City Hub 1 June 2017

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Opinion

Islamophobia on the rise again

BY GEORGIA CLARK The damning findings of the Lindt cafe siege, handed down in the coronial inquest last week, revealed not only that NSW Police should have stormed the Lindt Cafe before Man Haron Monis shot Tori Johnson, but that they were ill-prepared to deal with terror negotiations.The devastated families of Lindt Cafe Siege victims Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson have hit out at the police’s handling of the siege.

The development comes just days after the Manchester Arena crisis, when a suicide bomber blasted thousands of punters at a concert. The global psyche was cast to the reverberating global fear that Islam is a breeding ground for terrorism. The events borne of terrorism are an assault against humanity and barbaric acts of cruelty that are to be condemned.

But Muslims in the Australian community are imploring Australians not to draw assumptions about Islam based on the radicalisation of the minority.

The calls come as the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad condemned the terrorist attack in Manchester, labelling it “completely opposed to the teachings of Islam.”

Lisa Berrahal, Community Engagement Officer at the Muslim Women’s Association of Australia, said that Islamophobia within Australia is worsening as the media perpetuates stereotypes around Islam and terrorism.

“Older generations of Muslims report that they felt far more accepted than younger Australian Muslims... Misrepresentations of Muslims and Islam as a whole and a lot of fear mongering is causing more and more Islamophobia,” she said.

Ali Kadri, spokesperson at the Islamic Society of Holland Park expressed fear that the perpetuation of myths around Islam will continue to worsen as acts of terror, such as those in Manchester, occur.

“The most common of the misconception is that Islam and its teachings are the sole reason behind terrorism…mostly it’s the lazy and sensationalist journalism, which perpetuates stereotypes, based on actions of obscure and often fringe elements within Muslim community.

“On top of it are the terrorists groups, who for political reasons continue to mislead young men and incite lone wolf attacks such as the one in Manchester. There is a third wheel in pushing this narrative and that is extreme right,” he said.

Last week marked the start of the holy month of Ramadan,

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The Lindt Cafe in Martin Place December 2014, when a gunman took 18 people hostage. Credit: Wikimedia commons

a time in which Muslims fast and engage in prayer as they celebrate the handing down of the Qu’ran to Muhammad.

According to Mr Kadri, Ramadan is a form of Jihad. Ms Berrahal said that too often Jihad has been misunderstood to mean a declaration of war against other religions.

“The true meaning of Jihad is “to strive” or “exert strong effort” in the way of god... The Quran itself only uses the word Jihad in the sense of using one’s wealth and self towards a good cause.

“The word Qital is mentioned instead for fighting, however the Quran is clear that Qital (fighting) is only to be done in a just cause, namely freeing people from oppression and when all other means have been exhausted,” she said.

Muhammad Rachmat Akbar, an Indonesian Muslim from Jakarta, said that contrary to much of the fear mongering around Islam, it is a peaceful religion.

“The majority of Islam think [terrorists] are not Muslim. They just used the Muslim name to destroy our religion. Once they are terrorist, they are terrorist. Not Muslim anymore,” he said.

Just last week Senator Pauline Hanson spoke out on Twitter, sharing her speech in Parliament arguing for a ban on Islamic immigration to Australia. In her Tweet she argued that second generation Islam is becoming increasingly radicalised, and the Manchester attacks is evidence of this. But according to Ms Berrahal, linking Islam with terrorism reflects an inherent bias.

“There was a terrible attack over the weekend in Portland where a white supremacist was hassling two muslim women and then killed 2 men and injured a third for trying to help the ladies. This is being referred to as a hate crime but if the perpetrator was muslim it would be classed as terrorism,” she said.

In Senator Hanson’s Parliamentary speech arguing in favour of a ban on Muslim immigration, she relied on an Essential survey conducted last year, revealing that 1 in 2 Australians supported a ban in Muslim immigration. This survey, however, was scrutinised for its online sampling methodology, as opposed to the more reliable random sampling method. A Roy Morgan survey conducted in 2015 comparatively revealed that only 28% of Australians oppose Muslim immigration. Mr Kadri said that all religions are susceptible to this sort of bias.

“Islam like other great faiths is inherently tolerant but just like other faiths can easily be hijacked by those who have political agenda… I am afraid that things are getting worse and sometimes I wonder that this may end up in a holocaust of Muslims in the west,” he said.

While evidence is still unclear around whether the perpetrator of the Lindt siege, Man Haron Monis could have

been considered a terrorist working for Islamic State, the Lindt Siege was indisputably a terrorist incident and Monis was a Muslim who had pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

Nonetheless, the radicalisation of a minority of Muslims should not institute bias against all Muslims. Despite this, findings by the the Australian Human Rights Commission revealed that many Muslim Australians suffered systematic racism following the siege.

“Many participants labelled anti-Muslim discrimination a daily or regular occurrence, particularly following the Sydney Lindt café siege in December 2014 and heightened concerns about national security,” according to the report.

One former student at Macquarie University, Tom Boyce, said that many Muslims at his university identify themselves as Australian, despite claims by Senator Hanson that Muslims struggle to assimilate in Australian culture.

“Even before 9/11 Muslims faced discrimination and islamophobia because headscarfs and veils were seen by non Muslims as indifference between Christians Jews and Muslims. Most Australian Muslims do like to practice Islam in moderate ways while embracing Australian ways of living,” he said.

While Man Haron Monis and the perpetrator of the Manchester attacks were both Muslim, the barbarism of the minority should not reflect on the majority of Muslims. For instance, Monis’ criminal record not only indicated a history of violence, but also that he was becoming increasingly radicalised. Similarly, evidence coming from Manchester is slowly revealing that the police had Alman Abedi on their radar. According to Mr Kadri, Australians should embrace the multiculturalism that it prides itself in, and dismiss unfair associations between Islam and terror.

“I am afraid that the vast majority of the people who don’t belong to either of these camps are slowly getting radicalised by rhetoric from politicians like Trump, Hanson etc. in [the] absence of a counter narrative from other leaders and this is especially true in Australia,” he said.

Ms Berrahal said that the media has a large role to play in debunking myths around Islam, rather than reinforcing them.

“I think we can minimise public stigma of Islam by more inter-faith events and dialogues. Also show casing more positive Australian Muslim personalities who demonstrate that they have no problem loving Islam and Australia simultaneously. There is so many positive things happening within the muslim community but unfortunately this isn’t shown by the media,” she said. city hub 1 JUNE 2017

3

Indigenous Sydneysiders demand recognition

BY GEORGIA CLARK Hundreds of Indigenous Australians took the helm last week to demand long awaited recognition in Australia’s constitution.

An APRA event held in Redfern on Tuesday hosted Indigenousled discussions around recognition, in the lead up to national Reconciliation Week.

Recognise Campaign Director Mark Yettica-Paulson led a panel speaking at the event this week. He said previous recommendations made by the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition in 2012 were not responded to by the Gillard Government or successive governments. Despite this, Mr Yettica-Paulson says that discussions will continue in the hope of facilitating change.

“Despite the fact there hasn’t been a formal response, Recognise has continued its role of raising awareness of the issues and principles outlined in these reports,” he said.

Waverley Councillor Dominic Wy Kanak said institutional racism, such as that in the Constitution, is one of the main struggles of First Nations People and could be improved through the assertion of unceded sovereignty.

“A healing of some part of the First Nations Peoples’ intergenerational trauma from invasion , dispossession and racism,” he said.

The Constitution underpins the foundations of our society - the heads of power of Parliament, the judiciary and the fundamental rights of all Australians. Yet it omits any reference to our First People and their 50,000 years of occupation prior to colonisation. Instead, under s. 51(xxvi) it permits laws to be made for other races, and this power extends to their detriment as well as benefit. While 90% of Australians voted in favour of recognition Indigenous Australians in our Constitution more than 40 years ago, reform is a slow process.

But according to the City of Sydney, Reconciliation Australia Board Director Kirstie Parker, the 1967 referendum was and still remains the most successful referendum in Australian history.

“The 1967 referendum anniversary shows us what we can achieve when Australia collectively works together towards a unified goal. It also reminds us how much we are still yet to do towards achieving a truly reconciled Australia.”

