City Hub 10 March 2016

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city hub 10 MARCH 2016

Bondi Community losers in Pavilion redevelopment

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS Bondi residents rallied against community cultural space in Bondi Pavilion being converted for commercial interest at a meeting on Monday night.

The group said the Waverley Council’s plan for the pavilion would turn it into a “shopping and restaurant precinct,” robbing the locals of community meeting rooms, a theatre and music studios.

Residents, pavilion business owners, as well as members of the arts sector met with councillors and the architect seeking justification of changes to the pavilion.

Many are concerned that the $38 million refurbishment of the pavilion, which will possibly see the installation of a high end restaurant replace a theatre, will mean losing community space.

Community group Save Bondi Pavilion said that community space was currently two thirds of the building, but under the new plan commercial space would consume 80 per cent of pavilion.

The redevelopment is expected to cost $38 million, $15 million of which will come from council coffers, the remainder from some kind of loan.

Greens Councillor Dominic Wy Kanak, who spoke at the meeting said the community was right to be concerned because the council was spending their money.

“The community wants a decent question and answer time to justify the changes they are making to the Pavilion.”

People are wary of council saying it is only $14-15 million towards the upgrade. Yet they are talking about a $38 million for the concept design, which would blow out to $40 million.

“They want the community to sign off on $15 million of their money, and then sign off on some kind of government loan for rest of the money.”

The council announced plans for the development in December. The period for community submissions was extended by two weeks until Sunday March 13.

An artist’s impression of the proposed redevelopment. Source: Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects

The Bondi Beach Precinct Committee came together with other local groups and businesses to try and preserve the building for the community’s use.

Convenor of the Bondi Beach Precinct Committee Lenore Kulakauskas said that the community was concerned with the spending of their money, with no advantages in the reworked design for the community. She said central to their complaints was the demolition of the Pavilion’s theatre which would be replaced with a multipurpose structure.

They are also unhappy with the drastic reduction in the community space of music rooms and meeting rooms.

She said she was concerned that Mayor Sally Betts was not there to listen to the community concerns.

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Bondi Ward Councillors including Clr Wy Kanak and John Wakefield spoke at the meeting.

Ms VISK said she expected that if the Mayor decided to bring the matter at the March 15 Council meeting next week, there would not be enough time for council to properly consider submissions.

She said she was disappointed the mayor and Liberal Councillor for the Bondi Ward, Joy Clayton, didn’t.

“Not one Liberal turned up. Does that mean they’re not intending to listen to the residents?”

“The mayor should have been there, she should have been there to listen to what we had to say.”

“It is not a detailed plan, it is a ‘it can be this, it can be that’ approach. The reality of it is if you’ve

got a commercial kitchen installed, it is very unlikely that a room is going to be used as a community meeting room.”

Greens Senator Lee Rhianon, who lives in the local area, said “there was a lot of deception coming from Sally Betts.”

“What the mayor is doing is attempting to privatize the pavilion. Those with big money could be able to afford these restaurants.”

“What the Greens are saying is that we acknowledge the need to upgrade the pavilion, but what needs to be foundation for change is that the ratio to community to commercial to space needs to stay the same.” She said she had heard of instances of community activities being told they would have to relocate from pavilion by the end of the year.

“That information highlights the so called consultation process as deceptive, because here we know community groups are already going to be moved.”

A Waverley Council spokesperson said that it will collect the submissions and collate them in a report to present at an April Council meeting, not the March one as originally planned. The month was changed following the extension of the consultation period. The spokesperson said the project will be subject to a DA process later in the year.

The spokesperson said the mayor had met with residents and key stakeholders to discuss the concept plans. “A ‘Meet the Mayor’ event was also held in early February 2016 to discuss the plans with interested residents.”

The council spokesperson said that the amount of community “meeting and multipurpose space remains about the same” “A public tender process will commence (likely to be during 2016-17) to ensure future tenancies are in accordance to a strict process which meets all probity standards. In the meantime, no new lease arrangements for the Pavilion have been decided by Council,” the spokesperson said.

Remove wiggle room for developers: residents

BY LUCAS BAIRD A Waterloo community group has voiced concerns that social housing needs will not be met following a major housing development in the suburb, citing similar high profile developments in London which failed to meet their quota on public housing.

REDWatch community group has pleaded to the NSW Social Housing Minister Brad Hazzard to oversee contract negotiations in regards to the Waterloo Station development tender.

REDWatch organiser, Geoff Turnbull told City Hub it was important to “pin down” developers on the inclusion of affordable housing.

The Waterloo area was slated for major redevelopment when letters were slipped into the mailbox’s of the area’s social housing tenants, announcing that a metro rail line would go through the suburb.

The planned redevelopment will create more than 2000 apartments.

Following the 15-20 year redevelopment, private housing will take up 70 per cent of new homes.

According to the Minister, some social housing tenants will have to relocate while the development begins, while others will be able to move straight into their homes.

Similar so called public private partnerships in London have eventuated with less social housing being built than initially proposed.

Redevelopment of Waterloo will take years.

After winning a contract, developers had minimised their projected gain and maximised their potential cost to justify less social housing being built.

“The object of the exercise from our perspective would be to try and ensure that everything is pinned down at the beginning of this process,” Mr Turnbull said.

“We would want to see it very clearly spelled out as to what the arrangement was to be and what developers are expected to deliver. Not just in relation to the delivery but things like the quality of the build that work for long term,” he said.

He said the best way to do that was by approaching the Minister.

But that may prove more difficult than first anticipated.

Greens MP for Newtown Jenny Leong recently called for the government to give “straight answers” to social housing tenants.

“One of the biggest concerns at this point is that there are no straight answers from the Government,” Ms Leong told City Hub. “The Minister keeps talking about trying to keep people ‘in the area’ – but he’s not making any solid commitments,” she said.

But a spokesperson for UrbanGrowth NSW assured City Hub that despite there being significant work to be done in the planning and redevelopment of the area, there will be no loss of the number of social dwellings in the area.

REDWatch’s concerns come just after their monthly meeting in Redfern, where last week they asked attendees to put forward their questions so they could follow up with Mr Hazzard.

Mr Hazzard was contacted for comment but did not respond in time for publication. city hub 10 MARCH 2016

3

Local jobs to go in Leichhardt

BY LUCAS BAIRD A business owner in Leichhardt has said that government plans to rezone an industrial area for residential use will cost jobs and destroy local community space.

The Department of Planning and Environment recently decided to rezone land along Lords Road in West Leichhardt which will allow up to 315 residential units to be built.

The rezoning will close down Art Est Art School and Gallery as well as other businesses.

The owner of the gallery said she fears for the community’s “heart and soul.”

Director of the Art School, Jennifer McNamara said the closure of her business would have a devastating effect on the local community.

“When they close small businesses like mine, the martial arts and others, it’s like the heart and soul of the community has just died. If they close places like this where do we go? Where do our students go? Where do our families go? What happens to the local community as a whole?”

But Ms McNamara is not only concerned about the community, but also about the 20 employees who will lose their jobs if the Government follow through with the rezoning.

Leichhardt Mayor, Darcy Byrne recently indicated that

Locals want to retain industry in the area. Source: Toby Hudson

the rezoning would remove rare industrial land from the inner city, costing jobs and the local economy.

“Council’s submission to the Government has made clear that the loss of one of Leichhardt’s few remaining parcels of industrial land at Lords Rd will cost jobs and services,” Clr Byrne said.

“The community is rightly outraged over a decision which has no planning policy justification at all,” he said.

The Council has organised a protest near Lords Road on

the March 19 to allow the community to voice its displeasure with these plans.

“The Department are determined to send the bulldozers in to Leichhardt as quickly as possible,” Clr Byrne said.

“A community demonstration backed by Council is going to make sure that they feel the level of community anger over this before they do.”

Clr Byrne suspects that the rezoning was allowed due to the Government’s draft Parramatta Road Urban Transformation

strategy, a document which he claimed has zero legal status.

“The truth is the Government’s Parramatta Road plan is at this stage nothing more than a glossy brochure,” Clr Byrne said.

“It is appalling that the Baird Government is now using graphic design as the basis for its planning policy.”

A Department of Environment and Planning spokesperson stated that the Lords Road planning proposal had been assessed against numerous programs.

These included NSW Government’s Plan for Growing Sydney and Leichhardt Council’s Employment and Economic Development Plan 2013 as well as the Parramatta Road plan.

