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Government stomps on transparency

BY WENDY BACON Public accountability and transparency are often described as core principles of modern parliamentary democracy. However, it is one thing to set up accountability mechanisms, it is quite another for those mechanisms to deliver actual accountability by which is meant a willingness on the part of public officials to account for or accept responsibility for weaknesses or damage done.

A case in point is the NSW Parliamentary Public Accountability Committee into the Impacts of WestConnex.

In March 2018, NSW Legislative Council MPS voted to set up a Committee for Public Accountability. One of its first decisions was to investigate the impacts of the Australia’s largest ever infrastructure project, the WestConnex tollway project.

This decision was in response to deep and widespread public concern about secrecy in project decision making and finances, the inadequacy of the business case used to the project and the many unpredicted impacts on the health, property and quality of life of residents living near the projects.

This concern was documented in hundreds of submissions and hearings which resulted in factual findings and recommendations in a devastating report. The Committee’s Chair, Fred Nile MLC, described WestConnex as the worst example of lack of transparency he had seen.

“Worst example of lack of transparency” In January this year, the Committee issued a report in which it reviewed its initial work stating that its first inquiries had “enabled this committee to make valuable findings and recommendations, which not only hold the

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government to account, but may inform the delivery of future large scale infrastructure projects in NSW.” While the first part of this statement may be true, the second was sadly demonstrated yesterday to be far from the truth. The WestConnex Inquiry report was published in December 2018. Six months later, the Minister for Transport Andrew Constance’s sent the government’s response to the Legislative Council. It was received late on Monday, just in time to be released on Budget Day when it could be guaranteed of receiving little attention.

In fact, much of the Gladys Berejiklian’s short response could barely be called a response. Rather than engage with the findings, it mostly restated existing government policy and community relations statements.

There were 28 recommendations. One of these was broad support for WestConnex. Of course, the government welcomed this face saver.

Labor initially voted against this recommendation but later signed up to it, leaving Greens Cate Faehrmann alone in issuing a dissenting report, opposing the continuance of WestConnex.

One of the Committee’s recommendations was that the NSW Government immediately publish the secret base-case financial model for the WestConnex project. The government’s response was that the base case financial models is ‘commercial in confidence’ as it could prejudice future negotiations with privtate tollway companies. This is the same position asserted by NSW Treasury during the Inquiry although no evidence has ever been provided for it.

The Committee also recommended public inquiries and the publication of independent peer reviews before further decisions to go ahead with major infrastructure projects are made. This too was declined, not by examining the arguments in favour of a change but by simply stating that the current “assurance” system would continue.

This means that the billions in extra infrastructure funding in yesterday’s budget will be just a unaccountably spent as the previous billions. Secrecy around the finances of NSW infrastructure projects will continue, despite the findings of a Committee of MPs across the political spectrum, strongly supported by major Councils, independent experts and community groups. They will be denied a voice in the advisability of future projects while big corporations such as

Anti WestCONnex banner in 2018.

Photo: Wendy Bacon

Transburban, CIMIC and Lendlease continue to exert influence behind closed doors.

The Committee made a finding that although there appeared to be widespread consultation, it was ineffective and lacked empathy. There was a large amount of evidence that complaints were batted away and response times were too long.. It commended a centralised complaints management system that is “accessible 24/7, transparent and empowered to respond effectively in a short time frame.

“In defiance of the evidence, the Government simply responded that by simply restating the details of its current complaints system, that was shown to fail.

“An unacceptable abuse of proper process” Asked for her reaction to the government’s response, WestConnex Action Group spokesperson Rhea Liebmann said, “The community spent huge amounts of time and effort to make submissions and give evidence to ensure the truth about the impacts on residents and how they’ve been treated by Govt and the contractors is made public. The Committee made some strong recommendations to address these. For Govt to simply ignore the evidence and the Inquiry’s

recommendations... is an unacceptable abuse of proper process.”

Independent Inner West Councillor Pauline Lockie who lost her home in St Peters said, “I found the government’s response to the inquiry really insulting. They didn’t take any of the substantive changes recommended on board, particularly when it came to changes that would have increased transparency and accountability around WestConnex, and provided better protection for residents who are bearing the worst of its social, financial and health and community impacts.”

Newtown Greens MP Jenny Leong, who was instrumental in bringing about this Inquiry, was also disappointed. The release of the Berejiklian government’s response to the recommendations of the Public Accountability Committee’s Inquiry into the Impact of WestConnex shows contempt for those who have been significantly and negatively affected by WestConnex and for the committee process as a whole.

Insulting, showing contempt for the process, is itself an abuse of the spirit of public accountability. These responses tap into a deeper problem than just WestConnex which is about rejecting the very notion of public interest on which accountability depends.

NSW government’s response to the Impact of WestConnex shows contempt for those negatively affected It’s the same problem that we see reflected in the dangerous deregulation of construction that has seen residents in Mascot and Homebush being ejected from their homes. But the government forges down the same path with hints yesterday that the Treasurer Dominic Perrotet in considering selling off more of our electricity and transport resources, including the rest of WestConnex.

The value of the Committee is that it does provide the community with a voice. Its evidence and findings of fact are publicised and remain on the record. This is why LNP MPs voted against it being established in the Legislative Council. But we need to be clear eyed. This is a secret government that has no intention of being held accountable. We must never stop calling it out and watch for even more erosion of democratic checks and balances.

ABN 52 600 903 348 Group Editor & Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons Production Manager: Michael Hitch Contributors: Michael Hitch, Wendy Bacon Alec Smart, Katherine Rajwar, Joan Henson, Sam Mcnair Arts Editor: Jamie Apps Advertising Manager: Georgina Pengelly Cover Photo: Ann-Marie Calilhanna Photography. Annandale Interiors Designer: Nadia Kalinitcheva Advertising: sales@altmedia.net.au Mail: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 Email: news@altmedia.net.au, arts@ altmedia.net.au Ph: 9212 5677, Fax: 9212 5633 Website: altmedia.net.au If you have a story, or any comments you’d like to share with us: news@altmedia.net.au

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Star Observer moves in with City Hub Government introduced, as a private member’s bill, the ‘Crimes (Amendment) Act 1984’, which eventually decriminalised homosexual acts in NSW); and an alarming increase in gay bashings.

News stories relevant to the LGBTIQ+ community In 1980, the Sydney Star was published fortnightly from an office at 93 Crown St, Darlinghurst, attracting a diverse selection of business marketing, including paid advertisements from local businesses and hoteliers.

The oldest LGBTIQ+ newspaper in the southern hemisphere will now be published out of the same office as the City Hub

Star Observer, at 40 years the oldest LGBTIQ+ newspaper in the southern hemisphere, is merging with City Hub

up and down Oxford Street, the gay capital of Sydney, that evening distributing copies from a backpack.

Initially cobbled together in his apartment,

by November Sydney Star was a functional newspaper with contributors reporting on news stories relevant to the gay and lesbian community.

These included: police harassment of gayfriendly venues; the campaign to legalise homosexuality (it would be another five years until NSW Labour Premier Neville Wran’s

“I felt (there was) a very strong need for a newspaper - something that was geared toward gay news,” Glynn told Campaign newspaper in 1981. “I think in a small way Sydney Star has helped to make Sydney more interesting, a more lively place to be.”

