City Hub 26 July 2018

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Fake Indigenous art is cultural and economic theft REPOWERING NSW

CYCLING WIN

To stop the dangerous impacts of climate change we must dramatically cut electricity related greenhouse gas emissions.

The government finally agreed to let children between 12 and 16 ride bicycles on the footpath.

We still get 77 per cent of energy from coal, which is inefficient and highly polluting.

Our ageing coal plants will need to be decommissioned in the future and we urgently need a transition plan to a cleaner greener supply to avoid environmental disaster and further escalating costs.

In Parliament, I called for changes to road rules that force older children, many inexperienced riders, to cycle on heavy arterial roads with fast moving traffic. An older child can’t even ride on the footpath with their younger sibling, while an adult can. NSW is the only state other than Victoria with this rule.

Studies show we can achieve 100 per cent clean energy without impacting on reliability or access with a combination of solar, wind, hydro and storage.

Many children’s school is within riding distance and encouraging more to bike will reduce congestion and encourage physical activity.

NSW is falling behind other states and I am working in Parliament towards a cleaner, more sustainable supply by 2030.

I congratulate the community on a great campaign to get sensible reform.

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city hub 26 JULY 2018

Independence comes at a cost

by John Moyle Party politics are the backbone of the state and federal electoral system, with Labor, Liberals, Nationals and the Greens dominating both lower houses and the senates.

This pattern of representation is also reflected in local councils, with the voice of the independent becoming increasingly rare and endangered as the tentacles of Macquarie Street and beyond reach further into local government.

The reasons are many, but the funds held by local councils and a readymade power base for state and federal elections are just two incentives for major party interest.

Councillor Professor Kerryn Phelps says independents make a contribution “Under the Local Government Act 1993 Councillors are supposed to ‘represent the collective interests of residents, rate payers and the local community’ and according to the Code of Conduct they are not supposed to caucus or participate in binding voting blocks.”

The City of Sydney has long been a political football for both Labor and the Liberals and it is a credit to Lord Mayor Clover Moore that she has resisted this for so long, but even in the City there are only two truly independent voices.

“When I was first elected I thought I was joining a team of independents, however after the election it soon became very evident that the Clover Moore party did not even have the usual democratic process of a political party,” Cr Prof Phelps said.

Of the four local councils in City Hub’s distribution area, Inner West, City of Sydney, Woollahra and

Independent Inner West councillor Pauline Lockie. Photo: Supplied

Waverley, not counting Clover Moore’s Independent team there are only five voices not beholden to party politics.

“Even a tiny change in voting in 2020 could see the Inner West become one of only three or four fully political party politics councils in NSW,” Councillor John Stamolis, independent, Balmain Ward, Inner West Council said.

“The enormous power and resources of the parties at the local level means that most people here vote ‘political’ and not ‘local’.

Cr Stamolis cites his own experience as a good reason to be wary of party politics in local government.

“In 2012 I was an experienced councillor and community leader for

over 15 years and yet I was defeated by two brand new faces who didn’t live in the ward but were in major political parties,” he said.

The belief that councils are dominated by the major political parties is commonly held among other independents.

Victor Macri has been a councillor for over 12 years and previously served on the Marrickville Council, including time as Mayor, before its amalgamation into the Inner West Council.

“I think the community is best served by independents as they don’t waste their time fighting about state and federal issues when they should be focussing on local issues,” Cr Macri said.

Pauline Lockie who represents the Stanmore Ward on the Inner West Council said “The mere fact that you are Labor, Greens or Liberal already guarantees you a huge tranche of votes and even if they don’t know you personally they know the party and what they think they know what the party represents.”

“With the independents there is no machine that they have, to go back to check on what the correct response is.”

“The independents who are successful have a profile in their local area through their community engagement, or focus on particular issues that are on the minds of voters,” Cr Prof Phelps said.

Angela Vithoulkas, City of Sydney independent councillor and now state upper house aspirant with her Small Business Party said that independents are penalised when it comes to campaigning, not only in ability to raise money, but also in attracting volunteers and advisors.

“My last campaign cost hundreds

of thousands of dollars, and it is almost impossible for an independent to raise a lot of money because you don’t have the infrastructure or the historical set up of people automatically voting for you,” Cr Vithoulkas said.

“Big party machines have the ability to access volunteers and advisors in many areas and being an independent is much like a small business, you have to become a jack of all trades.”

Bearing in mind metropolitan councillors receive only around $28,000 per year and City of Sydney councillors up to $36,000 annually, no councillor is in it for the money.

Most have to balance part or full time work with council duties and those with families are even more pressed due to the extensive amount of time devoted to council and constituent duties.

Cr Lockie, a freelance copyrighter and mother of one, said “It’s very rare that I would spend less than one or two days a week on council duties and then there are the briefings, meetings and events we have.

Cr Vithoulkas points out that woman with families are disadvantaged as balancing council duties with family life is difficult without large party assistance.

“You have to rely on family and friends and build your own army,” Cr Vithoulkas said.

“Local council, more than any other level of government, touches people’s day to day lives, and is a level of government where you want decisions made for the local conditions,” Cr Lockie said.

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Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city.

Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677.

Published by Altmedia Pty Ltd. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content, takes no responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions.

ABN 52 600 903 348 Group Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons Group Editors: Lanie Tindale, John Moyle Contributors: John Moyle, Lanie Tindale, Peter Hehir, Isobel Rushe, Linda Hoang, Andrew Woodhouse, Lilian Sekkai Arts Editor: Jamie Apps Cover Photo: Supplied by Elizabeth Close. Artwork

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By Linda Hoang Local councils are focusing on creating the infrastructure to encourage walking and cycling as primary modes of transport.

The City of Sydney Council is calling for the State Government’s Roads & Maritime Services to prioritise funding for the Moore Park Road Cycleway.

This would speed implementation of the 20182019 NSW Government Walking and Cycling Program which aims to improve access to cycling routes within five kilometres of major centres.

Chair of the City of Sydney Local Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming Committee, Councillor Philip Thalis, said “We would love more cooperation from RMS and I think every council in NSW really wants more funding to get active transport going.”

“The frustration is we’ve got bits and pieces of a system but it doesn’t constitute an entire route so people can ride safely across the city and then beyond. Very few of our dedicated routes continue into our adjoining local governments.”

In the east, Waverley Council’s newly formed Cycling Advisory Committee will work on the People, Movement and Places plan to prioritise pedestrians and bicycle riders and assist with implementation of the Moore Park Cycleway.

Consultation for the Moore Park Cycleway has been finalised, with construction due to start in early 2019 for completion by early 2020.

The cycleway will link Bondi Junction to the existing Centennial Park (Oxford Street), Fitzroy Street and Bourke Street routes in Surry Hills.