“Following a recommendation from the Joint Regional Planning Panel, the Department determined that the Lords Road planning proposal had enough strategic and site-specific merit to proceed to Gateway,” the spokesperson said.

“The next stage for the Lords Road proposal would be submission for a Gateway Determination. If supported, the proposal would be placed on public exhibition for feedback from the community, Council and other government agencies.”

“All issues raised in submissions will need to be considered by the applicant before any decision is made,” they said.

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5

Chain reaction: Amalgamation cessation: new bike laws Woollahra’s legal bid increase hostility could be first of many

The new laws are driving a divide. Source: Nathan Doza

BY ANDREW BARCLAY New laws for cyclists have had little effect on dangerous behaviour and have increased hostility between riders and drivers, according to a cyclists group.

Stephen Wilks, a recreational cyclist from NSW, said the new laws have further flared tensions and reversed recent improvements to “drive a divide” between drivers and riders.

He said the new laws perpetuated the perception that cyclists don’t belong on the road.

“The direct impact on individuals is profound,” he told City Hub. “I’ve definitely seen a small yet noticeable increase in cars feeling like they don’t want cyclists on the road.”

Under the rules, riding a bicycle without a “working warning device” like a bell will see the fine rise to $106. The law has already started nabbing its first victims.

Mr. Wilks said he has been told of riders near Central Park being targeted by police and being pulled over for not possessing the appropriate device.

He said it seemed to be a peculiar use of police resources.

“I know that the bell won’t do anything if I’m in danger – all I can do is yell loudly,” he said.

Social media has continued to provide evidence of targeting of cyclists, including a Sydneysider posting a photo of police pulling over cyclists for “speeding in the park”.

Facebook user Liam Kelly said the photo showed police fining cyclists for speeding in the park’s 30km/h zone and described it “completely and utterly unbelievable”.

NSW Police didn’t specifically confirm the above accounts but told City Hub that as part of Operation Pedro, more than 64 cyclists were issued warnings. This occurred in late February before the laws came in to effect.

Mr. Wilks said the laws “appear to be part of an ideologically driven agenda” and have led to an “us and them” mentality on the road.

The Baird government’s new measures, which came into force on March 1, include raising the fine for riding without a helmet 350 per cent, from $71 to $319.

Meanwhile, the penalty for running a red light will increase 500 per cent to $425.

The requirement for cyclists to carry valid ID or pay a $106 fine has had its introduction postponed until March 2017.

Under the new laws, drivers must now 6

city hub 10 MARCH 2016

leave a one-meter gap when passing a cyclist.

Other campaigners who spoke to City Hub said the laws are unjustified and have made cycling less appealing.

The CEO of Bicycle NSW Ray Rice said the new fines will have a profound impact on cycling within NSW, and especially Sydney.

“The NSW Government should be looking at how to encourage bike riding as a form of transport, rather than blatantly discouraging it,” he told City Hub. Minister for Road Duncan Gay has remained resolute in response to concerns it may dampen people’s appetite for cycling, and continued to argue the purpose o the laws is to improve road safety for drivers and riders alike. ““The key to what we are doing is saving lives. We are putting deterrents there to make people wear helmets, not run red lights and be careful where they are interfacing with other traffic,” he recently said.

Yet even property developers, long considered fans of the Baird government, appear to be at odds with them on the new laws.

CEO of ISPT Super Property Daryl Browning said property investors have put millions of dollars into increasing the quality and size of cycling amenities at office blocks. He said that demand for “end of trip” cycling facilities has skyrocketed in recent years.

“Employers know the efficiencies and productivity gains of active travel in the workplace,” he said in a statement.

“Rather than disincentives the Government should focus on all road users, including cyclists, motorists and pedestrians doing the right thing with the focus on individual safety first and foremost.”

Ongoing unease from different sections of the community appears to run counter to the NSW Government’s own Sydney’s Cycling Future blueprint, which seeks to double the number of cyclists in NSW. Mr Rice said the new laws would contravene the government’s own target and it should instead encourage broader community participation.

“Instead these punitive measures will put people off riding now and in future,” he said.

“NSW is fast becoming Australia’s nanny state.”

More and more Sydneysiders are taking to bikes for transport, with a 100% increase over the past 3 years. There is close to 32,000 Sydneysiders riding each week, according to City of Sydney figures.

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS Woollahra Council has brought out the big guns: it threatened the Minister for Local Government Paul Toole with legal action and hired eminent Barrister Bret Walker SC. On Monday, the council wrote to the Minister, warning him of a legal challenge to forced amalgamation of its council with Waverley and Woollahra, saying that the state government is forcing the amalgamation with an incorrect part of the Local Government Act. Woollahra is arguing that the law was intended for voluntary merges only, not forced ones.

Prior to the 1999 amendment being introduced, a plebiscite had to be conducted to seek residents’ approval for any merger.

If successful, the legal challenge could take the state government’s amalgamation plan back to square one.

Greens Spokesperson for amalgamations David Shoebridge told City Hub that there were many more councils who were willing to join Woollahra’s legal challenge.

“The arguments which have been presented by Wooollahra are equally applicable to all proposed amalgamations,” Mr Shoebridge said.

“It is proof of undemocratic this is as well as just how pointlessly bloody minded the Premier is about this process.”

“Even if they are allowed to use these provisions, the law then requires a compulsory plebiscite”

Rafaelle Catanzarti from the Save Our Councils Coalition said he believed Woollahra’s move could be the first of many legal challenges from local councils.

“I think you are going to find more and more councils going down the legal challenge now the realities of amalgations are setting in.”

Speaking to City Hub, Woollahra Mayor Toni Zeltzer said that the council’s move comes after some deliberation on their position.

“Many have written to ask why we weren’t taking up legal action to see if there was a legal avenue,” she said.

“I didn’t take that up very quickly, but I thought I had better cover that base,” Clr Zeltzer said.

“Our solicitors and Brett Walker SC have in their due diligence have looked into the genesis of these provisions, and looked at how they came about, and they occurred in 1999, and the reason was to streamline voluntary mergers.”

“Our community in two separate surveys has rejected forced mergers and they’ve said no.”

The council has given the Minister seven days to respond to this request or will seek to have the case heard in court.

It is believed that any potential court challenge would take place in the NSW Land and Environment Court.

A spokesperson for the Minister for Local Government Paul Toole said “The Minister’s Office has received correspondence from Woollahra Municipal Council”.

As affordability decreases, homelessness rises

Photo:Alex Proimos

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS Levels of homelessness in the City have increased to their highest figure since 2013, according to latest City of Sydney homelessness street count.

The City of Sydney’s Febuary street count found there were 890 people without a place to live with 486 sleeping on the streets and 404 in hostels.

Homelessness in the City started to dip, but is now on the rise again.

Cindi Petersen from LaunchPad Youth, an organisation that helps young homeless people find accomodation, said the numbers were up because housing affordability has become a “growing issue over time”.

“The other reason there is greater visibility of homelessness in the City is because homeless populations head towards cities for safety, access to services, for transport.”

She said the best way to prevent young people from becoming homeless was to ensure that services were evenly distributed across Sydney.

When young people were closer to their home, they would be more likely to return to it. She said the best solution was early intervention.

Failing that, having a case worker and coordinating services with other agencies in the City can be effective in getting homeless young people off the streets.

For the past year, the organisation has access to a brokerage fund to pay the costs of getting into housing, such

as a bond, and other things not provided by state agencies.

“We have managed to house quite a few young people in the last 15 months with the program, but obviously there is limited stock.”

Independent State MP for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, took part in the count at the end of February.

He said it was important to maintain funding to women’s refuges as well as hostels.

“At a time when private housing is advertised as ‘smart buys for $1million’, the NSW and Commonwealth governments need to make sure there is affordable housing and increase social housing with necessary support services in order to reduce the number of people sleeping rough,” he wrote in an email to constituents.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said even middle-income earners were finding it tough to pay rents and mortgages.

She called on the state and federal governments to address the lack of affordable housing supply.

“You can’t solve homelessness without housing. We urgently need the state and federal governments to find opportunities to provide affordable housing and increase social housing with support services, which will then reduce the number of people sleeping rough,” City Homelessness Unit Manager Trina Geasley said more needed to be done to address supply.

“Crisis beds are full, services have growing caseloads and with a 10-year housing waiting-list of 60,000 people, many people are falling through the cracks.”

