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SYDNEY SUNDAY 7 OCTOBER The Happiest 5k on the Planet zooms into Sydney Olympic Park with a brand new hero-themed tour, supersized Color Zones and a limited edition participant pack complete with a unicorn medal. expect: music, dancing, giveaways, epic color throws and activities for all ages!

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Tim Murray - Labor’s man for Wentworth by John Moyle Federal campaign, local issues The King of Wentworth is dead and the loudest whispers from the court are not about the revolving door of Liberal contenders jostling for preselection, but of Labor’s thronal aspirant Tim Murray. When Murray won Labor preselection he expected to run against Malcolm Turnbull and did not rate his chances very highly. But in politics things can change quickly and change is exactly what happened when the Jurassic branch of the Liberal Party politically killed Turnbull, and all convention was thrown to the winds. “I was preselected three months ago before Turnbull’s downfall, and now people that I would call mild Liberals are looking for a place to put their votes,” Tim Murray, Labor candidate Wentworth Division said. Wentworth is one of the original 65 divisions in Australia, located in Sydney’s eastern suburbs from sections of Potts Point, east to Watsons Bay, and down the coast to parts of Clovelly. The division takes in both Labor and Liberal voting areas but has been held exclusively by the Liberals since 1946. Recent elections have shown an increased support for the Greens who managed 15 per cent of the 2016 vote. Polling two weeks ago by the Australian Institute of 886 voters found Labor and the Liberals to be neck and neck. Private polling of 1,000 people released last Sunday by then front-running Liberal aspirant Andrew Bragg - who has withdrawn in order that a woman can run - has the Liberals’ primary vote at 48 per cent while Labor’s own polling has them at 42 per cent and the Australian Institute at 39 per cent. Mr Bragg’s polling had Labor’s Tim Murray at 25 per cent, a definite increase on Labor’s last candidate who managed 17.7 per cent of the overall vote in 2016. “Imagine if you are a Liberal party member

in the area, how enthusiastic are you going to be, at this election?” Mr Murray said. After so many years Wentworth is finally within Labor’s sights, but the question many in the electorate are asking is “Who is Tim Murray and why haven’t we heard of him until now?” It’s fair question as Murray is not a Labor apparatchik out of Sussex Street, but a Mandarin speaking surf loving member of the Bronte/Waverley branch from a solid business background with a deep knowledge of developments gained from doing business in China. “I returned to Australia after 20 years in China and when I came back it had just been Gillard and then Rudd, who put in more democratic processes in the Labor Party and I decided to join,” Mr Murray said. “I thought that I would stop having an armchair interest as the party was at its lowest point after the knifing of Prime Ministers and the wickedness of NSW Labor.” Murray worked on the Waverley Council campaign and was candidate number 2 in the 2017 election. His pre-selection pitch to the party was simply “that we need to rebuild the party in Wentworth and modernise our campaign capacity, and modernise the campaign techniques by moving to sophisticated data bases and social media that weren’t being used in our area”. Murray insists the Wentworth branches do not condone the rough and tumble usually associated with NSW Labor branches, but have “a very collaborative approach to doing things that was borne out in working together for the Waverley Council campaign”. “We are a very grass roots organisation and because we are in such strong Liberal territory, head office doesn’t care about us,” he said. “It’s a local campaign about local issues with local people staffing.”. At this early stage of the campaign Murray is relying on a large group of party volunteers with Tilly South as campaign manager and Katherine Cummings running media, both members of the North Randwick branch. “People need to know who I am, and my approach to the electorate is to network into key opinion makers so that I understand them, and they understand me,” Mr Murray said. Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide. With no injection of funds from Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, Canberra or Sussex Street, the convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city. campaign has settled on raising Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677. essential funds for pamphlets and advertising through its website Published by Altmedia Pty Ltd. While every effort is made wentworthlabor.com. to ensure accuracy of content, takes no responsibility for The website was set up less than inadvertent errors or omissions. two weeks ago with the target of raising $30,000 but as that was ABN 52 600 903 348 quickly reached the target was Group Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons raised to $55,000 and is currently at $44,000. Group Editors: John Moyle, Sara Lander Murray’s business J Capital Contributors: John Moyle, Lanie Tindale, Michael Research looks at the performance Hitch, Peter Hehir, Mel Somerville, Vanessa Lim of large companies, particularly in Arts Editor: Jamie Apps the mining and commodities sector, Advertising Manager: Georgina Pengelly by using sophisticated software Cover Photo: Jess Husband. Mike Champion systems to collect and refine data. The small Labor branch has Designer: Nadia Kalinitcheva access to some of those software packages and is now employing Advertising: sales@altmedia.net.au them in the Battle for Wentworth. Mail: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 “One of the things we did back Email: news@altmedia.net.au, arts@altmedia.net.au in May when I was first endorsed Ph: 9212 5677, Fax: 9212 5633 was to put in a suite of software to Website: altmedia.net.au manage the campaign so that we have an online data base that is linked to social media and email list If you have a story, or any comments you’d like engines, donations and volunteers,” to share with us: Mr Murray said. news@altmedia.net.au “We also use a piece of software called Slack in order to keep everybody together and in the same altmediagroup altmediasydney platform, and the other one we are

Tim Murray in with the chance to take Wentworth for Labor. Photo: Supplied

using is called Nation Builder that Macron in France and New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern used.” It was also J Capital that caused a blip in Murray’s early campaign when The Australian newspaper ran a story about a failed attempt in 2014 by Fortescue Metals to refer the company to ASIC. “I knew at some point that News Corp were going to run the story because of the sort of work I do researching companies that may be gilding the lily, and my reports are not always flattering,” Mr Murray said. “Fortescue was one of those and they made their case to ASIC, but they never took any legal action, and that is where large corporations use their legal power to chill free speech and that is something I am strongly against.” Questioned on the policies that he will be taking to Wentworth, Murray lists a number of key issues both local and federal in nature. “Climate change was the issue that killed Malcolm Turnbull and a number of other Prime Ministers and we need a policy direction as business is crying out for certainty,” Mr Murray said. “The people of Wentworth are very progressive, and they know that climate change is real and they need real policies.” “The Liberal Party will not deliver on that so a vote for the Liberals is a vote for a consistently bad energy policy.” Another of the major concerns of the electorate is education, and in particular the availability of school places from kindergarten through to high schools. Murray said that Labor will build a new high school in the area, emphasising everyone