But the Australian Monarchists League said it is keeping a close watch on constitutional amendments that involve changes to Parliamentary processes.

“The League believes it is important to ensure that the supremacy

This week is National Reconciliation Week. Credit: Wikimedia commons

of the Parliament is not affected by the inclusion of an elected assembly which may have power to question the decisions of the Parliament,” they said.

The Law Council of Australia last week submitted its recommendations to the Referendum Council’s Discussion Paper.

Fiona McLeod SC, President of the Law Council of Australia said that the Referendum Council has been critical in supporting dialogue around reform.

“The Law Council has long held that the Australian Constitution should formally recognise the distinct identities of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and secure them equality before the law,” she said.

Despite garnering support and attracting the attention of media in recent years, amending the Constitution is a slow process that requires public consensus. But according to Mr Yettica-Paulson, reform is crucial to closing the gap between Indigenous and nonIndigenous Australians.

“Constitutional recognition will unite Australians, giving us greater shared pride and deeper connection with our country’s impressive Indigenous heritage,” he said.

According to Ms McLeod, constitutional reform should be a national priority, given the PwC report showing that the Australian

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economy could save $19 billion annually by 2040 if it closes the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous incarceration.

“There remains a critical need to address the widening justice gao. Indigenous incarceration rates are continuing to rise and all governments share responsibility,” she said.

Reconciliation Week was also marked by the Uluru Convention, which saw hundreds of Indigenous Australians gathered at the famous rock to discuss historic reforms to the document.

The Uluru Convention marked a watershed moment, as 300 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders gathered at Uluru to discuss constitutional reforms, voting in favor of not just recognition, but the founding of a representative body and a process towards initiating treaties.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart, which was the result of three days of deliberations, said that drastic reforms are needed to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

“When we have power over our destiny, our children will flourish.

They will walk in two worlds and their culture will be a gift to their country,” the statement said.

The Convention marked the culmination of 12 different discussions around the nation, and the first of a series of efforts to let Indigenous people lead discourse around reform. The event sparked local discussions across Australia.

Mr Yettica-Paulson said that the Uluru Convention sought to facilitate Indigenous-led reform, as opposed to most attempts which are spearheaded by white Australian politicians.

“The Uluru Statement is really important for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to be heard in this broad political climate.

It’s also important because it raises concerns and issues and matters that we’ve been talking about and progressing for decades,” he said.

Mr Wy Kanak said that in the wake of Reconciliation Week, focus still needs to be placed on ensuring discussions around constitutional reform are led by Indigenous Australians.

“Uluru highlighted [the lack of Indigenous involvement in discourse], but more reform and proper First Nation involvement still needs to occur,” he said.

The recommendations of the Uluru Convention and the Referendum Council are due to be presented to the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition by the 30 June 2017. But the Turnbull Government has not yet identified how it will implement the recommendations.

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5

Sydney queer media empire in flames yet again as hundreds of thousands owed

By Serkan Ozturk It’s the Sydney queer media empire that’s come crumbling down like … well, a broken vase, in this case.

SX Magazine and SameSame owners, Dean Anthony Bell and Mark Christopher Anthony, are now in hiding after their Evo Media empire fell for the second time in the space of four years, with scores of employees and dozens of creditors after the pair for owing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

But this time the stakes are higher with accusations the media group engage in widespread circulation and distribution rorts, while Mr Anthony himself was captured on camera being served by the corporate regulator ASIC mid-last-month over a range of corporate offences.

It’s the second time the couple have left dozens of inner-city workers and businesses out of pocket after their previous media company Evolution Publishing was driven into liquidation in March 2013.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars were owed then in superannuation alone, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Tax Office, and a quarter of a million dollars to their printers.

Mr Anthony was the company’s director at the time. Evo Media was borne out of the ashes of Evolution Publishing after Mr Bell – who was the general manager of the previous company and is Mr Anthony’s partner – was named the sole director of the new company. It is alleged the couple engaged in what is known as a “phoenix scam” in a bid to get away from paying creditors but continue running the same company.

Documents provided to City Hub show Mr Anthony was allegedly presenting himself as Evo Media’s company’s director to both employees and suppliers despite regulations preventing him from

Mr Mark Anthony, former owner of now liquidated Evolution Publishing and Evo Media. Credit: Serkan Ozturk

holding the position following the administration of Evolution Publishing four years ago.

Bill Calder, a former journalist and longtime LGBTIQ media watcher, told City Hub that the repeat failure of Evo Media was perhaps also a tale in a larger story of digitisation and ‘free, easy access’ affecting wide sections of the media.

The only remaining LGBTIQ print media is the Star Observer which now only releases a monthly magazine.

“The internet has smashed the gay print media business model with rapidly declining circulation and advertising revenue,” Mr Calder said.

“People have moved to digital sites such as Grindr for its convenience and enhanced features, but this has meant journalism and news has suffered. Digital news media currently struggles to find a business model that allows it to fund journalism.”

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This time the couple at the helm of Evo Media also have kitchen staff and butchers after them for thousands of dollars too, after the couple purchased the Locanda Olivetti café at 140 William Street, Woolloomooloo in early 2016.

The café was forced to close barely 12 months later after not being able to pay rent. Workers say they were not paid superannuation and were underpaid. Mr Anthony and Mr Bell are now in a legal dispute with building’s landlords who say they are owed close to $60,000 in rent from the pair for their former media offices.

Ron Hughes, 55, was the long-serving editor of Adelaide-based Blaze magazine, a title owned by Evolution Publishing since 2008. Mr Hughes, who is the full-time carer for his elderly and ill father, was made redundant in September 2016 after eight years with Evolution Publishing and then Evo Media.

Mr Hughes told City Hub he is now surviving on Centrelink benefits after being owed tens of thousands of dollars in superannuation as well as his redundancy package which has still not been paid to him after more than six months.

“Most of us employees were there because we wanted to make a difference to our community,” Mr Hughes said, who spent 18 years working in LGBTIQ media.

One other fed up employee says he tried for over a month to get in contact with Mr Anthony, and was left owing thousands to his real estate agent for rent, as he had failed to receive his wages in full or on time going back to September 2016.

“He’s clearly one of the biggest liars and frauds I have ever worked for,” the former Evo Media sales employee said.

Other employees are considering launching legal action against Mr Anthony and Mr Bell or

their companies, with scores said to be owed up to $50,000 or more going back to the days of Evolution Publishing. The couple had been operating SX magazine under Evolution Publishing and then Evo Media for close to 15 years, and over that time added other queer magazine and web titles including Gay News Network and the popular SameSame website.

Kieran Hunt was a former sales employee with both companies. He told CityHub he was driven to his wit’s end by the lack of any real action taken by any governmental authority.

“I kept in contact with the liquidators when Evolution was liquidated. They didn’t do anything about it,” he said.

“I’ve lodged Evo Media to the ATO as they owe me around $19,000 in super. They still haven’t done anything about it. When I lodged my issue about unpaid commissions ASIC were unsure if they could help me,” Mr Hunt said.

“It’s not right. Government departments shouldn’t allow these businesses to continue trading.”

Mr Calder for his part believes the failure of Evo Media as well as the growing difficulties of larger players such as Fairfax will allow for an opportunity for perhaps better quality news to eventually develop.

“There is a growing appetite for edited and verified online information, including journalism, to offset the spread of genuinely ‘fake news’. Developments in the online business model and subsequent competition for ‘eye-balls’ will drive this,” he said.

“Mainstream media, possibly Facebook and Google even, will solve this first and then a myriad of commercially successful special interest publishers will follow.”

BIO / DISCLOSURE: Serkan Ozturk is the publisher of TrueCrimeNewsWeekly.com and was a former employee of Evolution Publishing between May 2011-March 2013.

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7

WestConnex has homeowner arrested at home

BY PAUL CLARK Mr Van Ngo, 68, pleaded guilty in Newtown Local Court on Tuesday 16 May to charges arising from him ‘breaking into’ his own home which had been compulsorily acquired for WestConnex.

Magistrate Margaret Quinn dismissed a conviction under the crimes sentencing procedure act.