Cyclists take to Sydney Streets.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

President of BIKESydney, David Borella, said “We need a new approach based on increased funding, fast-tracking key cycling “trunk routes” like the Greenway and City West Cycle Link, and policies that prioritise public transport, pedestrians and riders over cars in built-up areas.“ Cr Thalis said the perception of danger, particularly for younger women or inexperienced riders concerned about being able to safely ride on roads next to cars, is a key issue preventing more people from riding.

Mr Borella said “Sydney’s transport strategies are unbelievably car-focused by world standards. Most of the state’s

transport budget is spent on roads, we rip up safe city cycleways, and have increased fines for riders.” “‘We need an overhaul of the state government’s approach to cycling. The funding is far too low; big infrastructure projects are being allowed to dodge their responsibility to provide safe walking and cycling infrastructure, but transport cycling is a key goal for a liveable city.” Cr Thalis said “We want more people cycling, it’s great for public transport, it’s great for the congestion on the roads, it’s great for people’s health. We’ve got to have a far more holistic view of what’s good for society.” city hub 26 JULY 2018

3

Henson Park overhaul kicks off

By Lanie Tindale The Inner West Council has supported a proposal to negotiate the redevelopment of Henson Park’s King George V Grandstand with AFL NSW/ACT, Sydney Swans and Newtown Jets.

The clubs have offered a $4 million development of the Marrickville facilities in exchange for a “long term lease of the grandstand and a licence over the sporting ground.”

Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne described the resolution as “an incredibly exciting opportunity. It’s incredibly rare that you find two competing codes…who are willing to collaborate together to improve a local community sporting facility to share a home.”

While the lease on the grandstand would mean exclusive use by the AFL and rugby league clubs, recreational use would still be permitted on the grounds of Henson Park.

The rugby league club Newtown Jets, based in Henson Park since 1937, and AFL NSW currently have separate non-exclusive licences for playing matches and training during winter. These licences are due to end in April 2025.

The grandstand restoration will include the development of change rooms, amenities, a new gym, office, player’s lounge and lift access.

Group Manager for Parks, Trees and Sportsfields, Cathy Edwards-Davis said that the public will not be able to use these facilities, but “there’s other facilities in the ground.”

General Manager of Newtown Jets Stewart McCarthy spoke on the motion, claiming the Newtown Jets, also known as ‘the Bluebags’, is a notfor-profit organisation and as such was able to bypass the tender process, and be offered the lease outright.

“All organisations require security of tenure.”

Mr McCarthy said he wished to “confirm the not-for-profit status of our club as determined by the Australian Taxation Office.”

Sydney Swans to play and train on Henson Park. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

He went on to call Henson Park the Newtown Jets’ “spiritual home since 1936.”

Mr McCarthy cited other occasions the Jets had lobbied Federal and State governments for upgrades to Henson Park. “Whilst we would like to continue to work with council and AFL to seek funding support…we are only able to do that and apply for that if council is able to provide security of tender to both of our organisations.”

Cr Byrne sought clarification from the Council’s legal team as to the not-for-profit status of the Jets.

The representative quipped she would “be surprised if the Sydney Swans were” a not-for-profit organisation.

The Mayor added an objective to the resolution

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seeking clarification on the status of the Newtown Jets.

Cr Byrne said: “We all know about the very special place that the Newtown Jets hold in the Inner West community”.

“Whether it’s through a tender process or not, I’m very confident that we can come to a solution which will give security of tenure to the Swans and the NSW AFL and the Jets for the long term.”

On the 16th of February in this year Cr Byrne is quoted on the Sydney Swans website as saying: “Henson Park will always be the home of the Newtown Jets…I look forward to this ground becoming not only a fortress for the Bluebags, but for the Sydney Swans as well.”

Greens Councillor Louise Steer said that the tender process non-for-profit exemption is for “small organisations without much cash, it’s not meant for large wealthy organisations to get their own…I would definitely prefer it to go to tender for transparency and accountability.”

Cr Steer told City Hub: “To ask for a lease for 21 years without going through a tender process is simply bad governance. We need to be seen to be transparent and accountable. That is a very valuable lease, 21 years. It is silly to say it is just for the Grandstand, it is for the grounds as well.”

“No sporting group has the right to expect permanent tenure on any council grounds, the decisions must be based on merit and meeting the criteria of council policies. Otherwise no new groups would ever get a look in, and that would be unfair as well.”

“The Newtown Jets have had a long tradition in the area, but soccer is actually the most popular sport in the area now. We know that from the Council’s own recreation needs study.”

Henson Park was established in 1933 and features the King George V Grandstand which seats about 1000 fans. There is a 200-space car park and corporate centre on the north side of the Grandstand. The facilities were last upgraded in 2011, costing the Federal Government $920,000.

Cr Byrne proposed working towards the objective of “a Sydney Swans women’s AFL team playing out of the park in the future and that we do the same for the Cronulla Sharks”.

The Newtown Jets and league’s CronullaSutherland Sharks have been in a partnership since 2015, whereby the contracted Sharks players not required for the week’s NRL match can play for the Jets.

“I think that would be a huge boost for women and girls sport in the Inner West and across Sydney.”

Woolloomooloo water tensions bubble over

By Andrew Woodhouse War widow Diane Green thought her fighting days were over, but the Darlinghurst resident is engaged in a new battle with Sydney Water.

Green and 20 other owners receive income from short-term accommodation bookings at their retirement “nest-egg” units in the Top of the Town apartment block facing Victoria Street and Darlinghurst Road. Now, the livability and financial viability of these, and 56 other units, are threatened.

For the last year, Sydney Water contractors have been constructing a new underground water system, drilling three metres into solid rock overnight under the residents’ bedroom windows.

Known as Refresh Woolloomooloo, the project is replacing the storm and wastewater pipe currently in use, which was installed in the 19th Century.

The current system has a single pipe for stormwater and wastewater.

After high rains, the excess overflows untreated into Woolloomooloo Bay, causing pollution and odour.

To combat this, the works will separate the pipes, ensuring wastewater goes straight to the Bondi sewage treatment plant and stormwater to the Bay. The new system will include five kilometres of pipes, about 140 new manholes, and will install four new trash traps to remove rubbish from stormwater.

The works are expected to continue until December 2019.

While residents agree the non-emergency

upgrade is required, they say they are suffering as a result of the disruption to their sleep caused by the night works.

They claim work schedules are erratic, making planning impossible, and that they are issued same-day notices to remove vehicles from streets and only a few days’ notice of nocturnal excavations.

Last week a burst pipe appeared to cause major street flooding.

Green claims she is losing income as a result of the disruption.