Coinciding with its second birthday on 3 July 1981, The Sydney Star was the first news organisation in Australia to report on the as yet unidentified threat to the global gay community: the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Under the heading ‘New Pneumonia Linked to Gay Lifestyle’, the following article appeared: “ATLANTA, GA – A type of pneumonia has been found in five young men, two of whom died, and may be linked to some aspect of homosexual lifestyle.”

Glynn was a committed and proactive member of the Australian gay community, and helped found the AIDS Action Committee and the Gay Business Association.

st We ar e tin kl g yp Au la gu yd st ay 20 s 19

BY ALEC SMART The Sydney Star Observer, which has been documenting the activities of the gay and lesbian community for 40 years, went into Voluntary Administration last month. The title has been acquired by Out Publications, a new company established by Lawrence Gibbons, the publisher of City Hub newspaper. The oldest LGBTIQ+ newspaper in the southern hemisphere will now be published out of the same office as the City Hub and will be managed by group editor Lawrence Gibbons.

Sydney Star, as it was originally titled, was founded in 1979 by American immigrant Michael Glynn, who left his native USA in 1970 in protest at his country’s involvement in the Vietnam War. After teaching for a few years, the outspoken gay activist decided to publish his own newspaper, to help promote gay consciousness and raise awareness of issues faced by the LGBTIQ+ community.

Lawrence Gibbons, the new publisher of the Star Observer said, “I am thrilled to be working with the team at the Star Observer to deliver a 40th anniversary edition in July. I met Michael Glynn, the founder, the year that he died in 1996. It is an honour and a privilege to keep Michael’s legacy alive.”

At the time the Star was founded, homosexuality was illegal and the community was still reeling from vicious police attacks on the 1978 Mardis Gras parade – the launch of Sydney’s annual gay and lesbian celebration rally, which has since become a hugely popular event. Only one regular newspaper communicating to the gay community was published in the whole of Australia, Camp Ink, printed by gay liberation group CAMP. Sydney Star launched as a business and entertainment listing for the gay community on 6 July 1979, with Glynn reportedly trekking

He also recruited athletes for the first Australian team to compete at the 1982 Gay Games, a four-yearly worldwide sporting and cultural event that promotes acceptance of sexual diversity. On his home turf he helped coordinate street patrols on Oxford St to protect his community from violent homophobic attacks.

Star was Australia’s first newspaper reporting on AIDS In May 1984, Glynn sold the newspaper to its staff, and retired to the Blue Mountains.

However, less than a year later, on April 25, the Sydney Star ceased publication due to its inability to discharge its debts, including paying off Glynn, and he was impoverished as a result, and forced to live in his car in Centennial Park, Sydney, with his two Great Dane dogs.

The Gay Publications Cooperative, publishers of Outrage magazine, then took over the title and relaunched a week later as the Star Observer, merging the Sydney Star and Green Park Observer and utilising many of the paper’s former staff.

The Star Observer has been published by a number of owners over the years, Co-Op Media in 1987, Sydney Gay Community Publishing in 1988, renamed Sydney Gay and Lesbian Community Publishing in 1994.

Although it reaches an active audience of more than 120,000 readers, in 2014, facing a financial crisis, The Star Observer launched a crowd-funding campaign on Pozible to make it more sustainable. With a target of $75,000, the campaign was wildly successful and netted over $100,000 to keep it afloat.

Now it has found a home in the offices of the City Hub, whose group editor Lawrence Gibbons launched the City Hub community newspaper in 1995. The Star Observer looks secure to continue reporting on LGBTIQ+ issues into the future.

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Dr Marianne Jauncey waits to see herself on the big-screen. Photo: Supplied

By MICHAEL HITCH The Uniting Church and its service arm, Uniting, took another step towards reforming drug laws after screening their documentary film, Half A Million Steps, in Paddington recently. The film documents the Long Walk to Treatment - a group trek from Dubbo in central-west NSW to Parliament House in Sydney.

The Long Walk started on October 19 last year and took 15 days to complete. Over 100 walkers participated to highlight a shortfall in Australia’s drug and alcohol treatment programs, by representing the average travel distance for a person in regional New South Wales to reach help.

The premiere of the documentary was held last week at the Chauvel Cinema with guest speakers, including the Uniting NSW/ACT Moderator, Rev. Simon Hansford, and the Uniting NSW/ ACT Executive Director, Tracey Burton, who introduced the screening.

“It [the documentary] chronicles the walk from Dubbo to Sydney, to really highlight the postcode lottery that is access to treatment services in New South Wales at the moment,” said Burton.

“One of the numerous aims of the Fair Treatment Campaign is to reduce the cycle, fear and shame for people who are using drugs.

The Fair Treatment Campaign “The Fair Treatment Campaign arose out of the church. It was a world-first, the church deciding to support the decriminalisation and possession of small amounts of all drugs – and also to advocate for improved access to treatment services, especially in rural and regional areas.

“I’m so proud to be part of an organisation that’s not scared to take on a big issue like drug law reform.”

Uniting launched the Fair Treatment Campaign in October last year, which aims to “reform drug policy based around facts and not fear,” with drugdependency being treated as a health issue instead of a criminal one.

Uniting was prompted by drug-induced deaths reaching their highest in 20 years.

Sir Richard Branson, founder and CEO of the Virgin Group attended last year’s launch and spoke alongside the Director of the Kings Crosslocated Uniting Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MISC), Dr Marianne Jauncey, and the Executive Secretary of the Global Commission on Drug Policy (GDCP), Dr Khalid Tinasti.

Sir Branson said that the War on Drugs had completely failed at preventing drug use, creating further social devastation as a result.

“The war on drugs has been going on now for nearly 60 years. As an entrepreneurial businessman, if something had failed so abysmally … we would’ve closed it down 59 years ago,” he said.

“Sadly, politicians continue to wage this war which has been an abject failure and caused untold misery throughout the world. Drugs can

be an illness for some people and they need to be helped.

“People have been executed; people have been locked up. People who have drug problems, instead of being helped, have been threatened with prison, or they die from their drug problems.”

Special guests at this year’s event included members of parliament and MP’s including Penny Sharpe, Alex Greenwich and Cate Faehrmann.

Reverend Hansford spoke about his experiences seeing drug use in Dubbo and that the ministries connection to the local community had helped him understand the necessity of the campaign.

“My exposure, when I was growing up, to drug-use was very small, I was very fortunate in that way. When I moved to Dubbo, things were quite different,” he said.

It’s not easy to get treatment Hansford continued, “Drugs were readily available in Dubbo. But it’s not easy to get treatment, especially when people want it – and Sydney is a long way away when all your life and resources are in Dubbo.

“The ministry in Dubbo is about the community and not just the church, my time there confirmed why I’m a minister. My belief is that every human being has an inherent value, has an equal worth. My faith places me squarely with those who are struggling, with those who are told they have no place and no worth and no future.”

The War on Drugs failed at preventing drug use, creating further social devastation “That’s why I support the Fair Treatment Campaign and its goals. A compassionate response to problematic drug use, not a criminal justice response. Every human being deserves it no matter where they come from – Sydney’s flashiest suburbs, the east-side of Dubbo or Kings Cross.”