Mr Ngo was arrested for ‘breaking in’ to his own property in St Peters in December 2016. His home had been compulsorily acquired for WestConnex and police were called when he refused to surrender possession of the property. Subsequently Mr Ngo was charged with property damage and entering a premises without a lawful excuse. He spent seven nights in Silverwater Correctional Centre after initially being denied bail. A second bail application secured his release until his court appearance in May 2017.

At the time Mr Ngo was arrested he believed that he was still in negotiation about the acquisition of his home. Apparently, the process does not work that way and the government can take possession of a person’s home before the price is agreed by all parties. It is understandable that Mr Ngo was unclear about at what point the government had acquired his property, as the acquisition process is complex to a level that would confuse Byzantine court plotters.

According to the NSW government published guide to compulsory acquisition, the Valuer General may determine the amount of compensation to be offered either before or after the acquisition takes effect. This is terrific unless one is on the receiving end of it. Astoundingly, before the government acted on some of the recommendations of reviews conducted into the compulsory acquisition process

by David Russell QC and Customer Service Commissioner Mike Pratt, homeowners were being charged rent to stay in what was once their own property.

Pauline Lockie, spokesperson for the

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WestCONnex Action Group, knows all about the stress of the compulsory acquisition process. The state government also recently acquired her home in the inner west.

“We just came to a settlement in March 2017,” she said. “This is from a process that started on Melbourne Cup day 2014.”

Ms Lockie says that in 2014 about 81 households in the St Peters area were advised that their properties were to be acquired. Most were confirmed after Australia day in 2015, but there are still some people awaiting confirmation one way or the other.

Fighting the acquisition in court is an expensive business. Ms Lockie says that taking RMS (Roads and Maritime Services) to the Land and Environment Court is a two-stage process: mediation followed by a hearing. By the time a case gets to a

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hearing in front of a judge, costs could top $140,000.

Most would be unlikely to recover this horrific sum.

The compulsory acquisitions for WestConnex are below the perception radar of many Sydney residents. It all sounds incredible, until it happens in your street. St Peters, Ashfield, Haberfield, and Rozelle are just a few of the areas that have been or may be in the firing line.

Exactly which locations or streets are in danger from WestConnex is difficult to determine from what information is made available about the project to the public.

This is why the Inner West Council has given the state government a serve for the latest ‘consultation’ over WestConnex.

The Council says that WestConnex is inviting comment on the M4-M5 Link Concept Design but doing it in such a way that no real input can be made. “The opportunity to provide feedback on the design is incredibly narrow,” said Council Administrator Richard Pearson.

“Just eight aspects of the Concept Design are open for comment – and these include the architectural design of the ventilation stacks and the entry and exit points. I know our local residents will have a lot more to say about these than what they look like,” he said.

“How can the community properly comment on a design that raises more questions than answers?” asked Mr Pearson, drawing attention to aspects of the Concept Design that Council calls “inaccurate, confusing and misleading”.

The Council also says that comment is made more difficult by deliberate omissions of adverse features, such as the locations of schools and aged care facilities.

Examination of the WestConnex website revealed several ways of making comments including email, a web form, and making comment on an interactive map. What is not clear is what, if anything, happens to these submissions. The M4-M5 Link Concept

Design May 2017 itself includes many references to how the project has listened to the community, though these seem to consist largely of examples of WestConnex not doing something that would have been egregiously ridiculous.

“There is no surface work proposed for Pioneers Memorial Park, Leichhardt,” is just one of these.

Well, thanks WestConnex.

The Concept Design also seems to offer strange design choices such as the now infamous Dan Murphy’s ‘site’ (otherwise known as a building) on Darley Road, which is proposed to be used for tunnelling.

“The potential site at 7 Darley Road, Lilyfield is between the light rail line, City West Link and Darley Road. It is currently occupied by Dan Murphy’s liquor outlet. We envisage this site would be used as a launching site for two tunnelling machines as well as removal of excavated material,” says the Concept Design.

If any tunnelling must be done, why a huge site such as the now abandoned Rozelle Rail Yards 1km away, cannot be used goes unexplained.

The Inner West Council says it is concerned that the Environmental Impact Statement for the M4-M5 link will be issued before comments have even been received.

“If what we are hearing is true, that the EIS may come out before comments are received and considered on the Concept Design, then this is completely unacceptable, and makes no sense at all,” Mr Pearson said.

In a final dig at WestConnex, the Inner West council called on the Government to reform the consultation process.

“I would hope that when the Minister becomes aware of this he will agree and ensure that the EIS is not released until comments have been received and fully considered. Otherwise it truly will meet the test of a “Clayton’s” consultation,” Mr Pearson said.

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city hub 1 JUNE 2017

9

Opinion

Taking the ‘public’ out of Public Services

BY JASON IDE A fortnight ago seemingly from nowhere, NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance fired the latest shot in an ongoing ideological war.

Citing ‘poor performance’, he announced the privatisation of bus routes in Sydney’s bus region six, covering suburbs from Kensington in the city’s south-east to Strathfield and Olympic Park in the west. (Never mind that these are the most congested streets in Sydney, and a monument to transport planning failure over many years.)

Cue howls of protest from bus drivers and their union, who claimed this was a betrayal of earlier guarantees made to them.

Drivers defied orders from the Industrial Relations Commission and went on strike that Thursday, making their displeasure plain to all.

But anyone who was surprised by this alleged betrayal clearly hasn’t been paying attention in NSW, or even Australia.

Our various Liberal governments have been selling off and deregulating public assets at bargain basement prices well before now. And, with the current political climate tending towards punchdrunk apathy, this trend shows no sign of slowing down.

Electricity distribution. The NSW Land Titles registry. The Bankstown train line. Sydney Ferries. Buses in the north, south and west. The giant, corrupt monstrosity of Westconnex. The gas market. Tertiary education. The list grows by the day, and often completely by stealth.

The Liberal party, and their think-tank shock troopers like the Institute of Public Affairs, have a blind ideological obsession with getting as many services and assets as possible out of the hands of government, and into those of private enterprise.

The neoliberal rationale goes that private enterprise is more efficient because it is driven by exposure to competition, and is more flexible and less bureaucratic than government.

The privatisation of the inner west bus fleet will only leave customers at a loss. Credit: Wikimedia commons

Like most ideologies, it sounds great in theory, but in practice falls a long way short.

Governments are, by definition, monopolistic. They provide services such as transport, power, and education, to us -the taxpayers. These services should not run for profit, they must run because they are essential.

By placing them in the hands of private operators, public services no longer exist to serve the public, but to enrich their owners and shareholders. The neoliberals argue that these two goals are not necessarily opposed, but at this point in history we have a mountain of evidence to the contrary.

When a private company wants to increase efficiency, it sheds jobs. It reduces services. It raises prices and pares back on anything that doesn’t turn a profit.

That’s why in the year after the Manly ferry route was privatised we saw a 39% rise in prices and a 25% cut in services.

In Melbourne, where the rail system was privatised in 1999, trains are cancelled at a rate of hundreds per week in order to adhere to the operator’s ‘on time’ requirements.

These are not consumer goods, not a choice between Apple or Samsung. There should be no competition to a public service.

If you think that the Land Titles registry charges too much, well tough, because it’s the registry for all real estate in NSW. Think your electricity price is too high? Try changing your infrastructure provider. There’s only one set of poles & wires, and they are no longer working for us.

So how does the Liberal party get away with this privatisation obsession, when the public and the facts support keeping essential services in government hands?

Simple. The government gets to set the budgets. Underfund a public service such as TAFE, or Centrelink, and watch the complaints pile up. Set the IPA on them as attack dog, whip up some beat-up articles in the tabloids, and voilà – we have the appearance of inefficiency, and an excuse for selling off the system.

In the wake of this latest sell off, taxpayers will be the ones left with higher travel prices, more traffic congestion, and even fewer chances to call on the government to improve essential services.

Opinion

Woollahra Councillor Anthony Marano. Credit: Supplied

Our kids deserve a Residents oppose the demolition voice on their future of a Lewisham Pub

BY WOOLLAHRA COUNCILLOR ANTHONY MARANO President of the Potts Point and Kings Cross Heritage and Residents’ Society, Andrew Woodhouse, recently claimed victory that a proposed skate facility for Rushcutters Bay had been stopped.

