City Hub 19 September 2019

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SEPTEMBER 19, 2019

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The ninth annual Pyrmont Festival is a celebration of wine, food, art, community, sunshine, fresh air and the unmatched visual splendour of Sydney Harbour Page 8

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Snippets by ALEC SMART Climate of peers Thousands are expected to attend Friday’s Global Climate Strike gathering at The Domain in Sydney, three days before world leaders meet in New York for the United Nations Emergency Climate Summit. School students and workers across Australia will join millions worldwide to take to the streets.

Demonstrators are demanding world leaders take immediate action on climate change. Failure to implement changes will see global temperatures continue to rise, causing more droughts, flashflooding, coastlines eroding, incineration of vital rainforests, and intense cyclones.

Teenagers in Victoria kick-started the school strike movement in Australia last October, inspired by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, who on Monday won Amnesty International’s ‘Ambassador of Conscience’ highest human rights award.

Strikers will be calling for governments to invest in renewable energy and abandon new fossil fuel projects, including the Adani coal mine in Queensland.

It will be interesting to see if One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson follows through her threat to use an electric cattle prod to “punish protestor pests” – which saw her Twitter account temporarily suspended for “violating rules against abuse and harassment.”

Lockout Laws loosening The much-criticised Sydney Lockout Laws, which in 2014 effectively strait-jacketed entertainment and late-night revelry in the CBD, are expected to be lifted soon, although restrictions will remain in place for Kings Cross.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore welcomed the decision, telling City Hub, “I welcome the news that the lockout laws could soon be a thing

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Randwick Council, which remains opposed to a cruise ship terminal at Yarra Bay, responded to the announcement saying: “We are working to heritage list the area and are conducting a study on the environmental and socio-economic impact of a terminal. We’ll continue to fight this plan.”

City Hub accompanied young Aborigines from Coonamble School on a BridgeClimb. Photo: Alec Smart

of the past and look forward to seeing the detail of the report from the parliamentary inquiry into Sydney’s night time economy. I also look forward to seeing the NSW Government’s repeal legislation when it is released.

“The City of Sydney’s submission to the inquiry supported the removal of the lockout laws, which have had a devastating impact on Sydney’s night time economy and our reputation as a lively, global city.

“At the time I warned the NSW Government these laws would have a dire impact on our city’s cultural life and called for a review of the lockout laws after one year. I’m sad to say these predictions were accurate and the lockout laws have had a devastating impact on the thriving, diverse nightlife we want for Sydney.”

Coathanger climb City Hub was honoured to be invited to accompany a group of 12 Aboriginal children aged between 8-12 from rural Coonamble Public School on a BridgeClimb up the Sydney Harbour Bridge last week.

Reaching the summit was a significant achievement for the young participants, some of whom had to overcome a fear of heights, as they had been learning about setting and achieving goals.

The kids were all excited during the preparation, which entailed stepping into specially-designed overalls and attaching safety harnesses. Thereafter

they enjoyed the ascent of the majestic coat-hanger that graces so many tourist publications.

BridgeClimb Sydney is a tourist attraction that guides guests on a climb to the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, 134 metres above sea level. Over 4 million visitors from all over the world, including many famous celebrities, have undertaken the ascent, which encompasses the southern half of the bridge and results in spectacular 360 degree views of the harbour.

Docking decision On September 17 the NSW Government announced they were going full steam ahead to build a cruise ship terminal in Botany Bay, despite strong opposition from two councils, residents and environmentalists.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance and Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres are inviting the cruise ship industry to contribute ideas and likely funding towards a terminal at one of two potential sites on the northern side of Botany Bay: Yarra Bay and Molineaux Point.

Opponents claim wildlife, including a seal colony, will be choked by toxic sludge buried beneath the silt, which will be released when the shallow bay is dredged deeper for the huge ships. What wildlife left will be driven from the area by an influx of tourists and the enormous ships, some of which are so high they may intrude upon the airspace of passenger jets from neighbouring Sydney Airport.

Diving birds Magpies are nesting and, typically for this time of year, dive-bombing cyclists. An elderly man in Woonona, Wollongong, was attacked on Sunday whilst riding through Nicholson Park and ultimately died as a result. Witnesses say the 76-year-old veered off the path to avoid the swooping bird, colliding with a fence post, which caused him to be thrown to the ground and sustain serious head injuries. He died later in St George Hospital.

The incident comes a few weeks after another aggressive magpie in Bella Vista, north of Sydney, was shot dead by National Parks and Wildlife Service officers after it was deemed a “significant risk to public safety.”

Greystanes’ resident Peter Danieluk said the magpie was responsible for inducing a heart attack in 2018 when he tried to fend it off during a swooping frenzy.

A website, www.magpiealert.com, provides nationwide tracking information for cyclists, walkers and joggers to avoid aggressive magpies.

Cyclists are advised to attach cable-ties to their helmets, protruding like spikes, which deters aggressive magpies from swooping.

Bottom of the Harbour scheme Saturday, September 21, is the annual National CleanUp Day, where people unite to remove litter from our parks, beaches, forests and open spaces.

In 2018, over two million volunteers across Australia combined forces in the big tidy, which is held in conjunction with World CleanUp Day throughout 170 countries.

Sydney Harbour is one of the most polluted waterways in NSW, clogged with plastic bags and household rubbish, much of which washes in through stormwater drains. The pollution has become so rife, that several organisations have come together to combat the issue and educate people on preventative measures they can take.

Global recycling company TOMRA is documenting the clean-up work of combined forces Sydney Institute Marine Science, Ocean Protect, Project Aware and Dive Centre Manly. They’ve released a short film to raise awareness about the pollution problem, called Sydney Harbour: Above and Below, which can be found on an internet search.

ABN 52 600 903 348 Group Editor & Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons Production Manager: Michael Hitch News Editor: Alec Smart Contributors: Alec Smart, Vanessa Lim, Peter Hehir, Andrew M Potts Cartoonist: Sam Mcnair Arts Editor: Jamie Apps Advertising Manager: Georgina Pengelly Cover Photo: Ann - Marie Calilhanna.

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altmediasydney city hub 19 SEPTEMBER 2019

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Can’t cop HIV by bites

BY ANDREW M POTTS The Police Association of NSW (PANSW) has issued a rare apology after its president, Tony King, made comments that appeared to imply that HIV could be spread by saliva or by biting.

However, the police association is continuing to maintain that a HIV-positive person could transmit the virus to another person by biting them in some circumstances.

