City Hub 25 January 2018

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city hub 25 JANUARY 2018

Chuck a wallaby on the BBQ

BY ALEC SMART The summer scent of pork, beef, lamb and chicken frying on Aussie barbecues may one day be a thing of the past, replaced by healthier native delicacies, like possum, wallaby and emu, if chefs promoting indigenous cuisine influence our eating habits.

Kangaroo meat has already undergone a resurgence in the nation’s palate palette, and where it was once typically sold alongside dog food in supermarket fridges, is now found marinated and seasoned in the game section, where it retails at a premium price.

Despite it being eaten by native Australian for tens of thousands of years, kangaroo meat was only legalized for human consumption across Australia in 1993, although in South Australia it has been available since 1980.

Groups such as the Ecological Society of Australia and the Australasian Wildlife Management Society support agricultural production systems based on native animals rather than introduced livestock, like sheep and cattle.

They argue it offers considerable ecological advantages, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions (a study found that the livestock sector - primarily cattle, pigs and chickens - produces 37% of all human-induced methane, which damages the ozone layer). It also preserves fragile rangelands (grasslands, shrub, deserts, wetlands) easily damaged by the heavy hooves of grazing livestock.

Bush food – also called bush tucker – is any fauna or flora native to Australia used for culinary and/or medicinal purposes. Examples of meats include crocodile, kangaroos, emus and witchetty grubs (reportedly peanut butter-flavoured!), while fruits, vegetables and spices include quandong, riberry, finger lime, Warrigal greens, and myrtle (which comes in lemon and aniseed flavours). Flavoursome fungi include beefsteak and native bread varieties.

Perhaps our most famous bush food, harvested by Aborigines for millennia and now a major export farmed in large-scale commercial operations, is the delicious macadamia nut.

Outback Pride are among several food producers that specialise in indigenous cuisine, creating pickles, relishes, sauces, spreads and wild herbs to enhance native bush foods while supporting traditional Aboriginal communities.

“Being able to dip into this true Aussie cuisine in an accessible and delicious way is the way to create new understanding of very ancient food,” said Gayle Quarmby of Outback Pride, which has provided restaurants with Australian native ingredients since 2001.

“The only way to hold onto this unique and ancient food culture is to commercially cultivate the plants using a sustainable, ethical and organic mandate, whilst honouring the First Nations’ stewardship of this great land and its food for thousands of years.”

Drew Roberts of Shared Knowledge is hosting the Bush Foods Experience in Centennial Park on February 17. Photo: Alec Smart

Another indigenous food producer, although perhaps a source of protein that many may struggle adapting to, is the Edible Bug Shop, which specialise in roasted crickets and mealworms.

“Edible Insects are a sustainable source of protein, and are an important part of our food future,” they declare. “The way we farm our edible crickets uses less energy, less water and creates less greenhouse gases than traditional forms of protein.”

Two separate opportunities to sample indigenous, wild-gathered cuisine, are coming up in February. *On Saturday 17 February, Shared Knowledge, together with Centennial Parklands, are hosting a Bush Foods Experience in Centennial Park.

Using a traditional coolamon - a canoe-shaped shallow dish used by Aboriginal women to carry water and native foods (as well as cradle babies!) - gather seasonal fruits, seeds, berries, native vegetables and plants from around Centennial Parklands.

Thereafter learn about traditional food preparation methods and taste your own bush food infused recipes. *On Friday 9 February, Carriageworks contemporary multiarts centre in the converted railway sheds in Eveleigh bring the two aforementioned native food producers (Outback Pride and Edible Bug Shop) and a range of chefs and indigenous food experts together in The Night Market.

Renowned chef Kylie Kwong, the curator of Night Market, told City Hub, “I do believe there is a growing market for indigenous

ingredients as the general public learn more and more about their unique and distinctive flavours, textures, cultural significance, traditional uses.

“The food media over the past 5 years have been very encouraging in their increasing coverage of the importance and deliciousness of native Australian ingredients plus there have been several episodes on Masterchef Australia exploring native ingredients - this is only a positive!

“More and more chefs and restaurateurs are integrating native ingredients on to their menus which is fantastic to see and some native ingredients are now available from selected food stores and local farmers markets - i.e.: warrigal greens, karkalla, saltbush, samphire, Bower spinach etc.

“Yes I do find that people are willing to experiment with unusual foods and all they need, is a good, simple recipe to follow, as they begin to use these stunning ingredients.”

Some of the delicacies on offer at Night Market include: * Minced kangaroo picadillo empanada by Fred’s restaurant, Paddington. * Housemade Charcuterie featuring wallaby, kangaroo and other locally sourced animals, from NOMAD restaurant, Surry Hills. * Pepper berry Bruny Island wallaby skewers, wattle seed yogurt, snow pea tendrils and nasturtiums from Three Blue Ducks’ in Bronte. * Kangaroo bolognese toasties, prawn and myrtle donuts, and crocodile and riberry pemmicans from Biota. * Kylie Kwong herself will serve steamed organic savoury pancakes with Moreton Bay bug tails, munyeroo (a favourite salad vegetable for Aboriginal Australians for thousands of years) and fresh sea urchin caught and prepared by Craig Shephard of Obsession Dive.

“There is so much information out there on how to prepare and cook these ingredients” said Kylie Kwong, “I encourage everyone to give these foods a try - they are so delicious, so good for us from a health perspective and most importantly, it is of the utmost importance to me, as a food spokesperson, chef and restaurateur - to acknowledge, support and pay respect to our original Australians.”

Tickets to the Night Market, taking place at Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh, on Friday 9 February from 5 – 10pm, are on sale at carriageworks.com.au (entry $10, children under 12 are free).

Tickets to the Bush Food Experience, taking place near the Wild Play Discovery Centre on Dickens Drive, Centennial Park, on Saturday 17 February from 12 – 2.30pm, are on sale at eventbrite.com.au ($85, adults only).

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BY ISOBEL RUSHE The turn of a New Year hasn’t vanished Sydney’s housing affordability crisis, with housing costs at an all-time high. The City of Sydney’s Labor Councillor Linda Scott is committed to working towards a housing affordability scheme that benefits our city.

Mrs Scott has long been an advocate for more affordable housing and public housing in the City, with several successful motions from 2014 to recent.

“The City desperately needs to take more action to deliver affordable housing, so a more affordable Sydney becomes a reality for the future. I have worked hard over the years to make this happen and will continue to do so.”

In 2014 Sydney Council led successful motions that led to the City writing to the owners of vacant residential properties and invited them to consider engaging in affordable housing projects.