Andrew’s description of the project was inaccurate and prone to exaggeration-mistakes easily made when you are opposed to an idea before hearing the facts.

Therefore, I respectfully correct the following errors in the original article.

The facility would not cost “well over a million dollars” as our proposed design was priced at $700,000. And although a skate facility is in the Master Plan for Centennial Park, the Centennial Park Trust have until 2040 to 10

city hub 1 JUNE 2017

implement this and are not likely to do so earlier. By then these kids will be adults and their skating days will likely be over.

The park itself is not heritage listed at all, although the sea wall was heritage listed around one year ago. No trees were to be removed to accommodate the facility.

The skate park lighting could be timed to go off by 6pm, to ensure it was only used during daylight hours.

Kings Cross Police had no issue with it whatsoever. In fact, they thought it may help to get kids off the street into a safer place.

If we are really to engage our young people and give them alternatives to sitting in front of a mobile device or computer, we need to provide facilities where they can enjoy recreation, exercise and wait for it...FUN. The majority of objectors were in their 60’s and 70’s with no children around anymore.

The majority of supporters were younger parents with children.

Rushcutters Bay Park is a very beautiful park. It is one of our greatest public assets. But it is also very large and there is plenty of park for everyone.

I chose to stand and vote on behalf of young people when we voted on a basketball court, ping pong table and skating facilities.

I would do the same again tomorrow, because I believe young people are an important part of our community.

They deserve a voice and the best positive future we can give them.

BY SORAYA PEREZ MOHAMMED AND ALEX YUJIN A historic pub in Lewisham is feared to be the next casualty of Sydney’s relentless real estate development machine.

The Huntsbury Hotel was built in the 1800s and is one of Sydney’s oldest pubs. It was heritage listed by the former Marrickville Council.

A developer now wants to add an additional three storeys to the building for apartments. But Scott MacArthur, a heritage architect and President of the Marrickville Heritage Society, says the additions will completely change the building’s facade, resulting in the loss of a crucial piece of history.

“The proposed additional floors are out character with the original facades,” he said.

The plan for the Huntsbury Hotel is also alleged to breach several local council codes, including height and floor space ratio.

Mr MacArthur said the developer was trying to avoid complying with council codes by claiming it was necessary for “repairs”.

But conveniently, the plan would also allow the number of tiny apartments crammed onto the site to be significantly upped.

“The Society does not believe that such a non-compliant overdevelopment is appropriate for this significant building, and council should not approve it in its current form,” said Mr MacArthur.

He said any alteration to the building should respect the character of surrounding heritage streetscapes and neighborhoods.

Members of the community and local patrons are also dismayed at the plans to wipe out the iconic pub. Several residents voiced concern that a slew of new apartments will be disastrous for the area, bringing chaos and parking problems.

“This building is part of our community, it is one of the oldest in Sydney, it is part of our history too,” said John Mcarthur.

“A six-storey apartment block will collapse everything because there is not enough space to park. I guess if they turn it into a residential building this place will no longer be a quiet area,” said Tom Richardson, a hotel patron.

While some may think that building more apartments is good for the housing crisis, in fact it actually pushes rental prices up further.

Greens candidate Emma Heyde said in a recent

The historic Huntsbury Hotel, built in the 1800s, is at risk of being demolished and developed. Credit: Soraya Perez Mohammed

statement “There is a myth that more development solves the problem of people on average incomes not being able to afford housing close to where they work.

“We’ve seen massive apartment developments go up – but prices are going up just as fast,” she said.

Premier for NSW Gladys Berejiklian earlier this year announced a five point plan to target housing affordability, but Sydney residents are still waiting for any meaningful progress.

Property Council NSW Executive Director Jane Fitzgerald said they were waiting for the government to initiate action on the plan.

“Property Council members stand ready to build the houses NSW needs,” she said. “We just need the government to take the policy and budget decisions to meet us half way.”

“The Huntsbury Hotel is a landmark on New Canterbury Road, and is close to two important Conservation Areas, the Lewisham Estate and the Petersham Retail Precinct,” said Mr MacArthur.

He said the hotel was of significant aesthetic significance as a Victorian period hotel. The Huntsbury is one of Sydney’s last remaining relics of 20th century pubs.

FEATURE

Sydney Film Festival 2017

By Mark Morellini This prestigious film festival, which is regarded as one of the most prominent and diverse in the world amongst filmmakers and festival attendees alike, celebrates its 64th presentation and audiences should be mesmerised by the alluring program showcasing 288 films from 59 countries.

The popularity of this iconic event is exemplified by the expansion in venues, with the welcome addition of Randwick’s iconic Ritz Cinema, which celebrates its 80th birthday this year.

The much anticipated event for our global city is a celebration of world cinema and should have wide ranging appeal. Award ceremonies are a signature event at this festival, where excellence in feature films, short films and documentaries are honoured.

There are 12 films in competition for the 10th illustrious Sydney Film Prize, which includes Australian produced documentary We Don’t Need A Map by Cannes-awarded Indigenous director Warwick Thornton. This cutting-edge film which has its world premiere at the gala opening night, will take audiences on a journey through Australia’s colonial and Indigenous history to the present day.

Many events including free parties and virtual reality programs at the Hub, Q&A’s, red carpet premieres, meet the filmmaker talks and gourmet cinema packages highlight the ever-growing variety of entertainment available to festival-goers.

The objective of the meticulously curated program of movies is not only to entertain, but more importantly, to address important issues and open a window into the diverse cultures, immersing and challenging audiences.

Home grown Muslim film, Ali’s Wedding which focuses on a young Muslim man torn between adhering to family traditions and following his own heart, is destined to be a comedic hit at this year’s festival.

The story surrounds Ali, whose arranged marriage is fast approaching, but he’s deeply in love with another lady. Hilariously, to make things more complicated, he has lied about his medical entrance exam results so he can be with the love of his life and his father is also the Muslim Cleric – will true love conquer these obstacles?

Osamah Sami who plays the role of Ali, and is also credited as Associate Producer and co-writer, explained that this film is based on his own real-life experiences where his arranged marriage lasted under two hours.

“It’s pretty close to my story minus the comedy – there was a lot of

audiences should enjoy it. But what about older generation Muslim audiences? “It’s hard to say, I didn’t intend to offend anyone, but my mother saw the film and loved it!”

Sami ecstatically says that it’s a massive honour and a dream come true to have his film screened at the SFF. He believes this is the perfect platform for filmmakers to spread awareness about important issues.

“The SFF has always been a melting pot of culture for Aussie and foreign films. They’ve always had the knack of selecting films in which audiences will learn about other cultures. It’s a wonderful platform which hopefully springboards for us, but regardless I’m proud of the wonderful work from everyone associated with the film and I’ll keep telling stories.”

Osamah Sami in Ali’s Wedding.

Image: Supplied by SFF

Festival runs Jun 7-18.Various venues. $19-$155 (10 films).

Tickets & info: www.sff.org.au horror but I left it out. It could very well have gone down that track!” laughed Sami.

It’s quite refreshing that Muslims, who are generally stereotyped as shady characters and terrorists in films are portrayed realistically in Ali’s Wedding, in their home environment as normal, loving people who are also very respectful of their culture and traditions.

“People are always looking over our fences and asking ‘why do you dress like that?’ and ‘why do you eat that?’ and ‘why are you fasting?’

This film offers a positive message – a fresh perspective. Regardless of how we live our lives we’re just like everyone else. The human element of love and the importance of community – these elements bind us together regardless of race or religion.”

And on the issue of arranged marriages?

“There are arranged marriages that work, like my parents and countless others. At times it doesn’t work. It’s what people personally want. Ultimately, what’s really important is that we have to be responsible for our own actions”.

Sami conveys his thoughts on telling lies with a quote from the film - “It is a sin which burns through the soul, as fire burns through wood,” but says that some lies are a necessity – a survival mechanism.

“My father would have died if he didn’t tell a lie, but normally lies are holes that get dug deeper and deeper and come back and bite you on the butt”.

He’s excited about his film, being the first of its kind and feels Aussie

Ali’s Wedding screenings: Jun 8, 6:25pm State Theatre, Jun 9, 8:15pm Ritz Theatre, Jun 10, 7:30pm Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.