“PANSW is aware that HIV is not transmissible via saliva or minor biting, and in no way intended to create a perception that this was the case,” a spokesperson for the group told the City Hub. “We sincerely regret and apologise for that implication [but] the examples that have been reported on in the media and on which we have commented are not incidents that carry no risk of transmitting a disease.

officers to bodily fluids and diseases,” King continued.

King had made the comments as part of an ongoing PANSW campaign for NSW Police to be given the power to force suspects to submit to STI testing, and they resulted in sensationalist coverage of the issue by the Daily Telegraph which repeated the implication that HIV was transmissible through biting in an article titled “Agonising AIDS wait for cops amid NSW blood test farce [sic].”

Advances in the prevention of HIV mean police have treatments that effectively prevent its transmission “The officers we speak to in relation to this issue are not officers that have fears and anxiety based on a lack of understanding. They are officers that have been assaulted by a violent person, exposed to bodily fluid, usually blood, and then been treated by a medical practitioner, who may advise them there is a risk and therefore recommend they undergo a six month testing period and a course of PEP. “During this time, they suffer considerable anxiety, despite the advice regarding risk provided by their treating medical practitioner.”

An electron micrograph scan of HIV-1, coloured green, budding from a cultured lumphocyte. Photo: Wikipedia

Misplaced anxiety King had been speaking about an incident in the town of Casino in early August in which a person who was “wearing women’s lingerie and had [their] penis exposed” and who claimed to “have AIDS” had bitten an officer on the thigh and caused cuts to another officer’s hands while resisting arrest.

“These two officers and their families now face an incredibly anxious wait to have to

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find out whether they’ve been infected with anything,” King said in a press release that was sent to the media in the days following.

“Police are spat on, bitten and attacked with needles. When that happens, we’re forced to endure torturously long wait times simply because the government hasn’t bothered to fix the red tape that would ease the pain of officers.

“It’s time for the NSW Government to act to on the disgusting practice of exposing police

Negligible risk ACON CEO Nicholas Parkhill acknowledged the on-the-job risks faced by emergency workers.

However, he said it was vital that police receive and provide accurate information about HIV and how it is transmitted.

“ACON understands the high risk situations police and other emergency service workers face in the undertaking of their roles,” Parkhill told City Hub earlier this week. “The apology from the Police Association of New South Wales notes that HIV cannot be transmitted through saliva, however it should recognise that the risk of transmission of the virus through any kind of biting is negligible.

“Advances in the prevention and treatment of HIV mean that police have access to treatments that effectively prevent the transmission of the virus, and these treatments are prescribed by doctors who are trained in identifying potential risk.

“It is vitally important that reporting on issues around HIV and blood borne viruses is undertaken with accuracy and respect. When statements are made that stigmatise people living with HIV and spread misinformation about the virus, enormous damage is done to people in these communities.”

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Jails are the crime Black holes of Australia

Over 70% of children imprisoned in Australia are indigenous. Graphic: Alec Smart

BY ALEC SMART A 12-year-old Aboriginal boy, Dujuan Hoosan, travelled to Geneva, Switzerland, to appeal directly to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on an issue important to Indigenous Australians. In a televised address on Wednesday 11 September, he asked for UNHRC help ending something that most Australian political leaders are reluctant to change: children in prisons.

Indigenous children locked behind bars are disproportionately high, especially in the Northern Territory, Hoosan’s home, where almost 100% of the youth in jail are Indigenous.

“I come here to speak with you because the Australian government is not listening. Adults never listen to kids like me, but we have important things to say,” he told the UNHRC. “I want adults to stop putting 10-year-old kids in jail.”

Over 5% of the prison population are between 10 - 12 years old but 74% are Indigenous Countless studies have shown children and young teenagers lack the ability to restrain impulsive behaviour, make reasoned judgements, or think about the consequences of their actions when committing offences. Similarly, their emotional reactions are less mature, which makes those in trouble with the Law more likely to accept a plea bargain or give false confessions when pressured by police and authorities to submit.

Jailed before the age of consent Australia’s state and territorial legal systems permit the incarceration of children from the age of 10. Incredibly, this is six years below the age of consent for most states.

India, Singapore and Islamic nations Pakistan, Nigeria, Qatar, Yemen and UAE set a minimum age of 7 for imprisonable criminal responsibility, while Iran’s is 9 for girls, 15 for boys.

Australia sits alongside Malaysia, Ivory Coast, Fiji, Nepal, Bhutan, Syria, Papa New Guinea, Switzerland, Guinea, Vanuatu and the United Kingdom with a minimum age of 10.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has asked countries to raise the age to 14 years old, the common minimum age worldwide.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples urged Australia to increase the age of criminal responsibility, saying that children “should be detained only as a last resort, which is not the case today for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.”

The Australian Medical Association, the Law Council of Australia, the Human Rights Law Centre, The Royal Australian College of Physicians, Unicef and Amnesty International all agree the age of criminal responsibility should be raised to 14.

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Indigenous-run solutions Amnesty International states: “Despite overwhelming evidence from health experts, social workers, Indigenous leaders, legal experts and human rights organisations, Australian Governments are choosing to lock up children as young as 10 – and ignoring tested community solutions that actually help kids.

Instead of putting kids this young behind bars, governments can fund Indigenous-led solutions and community programs which have better outcomes for children and communities..”

Hoosan raised several issues with the UNHRC, not only requesting Australian Courts cease the practice of jailing under-14-year-olds, but that measures be implemented to grant Aboriginal communities the power to educate their own people, speak their own languages and administer their own justice.

“I want my school to be run by Aboriginal people. I want, in my future, to be able to learn strong culture and language… It is about our dreams, our hopes and rights. I hope you can make things better for us…”

Hoosan, who appears in the film In My Blood It Runs, which examines how Australia’s education system fails to fairly represent Indigenous history and learning, told the UNHRC about how Aboriginal peoples feel marginalised by Australian society.

“The film shows Aboriginal kids tortured in juvenile detention. I know lots of kids that have been locked up. Police is cruel to kids like me.

They treat us like they treat their enemies. I am cheeky, but no kid should be in jail. I want adults to stop being cruel to 10-year-old kids in jail.

Crimes are only petty The Australian Medical Association (AMA) revealed in March 2019 that around 600 children below the age of 14 are prisoners in youth jails each year, but over 70% of them are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, although less than 5% of the total youth population in Australia are Indigenous.

AMA President, Dr Tony Bartone, said: “The criminalisation of children in Australia is a nationwide problem that disproportionately impacts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

“Most children in prison come from backgrounds that are disadvantaged. These children often experience violence, abuse, disability, homelessness, and drug or alcohol misuse…

“Children who are forced into contact with the criminal justice system at a young age are also less likely to complete their education or find employment, and are more likely to die an early death. The AMA wants the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments to support developmentally and culturally appropriate health, education, and rehabilitative-based alternatives to the criminal justice system.”