“deserves to have a public funded school education, and that is not [currently] something we can offer the voters of Wentworth”. Murray also said more money needs to go into the TAFE system. “The Liberals have under-funded TAFE and we are going to face enormous disruption in our society over the next decade, we need to be putting more money into organisations like this so that we can retool our workforce.” Affordable housing is another state-based issue, but Murray says a federal Labor government removing negative gearing for existing stock “will help young people get into the housing market”. One local issue that Murray has long been committed to is that surrounding the removal of public bus services across Wentworth. “I’m part of the Labor group working to bring back buses like the 327, and the Darling Point bus which has been modified, and the 361 which has been cancelled,” Mr Murray said. One thing certain about this election is there has no other like it before, with the knifing of an enormously popular local Member and Prime Minister, and the disfunction of both state and federal Liberals. While it will take an enormous groundswell to get Tim Murray across the line, a Labor win in Wentworth has gone from a pipe dream to something in the realm of possibility. “When I am out campaigning people are angry with the Liberal Party and more generally the state of politics,” Mr Murray said. “They want to change and the message from Wagga Wagga [state by-election] is clear. “Wentworth will deliver the same message whoever wins.” city hub 13 SEPTEMBER 2018

Ritz-Carlton back for a Star wedding By Michael Hitch After a decade in the wilderness, the Ritz-Carlton brand is returning to Sydney. The Star Entertainment group has lodged a development application with the NSW Department of Planning to build a 237-meter high hotel in Pyrmont. The hotel, which will be an addition to The Star Casino, will have 220 hotel rooms, 200 apartments, a ‘neighbourhood centre’, a six-star rating and a height of 61 storeys. In a press release from August, The Star promised the $500 million Ritz-Carlton hotel will be community focussed, with event spaces and 15 food outlets. However, local community members have expressed concerns the development could decrease the quality of living in Pyrmont by encouraging further urban density. Pyrmont resident Marcus Madigan said the hotel wouldn’t be used by the Pyrmont community, and existing issues with traffic and parking would only get worse. “No one goes to the casino already, it’s not for the residents, the restaurants aren’t priced for residents. “They’re priced for tourists and people doing the ‘one-off’ thing you know,” Mr Madigan said. In a community consultation report, The Star claimed it had addressed the issues of traffic, parking and height following meetings and feedback from Pyrmont residents early in the development process.

Putting on the Ritz in Pyrmont may be a step too far. Photo: Michael Hitch

The report outlines plans to provide new carpark entries on Pyrmont Street and new taxi entries for the Casino’s Jones Bay Road Porte-Cochere, as well as an update to the Pyrmont Parking Guidance System in order to distribute and reduce the circulation of traffic. Mr Madigan responded “[Parking] is like musical chairs…once the music stops, you can’t get a chair. “Their [Star Entertainment Group’s] defence is gonna be that they’ve got a 2 billion spot carpark and it doesn’t matter if people can use it or not, they’ve still got the carpark there and they can defend that.” Representatives of the Star group said fears of ‘overshadowing’ due to the

height of the tower were unfounded, saying the location was chosen specifically to minimise shading on neighbouring properties, and to share both views and access to the sun with the residents. The construction of the hotel will take approximately three and a half years once all necessary development applications have been approved, and will create 1000 construction jobs throughout the build, and an additional 500 jobs once operational. The hotel is expected to be located at the northern end of The Star’s Pyrmont casino complex and will offer other amenities including a Sky Terrace, three pools including two with harbour

views, a spa/wellness centre and two gymnasiums. CEO of the Star group, Matt Bekier, said in a press release that the development would benefit the Australian tourism sector generally, but also the Pyrmont community. “Forecasts suggest Australia’s current visitation of around 8.3 million international visitors per annum will rise to 15 million a year inside a decade,” he said. “To cater for that demand, we need the necessary tourism infrastructure. “Sydney lacks sufficient high-end hotels to meet this wave of international tourist demand, led by the rapidly expanding wealthy Chinese middle-class demographic. “Bringing a world-renowned brand like The Ritz-Carlton to The Star Sydney will further embed our reputation as a tourism and entertainment destination of global appeal,” Mr Bekier said. The Star executive claimed the Pyrmont community was consulted throughout the process and noted the development includes plans for a 5 level ‘neighbourhood centre’ which will include a rooftop terrace, a social enterprise café and a ‘collaboration hub’. “As a company, we take pride in fostering and supporting the communities in which we operate,” Mr Bekier said. “From the outset of this planning process more than two years ago we have engaged the Pyrmont community and kept the wider precinct updated… we have run community consultation

sessions, took our community’s feedback seriously, and altered our designs accordingly prior to lodging these plans and entering a public exhibition period.” Pyrmont resident and CTC tobacco shop worker, Shani Shah welcomed the development saying that choice of location was a compliment to Pyrmont and that increased tourist numbers in the area would be a boost to his business. “I don’t think its ultimately bad for Pyrmont, you could say it’s a basic gesture to Pyrmont people that you have something different from the similar areas,” he said. “Pyrmont and Darling Harbour especially are specific tourist spots and if they build something like this [the hotel] it will grab a lot of crowds. Mr Shah also said he appreciated that the community had been consulted and informed throughout the early stages of the process. “Yeah, they told us about it before…I got a brochure back in time, they [Star Casino] sent it to all the local business places saying to come and join them in a meeting about them getting bigger,” he said. Mr Madigan said he believes the hotel is completely unnecessary and will eventually become known as a Pyrmont eyesore. The Star will partner with Far East Consortium and Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook to build the hotel, which will be designed by FJMT architects, led by Richard FrancisJones.

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Childcare workers spit the dummy By Lanie Tindale Sydney childcare educators left work early on Wednesday to gather in Martin Place to protest low wages. Childcare union United Voice wants the federal government to increase the award rate by 30 per cent. Child care educators currently earn a minimum of $22 an hour, but say they should earn the same as workers in the manufacturing sector. Educator and United Voice union member Nicole Webber said her wage hasn’t changed since she started working in childcare thirty years ago. “We build relationships with children, make them feel secure...so the parents can actually go out and earn their living,” said Ms Webber. She said a higher minimum wage would provide better financial security. “It would make so much difference because it is a profession with a lot of training, and a lot of hard work goes into raising beautiful little children to be good citizens.” The United Voice union estimates the strike impacted 40,000 families as over 6 thousand educators stopped work across the country. United Voice delegate Helen Gibbons said some centres closed down “for the full day” on Wednesday September 5. Father of two, Cameron Wright, signed a petition in support of the campaign organised by child care union United Voice. “These people have got a very important job, and they need to be rewarded for that job.” Mr Wright, who sent his children to childcare, said that low wages meant “maybe the better educators end up finding other work to do...you end up with maybe not the best educators in the job and I think our kids will suffer as a result”. Wednesday’s strike was the fourth childcare worker strike in 18 months, with more than 30 centres in Sydney closing at 1pm.