ORDINARY PEOPLE (Philippines): This drama won the People’s Choice award at Venice and follows the plight of a very young homeless couple whose baby has been kidnapped.

Heart-wrenching and engaging.

IT’S NOT DARK YET (Ireland): An affecting documentary (narrated by Collin Farrell) which centres on a 34 year old Irish filmmaker named Simon Fitzmaurice who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Losing all mobility he defiantly scripted and directed his debut feature film. Inspirational.

THE FOREST OF LOST SOULS (Portugal): A middle aged man doesn’t realise the horrifying

repercussions on his family when he attempts suicide in a dark forest, renown for those wishing to take their lives.An arthouse horror film.

WHITNEY ‘CAN I BE ME’ (UK): This gripping documentary explores the life and phenomenal career of songstress Whitney Houston, from childhood until her untimely death in 2012. Insightful interviews with those closest to her reveal a shattered life.A must-see for music enthusiasts.

ICE MOTHER (Czech Republic): When a 67 year-old grandmother saves a man from drowning, a relationship develops which not only rekindles her zest for life, but also alienates her sons.A charming and poignant film.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Photo: Homepix Photography

A Murder Is Announced, adapted from the classic murder mystery novel by Agatha Christie is a whodunnit with enough twists to keep you guessing and in suspense right up to the very end.

Set in the drawing room of the Little Paddocks Victorian cottage in the village of Chipping Cleghorne, England, an ad appears in the local village Gazette which announces that a murder will take place on October 5 at 7pm in Letitia Blacklock’s cottage.

Written in 1950 and made into a TV miniseries in 1985, the plot is typically Christie and with 11 characters in all, they are a

distinct and well-rounded crowd that congregate in anticipation of the event….but one of them is secretly the murderer.

Of note are main character Letitia Blacklock, lady of the house, in her 60s, cute old lovable Dora Bunner (Bunny), her childhood friend, the comic Mitzi, her Hungarian housekeeper/cleaner, apt to histrionics and of an explosive nature, the legendary Miss Jane Marple as sleuth and the constable and his detective both dressed in outdated suits.

There is also a lot of smoking in A Murder is Announced, an old fashioned phone, a prim and proper biddy with a penchant for wearing hats and gloves, points to a bygone era. It will be of special interest to fans of the genre who like to stay in on a weekend watching ABC TV murder mysteries.

What is most special about this performance is the venue. The Genesian Theatre crowd are a really festive bunch. It’s community theatre, in one of Sydney’s oldest, housed in a beautiful church in Kent Street that gives you a sense of belonging. (MS) Until Jun 24, Fri-Sat 7:30pm, Sun 4:30pm.

The Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent Street, Sydney. $25-$30 Tickets & Info: www.genesiantheatre.com.au

Todrick Hall Straight Outta Oz

“Instead of going home and writing about it on Facebook, and people would think I was the bitter one, I decided to write this album” said Todrick. He is the writer, director, choreographer and stars in his own musical Straight Outta Oz. When Todrick realized “My followers don’t know a lot about me”, he admitted, this was an opportunity for his fans to see him come from a truly vulnerable place. He has combined his favorite childhood story The Wizard of Oz and his own personal tale to help people understand “I’m not a victim” he says.

When asked to describe this musical in one word he immediately responded with “Home”.

Hall is a caring person that wants to help and inspire people through his art.

These triple threat performers will astound you with their talent and touch you with this authentic, warm-hearted story Straight Outta Oz. I highly recommend you go see this Todrick Hall just changed my life.After a quick 15 production not because I love musical minute phone interview with this man I had tears theatre so much, but because of the rawness in my eyes, my heart was full of love and I finished and truth that comes with it. (OL) with,“I have the greatest job in the world.”

June 4, 6:30pm. Enmore Theatre, Todrick Hall was inspired to create Straight 118-132 Enmore Rd, Sydney. $58.25+b.f.

Outta Oz because of the negativity in the world. Tickets & Info: www.wearenice.com.au

a&e

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city hub 1 JUNE 2017

12 STAGE 13 SCREEN 14 Sounds 15 SCENE

Talking To Terrorists This is a verbatim play, which means that everything that is said on stage was said in real-life, taken from a series of interviews and recreated on stage.

Writer Robin Soans interviewed people from around the world who had been affected by or involved in terrorism. It includes stories from around the world including Africa, Israel and Palestine, Iraq, Turkey and also the British Establishment.

Some of the people interviewed include members of the IRA, including one person who was responsible for planting the Brighton bomb. Members of the Kurdish Workers Party, which is listed as a terrorist group with recruits as young as 12 turned into terrorists at the age of 16, a former Ugandan child soldier and a British Archbishop who was held hostage in Lebanon.

The play was written well before the time of ISIS, but according to director Markus Weber, “everything in the play makes it clear why IS can happen and why it’s not long gone”.

“Fighting or terrorism is rooted in situations where people are threatened to lose their freedom, to lose their way of living, to lose their Photo: John Keenan

A Murder Is Announced

ability to speak,” Weber says.

“If you don’t listen, if you don’t speak, if you don’t negotiate, if you don’t want to be aware of where those things actually come from and then try to change what creates those things you end up with terrorism,” he says.

The play advocates that resolving terrorism will never be with violence but with peaceful negotiations and dialogue. (VP) Until June 3,Tue-Sat 7.30pm. King Street Theatre, 644 King St & Cnr Bray St, Newtown. $22-$35.Tickets & Info: www.kingstreettheatre.com.au

Bitch Life’s a bitch, especially for those unfortunate enough to have neighbours like the Post family – a fictitious suburban working class family whose dysfunctionality will have audiences laughing-out-loud.

Gambling, alcohol and porn addiction, racism and homosexuality are just some of the important issues tackled in this black comedy which many families experience on a daily basis.

Award winning playwright Wayne Tunks who also produced and co-directed this play, said that all families are dysfunctional to a certain degree and that the Leave It To Beaver family is a fantasy.

“No family is perfect. We can see so much of people whom we know and even elements of ourselves in these characters. Playwrights always write about what they know – I’ve borrowed much from other people’s lives and even from my own”.

Tunks said a wonderful cast has been assembled to bring the Post family to life on stage. He also plays the role of Jimmy, a 40 yearold guy who had a traumatic experience in high school and hasn’t been able to put it behind him - he’s afraid to live.

“My character is probably the most

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

dysfunctional,” laughed Tunks.” I’m having so much fun playing Jimmy and as a writer I can write a role I can put myself into”.

Tunks said that ultimately the Post family are not bad. “They love one another and will always be there for each other. Throughout the serious drama and heart-warming humour audiences will be rooting for this family”.

“My work is accessible. I make theater for average people who never go to the theater, where they can experience something new. It’s a safe environment. Grab a couple of friends, watch the show, have a few laughs then go down the pub and have a few drinks!” (MMo) May 31-Jun 17. Depot Theatre, 142 Addison Rd Marrickville. $27-$32.Tickets & Info: www.thedepottheatre.com

Contributors: Alannah Maher, Alicia Sim, Athina Mallis, Barbara Karpinski, Caitlin Burns, Chantal Walsh, Craig Coventry, Daniel Jaramillo, Emily Shen, Georgia Fullerton, Greg Webster, Irina Dunn, Jade Morellini, James Harkness, Joseph Rana, Leann Richards, Lisa Seltzer, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Olga Azar, Peter Urquhart, Rita Bratovich, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Sarah Pritchard, Shon Ho, Zeiya Speede, Jade Morellini,Vanessa Powell, Olivia Lyle, Alexander Yujin, Ellouise Bailey, Manuel Gonzalez.

Arron Johnson

RENT

With the surge in Sydney housing prices and the questioning of traditional social structures that have long sought to define us, RENT is much more than just a production.This bold, brave and unapologetic musical provides social commentary that resonates with audiences on an international scale.

RENT follows a group of young performance actors living in the gritty bohemian world of New York City during the late 1980s.The characters battle with a number of issues including HIV/AIDS, drug addiction, unemployment, homelessness and social class prejudice.

“RENT is very raw. It relies on music,

storytelling and characters.