“Tenants will not tolerate jackhammers overnight, (they) cancel bookings, and trash my unit in on-line reviews. I have bookings until March 2019. I am also concerned these major works will cause cracks in my apartment,” she says.

Residents describe sleepless nights filled with the sounds of industrial machines, mega-backhoes, mining jackhammers, arc lights turning night into day and drilling deep into bedrock.

They say see-though noise screens don’t actually cover the machinery.

Independent acoustic tests seen by City Hub show ultra-high decibel readings of 104dB at 10.45pm and 71 dB at 12.41am, way above acceptable noise limits.

HEARsmart, an organization which aims to improve hearing health in Australians, describes 104 decibels as about the same as the noise from a rock concert, and advises that it is only safe to be exposed to this noise level for 7.5 minutes without ear protection.

The website states “Extended or repeated

exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels (approximately the level of a vacuum cleaner) can cause hearing loss.”

A spokesman for the Minister for Resources, Don Harwin MLC, told City Hub “Sydney Water is working hard to minimise disruption. We’re aiming to finish work as quickly and safely as possible. Construction is only permitted within set times approved by the Transport Management Centre, however Sydney Water is working with the TMC to gain approval for more daytime work hours.”

Diane Green says “Our decibel readings are sky high, breaching EPA rules. This 18-month long-term work has ever-changing work schedules and lacks clarity. Our concerns are ignored. They should have obtained the right permission before, not after, works began.”

On the Sydney Water website, the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer Kevin Young says he “understands what our customers really need,” and “We want to make sure everyone is delighted by their experience with us at every touch point. We operate under the Sydney Water Act…to protect public health (and) the environment using social responsibility through ecologically sustainable principles. These restore and enhance the quality of the environment (and) reduce risks to human health.”

Green counters “All these touchy-feely, customer-driven touch points, social responsibility, blah, blah, are a visage. Sydney Water is arrogant, ignorant and negligent. We need certainty, clarity and consistency otherwise we’ll go broke. I am totally frustrated.”

Sydney water dripping in Potts Point.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

“Appropriate measures are in place to minimise construction noise and meet EPA requirements.

Sydney Water apologises for the inconvenience and asks those impacted to understand that this short-term work will have benefits that will last a lifetime,” the Minister’s spokesperson said.

Locals say the improvement works should not be conducted at their expense.

The Sydney Water Customer Contract provides for payment of damages and compensation for any losses suffered.

Owners want a fixed timetable, indemnity for building damage, no night work, guaranteed endby dates, noise reduction, changes to work hours, income compensation and $14,000 for doubleglazing.

Stephan Gyry, President of the Darlinghurst Business Partnership, says “Utilities seem to do whatever they want, whenever they want, disrupting whomever they want. These are necessary works vital to our quality of life (but) disturbing people’s sleep really is unhealthy and very stressful. Disturbing people’s businesses can bring ruinous losses, especially when works are for a protracted time. There are very simple things that they are not doing. For example, the sound barriers they use are nothing of the sort. Ideally, you’d cover that work in an acoustic tent.”

Surfers dumped from North Bondi

BY Linda Hoang A survey conducted by Waverley Council about the Bondi Beach Lifeguard Service has been met with opposition from beach goers and local residents.

The original survey indicated Council would apply restrictions to ban soft boards from the northern end of Bondi Beach to minimise the risk of collision with swimmers.

Mayor John Wakefield has responded to community concerns by revising the survey to correct its inaccuracy.

Local resident and bay swimmer, Ann Kearney, said “People who are supporting this proposed ban, it’s the people who don’t know the surf conditions down South end. North end is safe for soft boards and families and I haven’t seen seen any serious issues across the fifty odd years I’ve been on the beach. It works well.”

North Bondi Life Saving Surf Club member, Peta Estens, said “I patrol the beach voluntarily and it’s the club’s role to facilitate a sense of community while making our tourists and visitors feel safe to enjoy the beach in a variety of ways. The surf conditions can be treacherous down at South end.”

“So much of our lives are regulated. At work in the office there are rules and procedures you must follow, and one of the motivating reasons to go down to the beach is to get away from all of that. When you’re in the water or looking out at the horizon, you’ve left that all behind.”

Ms Kearney has resided in the local area for her entire life and already experienced restrictions to beach use down at Bondi.

“When I was a child, my father and my brothers were members of the North Bondi Surf Club. My brother was the club captain for many years, but unfortunately as a female, I was not allowed at the time to be member because tt was males only. My mother and I would have to get our boards and toys from

Soon to be banned North Bondi surfers. Photo: Ale Villalobos

the surf club through my brothers, they would sneak them out.”

“I learnt to surf and swim with my father at North End because it was safer. We’d jump off the rocks and paddle in during any month in Summer, Spring, Autumn and even Winter. As I got older and more confident we would paddle down South end but I would not have started down there and my father wouldn’t have taken me for many reasons. It was always a bigger swell down there and the South Bondi surfers were very serious and that hasn’t changed.”

Under current council regulations hard boards are restricted to the southern breaks at

Bondi but soft boards are allowed anywhere except between the flags.

Soft boards are defined as boards with foam tops and hard boards are made of fibreglass.

Owner of surfboard shop Sunburnt Mess and surfer, Pat Cahill, said “The south end has a lot more swell coming in and this generally creates strong rips. For anyone unfamiliar with the ocean, they could get themselves into trouble real fast.”

“With how crowded it is already, throwing more beginners and kids into the mix, I think you would see a lot more slash type injuries from people being run over or hit by other

board riders. This doesn’t happen on purpose, but when people don’t know how to get out of the way or control the board they are riding, it’s bound to happen. I would compare it to putting an L plate driver onto an F1 race track in a Corolla.”

Ms Estens said “If something like this is proposed and passed it will take away the spirit of trying new things. For people who reside at North Bondi, children learners for example, will have to carry their craft 700m in the soft sand down the other end which is challenging and takes away from their readiness to learn.”

Ms Estens said, “People at Bondi look after each other whether you’re on or off duty.

For swimmers, it’s marked out they go out in between the flags where no crafts are permitted.

The surf life savers at North end manage this really well. What the proposal is putting first and foremost is swimmers but swimming is only one of the many activities on the beach.”

“They’re really strict on surfboards in the area and they’re always patrolling. The surf life savers as well as the council lifeguards, particularly when it’s busy in Summer, put up signs signs and giving people verbal directions not to surf in that area so it’s safe for swimmers.,” said Ms Kearney.

Mr Cahill said “It’s pretty full on all year round now, lots of people surf now a days.

We’re six kilometres from a major city, the water is clean and it’s a beautiful beach, who can blame them? There’s no chance you’re getting the waves to yourself. Throw into the mix swimmers that ignore the no swimming signs, it’s mayhem.”