The 90-minute documentary charts the route of a baton containing an open-letter to the NSW Premier, Gladys Berijiklian, and focusses on single mother, Shantell Irwin – a methamphetamine user who has to make this exact journey to find suitable treatment for her drug use.

“It takes only a few steps to get drugs in Dubbo, but I have to travel 400kms to Sydney to get treatment,” said Irwin. “I was broken, and I dealt with it through drugs.”

Dr Marianne Jauncey narrates the Journey throughout the documentary, providing insight for the audience about the urgency of reforming laws and providing treatment for rural communities.

“We’re failing Shantell and we’re failing the 200,000 Shantell’s around this country that cannot get to treatment,” she said.

15 years awaiting justice

BY ALEC SMART Search for ‘TJ Hickey’ on the internet and you’re likely to be directed to webpages featuring articles headlined ‘TJ Hickey, 10 years, no justice’, ‘TJ Hickey, 13 years, no justice’, and so on. The latest links are reminders that 15 years have elapsed without a Public Inquiry that might satisfy the family of the Aboriginal teenager, who died in tragic circumstances – likely chased (and possibly hit) by a police vehicle.

February 14 is the date the Western world celebrates Valentine’s Day; however, it also commemorates the date in 2004 that 17-year-old Kamilaroi Aboriginal ‘TJ’ (Thomas Junior) Hickey, the eldest of seven children, was riding his bicycle when he was pursued and, according to some accounts, hit by a police vehicle.

Although police fervently deny Hickey was chased or even hit, the boy suddenly lost control

by Waterloo Towers, catapulting off his bike and onto his back on a spiked steel fence.

Hickey sustained horrific injuries as the spikes penetrated his neck and chest, succumbing 14 hours later in Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Police administered first aid to Hickey at the scene, although his family assert he was lifted off the fence, counter to all medical recommendations - removing impaled objects usually causes catastrophic bleeding.

Unidentified witnesses claim they saw Hickey’s bicycle rammed by police pursuing him. This, they claim, propelled him onto the blunt metal uprights of the walkway fence behind Turanga tower in Waterloo.

However, the primary pursuit driver, Redfern Police Constable Michael Hollingsworth – since promoted and awarded medals – denied this. Police counter that Hickey hit a kerb whilst pedaling at high speed and this flung him onto the spiked fence.

At the time, police were engaged in an operation to catch a handbag thief near Redfern Station, 1km away. Although Hickey was not a suspect and the search called off, the occupants of police vehicle

have issued a certificate under the Coroner’s Act exempting him from later prosecution or a police disciplinary hearing.

TJ Hickey’s mother, Gail, outside the NSW Supreme Court. Photo: Supplied

‘Redfern 16’, constables Hollingsworth, 32, and Maree Reynolds, 26, decided to follow the 17-yearold as ‘a person of interest’.

Pursued or followed?

Perhaps Hickey, who had an arrest warrant in his home town of Walgett that the officers were unaware, saw the police van as he cruised south along Renwick Street and panicked. He accelerated his bicycle into an 80-metre walkway behind Redfern Primary and the police gave chase, although the inquiry debated whether they ‘pursued’ or merely ‘followed’.

TJ Hickey’s girlfriend, April Ceissman, told Sydney Morning Herald shortly after his death she was convinced police launched a high-speed pursuit.

At the opposite end, Hickey crossed Phillip Street into a driveway behind Turanga tower. It was here he collided with the spiked fence at 11.20am. Only one eyewitness to the actual tragedy reported to the coronial inquiry, declaring Hickey lost control and flipped over onto the fence.

The crew of police vehicle Redfern 17 – Constable

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Allan Rimell, driver, and Constable Ruth Rocha, passenger - was the first to attend to the mortally wounded youth, because the coronial inquiry found Redfern 16 was impeded by a gate at the end of the path between Renwick and Phillip Street, arriving minutes later.

This raises the question, if a police vehicle was involved, as some allege, did Redfern 17 attempt ambushing the fleeing youth on Phillip Street and perhaps used their vehicle to nudge him from behind?

Curiously, Coroner John Abernethy excused police officer Hollingsworth from testifying Yet Constable Hollingsworth refused to give evidence at the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Hickey’s death on grounds he might incriminate himself.

Curiously, Coroner John Abernethy excused Hollingsworth from testifying, although he could

Unreliable or absent witnesses Although Abernethy declared it was “regrettable that Reynolds and Hollingsworth were not completely candid from the very start..” and further criticised Reynolds as, “quite a poor witness with an extraordinary lack of memory of what I would have thought were significant events,” in August 2004 he ruled that Hickey’s death was a ‘freak accident’.

TJ Hickey’s death sparked the 2004 Redfern Riots, when furious community members, many indigenous, confronted police around The Block housing estate by Redfern Station. They were dispersed with fire hoses 10 hours later.

A reserve on Waterloo Green adjacent to where Hickey sustained his fatal injuries was informally named TJ Hickey Park in his honour.

In February 2017, NSW Minister for Housing, Prue Goward, announced an authorised memorial will be built during redevelopment of the Waterloo estate, on the site where Hickey collided with the fence.

However, a memorial plaque with Hickey’s portrait, donated by University of Technology Sydney’s Aboriginal Students’ Association, which the Hickey family wish to use, remains unacceptable to the NSW Government unless the words ‘police pursuit’ in the inscription are substituted with ‘tragic accident.’

Hickey’s mother Gail refuses to yield to their request. She told Alt-Media, “15 years is too long to wait. We hope Parliament will bring what my son, my family and myself finally deserve: justice.”

A petition with over 12,000 signatures demanding a Public Inquiry into Hickey’s death was presented to the NSW Parliament by Hickey’s family and supporters on 20 June 2019.

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Taken for a ride

By JOAN HENSON Redfern, in Sydney’s inner-south, is a cycling hub and home to Sydney’s sixth busiest station.

The cycling infrastructure from Redfern’s George Street connects Green Square with the city centre, and NSW state government policy is to include cycling paths in new developments.

Urban Growth’s 2016 Central to Eveleigh Development Strategy is an example. Though never constructed, one of its key proposals was to bridge the rail corridor at Redfern, making it accessible to cyclists and pedestrians.

Knowing this, David Borella, President of BIKESydney, was perplexed that cycling access was excluded from a Transport for NSW (TfNSW) plan to upgrade Redfern station, to make it disability-compliant by 2022.

The plan, discussed at a recent REDWatch (Redfern, Eveleigh, Darlington, Waterloo Watch Group) meeting, includes a new concourse bridging the rail line from Little Eveleigh into Marian Street, yet without bicycle access.

“The bridge must be made rideable to improve rider safety, reduce pedestrian and rider conflicts, and reduce traffic congestion in the area,” Borella told City Hub. The proposed alignment also obstructs cycleway access, he added. “The bridge should be aligned south of the buildings on Little Eveleigh Street to connect into the Wilson Street cycleway [now in construction].”

Instead the bridge funnels commuters onto the narrow footpath of a one-way street, with parking parallel to a cycling track. The $100 million project is expected to take a year to complete, beginning construction late this year.

Council urged TfNSW for better options testing City of Sydney councillor Philip Thalis says that councillors urged government agencies to provide further options for cyclists and

pedestrians at the REDWatch meeting.