Since then Linda has worked to improve these matters further and work with many affordable housing providers to continue to close the gap.

She has achieved success with the rental homes in the inner city and inner west.

“I’m proud the City has

Despite a massive surge in high-rise apartments, Sydney is running out of affordable housing. Photo: Alec Smart

worked with affordable housing providers,” she said, “which has resulted in commitments to create new affordable rental homes in areas such as Glebe and Pyrmont.

But there is still a lot to do and I will continue to work towards this.”

Inner City Real Estate Agent Sarah Jennings has worked in Sydney’s rental market for over 5 years and says; “This City is undoubtedly getting more expensive to rent when compared to other states. Sydney’s weekly rent for a one-bedroom flat is almost double.

“Although the government and council are trying to amend this I think there is a long way to go.

I really think this is more of an economics question more so than what the council can do. Like

everyone says, the market needs to crash.”

A recent housing affordability report by Australian National University identified that despite an overly saturated supply of housing, property prices have surged in many inner city suburbs over the past five years. These discoveries cast doubt on the opinions of many federal and local politicians, that adding more housing supply is the best way to improve the affordability crisis.

Linda Scott commented on the price of rental housing in this area and said; “Some measures estimate that as little as one percent of available accommodation in the City of Sydney is affordable rental housing. This is totally unacceptable for a global city.

“The City of Sydney Housing Issues Paper contains a number of measures that the City could take to support an increase in affordable housing. I am committed to fighting to have these implemented.”

Recent SQM Research on vacancy rates revealed that the problem areas are Sydney’s inner city and south-west.

South West areas have some of the worst vacancy rates nationwide, with rates all lower than 1%. However, Sydney’s central business district is not far behind with the city being 2.5%, Chippendale recording rates lower than 2%, and Ultimo just shy of 1.5%.

These rates reveal a severe property shortage within our central areas. Councillor Linda Scott is committed to working with these areas in order to investigate possible state and local government incentive mechanisms to support supply-side constraints of long-term renting which will inevitably help renters stay in housing with little inflation in rental prices.

“In 2018, I am committed to working towards further action on affordable housing by the City.”

We look forward to seeing how to local council answer this housing crisis in upcoming council meetings. city hub 25 JANUARY 2018

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WestConnflicts of Interest

BY WENDY BACON AND CHRIS NASH An apparent conflict of interest has arisen in the choice of the company Pacific Environment to do research for a committee, chaired by the NSW Chief Scientist and required to provide independent advice to the NSW Planning department for its assessment of the WestConnex EIS. The committee is the Advisory Committee on Tunnel Air Quality (ACTAQ), which has the dual roles of researching air quality in tunnels and providing independent advice to the Planning Department on Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) air quality assessment for large projects, such as Westconnex.

Pacific Environment is contracted by the Sydney Motorway Corporation (SMC) to provide the assessment of air quality impacts of all Westconnex tunnels for its EIS. The choice of a company that has a large commercial stake in Westconnex construction to assist in the supposedly independent ACTAQ research could be read as an apparent conflict of interest.

The independence of the Chief Scientist’s office in its approach to Westconnex is already a sensitive issue.

This became clear when SMC CEO Dennis Cliche told an infrastructure conference last November that the Chief Scientist’s submission to NSW Planning had been ‘extremely complimentary’ in its assessment of the ventilation stacks.

The Chief Scientist, Professor Mary O’Kane, rejected his comments as ‘false and misleading, calling into question her integrity and independence’’, and said they could undermine ‘community confidence in the integrity of her office’.

Mr Cliche withdrew and apologised for his remarks.

Photo: David Watson

Pacific Environment has ridden to the top of Australia’s air quality assessment industry on the back of its contracts with SMC to assess air quality for three WestConnex tunnels.

It was subsequently commissioned by ACTAQ to carry out out a study evaluating the use of its GRAL air quality assessment model, which it is using to assess air quality for all Westconnex projects.

The GRAL model was developed in Europe and has not previously been used in Australia.

After a review by a UK-based expert, Pacific Environment’s study was published on the Chief Scientist’s website in October last year.

Since 2014, NSW Roads and Maritime Services Department (RMS) has paid Pacific Environment more than $7 million for its assessment and monitoring of air quality for Westconnex.

Its last contract for $546,000 for one year’s air monitoring was published on the NSW tender database in October last year.

This does not include a contract for Westconnex Stage 3, which is not publicly available.

Councils, the EPA and the Health Department, along with thousands of community groups and citizens, have been critical of the Westconnex air quality assessment.

City Hub became aware of Pacific Environment’s study for the ACTAQ last week.

Surprised that the Chief Scientist’s Committee would commission the very company using the model for its Westconnex EIS to evaluate the model, City Hub contacted the Chief Scientist’s office.

We were told that the Committee’s secretariat is based in RMS. In response to questions, RMS media supplied the names of the people on the Committee which includes Professor Mary O’Kane, RMS CEO Ken Kanofski, NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant and an independent expert Dr Ian Longley, from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand.

The EPA, which has been critical of the WestConnex EIS, has only observer status.

City Hub submitted a series of questions to the Chief Scientist including: Did she consider that the choice of Pacific Environment to do the research could be perceived as a conflict of interest, given Pacific Environment has been responsible for conducting the air quality EIS for the M4 East, the New M5 and the M4/M5 link? If not, why

not? And who paid Pacific Environment for the research that has been done for the committee?

What amount was the company paid for this study?

A spokesperson for the Office of the Chief Scientist did not directly address the conflict of interest questions but sent a long response explaining that the ACTAQ is resourced out of RMS and does research at the request of the Minister for Roads.

The spokesperson explained that when the ACTAQ decides to do the research, it sets up a steering committee to manage the project.

The spokesperson did not explain why Pacific Environment was chosen but acknowledged that “conflicts of interest are important” and the ACTAQ works to prevent and manage them, including by engaging independent expert reviewer and by publish raw data on the web. Both of these steps occurred in the case of the Pacific Environment GRAL study.

Dr Longley is both the independent expert who evaluates the EIS for the Chief Scientist and was also on the steering committee for the Pacific Environment ACTAQ study. Dr Longley told City Hub that he had no role in selecting Pacific Environment. He does not think there was a conflict of interest because the Pacific Environment’’s role was to ‘describe and demonstrate how the model works, how it can be set up. It is left to the reader to draw conclusions about whether the model should be used or not and how it should be used. Because of potential conflict of interests, that was why it was set up that way and they (Pacific Environment) stuck to that scope.”

The close relationship between the ACTAQ and the RMS will only reinforce community scepticism about the integrity of the approval processes for Westconnex and other tunnels.