The revised Waverley Council Lifeguard Service Risk Review will not ban soft boards from North Bondi and but will still assess introducing buffer zones in relation to the flags, pedestrian use of the promenade and the classification of soft and hard boards. city hub 26 JULY 2018

5

Opinion

Lesser Sydney Commission

Peter Hehir under arrest in Rozelle. Photo: Peter Hehir

by Peter Hehir The Premier’s June decision to bring the GSC in under the Department of Premier and Cabinet effectively strips the Commission of its planning powers, but it doesn’t mean anything will really change.

So, what is the brouhaha between Glad the Impaler and Lucy ‘I don’t know of any demolition in Haberfield’ Turnbull’s Greater Sydney Commission (GSC) and what does it mean for the Inner West?

In a report in The Australian last Friday, Sydney planning and environment lawyer Aaron Gadiel said the Commission had in many ways taken over the “great majority of powers that were traditionally vested’’ in the Planning Minister.

This would not have gone down well with the titans of the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) who must have resented the GSC encroaching on their territory.

It’s clear that after the recent deliberations by the Department in relation to the 13,000 objections to WestConnex, the DPE doesn’t want to upset Glad the way the Environmental Protection Agency did by not approving Stage 3.

Perhaps the Premier was worried the GSC would prove to be equally unpredictable.

Did Glad feel that the Greater Sydney Commission was getting a bit too far beyond arm’s length to be yanked back into line?

That they weren’t pro development enough?

Or, heaven forbid, that in going to the trouble of engaging with the masses via their public seminars, they gave the impression that the opinions of the public might actually matter?

The Premier’s assertion that the position of the GSC would be strengthened as it would report directly to the Premier cuts both ways.

It’s all about control.

The Premier would clearly be able to dictate directly to the Commission, and she no doubt would.

The use of industrial land in the Inner West is a significant bone of contention between the GSC and the DPE. The GSC recognised the need to retain much of this land for its stated purpose while the DPE foreshadowed its intention to rezone these areas for high density residential development.

The effective removal of planning powers from local councils, placing them under the control of the GSC, removed the irritant of community members expressing their legitimate concerns about overdevelopment, but obviously this wasn’t good enough for Glad and her developer cronies.

The GSC’s retention of reservations for light industry and hence local employment opportunities has obviously rankled the pro high-rise development gaggle - who clearly have Glad’s ear - prompting the Premier to rein in the GSC. Does this mean even darker days for the Inner West?

6

city hub 26 JULY 2018

Probably.

The stripping of the GSC’s planning powers appears to have caught the GSC by surprise, as Lucy’s office professed a lack of knowledge of the changes with The Australian quoting a staffer saying ‘This is the first I’ve heard of it’.

From the perspective of the Inner West though does it really matter who is driving the bulldozer? GSC or DPE? What’s in a name?

Lucy’s Greater Sydney Region Plan, A Metropolis of 3 Cities, describes a vision of the already developed Inner West of a housing stock increase of 35%, whether anyone likes it or not.

Could the projected 35% housing increase possibly even double under the Premier?

Why not?

She seems to believe history, heritage and amenity have no value and are just barriers to development.

The fact that residents collectively own residential precincts and should have some say in determining the shape of the environment in which they live, appears to matter not a jot.

It’s not inconceivable that entire streetscapes of Victorian terraces could simply disappear and be replaced by high rise ‘little boxes made of ticky-tacky and they all look just the same’.

The ugly cancer that killed Pyrmont and Ultimo will no doubt spread.

And there is bugger all we can do about it.

Concerns expressed by the community in relation to overdevelopment, loss of amenity, the destruction of heritage precincts and National Trust classified homes cut no sway with the Premier.

“Develop or perish” appears to be her mantra.

The distancing of the community from the decision-making process is deliberate and seems designed to dumb down opposition.

Likewise, community concerns about the importation of WestConnex vehicle pollution on a grand scale into Rozelle if Stage 3 proceeds don’t bother her either.

Of course, Glad hates to be exposed as the ultimate NIMBY. She wouldn’t have a bar of unfiltered road tunnel stacks in her electorate when it was first proposed by the ALP in 2013.

Her protestations in Parliament on this subject are a matter of public record.

But Glad will tell you it’s fine for the Inner West.

And that the Roads & Maritime Services use ‘world’s best practice’.

The driving force behind all of this is the push to double and treble Sydney’s population.

It’s fuelled by the greed of the developer who demolishes, builds and moves on to destroy another community.

When were we consulted about the desperate need to increase our population?

I don’t recall any debate.

When all is said and done, does it really matter which Department is pulling the strings?

Listing PrEP on PBS a mighty leap

BY Isobel Rushe The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee’s (PBAC) recommendation to list PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is a critical step towards dramatically reducing HIV transmission in Australia.

A listing on PBS will bring PrEP within reach of many of those who are at risk of HIV transmission across Australia.

PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90% when used consistently.

Executive Director of the National Association of people with HIV Australia, Aaron Cogle said PBAC’s decision will drastically help the HIV Community: “Equitable access to PrEP for HIV negative people is an important advancement for those already living with HIV as well. It will help counter stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. This drug helps share the responsibility amongst all to reduce HIV Transmission.”

Previous access to the medicine has been difficult with the full commercial cost being exorbitantly expensive at almost $5,000 per year. Australian PrEP users have mainly accessed it through state and territory trials or online imports.

PBS Access to PrEP will decrease the cost dramatically. A single averted HIV transmission will save the Australian taxpayer $1,000,000 in lifetime costs.

Chief executive officer of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, Darryl O’Donnell supports the PBS listing of PrEP but says that “this is only the beginning of the end we need to work really hard to remove the stigma and get people using this preventative treatment,” “HIV thrives in the shadows of stigma and discrimination. It takes real resources to bring it into the open and prevent its transmission.”

Pride activists march in support of PrEP. Photo: Graham Ó Síodhacháin

Currently, over 30% of all new HIV infections globally are estimated to occur among youth ages 15 to 25 years.

Young people’s risk of becoming newly infected with HIV is closely correlated with age of sexual debut.

23-year-old Kimberly Harding-Peter has been living with HIV for the last two years, she says there are lots of things that can help the HIV community to reduce those who are HIV positive; “The list is endless in terms of what needs to happen, education is a huge one, how do you even know unless your suffering that there are preventative drugs out there? HIV seems to be one of those “this will never happen to me” diseases.”

“I am sure that the listing of PrEP on the PBS will bring education to those about HIV and this is what I’m most thrilled about.”

The Australia Government has already committed to honouring PBAC’s recommendation in a timely manner.

MEET the locals

Essentials 4life hosts talk by Trinity Bennett

By Lilian Sekkai Helen and Mark Shaw have successfully run Essentials 4life for 7 years.