While two other concourse options were shown to councillors by TfNSW, they were not exhibited at REDWatch, and were not favoured by the council.

Cr Thalis says that the ideal option would traverse between Cornwallis Street and Wilson, avoiding bottlenecks at Marian and Little Eveleigh.

He said that the construction should seek to gain “as many public benefits as possible”, but that the present charter’s scope is limited to that of an internal upgrade.

The only other potential crossing of the rail corridor for cyclists would be the approved, funded, and designed Lawson Street cycleway, which is yet to be built.

Cr Thalis says that the City of Sydney is still lobbying “to build the missing cycle link… but need Sydney Trains’ permission.”

It was endorsed by the council in December 2015.

Sydney lags internationally for cycling University of Sydney Professor David Levinson has researched how the distance between commuters and stations can be shrunk by installing strategic station entry points, thus expanding commuter catchments.

As bicycle speeds can be three to four times that of walking, “many more people are in range of the station via bike.”

For safe accessibility, cyclists need entry points in low-speed residential streets and protected cycleways on high-speed roads.

In addition to better station accessibility, he says that Sydney “sorely lacks a protected bike lane network.”

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, one in five Australians hospitalised for a transport-related injury from 2015-16 was a cyclist.

City of Sydney aims to increase cycle journeys to and from the city.

Photo: Petar Milošević, Wikimedia Commons

In early May, it was reported that the rate of injury for other road users declined from 1990-00 to 2015-16 by 1.3 per cent per year.

Over the same period there was an increase of 1.5 per cent per year transport-related injuries for cyclists, until the last six years, where the average increased to 4.4 per cent per year.

Sustainable Sydney 2030 aims for 10% of all trips to the city to be made by bicycle Levinson says that far fewer people cycle in Sydney than in places with better cycling infrastructure like Canberra, Portland and Minneapolis in the United States, or “most places in Europe or China,” and that changes in road rules and infrastructure could make walking and cycling more attractive alternatives.

Andrew Chuter, President of Friends of

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city hub 20 JUNE 2019

Erskineville, says that his group has started canvassing the community about building a southern entrance to Erskineville station, inspired

by Redfern Station developments.

The new Ashmore Estate development, which will house about 6000 residents, presents challenges for accessing the station via walking and cycling.

“That estate accesses Erskineville Station by walking up a hill to the top of the station, and then comes back down to the platform,” he says.

“It really doesn’t make sense… to come back down to the platform.”

The City of Sydney’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 target aims for 10 per cent of all trips to the city to be made by bicycle.

In early May NSW Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes told the Sydney Morning Herald that he was “very aware that Sydney is not a cycle-friendly city”, and wanted to work with councils and the Transport Minister to make improvements.

Rally to decriminalise abortion

By KATHERINE RAJWAR A 17-year-old Catholic school girl, Bella Ziade, sparked a renewed push for decriminalisation of Abortion Laws in New South Wales when she organised the My Body My Choice rally on June 9 in Sydney. Armed with megaphones and signs declaring “Keep your dirty laws off my silky draws” and “Ovary-acting? I think not!”, an estimated 3000 protesters marched through Sydney calling for the decriminalisation of abortion in NSW. The student conceived of the march after her social media was inundated with reports of the ‘Heartbeat Bill’ in Alabama, where all abortions are banned, including in cases of rape or incest.

“Organising the march was a product of my emotional reaction,” she said. “I was seeing what was going on in the USA; I felt targeted, angry.

“We are so influenced by everything American, I was scared it could easily happen here, because it’s already so restrictive in NSW,” Ziade said.

Restrictive abortion laws in NSW In New South Wales, abortion is classed as an offence under the NSW Crimes Act, and can only be legally performed if a doctor deems a woman’s physical and mental health at risk. Socioeconomic factors may also be considered.

Ziade worries that these laws are detrimental to anyone wanting ‘basic healthcare’, especially vulnerable individuals. “Abortion is fundamentally a choice, it’s a right to anyone with a uterus.”

After organising the march, Ziade faced challenges.

“I was getting online hate, from intense pro-life people. “[Some] boys have been difficult because they will never experience it,” she added. “There was a Facebook event started by a bunch of schoolboys in retaliation, called ‘My Foreskin my Choice’. It reduced my intent to a total joke; I just came home and cried.”

Anisa Assifi, research assistant at Australian Center for Public and Population Health Research, believes

“The result would be similar to what happened in Victoria and Queensland, abortion will no longer be used for what it was supposed to be... to protect the life of the mother, but it’ll become used as a contraception method, just birth control.”

On June 9, the My Body My Choice rally for abortion rights in Sydney attracted over 3000 protestors.

Photo: Katherine Rajwar

“services that do provide abortions are taking great risks for themselves, from a legal standpoint, and they have huge policies in place to protect themselves.”

Assifi, undertaking a PhD with a focus on adolescent access to abortions, worries that the financial burden of an abortion acts as another barrier to lower socio-economic people.

Remove abortion from the Crimes Act, it is a procedure hospitals should provide “The higher the gestational age, the more expensive abortions are,” she said. “If a woman tries to book an appointment thinking she is about 12 weeks pregnant, it will cost 500 dollars upfront. But, after an ultrasound, she finds out she’s actually 14 weeks pregnant, it is going to cost her 700 dollars...

By the time she’s got that money, she’s 16 weeks

pregnant, so it’s going to cost her 1500 dollars.

“The huge issue with cost is you have to pay upfront, because the majority of services in NSW are privately run. There is no legislation around this being a normal part of healthcare, so they can charge whatever they want.”

The June 9 rally stirred debate. Bethany Marsh, Chairperson of LifeChoice Australia, a student-based pro-life organisation opposing abortion, said, “We believe that human life does begin at conception, so if a foetus is a human life, and abortion ceases that life, we should consider abortion to be about human rights of the child.”

The small group of pro-life advocates attended the decriminalise abortion rally attempting to ‘speak for the unborn child’. Marsh responded to protesters angered by her organization’s presence.

“Decriminalisation would be a terrible idea,” she said, “it dehumanises the unborn child; it would have detrimental effects in NSW.

Change doesn’t come with complacency This is not the first time abortion in NSW has been on the political agenda. In 2017, Greens’ senator Mehreen Faruqi’s bill to decriminalise the procedure was defeated 25 to 14 in the NSW Upper House.

However, Penny Sharpe MLC, Interim Leader of the NSW Labor party, is hopeful that we will see another bill on the table this year.

“In NSW, momentum is heading the other way, we are going towards decriminalisation,” she said.

“There is a broad spectrum of MPs across the political divide who are committed to seeing that happen within this term of parliament.”

Last year Sharpe successfully implemented legislation that provided a 150m safe zone around abortion clinics. She attests to the failure of Ms Faruqi’s bill to an oversaturation of Conservative MPs. “We need to get it out of the Crimes Act, recognising abortion as a normal procedure, which hospitals should be providing,” she said.

“Australians are very proud of our universal health care system, the idea that it doesn’t matter how much you earn, you can get the healthcare you need,” she said.

“Abortion is one of the only parts of the healthcare system, that women are forced into the private sector, which is very expensive..”

The June 9 rally concluded at Sydney Town Hall, with Bella Ziade standing jubilantly on the stairs in front of the crowd. “We must not put this issue in the back of our pockets,” she said as the protesters roared in agreement. “This is the start of change... you do not make a change by being complacent.”

