NAISDA Dance college, it explores untold stories from past to present, through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contemporary and cultural dance.

“NAISDA is a training institution so it is a showcase, but it’s also about identifying strongly with the indigenous experience, whats happening today and about respecting our past,” says director, Frances Rings.

Your Skin my Skin will feature work from a range of national and international choreographers. “All of the choreographers have a very fresh vision,” Rings explains.

“They are all very in touch with their independent practice as well as an extensive teaching history at NAISDA.” Rings realised she had a passion for dance early on, learning about NAISDA when she was in high school. “I always had a passion for dancing.When I discovered NAISDA, I realised the stories I wished to tell had a platform.”

“Students are taught through different styles and genres of dance,” she continues.

“It’s very vibrant and about discovering who you are and what your ancestors have bestowed upon you.” (GF) Dec 10-13, Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh, $18-$38, carriageworks. com.au

MOTHER GOOSE

BEYOND DESIRE Beyond Desire is an exceptionally beautiful, dramatic theatre production with intensity and ethereal artistic delivery from the first instant.

Performances by all involved are not only engaging and palpable, but delicate and genuine with respect to the dialogue, to the characters themselves, and to the story.

Anthony (Blake Bowden) is the first to stand out, with his potent, vibrant voice and musical ability alongside dramatic acting, birthing a strong yet vulnerable temperament.

It’s sublime to the ears, eyes and heart from start to finish.With each member of the cast having their one-to-one moment with the audience in a perfect, intimate

14

setting, this environment only accentuates the strength and tone of their voices, as you see clearly the emotion that may have been reduced to a nuance in another location.

The production’s score has a subtlety only the small live-orchestra of six could achieve.They manage to remain an important character throughout this musical. Soaked with charisma, and an abundance of talent and emotion, this production has it all –– murder, mystery, sensuality and tenderness. A beautiful experience I would love to revisit. (RBM) Until Dec 13, Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point, $55, hayestheatre.com.au

a&e

15 STAGE 16 SCENE 18 SCREEN 19 SOUNDS

Novakovich has put together a great mix of music ranging from nursery rhymes to well known pop songs.

“It’s a combination of everything that’s the style of pantomime,” says de Marco. Mother Goose is not just a show for the kids. Adults will have a good laugh as well.

“You got to have the pantomime dame played by a man,” says de Marco. “You get a double-edged sword there.You got to put a few jokes in there for the adults.” (CT) Dec 8-23, King Street Theatre, 644 King St, Newtown, $15-20, kingstreettheatre.com.au

In recognition of the United Nations Women Beijing 20 campaign – marking the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action established to universally advance women’s rights – as well as to encourage conversation around contemporary issues affecting women is the one night fundraiser, Handle It. Journalist Tracey Spicer, whose recent TEDx talk The lady stripped bare has received over one million views online where she (literally) deconstructs society’s unrealistic female image, will open the night as one of two guest speakers.Alongside her will be feminist writer, theatre director and performer,August Supple.

After a sell-out season at the Sydney Fringe Festival, the night will also feature a performance of the critically acclaimed piece Handle It – A One Woman Play.

Written and performed by Laura Jackson, one of the event’s key organisers, Jackson hopes that through the play’s focus on issues such as domestic violence, rape, and the impacts of social media on women’s privacy, this will spark much needed dialogue a while also supporting an organisation (UN Women) that works towards similar goals of protecting and

empowering women.

“It’s going to be a really exciting evening,” says Jackson.

“The two guest speakers are going to give us a lot to think about.The play itself has six different characters and of those six there are three which are very much comedy so there’s a lot of entertainment as well.”

With the night also featuring musical entertainment by Aspiring Musical Theatre Company, Jackson says that overall, she hopes audiences “take away a positive message”.

“There’s issues of course we have to work on but I hope that through all these people coming together and talking about it, that it’s seen that there’s a way forward,” she says.

Funds raised from this event will go to support UN Women’s Beijing20 Campaign.

0 of ticket sales revenue will be donated to protect women and girls from violence, provide safe and stable jobs, develop women as leaders, ensure women’s participation in peace processes and advance gender equality. (KR) Dec 11,The Imperial Hotel, 35 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville, $40, trybooking.com

Photo: Oliver Toth

With school holidays fast approaching, parents will be searching for activities and events to occupy their children’s time.

Well, look no further because the world premiere of a new Australian pantomime will debut at the beginning of December.

“A lot of the subscribers are getting older and you need to get a whole new audience and kids are the future so why not create theatre for them that they can enjoy,” says writer and director Maria de Marco. “Get kids back into live theatre, live performances is what we’re all about.”