BY ALEC SMART On 11 September it was announced that Community Courts for Indigenous Australians are to be reintroduced in the Northern Territory, eight years after they were abolished. This coincided with the release of a draft Aboriginal Justice Agreement that aims to reduce offending and keep Indigenous people out of prison.

Almost 100% of the youth and 85% of the adults in custody in the Northern Territory are Indigenous, a disproportionately high statistic. The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency says this is because Indigenous people are more likely to be denied bail and remanded in prison and, if convicted, more likely to receive a custodial sentence.

The Northern Territory Government’s Aboriginal Justice Unit director, Leanne Liddle, revealed 120 consultation sessions over two years in 80 communities reported an overall lack of community leaders present in remote districts from which offenders were frequently jailed.

The resurrected Indigenous Courts will involve Aboriginal leaders who take into account social, cultural and geographic differences when sentencing.

The audit announcement comes as the Victorian Deputy State Coroner examines whether systemic racism played a role in the death of Tanya Day, who fell and hit her head at least five times while in custody at Castlemaine police station in December 2017. Ms Day, 55, was arrested for Public Drunkenness, a charge that all states except Queensland and Victoria have decriminalised because it was found to disproportionately and adversely affect Aboriginal people.

Victoria Ambulance paramedics, who attended to Ms Day in the police cells before transporting her to hospital, have formally apologised to the victim’s family. They admit misdiagnosing a narrowing of her pupils, which they mistakenly attributed to illicit drugs. Ms Day never recovered and died on 22 December of a haematoma brain injury, sustained when falling in the police cell.

Deaths in Custody The 1987–1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, which didn’t investigate the disproportionately high number of Aboriginals in prison, found: “..Glaring deficiencies existed in the standard of care afforded to many of the deceased.”

Raul Bassi with a photo of Eric Whittaker, feet shackled despite comatose with brain injury. Photo: Alec Smart

Elderly advice Indigenous Courts are not a new phenomenon.

Western Australia launched one in 2006, where Aborigines, despite comprising less than 4% of the state’s population, make up more than 42% of prisoners.

Glaring deficiencies exist in the standard of care afforded to Indigenous prisoners South Australia, Victoria and Queensland have Nunga, Koori and Murri Courts, respectively, which operate along similar informal guidelines, with family members participating and the defendant able to talk to prosecutors. Judgements take into account the background and situation of the offender and allow senior members of the local Indigenous community involvement in the sentencing process.

Jurisdiction works in tandem with a magistrate’s court, with the same legal appeal and review processes available. The courts are successful in reducing recidivism and strengthen the roles of elders and families in Indigenous communities dealing with errant youth.

Meanwhile, the related issue of Indigenous deaths in custody has resurfaced after an August 2019 announcement that Victoria Police’s treatment of them will be audited by the state’s anticorruption watchdog, with results expected in 2020.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission announced it had identified 55 files that were closed by Victoria Police in 2018 where the complainant was Aboriginal and involved in a serious incident.

Tanya Day’s death suggests the same deficient standard of care continues, augmented by suspicious cases of Indigenous deaths in custody that authorities refuse to investigate.

A coronial inquiry into the death of Eric Whittaker at Parklea Correctional Centre in Sydney is being held at Lidcombe Coroner’s Court from 14-18 October 2019.

According to Indigenous Social Justice Action, Whittaker was “taken into custody for relatively minor matters and was put in isolation and handcuffed in a maximum security cell at Parklea private prison. Eric was in custody for only two days before he died. Eric suffered injuries to his head, which his family heard three different stories from authorities as to how it happened.”

Parklea gained notoriety after mobile phone footage was smuggled out in 2017 showing methamphetamine – allegedly smuggled in by prison guards – and crudely-made knives hidden in a cell.

A subsequent NSW Parliamentary Inquiry revealed Parklea, then run by a subsidiary of US prisons contractor GEO, had higher rates of inmate violence and prisoners dying from unnatural causes, including seven suicides since 2016.

Whittaker was taken to two different hospitals and put on life support. Despite being comatose with a catastrophic brain injury, his feet remained shackled together, which is how his family found him when they were instructed to turn off his life support on 4 July 2017.

On 24 September, families of Indigenous prisoners who died in custody will meet MPs at the Parliament of NSW in Sydney. The discussion, with politicians from across the political spectrum, should open a dialogue that will hopefully lead to revisions in the incarceration of Indigenous peoples.

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FEATURE

BY RITA BRATOVICH

Pyrmont Festival 2019

Photos: Supplied

I

t’s a celebration of wine, food, art, community, sunshine, fresh air and the unmatched visual splendour of Sydney Harbour; the ninth annual Pyrmont Festival takes place at the end of this month and promises to be as big and festive as ever.

After the success of last year’s partnership, Orange 360 will once again team up with the Pyrmont Ultimo Chamber of Commerce (PUCC) to deliver a 17-day symbiotic food and wine experience.

The centerpiece of the festival program is the two-day headliner in Pirrama Park featuring a variety of stalls from local businesses and showcasing 18 wine labels, two breweries, and a boutique gin from Orange. Several producers from Orange farmers markets will also be coming to the park this year, including Second Mouse Cheese Co, with a range of soft and hard

cheeses and an exceptional blue; The Salami Man, who do a mean cacciatori; The Orange Fermentory, who’ll give a gutful of probiotic vinegars; and The Cheesecake Co with their uniquely presented cheesecakes in jars.

The popular beer garden will be pouring craft brews from Badlands and Pioneer Brewing Co (who grow their own malt and barley). If you’re on the park on Saturday, you can sit back with a pint and watch a live telecast of the AFL grand final.

People who need more spirit in their glass can choose from a selection of dry or botanical gins from new distillers, Parrot Gin who’ll be making their Sydney debut at Pyrmont. If the harbourside location gives you a hankering for seafood, head over to the Oyster Bar and pick up a dozen or half-dozen natural, then grab a glass of light, cool Orange sparkling to wash them down.

There’ll be an art garden exhibiting local artworks and hosting art classes and a large area with games and jumping castle for the kids.

“This is one of the biggest food and wine festivals in one of the most beautiful locations around Sydney Harbour,” says Festival Director, Alex Gibbs. “As a festival it’s inviting all parts of the community to have a great couple of days […] We get everyone from families to people in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s…we get people from the Lower North Shore, Eastern Suburbs, Inner West and South Sydney. And it’s because Pyrmont is a really easy place to get to.”