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Sydney child care workers protesting at Martin Place. Photo: Lanie Tindale

NSW Early Childhood Minister Sarah Mitchell said on Tuesday child worker pay rates are not the NSW government’s responsibility. “When it comes to issues of pay parity yes…I’m aware of those matters…but ultimately the rates of pay are set by the Fair Work Commission at a federal level,” said Ms Mitchell. “I’m aware of the intention of industrial action tomorrow but it’s ultimately a matter for the Federal Government and the Fair Work Commission.” The federal government Minister for Education, Dan Tehan, told AAP the government doesn’t set pay rates for the childcare sector. “The federal government does not own or run

childcare centres and does not set pay rates in the industry.” A five year battle to raise the award wage by 35 per cent was dismissed by the Fair Work Commission this year. The commission said United Voice and the Australian Education Union failed to produce “any evidence whatsoever” that childcare work was undervalued. The full bench dismissed the application saying that they produced no evidence that men doing work of the same value were paid more. The minimum wage is $18.29 an hour, and educators earn a minimum of $21.29 an hour. The National Quality Framework for early

childhood education and care requires at least 50 per cent of educators in a centre to have or be working towards a Diploma or Bachelors degree. All other child care workers must have, or be working towards, a Certificate III. Educators and unionists claim childcare workers’ low pay contributes to the gender pay gap. Educator and unionist Gwendolyn Alcock said: “Early childhood educators are educators and teachers first…It’s not on parity with raising kids at home.” “It is 2018, my gender does not dictate my worth, my gender does not dictate my professionalism, and my gender should not dictate my pay.” The Federal Shadow Minister for Education and Women, Tanya Plibersek, spoke at the protest, blaming the federal government for childcare worker wages. “Experienced, dedicated, highly professional educated women are earning 20-something bucks an hour, and men with equivalent qualifications are earning 40-something bucks an hour in another industry. No one on God’s earth can tell me that that is anything other than gender discrimination in our workplaces,” said Ms Plibersek. NSW Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education Kate Washington accused the NSW government of lying about how many preschoolers would benefit from a $200 million subsidy program for three year olds. Ms Washington estimated the program would only help 5 per cent of three year olds in NSW. The funding will assist children in community preschools, but not those in long day care centres. NSW Early Childhood Education Minister Sarah Mitchell claimed in June the subsides will grant “universal access” to preschool for children aged three.

Opinion

Desane decisions… By Peter Hehir The NSW Supreme Court has overturned the earlier favourable Desane decision, thus preventing the 180 unit and commercial premises development. This means that WestConnex will utilise all of the Rozelle goods yard as a construction site, as well as the properties fronting Lilyfield Road. These are the Desane site, the old Easton Park Hotel, Gillespie Cranes and Ironwood sites and the area owned by Swadlings. Although opposition to WestConnex here on the peninsula and especially in Rozelle and Lilyfield is as solid as it’s ever been, residents are heaving a huge sigh of relief. Faced on the one hand with a massive overdevelopment on the Desane site – which would almost certainly be followed by similar massive high rise structures right along Lilyfield Road, had the earlier decision stood, or on the other hand finally getting the long campaigned for park – clearly the choice was a no brainer. Sure the park will be toxic and the sight of parents and kids running around wearing gas masks and respirators will probably be the norm, but it would still be an area of green in a part of Sydney that has been starved of open space for well over a century. However three massive unfiltered exhaust stacks will dominate the park and no doubt consume a fair chunk of the footprint of the 13 hectares. Just to give you an idea of how dominating one of these structures will be, check out the monster that is being built opposite Bunnings at Ashfield! From a wider perspective however the news is not so good. It means that the compulsory acquisitions still stand for homes taken at as little as 60 cents in the dollar, whether they were actually needed for the construction or not. The SMC heavies in suits, accompanied by burly security guards may well continue to knock on doors and issue compulsory notices.

White Bay demolition likely to increase. Photo: Wikimedia

Residents who object to being evicted will still be jailed, as was the case of a resident who refused to leave his family home. I sat in Newtown Court where the defendant gave his evidence via a video link from Silverwater jail having just spent a week in custody. He was only released on condition that he agree not to try to re-enter his former home. Compulsory acquisition notices have been issued to the residents on the western side of Victoria Road. Liquorland has gone and many of the properties are empty awaiting the next swathe of destruction. This will be for the Iron Cove Tunnel which will make access to the Iron Cove Bridge nigh on impossible.

The homes have been taken for site offices and the entire area will no doubt be given over to high rise once the tunnel has been built. The madness doesn’t end there. The Balmain Leagues Club site at the corner of Victoria Road and Darling Street has been approved as a dive site for the Western Harbour Tunnel. It’s difficult to conceive of a worse possible location with hundreds of double B’s a day looking to enter the bumper to bumper morning and evening Victoria Road log jam. The tiny park at the end of Louisa Road in Birchgrove will definitely be taken from the community and used as a construction site for the WHT.

Structural damage to adjacent residences due to drilling and blasting is a certainty. The concrete batching plant, the tunnel casting compound and the materials handling yards at White Bay foreshore operating 24/7, the estimated thousands of heavy truck movements along Victoria Road and through White Bay, paint a sorry picture… The following quote is replete with a biting irony, especially so if you recognise the author: ‘I do not believe that the real life of this nation is to be found either in great luxury hotels and the petty gossip of so-called fashionable suburbs, or in the officialdom of organised masses. It is to be found in the homes of people who are nameless and unadvertised, and who, whatever their individual religious conviction or dogma, see in their children their greatest contribution to the immortality of their race. The home is the foundation of sanity and sobriety; it is the indispensable condition of continuity; its health determines the health of society as a whole. The material home represents the concrete expression of the habits of frugality and saving “for a home of our own”. One of the best instincts in us is that which induces us to have one little piece of earth with a house and a garden which is ours: to which we can withdraw, in which we can be among our friends, into which no stranger may come against our will. This leads on to the conclusion that he who seeks to violate that law must be repelled and defeated.’ Recognise the author? One who is held in high esteem by Glad the Impaler and her band of likeminded apparatchiks? Robert Gordon Menzies. Post-war Liberal Prime Minister. Now deceased. ‘He who seeks to violate that law must be repelled and defeated’. Take heed Glad. We’re coming for you!

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ACON Honour Awards 2018 By Mel Somerville The ACON Honour Awards are an annual celebration of outstanding service and inspirational achievements within the NSW LGBTI community. Now in its 12th year, the ACON Honour Awards is a fantastic celebration of the many individuals and organisations who work tirelessly in support of the LGBTI community and of the LGBTI communities’ diversity, strength and resilience. The Honour Awards recognises people and organisations whose work has made a difference to the lives of LGBTI people in NSW. There are lot of organisations in Australia and a lot of people’s lives that would be a lot worse off if it weren’t for volunteers doing amazing work, particularly in remote regional areas. “All recipients of an Honour Award, as well as all finalists, are all heroes, each one unique and special in their own way,” said ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill. “We are grateful for the passion, hard work and contributions in their respective fields.” ACON received over 140 fantastic nominations from community members all around NSW and Australia. Four finalists were selected for each category, the most prestigious being the Community Hero Award. Other categories are Young Achiever, HIV Hero, Community Organisation, Health & Wellbeing, Arts & Entertainment and Business Award. Some categories are open nationally, namely the Media