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FEATURE

By Rita Bratovich

Cosy Up Your Cave ANNANDALE INTERIORS Winter is the season where designers can fully stretch their canvases and lay out all their colours. It’s when “more is more” - more texture, more hues, more volume; layering and accessorising, enjoying the feel as much as the look. Home becomes a retreat. Outdoor activities are replaced with the indoor comfort of a soft throw on a deep sofa piled high with fluffy cushions, as warm and inviting as the smell of freshly baked bread.

“People love to stay at home during winter so it’s particularly important to have a space that is ready to deliver pleasure,” says Kim Thompson, interior decorator and founder of the long-established furniture store, Annandale Interiors. Thompson favours natural materials such as wood and animal hides, not just for their ambience, but for their durability and versatility.

“Texture is key at this time of year. Animal hides and leather are warm in winter and cool in summer and don’t have any of the sticky feeling that comes with faux leather polyplastic upholstery. Sandblasted hides give that real rough and tumble effect that goes well

BEDS AUSTRALIA There is no better place to be on a cold winter night - or day - than snuggled inside a toasty bed. And, if you are going to spend hours tucked under the covers reading, streaming, typing, or even sleeping, you want to be sure your mattress is comfortable and supportive. So it’s a good time of year to think about purchasing a new mattress, not just because it’s winter, but because there are lots of EOFY sales happening! Be wary, though buying a mattress requires a lot of consideration and you should seek out expert advice and quality products.

Enter: Beds Australia. This is their specialty.

They stock all the leading brands including AH Beard Domino, King Koil, Sealy, and Sleepmaker, in every size and level of firmness.

Their expert staff will discuss your particular preferences and relevant physical and health issues before recommending the mattress they believe is right for you. In addition, your new mattress comes with a 100-night guarantee: if you get to night 99 and still haven’t had “the best life’s sleep” you can return your mattress and exchange it for a new one.

While you’re shopping for a new mattress you might also want to consider a new pillow. The shape, height, and softness of your pillow can affect the quality of your sleep and impact your physical health, especially with regard to neck, back, shoulders, and head. Beds Australia has a large range of specialty pillows to help you sleep and dream better.

Apart from focusing on the health of its customers, Beds Australia is also striving to create a healthy planet. They lean towards ethical practice and sustainable materials when selecting manufacturers, dealing only with quality products that are durable and environmentally friendly. They are also proudly Australian and always try to support locally made goods using local resources.

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city hub 20 JUNE 2019

with a bomber jacket for a more masculine style. Pets also like it. It doesn’t scratch easily

KOSKELA

If you want a feel good shopping experience, you are unlikely to find anywhere that ticks as many “warm and fuzzy” boxes as Koskela.

Apart from its unique sunlit, century-old warehouse premises, Koskela is a champion of social enterprise, collaborating with Australian indigenous artists and artisans and supporting traditional art and culture.

When you step inside their Rosebery store, you’re immersing yourself in a cultural world that includes exquisitely designed, sustainably built furniture; ethically produced goods; an art gallery that exhibits contemporary local artists; a library where you can sit and flick through a beautiful selection of books; and even an on-site cafe where you can sip a warm beverage and soak in the wonderful ambience.

Koskela’s designs are minimalist and functional; modern, yet with a natural, sometimes vintage aesthetic, and very stylish. Its bespoke but individual pieces would easily fit in with your existing furniture. The display allows you to see how settings work together, and the relaxed environment gives you ample time to think about and select your pieces.

COSH LIVING Function meets form with a friendly handshake at Cosh Living.

They provide design and furnishings for homes, commercial spaces, and hotels with a range that includes indoor and outdoor furniture.

Their pieces are imaginative, quirky, modern, sophisticated yet always practical and adaptable to a variety of settings. If you’re going to be spending time indoors, then you want furniture that looks good and feels good, and that’s what you will find here.

so blasted hides are an excellent choice for families,” says Kim. It’s not hard to spot genuine, good quality leather over artificial products. Real leather has rough, uneven edges, and comes in varied shapes and sizes - remember, it’s an animal pelt. It does not come in long sheets that can cover a sofa smoothly.

Harmony is key to decorating at this time of year, but so is individuality. It’s where you get to truly appreciate the special items in your home.

“Winter is the time to bring together your favourite pieces to reveal the poetic beauty of each item, whether it’s a bohemian number or a classic 50s piece. Everything falls toward texture, colour, character and shape,” explains Thompson.

Annandale Interiors is one of the few Sydney design stores that allows clients to view the Warwick Fabrics and Dulux Paints seasonal style forecasts and get ideas and inspiration.

According to Thompson, the hottest looks for the coldest time of year include Deco Revival, New York Hamptons style, and beautiful feminine florals.

You don’t need a full refurbishment to spice up Founders, Colin Kupke and Shane Sinnott (note the first two letters of their first names) started out selling outdoor furniture by big name European manufacturers, then eventually set up a factory in Melbourne, hired designer, Justin Hutchinson, and now sell a combination of European and Australian brands as well as their in-house mark, Kett. They have completed a number of impressive projects for large organisations including University of Technology, Sydney; Royal Randwick Racecourse; QANTAS Airways; Crown Casino; The Hyatt and many more hotels, institutions, and large organisations.

your abode, nor do you need a huge budget.

Some shrewdly selected accent pieces and simple adornments can easily add warmth and character.

Items that will rid you of winter woes include indoor plants, big bowls filled with bright citrus fruit, and fresh flowers. Long camellia branches look wild and fabulous in a large urn.And nothing says cosy charm quite like candles flickering over a steaming carafe of mulled wine.

If you’re worried about the banality of staring at the same four walls all season, Thompson has some expert tips.

“Well placed mirrors are always good for winter because they reflect a lot of light, especially if people are unsure about committing to art for their walls. Equally, for smaller city apartments, mirrors are ideal for limited wall space while opening up the space with an optical illusion. Add some beautiful photography – in black and white or colour – of the landscape that you have taken yourself. We are so lucky to live in Sydney, so take pictures of the harbour and all of the wonderful subjects that surround it, have the results printed and use them in your interior story.”

designs - you select the item you want online, then choose from a list of customisable options such as size, materials and colour. Each order is built by hand from scratch using ethically sourced, sustainable materials. They have a gainfully employed team of master woodworking craftsmen in Indonesia, which means they can produce quality goods at a fair price. That alone should warm up the cockles.

MCM HOUSE

While commercial furnishings are a big part of their business, they also cater to residential clients. So if you’ve got a courtyard or outdoor area that gets winter sun, you should visit Cosh Living and get some advice on how to make the most of it. They have expertise in making the outdoors feel as cosy and comfortable as the indoors. Of course, that expertise doesn’t stop at the back door, so if you don’t have an al fresco space, then invite them indoors to help liven up and enrich your abode.

REDDIE FURNITURE There are few places that evoke a snowy, postcard Winter scene like Northern Europe, so if you want an authentic Winter feel then the Scandinavian style designs of Reddie Furniture are the perfect fit. They have a minimalist wooden finish with clear contemporary ideals, yet there’s an essence of 1960s experimentalism in the designs.