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7

WestConnex breaks records in community opposition and secrecy

BY WENDY BACON More than 13,000 people made submissions to its New M5 EIS project, the most submissions that the NSW Planning and Environment Department has ever received for an infrastructure project.

While Councils and residents opposed to the project struggled to digest and respond to an 8000 page EIS over their summer holidays, the NSW Department of Planning has taken more than five weeks to simply count and publish their submissions.

No one has received a letter telling them their submission has been received and not a single submission from a NSW public department, local Council, community organisation or citizen has yet been published, as promised on the Planning website.

More staff have been hired to assess the New M5 project, which is a tunnel from Kingsgrove in Sydney’s South West, emerging in St Peters at Sydney Park. But this shouldn’t lead to optimism about the possibility of the Department refusing approval. A construction manager for the Leightons, which is part of the consortium that has already been awarded a $1.5 billion contract to build project, told residents at an EIS session that the company expects approval around April 23.

But the submission record is not the only record broken by WestConnex. It is also the largest infrastructure project in the Southern hemisphere at a cost of $16.8 billion, which is escalating at $2 billion a year as more limbs are added to its network of tunnels and massive road interchanges.

It is also setting records for lack of transparency and secrecy.

Since last October when the Baird government turned WestConnex over to a publicly owned private company called Sydney Motorway Corporation (SMC),WestConnex has not been required to publish its contracts on the NSW tender database. Accounting for public funds by publishing government contracts has been a key component of public administration since the 19th century.

This week, NSW parliament will debate Labor’s Shadow Minister for Roads Jodi McKay’s amendment to NSW’s freedom of information act, the Government Information Public Access Act, which would bring the SMC back within the Act. If McKay’s move was successful, SMC contracts would be required to publish its contracts and also would be subject to FOI requests.

In a speech introducing the bill two weeks ago, McKay told parliament that the government had placed the WestConnex beyond the normal ‘checks and balances’ of government. She described the arrangement as ones that “a merchant banker or a corporate lawyer wrestling with a private investment no doubt would have liked.”

“Its (SMC)structure is designed to frustrate attempts by the Parliament, the press, ordinary members of the public and other interested parties to hold the Government to account with regard to this enormous public project, “ she said.

Labor and the Greens will support McKay’s bill but it will be opposed by the Baird government and is therefore very unlikely to become law.

Despite its glossy brochures and graphics, the WestConnex is shrouded in secrecy that flows from commercial confidentiality arrangements concealing the salaries and financial interests of Sydney Motorway Corporation executives and agreements with its major contractors, the biggest of which is Leightons, which is part of the consortia awarded the M4 widening, M4 East and New M5 contracts.

If SMC remains outside the GIPA Act, the public will never be able to find out whether engineering company and traffic modeller AECOM, which already had contracts worth $32.7 million across all stages of WestConnex, had been paid even more to work on further stages of the project; or whether corporate legal firm Ashurst ,which has been responsible for drawing up some of the secret WestConnex legal agreements 8

city hub 10 MARCH 2016

Pauline Lockie was nominated as Newtown Woman of the year. Source: supplied.

has received more contracts than those already published worth $14.5 million.

Despite the massive amount of public expenditure allocated to WestConnex, City Hub has reported on many examples of where planning processes are being rushed and unsafe practices used. .

For example, in digging into M4 East planning documents this week, we noticed that a so far unreported air quality review of the M4 East EIS was only completed one day before the Minister Rob Stokes granted his approval for the project.

Although the review supported the tunnel, its authors made many negative comments about the air quality study. It also emphasised that the air quality results are dependent on AECOM’s traffic modelling that has been criticised by a number of independent experts, none of whom received adequate responses during the assessment process.

Disturbed by the way their own experts have been pushed aside, local councils have been trying to exercise their own powers to defend communities badly impacted by the WestConnex.

In response, NSW Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) is flexing its muscles.

The most recent example occurred this week in Terry Street Tempe in Sydney’s Inner West. As residents were getting ready for work on Monday, there were knocks on the door. On their doorsteps were WestConnex contractors who delivered the unwelcome news that residents’ parking spaces

would be occupied by a drilling rig for the next week or so.

Residents had been told earlier in the year that WestConnex would be drilling in the area in advance of receiving government approval for a new M5 tunnel. But then they heard that Marrickville Council had rescinded drilling approval after a drill occupation on Tempe parkland.

After many calls, residents discovered that the powerful RMS, which is commissioning WestConnex, had simply bypassed that Council approval process and invoked state powers for road work.

By mid-morning residents and activists protested by occupying the road, which meant the contractors brought in much larger barriers.

The contractors then adopted the unusual tactic of enclosing the residents in a fenced off section of the road so that police could order them to move on as ‘trespassers’ in what had begun the morning as their own local road.

The protestors were back on Tuesday but so were the contractors with more security guards that are standing watch over the drilling compound.

The WestConnex Action Group spokesperson Pauline Lockie told City Hub, “”It’s bad enough that the Baird government is destroying communities and sentencing drivers in western Sydney to decades of big tolls for WestConnex. But what’s really making people angry is that they’re doing this by corrupting planning processes and trampling our hard-won rights to transparency and accountability in their rush to get this sham toll road built.”

This week, Newtown MP Greens Jenny Leong nominated Lockie who is losing her St Peters home to WestConnex as Newtown Woman of the Year in recognition of her broad-based campaigning along the 33 kilometre route of the WestConnex.

Although it is pushing ahead at a frantic pace, the Baird government still lacks funding to complete the M4 and New M5 tunnels. This week, the government reminded drivers that tolls would go back on the M4 between Parramatta and Homebush next year. The government is also seeking more finance from banks.

There is no funding in place at all for the third stage a tunnel links the M4 and the new M5. But this has not stopped WestConnex launching an application for planning approval. The application included two more huge tollway interchanges.

There are likely to be more forced acquisitions adding to the hundreds of homes already taken by WestConnex.

According to City of Sydney Mayor Clover Moore, “The massive spaghetti style interchange planned for Rozelle threatens the future of the Bays Precinct urban redevelopment – instead of a thriving digital hub, we’ll get congested roads and polluting vent stacks. An interchange planned for Camperdown will overwhelm Broadway and Parramatta Road with increased traffic. If it’s built, WestConnex will have a disastrous impact on the people who live and work in the inner city and inner west. It will massively worsen congestion and severely impact air quality.”

So while a new wave of communities mobilise against the project, the government planners continue to tick their boxes and corporate lawyers and engineers work quietly on their secret contracts.

We know [from the public contracts that were published in 2014 and 2015 that both engineers AECOM and corporate lawyers ASHURST were working on the Stage three long before the public had any information at all about the project. What we won’t know unless the SMC is made subject to the GIPA act or there is an inquiry, how many more public dollars they will be earning for their work on WestConnex Wendy Bacon has attended WestConnex Action Group protests an is an editor of the People’s M4 EIS.

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FEATURE

Art as Therapy: Lost and Found

BY ALANNAH MAHER To be lost is a universal experience, and that does not necessarily mean to be lost in a physical sense.

Different artists and groups around Sydney have identified art as an amazing medium to address the feeling of being lost – using their form to prompt conversations, awareness and beneficial action. From multi media artists starting a dialogue about “feeling lost”, through to artists uniting to raise funds for an epilepsy action group, and a contemporary dance program catered specifically to adults with an intellectual disability.

Sydney based artistic duo Gillie and Marc recently launched a new video project series, which was prompted by a contemporary art project that began three years ago. In 2013 the husband and wife team began placing some intriguing sculptures in public spaces.You’ve more than likely spotted at least one of their starkly colourful dog sculptures around (you know, the ones with the human bodies). “[We tied the dogs] to benches and to parking signs…

We wanted them to actually bring a bit more colour and brightness and humour into the city, and as soon as we put them out there people started stealing them!” explained Marc.

Almost all of the 100 sculptures were cut from their chains and stolen within a month, and they were soon labelled ‘The Lost Dogs’.

Accepting the fate of their stolen art works, Gillie and Marc were surprised to soon begin to receive correspondence from people who boldly admitted to “adopting” their sculptures.“I think the overall response was positive,” added Gillie. “I think everyone loves dogs because they are so non-judgemental and loving.”

“It became almost like a symbol of people who wanted… companionship,” explained Marc.“And we realised then… that everyone does feel lost at some point in their lives…”

Their new video series,‘The Lost Dogs Project’, is an ongoing collection of one-minute clips with well-known people chatting with a Lost Dog sculpture.“We want people to talk about those times they feel low, and we enlisted celebrities [as] the first people to go forward and start talking about that moment in their lives,” explained Marc.