The set is also very bare and minimalistic” said Arron Johnson who plays Angel, a HIV-positive transgendered person in the show.

The original Broadway production by the late Jonathan Larson is based on Puccini’s beloved opera La Bohème, about the lives of improvised artists living in Paris during the 19th Century.The musical tackles many social, political and economic issues that are currently very topical in Australia, giving it an important political edge and voice.

“This is a production about acceptance, it shows that all love is equal” “We can push audiences and make them question or celebrate who they really are” RENT also challenged the way theatre was constructed allowing for the exploration of issues that are not usually depicted in the world of musical theatre.

“There is a realness to it. RENT is not pretty, it’s raw” Arron said. (EB) May 31-Jun 4,Wed-Sat 8pm, Sat-Sun 2pm. Rockdale Town Hall cnr Princes Highway and Bryant Street, Rockdale. $34-$40+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.rockdalemusicalsociety.com

2071: A Performance About Climate Change There are plenty of climate change scientists, but so far only one of them has shared their findings through the medium of theatre.

Professor Chris Rapley, one of the world’s leading climate scientists first transformed his knowledge into a mesmerizaing monologue onstage at the London Royal Court, and the reaction was astonishing. It sold out shows in the UK, travelled to Hamburg and Brussels, then home again for more standing ovations. Now it’s coming to Sydney as a completely new incarnation.

Tim Jones, the show’s director, has aggrandized the original monolgue into a production bursting with energy, complete with seven actors, an original musical score, and state of the art 3D projections.

Six of the actors are aged 12 to 13, of whom Jones says “they sing, they speak, some of them play musical instruments...they’re formidable.”

While it’s obvious which side of politics it lies on, the performance is thoughtful and intelligent.

“There is no doubt this comes from the point of view that human induced climate change is real, and it presents the facts to justify that,” says Jones.

“That said, it acknowledges that the issue is really complex, and that there are some gaps in the scientific knowledge. But ultimately, it’s saying are we prepared to not act, in the face of all of the proof and evidence we have so far?”

The choice of young actors is also pertinent, as Jones says “it’s actually about understanding what the impacts might be on these young kids as they move into the future.”

For those who might feel the urge to debate against the

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Trident is scientist orphan Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario) and his father’s frenemy Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), who is himself being hunted by a ghost (Javier Bardem).

Directed by Norwegian duo Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, the film does its best to replicate the original.Two new young pretty things (Thwaites and Scodelario) take Bloom and Knightley’s place as ‘couple at sea’, while Cap’n Jack Sparrow is back as, well, captain Jack Sparrow.

He may have been a crowd favourite in the original, but Depp’s character now seems tired and parodylike.As the plot line seeks to delve into Sparrow’s backstory, its underwhelming revelations leave the crowd feeling bored.And although Geoffrey Rush is The fifth installment of the film franchise (yes it’s been 14 as fantastic as ever as the evil Barbossa, it all feels a little too years since we first met Captain Jack Sparrow and Co.) much like a high school reunion you should probably not and while it is perhaps the closest in feeling to that of the have gone to. original 2003 box-office hit, it lacks in heart.

If you’ve loved the original POTC’s other three follow-ups This time,Will Turner’s son Henry Turner (Brenton you’ll enjoy this one too. But unfortunately, while it’s a clear Thwaites) is on a quest to save his father from the curse of steer back to the first blockbuster, it begs to ask: when will The Flying Dutchman. Helping Henry hunt down Poseidon’s Jack Sparrow finally hang his pirate hat? (CW) WW

show, that’s covered too. Get along to one of three performances which will feature a live panel discussion, and you’ll have a chance to say as much as any of the performers.

Professor Chris Rapley himself will join the panel by Skype on June 8. (AY)

JOIN THE POST-SHOW DISCUSSION

See the show and then join the discussion with our expert panels.

30 May Guardian Live Panel and Q&A: The Politics of the Energy Crisis 5 June Guardian Live Panel and Q&A: World Environment Day Panel Discussion 8 June Vivid Sydney Ideas Panel and Q&A: Arts and Activism Until Jun 10, Various performance times. Seymour Centre, City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale. $25-$43.Tickets & Info: www.seymourcentre.com

Wilson This comedy centers on a dysfunctional and friendless man who reunites with his wife and searches for the teenage daughter he never knew he had. Unfortunately, what could potentially have been the comedy sensation of the year, fails to ignite.

Woody Harrelson and Laura Dern are delightful as Wilson and Pippi, the problematic married couple, who stalk their daughter before introducing her into their lives.

The spasmodic humour arises from Wilson’s overbearing demeanor and his ability to scare off strangers through his questionable social skills.

However, after the family reunite, the film loses its direction, owing to a poorly written script which lacks substance and doesn’t leave much scope for character or story development.

The ensuing storylines are merely underwhelming time-fillers, the senseless

and cheesy comedic moments unsuccessful in arousing laughter.The notable absence of an ongoing musical score also compounds to the tedious nature of the film.

Ultimately there was a good story to be told, but the many artistic flaws resulted in few laughs and a huge disappointment.

(MMo) WW1/2

Norman: The Moderate Rise And Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer Full title, Norman: The Moderate Rise And Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer, is a light comedy based around an ageing, hapless networker whose business revolves around making alliances and connecting people for business advantage. Richard Gere, now in the “mature roles” iteration of his career, plays the awkward, annoying yet somehow forgivable Norman Oppenheimer, a small fish in the New York Jewish community big money pond.

His machinations are clumsy but he is blessed with luck. This manifests itself most auspiciously through a chance encounter with visiting Israeli politician, Micha Eshel (Lior Ashkenazi).

Through a calculated act of generosity Norman befriends Eshel and when some time later, Eshel becomes Prime Minister of Israel, the relationship proves advantageous to Norman, but possibly detrimental to Eshel.

The mix of characters is broad and rich. Gere is endearing as Norman. Ashkenazi is a handsome, charming Eshel. Steve Buscemi plays the overwrought Rabbi Blumenthal, and Charlotte Gainsbourg is an empathetic, wise Israeli investigator, to name a only a few. Great production with some interesting affects. (RB) WWWW city hub 1 JUNE 2017

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By Jamie Apps Pirra: Tonight sees Pirra hitting the road for the second leg of their national tour with brand new record Animal Kingdom in tow.The initial leg of the tour saw the band playing alongside the likes of ELKI and Bec Sandridge so they’re hoping to top those shows this time around.

Thu, Jun 1, Union Hotel Ultimate Eagles: The world’s greatest Eagles show is touring Sydney for the first time tomorrow night. Ultimate Eagles are an international phenomenon.

They have become a brand name in their own right who are revered by their peers, respected by the music industry and dearly loved by their massive and expanding fan base.

Fri, Jun 2, State Theatre Vanessa Wagner: An intimate afternoon and evening of sophisticated and eclectic music, dancing, art, visuals, networking, chatting and showing off.

Vanessa will orchestrate the aural/visual landscape as hostess, complemented by the incomparable DJ Ben Drayton who will play a marathon set.

Sat, Jun 3,The Captain Cook Hotel Mary Coughlan: Over the course of ten studio albums, two live albums and countless concert performances in the past thirty

years, Ireland’s Mary Coughlan has established herself as one of her native land’s most enduring and remarkable vocal talents.

Sat, Jun 3,The Petersham Bowling Club Dappled Cities: After the longest wait between records of their 18 year career the Sydney indie-pop group have returned with their fifth and most accomplished record, IIIII.To celebrate the group will be performing it as part of Vivid 2017.

Sun, Jun 4, City Recital Hall Sara Tindley: Touring her new album Wild and Unknown as it was recorded, in a duo with Michael Turner, a veteran artist who knows plenty about turning emotion and experience into music.Their collaboration with Nick DiDia transformed Sara’s countrified ballads into paeans infused with light and space, reminiscent of The Triffids’ invocation of Australian landscapes.

Sun, Jun 4, Gasoline Pony Dianne Reeves: Considered the pre-eminent jazz vocalist in the world today. Recipient of five Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album, Reeves opens her Australian tour in Sydney with a one-night-only performance at City Recital Hall this Tuesday.