Founders Caroline and Andrew Olah had a mission: to create well-crafted furniture that is functional, appealing, durable and fully customisable. They have a selection of basic

This is a true one-stop shop, with a very extensive range of furniture items, homewares, decor, and art as well as a personalised styling service.

If you’re after a winter make-over for your home, contact Charles Hinckfuss, designer and founder of MCM House. He can help you achieve some winter chic while still maintaining a cosy, homey feel. If you just want a few new items to warm up the place, there’s plenty to choose from here - for bedroom, dining, lounge and outdoors.

It’s amazing what small items can do: ottomans, cushions, wall hangings, lamps can all add character and cheer to a home. One of the most effective ways to warm up a room easily and inexpensively is with a rug. Neutral tones will work in any space and can add texture as well as being a bit nicer underfoot than a cold hard floor.

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TO START NSW Cheese & Charcuterie Shared Platters Paired with: 2019 A.Retief Riesling – Hilltops

ENTREE Anchovies, Iggys Bread, Whipped Bottarga Burrata, Caramelised Pumpkin, Puffed Wheat Paired with: 2017 A.Retief Barrel- Fermented Sauvignon Blanc – Tumbarumba 2017 A.Retief Chardonnay- Tumbarumba

MAIN Cavolo Nero, Rainbow Chard And Grana Padano Gratin Honey Roasted Carrots, Cannellini Puree, Sage Oil, Pine Nuts Rosemary, Smoked Garlic And Herb Potatoes Persimmon and Butter Lettuce Salad -Creamed Corn, Roasted Chicken, Salsa Verde Pasta E Fagioli, Pork Sausage Baked Sardines, Stuffed with Herbs, Currants and Lemon Paired with: 2017 A.Retief “Field Blend” – Hilltops 2017 A.Retief “The Cabernet’s” - Hilltops

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@Urban_Winery_Sydney

urbanwinerysydney.com.au city hub 20 JUNE 2019

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT REVIEW: Diplomacy French playwright Cyril Gély has written a fascinating play that explores the power of diplomacy and the influence of well-chosen words and an engaging manner.

The work examines the conversation that could have taken place between the Swedish Consul General Raoul Nordling (played by the inimitable John Gaden) and General Dietrich von Choltitz, Military Governor of Paris, a role that demands the stage presence of an actor with the gravitas of John Bell.

Their meeting takes place just before dawn at the Hotel Meurice on August 25, 1944, when the Allied forces are about to enter the city.

The pressure is on Choltitz to execute Hitler’s orders to blow up Paris and leave it in ruins, but Nordling employs all his knowing charm to persuade the General to disobey the Fuhrer’s decree and save the city. It is this that the historical figure of Choltitz is now remembered, and indeed, this is one of the arguments that the character of Nordling uses in Gely’s play.

The Ensemble is to be congratulated for commissioning this intelligent and thought-provoking play that offers such an interesting insight into this critical historical moment.

Award-winning literary translator Julie Rose adapted this work for

Noni Caroll

Girl In The Machine

Not surprisingly, this cerebral thriller performed by two great actors of the Australian stage has sold out. (ID) Jun 21-Jul 14. Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall St, Kirribilli. $66-$78+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.ensemble.com.au

Anatomy Of A Suicide

We’re living in a time where the concepts and themes in series such as Black Mirror seem to be becoming more and more real and tangible. The line between us and technology is getting shorter. Playwright Stef Smith’s Girl In The Machine is being brought to Parramatta’s Riverside Theatre this month, directed by two-time Sydney Theatre Award Nominee Claudia Barrie. The piece tells the story of a young couple, Polly and Owen, who find that using a new device, the “Black Box”, has them questioning their entire world. Starring Chantelle Jamieson and Brandon McClellan, Girl In The Machine is unlike any traditional theatre you’ve seen.

Chantelle Jamieson spoke with us about the piece and her initial reactions to reading the script.

“When I read the script I was intrigued.

We’re all interested in the relationship that technology has to people and to our cultural interactions and our modern life and wellbeing.”

Considering the play was written to be presented in a theatre, Girl In The Machine has an extensive number of sci-fi elements, helping the actors to push the audience closer to the realness of the themes onstage.

Chantelle summarised the feeling of Girl In The Machine.

“I think at its heart it’s a really simple story about two people who love each other dearly and how technology could be a helper, but actually is creating distance between people,” she said before continuing, “It’s exploring the amplification of that distance and there are elements of mental illness and how technology can be used as an escape from those feelings.” (MB) Until June 29. Riverside Theatres, Corner of Church & Market Streets, Parramatta. $44-$49+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.riversideparramatta.com.au

Playing at the Old Fitz Theatre this June is Alice Birch’s Anatomy Of A Suicide, marking its Australian debut in Sydney’s iconic intimate performance space. A stunning piece of theatre focusing on the mental health/demise of three women, the play is staged by presenting three separate time frames simultaneously. With overlapping dialogue and a powerhouse cast,

city hub 20 JUNE 2019

Anatomy Of A Suicide is the touching and intriguing story of a mother, daughter and granddaughter, all battling with the repercussions of what has come before them. The piece ultimately poses the question: does genetic inheritance or social environment determine our character?

Helpmann Award nominee and renowned Australian actress Anna Samson plays Carol in the play, the mother and grandmother of the two younger characters.Anna spoke with City Hub about the challenges that Anatomy Of A Suicide present for both the actors and audience.

“The role is very challenging and something I haven’t done before. The form of the play is so unique that it felt like a beautiful challenge with a stunning group of creatives,” Anna said before continuing, “I think it’s very clear to people now

that grief and trauma is inherited even if you weren’t alive for it, it can carry down in the bloodline.”

With the Old Fitz Theatre providing such an intimate space for the play, Anna has been looking forward to sharing the play’s huge range of themes and emotions with the audience.

“It will be incredibly special in this particular venue. The intimacy of this space and the intimacy of what these characters are experiencing is a really beautiful marriage. It will be a really intense human experience for the audience and for us.” (MB) Until Jul 6.The Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo. $38-$45+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.redlineproductions.com.au

Hudson & Halls Live!

Peter Hudson and David Halls. It’s the mid-80s in New Zealand and the two flamboyant television chefs are cooking up a Christmas storm in front of a live audience. Hudson and Halls are New Zealand’s original great gay love story, a real-life couple that got drunk and rowdy on live TV while cooking – and the nation loved it. Fast-forward to the present and this June at the Giant Dwarf audiences will have the opportunity to witness a theatrical reenactment of one of Hudson and Halls’ live shows, with the icons being played by two renowned Kiwi actors Todd Emerson and Chris Parker.

Todd co-wrote Hudson & Halls Live! with his husband Kip Chapman, also the director of the piece, and after successfully touring it throughout New Zealand the team are finally bringing it to Australia. Of the show’s inception,

a&e

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Australian audiences, John Bell directed with Assistant Director Anna Volska, and Genevieve Lemon makes an appearance as Choltitz’s orderly Frau Mayer, which gives Gély an opportunity to reveal Choltitz’s humanity in caring for her safety.

12 STAGE 14 SCENE 15 Sounds 15 SCREEN

Todd told City Hub, “We just thought that the idea of recreating one of their live shows was such a theatrically interesting idea. What we wrote was a farce, essentially, but based on a true story. The audience gets to see what happens on and off the air.”