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city hub 25 JANUARY 2018

But Siriusly

Photo: Jim Anderson

BY JIM ANDERSON tours, as Myra Demetriou, the sole remaining Sirius I have to confess to being a late convert to the tenant and staunch activist to the end, has finally SOS (Save Our Sirius) cause, but on a hot January been found accommodation nearby - suitable and day last week, I found myself taking a walk up satisfactory for a legally-blind, 90-year-old woman. from Circular Quay to have my first close look at A For Sale sign went up a few months ago outside the building in question. the Cumberland Street frontage and with talk in It was practically love at first sight and I can the air of wrecking balls as early as mid-2018, the say now that Sirius, intelligently designed and situation for the myriads that oppose the sale and any constructed as it is, occupies its commanding site demolition has reached critical mass. As mentioned at the top of The Rocks like a tiara. above, there’s going to be a huge fight to save it.

If our increasingly Askin-infused NSW The cyclone wire now festooning much of the government allows it to remain, Sydney will be exterior restricted my tour of Sirius, and the only CHANCES WIN 1 MILLION DOLLARS. THAT’S. . . to forever richer8for its presence, asTO we are withUP TheTO reason we were able to view the interior at all was Rocks as a whole, and into the fabric of which the sign in as guests of Myra, up on the 10th floor.

Sirius building fits like a sculptural glove.

Security was ever-present and we were quickly Completed in1980, and controversial even then, ushered through the foyer and into the lift. No it has become recognized, over the years, as a chance at all to view the spacious Phillip and timeless piece of Brutalist architecture.

Heritage Rooms, nor any of the fine finishes the Fashioned in that style out of quality raw concrete building boasts. (that would have been whiter if the budget had To quote from the book Sirius, “…when Tao permitted), its unique modular exterior and colourful Gofers the architect began designing the interiors … interiors are all finely finished and guaranteed to last. he was not influenced by the idea that public housing Sirius is a serious building, was much loved by its tenants do not deserve quality housing. Therefore now exiled inhabitants, deserves to remain for a long Sirius was available to develop as a utopian glimpse of time to come and should be allowed to do so. what public housing could be. When talking to others 7 JUNE AUGUST 2017 Demolition is an insult to Tao Gofers, the – 3 who knew or worked with Tao, one word often used original architect, and any such action will be is ‘egalitarian’ Sirius was a space where tenants did cultural vandalism of the highest order. not feel pigeonholed by class, where the homes they I highly recommend a look at the book, Sirius, were given, made them feel equal.” published last year and dedicated to Jack and Judy I was informed that Social Housing Minister Pru Mundey who were instrumental in the saving of Goward, after her first ever viewing of Sirius last year, The Rocks itself from misguided profit at any cost imposed the many restrictions, probably to tamp developers these many years ago now. down protesters’ enthusiasm for retention.

I mentioned ‘Green bans’ in a post on Facebook As part of our tour, a couple of the ground-level recently and got a response as follows, “457 visas courtyards were made available, and Tao Gofers, will get around that, comrade.” Nevertheless, there and John Dunn, Ben Peake and Amiera Piscopo is no doubt that there will be resistance by every who wrote/designed the book Sirius, all spoke civilised means possible. passionately about the history of the building and The illuminating and fully-booked Saturday tour their hopes for its future.

I took with 90 others was courtesygiving of the Historic It seemsopportunity that Premier Berejilkian and her We’re you a golden to win up to 1 Houses Association and probably the last of their ministers are unmoved neither by these hopes

nor by the history and culture associated with the mention NSW Chapter of Australian Institute of building.

Architects, The National Trust and other bodies who They are moved entirely by short-term profits all believe that Sirius should be on the State Heritage and privatisations.

Register and neither sold nor demolished.

It’s hard to put much faith in their argument that Sage advice, which goes beyond the political cycles the money they will make from the sale will enable of one government to the next... the building of homes for 60,000 people.

Gabrielle Upton’s calculated remarks were clearly In this regard it might be worth noting that with in line with Her Mistress’s Voice (and former Premier the ongoing redevelopment of the 19 hectare site Mike Baird’s thoughtless bubbles) when she admitted of the Waterloo Estate, they have promised even that the design and look of Sirius was distinctive but more public housing after the scheduled demolitions, not distinctive enough for Heritage Listing. but that ‘more’ will be crowded into 1/3 of the 19 She went on, warming to her disparaging tone, hectares, the other 2/3 being privatised for luxury and “not a building which has had any influence on ‘affordable’ housing, whatever that means. housing matters since, either local or international. “ Lil’ ole working class Waterloo is now prime innerPalpably untrue, I have to say. city real estate and ripe for the picking. “We can’t In response, and with Joni Mitchell’s ever-prescient afford the trees and the open spaces you have now,” words about paving paradise and putting up a parking I was shocked to hear recently from a woman who lot, I suggest Premier Berejilkian read the Sirius book. works for Family and Community Services.

She should take note of the considerable evidence Minister for the Environment, Gabrielle Upton, for a civilised retention, and so informed, rise above, in October 2017 said that Sirius was not worthy and be proud of the Sirius building, and be ashamed of heritage protection as envisioned in the original of the money-grubbing thinking and decision-making design. that has led to the passionate public opposition to sale In reaching her decision she took the advice of and demolition. a private consultant instead of thatweek of independent It’s not late. million dollars, every for 8 weeks, atoo sumptuous bodies like her own NSW Heritage Council, not to Jim Anderson is a photo-artist and novelist.

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city hub 25 JANUARY 2018

5

Council merge splurge diverge

BY JOHN MOYLE In 2016 the Baird Government did an embarrassing backflip over NSW council amalgamations, resulting in only 19 of the 35 proposed mergers going ahead.

The only inner city amalgamation to proceed was between Leichhardt, Ashfield and Marrickville councils, as all others fought or escaped when Baird’s plans fell into a malodorous heap.

In May 2016, the new Inner West Council was created and locked into the Baird Government plans, as some of its own councillors say, without any clear objectives on how the three separate entities with different administrative, financial and operational cultures would come together.

According Inner West independent councillor John Stamolis, this was the beginning of the ‘merge splurge’.

“We went up for administration in May 2016 and from that point on the whole process of amalgamation commenced,” Councillor Stamolis said. “The administrator put in place a program on how to get the merger done, and obviously the budgets on how to get the merger done.

The Inner West councillors never received a report on how this was to be done and what was the basis for it,” he added.

The Government-appointed administrator was from Morrison Low, a firm consulting to government, local government and financial services.

Among the other councillor expressing concerns over the merger and how it was done is Pauline Lockie, an Inner West independent and former councillor for the Stanmore ward.