Tue, Jun 6, City Recital Hall

Mick Thomas

By Jamie Apps With the ever changing landscape of the music industry artists are constantly exploring new and innovative ways to showcase their work. For Mick Thomas the most compelling way to showcase his over three decade career was to pen a book and pair it with a compilation album of songs from his days in Weddings, Parties, Anything and also as a solo artist.

“The original idea was to have a compilation record to sell at the march stand because records seem to get deleted so quickly these days.” explained Thomas, “In packaging it [These Are The Songs and These Are The Days] I had this desire to make the physical artefact something worthwhile, something that can’t be downloaded or streamed, so that you have a sense of ownership over that record.Whilst going through that process the cover notes grew and grew and grew to the point where the record company said ‘we can’t conceive of an album cover of that size and

In Hearts Wake - Ark

Photo: Mark Hopper

Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE Sydney

scope so you’re going to have to get a publishing deal for this as a seperate entity’” Having been told this Mick immediately set out to write the book.As an avid reader Mick was incredibly keen to explore the new burgeoning genre which is blending fiction and non-fiction. Mick told us that the most difficult part of the entire process was sequencing the songs and stories,“Initially I had the Weddings’ songs in their own seperate compartment but my publisher quickly pointed out to me that I

Byron Bay metal core outfit In Hearts Wake continue their environmentalism themed records with their latest offering Ark. Following on from Earthwalker in 2014 and Skydancer in 2015 this time around the band is focused on water conservation.

Kicking off the album with a bang are singles Passage and Nomad, however shortly after this the record all becomes far too familiar. If you’ve listened to In Hearts Wake’s previous records you have essentially listened to this new record, which is rather disappointing.

Sadly the band have seemingly fallen into the trap of simply sticking to what they know works rather than continuing to push boundaries and redefine the genre.This record retreads breakdowns and guitar lines whilst also pairing them with a tried and true songwriting formula and album flow.

Overall this is a good, but not great, record. If you’re still desperate to check it out perhaps stick to just the single releases. (JA) WWW

always bitch about people drawing an arbitrary line in my career like that.” In order to overcome this problem songs and stories have been set out as if they were part of a live set which allowed Mick to explain why these songs were still part of his life.

Although Mick would prefer the book and record are enjoyed together as “companion pieces” he was very aware that this may not always be the case and thus ensured the stories in the book are “strong enough to stand on their own and perhaps introduce people to songs they hadn’t previously known about.”

After over 30 years in the business Mick says “it’s a great accomplishment to still have people wanting to hear our songs” but it’s also incredibly enjoyable as he has welcomed a younger batch of musicians on board for tours.

“Playing with younger people you become every recognisant of how difficult it is to get out there and make money from music these days, so they’ve brought a real sense of thrill to our tours.”

Jun 2, 6pm.The Leadbelly, 42 King St, Newtown. $34.70 .Tickets & Info: www.theleadbelly.com.au

Ella Belfanti - Going Around In Circles

Going Around In Circles is the debut, home-recorded EP by indie newcomer Ella Belfanti.Winner of “Best Guitarist” at Bluesfest Busking Competition and featured on Triple J’s Unearthed, Belfanti is garnering a following on the live music circuit.

The six songs on the EP show an unpretentious, sleeves up approach to songwriting, with emphatic guitar strumming and to the point lyrics. Her voice is ernest and folky.

Turn With The Tide rollicks along in triple time, speckled with soft percussive sounds - apparently improvised from household objects. Trying Not To Like You is a cute and catchy toe tapper. On Focus Belfanti turns up reverb on her voice, giving a haunting, very Celtic quality to the song. Circles is the most melodic of the collection, bearing some resemblance to early Carole King with its musicality and easiness.This is a good calling card for a promising artist. (RB) WWW

42 King Street Newtown

www.theleadbelly.com.au

LIVE MUSIC : FINE FOOD : COCKTAIL BAR : EVENTS 26 & 27 MAY

BUSBY MAROU (QLD SOLD OUT

3 JUNE

JEFF DUFF

ORACLE RECORDS PRESENT :

JIM MITCHELLS

+ ROSA MARIA +SUN SAP

6 JUNE

JOHN SAFRAN

1 JUNE - BLUES ROCK

2 JUNE - FOLK ROCK

END OF TOUR PARTY

(WEDDINGS PARTIES ANYTHING)

7 JUNE - COVERS

8 JUNE - TRIBUTE

FREE ENTRY

FT ALL STAR LINEUP

FRANK SULTANA

WHITE TREE BAND

MICK THOMAS

I AM WOMAN

FROM LONDON TO THE MOON ‘A DUFF-ODYSSEY’

PRES BY BETTER READ THAN DEAD

9 JUNE - GYPSY FOLK

10 JUNE - OZ ROCK

11JUNE - MATINEE

LTD DINNER & SHOW TIX AVAIL

G.A TIX + BAR MENU

DINNER & SHOW TIX AVAIL

SCABZ + HUNCH + DUNHILL BLUES + BEAST & FLOOD

13 JUNE - AMERICANA

14 JUNE - INDIE FOLK

16 JUNE - ALT COUNTRY

17 & 18 JUNE - CABARET

+ SPECIAL GUESTS

(THE AUDREYS)

A DAVID BOWIE CABARET

CROOKED FIDDLE

TERRY SERIO’S HALF TRUTHS

+ CHARLIE OWEN + OH REACH

Y RATED B PLAY CU RK IS D T R O +A IES NETW THE LAD 14

31 MAY - ALT ROCK

city hub 1 JUNE 2017

AUTHOR TALK

THE RADIATORS

GREEN MOHAIR SUITS

THOMAS OLIVER

TAASHA COATES

11JUNE - P.M

NEWTOWN ROCK

SOUND + VISION

These events are presented by Vivid Sydney in partnership with the City of Sydney

The Martians Are Coming

When Sissy Reyes recently went to Finland for a month of intense photography, her original idea turned into something much more mysterious. “I’ve never been in a landscape like that before” Sissy said.

Being in the lush fantasyland of Finland, it was easy for Sissy to think outside the box.

The Martians Are Coming is a collection of photographs taken at nighttime beneath the magical blue night sky.

Sissy is an artist who is wrapped up with deep emotion and unfathomable gratitude.

Each morning she wakes up and feels instantly blessed to drink her cup of tea

and look outside at the stunning trees saying ‘hello’ to her. When I asked Sissy what she would like her viewers to feel, she responded, “I would like to transmit that gratitude that I sometimes feel in the morning having a cup of tea, that would be nice.”

Being so far away from home gave Sissy the opportunity to “remove yourself from what you know” Sissy happily said. Finding these mystic spots for the shoot was quite the exploration. “I would go driving at 2am” she explained “I just want to feel intrigued by the spots”.

Is there something else out there? Sissy sure hopes so! This artist has intentionally left the story of these pictures open ended, which allows the viewer to rethink things.

“Wouldn’t it be amazing to know we’re not the only ones here” Sissy let on.

What do you believe in? I hope you will go and experience The Martians Are Coming, so more of us can think like Sissy does, a little outside the box. (OL) Until Jun 5. Gafa Gallery, 281 Clarence Street, Sydney.

Info: www.gaffa.com.au

Cause & Effect

At this time every year, The Vivid Festival invites organisations, artist and thinkers to run panel discussions, workshops and art related activities in order for the public to engage with the arts and social causes.

This year Vivid Ideas is hosting an exciting exhibition run by the social change movement, Carnival of the Bold and MLC gallery, called Cause & Effect. A call out was made to find six Australian visual artists from diverse backgrounds to engage in themes that were grounded in social issues such as war, environmental destruction and racism. These complex problems affect Australian society at large and the purpose of Cause & Effect is to make people think about these topics with greater insights and inspire a passive public to take action.

Co-Founder of Carnival of the Bold Kevin Bathman told City Hub how he thinks art can start a national conversation and how we can begin to educate ourselves on these important social issues: “Socially-engaged

art can spark thought and conversation, increase awareness around an issue, help us see it in a new way, touch our emotion and sensibilities and increase civic participation. It ideally brings members of the community together, creating connections that lead to enhanced collective civic action, ideas and relationships geared toward problem-solving, and creates a stimulus for people to be involved in local or global issues”.