Unlike most theatre productions, Hudson & Halls Live! will be messy, out of control and very loosely choreographed.

“The great thing about cooking live is anything can happen and often does. We have the most amount of fun when things are going wrong, and that’s when the audience enjoy it most as well,” said Todd.

The show will be a completely immersive, hilarious and unforgettable one, with Australian actress Emily Barclay also jumping in on the fun.

With the set being a functioning, full-equipped kitchen and the likelihood of culinary disaster

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

extremely high, Todd can assure audiences that Hudson & Halls Live! is one show this year that’s not to be missed.

“It’s the fully immersive nature of being in a TV studio, you can smell the food and everyone loves a big broad comedy with heart, and I think that’s what we’ve made.” (MB) June 26-29. Giant Dwarf Theatre, 199 Cleveland Street, Redfern. $29-$39+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.giantdwarf.com.au

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

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REVIEW: Things I Know To Be True Former Artistic Director Neil Armfield has returned to Belvoir Theatre this month, directing Things I Know To Be True, an Australian family drama thrusting unique and genuine characters onto the stage. Written by awardwinning playwright Andrew Bovell, the piece takes the audience on a journey following the lives of the Price family over the course of a year.

This production of Things I Know To Be True was exceptional. From the lighting to the staging, each element was designed and executed in a way that enhanced and told the story of the family, which performed exquisitely by the cast. As the audience, we were able to share and experience the humour and vulnerability of the characters on stage, with the portrayal of the quintessential

With Coffin Ed Damm – what do you have to do to get yourself an Order Of Australia award or a similar gong, routinely distributed on Australia Day or the Queen’s Birthday weekend? This year I self-nominated again and even went to the trouble of including a ‘complimentary’ $50 note with my application. Only joking of course but it wouldn’t have been the first time a much sought after national honour was procured via a substantial amount of cash.

A scurrilous accusation some might say, but it’s widely rumoured that this was the norm in the days of demagogue ‘Sir’ Joh BejelkePeterson and NSW’s own ‘Sir’ Robert William Askin. A discreet paper bag full of cash under the desk and what a surprise and honour to find that you had just been knighted by Her Majesty the Queen. Whilst most of these instant aristocrats took their medals to the grave, there was the odd occasion when justice had its way and after being convicted of corruption they were forced to hand their knighthood back. Such was certainly the case with ‘Sir’ Terry Lewis, Joh’s wickedly corrupt chief of police, who suffered the indignity of being stripped of his bauble on the way to a considerable prison term.

One of the many legacies of the late Bob Hawke was the abolishment of knighthoods and damehoods in 1986 although in March 2014, in his now notorious ‘captain’s call’, they were

Australian family being done in such an honest and relatable way. It’s always a pleasure to see Australian playwriting woven onto the stage in this way, and I can’t wait to head back to the Belvoir for a second time before the Things I Know To Be True season is over. (MB) Until Jul 21. Belvoir St Theatre, 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills. $45-$85+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.belvoir.com.au

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reintroduced by Tony Abbott with Prince Phillip a surprise recipient, no doubt for his services to road safety.

Whilst knights and dames can now be appointed again it’s unlikely that the Morrison Government would make that move, preferring to issue the much more egalitarian Order Of Australia medals.Whilst anybody

can be nominated it’s a usually predictable list of sporting and entertainment celebrities, former politicians, captains of industry, academics and community leaders who are bestowed with the gongs. In theory, if you are a tireless contributor to the good of this country you could be nominated and your nomination approved by the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat at Government House in Canberra.

In reality, many nobodies, who do amazing work for the community, are never nominated. Despite an open door policy where any Australian can be nominated and awarded for their service to the country, the medals are essentially elitist in that only a chosen few are recognised. Now doubt the Awards Secretariat do their best to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of this acknowledgement throughout the community.Yet the very nature of the system depends on well known and celebrated Australians, reaping all the kudos and publicity at the forefront of the gongs.

So will I be nominating myself again next year and enclosing a small financial inducement in the great tradition of Queensland’s once prolific brown paper bag? The answer is, of course, no. But I am considering a far more accessible award from the Hutt River Province, Australia’s oldest micronation in Western Australia. For the bargain price of $50 you can become an officer of the Illustrious Order of Merit and proudly run the letters OIOM after your name. I am led to believe that the late author Colleen McCullough was once made a Baroness of Hutt so it looks like you could be in good company, even though for $50 don’t expect an actual medal to hang around your neck.

MLC - Moulding The Women Of Tomorrow The MLC School is known for the outstanding outcomes their students achieve.This is by no coincidence though. MLC School fosters greatness from the women who walk their halls from a very early age, right through to graduation.

MLC School’s mission is ‘to educate young women to be fearless thinkers’, and the girls are

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encouraged from an early age to explore, inquire and discover their interests under the nurturing guidance of highly qualified and experienced Early Childhood Educators.This is done via the MLC Junior School, which is located at the entrance to the campus.

Many have argued that MLC School’s Pre-Kindergarten Studio and its purpose-built playground is the best place in all of MLC School.

Open, beautiful and wonderfully resourced, the atmosphere is inviting

and engaging. Every day is one of fun, friends and discovery. So, why wouldn’t you choose MLC School Pre-Kindergarten for your daughter?

Alongside early literacy and numeracy programs, the girls also benefit from weekly lessons in all of the Junior School specialist subject areas, such as Mandarin, Drama and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics). These opportunities are the envy of other early learning centres.

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Mr Daniel Sandral, Head of MLC Junior School said,“One of the things the Pre-Kindergarten students report enjoying most about School is meeting and interacting with girls in other year groups. It is the older girls who show and teach our youngest members of our School what it is to be a learner.”

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Suara Indonesia Dance group specialise in an energetic mix of dance, body percussion and song. Artistic director Alfira O’Sullivan and choreographer, Murtala, aim to preserve the traditional

and folk dances from various regions of Indonesia including West Java, Bali and Aceh as well as create new works based on traditional movements. “It is important to pass on heritage and tradition to those of Indonesian ancestry born in Australia as well as educating the wider community on the divergence of Indonesian culture,” said O’Sullivan.

Funded by the Inner West Council, Suara Indonesia Dance, has performed in many venues across the inner west including Marrickville and Leichhardt Community Centres.The company also teaches dance classes in Lakemba.There are many forms

of dance across the different regions of Indonesia and the music too differs from one region to another.“For example, the Acehnese dance form is based on body percussion and synchronised movement in groups to the beat of the rapai frame drum while, west Javanese cultural dance devotes itself to intricate hand movements and choreographed dance sequences accompanied by the sounds of Gamelan.

Many Australians will be more familiar with the Balinese style of dance which will also be included.

Maybe this will entice the few of us who haven’t been to Bali to go there and

explore further afield.The idea is that those who come to view the performances will be able to experience many regions of Indonesia all in one day.There will also be traditional food, arts and crafts and even a fashion show featuring Indonesian costumes and regional clothes which the children will model. Some of these costumes have been made by the children themselves.“Of course there will be prizes for best costume as well.” O’Sullivan explained. (RLD) Jun 22. Ashfield Town Hall, 260 Liverpool Rd, Ashfield.

FREE (Fashion show registration $20).