“The concern that I’ve got with the merger is that it is hard to get a complete picture of what it is like,” she told City Hub. “I’ve called for information on how service levels will work after the merger was done, and I have reports from staff that it is quite difficult to get a lot of this information.”

The Baird government’s original forecast for the merger, via Morrison Low, was $44.5 million, with a state government contribution.

“As part of this commitment, the NSW Government provided Inner West with $10 million towards the cost of its amalgamation from the New Council Implementation Fund and $15 million from its Stronger Communities Fund for infrastructure and service improvements for the local community,” a spokeswoman for

The IWC merger has produced currents that might ultimately rip the council apart.

Photo: David Locke/Flickr

Gabrielle Upton, Local Government Minister, said.

Councillor Stamolis is questioning not only the merger’s viability, but also an apparent lack of transparency.

“The merger is very opaque and it is not clear to our public what the timer fames are and what the major projects are,” he said.

“We have nothing that we can show our public and the process has not been as clear and open as to why we merged, and there have been no public reports detailing the expenses to date.”

When City Hub approached Inner West Council for comment, a spokesperson replied “Council remains on schedule and within budget against merger milestones,” adding, ”the final merger implementation costs are not yet known... but are expected to remain well below the levels originally forecast by Morrison Low ($44.5m) on behalf of the former councils prior to merger.”

At its meeting on 12 October 2017, Inner West Council tabled a progress report outline levels of comparisons pre-and post merger.

To say that it is scant on comparative information might be taken as an understatement, but it does give a snapshot across the Council’s progress.

The report states that there are challenges extracting data for comparison from the three main council centres, mainly because much of the data has to be aligned manually.

“As indicated, the three former councils not only had three disparate systems, each had developed their own criteria and services standards, along with their own monitoring and reporting frameworks,” the report states.

For example, depending on the nature of the enquiry, response times to act on requests differ across the old wards.

In Ashfield it is an average of 10 days, Leichhardt, 20 days and Marrickville up to 35 days.

“It is anecdotal evidence, but I am getting complaints from people in my old ward that they feel their service levels have dropped since the merger,” Cr Lockie said.

The Council’s Progress Reports claim that of the 726 actions in the Operational Plan, 85 per cent, or 528, were completed or progressing.

Council’s Chief Financial and Administration Report states that 61 per cent of all actions were completed, 14 per cent of actions were made redundant and 1per cent were not progressing.

In other areas the Council appears to be performing well.

Results show that now the backlog of DAs from the three former councils have been cleared and staff across the council area are getting used to a single system, DA processing times have been reduced.

But nothing in the report will satisfy Councillor Stamolis.

“It covers some of the key tasks, but it is not comprehensive, and in a lot of cases, it is not comparative and it does not include any benefits out of the merger program,” he said.

Inner West admits that it has been “challenging to obtain true comparisons points for pre and post -merger performance levels.”

Both councillors Stamolis and Lockie point to over all staff losses contributing to lessening Council’s ability to deliver services.

“We’ve lost two of our three general managers and seven out of 11 of our directors, along with plan and budgets,” Cr Stamolis said.

“Our wages are frozen and money for new infrastructure has been locked at the same level since 2009 as a direct result of the merger and this presents a huge budget challenge,” Cr Lockie said.

As Inner West Council moves into its second year since amalgamation there have clearly been losses and gains.

“If the merger stays it has to deliver the things that were promised, ”Cr Lockie said.

It is now time for the Council to respond to its own members’ and the public’s call for definitive budgets across all areas of operations, and to clarify the benefits of the merger in an open and transparent manner.

Councillor Vittoria Raciti was contacted for this article.

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Current Exhibition Ronnie Tjampitjinpa

Bondi Bursting at the Seams COMMENT BY PAUL PAECH this extra height was perfectly acceptable.

Part 2 of a 2-part article It’s a measure of how much power Sydney’s Bondi Beach Post Office is facing closure. development industry has taken from electedAustralia Post is still insisting that “we are and therefore accountable-officials. committed to the local community,” but with It’s a small world, after all the local community saying NO, that’s looking Hall Street’s popular Fishmongers eatery increasingly difficult to believe, even though in Hall Street has remained sadly closed ever Australia Post promises to retain all its product since its exhaust flue went up in flames a couple services in Bondi Beach. months before Christmas. But now, Mongers “You’re not serving the community: you’re has finally re-opened in the very same building helping destroy it” was the clear message from that StarGate is proposing to develop. (Is that a 8 CHANCES TO WIN UP TO 1 MILLION DOLLARS. THAT’S. . . last weekend’s rally outside the Bondi Beach new exhaust fan on the roof?)

Post Office.

The one bright point is that Hall Street The meeting was addressed by much-loved neighbours are enjoying their first summer in local resident Michael Caton. He played a ages without the greasy smell of fish & chips key role in the Bondi Pavilion battle which permeating their homes. Fears are though that saw local Liberals thrown out of power in last the real-estate eagles are circling the original September’s elections. single-storied properties, and that the fire will At the rally, Mayor John Wakefield said bring on the sale and development of the empty Bondi real estate is becoming crowded like Bondi Beach in summer. Photo: Alex Proimos/Wikimedia that former mayor Sally Betts had stripped chippery and its co-joined Thai massage twin. development decisions from Waverley and the result is a small but perfectly formed The approved building on Campbell Parade Along with the proposal for Bondi’s totally councillors and provided a glowing example public plaza. With the modest Post Office will rise almost 16 metres above the controls of cute Post Office, a couple stories’ extra height that the State government used to sell the elegantly echoing the classical architecture of 12.5 metres, and block the sun that shines on here would end the Hall Street delight of compulsory change to other councils. the Pavilion, this is a local area that beautifully those tanned torsos and rippling pecs of North afternoon summer sun from public areas, and JUNE AUGUST 2017 He said that the failed attempt7 by Baird/ – 3 counter-balances the massive public open space Bondi’s legendary Muscle Beach gym. diminish the pleasure of what is the true town Berejiklian to abolish local councils was the of Bondi Beach. It’s far too good to lose.

Property development may not be entirely centre of Bondi Beach.