Musical director Peter

HANDLE IT - A UN WOMEN’S FUNDRAISER

Acting Arts Editor: Emma Salkild Music Editor: Jamie Apps For more A&E stories go to www.altmedia.net.au and don’t forget to join the conversation on Twitter at @AltMediaSydney

Contributors: Alexis Talbot-Smith, Anita Senaratna, Carmen Cita, Ciaran Tobin, Craig Coventry, Erika Vass, Georgia Fullerton, Greg Webster, Hannah Chapman, Jamie Apps, Leann Richards, Leigh Livingstone, Marilyn Hetreles, Mark Morellini, Katie Rorison, Mel Somerville, Michael Muir, Michelle Porter, Nick Jewlachow, Peter Hackney, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Ruth Fogarty, Sarah Pritchard, Sharon Ye,

THE AGE OF ENTITLEMENT HERO Image - Mongrel Mouth - Photo: Duncan Maurice

narratives coming out from the core.

The audience can choose which one they want to follow, they can even choose how it ends.”

With audience interaction not only encouraged but somewhat necessary for the plays success, it’s also an interesting way to see how people react and interact with the ideas and performances right before them. Maurice explains the show deals with political issues without being overbearing. “It’s an entertaining hour and a half with substance and heart.” (RBM) Dec 5-20th, Merchants House, 45 George St,The Rocks, $30, mongrelmouth.com

The Crucible Photo: Seiya Taguchi

SYDNEY HILLS SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK

If you are trying to think of something dramatic, outdoorsy and cultured to do over the holidays check out Sport For Jove’s 6th outdoor theatre season with performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Crucible lighting up the Bella Vista Farm in Baulkham Hills.

Artistic director of Sport For Jove theatre company, Damien Ryan, says the eerily beautiful and historic Bella Vista Farm will complement the classic works with their themes of magic, the spiritual, and nature, as well as providing locals the opportunity to see some great performances close to home.

“We’re starting to broaden the opportunities for people to see theatre, which has always been our mission,” he says. “The farm is 200 years old and has a

THEATRE &

PERFORMANCE EMERALD CITY Sydney in the ‘80s was a party. It gave us lycra, MTV, and a raging economy that ended in the recession ‘we had to have’. It was the ‘greed is good’ decade, with rampant consumerism, materialism and where success was measured in real estate – preferably with a harbour view. Cut to today and things change – there is much less lycra – and David Williamson’s Emerald City is as relevant as ever.

“Even though it was written 30 years ago, we all believe it’s absolutely relevant to today because we are having the exact same conversations,” says Kelly Paterniti (Home and Away, Packed to the Rafters) who plays

haunting look to it.There is an old shed where The Crucible will be performed, lit up with 250 candles. It’s quite a site-specific event. I want people to be in another time and place.”

Ryan thinks the location is a perfect match for these two plays, with their focus on nature and the mystical.

Characters run naked into the woods for release, the young break the rules, and the overall experience of those seeing these classic works performed in nature will be much more interactive than sitting in a darkened theatre, watching. “It’s almost like a cinematic setting for a play,” he explains. “You couldn’t build a set like this.” (MH) Dec 5-30, Bella Vista Farm, Baulkham Hills, $28$35, sportforjove.com

Helen, the free-spirited girlfriend of a hack writer.

Our most performed playwright, Williamson’s central characters are decent people, wrestling with their worst selves. In his sharply satirical sights are the worst excesses of materialism and compromise that the harbour city can serve up. Dual Helpmann-winner, Mitchell Butel, Lucy Bell (All Saints, Crownies) and the redoubtable Marcus Graham make a stellar cast. In a splash back to the decade, set design is by iconic ‘80s pop artist Ken Done, whose work was so evocative of the time. (GW) Until Dec 6, SBW Stables, 10 Nimrod St, Kings Cross, $32-49, griffintheatre.com.au PAGE 8 David Page is bringing back his critically acclaimed one-man-show, with the help of Bangarra Dance

Theatre and its Creative Director (and David’s brother), Stephen Page. “[It’s] a love letter to our family, our history and our culture,” Page says. He recalls doing his best to do justice to his tale of struggle, success and family support.“I think the rest of the family were shitting themselves,” he laughs.

“Especially six older sisters.They wore the boots and the stilettos.They were pretty wild, and very strong women.”