It’s estimated that 45 per-cent of Australians will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime.

“We also know that throughout everyone’s lives they’re going to feel lost, that’s a fact,” added Marc.

“They don’t have to necessarily be diagnosed, but [they’ll find themselves in] a dark, not good place.”

Art can be a powerful tool for creating awareness. In the case of the Art for Epilepsy auction, artists have kindly donated their works to an initiative that raises funds and awareness for Epilepsy Action Australia (EAA).

Lisa Clarke, Neale Whitaker and Allison Cratchley. Photo: Chris Peken

The art auction launched on Valentine’s Day and will finish on Purple Day, an international day of epilepsy awareness.

“Not only was Saint Valentine the patron saint of love [but] he was also, would you believe it, the patron saint of epilepsy,” explained CEO of the EAA, Carol Ireland.

The EAA strives for community understanding of this terribly common but misunderstood neurological disorder.Art for Epilepsy will be the first time they’ve officially utilised the arts in their 64 years of operation.

Gabrielle Jones is one of more than 50 artists who have volunteered their work for the fundraiser.An abstract painter referencing gardens and flora in her work, Jones painted ‘Charm’s Power’ in response to the only instruction given to the varied range of artists involved: include the colour purple in some way. Not directly affected by epilepsy personally, Jones does “feel it is necessary to give back to society” and said that the EAA made a great argument for why they need support.

Ireland explained that up to two per-cent of the population suffer epilepsy. “Of all the people in Australia right now, around 800,000 people will be diagnosed at some point in their lives…of all those people, about 60 per-cent will get [reasonable] seizure control from medication…the other 40% won’t, and it’s pretty tough...” she said.

All of the proceeds from the auction will go into the EAA’s programs, with a strong focus on education for individuals who have been diagnosed and their families, and for third parties including GPs, nurses, carers and employers.

Jones understands the benefits of art and art practice to the mental wellbeing of individuals. She teaches painting to adults with clientele ranging from successful professionals in high-pressure positions to cancer survivors.

“What I consider art does…is it is a vehicle to give incredible stress relief…because it’s actually accessing the right side of the brain when we live in a leftbrained world, which is time based…deadline based [and] which is all about productivity,” explained Jones.

Recognising the power of creative outlets, Studio ARTES are launching MERGE, a contemporary dance program to help individuals who have otherwise felt lost. An arts studio for adults who identify as having an intellectual disability, Studio ARTES run a variety of programs in dance, drama, music, film and visual arts.

MERGE is supported by the Deliniate Grant for Performance Development. It’s a two-year program involving collaborations with Riverside Theatres, Shopfront Theatre for Young People and independent dance artist Matthew Shillcock.

“The main goals we are working towards [with MERGE, for our dancers] is an up-skilling in contemporary dance, which includes looking after our bodies… increasing muscle tone and flexibility…” explained Rebecca Canty, Studio ARTES’ Performing Arts Manager. “[Through to] what it means to be a dancer with disability in a mainstream context and how that can be a little bit different…so working on confidence, social skills and verbal skills so our members are going to be able to have the same opportunities...”

Studio ARTES takes a holistic approach to carving a community for people with intellectual disabilities who have struggled to find a place for themselves or to pursue creative lifestyles.

Ahead of officially launching MERGE in September, Studio ARTES will be raising vital funds with the Make Em Laugh comedy gala this weekend. Partnered with of Comedy for a Cause, this adults’ only event will feature acclaimed touring comedians alongside original performances from Studio ARTES participants.

THE LOST DOGS PROJECT One video a week for six months. Stay tuned for new videos from Gillie and Marc on YouTube and Facebook, coming soon to the Mamamia Network. More info: gillieandmarc.com

ART FOR EPILEPSY AUCTION

Until March 26. Online. Bids from $40-$7,000.

Info and bidding: artforepilepsy.com.au

PURPLE DAY – INTERNATIONAL EPILEPSY AWARENESS

Saturday March 26. For donations and events visit: epilepsy.org.au/purple-day

GABRIELLE JONES

For more about the artist and her art workshops visit: gabriellejones.com.au

“MAKE EM LAUGH” COMEDY ARTS GALA

Friday March 11, 8pm. The Showroom, Hornsby RSL Club, 4 High Street, Hornsby. $35.

Tickets & info: studioartes.com.au or comedyforacause.net

MERGE

For more info about upcoming events associated with the program visit: studioartes.com.au

MEET the locals Taste is on the table at the Cauliflower Hotel

Have a beer for the bard at the Shakespeare Hotel

One of Sydney’s earliest hotels, the Cauliflower was established in 1838. Times have changed, and so has the Cauliflower.

The Hotel has recently undergone extensive renovations and is the perfect neighbourhood drinking spot.

There are heaps of specials every night of the week, including a $10 steak on Tuesday with any drink purchase, as well as a range of $12 lunch specials every week day. To swill down all that food, there is a happy hour from 4 till 6pm.

There is plenty of room for the whole family

Good value usually means cheap and nasty. Not at the Shakespeare Hotel, my Lord!

Travel back to the magical lands of Elizabethan England as you step inside the doors of the Shakespeare Hotel in Surry Hills.

Get thee to the bar and order thee a cleansing ale, anon, anon!

If a beer is not to thine liking, then order one of the vinos from the impressive and diverse wine list.

And if a bargain be thy food of love, play on at the Shakespeare Hotel.

There is a selection of pub classics for only $12.50. Be sure to swill down a $4 drink at happy

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too, with a huge beer garden and lots of indoor and outdoor seating.

There are plenty of bar areas, with TAB terminals for betting on all the big races and games, and everything in between.

If you’re feeling extra lucky, bring the family down to the hotel on Thursday nights to be in the running to win one of three meat trays that are raffled off every week.

The Cauliflower Hotel 123 Botany Rd, Waterloo NSW 2017 9698 3024

hour, which runs on weekdays from 4 til 6pm.

If you’re feeling tired, get comfortable in one of the bed chambers, also referred to as hotel room in the majestic establishment.

Rooms start at $99, with all the period charm of your favorite Shakespearean character.

Beautifully decorated hotel rooms, your sleep is sure to be as enchanted as a midsummer night’s dream.

Get thee not to a nunnery, but to The Shakespeare Hotel.

200 Devonshire St, Surry Hills NSW 2010 9319 6883

APRIL SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Powerhouse Museum 9 April – 25 April Green Screen Super Hero Photos

Collaborative Comic Strip

Digital Learning Workshops

Powerhouse Museum Sleepover

10.00 am – 5.00 pm

10.00 am – 5.00 pm

Throughout April

Dress up as your favourite Super Hero and show off your super power! Whatever it is, make it happen on our green screen and send your photo home.

Bring your favourite heroes to life on the Powerhouse’s giant comic strip. Let your imagination soar and create your own story and characters.

Book for popular one, two or three day workshops to create films, learn coding for games, or discover electronics.

15 – 16 April, 5.30 pm – 8.00 am

All ages

Ages 4+

From $90

FREE for kids

Ages 6+

Experience the Powerhouse in a whole new way as you stay the night! Visit The Art of the Brick: DC Comics, take a torchlight tour and sleep under satellites.

Ages 5–10 and their carers

FREE for kids

From $50

ALSO ON AT SYDNEY OBSERVATORY Kids Extravaganza: Space Exploration 20 April 10.00 am – 1.30 pm Calling all budding astronauts to discover the wonders of space exploration. Launch and build rockets, meet Mars rovers and peer through telescopes.

Ages 3–8 From $13

Family Night Tours 10–21 April 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm

Physical Computing and Rockets

LEGO® Robotics with NXT

11 April 10.00 am – 4.00 pm

11–22 April 10.15 am – 11.15 am and 2.15 pm – 3.15 pm

Ages 9–12

Learn how to control electronic components with code and explore accelerometers by launching rockets and creating lander modules.

Join our astronomers as they share some of the delights of the universe. Enjoy a solar viewing through our telescope, space LEGO® and more.

From $14

Ages 9–12

Ages 6–10

From $90

$10

Discover the wonders of the night sky with your family.

Enjoy immersive astronomy experiences and view the stars through our telescope.

BOOK ONLINE MAAS.MUSEUM/SCHOOL-HOLIDAYS city hub 10 MARCH 2016

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 80 Minutes No Interval

Sheridan Harbridge, Ryan Johnson and Julia Rorke in 80 Minutes No Interval. Photo by Tony Davison

Here’s a play that has a record number of interpretations, and has become one of the most performed plays in France.