Cause & Effect will also include a panel discussion with the artists, academics and NGO’s such as Amnesty International Australia, NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) to name a few. This is a one of a kind collaboration between the

Excessive Force by Miriam Cabello

chosen artists like Andrea Srisurapon, Mandy Schöne-Salter, Marwa Charm and humanitarians working side by side to be the voices of marginalized communities and to raise awareness about the most important critical and social issues of our time. (DJ) Until Jun 4. 107 Projects, 107 Redfern St, Redfern.

Info: www.carnivalofthebold.com

Hendrick’s Gin - The Awakening

Gin has always been one of those drinks associated with creativity and artistic pursuits, this weekend Hendrick’s Gin push those boundaries even further with their fully immersive event The Awakening.

The event invites not only your regular gin

drinker but also free thinkers and pursuers of the peculiar to slip into the created world of oddities.The Awakening will see guests embark on an hour-long interactive theatrical journey, encompassing the body and mind with their instincts, emotions and reactions becoming the subject as they delve deeper.

The Awakening will see guests self-guide through a series of unexpected scenarios and theatrical interactions that will be brought to life by Siren Theatre Company, an independent professional theatre company. Audiences will discover a treasury of tipples, daring and intimate spaces, as well as an eccentric revelry of

delightfully dark surprises.

Designed to reawaken our natural spirit and curiosity, the experience comes at a time where our senses have been dulled by the devices in our hands and pockets.

“Our vision was to create a one-of-akind experience that will leave people feeling provoked, confused, elated, revived and most importantly, awakened.” explained Hendrick’s Gin Brand Ambassador Morgan Flanagan, “With each stage set to trigger a myriad of feelings, The Awakening rewards the inherent inquisitiveness, humour and imagination of all participants, taking them out of their comfort zones in very contrasting ways.”

Along the way guests will be given the opportunity to enjoy a range of fabulous gin cocktails. (JA) Jun 2-4. COMMUNE, 901 Bourke St, Waterloo. $30+b.f.Tickets & Info: http://hendricksgin-awakening. eventbrite.com.au

THE NAKED CITY

THE PHILOSOPHER’S SEAT

With Coffin Ed As a good citizen of Woolloomooloo, I am always on the lookout for both things that add and detract from everyday life in this fractured precinct of the Sydney City Council. When historic photos of the area cover the hoardings of a building site it’s a plus, when the homeless tragically continue to the dot the perimeter of Tom Uren Place it’s a big minus - but when ‘street furniture’ appears in the most unlikely places, it’s bemusement which immediately defines my reaction.

Such was the case when I recently spotted one of the Council’s new benches, or as they tag them “public domain furniture”, curiously positioned on the corner of Crown and Cathedral Streets. One of a number that have suddenly sprouted throughout the area, it’s not only a long way from any bus stop but faces the somewhat bleak outlook of a solid brick wall.

Whether it’s there to provide a welcome rest stop for the more mature resident, struggling with their bags of groceries from the nearby Woolies or simply as a piece of cosmetic adornment, I am not entirely sure. On thing’s for certain, with its sleek skinny design, and unlike older style park benches, it won’t be turned into a bed for the night by one of the Loo’s many homeless men.

This is of course a somewhat universal trend in the design of ‘public domain furniture’, highlighted by American writer Mike Davis, as far back as 1992, with his ground breaking book City Of Quartz. In his penetrating deconstruction of modern Los Angeles he notes how the homeless are discouraged by the design of “bum proof ” park benches – their curvy shape making them almost impossible to sleep on.

Remember the old concrete park benches that one dotted every park and reserve in Sydney. As uncomfortable as they were, they did support a body for the night – something I can well testify to myself, having spent the night on one after a drunken night out at a Cramps concert at Selinas back in the 1980s.

Try doing the same on one of the Council’s new fangled benches and you would be enlisting the nearest chiropractor in the morning. But of course they are designed for more than just a bad night’s sleep. The question is – just what?

Perhaps only the Council knows, but here’s one suggestion for the chique Scandinavian style bench on the corner of Crown and Cathedral that could well see it becoming a favourite with pedestrians. Let’s make it a seat of contemplation, a philosophical pit stop in the hustle and bustle of downtown Woolloomooloo.

The naked brick wall which confronts the user needs to be painted with either a series of quotes from the great philosophers or a mural along the lines of The Great Wave off Kanagawa by the Japanese artist Hokusai.

If the concept is a success it could well be repeated throughout the city, with benches assigned the identity of some of the world’s most creative thinkers like Nietzsche and Jean Paul-Satre. A philosopher’s trail could easily be established, whereby pedestrians, joggers and even cyclists could plot a journey of rediscovery and enlightenment from Surry Hills to Millers Point.

Likewise some inbuilt Wi-Fi would enable the seated to tune into a series of audio books, accessible from an online catalogue at the various Council libraries. Imagine you have just staggered out of the East Sydney Hotel after a longer than usual luncheon date, straight into the welcoming arms of the nearby ‘public domain furniture’.You need at least an hour to sober up before returning to work as your smart phone accesses anything from a John Grisham thriller to the collected works of Shakespeare.

Just don’t think about spreading the legs out and sleeping it off! city hub 1 JUNE 2017

15

7–18 JUNE FROM EVERY ANGLE

FULL PROGRAM ON SALE NOW OKJA

PACMEN

WIND RIVER

SUN 18 JUN 7:30 PM STATE THEATRE SUN 18 JUN 8:45 PM EVENT CINEMAS GEORGE ST A young girl fights to save her best friend, a gigantic animal named Okja, in Bong Joon-ho’s Cannes Competition contender starring Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal and An Seo-hyun.

THU 8 JUN 6:30 PM DENDY NEWTOWN WED 14 JUN 8:45 PM EVENT CINEMAS GEORGE ST PACmen takes us into the inside workings of a Super-PAC to answer one of the lingering questions of America’s strangest election: why did Ben Carson run for president?

WED 14 JUN 9:15 PM STATE THEATRE FRI 16 JUN 8:25 PM RANDWICK RITZ SUN 18 JUN 2:00 PM EVENT CINEMAS GEORGE ST Straight from Cannes, this intelligent crime drama with Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen is the directorial debut of screenwriter Taylor Sheridan (Hell or High Water, Sicario).

PATTI CAKE$

MANIFESTO

MCLAREN

FRI 16 JUN 9:00 PM STATE THEATRE SAT 17 JUN 8:00 PM EVENT CINEMAS GEORGE ST Aussie actress Danielle Macdonald is sensational as Patti Cake$, an aspiring rapper from New Jersey who’s determined to make her mark on the music scene.

THU 8 JUN 8:30 PM HAYDEN ORPHEUM CREMORNE MON 12 JUN 4:00 PM EVENT CINEMAS GEORGE ST The magnificent Cate Blanchett plays 13 different roles in this homage to the great artistic manifestos of our time, directed by influential artist Julian Rosefeldt.

SUN 18 JUN 4:20 PM STATE THEATRE SUN 18 JUN 8:35 PM EVENT CINEMAS GEORGE ST The incredible story of the man behind one of the greatest brands in international motorsport, Bruce McLaren: the humble New Zealander who became a superstar of Formula One.

ON THE ROAD

STEP

SAVE TODAY WITH A FLEXIPASS

LOVE FILM? THU 8 JUN 8:20 PM EVENT CINEMAS GEORGE ST SAT 10 JUN 8:35 PM DENDY NEWTOWN A seductive fictionalised music documentary featuring alt-rock indie heroes Wolf Alice on tour, directed by Michael Winterbottom (24 Hour Party People and 9 Songs).

TUE 13 JUN 6:00 PM EVENT CINEMAS GEORGE ST THU 15 JUN 8:15 PM EVENT CINEMAS GEORGE ST SUN 18 JUN 6:05 PM DENDY NEWTOWN This uplifting story of a school step dance team on the verge of graduation won director Amanda Lipitz a Special Jury Award for Inspirational Filmmaking at Sundance.

The cheapest way to book lots of tickets is to buy a Flexipass of 10, 20, or 30 tickets. Share with friends, flatmates, colleagues, the one you love, or just keep it for yourself!

1300 733 733 SFF.ORG.AU 16

city hub 1 JUNE 2017