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Dorothy McRae-McMahon receiving the Community Hero award with former NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner and ACON CEO Nic Parkhill at the 2016 Honour Awards. Photo: Deep Field Photography

Award and the Cayte Latta Memorial Awards for Visual Arts. “The calibre of nominations and nominees is always high for the Honour Awards, with this year being no different,” Parkhill said. Last year’s Honour Awards was a spectacular event with over 300 people attending and hosted by Olympic gold medallist Matthew Mitcham, featuring singer Alfie Arcuri, DJ Kate Monroe and red carpet host Candy Box. Winner of the Community Hero Award 2016, Dorothy McRaeMcMahon, who is 84 years old and an author of 19 books, has spent a lot

of time writing and speaking about women’s issues and is well known for taking a stand within the religious community. McRae-McMahon looked after her disabled son for 16 years and after she had to put him into care, joined many movements for change. At 45 she had a sense of call to the ministry and became one of the first ordained female ministers in Australia, at the time only allowed by Uniting Church. Just recently the Uniting Church have led the vote to officially perform same sex marriages. “Even before the issue of same sex

marriage our church had agreed to ordain openly gay and lesbian people. I was the first. I informed the church officially that I was a lesbian, at the time I was a member of the Church’s National Assembly, the Uniting Church national body that makes the doctrine laws of the church. I stood up and owned my sexuality and I got a 85% vote of support,” said McRaeMcMahon. McRae-McMahon spent 10 years at Pitt Street Sydney Uniting Church, renowned for its human rights work and street level activism. “I used to refer people who needed support, who were reflecting on their sexuality from the LBGTI community to ACON,” she said. McRae-McMahon is humble about her achievements and is a down to earth person comfortable in her own skin who doesn’t think of herself as important. “It’s just that I lived in an age where there were opportunities for joining all sorts of movements for change and I’m very glad I could do that,” McRaeMcMahon said. “I don’t often not say what I want to say and I tend to say what I believe,” she added. Last year’s ACON Community Hero Award winner, Elaine Czulkowski, also won Australian Woman Of The Year in 2017, her most prominent work being around marriage equality. Czulkowski volunteered on that campaign for 10 years, and for the last two, was working on it full-time. She was a founding

member of mentor program, Out For Australia, helping young LGBTI people transition from university to the workplace. She’s been an ACON Rover, helping out at large events and keeping people safe. Czulkowski currently works in ACON’s Crowd Inclusion Program, helping employers, sporting organisations and healthcare providers to make the workplace a safer and more inclusive place for LGBTI people. “Just being able to do a day job about all the things you’re passionate about really makes a big difference,” Czulkowski said. Her first foray into volunteering in the LGBTI community was at Mardi Gras in 1998. Originally from Sunderland in north east England, she came to Australia and married, then moved to Sydney in 1998, saw Mardi Gras for the first time and wanted to get involved. “It changed my life, I found where I belonged, I realised I was bisexual, I thought this is what I’ve been looking for,” Czulkowski said. “ACON was where I met a lot of people doing amazing work. You don’t do the work to get recognised. Sometimes I think you get far more back than you put in. The people you meet along the way, it’s very rewarding, just being able to have that skill where I can help other people,” Czulkowski added. Oct 3. Ivy Ballroom, 330 George St, Sydney. $75-$150+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.honourawards.com.au

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By Rita Bratovich If you keep getting a niggling feeling that something’s been missing this year, it’s probably because Pyrmont Festival didn’t occur in May as it has done for the last seven years. Don’t despair, it’s coming back for an eighth time and making a spectacular debut as a Spring event. The popular food, wine and art festival was rescheduled to September to take advantage of finer weather, longer days and to herald in Sydney’s season of revelry. Something else is new too: this year the wines will come from the lush, cool climate region of Orange.They say that life resets in seven year cycles, so it is fitting that in its eighth year Pyrmont Festival should experience a revamp. Many of the features that have made the festival a Sydney favourite have been retained, including the two day main event in Pirrama Park.This picturesque half-island park juts into the bay mid-way between Anzac Bridge and Sydney Harbour Bridge, and basks under the full arc of the sun. It’s the perfect setting for a family friendly outdoor party. Kids will be amused by rides and activities and possibly by their parents after a few wine tastings.The event is also fur-baby friendly as long as your four-legged companion is on a lead. Last year’s very successful beer garden will be set up again with a new range of craft beers, and there will also be a harbourside bar. Food, wine and art are the festival’s key themes and each is well represented. A wine tasting alley will feature around a dozen of the Orange region’s finest wineries will make their newest and best releases available for sample and purchase. Food will be provided care of food trucks and local eatery pop-ups, whose combined offerings will encompass a wide range of categories and cuisines.Tables and chairs will be set up in the park, or you can sit on the wooden wharf steps, munch on gozleme and sip wine while watching boats

cruise by.There will also be cooking demonstrations, gourmet products and local produce. The art part of the festival is fulfilled by an exhibition of art works produced by students from local schools and a display of entries from the annual Pyrmont Art Prize, now in its eleventh year. The prize and exhibition are coordinated by Lesley Dimmick of TAP Gallery in Surry Hills who has run the competition from the beginning and made it an integral part of Pyrmont Festival when that began. This year, Dimmick has invited art instructor,Vee Malnar of Paint It Up to give an art class in the park at 1:30pm on Saturday and Sunday. A big stage dominates one end of the park, indicating the importance of music at the festival. Past entertainers have been locals-made-good and this year’s headline act is no exception. Mike Champion has lived in Pyrmont for 15 years and will not only be performing at, but attending, his first Pyrmont Festival. Is he excited? “Yeah definitely, definitely. I think, after living in Pyrmont so long, I never really shared my talent, my music, with the community I live in.” Champion performs original songs and covers with

his band, Mike Champion And The Cool. He recently travelled to Japan where he has a big following, and also did shows in London. Last month he launched an album at The Metro in Sydney and has several music videos ranking well on Youtube. His sound is soul and RnB with a dash of funk. “It’ll definitely be something that if people feel like dancing, they can get up and dance to.” Apart from the headline event in Pirrama Park, the other major aspect of Pyrmont Festival is the series of degustation dinners. Prominent restaurants in Pyrmont have been partnered with premium wineries from Orange to collaborate on a harmonious tasting menu showcasing the best of both parties. One restaurant taking part in the program only opened its doors last month. Mister Percy is a new wine bar and restaurant within Ovolo 1888 Hotel in Pyrmont. Its Mediterranean inspired menu is the collaborative result of acclaimed restaurateur Justin North and Mister Percy head chef, Luca Guiotto. For the festival, they have created a tasting menu that is a resume of their work.The menu was then given to Ovolo’s wine curator, Shun Eto, who consulted with sommeliers from Philip Shaw to select the