The story covers his early successes as a child star with hits on the radio, touted as Australia’s answer to Michael Jackson, to the moment his voice broke and changed everything, and his subsequent life as a performer in Australia and beyond. Page hopes his show will remind people once more of the important role family plays in our lives. (SW) Until Dec 14,

CYRANO DE BERGERAC Edmond Rostand’s timeless play about expectation, identity and the power of words and beauty, seems especially relevant in today’s age of online personas, catfishing and Tinder.

“It’s funny how we curate our personas based on how we think people will perceive them,” observes Eryn Jean Norvill, the production’s Roxanne.

“What we project in the world isn’t necessarily true and may not find us the honest and real connections that we’ve been looking for. In the play Cyrano hides behind his ugliness, and behind someone else’s good looks.

Christian hides behind his wit and passion, and my character hides behind the idea of what she thinks it is to be a woman, or in love.And in the end of the play, all that stuff, all those shadows and masks disappear and drip away because they’re not important.”

Also starring Richard Roxburgh, Julia Zemiro and coupled with an incredibly timely message, Norvill promises theatregoers an exciting night.“It has elements of fairytale and picture book, but also tragedy. It’s got sword-fighting and theatre, and war, and…the love triangle.There are so many elements of the story that are complex but in the end it tells a simple story of people searching for connection.” (SW) Nov 11-Dec 20, Sydney Theatre, Pier 4 Hickson Rd,Walsh Bay, $50109, sydneytheatre.com.au

Bangarra Studio Theatre, Pier 4, 15 Hickson Rd,Walsh Bay, $35-$49, bangarra.com.au NEW THEATRE’s latest offering is served up with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.Audiences can expect a delightful and thrilling tale with a tragic twist and a realistic glimpse of historical 1800s London hardship within its well-defined, tiered society.

Convict Sweeney Todd (played by award-winning Justin Cotta) goes on revengeful rampage of killings which are ingeniously covered up.When he returns and sets up a barber shop in his old stomping ground at 186 Fleet Street, London, it’s conveniently connected to Mrs. Lovett’s (Lucy Miller) pie shop - a familiar neighborhood filled with hatred,

severed relationships, (and jugulars).

The musical gives a shocking insight into the remorseless head of a serial killer.

The faultless live musical backing is thanks to a trio of piano/organ, cello and violin; and the cohesive 17-piece cast includes a chorus ensemble of eight. Lighting (Liam O’Keefe) and set design (Jo Jewitt) is simple in keeping with the austerity of the times and versatile as platforms are wheeled into varying formations to creatively accommodate a team vocal delivery that can be commended. (MS) Until Dec 20, New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown, $17-32, newtheatre.org.au WICKED Steve Danielsen joins seasoned Wicked stars Jemma Rix (Elphaba) and Lucy Durack (Glinda) as the award-winning musical returns.

Photo: James Green

Mongrel Mouth’s daring immersive theatre genre is growing in popularity.

Their newest production The Age of Entitlement launches this December and features a crucial element of their project - a 166 year-old, 7-bedroom mansion at The Rocks.

“Once we get the building we create the work in the building, it’s the other character. It’s the ship in which we’re sailing so we need to know our ship and understand it. As we swing from its mast we know where to go to next,” says producer/director Duncan Maurice.

“All the rooms are live simultaneously, as all the different narratives are happening,” explains Maurice. “There’s a central thread, and there’s an array of

Asked what it’s like joining a team who have been performing Wicked for years, Danielsen says Rix and Durack have been very welcoming and working together is “amazing”.

“I love it and I don’t really just have to say that either, this show really means a lot to me,” he says.

Despite debuting over a decade ago, Wicked:The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz is still one of the most popular musicals in the world.

With the whole cast working hard to deliver the best performances they can each and every night, Danielsen says that the “incredible sets and costumes” will make it “really hard not to like this show”. (LL) Until Dec 31, Capitol Theatre, 13 Campbell St, Haymarket, $69-114, wickedthemusical.com.au 15

TOM CARMENT DRAWINGS AND PAINTINGS

THE NAKED CITY

THE UNSTOPPABLE BEAST OF BUREAUCRACY!

BY COFFIN ED AND MISS DEATH AND JAY AT ‘Bureaucracy’ is a word that instils fear, frustration and bewilderment in most of us, especially if you are on the wrong end of its relentless jackboot.Take the recent City Of Sydney edict that the much loved Tap Gallery in Darlinghurst no longer continue as a performance space, despite the fact that they’d been operating since 1993 as a community arts centre – and supposedly with the Council’s blessing.