The Bald Soprano sets out to break and ignore the conventions of a traditional play.

The characters speak to the audience and there is no linear plot. This play tries to highlight problems in society or humanity and so focuses on themes more than story.

People will connect to the absurdity of the characters and the comedy of it all. It very humorously shows the uselessness of life. It is surrealist absurdism and avant-garde theatre.

“It really shows the absurdity of human interactions. As technology and social media become prevalent, people so quickly turn to their phones if they find a conversation boring, or if there’s a silence. No one ever connects one on one anymore, it’s so easy to disassociate yourself,” said Barry Walsh, The Bald Soprano’s director.

At the time The Bald Soprano was written, in 1952, it wasn’t about technology but

rather social status – social dinner parties with people you don’t like and trying to make entertainment out of it, using people.

We are seeing an interpretation in a modern day setting.

“It’s as though we were to put humans in a zoo and give them things to play with. The set is a living room and a dinner party is the entertainment. [In this] hour long show...we watch these people trying to interact with themselves and their surroundings,” explained Walsh.

“You’ll understand what is happening right in front of you but it’s possible you won’t understand why it’s happening. They’re speaking English words but not in sentences that make sense. None of the characters truly mean what they say, there’s a lot of contradiction,” added Walsh. (MS) Mar 15–26, 7.30pm Wed-Sat. King Street Theatre, 644 King Street (cnr Bray Street, Newtown). $28-$35.

Tickets & info: kingstreettheatre.com.au or 0423 082 015

a&e

10 STAGE 12 SCENE 13 Sounds 14 SCREEN

Laughing at the unfortunate failures of other people can be an uplifting and almost life affirming experience that serves to reassure the rest of us that we may have not screwed up completely.

Travis Cotton’s play 80 Minutes No Interval, a black comedy that is bold and slightly absurd, allows us to do just that.

Presented by Thread Entertainment in conjunction with Red Line Productions, the play is about Louis, an unsuccessful novelist turned theatre critic. The production traces his trials, tribulations and obstacles over a 30-year time frame as he fumbles through life, governed by repeated mistakes and bad luck. As the title suggests, the play goes for 80 minutes, without an interval.

Julia Rorke plays Mathilde, a florist. She explained that the absence of an interval mirrors Louis’ desire to get on with life, push straight through and the process of “getting to the next beat”.

The play is self-aware and self-satirising.

Rorke explained that it pokes fun at theatrical devices and the sometimes superfluous conventions of theatre culture. It also deals with the concept of the creative struggle and how perfectionism can be debilitating and self-sabotaging.

“Louis is never happy with what he’s got.

There’s always one more thing to be fixed.

Arts Editors: Jamie Apps - Alannah Maher For more A&E stories go to www.altmedia.net.au and don’t forget to join the conversation on Twitter at @AltMediaSydney

He has always got to change an adjective or a paragraph – that’s the thing that paralyses him and prevents him from getting his work out there,” Rorke explained. “Perfectionism is a very tempting and seductive thing. From my personal experience, it’s actually scary to let go and say, ‘you know what, this will never be perfect and I’m just going to go with what I’ve got now’.”

80 Minutes No Interval makes comedy out of misfortune. “Misfortune is such a potent fuel for creating hilarious situations,” said Rorke. “It’s almost cathartic or healing to watch other people stuff up.”

In Australia, where modern comedic theatre is scarce, the play brings a breath of fresh air.

“Comedy is total exposure – a lack of all inhibition,” said Rorke. “In everyday life we all have these veneers. In comedy there’s just no room for that – the veneers being removed, that is the comedy.”

“I love the writing in the play. It really is so hilarious and large and ridiculous but it’s also so grounded in truth – that for an actor is just a f**king dream.” (SH) Apr 9. Old Fitzroy Theatre, 129 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo. $28-$38. Tickets & info: oldfitztheatre.com or 0409 020 119

Contributors: Brendan Modini, Carmen Cita, Craig Coventry, Greg Webster, Hannah Chapman, Alicia Sim, Nyssa Booth, Lauren Edwards, Peter Urquhart, James Harkness, Lauren Bell, Leann Richards, Lisa Seltzer, Mark Morellini, Matthew Bernard, Mel Somerville, Jemma Clarke, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Sarah Pritchard, Sinead McLaughlin, Siri Williams, Athina Mallis, Leigh Livingstone, Joseph Rana, Shon Ho, Jacqui Rothwell, Anvi Sharma, Emily Shen, Silvia Cheung, Andrew Hodgson, Irina Dunn.

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Lisa McCune. Photo by James Green

Machu Picchu Machu Picchu is wildly human, rich in drama and humorously blunt. Presented by the Sydney Theatre Company and the State Theatre Company of South Australia, Machu Picchu follows the story of two civil engineers who must learn to re-live and reevaluate their choices after suffering from a tragic event. “[Machu Picchu is] a very kind of nuanced and subtle discretion of what it means to not just fall in love with someone but actually, what it means to love someone over the course of a life time,” explained Director Geordie Brookman.

Lisa McCune, Australia’s favourite television and theatre actress, will also be apart of the show playing the role of Gabby.

Machu Picchu not only explores the extraordinary love story of Paul (Darren

Gilshenan) and Gabby, it is also provocative in nature, asking the audience to re-evaluate their own life choices and priorities. “[Machu Picchu] really looks at the choices we make…in terms of the way we live our lives today and I guess the priorities – the things that we make priorities and the things we don’t,” said Brookman.

“I hope [the audience are] provoked to reassess their own lives and choices that they’ve made,” he added. “Primarily I hope [the audience] have a great night in the theatre, but I hope they’re moved by the piece, I hope they’re entertained and made to laugh.” (NB) Apr 9. Wharf 1 Theatre, The Wharf, Pier 4/5 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay. $64-$87.Tickets & info: sydneytheatre.com.au

David Strassman – iTedE: About Chucking Time International comedy star and thoroughly modern ventriloquist David Strassman returns to Sydney stages on an extensive regional tour. His most technologically advanced production to date, stopping at the Enmore Theatre this weekend.

“The show takes place in my Hollywood workshop. I always put together a show with…special effects and music and lighting rigs…it’s not just a guy standing in front of a microphone [with a puppet],” said Strassman, ahead of the tour.

As Strassman tinkers and talks to the six different puppets joining him on stage – including his most popular characters, the devilish Chuck Wood and the daft but loveable Ted E Bare – he is “rehearsing for a Ted Talk”, as Chuck and Ted E are totally immersed in their phones and iPads, inspiring the topic for Strassman’s Ted Talk on technology.“I am afraid that technology…is hurting our imaginations, because we’re not using them.

And I’m afraid that shows like mine will vanish,” said Strassman.

Incorporating “traditional hand up the bum ventriloquism”, Strassman’s comedic dramatisations

Lisa Williams – Voices from the Other Side

Williams’s gift is something that she freely admits she stumbled upon as a child but over the years, she honed it in order to bring comfort and closure to her audience.

“Honestly, when I was a kid I used to think it was normal to see dead people, but it slowly developed over time and as it developed...I realised I was a bit strange and my best friend even told me so, which was nice of her.”

Being a medium means there is no shortage of critics, and in Williams’s case they are a little bit closer to home than others.

“My dad is probably the biggest sceptic going, however, he travelled Australia with me ironically and he ended up coming with me on the last show and he said,‘you know what Lisa, I believe you now’ – so that was very interesting.” (AH) Mar 12. Seymour Centre,York Theatre, cnr of City Rd and Cleveland St, University of Sydney. $91.65.

Tickets & info: seymourcentre.com or 9351 7940 (Seymour Centre Box Office) or ticketek.com.au

Internationally acclaimed medium and clairvoyant Lisa Williams will be making a welcomed return to Australian shores in March, over three years since her last sell out Australian tour.

On her numerous past visits,Williams has grown fond of the receptiveness that Australian crowds have to offer.

“Australia has pretty much become my second home, I come back to Australia more than I go back to England and I think the Australian audiences are fantastic.They understand what I do, they are very much like the crowds in England where spiritualism is a very popular thing.”