wines. Marketing Manager, Merren Lynch worked closely with the project. “We’re obviously excited to host a dinner in line with the Pyrmont Festival. We’re hoping that the neighbourhood really love Mister Percy and embrace it as their local wine bar and kitchen,” says Lynch. The restaurant uses fresh locally sourced produce to help create the lighter palate and beautiful flavours of coastal Mediterranean cuisine. “We looked at the overarching menu and saw this as an opportunity to kind of showcase some of the signature dishes from Mister Percy, […] a chance to give people a taster of the best we have to offer,” explains Lynch. Irma Dupuis is from Tamburlaine Organic Wines who have been paired with Whirly Bird restaurant in Pyrmont. She describes their process of preparing the degustation menu. “We believe wine matching is a very individual experience, but there are tastes that are more pleasing to a greater number of people. For the degustation dinner with Whirly Bird, we worked with the chef to create a menu that reflects the best of Tamburlaine’s Orange wines, from creamy chardonnay to rich and smooth blends, each dish and each wine enhancing one another to create a multi-sensory experience.” For the tastings in Pirrama Park, Dupuis explains what they’ll present. “We have selected our most popular wines to get Spring started.We will be bringing our bright rosé from our Wine Lovers range but also some sparkling, fresh and zesty whites and beautiful rich reds all from our organic vineyards in Orange.” Sep 15-16. Pirrama Park, Pyrmont. FREE. Degustation Meals Sep 15-24.Various Venues & Prices. Info & Bookings: www.pyrmontfestival.com.au

city hub 13 SEPTEMBER 2018

Digital spotlight on City of Sydney By Vanessa Lim Access to live recordings from the City of Sydney Council meetings will soon be at the tips of your fingers. Live streaming of public Council meetings is now required by NSW Law, dragging a reluctant City of Sydney in its wake. The City of Sydney’s meetings will “go live” from October, and they will not only be available to watch live, but also be accessible after the meeting has ended. Liberal Councillor Craig Chung has been a vocal advocate for live streaming of the meetings. “I have been pressing for more transparency at the City of Sydney Council since elected in 2016,” Cr Chung said. “I have moved motions on at least 10 occasions to introduce live streaming of Council meetings. “All have been rejected by the Clover Moore Party.” With 28 councils in New South Wales already live streaming their public meetings, the City of Sydney has been a late adopter of the technology. A spokesperson from the City of Sydney said “At present the City of Sydney’s Code of Meeting Practice does not permit the video recording or broadcasting of Council and Committee meetings”. “City Council meeting minutes are currently recorded by minute takers in hand written notes.” But handwritten notes are not enough to satisfy Sydney locals like Andrew Woodhouse.

When asked for his feelings about Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s assertion there is little public interest in live streaming council meetings, Mr Woodhouse said “She’s out of touch, and we should at least trial it for 24 months”. “I believe that live streaming is necessary for openness, transparency and accountability to make council responsible to ratepayers,” Mr Woodhouse said. Mr Woodhouse’s statement validates Cr Chung’s effort in arguing for live streaming for the past 2 years. Cr Chung said “The City of Sydney is far behind the rest of the country, and the world, when it comes to live streaming… some councils have broadcast their meetings since the 1980s”. When Cr Chung was asked about the benefits of live streaming meetings he said “The positive impact is that councillor’s behaviour will be on show to the world and they will need to be accountable for the way they vote and the way they behave”. The experience of sitting in live council meetings for the public isn’t always a good one, especially for the faint of heart. Talk of councillors behaving badly during meetings isn’t new, and observer Mr Woodhouse says he knows all too well why meeting participants might not want to be under scrutiny. When asked about potential behaviour changes from councillors, Mr Woodhouse said “They’d behave more professionally and show a bit more decorum, some of the meetings I’ve attended have been like a rowdy school yard fight”. Even without the expected

improvement in councillors’ language, Mr Woodhouse said he believed the public, the staff and the council could benefit from live streaming meetings and that Council public transparency should be priority for locals. The Monday 2pm start of council meetings often isn’t a convenient time for potential observers, who may be busy with children, work or other activities. Providing a record of the council meeting for members of the public to access in their own time could advantage rate payers who aren’t able to watch meetings in person or live. Cr Chung claimed there would be very few downsides to live streaming. “There are some minor issues to do with privacy and ensuring that all those present at a Council meeting are aware that it is live streamed and will be broadcast,” he said. The Councillor said the problem would be easily fixed by notifying the crowd in advance that meetings would be broadcast, and that the amount of money needed to live stream was compensated by the benefits that the public would reap from live streams. Central Coast Council has paid a oneoff fee of $3000 to set up its live streams. “The City of Sydney has a budget of $680 million per annum. “The cost to introduce live streaming is negligible compared to the benefits of transparency and access,” said Cr Chung. Mr Woodhouse said: “It is a small price to pay for democracy and it’s nothing compared to the $150 million dollars Council has in its bank account sitting

Councillor Craig Chung gets transparency out of City of Sydney. Photo: Vanessa Lim

there earning very low interest on a rainy day”. “The Council will better relate directly to rate payers and residents that can’t make these Council meetings at odd hours. “It better bonds and engages more with the people that elected them,” he said. The NSW Local Government Act states, “Councils should actively engage with their local communities, through

the use of the integrated planning and reporting framework and other measures”. Supporters of the live streaming plan say its implementation will encourage further engagement with local communities, and may inspire locals to participate in future meetings. “The idea is aligned with the Local Government Act’s requirements of openness and democracy,” said Mr Woodhouse.

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city hub 13 SEPTEMBER 2018

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Pop-Up Globe A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Shakespearean drama has been performed for hundreds of years, in a variety of settings - parks, restaurants, classrooms, conventional theatres - but only very few audiences ever experienced Shakespeare in the original Globe Theatre. Now, modern theatre-goers have the opportunity to do just that. Pop-Up Globe is a faithful reproduction of the famous Globe Theatre, and is the manifestation of an idea producer/director, Miles Gregory conceived while reading a pop-up story book to his daughter. “It seemed like an impossible challenge to build a full scale working replica of a Shakespearean amphitheatre,” says Gregory, yet 15 months after first sharing his idea with colleagues it became a reality. True to the original, this replica has no roof, no amplification or lighting effects and is constructed from mostly authentic materials. It’s quite small and intimate. “Nobody’s further away from the action than 15 metres,” says Gregory.“Many people are considerably closer.” The result is a far more intense experience and a stronger connection between audience and actors. “Attending a performance at Pop-Up Globe is more like a sports match or a boxing match. I mean, we use a lot of blood on stage…and that is something that really affects audiences,” explains Gregory.The “blood” is a non-toxic and non-staining theatre paint, which is just as well because it “goes everywhere!” Of course, being roofless, the theatre leaves audiences exposed to the elements. Ponchos are handed around when it rains, but far from dampening the mood it can actually heighten it. “The atmosphere when it does rain, or when there’s a storm, is electric,” explains Gregory.When it doesn’t rain and they need the sound of thunder, they achieve it by rolling a cannonball down a trough. Hand-held wind and haze machines are other historical devices that are used. Each season the company selects four plays that reflect a good cross-section of Shakespeare’s work.This season’s are: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Macbeth and The Comedy Of Errors.The plays may be familiar but the unique, immersive setting adds a new dimension. “80% of our audiences have a transformative experience. It changes the way they think about Shakespeare,” says Gregory. (RB) Until Oct 20.The Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park. $29-$163+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.popupglobe.com.au