Liberal’s thank-you gift to the state’s property Down on Campbell Parade height restrictions a zero-sum game, but all of Sydney’s inner Where goes the neighbourhood? developers, and that people have seen it and and heritage controls have meant that Bondi’s suburbs are now so densely packed that Judging by the darkened windows in many they’ve had enough! main strip has mostly avoided the blight of crass pretty well every new development robs other new buildings, you have to ask whether anyone The application assumes that the land around high-rise over-development that’s afflicted much residents of their sunlight, views, trees, etc. actually lives there. In Linz & Litver’s Pacific, the building will be sold, but the Post Office of Australia’s East coast. But recent approval of In the Eastern Suburbs particularly, this is a the strata committee has had trouble chasing up building with its land is actually owned by the a nasty glitzy block of (what else?) ultra luxury very real everyday tale of winners and losers. owners many of whom fail to respond and don’t Australian Government, that is, by Australians. flats on the corner of Ramsgate Avenue looks The fact is that if you build and get a view, even live in the country.

With the surrounding planters and open like a planning blunder, and hopefully one of you’ll have taken that view from someone else.

No doubt new residential Gina Reinhardt will space being owned and so intensively used by the last.

Not that local Councils or their planning be keen to play a more active role in protecting the public, there’s an argument that the area The developers (Elia Leis and Andrew Starr’s departments seem terribly interested. Stargate’s her $15 million investment in one of the windfunctions as Bondi’s Public Square, and that it StarGate Property Group) are responsible for application for the Campbell Parade proposal tunnels on the roof, seductively marketed to ought not be sold off as if it were just another the elliptical tower at the top of Bondi Road scandalously argued that Waverley Council unsuspecting rich-listers as “lighthouses.” Oooh, bit of commercial land. and have been pushing the highly controversial had effectively abandoned its own development the folly wealth. Ahhh, the value of local We’re giving you a golden opportunity to win up to 1 million dollars, every week for 8 weeks, aofsumptuous Hall Street’s footpaths widen out in this area West Oxford Street development. controls in Bondi Beach, and that therefore knowledge.

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FEATURE

Sydney’s Forgotten Indigenous History

By Mel Somerville Indigenous culture is alive and well in Sydney, we’re seeing it thrive and cultural knowledge being shared in places like Centennial Parklands, art galleries and beaches.

Centennial Park up until now hasn’t had an Aboriginal focus and most people don’t realise it was used historically as a traditional meeting area for the Nations.

Centennial Park has gone into partnership with Shared Knowledge, an Aboriginal company established to do Aboriginal themed experiences as well as transferring knowledge to all Australians and inbound tourists.

Drew Roberts is from Arawkal Nation, his Heritage Tours include Aboriginal weaving, Aboriginal painting, bush tucker tours and holiday programs for children.

“People learn [Centennial Park’s] history and how Aboriginal people utilised the site, they get to know the uses of the plants and animals there and put it into context.” said Roberts.

The Heritage Tour takes you to look at what botanists call Golden Wattle, that has a long finger like flower. This plant is very important to Aboriginal people who call it Black Wattle.

“She’s called Mother Tree because she actually tells us the change of seasons. She tells you what you can eat, when you can eat and what you can do, just like your mum does,” Roberts described beautifully to City Hub. “Traditional culture, my culture, you don’t own knowledge, the knowledge you get through your life’s journey you’re meant to pass on, you put it out there in the community,” said Roberts, who says he was lucky growing up with traditional knowledge.

Indigenous art work displayed by the Ultimate Art Gallery in The Rocks is also expanding indigenous culture by featuring beautiful paintings from people of the Papunya Tula, Utopia and Irrunytju

Photo: Supplied by City of Sydney

communities. For these artists, land has always been symbolically and literally the foundation of cultural knowledge.

“The Aboriginal culture in Sydney or in the communities is tribal within a particular region and Aboriginal art forms a unique form to pass the dream time history to the next generation,” explained Tim Neaverson, owner of Ultimate Art Gallery, which has daily tours.

Indigenous culture and artwork is not just confined to art galleries. The Torres Strait is also a vital part of our shared cultural heritage in Australia and an exciting new line of swimwear is helping to spread the Torres Strait story.

StraitSwim is a chic, sophisticated and customary swimwear line that is both inspired by and tells the stories of Torres Strait. Each piece in the line is hand drawn in water colour by a local Australian artist and sold with an accompanying story that inspired the work.

Founder Alyssa Levesque created StraitSwim after living and experiencing life with her long time partner, NBA star Patty Mills. Upon meeting Mills it was clear to Alyssa how important the Aboriginal and Torres Strait culture was to Mills

“There is a cultural aspect to the march, smoking ceremonies, a welcome in the local language and via our protest there is some awareness happening that Aboriginal culture is alive and well,” said Canning.

What is totally new this year, and a possibility to make the rally bigger, is the Yabun Festival in Victoria Park at the finish of the rally which is an opportunity to explain to the people what they are fighting for.

Raul Bassi, member of FIRE, grew up with a social conscience in Argentina where he saw people work together to get changes.Through his work he met Ray Jackson, a campaigner of Aboriginal Rights and Photo: Supplied by StraitSwim member of the Indigenous Social Justice Association who was connected with the case of Thomas and thus inspired the creation of StraitSwim in Hickey, the 17-year-old Indigenous Australian who order to educate and promote that beautiful died in 2004, sparking riots in Redfern. culture.

Bassi explained his sympathy towards Indigenous Last year saw a heated debate around changing Australians, “I try to do as much as I can but the the date or name of Australia Day, in sympathy change has to come from the Aboriginal people, with First Nations people. The Aboriginal they have to do their own job but we can work campaign group FIRE, Fighting In Resistance with them, we the non-Aboriginal people have to Equally, are organising this year’s Invasion Day understand their situation.”

Rally, on Friday which starts at The Block, Redfern. Centennial Park Heritage Tours.

Rally Organiser Ken Canning from the Bidjara Feb 4. Centennial Parklands, Mrs Macquaries Peoples urged City Hub readers to come and Road, Sydney. $39. Tickets & Info: support Sydney’s Aboriginal community in www.centennialparklands.com.au opposing the racism they continue to experience Ultimate Art Gallery. 199 George St, at the hands of the colonial system imposed on Sydney. Info: www.ultimateart.com.au this continent from 1788.

“This is a day we’re mourning, it was the beginning StraitSwim. Info: www.straitswim.com of an act of genocide,” said Canning who, if he had Invasion Day Rally. Jan 26. The Block, his way, thinks we should come together and have Redfern (Corner of Caroline and Louis Streets). a day for Australian people to tell their histories, a Info: www.facebook.com day called Unity Day. Yabun Festival. Jan 26.

In 2015, 4,000 people marched, 2016 saw 5,000 Victoria Park, 1001 City Rd, Camperdown. and last year almost 10,000 and a lot of those Info: www.yabun.org.au people were non-Aboriginal but it can only grow The Blak Markets. Feb 4. Bare Island, this year if more non-Aboriginal people show La Perouse. Info: www.blakmarkets.com their support.