SHORT+SWEET THEATRE GALA FINALS The best bitesized theatre portions of the biggest little play festival in the world will face off over four nights with the winners announced at the final performance on Sunday. See up to 12 of Short+Sweet’s best 10-minute play submissions, whittled down over eight festival weeks from around 160 submissions. With a range of themes and styles, highlights include ‘Sauerkraut’ and ‘Who Wants to be a Channel Nine Intern?’

(AM) Mar 10–13,Thurs-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 5.30pm.The Depot Theatre, 42 Addison Road, Marrickville. $30.

Tickets & info: shortandsweet.org 14

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SPACE CATS This daring, glittery musical follows lonely canine Laika (Graeme McRae) on a journey deep into the galaxy where he crash lands on a planet populated with all-signing, all-dancing kitty cats who have trouble accepting the smelly and the strange.

With fabulous costumes, powerful music and naughtiness at the forefront, this little musical that could is also a liberating celebration of diversity and sexuality in all its forms. (AM) Until Mar 12,Tues-Sat 8pm.

The Old 505 Theatre, 5 Eliza Street, Newtown. $25-$35.

Tickets & info: old505theatre.com THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE June Buckridge plays Sister George, a beloved character on a

popular BBC soap opera, a nurse who ministers to the medical needs and personal problems of the local villagers.

In real life Buckridge is a loud mouthed, alcoholic, slightly sadistic woman – the very antithesis of the sweet character she plays, she also happens to be a lesbian. G.bod Theatre mark the 50th anniversary of this controversial play with an updated version. (AH) Until Mar 12 (Wed–Sat 7.30pm, Sun 5pm). King Street Theatre, 644 King Street, Newtown. $28-$35.Tickets & info: kingstreettheatre.com.au THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY – REIMAGINED Expect a completely new view on an Oscar Wilde classic, quite controversial in its time.

have a reputation for bringing the puppetry technique into the modern era. His comedic brilliance has seen him experience immense popularity with Australian audiences since the early 90’s.

In iTedE, he manages to take even greater strides into the future, not only in his subject matter but also in the technical elements of the show itself.

“For the second half of the show I am using a technology where I am operating [the puppets] wirelessly,” explained Strassman.“Each finger [on my hand] operates the mouth wirelessly of the puppet that I speak for… No one has ever done this before, it’s a six way sustained discussion/argument/conversation routine with me and five puppets.”

Ironically, the puppets call out Strassman on using such advanced technology when his whole mantra is anti-technology.“They really rip me a new one,” he said.

You’ll never see another show like this. (AM) Mar 12, 7pm. Enmore Theatre, 118-132 Enmore Road, Newtown. $59.90-$64.90.

Tickets & info: enmoretheatre.com.au [Visit davidstrassman.com for more Sydney tour dates]

Nathan Farrow, an Australian playwright/ actor, adapts the play into a drama/comedy with horrors and dark secrets. (MS) Until Mar 19. Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent Street, Sydney. $25-$30.

Tickets & info: genesiantheatre.com.au THE LOCAL How would you feel if your beloved local pub suddenly got a makeover and it didn’t look like your old watering hole anymore? This is what Sydney writer Richie Black’s latest play is all about. The Local focuses on the gentrification of a local hotel, which is not taken well by the regulars. If that isn’t enough, the pub’s cricket team won’t exist after the renovations are completed – so now it’s personal, and their voices are

about to be heard. (AMal) Until March 20 (Tues-Thurs 8pm, Sun 6pm).The Ballroom,The Exchange Hotel, 94 Beattie Street, Balmain. $25-$30.Tickets & info: trybooking.com/174376 LADIES DAY This play focuses on a female writer in Broome and her experience and conversations with gay men in the community, all based on real life interviews and heavy research. Writer Alana Valentine is seeking to express ideas and themes that normally aren’t publicly known or discussed with the community, regarding the LGBTQ experience in regional Australia. (AMal) Until Mar 26. SBW Stables Theatre, 10 Nimrod Street, Kings Cross.

$20-$55.Tickets & info: griffintheatre.com.au PICCOLO TALES This site-specific play at Kings Cross institution the Piccolo Bar pays homage to the venue and its 81-year-old proprietor, Vittorio, the several dramatic changes they have witnessed in the Cross, and the many colourful customers attracted over the years. The intimate setting inserts the audience members into the action, creating somewhat of a journey through time, similar to opening a time capsule and exploring what’s inside. (NB) Until Mar 31. Piccolo Bar, 6 Roselyn Street, Potts Point. $20-$40.Tickets & info: piccolotales.eventbrite.com.au

Available on website, see New Years resolution page

end K e e ry W e v e ds n a b Friday 11 march Live

daily chef Special and $12. lunch Specials monday to Friday. happy hour monday - Friday 4-6pm. $1 dumplings and $10 cocktails. live music Friday Night with Krishna Jones & Stu west from 6.30-7pm. they will treat us to a night of acoustic rock and blues roots music.

The Shakespeare is one of the last authentic pubs left in Surry Hills, serving up some of the cheapest pub food in Sydney.

WINNER ‘BEST PUB 2011’-Time Out Magazine • WINNER ‘BEST VALUE FOOD 2011’-Good Pub Food Guide

Saturday Night 12 march 5.30 pm

rabbitohS vs NewcaStle KNightSoN live & loud @ the cauli $1 chicken wings game Special.

Meat Raffles drawn after the match. $14 Jugs of young henry’s Natural ale. live music after the game - the bop Soul Jazz fusion from 7.30pm.

Table Bookings info@cauliflowerhotel.com.au

MoNDaY: $10 Burgers & Trivia TUeSDaY: $10 Steaks

SuNday reggae SeSSioNS @ the cauliFlower hotel featuring roNi from the StrideS, 1pm till 4pm enjoy all day pizza, $14 Jugs of young henry’s Natural ale and $20 cocktail Sharing Jugs to get you into your chilled Sunday reggae vibe.

Kid friendly bring the family & friends sample the menu and relax to the beats. # the cauli Address: 123 Botany Rd, WAteRloo Phone: 9698 3024

DaILY SPecIaLS:

Web www.cauliflowerhotel.com.au

WeDNeSDaY: $10 chicken Schnitzels & Badge Draw THURSDaY: $10 Fish & chips

Happy Hour MoN – FRI from 4pm-6pm - $4 House Beer

(VB, Resches, Carlton & Coopers), House wine & House Spirits.

200 Devonshire Street SURRY HILLS NSW 2010 www.shakespearehotel.com.au Ph: 02 9319 6883 https://www.facebook.com/shakespearehotelsydney/ Instagram: shakespearehotel

city hub 10 march 2016

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THE NAKED CITY

TRUMP DOWN UNDER country, please come out of the closet and make your presence felt, so at least we know where you stand on banning Muslims, rebuilding the Berlin Wall on the Mexican border and making crude comments about women.

Miranda Devine wrote a somewhat hysterical rant in last week’s Daily Telegraph in which she paralleled the “nauseating political correctness of the Oscars” with the increasing popularity of Donald Trump, noting “You don’t have to agree with Trump to enjoy his victory against the politically correct elites”. Unfortunately with Donald Trump, the lines have become completely blurred – between his own blustering political incorrectness and just plain unadulterated bullsh*t. God knows what a full-on slanging match between Donald and Hillary Clinton holds in store.

In the meantime, for the man who still claims Barrack Obama does not have a US birth certificate, here’s another bit of speculation to ponder. Trump was born in Queens in 1947 but his family often holidayed in Nevada during the late 40s. Family Snapshots indicate they were on vacation there at the exact time of the famous Roswell incident in 1948, in which evidence of alien lifeform was allegedly discovered and covered up by the US Government. It’s by no means unreasonable to suggest that a part of that alien lifeform, minute at the time, found its way into the Trump motorhome and attached itself to the baby Donald’s head, permanently impregnating his brain.

It stayed there unnoticed, almost dormant for fifty years but eventually began taking control and burrowing through his scalp to breathe. Hence the massive comb over, a convenient means of concealing a bizarre ‘alter ego’ than now dictates every bit of convoluted rubbish that flows from his lips. Yes folks, and the World Weekly News will back us up – Donald Trump is in fact part alien, the precursor of an invasion of politically incorrect aliens from the distant planet Miranda. For the sake of humanity, don’t let that man out of the USA!

With Coffin Ed, Jay Katz and Miss Death Back in 2011 Donald Trump made his first visit to Australia in over thirty years to speak at the National Achievers Conference. It was a lightning stopover that attracted general media interest, but nothing to ignite the tabloids. Should the improbable actually happen and he become President in 2017, we might expect a more newsworthy visit.