Helen says her business is her heart and soul.

Having studied Early Childhood Education, Social Work and Human Development, Helen’s passion is to empower women to find their purpose, break through walls and face challenges.

Focusing on well-being as well as health, the couple offer natural and alternative techniques and products, to support clients to not only heal but stay healthy for life.

“We’d love to encourage people to research and to look for alternative methods to prevent their pain,” Helen told City Hub. Located in Woolloomooloo, Essentials 4life is collaborating with partners who share the same beliefs towards pain relief. Helen and Mark are proud to host the important talk by special guest Trinity Bennett, in order to help more people understand and control their pain.

Trinity Bennett has trained Commonwealth Games medallists and world champion athletes.

Qualified in massage, dry needling, cupping, onsen technique, personal training, energy healing and having an advanced diploma in Health Science as well as being a musculoskeletal therapist, Bennett certainly knows how to fight pain.

When some patients who, suffering from enormous pain and unable to participate in sports or live normal life, nearly gave up, Bennett was able to help.

“I would strongly recommend him to anybody who has a musculoskeletal issue that is causing them grief in any way... As a surfer himself, he can relate to the frustration of an injury or pain preventing someone from doing what they love,” one patient said.

Essentials 4life host seminars on pain relief.

Photo: Flickr

By treating issues with alternative methods like dry needling, electrotherapy and strength programs, Essentials 4life helps prevent future injuries. Some costumers says they were successfully treated after a few visits, and have had no issues since.

“After 2 visits, the pain had gone completely...

3 years later and things are still good … I truly believe that if I hadn’t had appointments with Trinity that I would still be attempting to get my body right again. But thanks to his help, I am back into swimming, cycling and running competitively again. I am now able to race again and I feel like I have my life back,” a happy patient said.

On Thursday the 26th of July and Tuesday the 31st of July, Trinity Bennet is holding a seminar on healing and preventing pain.

The event is taking place both days 6-7.30pm at Juanita Nielsen Community Centre, 31 Nicholson Rd, Woolloomooloo.

We

ng fOr k i O O l T ’re

BEST!

he

The search is on for the tastiest food, cheapest deals, friendliest service, biggest thrills… the very best that this City can offer.

We’re putting together our Best Of Sydney guide for 2018 and we’ll let you know what we think.

But we’d also like to hear from you.

BEST BALLOT Tell us which small business in Sydney you think is the best and why in any of the following categories: eaT ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Drink __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Play ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ShOP ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ServiCeS ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your name: _______________________ Your suburb: __________________ Email: _________________________

To cast your vote for the BeST of Sydney, either: 1) 2) 3) 4)

PoST this ballot to: Best of Sydney, City hub, PO Box 843, Broadway nSW Email your picks to: best@altmedia.net.au ViSiT www.altmedia.net.au ViSiT our Facebook page on www.facebook.com/altmediagroup

We’ll Tally The reSulTS anD PrinT The mOST POPular BuSineSSeS in Our BeST Of SyDney guiDe in auguST. city hub 26 JULY 2018

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FEATURE

Fake Aboriginal Art

presence of fake art resulted in a Parliamentary inquiry that is currently ongoing - over 150 submissions have been received.

Under Australia’s Competition and Consumer Act, the trade of fake art is not illegal so long as imported souvenirs are labelled and do not claim to be authentic. However, the misappropriation of Indigenous art exploits and commodifies Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, resulting in the flooding of the market with fake products to the detriment of Indigenous artists.

“People go towards the fake art because that’s what they’ve been lead to believe is the real deal.

I don’t think it should rely on the consumer. It just should not be an option to buy the fake stuff in the first place,” Sullivan said.

The Greens announced legislation just over a Artwork by Aboriginal artist Elizabeth Close.

Photo: Supplied by Elizabeth Close week ago, proposing to ban the import and sale of fake Aboriginal art.

By Shon Ho “Until inauthentic Aboriginal art is banned, and Tourists with ice creams in hand are milling about those individuals and companies that are souvenir shops scattered along the mouth of involved in importing it to Australia face serious Circular Quay on Sunday afternoon. The shops fines, not enough is being done to protect sport gaudy shelves of back scratchers, bottle Aboriginal artists and consumers from this openers and “noodle kitchen sets” printed with a trade,” said Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, the Frankenstein pastiche of Aboriginal style art.

Greens Arts spokesperson, in a statement.

The “Handmade Australia” painted across the The party purports to introduce the base of a dotted, lacquered red vase is Competition and Consumer Amendment paradoxically obscured by a “Made in Indonesia” (Exploitation of Indigenous Culture) Bill 2017 as label. With 80% of self-professed Aboriginal a Private Senator’s Bill. Interestingly, it shares the souvenirs sold in shops being inauthentic, the same name as Bob Katter’s bill that was initially vase is just one item in a $200 million industry. introduced in Parliament last year.

“It’s cultural theft,” said Gabrielle Sullivan, the The Green’s bill proposes maximum penalties of chief executive of the Indigenous Art Code. $25,000 for individuals and $200,000 for “Somebody is making a lot of money out of this, companies committing the offence of misusing but it’s not the artists who it belongs to.” cultural Indigenous expression, the same figures The Indigenous Art Code, together with the Arts outlined in Katter’s bill. City Hub reached out to Law Centre of Australia and Copyright Agency, the Greens for comment but did not receive a launched the “Fake Art Harms Culture” response in time for publication. campaign in 2016. The successful lobbying of the In June this year, the government committed Australian Government to address the growing $150,000 to test digital labelling for authentic

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city hub 26 JULY 2018

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander products in an attempt to help consumers purchase ethically.

“It’s going to demonstrate to the consumer the provenance of that work; how that product came to be in existence, but it’s just adding extra information to a product that we already know is authentic - it’s not stopping the fake product from being sold,” Sullivan said.

Beyond the missed economic opportunities for Indigenous artists, fake art produces a false and distorted representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture that prevents consumers from understanding its diversity, Sullivan noted.

“It doesn’t represent our culture in any way, shape or form,” said Bibi Barba, the Artists In The Black Coordinator at Arts Law who is also an artist herself.

“There’s no connection whatsoever that fake art has to any Indigenous culture because it is just made up. It’s really a misrepresentation of my culture to the world.”

Artists In The Black is an outreach program aimed at increasing access to legal information and services for Indigenous artists, communities and arts organisations. Barba who has been painting for over 30 years is disheartened about the commercialisation of culture and urges artists to voice their concerns.

“It’s just a quick buck - a quick dollar, and that’s really sad because that’s putting a price on our cultural heritage,” she said.