This is Gibbs’ second year as festival director, but he has been involved for the last six years, setting up the beer garden and representing the Wine Society. He’s seeing

the festival evolve as a much more cooperative event.

“This year we’ve had a lot more focus on bringing in Orange producers and Orange businesses just so we have a closer connection and representation of city and country - and I think this festival is going to be a stronger example of the respectful relationship we have,” he explains. He puts the success of the festival partnership down to mutual goals and principles.

“I think why it works is because we’ve got similar values. So, the value that they create and the value that the Chamber and the event creates, creates value for the local community, residents, our stakeholders and local businesses in Pyrmont. It’s a win-win situation because it’s the same for Orange - it also promotes local businesses, wineries, and encourages people to visit Orange.”

Dining The real synergy of that partnership manifests in the festival’s program of dining and tasting events. Bar Zini is pairing with Tamburlaine Organic Wines, and The Apprentice is pairing with SeeSaw Wines in two special dinner evenings. The Terminus Hotel is hosting an after-party featuring Printhe Wines; Pyrmont Point Hotel is showcasing Orange wines throughout the festival; Porter’s Liquor is holding wine tastings; Call Me Harris is hosting Sunset Bar on Friday nights; and Sydney Seafood School is giving seafood cooking classes.

Caddie Marshall, General Manager at Orange 360 is very excited about the upcoming festival: “We’re seeing this as a way of connecting in with the city and presenting the full suite of opportunities that there are here in Orange.”

She was also involved last year and came away with observations that have informed her input this time around.

“I think the big learning was…Orange is a regional city and we’re surrounded by these wonderful historic villages […] and Pyrmont is very much a village within a city. So you have that synchronicity of understanding and the way the community works right from the get-go,” she explains.

A big part of their involvement in the festival is to encourage people to visit Orange, so in addition to food and beverages, they’ve invited Duntryleague Golf Course, Orange High School, and Spinifex Recruitment to have stands in Pirrama Park.

“We have some amazing opportunities where you can be earning a city wage with a country lifestyle and affordability,” says Marshall.

As a further incentive, they’re holding a competition to win two passes on the Vino Express and spend an all-expenses-paid, fully curated three-day weekend in Orange during the Orange Wine Festival. The trip includes accommodation, wine tasting master class, cellar door visits, long lunches, wine rambles, sparkling Sunday breakfast, and tickets to the night markets.

changing […] We’re a premium wine region and the trend is for people to drink less but better.”

Samodol is a third-generation winegrower whose family in Croatia grew and made sparkling wines on the Adriatic coast. She is now the owner of Rowlee Wines which produces classic varieties like riesling, chardonnay, pinot noir, and also two Northern Italian varieties - arneis and nebbiolo.

Rowlee Wines is typical of what gives the Orange region its distinctive charm and appeal.

“We create beautiful wines on small familyowned and run vineyards,” says Samodol.

“When people come to us, they often meet the owner, the grower, the maker. We’re not large and corporatised, we’re involved throughout the process - from the growing, to the making, to the selling to the marketing.”

“His philosophy to making the wine is letting the grapes do the talking, letting the wine sort of evolve naturally without too much human intervention […] And that’s how Slow Wines came about, like, it’s two years from bud burst to bottling for most of our varieties.”

As is typical for a vineyard, Bayliss and his family focus on growing premium fruit and they then get an expert to produce the wine.

The final product will depend on the harmony and respective skills of each.

“You can’t have one without the other. You can’t make good wine without good grapes and you actually need a very skilled winemaker to then look after those grapes and give the grapes a chance to really express themselves - where they come from and how they’re grown. What we call the ‘terroir’ of the site is expressed through the wine that ends up in the bottle,” explains Bayliss.

At an elevation of 960 meters, Slow Wines is one of the highest vineyards in Orange region.

They make mainly aromatic white wines - classic Alsace varieties like riesling, gewurz, pinot gris and Burgundy varieties of chardonnay and pinot noir. Last year, their 2016 family reserve won a trophy for Best Pinot Noir at the Orange Wine Show and has set a benchmark.

Slow Wines was at Pyrmont Festival last year, but Bayliss is taking part this year for the first time and really looking forward to it.

“These sort of things are a great way for us to get our product known and meet a few of the people and talk about our story and have them look for us next time they head out to Orange.”

Orange Wines There are over 80 vineyards in Orange, and over 30 cellar doors, and virtually all these growers and makers are members of the Orange Region Vignerons Association.

“We look at helping our members grow better fruit, make better wine and promote Orange wine to consumers,” says President, Nicole Samodol. Orange is an official cool climate wine region. To be classified as part of Orange Region, a vineyard needs to be situated at 600m or more above sea level.

The landscape in this region is unique, with Mount Canobolas providing rich volcanic soil, and an elevation range that allows certain grapes to be grown - varieties that are becoming popular.

“Lighter styles that work better with food, like pinot noir, chardonnay, sparkling varieties, those cool climate shirazes. Not the heavy, big reds that Australians grew up on,” explains Samodol. “People’s tastes are

ALTITUDE WITH ATTITUDE Richie Bayliss of Slow Wines Co seconds that.

“We’re a family-owned business and I’m the eldest child, and I’m…I guess I’m the director of the company,” he says. His parents first planted grapes in 1990 after having raised cattle and sheep for many years.

“It was a small operation to start with. We didn’t actually make anything under our own label for about 10 years,” says Bayliss. The vineyard expanded to 12 hectares and in 2013 they contracted the highly regarded winemaker, Will Rikard Bell.

Sep 20 - Oct 6.Various Venues. x Sep 28-29. Pirrama Park, Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont. x Info: www.pyrmontfestival.com.au 8

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Opinion

The end of days

BY PETER HEHIR Blind adherence to the discredited economic philosophy espoused by Milton Friedman, coupled with a complete absence of compassion, leads the Neo Cons to ignore the legion of human casualties and the suffering that their retrograde and reactionary politics brings.

Their indifference demands that a respected and productive Sri Lankan family, with their two Australian-born children, be forcibly removed in the dead of night, separated from their mother and the Biloela community that embraced them, and that they are then incarcerated in an offshore detention centre.

This soulless pursuit of a universally derided economic principle and its ruthless application sees men, women and children imprisoned for years on end, guilty only of the crime of attempting to flee persecution and even death in their countries of origin.

government assistance, drives inexorably onward; while the Neo Cons massage the unemployment figures, boosting their image as sound economic managers, all the while illuminating the hypocrisy of their professed Christian values.