Elsewhere in other precincts, in particular the inner west, we have seen similar acts of heartless enforcement where numerous community style arts spaces and artists studios have been told to shut up shop and abide by a string of highly punitive council compliance orders.

Artists and musicians have been told they can no longer live in their warehouse or factory style studios and pop up music venues have been silenced before even the first note is sounded.

Contrast the enthusiasm with which council bureaucrats target these long running arts spaces with their seeming inability to control the plague of slum landlords cramming students, backpackers and itinerant workers into cockroach infested boarding houses, multi partioned CBD apartments and Mad Max like container and caravan compounds such as that discovered (while on fire) behind a factory in Alexandria in July of this year.

You would be forgiven for thinking that the modus operandi of the council compliance ‘police’ is to hit the vulnerable and the exposed first, i.e. the arts spaces and ‘illegal venues’ and worry about the 58 people living in an Ultimo boarding house licensed only as a single dwelling, much later. Ironically it’s not council diligence that uncovers these accommodation nightmares in the first place. More than often it’s publications like this and TV exposes that first draw attention to these flagrant breaches of housing regulations.

On the other hand there is seldom a complaint on the part of the community at large as to the existence of the various multi use arts spaces and many have enjoyed long running de facto support

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from a number of councils themselves.

Nevertheless, in recent months, we have seen an onslaught of bureaucratic compliance, where many of these spaces have been targeted, along with so called ‘legitimate’ venues such as small bars and restaurants, which have all felt the monetary sting of petty council penalties.

Whether we will ever see local councils take a more conciliatory approach and work with these spaces and venues to overcome problems of compliance remains to be seen.We hate to quote somebody like the disgraced Richard Nixon but his much repeated statement that “any change is resisted because bureaucrats have a vested interest in the chaos in which they exist” seems horribly apt when applied to the current situation.

Despite the good intentions of many councillors and council employees in their support of the arts and live music, it seems the faceless and decidedly humourless bureaucrats inside these administrations have the ultimate say.

While councils throw money at encouraging the arts and live music, and in many cases with positive results, history has shown us that original and innovative art and music is often generated completely devoid of subsidy or cultural benevolence. It springs from grass roots movements within the community at large and is often fostered by the very arts and performance spaces that councils now seem intent on closing down.

If you are flabbergasted by the random enforcement of council compliance that seemingly allows slum landlords to flourish and forces arts spaces to close, then consider this somewhat perplexing historical anecdote. Remember Sydney’s infamous Phoenician Club in Ultimo, which operated during the early 90s as one of the city’s most popular rock and dance music venues and was temporarily closed in 1995 after the drug death of Anna Woods following a rave party. Despite restrictions imposed over the years as regards capacity, the dilapidated venue with PAs often blocking the fire exits, was widely regarded by many punters as a potential and lethal firetrap.The running joke was “if you’re off to the Phoenician tonight make sure you’re wearing asbestos underwear”. Oh, and who actually owned the shambles of a building that housed the club? If memory serves us right it was the City Of Sydney Council. Go figure!

Tom Carment’s works flow off the white walls of the ing Street Gallery on William in impressionistic glory.

The flowing lines of the pastels contrast with the deep dark hues of the storm tossed ocean in some of his beach paintings. But it is the depictions of urban life in Sydney where this artist’s true insight emerges. Purple jacarandas bloom from the edges of ictorian era sandstone like flowers sprouting from red earth.While harsh browns and blacks juggle and joust for space in a representation of Museum station.

For a Sydneysider, the images of the city invoke iconic monuments and corners which are recognised as important, but often neglected, aspects of its heartbeat.

Carment’s streetscapes are complemented in this exhibition by natural scenes with streaming streaks of skies and waters merging into opalescent wonder.A cornucopia of subjects and colour, this show is a poignant collection of Australian snapshots by a master artist. (LR) Until Dec 20, King Street Gallery on William, 177 William St, Darlinghurst, FREE, kingstreetgallery. com.au

CHUCK CLOSE: PRINTS, PROCESS AND COLLABORATION

Emma (2000)

It begins with ‘Bob’ from the National Gallery, said to be the friend of every schoolchild in Australia, and continues through a mesmerising display of technical proficiency.

This is one of the largest solo printmaking shows ever presented and it’s all courtesy of Chuck Close and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Chuck Close: Prints, Process and Collaboration is a fantastical journey through the oeuvre of a master craftsman.The voyage is augmented by an array of famous and not so famous faces, whose visages peer from the wall posing unanswerable questions.

The exhibition includes tapestries, woodcuts and mezzotints. Each is uniquely and meticulously created to enhance tiny details and subtle colour.These jigsaw images represent exhaustive work and intelligent thought about the nature of humanity.