In one of the larger souvenir stores at Circular Quay, shiny Jabiru ‘Authentic Australian didgeridoos’ sit upright on a stand. An entire shelf in the same store holds a collection of Birubi Art products. Both companies have been recently embroiled in controversy. Jabiru Australia, the official merchandise supplier for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, was questioned about its exploitation of casually employed Indigenous artists and the origins of

Artwork by Aboriginal artist Elizabeth Close.

Photo: Supplied by Elizabeth Close

its products, while Birubi Art currently faces Federal Court action from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The ACCC alleged Birubi breached Australian Consumer Law by falsely misleading consumers to believe that over 18,000 products were hand-painted by Aboriginal artists and Australianmade when they were actually produced in Indonesia.

For Bibi Barba, making art is a way for her to translate her grandmother’s stories into living memory - a connection that is strong and innate.

“My grandmother always said to me - ‘you go home to your country, you feel it and you paint it.’ That’s exactly what I’ve done with her stories.

She’s always there, not far from me. I would like to keep her alive in my artwork because I can see her. It preserves cultural stories for the next generation to pass down.”

“So that’s what art is about - it’s about visual literacy and it’s about the connection to country through storytelling.”

Attention

fIlm makers, photographers I want you to help me make an art hIstory fIlm called “the art of the gIrls In tIn sheds”.

(I am a wrIter) can we talk terms?

I want to make my spare room into a film-making studio.

What equipment do you recommend and why?

You can see the footage and materials available for this film based on an Australian poster art exhibition on cultural revolution circa 1976, when Mao died. I live in Glebe.

Email me on cfodonnell@gmail.com to discuss our meeting.

See more at www.carolodonnell.com.au

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Tom Hogan and Bonnie Leigh-Dodds are the brilliant acting duo that star in Love Song Dedications (Without Richard Mercer), a new Australian work that is presented by Ten Tonne Sparrow and premiering at PACT Theatre, Erskineville. These two multi-disciplinary artists have created an original show that is at once a hilarious, modern farcical comedy with sheer force of charm and exuberance and is one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see. I can’t remember ever laughing so hard at the theatre.

The story is inspired by radio presenter, Richard Mercer, host of the popular long-running program Love Songs And Dedications on commercial radio stations KIIS 106.5 in Sydney and Mix 101.1 in Melbourne, where he was referred to as “The Love God.” Between 1996 and 2013 for three hours every weeknight Mercer took requests and engaged in talkback with the love stricken, infatuated and unrequited as well as playing cupid.

Best friends Tom and Bonnie take 104 of the most requested love songs from that era, hand write and

Photo: Nick mckk

REVIEW: Love Song Dedications (Without Richard Mercer)

light them up on eight big song boards.The songs’ individual lights are turned off as they find reasons why each song isn’t the ultimate love song.

We hear the well-known ‘SMULSH’ playlist along with live soundscape recordings of DJ Mercer’s crooning, seductive voice in talk back with fans explaining their dedications and declaring their love; like 11-year-old Milo who has a crush, thinking he’s found the love of his life, who requests U2’s Sweetest Thing. Subtitles

The 78-Storey Treehouse

An adaptation of the popular children’s book, The 78-Storey Treehouse will be showing at The Concourse Theatre in Chatswood, emitting humour and excitement which is sure to make the audience laugh out loud.

The book series trails Andy and Terry who live in a treehouse which grows by 13 storeys with every new book.This tale follows Andy and Terry as they create a film about their life in the treehouse, however tragedy strikes when Andy gets replaced by a monkey.Actor for Andy, Samuel Welsh said, “I think I resonate quite well with Andy, he’s someone who loves what he does, he loves living in a treehouse and inventing things with Terry. He’s also got purpose with everything he does and that’s the same with me in real life. It’s a comedy with a lot of laughs but also there is a

lot of heart in there too, you know nice moments that I get to do as me through the character Andy which is really lovely.”

Not only is this a children’s play, but the enjoyment of adults is guaranteed with homages throughout the play to certain film genres, and some jokes that will fly right over the kids heads.

“We wanted to create something that not just the kids will like, but that the family will like too,” Welsh said.

The 78-Storey Treehouse has a strong message which is important for young children to take away.

“Sometimes for the best reason, you might not be the first choice for things, and that doesn’t mean you’re a bad person, it’s not something against you, it’s just that sometimes, it requires a certain type of person for a particular thing.”

Photo: Jeff Busby

REVIEW: Verdi - Rigoletto

In an era of metoo hashtags and never-ending revelations of sexual harassment at the hands of predatory, powerful men,Verdi’s classic opera

Rigoletto resonates more strongly than ever.

When the opera was first staged in 1851,Verdi struggled to get his masterpiece past the censors. The libretto was based on a play by Victor Hugo, which the disapproving Parisian authorities banned for fifty years. The portrayal of a lecherous and libertine nobleman was considered controversial in 19th century Europe. More than a century and a half later, the depiction of a privileged man seducing, abusing and sexually conquering countless women is sadly commonplace.

The role of the womanising Duke of Mantua is performed masterfully by the Italian baritone Gianluca Terranova whose voice soars above the Opera House when performing the opera’s most

a&e

19 STAGE 10 Sounds 11 SCENE 11 SCREEN

are projected onto a screen which shows video clips to make a point and they argue with reasons to turn off the light, in their quest to find the perfect love song.

The entire show is a subtext of their friendship, amid academic analysing of music.There are references to Nick Cave’s music lecture series, For The Secret Life Of The Love Song, of the genesis and true meaning of love songs; that love, cannot exist without all of the attendant pain.

Love Song Dedications (Without Richard Mercer) is full of interpretive dance, wit and social commentary; Celine Dion, song writer Dianne Warren, long distance relationships and the irony of the music industry where Something by the Beatles and Cher’s Time After Time can’t be played in a public place.

Made in conjunction with the podcast Missing Richard Mercer, available on iTunes. (MS) Until Jul 29. PACT Centre For Emerging Artists, 107 Railway Parade, Erskineville. $20-$30+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.pact.net.au

Samuel Welsh _ Teale Howie. Photo: Heidrun Lohr

Welsh hopes that everyone enjoys the show,“it’s a really great show, a lot of fun and I know that not just the little ones will have fun but the parents will have a great time as well,” Welsh concluded. (JM) Aug 3-7. Seymour Centre, City Rd & Cleveland Street, Chippendale. $22-$36+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.seymourcentre.com

famous aria La donna e mobile in the final act.