Both Russell Brand’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes” and David Attenborough’s “Climate Change the Facts” tell the true story. Friedman’s long discredited economic philosophy has about as much merit as the Emperor’s invisible garments, but it’s still willingly embraced by conservative politicians on both sides of the political divide.

Just how can businesses in the developed world compete with products produced in third world sweatshops? Where the daily remuneration is a bowl of rice; where women and children toil, stood over by thugs wielding automatic weapons.

Keating, way back when, explained his dropping of tariffs by citing the example of the Bankstown factory worker who could now Blood of the innocents afford a new Mercedes. What he neglected The worth of Friedman’s trickledown economics to mention was that the removal of the tariffs is measured in the blood of the innocents while protecting the Bankstown worker would our Pentecostal leader assuages his conscience by ultimately cost that worker his job. raising his voice and singing his Sunday songs of prayer. We live in a finite world with And his esteemed colleague, the ex-policeman, continues to wield his truncheon, expelling those finite resources whose only crime is to seek a better existence; fleeing one where persecution, torture and death The goods that he once made now came from were the inevitable conclusion. the sub-continent, more often than not produced The bitter irony is that the victims of the lure of under the barrel of a gun. The Mercedes was long sanctuary in the lucky country find themselves in out of reach. Even a second-hand Holden was a hell hole without end, created and fine-tuned by problematic. the Pentecostal and the ex-cop.

He and hundreds of thousands of Australian The push to privatise, to decimate the public workers lost their manufacturing jobs and the service, to sever the safety net, to rebrand workforce became ever more deskilled. Scores environmental and social regulations as red of factories closed, forced to either compete with tape, to relentlessly pursue those who have lost products produced by slave labour or go under. their jobs and have the temerity to apply for As a nation, we became ever more reliant on an

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ever-increasing range of imported goods. We lost our ability to innovate, to produce, to compete; and in all of this we also lost our independence.

“Let the market decide” is the credo of the Friedmanites. Strip publicly owned institutions.

Call it “asset recycling”. Greed is good. Good government is bad.

Absurdity of planned obsolescence Attenborough’s dismantling of the “growth is our salvation” mantra is equally compelling. It should be obvious to all that we live in a finite world with finite resources. This fact is key to understanding the predicament that the throwaway society has bestowed upon us all, underpinned by the resource depleting absurdity of planned obsolescence.

We live in a world where the climate crisis is incomprehensible to those scrambling over scraps

and is branded as “fake news” by those who know the truth but won’t admit it.

The mild amusement engendered by Mr Robinson with his one-word utterance as he dispensed career advice to Benjamin Braddock’s graduate in the film of the same name now reveals its hidden and ominous portent, with plastic contaminating our food and water; permeating every corner of the globe, even to the remotest of regions where humans have never trod, from uninhabited islands in the middle of the oceans, to the rapidly thawing poles.

Religion tells us that heaven here on earth is an impossibility, an affront even; that our life begins in the afterlife; that there’s no point in trying to make the world a better place; that the damage we continue to do to each other and the planet is inevitable - and is but another sign that the end of days is nigh…

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Not dogged by depression

BY VANESSA LIM NBCUniversal in Sydney were surprised with furry friends on R U OK? Day – the annual event created by a suicide prevention charity in Australia to remind people that having meaningful conversations with friends and loved ones could save lives highlighting the importance of mental health and the benefits of pet adoption.

Sydney’s NBCUniversal, an international media and entertainment group, surprised their staff with some fur therapy as adorable dogs from Greyhound Rescue paid them a visit to spread love and cheer on R U OK? Day.

Studies have shown that interacting with pets can boost serotonin and dopamine A spokesperson from NBCUniversal said, “The initiative, which was facilitated by national animal welfare charity, PetRescue, was held in an effort to promote the connection between positive mental health, pet ownership, and the joys of pet adoption.”

Mental illness common but treatable One in five Australians aged from 16 to 85 years of age suffer from mental illness in any given year, making it important to be aware, but also to receive treatment. According to the

Owning a pet, including a retired racing greyhound, reduces the likelihood of depression. Photo: Alec Smart

Australian Institute of Health, 54% of people don’t have access to any treatment.

Factors that affect this are income, environment and the lack of resources given to the mental health sector.

Studies have shown that interacting with pets can boost serotonin and dopamine, which can relax those with mental illness and pet owners are less likely on average to suffer from depression. Sydney’s NBCUniversal could be a role model for more positive initiatives to benefit a work environment.

“The team from NBCUniversal had a ball meeting the amazing volunteers from Greyhound Rescue and of course the stars of the day, the beautiful greyhounds. They were certainly a hit and it was great to have Nat provide an insight into the breed and ways in which we can get involved,” said Nathan Dann, Senior National Publicist, Universal Pictures International Australasia.

They highlighted the importance of getting involved with greyhound adoption or volunteering. Greyhound dogs are one of the most vulnerable dogs due to unethical breeding or training tactics, which has led up to 17,000 healthy greyhounds dying unnecessarily in Australia within one year.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Art Attack

I’m baaack! Did you really think you could get rid of Sydney’s nosiest, most inquisitive social influencer that easy?

This week has been a very busy one for #ArtAttack, so let’s dive right into the news.

This week #ArtAttack received some very exciting news from our friends at the Riverside Theatres in Parramatta. That news being that HIT Productions is bringing back one of our favourite shows of the year, The Sapphires next week. The Sapphires story has already won multiple awards as a play, film and soundtrack album, but writer Tony Briggs promises that this version of the story will be the most intimate telling yet.

Sep 24-28. Riverside Theatre, Cnr Market &, Church St, Parramatta. $30-$59+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.riversideparramatta.com.au In some more exciting musical theatre news #ArtAttack and Sydney can look forward to the special Dolly Parton’s 9 To 5 The Musical arriving in our city next year.

The smash-hit West End musical will make its Australian premiere at the Lyric Theatre in April. Until then though the waitlist for tickets is now open, register your interest at www.9to5themusical.com.au to potentially join #ArtAttack at a show and listen to my horrendous singing!

The Shadow Whose Prey The Hunter Becomes The title of this play alone takes you on a journey. The phrase is from a quote by French psychoanalyst, Jacques Lacan, in which he is describing the egocentric pursuit of elusive things. It’s a perplexing sentence that perfectly represents the play, says artistic director, Bruce Gladwin.

“It’s a story in itself, and it’s a circular story and it’s not clear who the antagonist and who the protagonist is,” Gladwin explains.

The play is a new work coconceived and performed by five artists from Back To Back Theatre who are all, in varying

degrees, intellectually disabled.