From the bright smile of Emma, to the intense gaze of Roy, this show is a tribute to an innovative and influential artist without peer. (LR) Until Mar 15, 140 George St,The Rocks, $14-19, mca.com.au

POP TO POPISM

Andy Warhol Triple Elvis © Andy Warhol Foundation

Leaping off the whitewashed walls in an exuberant rainbow of colours and design, Pop to Popism is a thrilling ride through the annals of a an art revolution.

The straight red lines and golden lettering of Warhol’s soup cans is matched only by the vibrancy of his magnificent Marilyn Monroe.The latter a piece that has been reproduced in countless books and billboards which cannot capture the sheer enthusiasm of the original.

For these works are not only familiar they are witty, wry and funny.

Lichtenstein’s, Look Mickey, is a twisted colourful take on the ubiquitous mouse, whilst his distressed female characters have been the prototype of advertisements and anime.

And the Australians are here too. Little known in context of the pop movement, but for the first time presented next to their North American and European contemporaries.

The swirling reds and oranges of Brett Whitely give way to Martin Sharp’s and Tim Lewis’ Still life, a parody mashup of Warhol and an Gough.The Australian contribution in no way suffers by sharing walls with their foreign cousins, they seem equal members of a family which had no fear.

Pop to Popism is a heart racing roller coaster of visual stimulation and intellectual provocation.Above all it’s fun, insouciant and a stunning record of the themes which underpin much of modern creative experience. (LR) Until Mar 1, Art Gallery of NSW, $10-20, artgallery.nsw.gov/ exhibitions/pop-to-popism

Christmas in the Villages

In a bid to boost trade and give local business some extra sparkle for the season, the City of Sydney is rolling out the Christmas in the Villages retail promotion on 13 - 14 December.

This initiative is a weekend long shopping extravaganza that highlights the city’s villages - from Pyrmont to Paddington, and Green Square to Glebe – as the best places to shop, dine and celebrate the festive season.

To celebrate Christmas in the Villages, local retailers are invited to spice up their window displays with Christmas-themed shop windows and host special in-store events and promotions for the weekend. To add an extra dash of Christmas spirit, Santa will be in the neighbourhood and roving musicians will entertain visitors.

This year, the City is asking Sydneysiders to share photos of their favourite Christmas windows on Instagram with hashtags #sydxmas and #bestwindow. Instagrammers stand to win a $2000 travel voucher and the business with the best window will receive a $5000 adventure voucher and a visit from Santa. With helpers in tow, Santa will descend on the winning store for a song and a celebration.

To submit your event or promotion to the Christmas in the Villages page, visit www. sydneychristmas.com.au/christmas-villages

Draft Walking Strategy

Local business unearthed at Awards

Darling Square development

supplied a sleigh-load of lucky dip prizes.

And a free sausage sizzle will be available to all - whether you’re naughty or nice courtesy of major event sponsor, Bendigo Bank Pyrmont.

NYE on the wharf

The NSW Business Chamber went mining for gems at this year’s Business Awards and made a precious discovery.

In a well-deserved nod to the Australian opal industry, the achievements of specialist store Opal Minded were recognised and commended at the Awards in July. Opal Minded was nominated as a finalist in the 2014 Excellence in Business award and General Manager Dr Renata Bernard was awarded the title of regional Business Leader for 2014.

When Dr Bernard started working at Opal Minded five years ago, she had a strictly academic background and no business experience. With her team of six, Dr Bernard reinvigorated Opal Minded, transforming it from borderline bankruptcy to a flourishing business.

Under her management, the store achieved monthly turnover levels of $200,000 for the first time in its 25-year history.

Carols in Pyrmont

The City of Sydney released its Draft Walking Strategy and Action Plan this month, in a step towards building a policy framework that will transform Sydney into a more walkable city.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore says, “For Sydney to remain globally competitive, it must have an integrated transport system which is reliable, efficient, and well designed. Walking is cheap, healthy and environmentally friendly, and the Walking Strategy and Action Plan aims to create

table, or just bring a rug and settle in to enjoy the spectacle. In between fireworks displays, music will be provided by the official media sponsor 2DayFM radio.

Venue: Pirrama Park Wharf Time: 31st December, 4pm – 1am Tickets: Early Bird tickets $200; Second Release tickets $255 Bookings: http://www.trybooking. com/106154

a city centre and villages as attractive, safe and interesting places for walking.”