The tragic hunchback, Rigoletto is compellingly portrayed by the Slovak baritone Dalibor Jenis who captures the court jester’s humour and menace brilliantly. His cloistered daughter, who is seduced by the Duke is played by the charming Russian soprano Irina Lungu. Her performance of the famous aria Cara nome in the second act alone is worth the price of admission. Ukrainian basso Taras Berezhansky is mesmerising as the hired assassin Sparafucile. The production is a revival of Elijah Mojinky’s 30 year-old staging. Set in the 1960s Opera Australia veterans have seen it all before, which is of little importance when listening to one of Verdi’s best loved and well known operas. (LG) Until Aug 24. Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney. $46-$348+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.opera.org.au

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

Carrie: The Musical

Carrie: The Musical, based on the bestselling Stephen King novel, is a step away from the trademark gore and horror of the well-known classic.

This Louis Ellis Productions rendition, helmed by director Hayden Tonazzi, promises a story that spotlights the humanity of Carrie (Kirralee Elliott) - a high school student pushed to the brink by the pressures of a toxic environment.

“I think it’s important to single out Carrie as an outcast in order for the audience to engage with, absorb and empathise with her emotional journey throughout the show,” Tonazzi said.

“To me, Carrie is a young woman, whom despite tremendous amounts of adversity in a venomous high school culture, discovers and embraces who she truly is.”

The struggles and isolation faced by adolescents sits at the heart of the production. The musical element adds nuance to the story, throwing a different light on the original novel.

“I also love the way Carrie conveys this battle in the portrayed relationships and internal workings of both the adults and children in the show. Through the use of song, audiences are able to gain greater insight into the raw emotions and motivations of the characters.”

For those wary of the scare factor, you need not worry.

“There’s only so much horror you can achieve with singing, dancing and jazz hands.” Tonazzi said.

“The amazing pop-rock score (by Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford) absolutely captures the essence of teenage angst, struggle and insecurity that runs throughout this story.” (SH) Until Aug 4. The Depot Theatre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville. $22-$32+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.thedepottheatre.com

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

city hub 26 JULY 2017

9

Sparkle Burlesque Photo: Leslie Liu

Sydney’s newest burlesque party hosts are set to launch with a glittery gathering next week.

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For the debut show guests will be tempted by the art of the tease with a live performance by popular Sydney Burlesque artist Sheena Miss Demeanour. Plus they’ll get the chance to reveal their inner glamour queen with a dance lesson on the night!

Aug 2. The Drum Room, Knox Street Bar, 21 Shepherd St, Chippendale. FREE. Tickets & Info: www.sparkleburlesque.com

Lez Zeppelin

By Rita Bratovich Lez Zeppelin is not a typo; it’s an all female counterpart to the original 70s rock band fronted by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.

The “Lez” is a mischievous pun, says lead guitarist and founder of the band, Steph Paynes: “We’re all here to play the music of Led Zeppelin anything else is up for speculation.”

Paynes formed the group in 2004 and has been the only consistent member through several different line-ups. In the beginning her biggest challenge was finding three other women who had the musicianship, inclination and availability to be part of a touring rock band.

“This music is so hard to execute in the way it needs to be executed. [Led Zeppelin] were the finest musicians in the genre - all four of them,” explains Paynes.

But find those musicians, she did, and several times over. The band has universally been praised for their rendition of the Led Zeppelin oeuvre - from critics and fans.

Their audience comprises a wide demographic, from young people starting to discover the music to established diehards who have fully embraced the “sheincarnation.”

Paynes dislikes the term “tribute band” as a descriptor, preferring to think of what they’re doing as “interpretation.” It’s not a note for note reproduction of songs; they stay true to the style, feel, attitude but

infuse their own personal sound.

“There are some solos where you really must play what Jimmy played because they’re just so perfect, they’re meant for the song,” says Paynes. “But with other songs - it’s part of the spirit of the song to improvise.”

As lead guitarist for Lez Zeppelin, Paynes acknowledges she is stepping into the shoes of one of the acknowledged all time virtuosos in Jimmy Page.

“It’s a good thing I didn’t think about it too much before I formed the band. It was only after that it dawned on me, ‘Am I out of my mind?’” she says.

Page himself has openly endorsed Lez Zeppelin, agreeing they should be allowed to interpret the songs their way, saying: “This is how it should be done. This is rock’n’roll.”

Page has also been in the audience of a live show; an experience that was equally exhilarating and terrifying for Paynes.

“Well, I was in kind of a fog. After that I

Mat Ward – Disrupted From the first beat, Disrupted at once lives up to its name and peaks the listeners interest. Disjointed is another good word for the sound emanating from the album. Bits and pieces of music-like sounds take turns in the listener’s ear expanding briefly and stopping abruptly so that the listener is waiting for its imminent successor, ears perked up like a hunter in the forest, trying to hear and understand every creatures step.

As the album progresses the sounds begin to blend but are no less alien to each other. The beat speeds up and generates bursts of music in this compilation of auditory experiences but rarely drop its intent to start and to stop with equal speed, regular enough to create the most constant rhythm. Disrupted also separates the tracks, each is individual, a microworld of unique ambience. Listeners may need time to digest this musical feast, it is enough for several meals. (SP) WWW

10

encourages body positivity and feeling fabulous.

Ms Sparkles is a former burlesque performer, pin up model, and winner of the inaugural Sydney Tattoo and Body Art Expo Pin Up Pageant. Also an experienced dance teacher, Ms Sparkles has invited popular Sydney burlesque artists Mama La Roux and Bridie Doll on her mission to help Sydney shake, shimmy and shine one fabulous party event at a time.

was so emotionally spent, I’m not even sure what happened after that.”

What happened was that Page told her she was doing an amazing job.

Along with the musicianship, Lez Zeppelin recreates the sexual energy on stage that Led Zeppelin had, with the same aggressive intensity. It’s all part of the presentation, and Paynes says it’s empowering for female fans.

Lez Zeppelin has now existed, in various iterations, for longer than the original group, and Paynes still feels motivated to keep going.

“I’ve always wanted to play the guitar in a certain way and be the best at what I do.

And I’m still trying to be the best. I know I’ll never be the best but I think as long as you have that, that’s what keeps you artistically driven.”

[Lez Zeppelin’s Australian tour has been postponed due to illness of the promoter. As yet, there has been no notification of rescheduled dates.]

Hammers Homeblokes Though the album is overwhelmingly heavy it is mixed through with subtle variation.

Slow and warped like playing guitars that have honey all over their strings then fast and groovy with little room for error.

Homeblokes is an EP of previously unimaginable layers beneath the already heavy bass that introduces the listener to the short exploration.

Earnest and passionate vocals tweak at the muscles behind the listeners eyes, pulling downwards as an indifferent solo takes the rest of the listeners attention. It stretches out before their mental vision occupying all space between their ears while piling on top of the emotional convoy moving through the rest of their system.

Raw in feeling, rough in texture these songs are a visceral experience. (SP) WWW

THE NAKED CITY

WHY WE NEED THE TRUMP BABY!