Tickets & Info: www.suaraindonesiadance.com.au

By Jamie Apps The journey to Thandi Phoenix’s debut headline tour has been a quick one, but it has also been littered with incredible achievements and milestones. For instance, in her short career, Phoenix has evolved her style by bringing in elements from vastly different influences, performed alongside some of her idols and even overcoming a career-threatening fear.

Ahead of her hometown performance Phoenix sat down with City Hub to walk us through the key moments of her life and career.

Like many young girls growing up in the 90s Phoenix’s first musical love was the Spice Girls.

A love which quickly grew to include other pop artists such as Destiny’s Child. These powerful female girl groups then led Phoenix to discover women like Macy Gray, Alicia Keys and Amy Winehouse. Once Phoenix finished school through her vision of the musical world would become much broader.

“When I left high school I started hearing electronic music and listening to people like Disclosure and Gorgon City,” Phoenix explained when discussing her recent influences. “My music has always been a reflection of the music I’m vibing with and enjoying at a particular time, so the UK scene has definitely been a big influence recently.”

Although Phoenix had a passion and love for music from a very young age she had to

Thandi Phoenix

overcome one major hurdle. Whilst attending a performing arts high school Phoenix discovered that she suffered from “really bad stage fright.” In

order to overcome this hurdle, Phoenix told us that she simply had to “work through it and face the fear head-on.”

Her determination to overcome this fear was spurred on after completing her schooling when Phoenix began attending more live performance around the city.

“When I started going to gigs and seeing the local scene around Sydney I would look at the people on stage and think ‘damn, I want to be on that side.’ So from then on I simply said ‘screw it, there is nothing that I want to do as much as music.’”

Since overcoming her fear Phoenix has quickly gone on to become a standout in the Australian scene and has even had opportunities to work with artists she once idolised.

“Performing on big shows with the likes of Sigma, Tinie Tempa and Rudimental were all great learning opportunities. Obviously, I’m not at that level just yet but to be able to play those support slots and be able to own it and feel comfortable was such a good feeling.”

For the upcoming show in Sydney Phoenix is hopeful that perhaps there could be someone in the audience who looks to her as their inspiration to “chase their dreams.”

Jun 21.The Lansdowne, 2-6 City Rd, Chippendale. $17.83+b.f Tickets & Info: www.thelansdownepub.com.au

The Beautiful Monument I’m The Reaper

I’m The Reaper by The Beautiful Monument is a compelling pop-punk ride from start to finish.

Throughout their second record,The Beautiful Monument and frontwoman Lizi Blanco explore the stages of grief, redemption and growth.Whilst these are heavy, and potentially quite depressing, themes the group does an outstanding job of keeping the overall message of triumph despite adversity very uplifting.

This is a record which does not exclude anybody.

Whether you’re an avid pop-punk/heavy music listener or simply a casual observer of the genre you will be able to settle into the groove of I’m The Reaper. (JA) WWW1/2

A Little Lunch Music: Dr V’s Swing Thing Are you longing to spend your lunch hour device-free and served with a slice of serenity?

Then, drop in for City Recital Hall’s long-running series of lunchtime concerts, A Little Lunch Music, this coming July.

Each concert in the A Little Lunch Music series is an hour of musical escapism performed by some of Australia’s best artists.

Coming up in July the series will bring Dr V’s

Never Look Away

This is a beautifully made film with a wellwritten script, exquisite cinematography, excellent performances and an exceptional score. Director and writer, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck has come very close to creating a masterpiece with this epic story.

Never Look Away begins with Kurt Barnert (Tom Schilling) as a boy, artistic and impressive and an

incidental survivor of Nazi atrocity during WWII. We follow him into adulthood, trying to live as an artist in communist East Germany before defecting to the West and flourishing.All the while, he is unwittingly crossing paths with the Nazi villain responsible for the devastating loss of his beloved aunt during his childhood.

The film is three hours long but there’s not a redundant moment; and though the story is sometimes harrowing, there is humour, insight, and genuine emotional beauty. Sebastian Koch plays a Nazi obstetrician, Professor Carl Seeband, with complexity and nuance, avoiding the usual cliches. Saskia Rosendahl is stunning in her brief time on screen as the aunt, Elizabeth.

Paula Beer is a perfect complement to Schilling and counterpart to Koch. (RB) Truly impressive.

WWWW

Swing Thing to Sydneysiders. This show is almost entirely comprised of jazz-loving “old Sydneians” (Old Boys Of Sydney Grammar School). Directed by Aria-winning artist Vlad Khusid, and strongly supported by the School’s Headmaster, Dr Richard Malpass, the band has performed at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival, the Clarence Jazz Festival in Hobart, Darwin Yacht Club, and at various venues in Sydney. Almost

all of the band are busy professionals, as well as fine musicians; they play jazz for the love of the music!

Why not enjoy something a little different during your lunch break in July.Attendees are invited to bring their own lunch from home or you can pick up something from the fully stocked Lobby Bar. Jul 16. City Recital Hall, 2 Angel Place, Sydney. $15.Tickets & Info: www.cityrecitalhall.com

Claire Darling

An estranged mother and daughter haven’t seen each other for many years, but reconnect for the most peculiar of reasons in this small film from France.

Claire Darling awakens one morning and decides to have a garage sale, emptying the house of all her prized possessions exclaiming “call it a nervous breakdown…God told me to do it…I have to tidy the house before I die tonight…”

Her daughter Marie arrives and questions her mother as to why she is selling all her treasures.

Audiences will learn about the tragedy which befell the family – the secret which has shattered an elderly lady and enhanced her mental decline.

What propelled Marie to leave her mother and why does she state that her childhood home “stinks of unhappiness”?

Real life mother and daughter Catherine Deneuve

and Chiara Mastroianni are perfectly cast in this family drama where the story unfolds in flashbacks.

Enchanting and colourful scenes of fully operational antique mechanical dolls momentarily deviate from the intense discontentment and anguish which resonates throughout.

Does wealth and living in a beautiful home bring happiness? Poignant and heart-wrenching at times, the twist in the final moments may shock and leave audiences slightly underwhelmed. (MMo) WWW1/2

Men In Black: International

International to the title) - in the pursuit of a mysterious weapon that could change the tide of events for the Let’s address something off the bat: if you go watch iteration is a ripper. It’s funny, aptly edited and the tried universe.This weapon is of-course also pursued by a Men in Black: International thinking it’s going to be a great and tested chemistry between Hemsworth (Agent H) bunch of shape-shifting intergalactic bad guys, who steal sequel or a fantastic reboot to Will Smith’s original series, and Tessa Thompson (Agent M) is spot on.Throw in Liam the show when it comes to the action sequences.Agent then you will be mistaken. There is literally no point to Neeson (as Agent High T - a clever take if you ask me) as H repeatedly says that he once saved the universe with this movie, with the story not really leading the overall the MIB head in London and you have a good popcorn flick nothing but his wit, and that’s probably more true for this arc of the movie series to any new destination. that’s not just entertaining but also very easy to watch. movie. Don’t watch it with Will Smith in mind, and you However, this aside, if you were to imagine that the This one takes the MIB agents around the globe - from should enjoy it to bits. (JR) previous Men In Black (MIB) movies didn’t exist, this New York to London to Marrakesh to Paris (hence adding WWWW city hub 20 JUNE 2019

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