a&e

city hub 13 SEPTEMBER 2018

Sam Wade - Inner World Stand-up comedy can be an incredibly intimidating career path, but for those that conquer their fears it can also be an incredibly rewarding and character building artistic medium. For aspiring comedian Sam Wade his debut solo show, Inner World, has been decades in the making but one which he has found to be a monumental process of self-discovery. “I’ve wanted to do stand-up since I was 12,” Sam told City Hub.“It was the first job that wasn’t the typical kids dream of policeman or firefighter.” Now aged 30 it has taken Sam quite a long time to finally dive into the comedy world, but without this extended period the show would not be what it is today. During this extensive growth period Sam fell in love with the comedy styles of Billy Connolly, Ross Noble, Dylan Moran and Russell Howard because their shows are built on a foundation of story-telling, a skill Sam honed during his theatrical University studies. “I’ve come to realise that the stories we tell ourselves and the beliefs we hold shape our

understanding and narrative of the external world but we’re only ever one thought or sentence away from changing completely what that narrative is.” For Inner World the key element to Sam’s story is his diagnosis of high-functioning Aspergers and the interplay that has within his everyday life. “The diagnosis made so much sense when I looked back on all of the things that have happened in my life and the way that I see the world,” explained Sam.“Growing up in a small country town I was on the outside of everything because with the Aspergers there were a lot of social cues that people would take for granted and do that my brain simply couldn’t comprehend.” One of the funniest examples of the unique way in which Sam’s brain works and shapes his perspective on the world relates to his views on babies and a recent revelation he had. “For the longest time I’ve hated babies, which I know is a really popular opinion, but I realised

recently that I don’t hate babies and they don’t hate me,” Sam said with a hearty laugh before continuing,“I fucking hate the parents! They want approval for making something but I don’t give a shit, it’s a baby! Well done you can make a baby by mistake! You can’t make a cake by mistake.” (JA) Sep 19-21.The Newsagency, 74-76 Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Camperdown. $20-$25+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.sydneyfringe.com

David Baddiel - My Family: Not The Sitcom

David Baddiel is a well known London comedian,TV presenter and celebrated author who is soon to embark on his very first Australian tour with a show titled, My Family: Not The Sitcom.

David Baddiel has never been too concerned with moral ethics and prefers truth in all it’s raw splendour. In fact one of his previous shows Fame: Not The Musical was not really about fame, but was in Baddiel’s words...“about the everyday mundane humiliations and the absurdity of being slightly more visible and than other people.” Similarly, My Family: Not The Sitcom, is a show based, not on the fast character banter that we often find in sitcoms, but on true stories about Baddiel’s own family. Particularly his mum and dad. They say,“Don’t wash your dirty linen in public” which in Baddiel’s words means,“Don’t expose all your family secrets to the world.” Why? Because you’ll open up a can of worms. Yet that is precisely what Baddiel does with this show. “It’s a great big washing of my

family’s dirty linen in public”, says Baddiel and then goes on to say that their stories are told in a “feel good, funny, un-judgemental way.” He explains it as a “celebration of the madness of my parents and of 70s parenting in general.” According to Baddiel,“it’s an emotional show, particularly towards the end. I talk a lot about my mother becoming obsessed with golf, after she fell in love with a golfing memorabilia salesman. Lots of people afterwards want to tell me their family secrets, because even if no-one else has had a mum who eroticised golf, everyone has had some fucked up stuff in their childhood.” (RD) Sep 15. Seymour Centre, Cnr City Rd & Cleveland Street, Chippendale. $65.90-$79.90+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.seymourcentre.com

REVIEW: Calamity Jane Calamity Jane transforms the Belvoir St Theatre stage into the Golden Garter Saloon following its debut at Hayes Theatre last season. One of the most iconic figures of the American Wild West, Calamity is charged with bringing a famed actress from Chicago, Adelaide Adams, back to the saloon for a highly anticipated performance. The charismatic Virginia Gay shines as Calamity, giving us a woman struggling with gender expectations of the time, using her physical strength and verbal bravado to mask a deep vulnerability. Sheridan Harbridge is electrifying as Susan, the saloon owner’s raucous and rowdy niece, while Laura Bunting as the delicate Katie Brown navigates

14 STAGE 16 Sounds 18 SCENE 18 SCREEN

traditional femininity with graceful charm. Directed by Richard Carroll, the production is joyful above all. The immersive nature of the performance is just right with some of the audience seated on stage gleefully making their unexpected theatrical debuts amongst the saloon’s shenanigans. Cameron Mitchell’s choreography is fitting for the Belvoir stage – particularly with respect to Francis Fryer (Rob Johnson flexing his comedic chops) – while Nigel Ubrihien absolutely rocks the piano on-stage as musical director. Though the conclusion of the play reverts to convention that lessens the exploration of what it means to have both feminine and

Arts 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

masculine traits and the queer subtext imbued, Calamity Jane is a laugh-out-loud delight. Don’t miss it. (ES) Until Sep 30. Belvoir St Theatre, 18 & 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills. $37-$77+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.belvoir.com.au

Contributors: Emily Shen, Irina Dunn, Jade Morellini, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Olga Azar, Rita Bratovich, Sarah Pritchard, Shon Ho, Riley Hooper, Erika Echternach & Lili Sekkai, Joseph Rana, John Moyle.

SAX LIFE A Saxophone Journey Jazz Musical Theatre Show

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OPENING NIGHT FILM & PARTY NZ comedy MEGA TIME SQUAD with cast & LAST crew in attendance! MINUTE TIX Tix include food, OPENING drinks and after-party. NIGHT!