The Strategy proposes a broad suite of infrastructure reforms, with a view to making walking a quick, safe, convenient and preferred mode of inner city transportation by 2030. Some of the key proposals include widening and improving existing footpaths; creating an additional 5 kilometres of pedestrianised streets; and building more seats and water bubblers across central Sydney.

Over the next 10-15 years, The City aims to reduce walking times by 10 percent across key routes; increase footpath capacity on main streets by 20 percent; halve trafficrelated crashes; and improve pedestrian perceptions of safety, at night and throughout the day. The plan anticipates that one in three City of Sydney residents will be walking to work for their daily commute by 2030.

It’s Christmas time again, so come all ye faithful for Carols In Pyrmont.

Local community choir Pyrmont Sing will fill Union Square in Pyrmont with Christmas spirit from 6:30pm on Friday 19th December.

Guests will be invited to sing along to all of the classic Christmas carol favourites.

And for extra entertainment, the children of Pyrmont will don historical dress to act out the story of Christmas.

The generous merchants of Pyrmont have

When Sydney celebrates New Year’s Eve, the whole world watches. More than 1.6 million people flock to the harbour foreshore each year, to marvel at the fireworks and soak up the festive atmosphere.

With the influx of visitors, finding a comfortable vantage point proves to be a perennial dilemma. But this year, clever revelers will be heading to Pirrama Park for NYE 2014 Pyrmont Wharf.

The City of Sydney will allow free entry access to Pirrama Park on New Years Eve. And for those wanting to make a night of it, there will be a ticketed event at Pyrmont Wharf. This

limited capacity event offers a birds-eye view of both the 9pm Family Fireworks and the midnight New Year display. From the wharf, guests can enjoy sweeping views of Sydney Harbour, from the North Sydney foreshore to the western side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Ticket price includes a three-course gourmet Italian rustic hamper (chicken, vegetarian, or vegan) prepared by Damian Krigstein, Head Chef of Pyrmont’s beloved Bar Zini. Patrons can mingle at the unreserved long

Lend Lease has lodged plans for a new residential development at Darling Square.

The Development Application (DA) for the next mixed-use residential development plot, located in the north-east of the site, is now on public exhibition at the Department of Planning and Environment. This DA (SSDA 7) follows on from the Stage 1 Concept Proposal (SSDA 2) that was approved in December 2013.

SSDA 7 will be on public exhibition until 19 December 2014 and can be viewed at www. planning.nsw.gov.au, or at 23-33 Bridge Street, Sydney.

Formal submissions for this DA need to be made directly to the Department of Planning and Environment. If you have any general enquiries or comments, please contact communityupdates@darlingsq.com or call 1300 699 785.

Head online for more news & events

With so much happening in Pyrmont/ Ultimo, we can’t always fit everything in our print newsletter. For more news and events, head to pucc.com.au

Join us on Linkedin LIKE us on Facebook Submission guidelines The Pyrmont Ultimo Chamber of Commerce welcomes submissions for the newsletter from area businesses. These could be about sales, promotions, special offers, changes in the business and other developments.

Ideally, each submission should come with an image, such as the company logo or company staff. Please also provide contact information: website, e-mail, telephone and address (if applicable). Submissions should be sent to admin@pucc.com.au no later than the third Friday of the month for inclusion in the following month’s newsletter. The newsletter is published monthly in AMG publications and on the PUCC website, www.pucc.com. au. The PUCC e-mail database has about 800 subscribers. Please note that inclusion is limited to space and timeliness.

For inclusion in the PUCC Business Directory please provide all relevant contacts, a short paragraph describing the business, and business logo, to admin@pucc.com.au.

To join the PUCC, go to www.pucc.com.au and download the application form.

For more information please e-mail admin@pucc.com.au or call 0410 338 331

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TROPFEST

LOVE IS NOW The state of the Australian film industry? Jim Lounsbery says,“If a nation doesn’t have an ability to tell its own stories [it] becomes a little bit culturally lost, trying to find [its] identity; it is a critical time for Australia.”

His first feature film Love Is Now will open in 23 cinemas around the country this Thursday. It’s a love story with a difference and a Sixth Sense-like twist in the ending.

The leads are Eamon Farren (Red Dog, Carlotta) and Claire van der Boom (The Square, Red Hill).

Jim was impressed with the empathy between them and feels Farren’s natural acting style, combined with striking features, could see him bound for an international career.

American by birth, Lounsbery describes himself as ‘Australian-made’ – his entire professional career as a filmmaker has been here. Starting in music videos, his love of telling real-life narratives lured him to documentary.