With Coffin Ed It’s sometimes said that Sydney is a city without a real sense of humour – and many would agree there’s not a great deal to laugh about these days.

It’s more a case of tears and despair when it comes to the urban environment – the never ending disruption of the light rail, the inevitable traffic gridlock, the plight of the homeless and the absence of a vibrant night time culture.

So on those rare cases when something visibly humorous crops up in the CBD or surrounds, it’s a genuine relief - a chance to brush off that overcoat of angst and have a good old chuckle. Remember when the giant yellow duckie, the work of Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, floated into the Harbour in 2013 for the Sydney Festival.

We all had a giggle and somehow its presence brought joy to our daily grind, appealing to not only youngsters but the child still lingering in many mature adults.

Similarly in 1995 when Jeff Koon’s giant topiary Puppy, took up residence outside the MCA at Circular Quay, its towering presence was more than just a photo opportunity. Some might have seen it as ‘art’, but for the majority of Sydneysiders it was nothing but a good old fashioned piece of fun, regardless of how much the flowering canine cost to erect in the first place.

Sydney Dog Lovers Show

Australians obviously have an affinity with the ‘big’, be it an inflatable or something huge made out of the unusual, It’s part of a national tradition of The Big Pineapple, The Big Banana, The Big Merino and The Big Banana. None of these big things are ever taken seriously, they are essentially self deprecating by nature, but we embrace them like some treasured item of kitsch.

When a remarkable 250,000 punters turned out in London recently to protest against the UK visit of Donald Trump, the focal piece was the giant blow up ’Trump Baby’.As it floated above the thousands of everyday Brits out to express their disgust and dislike for the current American President, it also introduced that element of fun – an outpouring of ridicule and mockery for the buffoonish, albeit scary as hell,Trump.

There are now plans to take the Trump Baby to the US although a New Jersey woman, Kathie Kit Conklin, has vowed to shoot it down – even starting a GoFundMe page to pay for her bail in the case of her being arrested.

Presidential assassination is nothing new in the US but the slaying of an inflatable effigy would certainly break new ground. There is of course a bizarre irony in Trump supporters (and no doubt NRA members) taking pot shots at a floating caricature of somebody they hold so dearly.

Here in Australia we are a lot more civilized and surely the Trump Baby would get a similar reception to the big yellow Duckie and the topiary mutt. It would no doubt outrage the pundits of Fox News, but the Lord Mayor Clover Moore would certainly win votes if she hosted a civic reception for the blimp and allowed it to fly for a week or two from the front of the Town Hall – certainly much more of a conversation piece that that the wretched Cloud Arch.

If we attached a hot air balloon style basket, the Trump Baby could be flown all over Sydney, bringing not only joy and humour to the masses but an enlightened degree of political sensibility. Once it had outlived its novelty it could be launched with great fanfare into the stratosphere, a destination many would advocate for the real Donald Trump!

The Equalizer 2

RBG

Back for a second round of equalizing in one of his most iconic roles is Denzel Washington as retired CIA agent Robert McCall. Following on from the original Equalizer, based on the TV series, the second coming to the 2014 hit is directed by Antoine Fuqua with Richard Wenk at the helm of the screenplay.

Starring alongside Washington is Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders, Melissa Leo and Bill Pullman.

In this sadistic crime thriller, McCall sets out on a new path for revenge after one of his long-time friends is killed. Serving up brutal ruthless justice for the oppressed and exploited in the first film, one can only imagine how far he will go for someone he loves.

Deserving of the R rating The Equalizer II does not disappoint in the gory brutal, sometimes over the top, violence department and Washington is still as bad ass as ever. But, the film lacks storyline and overall failed to compete with the first. (RH) WWW1/2

Ruth Bader Ginsberg is an Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court. She is quietly spoken, serious and, at 85 years old, frail looking and small. But RBG, as she is affectionately known, is a hero who draws rockstar level adoration from an ever expanding and surprisingly youthful fan base. This documentary by film makers Julie Cohen and Betsy West attempts to explain that phenomena while at the same time paying homage to a woman whose intelligence, steel cool demeanour and uncompromising devotion to justice have made her a

Our dogs are family and no words could ever portray just how much joy and love they bring to our lives. Next weekend an entire festival event is dedicated to our furry little friends and all of their exploits.

Now in its fifth year the show continues to attract tens of thousands of visitors from every corner of the state, with numbers growing significantly year on year. This year there is an array of attractions to check out.

Dogs will be competing in Sydney’s first ever Common Woof Games, which will see competitors battling it out across 11 different ’s-paw-ts’.

The inaugural AWDI Sheep Herding Trials will also be happening for the more serious competitors, and finally the BlackHawk DockDogs Diving Competition will see dogs of all shapes

and sizes launching themselves into a giant 100,000 litre pool to take out the titles of fastest, highest, and longest retrievals – all while saturating the crowd with splashes!

If competition isn’t your cup of tea though there will also be appearances from some of the worlds most famous puppies, one of which even has 110,000 Instagram followers.

Throughout the weekend hearts will melt with over 500 beautiful dogs and more than 120 breeds frolicking about with each other.

You never know you may even find your puppy soulmate at the Dog Adoption Stage or one of the 40 rescue shelter stalls.

Aug 4-5. Hordern Pavillion, 1 Driver Ave, Moore Park. $12-$76+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.dogloversshow.com.au

Whitney

formidable force for women’s rights.

Cohen and West are given unprecedented access to the famously reticent Ginsberg, filming her working out with a fitness coach, being shown Ginsberg’s array of jabots (fancy collars worn with her legal robe) and even capturing Ginsberg’s giggles when she sees a comedian impersonating her on TV. A collection of photos, film, documents and interviews helps build a fascinating portrait, from childhood to the present, of a remarkable - and yet still a little mysterious woman. (RB) WWW1/2

This film tells the story about a fallen queen, showing material from her piteous last appearances as well as the shining and glory shows of earlier days including goose bump effects due to her impressive voice.

Although Kevin McDonald was given a lot of access to Whitney Houston’s private life including interviews with close friends and family members, as well as exclusive private film material from Robyn Crawford and Bobbie Brown exposing a dreadful sad secret out of her childhood, the documentary tends to be fundamentally,

telling the story about Whitney which is already known.

A beautiful singer with the most incredible voice the world has ever heard but a dark and struggling “private” live.

Similar to the Broomfield movie, there is a strange sense of talking around the truth but never quite getting right into it. Even the big reveal isn’t definitive and the movie is certainly missing out on showing all the different nuances of Houston’s career, always jumping from big highlights straight to her downs.

(LSe) WW1/2 city hub 26 JULY 2017

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city hub 26 JULY 2018