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FACTORY THEATRE . MARRICKVILLE city hub 13 SEPTEMBER 2017

Potted Potter: The Unauthorised Harry Experience “I think there is so much love for Harry Potter the world over and this is our loving homage to the boy wizard. Scott plays Harry Potter, leaving myself to play over 360 other characters – that’s everyone from Snape to Hermione to Dobby to a full-size breathing dragon! You really do get your money’s worth!” laughed Clarkson. Clarkson explained that they tried to cram in as much as they could and consequently the first draft of the show was seven books in seven days.“We managed to trim it down, but still have all our This parody which condenses all seven Harry favourite characters and what we believe to be a Potter books in seventy hilarious minutes has been first in any theatrical production, a live game of a hit all around the world and finally returns to quidditch that everyone gets to play!” mesmerise audiences of all ages in Sydney, after Ardent fans of the books shouldn’t have a sell-out tours in 2012 and 2014. problem following the parody.“There are a lot of Written and created by Daniel Clarkson and pop culture references and jokes in the show and if Jefferson Turner, this hysterical two-man show will for some reason you haven’t read the books or be performed by Daniel Clarkson himself and Scott seen the films, this is an ideal introduction into the Hoatson. wizarding world.You definitely don’t have to be a From humble beginnings this was a 15-minute fan, but if you’re not, more importantly I think you show designed to entertain queues of people should have to question your life choices and waiting for the midnight release of book six at a values!” (MMo) London book store. It was then developed into an Sept 19–23. Seymour Centre, Cnr Cleveland hour-long show and has since had successful runs St & City Rd, Chippendale. $69.90-$79.90+b.f. in London’s West End and America. Tickets & Info: www.seymourcentre.com

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The stage of Roslyn Packer Theatre is transformed into the working-class world of Ruth Park’s iconic The Harp In The South trilogy. Adapted by Kate Mulvany as a two-part play and directed by Kip Williams, this world premiere is truly an epic for all involved, with a run time of over six hours and a stellar cast of 18 actors weaving in and out of a staggering 93 roles. Part One starts off joyously hopeful in 1920s Trafalga where Margaret Kilker (Rose Riley) and Hugh Darcy (Ben O’Toole) meet and fall in love. David Fleischer (set designer), Renee Mulder (costume designer), and Nigel Poulton (movement and fight director) are to be particularly commended for the theatricality of a lively fairground scene brought to life on a revolving floor. Margaret (now Anita Hegh) and Hugh (now Jack Finsterer) move to Surry Hills in search of greener pastures but find only a bleak and unforgiving slum that takes their first-born son,Thady (Joel Bishop and Jack Ruwald), as its price. Hegh is stunning in her portrayal of a grieving mother in denial while Margaret’s mother, Eny (the scene-stealing Heather Mitchell) provides the audience with much needed comic relief. Part Two, much like the fruit in the title of the book it adapts – Poor Man’s Orange – is not quite as ready for consumption with the narrative arc

By Jamie Apps Simply on face value Sydney’s Kota Banks appears to be the stereotypical pop princess but with her latest release, Prize, that facade was shockingly shattered into a million pieces. In the modern social media age of pop music this ability to shock audiences and break genre boundaries has become ever more important. When City Hub recently spoke with Banks she told us of her simultaneous desire to inject her music with a surprise factor but also the fear this creates. “Shock value is such a significant part of being an artist in today’s zeitgeist,” said Banks. “I’ve called myself a pop artist for a long time, so it was very risky to put something so avant-garde out.” The decision to move in a much more experimental direction with this release was driven both by Banks’ youthfulness and also a desire to stand out from the crowd. “A lot of it was the fact I was 22-23 and when you’re in your early 20s you want to

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REVIEW: The Harp In The South

feeling too rushed as the play moves forward in time. Guy Simon as Roie’s partner, Charlie, makes the most of a character that does not feel fully formed while other thespians like Tara Morice and Lucia Mastrantone shine in supporting roles that keep the narrative rippling forward. The Harp In The South is compellingly dark – Mulvany does not flinch from the stark realities of Surry Hills in the 1950s, perfectly encapsulating the powerlessness of the poor, the female and the nonwhite. It is primarily through the experiences of Roie Darcy (the lovely and almost ethereal Rose Riley) and Dolour Darcy (Contessa Treffone in a star-making turn) that the audience sees children taken into Surry Hills and spat out as adults too early, harshly beaten down by the knowledge of what it is to be helpless and trapped without reprieve. (ES) Until Oct 6. Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay. $73-$108+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.sydneytheatre.com.au

experiment,” Banks explained, “I’ve grown up listening to pop my whole life, and love pop music, but I was hearing so much of the same stuff that I wanted to do something that no-one else was doing.” With this goal firmly entrenched within her mind Banks set off to Melbourne to work with her producer and the mixtape quickly fleshed itself out. “Even though it was so experimental it happened in a really short amount of time. A majority of the songs were conceived in one weekend but the entire process took roughly nine months, so I always call it my music baby.” Banks was also buoyed by the decision to label this release a ‘mixtape’ rather than an ‘album’ because it allowed more freedom in the creative process, “because it is a mixtape it’s allowed to be a bit more raw than an album.” Even with the flexibility and rawness that the ‘mixtape’ label permitted Banks always looked to her label boss and mentor Nina Las Vegas for advice.

“Nina is such a great sounding board because she’s been in the business for such a long time,” said Banks. “[Nina] is such a strategic thinker as well, which is something I lack, so she’s been absolutely essential in pointing me in the right direction with my music and its development.” In terms of Bank’s upcoming live performance she wants to continue to surprise and shock audiences, this time with her vocal range and prior influences. “I try to incorporate a lot of vocal runs into my show, even though it’s club music, because I want to bring a bit of my R&B influence into the live show,” Banks explained, “You don’t really get a chance to hear my voice like that because of the auto-tune on some of the songs but I love Mariah [Carey] and Christina [Aguilera] so it will be fun to do that in the live show.” Sep 15. Oxford Art Gallery, 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. $13.65+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.oxfordartfactory.com

Serge Le Goueff - Sax Life By Jamie Apps International jazz saxophonist Serge Le Goueff is performing his very special Sax Life show, which delicately blends the mediums of jazz music with theatre to create an unforgettable experience. Sprinkled with comedy, songs, and stories, Sax Life keeps its audience captivated and laughing along as it winds its way along a musical journey through the ages. From Bach to Glen Miller, Charlie Parker to Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie to Dire Straits, the

show travels along musical paths that have filled our daily lives. Serge is one of very few people qualified to take audiences on such a detailed exploration of music and theatricality.A graduate of the French Conservatoire de Brest and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts Serge’s knowledge, skills and repertoire is second to none. Sep 19. Leadbelly, 42 King St, Newtown. $29.07-$58.91+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.moshtix.com.au

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city hub 13 SEPTEMBER 2017

THE NAKED CITY

Interfacing

WHERE THE HELL IS REFU-JESUS?