Maybe the scenario would recall the infamous 1966 tour by Lyndon Johnson, when thousands of anti-Vietnam war protestors turned out to express their anger and the NSW premier Bob Askin instructed his driver to “ride over the bastards”. It’s hard not to think that a Trump presidential visit would bring thousands of demonstrators to the streets of Sydney given a recent ABC Lateline Poll where over 70 percent of 10,000 respondents indicated he should be banned from entering Australia altogether.

Whilst Trump has his many Australian detractors, he also has a growing band of supporters. That is if you believe a recent report on News.com headed: “Donald Trump’s popularity is spreading to Australia, and his supporters are all around us”.

The article goes on to say: “Not quite confident enough to campaign on the streets, closet Trump fans are converging on social media to throw their support across the equator and behind the man they believe can “make America great again”.”

The same kind of covert support probably exists locally in some tiny way, for the KKK, Aryan Nations and the Westboro Baptist Church. Nevertheless we are the 51st State of the USA, our dollar dictated to by the vagaries of the US currency and our foreign policy a carbon of the US Military’s, so it’s little wonder we become so emotionally involved in the US election.

If there are supposedly thousands of Trump supporters in this

Living Art Weekend St Leonards will be showcasing local artists over three days for the Living Art Weekend. It began in 2014 with just one night and now in 2016 the festival has expanded to fill a whole weekend.

Artists of all shapes and sizes have been working on a number of buildings and this weekend allows the public to take a behind the scenes look at what is happening in their local area. The buildings they’ve used for the festival are waiting for redevelopment, so while they’re sitting doing nothing, they’ve been turned into galleries, cafes and other creative spaces.

Not only will there be behind the scenes action but also talks by the artists, workshops, activities, and performances plus food and drink stalls. Curator James Winter is very excited for this weekend and has designed this year’s festival to be more family friendly.

“This year we’ve focused on marketing to families and local communities,” he said.

“There’s an emphasis on participation, workshops and children’s activities. It’s for people with [an interest in] creative arts and [who are] curious about what’s happening.”

Winter has a few favourite events he can’t wait for the

BDSM Sydney artist Simon Bernhardt’s new portrait exhibition thrusts a taboo topic under the spotlight. The exhibition’s acronym namesake is a blanket term for a range of erotic roleplay practices. Bernhardt’s exhibition gets up close and personal with a kinky cross-section of local BDSM community members, to unravel some of the more commonly held stereotypes. Avoiding the easy path of objectification, Bernhardt’s photographic gaze scratches beneath the masks and leather-clad surfaces to uncover the humanity of his subjects.

(CC) Until Mar 17. Black Eye Gallery, 3/138 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst.

Info: blackeyegallery.com.au 16

city hub 10 MARCH 2016

public to see. One of them is on Friday night where Tame the Pixel have taken over Atchinson Lane and will project graphics onto the walls to brighten up what is usually a dull and dreary lane.

There will also be the opening of the area’s new artist-run café, X and Co on Chandos Street, at night it transforms into a pop up jazz bar.

(AMal) Mar 11–13. Atchinson St, Atchinson Lane, Chandos St, between Oxley and Mitchell Streets. Free.

Info: eventbrite.com.au or look up the event on Facebook

SHOW AND TELL / LOOKING SIDEWAYS, HEADING WEST Arthouse Gallery is currently showcasing two unique and intriguing exhibitions. Kendall Murray’s ‘Show and Tell’ is a collection of miniature sculptures exploring the currency of toys and the psychological forces that motivate individuals to collect, found toys are sculpted into curious new forms wrapped in foliage and nostalgia. Robyn Sweaney’s ‘Looking Sideways, Heading West’ traverses notions of travel, distance and the unknown through bright, stark paintings that reflect uniquely Australian suburban environments. (AM) Until Mar 12 (Tues-Fri 9.30am-6pm, Sat 10am-5pm).Arthouse Gallery, 66 McLachlan Avenue, Rushcutters Bay. Info: arthousegallery.com.au

LLOYD REES: PAINTING WITH A PENCIL 1930-36 A celebration of Sydney telling the artists story through a series of stunning pencil drawings and sketches.

Having been an active artist for more than 70 years, Rees’s work has been the center of many exhibitions. However, this is an indepth examination of Rees’s drawings from the 30’s period and includes over 30 never seen before images. During the 1930’s Sydney underwent a period of rapid modernisation, with suburbs expanding and the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. A classically beautiful exhibition.

(NB) Until Apr 10. Museum of Sydney, Cnr Bridge and Phillips St, Sydney. $5-$10.

More info: sydneylivingmuseums.com.au

CUSP: DESIGNING INTO THE NEXT DECADE Seen by over 50,000 people around the country, this travelling national creative program is sure to be an experience that broadens the mind.The exhibition highlights the works of Floyd Mueller, Greg More, Leah Heiss, Stephen Mushin, and Super Critical Mass – an ongoing participatory sound project pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in their arena. They will attempt to use design to change the way we listen and will be presenting a one-night-only Sub Mass, questioning our social structure in the process (more details to come). (AH) Until Apr 28.Tues–Fri, 11am-4pm.

Australian Design Centre, 101-115 William Street, Darlinghurst. Free. Info: cuspdesign.com or australiandesigncentre.com

WHEN SILENCE FALLS Providing a voice for those who have been silenced, this exhibition encompasses painting, video and sculpture; presenting the work of contemporary Aboriginal artists alongside contemporary international artists. It considers the violence and loss of often-unacknowledged historical events – cultural displacement, political oppression, ethnic cleansing and massacres. Featuring a new major acquisition by Australian Indigenous artist Judy Watson, as well as significant loans from Naomi Milgrom, Ben Quilty, and Gene and Brian Sherman; this exhibition speaks strongly of conflict, but does not look to blame. (AM) Until May 1. 10am–5pm daily,Weds until 10pm.Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney. Free (exhibition catalogue $16.95). Info: artgallery.nsw.gov.au

Lazy Thinking Presents #1: Australia’s newest indie record label launches a new monthly music night showcasing emerging artists to the public on the first Thursday of every month. Launched by FBI co-founder Cassandra Wilkinson, their inaugural night gets the ball rolling with headliners Lovely Head and support from Autosuggest and Portamento.

With tickets only $10 on the door, there’s no excuse not to go check out some ambitious and creative people doing what they do best.

Thurs, Mar 10,The Red Rattler The Charlatans: These UK indie-rockers are touring Australia following the release of their 2015 album Modern Nature. Their new album almost didn’t happen at all after drummer John Brookes passed away after a long battle with brain cancer.

However it was the memory and spirit of Brookes that spurred the band to produce soulful new music. Witness a strong set packed with plenty of their 90s hits.

Fri, Mar 11, Max Watt’s House of Music Good For You Tour: Love her or hate her, she’s a relentless tourer with scores of dedicated fans, and Courtney Barnett is joined by her contemporaries from Milk! Records for a special national tour. The Sydney leg is made even more special as it’s a FREE gig featuring the likes of Fraser A. Gorman, Jen Cloher, Ouch My Face, The Finks and East Brunswick All Girls

Choir. Get yourself down to Marrickville’s Vic on The Park before 2pm to score a ticket on a first come first dressed basis.

Sat, Mar 12, Vic on the Park Art vs. Science: They’ve been headlining dance music festivals all over and now these local Sydney boys and remarkable electronic musicians are touring their latest album, ‘Off The Edge Of The Earth And Into Forever, Forever’, making their next stop in Sydney. They’ll be joined by fellow locals, the dreamy house duo TEES. Sat, Mar 12,The Metro Singing For Freedom: Join Sydney’s premier gospel choir, Café of the Gate of Salvation, as they take you on a unique musical and visual journey. The uplifting power of song will be the central element to multiple art forms used to tell the story of the historical struggle for civil rights around the world. This important charity gig will support the Indigenous Justice/Public Interest Advocacy Centre.

Sat, Mar 12, Leichhardt Town Hall Digging Roots: This six-piece band from Canada march to the beat of their own drum. Fronted by Raven Kanatakta and ShoShona Kish, a husband and wife duo with First Nations cultural heritage, their sound has been described as everything from ‘indie roots’ to ‘global blues’ and ‘Indigenous alternative’. They bring their tour supporting their new peace anthem, ‘AK47’, to Sydney next week.