Set in a community hall where a public meeting is taking place, the play deals with the looming threat of artificial intelligence and its implications for future jobs and society as a whole. It plays out pretty much in realtime and the audience is considered part of the ensemble and directly addressed (though they are not asked to participate).Through their discussion and allusions, the actors depict a grim hyper-reality and ask hard questions about the place of human beings in a future dominated by AI.

Bringing their quest to uncover the greatest magic show on earth to Sydney audiences for the very first

everything. Hyper-colourful, hyper-active, hyper-clever and hyper on-message. It’s a refreshing work, including, surprisingly, the fart jokes.

The small Bordello Room at Kings Cross Hotel highlights the effects of sound design, lighting and the elaborate (and gorgeous) costumes, all of which reflect the humour of the show as well as the deeply reflected nature of the adaptation.

U.B.U. is a wicked blend of cynicism and innocence, cunning and idiocy and unabashedly comments on the derring-do-nothing of all sides of politics. Although the ending is not nearly as clever as it could be, it’s a wildly inventive ride. Also, revenge against an

a&e

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in Iowa were discovered after having spent 40 years living and working in squalid conditions in a turkey factory. The actors compared the stories of abuse with some of their own experiences and used them to inform aspects of the play.

“It is quite a funny piece too, though. It’s not a didactic kind of experience, it’s quite an entertaining one,” says Gladwin. “We’re preparing you for the future.” (RB) Sep 25-28. Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh. $35+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.backtobacktheatre.com

Photo: Jeff Busby

The Greatest Magic Show

time, comic magicians Sam Hume and Justin Williams present their newest family magic production – The Greatest Magic Show. With special guest and ringmaster Brendon Kerss also joining in on the fun, the show is set to be a smash hit with kids and adults alike.

Showing as part of Sydney Fringe Festival, The Greatest Magic Show will open in Hurstville and Leichardt at the end of September.

With 15 years of combined experience in kid’s entertainment, Sam and Justin’s Showmen Productions have mastered the art of entertaining their audiences with the right mix of magic,

U.B.U: A Cautionary Tale Of Catastrophe

Sassy smartypants is a modest way to describe U.B.U., billed as A Cautionary Tale Of Catastrophe with the tagline “Filth. Freaks.

Farts.” The show delivers on all three promises.The opening act riffs on ways to swear in an authoritarian environment whilst avoiding trouble, a signature spark of the 1896 original that signalled the beginnings of absurdist theatre.Think of a swear word and add a few consonants. Production company Tooth And Sinew writer-director Richard Hilliar’s interpretation of this early absurdist play (Alfred Jarry’s comedy, written at when he was 15, is reputedly against a hellish teacher) about political machinations is hyper-

“It looks at human rights, particularly from the perspective of people with disabilities, but also raises broader questions about, you know, the emergence of artificial intelligence and at what point does artificial intelligence overtake human intelligence? Would we regard artificial intelligence as having human rights, but also, how will artificial intelligence treat us?” says Gladwin.A line in the play ‘they’ll probably treat us how we treat chickens and turkeys’ references a true story that partly inspired the play. In 2013, 32 intellectually disabled men

idiot teacher has never felt so, so good. I hear you, Jarry! (OA) Until Sep 21. Kings Cross Hotel, 244/248 William St, Potts Point. $25-$30+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.toothandsinew.com

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STAGE SCENE Sounds SCREEN

fun, comedy, and inspiration. Hume spoke with City Hub about how rewarding his career has become.

“That’s the whole reason we do what we do – to see the kids’ reactions, to see the happiness on their faces. Last time we were in Perth we visited the children’s hospital over there and it was incredible just to see the enjoyment on their faces.”

The Greatest Magic Show is an allhands-on-deck production, with the team bringing volunteers from the audience onto the stage throughout the entire performance.

“Because of the kids, because of

the volunteers, the show is different each and every time that you go and see it which keeps it fresh,” said Sam. With entertainment for the whole family, The Greatest Magic Show is the perfect family package for a great day out, with Sam saying: “It really is enjoyed by everyone who comes – parents and kids as well. It’s very involved, all the kids are involved.

They can expect to be amazed by the magic, and it’s a hilarious show as well. We want the kids who come to feel inspired, too.” (MB) Sep 20-22. Various Locations. $21-$27+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.sydneyfringe.com

Street

While waiting for a Sydney train late one night, writer and director Liviu Monsted started observing the routines and lifestyles of the CBD’s homeless.

This September his play Street, which is based around his experiences with Sydney’s homeless, will open at Chippen Street Theatre for four shows only. Telling the story of Miriam and Foster, two homeless characters who are seasoned in their harsh lifestyles on Sydney’s streets, Street brings to light a world that is often unseen and unheard.

Writer and director Liviu spoke with City Hub about his experiences in the lead-up to writing the play, saying:“If it wasn’t so creepy I probably would have just sat down and watched them every night but that in a sense is

what I wanted to play out in the theatre – you sitting across the road from an event, and what happens in the middle of the night with homeless people.”

Liviu also expanded on society’s usual interactions with homeless people, that we see them from a distance and often choose not to get too close. He went on to say, “…for most of the play, the characters are right up against the

Arts Editor: Jamie Apps For more A&E stories go to cityhubsydney.com.au and don’t forget to join the conversation on Twitter at @AltMediaSydney

back wall. Similar to when you observe them on the street.”

Despite the heavy themes and confronting plotline, Street wasn’t written by Liviu to push a message of morality or leave audiences feeling uncomfortable.

The script is quite comedic and reflects the true lived experiences of people living on the streets of Sydney. Liviu finished by saying, “We’re not trying to force any kind of major idea onto you, we’re simply showing you the reality of a situation.You can take whatever you want out of it.

We want you to create your own narrative from it, almost.”

10% of all ticket sales will be donated to Youth Off The Streets. (MB) Sep 25-28, Chippen Street Theatre, 45 Chippen Street, Chippendale. $30-$33+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.sydneyfringe.com

Contributors: Irina Dunn, Mark Morellini, Rita Bratovich, Madison Behringer, Allison Hore, Renee Lou Dallow, Alannah Maher.

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THE NAKED CITY

Art Attack Any time #ArtAttack is given even the smallest excuse to frock up in our best outfit we jump at it. On Monday #ArtAttack will be channeling their inner Priscilla Queen Of The Desert as we don our finest formal wear to attend the first sleepPink Gala at L’Aqua. This event will be raising funds for the first sleepPink bus in Australia, a sister to the sleepBlue bus in Melbourne. The sleep Pink bus will have 22 sleeping pods, a toilet, shower, and security guard to provide Sydney’s women and children a safe haven to escape to if required.