The current film is about his twelfth script. In partnership with a US studio he’s developing Children of the Sun - a sci-fi fantasy he hopes to film in a desert area here.

He says,“It is important that we find a way to empower Australian filmmakers to continue to tell Australian stories.” (MMu)

Film still from A Bit Rich

The world’s largest and Australia’s most prestigious short film festival is back! This year 16 finalists films will premiere to thousands of people.With the Tropfest Signature Item being ‘mirror,’ many films cast a mirror on today’s society, the past and examine challenges and journeys in the future.

“This year [audiences] can expect some incredible comedy and amazing drama,” says festival and brand manager Grace McBride.

“Tropfest is a different event every year because the films are so different.We really want to celebrate storytelling and great short films.”

From clumsy butlers to runaway brides, pizza-craving creatives to chocoholic dentists, the cast and directors of the films bring great comedic value and present some eye-opening issues.Tropfest was founded by actor John Polson 23 years ago and it has been expanding and growing ever since with an audience across the globe.

“This is your opportunity, anyone can enter,” continues McBride.

“We have first-time filmmakers going through to the finals year after year. It really comes down to the storytelling aspect and providing that platform.” (CT) Dec 7, Centennial Park, Sydney, Free, tropfest.com.au

FOLIES BERGÈRE

SERENA

The latest film starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence is not comfortable viewing,but dark and atmospheric it most definitely is.

Set in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina during the Depression, it is a story that starts quite simply: George and Serena fall in love, marry and begin to set up their life in the mountains.What starts as a passionate and loving marriage soon begins to deteriorate when a series of unfortunate events befalls the couple, and the past comes back to haunt George.

A sense of foreboding begins early in the film, and the captivating and wild shots of the mountains build the tension.

Cooper and Lawrence are stunning, and Rhys Ifans is a surprise, putting in a very believable performance as a sinister and shadowy figure. By no means an uplifting story, but one filmed with brilliant technique and acted with intensity.

(LGi) WW

ACCESS ALL AREAS FILM FESTIVAL This eight-year-old festival caters to people with some form of disability and their family and friends. It doesn’t matter whether audiences are in wheelchairs or have impaired sight or hearing, Access All Areas proves that culture should be accessible to everyone.

Highlight this year is Tracks, the 2013 film telling the story of ‘Camel Lady’, 27 year-old Robyn Davidson’s epic 2,700km trek from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean with just her dog and four camels.

Apart from this feature there are multiple family-friendly, award-winning Australian short films.There are also over 60 screenings nationally, including Sydney CBD, Parramatta, Casula and Campbelltown. “Cinemas are showing

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progress in making screenings more accessible, but there is still a lot to be done,” says Festival Director Karina Libbey. “[The festival] aims to both increase access to quality Australian films for people with a disability and show how easily the remaining barriers to access can be brought down,” she explains.

A range of services are provided including additional wheelchair spaces, hearing loops, open captions, Auslan interpreters and audio description.

(MMu) Dec 1-5, FREE but bookings are essential, aaaff.com.au FINDING VIVIAN MAIER A beautifully crafted documentary centred on a mysterious woman who roamed the streets capturing the unalloyed reality of the view behind her lens. At first glance she was

merely a nanny, but at second and third she was not only an artist, but a tender observer of the human condition. Over 100,000 negatives were inadvertently discovered at an auction in Chicago – many of which were never seen by Miss Maier herself.The documentary is captivating from start to finish, treading a fine line between honouring an artist and mild exploitation; which in essence is Vivian’s posthumous fame. Such beauty should be shared, but by whom? (RBM) WWWW INTERSTELLAR Science Fiction enthusiasts will not be disappointed in Christopher Nolan’s latest cinematic offering, an ambitious and highlycrafted film which effectively combines a family melodrama and an

What a beaut film! Brigitte (Isabelle Huppert) and husband Xavier (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) are long-married, middle-aged and live in rural bliss, raising Charolais cattle.

But life seems incomplete for Brigitte.A young man at a party lures her to Paris where she meets a charming Dane (Michael Nyqvist).“Oh, the good life, full of fun, seems to be the ideal,Yes, the good life, let’s you hide all the sadness you feel.” (Sacha Distel) Dialogue and action flow so naturally here that you forget you’re being told a story. One of the most poignant aspects of life is the gap between our reality and our aspiration. Brigitte is blessed to eventually conclude that her aspiration and her reality are one and the same.