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city hub 25 JANUARY 2018

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Mother Following two years of touring, Noni Hazlehurst shines, bringing her stellar one-woman show to the Belvoir.

Directed by Matt Scholten and written by Daniel Keen, Mother is the story of Christie, an alcoholic, homeless woman relaying her life’s experiences to the audience.

With a superbly designed set from Kat Chan and evocative lighting and sound from Tom Willis and Darius Kedros respectively, audiences are

The Greatest Love Of All The Whitney Houston Show

transported to Christie’s world on the streets of Melbourne. Giving a voice to the dispossessed existing at the fringes of society, Mother is an insightful exploration of the need to demonstrate compassion for those struggling to survive.

Vulnerable, honest and intensely personal, Hazlehurst’s moving performance is not to be missed. (ES) Until Feb 11. Belvoir, 18 & 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills. $33-$59+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.belvoir.com.au

Brain Candy Live

After performing to packed houses across the US,Adam Savage and Michael Stevens are bringing their interactive, food for thought live show Brain Candy to Australia.

“The unofficial theme of this version of Brain Candy is air. We show off the weird

properties of air, how to produce smoke without fire, we use air pressure to lift someone off the ground! 80% of the show is try this at home and we show you how.”

Savage is best known for co-hosting MythBusters and Stevens as the creator of award winning YouTube channel Vsauce.

Touring the capital cities, the boys will touch down in Sydney on January 27 to perform at the Star Event Centre.

“As you could imagine, Adam and I together and there is no end to what we want to do on stage, but we had a great director, Michael Webber who helped us narrow down our focus. We want people to leave with a greater understanding that science isn’t just for nerds or scientists, it’s for all of us.”

The show will have the master explainers engaging audiences with crazy toys, incredible tools and mind blowing demonstrations.

When asked why this kind of science is so engaging Michael replied “We are curious by nature as a species. When you start to ask questions, you start to feel more powerful but you also feel paradoxically humbler.”

Families and attendees are in for two hours of wonder, laughter, exploring and learning as Savage and Stevens present a theatrical experience like no other. (RH) Jan 27. Star Events Centre, 80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont. $59.90-$364.40+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.ticketek.com.au

The Wider Earth

Few would have read Darwin’s account of his voyage on The Beagle, so it makes for interesting theatre when one’s preconceptions are shattered.

The scientist we credit for the theory of evolution and its mechanism, natural selection, almost missed his vocation to become a country parson as his father wished.

Moreover, his position as a self-funded supernumerary on the HMS Beagle was only achieved through the intercession of his uncle, Josiah Wedgwood, with his father. Who knew he faced such difficulties?

The centre of the stage is occupied by what appears to be a large collection of boulders which revolve to reveal, variously, the deck of the Beagle, a drawing room, a mountain top in the Tierra del Fuego, and an outdoor scene on the Galapagos Islands, while the film projection on the back wall of the stage shows a starry night, a dynamic map of The Beagle’s travels or the murky depths of the ocean, among other things.

The astoundingly beautiful puppets produced by writer, director and codesigner David Morton and his Dead Puppet Society are mostly extinct animals, over 30 in all: seabirds, whales, sharks, fish, an armadillo that rolls itself into a ball when threatened, and not one but two life-size Galapagos tortoises, and many more.

The text, taken largely from Darwin’s account of the journey, is voiced by Tom Conroy as the naturalist. Other cast members take on multiple roles. Emily Burton plays Emma Wedgwood, David Lynch plays Charles’ father Robert Darwin and Margi Brown Ash plays the Rev. John Henslow, and all but Conroy become animal handlers who have the job of articulating the wings, legs, and bodies of animals Darwin sees and records.

This visually stunning piece of piece of theatre enchants both adults and children as they watch a great mind struggling to make sense of seashells on mountain tops and other weighty questions.

a&e

Photo: Dylan Evans

This has got to be my favourite show in the Sydney Festival line-up. Go see it, you won’t be disappointed.

A note to the sound techie: lower the volume of the excellent music score (Lior and Tony Buchan) so that the audience can hear the text. (ID) Until Jan 27. Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney. $53-$69+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.sydneyfestival.org.au

19 STAGE 10 Sounds 11 SCENE 11 SCREEN

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 @CityHubSyd

This finely crafted tribute show was launched in 2013 and has successfully toured the world to adoring fans of the late Whitney Houston, with shows in South Africa, Canada, USA, Europe, Asia and New Zealand.

South African born songstress Belinda Davids who beat 15,000 hopefuls across 12 countries for the role, began earning money singing in clubs, but now travels the world bringing the music of Whitney to those who miss her idol and the inspiration of her career as much as she does.

“Whitney was young, vibrant and had such an amazingly powerful voice for her age. The world watched her grow and kick goals not only for herself, but for her culture. There were just so many things about her that attracted the whole world!”

Davids who never had the opportunity to meet Whitney before her untimely death, explained that this show is for anybody who has ever heard a Whitney song, sang a Whitney song or even just danced to a Whitney song.

“We have a great six-piece

live band, four amazing dancers, great costumes that resemble Whitney’s style as well as great lighting and effects. We do her greatest hits from the time she started right up until the end, and of course, Whitney will be there at the show”.

The spectacular two-hour show will mesmerise audiences with a selection of Whitney’s greatest hits including I Will Always Love You, How Will I Know, Didn’t We Almost Have It All, and Greatest Love Of All. Davids is adamant that this show will move and enchant audiences. “There are so many people who come together from Showtime Australia to make sure every last detail is managed. It’s the little things that Whitney fans notice and appreciate…which I think sets us apart from other tribute/musical acts,” concluded Davids. (MMo) February 2. State Theatre, 49 Market St Sydney. $72$83+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.ticketmaster.com.au ** REFER TO OUR WEBSITE FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH BELINDA DAVIDS **

Contributors: Barbara Karpinski, Craig Coventry, Emily Shen, Greg Webster, Irina Dunn, Jade Morellini, James Harkness, Joseph Rana, Leann Richards, Lisa Seltzer, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Olga Azar, Rita Bratovich, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Sarah Pritchard, Shon Ho, Jade Morellini, Alex Eugene, Manuel Gonzalez, Tommy Boutros, Riley Hooper, Mohsen Dezaki, Daniel Jaramillo.

city hub 25 JANUARY 2017

9

Disappointments Judith Lucy and Denise Scott are two esteemed comics who, individually, have no trouble holding an audience in their thrall; together, they are as engrossing as a train wreck (in a good way). They are about to reprise last year’s extraordinarily successful show, Disappointments, and take it on tour nationally.