Wed, Mar 16, Newtown Social Club

By Jemma Clarke Her shows have been described as captivating. Her songs keep you wanting more, and it just so happens that she is currently here in Australia on her Right Here tour, giving you the opportunity to experience both.

Mia Dyson, known for her Aria Awardwinning Australian Blues artistry, is showcasing her newest creation Right Here, an EP consisting of five songs collaborated with her poet husband, Joe Pisapia.

It is the first release off the back of her successful 2014 album, Idyllwild, and she is feeling absolutely happy with it. In fact, Dyson told us she is really excited to play some new songs with her Australian band after the positive feedback she received from audiences in the US. “Playing with my Australian band, who has always got a different take on [the music] than my American band, should be really interesting. I never know until we hit the ground, how it’s going to go… [but] they always do a brilliant job,” said Mia. This EP is the first collaboration with her husband, which started six months before

recording, when she turned one of his poems into a song. She described the process as a coming together of both of their talents and a completely new and illogical way to communicate and connect.

“It is not about the journey making sense, it is about the feeling and conveying of emotion. It’s been really special for us,” said Dyson. “It’s a very vulnerable thing to do [but] a couple is best suited to be vulnerable [together].”

Tearing Up The Lawn is the single off her EP, bringing you Dyson’s signature sultry sound paired with catchy, upbeat riffs that keep your toes tapping. As expected from a blues musician, you can still hear the heartfelt sadness through her lyrics.

These qualities will be all throughout her live shows, which she described as “…an emotional experience where people can be moved and have their hearts touched.”

“But,” she added, “It’s also loud and rock n roll.”

Mar 10, doors 7pm. Newtown Social Club, 387 King Street, Newtown. $25-$30.Tickets & info: newtownsocialclub.com

Photo by Kessia Embry

Sydney Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE

By Alannah Maher

John Flanagan – There’s Another Way To Get Where You’re Going

it is more like an acceptance, a contentedness with turned down corners.

Perhaps “There’s Another Way To Get Where You’re Going”. Perhaps a reminder of that fact with ten tracks to back it up and provide the soundtrack to those other ways, is just what the listener needs on an otherwise anxiety-riddled day.

One thing the album does in the midst of its boundless beauty is it makes the listener slow down and actually listen. (SP)

Slow, constant and tinged with that sadness that feels natural and steady but not overwhelming.

This melancholy rolls over the whole body from its connection in the brain, gently flowing for the duration of the album and for a little while after.

Nothing that makes the listener question themselves, or cry into their pillows or whatever soft items they have to hand. Quite the opposite,

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Spear

Stephen Page, the artistic director of Bangarra Dance Theatre, is no stranger to interpreting and developing stories of Indigenous Australia on an international scale.

With Spear, he transcends the stage and uses the land, and its breathtaking variations on film, as a backdrop to an amazing, heart felt, vital form of storytelling that moves you with its movement.

Spear is the first feature film to be produced locally by an Indigenous Australian (John Harvey).

Very little dialogue throughout, and an intensity that is inescapable, Djali

(Hunter Page-Lochard) is perfectly cast in this splice of Indigenous culture pulsating through modern society. A very artistic and profoundly performed narrative that uses dance and movement as the real form of communication, and succeeds in speaking to you.

Great camera work, and composition throughout, with a beautiful raw quality that engages the audience in an emotive, significant way. Sure to leave an impact, SPEAR is a film to experience, not merely watch.

(RM) WWWW

Gods of Egypt

This mythological swords-and-sandals epic set in Ancient Egypt is a special effects driven film. The story centers on a mortal hero who allies himself with a god in order to save the world and return his true love from the dead.

Historical accuracy has been discarded in this fanciful story about love, power and survival, replaced by a magical world in which gods come to life and giant insects and strange flying objects propelled by birds are a reality.

Gerard Butler leads a high-caliber cast of familiar Australian actors including Bryan Brown, Geoffrey Rush and Brenton Thwaites.

In all its grandeur, this action-packed adventure is somewhat disappointing and lacks that certain intangible element mandatory for blockbusters to enchant.

The spectacular CGI and special-effects overload initially delights, but become tiresome as the film progresses. The dull narration is detracting and interest wanes as the intricate storylines unfold.

With the saturation of similar blockbusters in recent years, this film may struggle to find an audience, as moviegoers have seen it all before.

(MMo) WW1/2

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES In the 19th Century, a mysterious plague turns the English countryside into a war zone. No one is safe as the dead come back to life to terrorize the land.The strongest thing about the movie is the time spent on the two lead characters Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) and Mr Darcey (Sam Riley).This is a unique take on the genre that has a promising start, but it gets roped back with the clichés associated with it.

(AH) WWW

plot that is fun but far from ground breaking. (JA) WWW HOW TO BE SINGLE Alice (Dakota Johnson) learns how to be single after a breakup from long-time boyfriend Josh, and to help her is her promiscuous friend Robin (Rebel Wilson) and older, unmarried sister Meg (Leslie Mann).This movie is slightly predictable but to counteract that the dialogue is humorous and light hearted.

If you want to watch a fun, simple romcom, this is it. (AMal) WWW1/2

TRIPLE 9 Given all of the elements within the story – the Russian mafia, corrupt cops, and dedicated ex-special forces – combined with an all-star cast, this film really should have made away with the loot, but sadly stables at the pivotal moment and is captured by predictability. Director John Hillcoat is a master at epic choreographed action sequences, these visceral scenes are the true standout of this film, but that is not enough to make up for a predictable

HAIL, CEASAR! The Coen Brothers latest cinematic endeavour is a satirical tribute to the golden era of Hollywood, when epic religious and musical movies dominated the box office. Set in the early 1950’s, the fictional Capital Pictures are filming their enormous production Hail, Caesar! when leading actor Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) is kidnapped by a group of likeable commies. Ingenious references to real life actors and numerous

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strangely engaging sequences should transfix audiences. (MMo) WWW1/2 CONCUSSION Will Smith is in the lead role as the Nigerian forensic pathologist Dr Bennet Omalu, who was responsible for discovering chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in NFL players and thus triggered a long fight with the league and American society.This battle is portrayed rather poorly, constantly jumping forward large time spans, and only showing brief glimpses of the backlash directed towards Omalu. Smith is fantastic in his portrayal of Omalu, although the Nigerian accent may be off putting for some. (JA) WW1/2 TRUMBO Bryan Cranston gives a flawless performance in this Jay Roach film based on the life of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. In the 1950s,Trumbo’s fight for workers’ rights and membership of the Communist Party result in a prison sentence for

The Will to Fly The Will to Fly tells the story of Australia’s gold medal winning aerial freestylist, Lydia Lassila. The film is part biography, part history, and is an interesting tale of determination and triumph.

Lydia is a good subject for a documentary. She’s an articulate, focused athlete and a wife and mother.

The movie recounts the journeys of the pioneers who came before her (Kristy Marshall, Jackie Cooper and Alisa Camplin) and Lydia’s quest to become the first female to perform a quad twisting triple somersault. contempt of Congress, he is branded a traitor and blacklisted. His fight to be recognized relies upon the movers and shakers of Hollywood. Strong performances abound, including Louis C.K., John Goodman, and a deliciously nasty Helen Mirren.This is an extraordinary film about an extraordinary period of America’s entertainment history. (CCov) WWWW AMERICA WILD America is home to some of the most famous national parks in the world. The next best thing to physically journeying there to be a voyeur in IMAX 3D with America Wild, which offers breathtaking aerial and close-up views of mountains, forests, deserts, lakes, caves and their inhabitants.

Robert Redford narrates the film, offering facts and the history of national parks including how they came to be preserved. (ASim) WWW1/2 Now showing at IMAX Darling Harbour.

However, the real heroes are Lydia’s family. Her father who painstakingly constructs a ramp only to see it stand forlornly unused in the back yard, her mother and mother in law who can barely watch her perform and her husband, the quietly spoken man who supports her.

The Will to Fly occasionally borders on hagiography but is a worthwhile tribute to a successful woman in a dangerous sport.

(LR) WWW

Australia Post is proposing to decommission the Street Posting Box (SPB) located at 8 Judge Street Randwick NSW 2031. The decommissioning is a result of low patronage.

Australia Post is currently undertaking a 30 days consultation process with the local community. During this period a notice will be placed on the SPB. Should you have any queries concerning this action please contact Australia Post on 13 13 18.

GT20353

auspost.com.au

city hub 10 MARCH 2016

Job No:

GT20353

city hub 10 march 2016

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city hub 10 MARCH 2016