No guns, no car chases, no CGI, no superheroes - just real people experiencing life. French cinema? Long may it reign! To quote Mr. Benaud:“Marrrvellous that.” (MMu) WWWW½

THE GREEN PRINCE

Well-researched, well-intentioned but tedious and slow is possibly the kind of documentary to avoid.

The opposite of that is Nadav Sherman’s latest work which tells a tale of middle-eastern intrigue with the tension and pace of a thriller.

Dramatic, shadowy interiors are shown in panning shots, an ominous but subtle music score (by Max Richter of Waltz with Bashir) adds to the mood.The story is told in matter-of-fact style by the two protagonists; a tale that seems to blend the incredible with the inevitable and has such immediacy it appears to happen in real time.

Mosab Hassan Yousef is the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founding member of Hamas. Recruited by Israeli security (Shin Bet) and code-named The Green Prince, for 10 years he was their informant; his ‘handler’ was Gonen Ben Yitzhak.

Both men have turned their backs on their former lives. (MMu) WWWW

intergalactic space adventure. Set in the near future, Earth is slowly dying as its resources are depleting. Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) embarks on an expedition to the stars in search of other habitable planets. McConaughey delivers a remarkable performance as the father who decides to leave his children to save humanity and is supported by a high-calibre cast including Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine and Matt Damon. Adversely, storytelling technics falter in the second half of the film which leads to confusion, further compounded by long and intricate references to quantum physics, worm holes, the theory of relativity and space time travel.

Ultimately, it is a visual spectacular in which audiences will believe they have

been transported to the far reaches of the universe. (MMo) WWWW LOVE, ROSIE The story is simple – two best friends who grew up together have always been in love but never seem to get the timing right.

One thing that sets this film apart from its contemporaries is its portrayal of the lovers’ obstacles; it is not overdramatised nor dwelt on.

Although by the same token, the incredible friendship of Rosie (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Clafin) appears to be underdeveloped and not as unrelenting as the producers would have us believe.The latter, who is reminiscent of a young Hugh Grant is cast perfectly opposite the brighteyed Lily Collins. Even though the characters are wanting in complexity, the film is charming and has its

moments of authenticity.The two leads share a very believable chemistry. (SY)WWW½ TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT An extremely simple but nonetheless emotive French drama, beautifully crafted and subtly performed by all involved. Particular praise goes to Marion Cotillard who plays Sandra, a Belgian mother with a history of depression. Sandra is about to lose her job, and she is trying to keep herself together for her family and her sanity. If her co-workers choose their significant bonus over her keeping her position at work, she may fall back into bad habits.Viewers can’t help but struggle with her and any mild victory is magnified with brilliant nuances by Cotillard. (RBM) WWW

Kings Court Massage “Delightfully Different”

261 PARRAMATTA RD GLEBE NSW 2037 Traditional Hot oil massage Daily 9 am to 1 am www.kingscourt.com.au 02 9660 0666 GPS to our discreet rear entrance at 18 Grose St Glebe Kings Court Massage is a big and friendly adult massage venue in Sydney.

We are known all over the world for the cartoon ads that have appeared in Penthouse for several decades. A lot of them are based on true stories like this one about Judd the “North Qld Stockman”. He had been to Bathurst for the

car races and told us he was the envy of all his mates because on his trip south he would be going to Kings Court in Sydney. They knew all about us from our cartoons, so we decided to make him a legend in a whole cartoon in the next magazine.

He was a nice guy and Big John also started out as a North Qld Stockman.

Like many country people Big John learned at an early age to treat women well and he is now the much loved boss at Kings Court.

Much of our success is because our ladies are happy and well looked after.

Everyone knows someone who should know about Kings Court: a nice girl who needs a harmless job with a discreet income; or some boy who needs to start out on the right track with respect for women.

We’re famous for the huge lounge where first time customers can meet first time girls. You can play pool while deciding which lady to see for your massage.

We have party spas to cater for groups or private spa rooms if you are on your own. It is best to be in before 1am except on Fridays and Saturdays when we are open 24hrs.

Early birds can enjoy a 20% discount from 9am to noon daily. There is a $20 cover charge from 9pm to 9am. We don’t take phone appointments and bookings are made on a first come first serve basis to avoid dissappointment.

Website: kingscourt.com.au Facebook:

facebook.com/Kingscourtmassage

Twitter: @kingscourtlive

VACANCIES:

We are looking for polite and well groomed young ladies to join our team of friendly massage girls. We offer you training and great working conditions, plus the sweetest and nicest clients in Sydney! Part time and casual hours to fit your lifestyle.

Call 02 9660 0666 to arrange a discreet interview.

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