With Coffin Ed Throughout history we’ve often wondered why men and women who hold strong religious beliefs often fail to put into practice the basic tenets of their sacred texts. This is of course particularly perplexing when it comes to those in positions of political power, especially when they make a big deal of their spiritual faith and commitment. Look no further in recent years than Donald Trump! Here in Australia, the latest PM, Scott Morrison is a staunch Pentecostal but is on record as saying “the Bible is not a policy handbook, and I get very worried when people try to treat it like one.” Much has been written in recent years about the morality of Morrison’s treatment of refugees as Immigration Minister when stacked up against his Christian creed of charity and compassion. A recent skit on the ABC’s Tonightly program, which satirised this apparent incongruity, brought the usual predictable uproar on social media. The musical sketch featured a couple of Hillsong style musicians spruiking lines such as: “We love Jesus, Jesus, but not refugees-us, if you wanna win votes then you gotta stop boats. To do what pleases Jesus deny them all visas — and you can’t get more Christian than that.” To give him credit Morrison refrained from entering the Daily

Telegraph inspired furore stating, “The ABC can be numpties every now and then but my faith teaches me to love each other and to turn the other cheek.” Nevertheless the situation with the 900 or more refugees still languishing on Nauru seems to get worse by the day. Whilst it’s Australia’s making, the Nauruans themselves must bear a high degree of responsibility for the appalling misery they willingly host on their tiny island. Once again the contradiction between religious beliefs and political practice is glaringly obvious despite the current blanket media ban. If ever a country has sold their soul to the devil for a helluva lot more than the biblical thirty pieces of silver it’s the Republic Of Nauru. The 11,000 odd residents are split between two-thirds Protestant and one-third Roman Catholic. Like many Pacific Islands colonised with

The Miseducation Of Cameron Post

missionary zeal, their churches are enthusiastically well attended. During the 80s and 90s, Nauruans were per capita amongst the wealthiest people in the world as their phosphate royalties flooded in. Much of the money was invested in a billion dollar plus trust but less than two decades later it had dwindled to a mere $138 million. A series of disastrous and highly speculative investments had all but bankrupted the country. The once endless supply of guano had all but disappeared and the country faced a bleak future with no other means of income. The moonscape left behind by years of phosphate mining could not even sustain some basic subsistence agriculture. Enter the Australian Government and the millions of dollars that flow with the introduction of a detention camp on one of the smallest and most remote islands in the world. Perhaps only the rocky outcrop of Pitcairn Island could have provided a greater sense of isolation and detachment from the world at large. For the time being Nauruans clearly have a vested interest in the refugee presence on their island and the millions Australia keeps pumping into their economy. If there is any moral debate amongst Nauruans themselves about hosting Australia’s detention centre we are unlikely to ever hear about it, given the lengths to which they have gone to keep the media out – with Australia’s blessing of course!

Tom Christophersen, Super Like, 2018

Tom Christophersen and Michael Simms are two of Australia’s most exciting and talented queer, figurative artists. Interfacing is their first collaborative exhibition, featuring a body of new works that articulate the entanglement of technology and the human experience, bearing playful witness to the ongoing digital reformation of our basic social actions. Tom Christophersen is an actor, artist and general arts atrocity (his own words). Hailing from Adelaide, Tom grew up performing in Fringe Festivals from a young age. Tom completed his Visual Arts degree, specialising in painting, in 2008 at the South Australian School of Art (SASA). Tom has exhibited across the country and has created bespoke commissions for Lady GaGa, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and various Australian based fashion and

2018 Sydney Underground Film Festival experimental and weird arse.” Festival director Stefan Popescu explained that the demographic of audience is between 18-35 years old but there’s older people who come along and join in on the fun. “It’s also suitable for those who have Underground film culture is very a snobbish palate, feel upper much alive with the return of this class but whose secret shame is very unique film festival which to watch bizarre fucked-up shit!” screens bizarre, innovative and laughed Popescu. boundary pushing films. “This film festival is adventurous, The program boasts 42 feature it’s safe and it’s fun. You won’t films and 100 shorts. “Our films be disappointed, regardless what are adventurous and batshit crazy you watch. You’ll come out a weird. We try to find the razor changed person – for the better edge between entertainment, of course!” (MMo)

art houses. Tom is inspired by Twin Peaks, dark-streaks and beautiful things which are bad for your health. Michael Simms is a multi-award winning artist based in Sydney. Born in Adelaide, he completed degrees in psychology and film at Flinders University before winning a scholarship to study art at the Julian Ashton Art School. Since then, Michael has brought together his interest in classical art and contemporary human behaviour to reveal hidden truths about his subjects. This exhibition features some of the artists most ambitious drawings, timely, resonant and provocative paintings to date. This is one not to be missed! Until Oct 6. Stanley Street Gallery, 1/52-54 Stanley St, Darlinghurst. Info: www.stanleystreetgallery.com.au

Searching

Mega Time Squad

Though it’s set in the early 90s, this film has a lot of resonance in the current climate of moral debate and reignited religious fervour. Desiree Akhavan directs this film adaptation of Emily M. Danforth’s novel about a group of gay teenage girls and boys who are sent to a Christian aversion therapy camp called God’s Promise. Cameron Post (Chloë Grace Moretz) is one such unfortunate teen. Orphaned and in the care of her aunt, she is caught with a girl in the back seat of her boyfriend’s car and duly enlisted at God’s Promise. There she meets a mixed bag of inmates, some committed to the cause of changing, like the selfdeluded tom-boyish Erin (Emily Skeggs); some happily resigned to their “sickness” like the sassy Jane (Sasha Lane) and indifferent Adam (Forrest Goodluck). Dr Lydia Marsh (Jennifer Ehle - a deadringer for Meryl Streep) is the unyielding, Nurse Ratched like overseer and firm believer in the conversion technique, having already converted her brother Rick (John Gallagher Jr.). There is a lot of humour and not too much preaching either way in this very watchable and sadly, still relevant film. (RB) WWW1/2 18

city hub 13 SEPTEMBER 2018

HOT WEIRDO FILMS Let The Corpses Tan – An ultraviolent thriller about a band of thieves and a gold heist. Hypnotic and a must-see. WTF! –A selection of 9 shorts including outrageous horror shorts Granny, Monster, We Summoned A Demon.

The Insufferable Groo (Aka The Magic Of Groo) A Documentary detailing filmmaker Stephen Groo who made 180 films over 20 years – none of which screened theatrically or returned a profit.

Sept 13-16.The Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Rd Marrickville. $16-$165 (all access festival pass).Tickets & Info: www.suff.com.au

Photo: Sebastian Baron

Much has been made about the unique method of telling this story, that is, entirely through the lenses or screens of various digital devices. But the “device” device might just be the vice that takes virtue out of the plot. The first few minutes of the film tells the story’s epilogue on a computer screen via account set ups, photo and video uploads, messages and other indirect but familiar cyber based interactions. It’s a brief summary of the initial 16 years of a family’s life. A whole movie constructed in this way would be tedious, but various media are used including live video

chatting, CCTV footage, TV broadcasting, and it breaks the monotony. It’s an intriguing concept but has inherent problems which unfortunately are overcome with contrivance and a lot of licence. Ultimately, it’s more of a gimmick - the story itself, is not cyber bound. John Cho plays David Kim, the techno-unsavvy father of a 16 year old girl who goes missing one night. Debra Messing is the detective assigned to the case. Both over act. In the end this is a too-cleverly presented melodrama. (RB) WW1/2

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