The hilariously candid show consists of bedroom confessions, lamentations on work, life and ageing, a checklist of ailments and a blistering on-stage fight and the two ladies are loving every minute.

“It’s been so much fun to do,” says Scott,

“I never say that about performing shows.

Usually I find them really hard work and you never quite get to enjoy them. But doing this with Judith, I really enjoyed doing it.”

While the show is tightly scripted, there is plenty of room for improvisation. Lucy and Scott have a similar sense of humour, so it’s easy for them to riff off each other.

“We just love each other’s work and share an admiration for one another - I think Judith’s hilarious! And she seems to think that of me…” explains Scott.

It’s not your usual stand up comedy either - in fact the two comedians spend

Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE Sydney

Miss Pia. Photo: Louise Whelan

By Jamie Apps

Bambula: Bambula means many things. It signifies a ceremonial ground, a sacred site, and the place from which things originate. With Bambula, Paul Grabowsky has reduced the sonic palette down to essentials. The haunting voice of Daniel Wilfred, the masterful yidaki playing of David Wilfred, and Grabowsky on his “existential mirror”, the piano.

Thu, Jan 25, City Recital Hall Miss Pia: Find a fancy frock, polish your two tone shoes and join Miss Pia for a sophisticated night of circa 1940s jazz and sultry swing as her jazz trio debuts at Kittyhawk.

Thu, Jan 25, Kittyhawk Anna Smyrk: On a balmy summer evening, Sydney-siders can ease into the weekend with great live music, delicious food and cold drinks in the leafy courtyard of the Seymour Centre. Providing the tunes this week is folk artist Anna Smyrk who writes contemporary folk tunes inspired by books, travels and weird apocalyptic scenarios she made up in her head.

Fri, Jan 26, Seymour Centre Courtyard Sessions Bowie Unzipped: Salutes Bowie’s ever evolving musical career with Jeff Duff’s unique interpretation of Bowie’s remarkable and enduring songbook. Jeff has been singing Bowie’s songs for many years with the glowing support of Bowie’s official website BowieNET. Fri, Jan 26, Camelot Lounge 10

city hub 25 JANUARY 2017

Freedom 4: Give a big kick to your long weekend at the Oxford Art Factory. As a venue that continually promotes the up and coming and diversity in genres they have a diverse bill set for Saturday. Some of the acts performing on Saturday include Good Boy, Art Koufax and Jeremy Neal just to name a few.

Sat, Jan 27, Oxford Arts Factory St. Olaf College Concert Band: The St. Olaf Band’s expertly curated program of American and Australian music, dubbed FLOURISH, celebrates Leonard Bernstein’s centennial, the film scores of John Williams, Melbourne’s own Percy Grainger, New South Wales native Jodie Blackshaw, as well as classic works from the wind band repertoire.

Sun, Jan 28, Sydney Conservatorium Of Music The Marais Project & Elysian Fields: Early music specialists, The Marais Project and electric viola da gamba ensemble Elysian Fields return to North Sydney’s Independent Theatre to present a delicious one-off program titled, My Heart So Grieves. Directed - as ever - by the versatile Jenny Eriksson, the innovative program features music inspired by poets of the 16th century.

Sun, Jan 28,The Independent Theatre Loyle Carner: Hailed as ‘Britain’s most recent new hope in hip-hop”

by The Fader and countless others, Loyle Carner is one of the most exciting up and coming artists in the world. Released in January, his debut album Yesterday’s Gone garnered praise from fans and critics the world over.

Wed, Jan 31, Oxford Arts Factory Boyz II Men & TLC: Over the past two decades Boyz II Men have given fans a rich catalogue of hits filled with smooth harmonies and enduring themes. Pair them with one of history’s most influential female hip-hop and R&B acts, TLC, and you’ve got yourself one heck of a show.

Wed, Jan 31, Star Event Centre

most of their time reclined on their respective beds sipping wine and bemoaning the misfortunes that have befallen them. The stories they tell are all 100% true, but Scott insists that it’s not depressing, in fact, they finish with a bang.

“The ending is riotous… that’s all I’ll say,” she teases, refusing to reveal anything more other than audiences have been left gobsmacked and some have called it “brave.” (RB) Jan 30-Feb 11. Playhouse, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Pt, Sydney. $55.90-$64.90+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com

Graeme James

Photo: Serge Thomann

By Jamie Apps As a music artist there are two main paths to success, recording or performing, each with their own perks and drawbacks.

For New Zealand’s Graeme James the journey into music officially began following an impulse purchase at a music store.

“I walked in there without a plan, so it was already off to a bad start, and I saw a loop pedal which was about $600. I definitely didn’t have $600 so I ended up buying it on hire purchase, which is also a terrible choice to make, and distinctly remember thinking I better pay this off by playing music.” James recalled.

Within just a couple of weeks James was already chipping away at the $600 when he secured his first paid gig.

“My first gig was at a cafe playing a high-tea for a bunch of older ladies where I was getting paid $2 for every person that came through the door.”

The next step in James’ journey saw him taking to the streets busking, which he feels was crucial to his growth as an artist and performer.

“It’s possible now to have a lot of success simply by recording great music and having that picked up by radio stations, but then you have to go off and learn to perform,” explained James before adding, “So I think I was really blessed to start off busking because if you’re not performing well you’re not earning money.”

Even though James was focusing on his live performance he didn’t neglect the recording aspect of his career.

As an independent artist he was releasing music online via Spotify where he says he was receiving “800-1000 listeners per month” until all of sudden Spotify placed his music on their curated playlists. “It was mind-blowing when Spotify playlisted my music because I jumped to 250,000 listeners per month.”

The jump in listeners wasn’t the only benefit to come of this decision by Spotify. It also led to Nettwerk Music Group’s Terry McBride discovering the music and offering James a place on their label just last year.

“That was especially mind-blowing because of the calibre of artists on that label, many of which are some of my favourites.”

Tonight James will continue to ride this wave of momentum as he performs at Sydney’s Brighton Up Bar. “It’s a very nice intimate venue at Brighton Up Bar and I really enjoy these kind of shows.” James said.

Joining James tonight will be the brand new band St. Joan and the fantastic solo artist Dom Youdan.

Jan 25. Brighton Up Bar, 77 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. $10+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.brightonupbar.com.au

N.E.R.D - No_One Ever Really Dies Pharrell Williams brings his pop pedigree to his side project N.E.R.D’s politically charged fifth record.

N.E.R.D which consists of Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo and Shay Haley has always been a more politically charged outfit than Pharrell’s solo projects but with this new record the group have struck the perfect balance between political message and catchy tunes.