Sep 23. L’Aqua, Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour. $99+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.bit.ly/sleepPink Speaking of special outfits, Elvis had some very memorable costumes. Who could forget those bedazzled jumpsuits!

Why do we mention Elvis though? Oh well because the dates for the annual Parkes Elvis Festival were announced this week. The 28th running of the festival will take place in Parkes over the course of the January 8-12 weekend in 2020. You can get your tickets now though at www.parkeselvisfestival. com.au.

If, like #ArtAttack, you’re a little impatient and want something to do this weekend then check out the brand new holes at Holey Money Newtown.

Oh and while you’re there take advantage of the new limited-edition bottomless brunch every weekend from September 21 until October 31, #ArtAttack certainly will be!

THE VORACITY OF VINYL!

With Coffin Ed When the man who may well be the next president of the United States tells parents that their children should have ‘a record player on at night’, you can safely claim that the ‘vinyl revival’ has now been officially validated.This was Joe Biden’s recent urging and you would have to speculate that Joe is a bona fide vinyl freak, with a healthy stash of 45s and LPs lining the walls of his music room at home.

Up until now the recent renaissance of analog record players and the platters needed to keep them spinning has been seen as partly a nostalgia trip, partly a reaction to the Orwellian programming of music dictated by streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music.Yet what might have been viewed as a two or three-year resurgence, is now very much a commercial reality.

New vinyl pressing plants have opened throughout the world, including Australia, and sales of turntables have never been stronger.There are literally hundreds of new turntables on the market ranging from the ultra-cheap suitcase variety to ridiculously expensive audiophile models such as the Derenville VPM 2010-1 which will set you back a staggering US$650,000.

Most vinyl fans would rather have that amount of cash to spend on the records themselves and needless to say the market for second hand and collectable 45s and albums has never been stronger. Many one-time vinyl

hoarders regret disposing of their collections 20 or 30 years ago when it seemed the CD would remain supreme.

These days Sydney has a number of thriving record shops that deal almost exclusively in vinyl and record fairs are a regular occurrence.The thrill of crate digging, of coming unexpectedly on some rare or bargain item, drives many collectors. Unfortunately, these days the pickings in this respect are well and

truly rare.The internet and sites like Discogs mean everybody has ready access to valuing a record. It’s unlikely you will walk into a Vinnies or a second-hand record shop these days and pull some long lost gem from the racks.

Back in the 70s and 80s however, Sydney was a plentiful hunting ground for record hounds with shops like Ashwoods and Lawsons and some rather unusual sources. In the early 80s,

a number of bargain shops in Sydney imported thousands of 45s from the US, obviously bought as a job lot and covering a wide range of genres. If you had the patience and enthusiasm to trawl through what was often a mountain of discs there were some real finds awaiting. Meanwhile, in a dusty Paddington second-hand furniture shop I can remember finding boxes of old US King and Federal 45s with artists like James Brown and Freddy King. How the hell did they get there?

These days people crave portability when it comes to listening to music and obviously smartphones lead the way. One thing that never really caught on in Australia, or the US for that matter, when vinyl was at its peak in the 60s and 70s, was the dashboard 45 player as pictured above with Muhammad Ali. Perhaps it’s just as well.

These gadgets had a bad reputation for chewing up your precious platters not to mention the safety aspect of changing the player every two or three minutes whilst driving if you wanted to keep up a constant supply of music.

Practicalities aside, they do look rather cool, if only from a retro perspective.

Find a working model today and you will have truly struck gold. It’s not the sort of thing you would now consider in your jalopy but they would make a great novelty item installed anywhere space was at a premium – your toilet perhaps, in a campervan or as a secret obsession from family, friends or flatmates in your bedroom closet.

The Art Of Banksy

Girl with Red Balloon

He is the most famous unknown artist in the world; the anonymous graffiti ninja who goes by the moniker, Banksy. Regarded as a rebel, urban hero, vandal, crusader, he is one of the most influential artists of modern times. A rare exhibition of his work is currently being toured around the world and has just opened in Sydney. The exhibition has been curated by former manager, Steve Lazarides, and is made up of canvases, screenprints, and sculptures from his own and other private collections. It is the largest collection of Banksy’s works ever toured and is notably unsanctioned by the artist. When

pieces including Girl With Red Balloon, Flower Thrower and Rude Copper, as well as photographs Lazarides was asked whether this conflicts with and videos that provide a unique behind-theBanksy’s ideals, he says: scenes glimpse into the artist at work.

“No, he’s been doing it for years […] these guys “He’s one of the first artists really to speak to - how are they supposed to live? How are they the people,” says Lazarides. “He was putting going to make money?” artwork out at a highly politicised time. He was Lazarides believes that Banksy’s art deserves to putting a message out that was very simplistic, it be seen, and mainstream art galleries have so far was funny, and the general public adopted him in refused to display the work. He also says there’s a way artists have never been adopted. He will go a bit of quid pro quo in allowing audiences access down as the most popular artist in history by a to the art. country mile.” (RB) “The general public made this artist, the general Until Oct 27. Entertainment Quarter, public has the right to see his work,” he explains. Errol Flynn Blvd, Moore Park. $32-$45+b.f.

On display will be some of Banksy’s most iconic Tickets & Info: www.theartofbanksyau.com.au

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Art Attack This past week #ArtAttack scoped out a couple of very exciting music tours coming to Sydney soon. First up to the mark is the always exciting Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival (SIWJF). The festival will see 100 leading female artists overrun venues around Sydney throughout November.

Tickets are on sale now!

Nov 2-17. Various Venues & Prices.

Tickets & Info: www.siwjf.org

Next up is the announcement of Grammy award winner Patty Griffin making her long-awaited return. For the first time in over a decade, Griffin will bring her spellbinding show to the City Recital Hall on March 10, 2020. Tickets are on sale now!

Nov 10. City Recital Hall, 2 Angel Pl, Sydney. $79-$89+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.cityrecitalhall.com Speaking of award winners, the 2019 Freedman Jazz Fellowship winner was announced this week!

Novak Manojlovic was awarded the fellowship this year following the

performance of his superb suite of original music utilising both piano and synthesiser. Novak plans to use the $20,000 Freedman Fellowship to take his longstanding piano trio HEKKA (featuring Jacques Emery on bass and Tully Ryan on drums) on a 10-date national and international Oceanic tour, where they will collaborate with a projection artist residing in each city.