Throughout the record N.E.R.D welcome aboard a number of guest vocalists and collaborators which include the likes of Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar

and Ed Sheeran. These are not simply attempts to strike a cord with new audiences but rather exciting new explorations of these artists. Rihanna in particular opens the record on Lemon by not singing a single line but rather delivering a biting rap verse.

No_One Ever Really Dies is an interesting record which can simply be enjoyed for its catchy pop stylings on the initial listening but upon each subsequent listen will have a much deeper impact as the listener grasps all of the lyrical content. (JA) WWW1/2

high calibre actors Bryan Brown and Sam Neill in pivotal roles, this film is set in 1929 and explores the abuse and lack of justice imposed on Aboriginals.

Inspired by true events, the story surrounds Sam Kelly (Hamilton Morris), an aged Aboriginal farmhand living in the Northern Territory who shoots a white man in self-defence. A posse gathers and hunt him down with the intention of ‘hanging him after the trial’.

Audiences will ponder - can a black man receive a fair trial for having shot a ‘white fellow’ regardless of the circumstances?

The oppression and indignity suffered by the Aboriginals is realistically depicted and heightened by a skilfully written and engaging script and notably by the absence of a musical score.

After a wave of silly and insignificant Australian The final moments of the film will shock and films have failed to find an audience in recent anger audiences as the memorable words, “what years, surfaces a powerful and very dramatic film chance does this country have,” are delivered, in which should allure discerning movie-goers into relation to the on-going injustice and inequality cinemas. between the white and black populations. (MMo) WWWW Directed by Warwick Thornton and starring

Maze Runner: The Death Cure History has shown that making a successful trilogy is easier said than done, but in the case of the Maze Runner series, director Wes Ball has produced the goods. The third and final instalment Maze Runner: The Death Cure stars Dylan O’Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Rosa Salazar, Aiden Gillen, Patricia Clarkson and many more.

The film continues to follow Thomas (O’Brien) and his friends as they attempt to break through the wall to save the immunes and take down WCKD. Rallying up with cranks the group is granted permission past the wall and by using Teresa are able to break into WCKD for their final fight.

An absolutely awesome film filled with action, comedy, explosions galore, emotional deaths and suspense with the cinematography audience in the cinema applauding and should and performances from O’Brien and Kaya be on everyone’s watch list this summer. (RH) WWWW Scodelario the standout. The movie had the

THE NAKED CITY

THE GRUMPY GUIDE TO AUSTRALIA DAY

With Coffin Ed If you are bursting with an intense inner jingoism and primal sense of patriotic pride, chances are you will unleash the goddamn lot on Australia Day – like some kind of enormous chunder ‘downunder’.

Whether it’s a pair of ragged Southern Cross undies, a massive booze laden barbie in the backyard or a flag worn poncho style like Pauline Hanson, there are numerous ways in which you can celebrate.

Then again if you are one of the original indigenous inhabitants of this land or a relative newcomer you may feel totally alienated from the entire day of strategically contrived hoopla. For my own part, and this probably applies to millions of other Australians, it’s just another public holiday with the ubiquitous outdoor concerts and fireworks thrown in for good luck.

It always surprises me that we are asked to mark the anniversary of the First Fleet in 1788 when it’s generally acknowledged

most Australians have a very poor knowledge of their own history, unlike many countries throughout the world.

Let’s have an Australia Day quiz on what actually happened between 1788 and 1900 for example and see how many citizens, politicians in particular, score a basic pass mark – let alone what took place in the 20,000 years beforehand.

Long before Australia Day was elevated to the status it enjoys today there was British Empire Day. Originally introduced in 1905 to mark the birthday of Queen Victoria it morphed into Commonwealth Day in the 1950s but was probably best known as ‘cracker night’.You bought your bag of fireworks from Coles or Woolies and headed to the local park where a giant bonfire lit up the evening sky. Any political relevance attached to the event soon dissipated in what was essentially an almost pagan like orgy of pyromania.

Despite its colonial overtones Empire Day did recognise the fact the Australia was part of a larger international community, albeit under the thumb of the

British with all the nasty historical baggage that entailed. Australia Day on the other hand seems very much introverted, wallowing in the nostalgia of the past whilst desperately trying to assemble a jigsaw of our national identity.

As such it’s become a grab bag of just about anything an event manager can throw together in an Australia Day program and called it “Aussie.” The same old heritage rock’n’roll stars and children’s performers are trotted out on stages throughout the country and no doubt paid a motza for their services. Ferries race on Sydney Harbour and vintage buses rattle their way around the city. There are the usual official Government functions and on a positive note many new Australians choose to take part in citizenship ceremonies on this very day.

Meanwhile the debate continues as to whether January 26 is really an appropriate date for such an event, considering the impact that it had on the nation’s first people. Do we need a holiday celebrating our nationhood at all?

– given that we are still very much a ‘clayton’s’ nation, beholden to the British Royal Family.

Perhaps the truth of the matter is that we have come to expect a certain number of public holidays each year and if it happens to fall on a Friday like this year, it makes for a great long weekend. It’s a democracy of sorts and if nationalists want to let off a bit of steam, who are we, the grumpy set, to deny them.

Then again how about another day dedicated to what we might call “UnAustralian Day” when we pause to ponder our shameful treatment of refugees of Manus island and Nauru, the tragic history of our indigenous people and the continuing disregard for the environment. It doesn’t need to be a public holiday but at least bring out the flags and let them fly at half-mast.

Isaac Julien - Looking For Langston (1989/2017)

Known for pioneering multiscreen installations, Isaac Julien is one of Britain’s most influential artists working today with his cinematic and photographic works combining theoretical sophistication with visual luxury and sensuality.

As part of this exhibition Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery will be showcasing Julien’s seminal film Looking For Langston (1989/2017) alongside some newly conceived, large scale, silver gelatin photographic works.

Looking For Langston (1989/2017) focuses on the life of poet Langston Hughes and his relationship to fellow Harlem Renaissance artists. The film

earned Julien a cult following and its focus on a black, queer experience within the American cultural landscape retains its urgency and relevance.

Heralded as a landmark in the exploration of artistic expression, a hallmark of New Queer Cinema and regarded as a touchstone for African-American Studies for nearly 30 years, the film has been shown at both MoMA NYC and Tate Britain in 2017 before coming to Sydney this year as part of Sydney’s 40th Mardi Gras Festival. (JA) Until Mar 3. Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, 8 Soudan Lane (Off Hampden St), Paddington. Info: www.roslynoxley9.com.au

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LNY 2018 Year of the Dog

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