If you want to try and catch a glimpse of #ArtAttack this weekend though you have two main options, Kate Miller-Heidke’s show or Judy Bailey’s Jazz Connection Big Band both on Saturday night. When

#ArtAttack looked at the websites for both shows this week they were stunned that tickets were still available, come on Sydney we can do better!

Kate Miller-Heidke Sep 22. Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney. $69-$109+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com Judy Bailey’s Jazz Connection Big Band Sep 22. Lazybones, 294 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville.

FREE. Tickets & Info: www.lazyboneslounge.com.au

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Tyne-James Organ Persevere

By Jamie Apps Typically when you think of major music festivals headlined by international acts you immediately think of electronic dance music, bright lights and lasers, pyrotechnics, and thousands of young people partying long into the night. Later this month though an all-new music festival arrives on the scene, bringing with it an entirely different genre of music.

Country To Country (C2C) Australia will be making its debut in Sydney after already sweeping its way across Europe, entertaining thousands of country music fans.

Headlined by American country music superstars Tim McGraw and Kelsea Ballerini C2C will be showcasing the best of the best country music talent from abroad and locally. C2C will deliver 10 hours of country music across three stages, with something for every taste.

When speaking to City Hub ahead of the festival both headline acts, McGraw and Ballerini, were excited to return to Australia for one reason in particular… the knowledge and appreciation for

Art Attack Following a sell-out weekend of screenings, masterclasses and networking events, which made #ArtAttack feel very inferior in regards to their own mobile phone photography/cinematography skills, the best of the best of the Smartfone Flick Fest are now known.

Across a range of categories, 19 fine creatives walked away with impressive accolades for their resumes.

Some of the stand out winners included; Kate Snashall (Kids Best Director for her film 718 Thousand Miles), Rocco Roncato (Kids Best Cinematography for the film Ants), Bryan Fisher (Best Cinematography for Colder), and finally 11-year-old disability activist Emily Prior (Community Award for Say Something).

Lastly this week, #ArtAttack loves a great zombie movie with a nice cold beer. If that also sounds like you then look no further than our friends over at Palace Cinemas, as they will be hosting a special Craft Beer & Cinema advance screening of the upcoming film The Dead Don’t Die which stars Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, and a raft of other huge names!

Sep 20. Palace Cinemas - Central & Norton St. $18-23+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www. palacecinemas.com.au Remember if you’ve got any tidbits to share, send them our way, at #HubAttack.

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music displayed by Australian audiences.

“I’ve gotten to play a couple of shows in Australia now and the thing that shocks me every time, and makes me want to come back, is that you can’t even tell which songs are the singles,” said Ballerini before continuing, “I feel like everyone listens to the full albums and invests in all of the songs, and that to me has been so noticeable every time I’ve gotten to play there.”

To which McGraw added, “That’s something as an

artist, when you see an audience – especially an audience that’s not in America – that digs in and really feels what you’re saying and feels the music and really has a connection, that’s something pretty special.”

McGraw and Ballerini have become synonymous with the C2C festival, having headlined its inaugural outing in Europe and now repeating that feat in Australia. When asked what makes C2C so special to them Ballerini said, “the way that they’ve helped spread country music [in the UK and Kelsea Ballerin

Europe] has been huge for Nashville and country music. So I’m very excited to continue waving our country music flag in Australia.”

A sentiment which was once again echoed by McGraw, “It’s been really cool to be a part of this and watch it grow and see country music spread all over the world, that’s what’s been the coolest thing.”

With this being the festival’s debut in Australia Ballerini, in particular, was incredibly excited to perform, and also be able to watch the other acts.

“This is the first time the festival has come to Australia so we’re all going to be very excited, but because I feel like Australia is my second home every time I get to come back I’m always fully fully in it… Also, Tim McGraw is a legend, so to be able to do my thing then get off stage and go watch him is a treat. My inner fangirl will be thriving.”

Sep 28. Qudos Bank Arena, 19 Edwin Flack Ave, Sydney Olympic Park. $101.

75-$406.40+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.c2c-countrytocountry.com.au

Good Boys

The coming of age comedy genre shifts its focus ever-younger with the latest film from a team of producers led by Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg. The team’s latest outing Good Boys obviously closely echoes elements of the comedy classic Superbad, but this time a much younger trio is placed at the core of the story.

Good Boys follows three naive 12-year-olds; Max (Jacob Tremblay), Thor (Brady Noon), and Lucas (Keith L. Williams) as they make the natural, yet difficult, transition from children to teenagers. As the affectionately self-named “Bean Bag Boys” work their way

through this period of their lives they grapple with popularity, the opposite sex, and perhaps the scariest thing for them… kissing girls.

Throughout the film, the boys are placed into increasingly more absurd situations. Beginning with a crashed drone as the boys attempt to spy on their female teenage neighbours and ending with a crazy frat house shootout.

Whilst Good Boys is funny and doesn’t overstay its welcome, clocking in at just 90 minutes, it does become overly reliant on its central joke. (JA)

WW

Over the past few years singersongwriter Tyne-James Organ has dedicated his life to fostering a deep connection with his live audience. Now with the release of his debut record release Organ is looking to make that connection spread even more widely as his music becomes accessible to more than just his live audience.

Persevere is an incredibly intimate and honest indie record.

The EP opens with Something New, a blistering indie-rock styled offering which immediately had this writer foot tapping along to the music. From there the EP maintains it indierock momentum but also injects a level of indie-folk soul as Organ opens up his heart to the listener with the tracks Graceful, Watch You Go, and Say No More. Organ’s incredible vocals and deep, contemplative songwriting come to the fore during this middle portion of the record.

This is an incredible debut outing by a young musician who we will certainly be hearing a lot more from in the future. Get on the bandwagon now before it’s overcrowded! (JA) WWWW1/2

The Brink

It’s unclear what exactly the title refers to, but this insight into the inner realm of Steve Bannon does make you feel like we’re on the edge of a precipice.

Alison Klayman goes up close and personal with her lens, trailing Bannon on his quest to unite ultra-conservative, far-right entities across the globe after his short stint as a White House employee.

It’s an un-narrated, un-stylised, behind-the-scenes chronicle of Bannon’s activities, from mundane admin to disturbingly casual

meetings with leading extremeright figures discussing unsavoury agendas. There are a few angry outbursts and awkward encounters caught on film, but you get the sense that Bannon is always acutely aware and therefore well-behaved for the camera. However, that in itself is very telling.

The film spans a period of several months, beginning just prior to the 2018 mid-term elections. It’s a key-hole peep at arrogance in motion. (RB) WWW

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Enjoy membership benefits

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