City Hub 27 September 2018

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city hub 27 SEPTEMBER 2018

Quick fix plans for Darlo Road

by John Moyle Responding to a Development Application (DA) lodged late last year by developer Iris Capital to demolish almost an entire block of Darlinghurst Road and build an imposing wall of blandness, the City of Sydney has quickly responded with a draft Development Control Plan (DCP) for the area.

After a response not seen since the 1970s Victoria Street Green Bans, the community fired back with more than 500 objections to the proposed development, which would have turned most of the Bourbon and Empire Hotel sites into apartments.

A rally and12,500 change.org signatures later, Iris Capital withdrew the DA, with the promise the group would reconsider and resubmit.

“Our changes will make sure any new development in the area respects the edgy, historic and iconic characteristics of Kings Cross,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore, City of Sydney said.

The 573 page Development Control Plan was released last week and residents have until 23rd October to respond, but to date there is little awareness of the document’s existence.

“I don’t think that there is enough time for community engagement on this and it needs more time,” said Sue Hanley of community group Concerned Citizens.

“There is no engagement on Potts Pointers (a local Facebook site with over 3,500 members), and I don’t think people understand it and there needs to be a lot more work on raising awareness of what it is about.”

Local heritage expert Andrew Woodhouse said that though the draft DCP has problems with its consistency and clarity “we have to get all these new rules in place and regulations up front and stamped before the next DA is lodged”.

Peter Annan, an urban designer with 50 years’ experience working in Woolloomooloo, the CBD, Pyrmont and other urban centres,

Darlinghurst Road is crying out for protection. Photo: John Moyle

sees it as a “guideline for the developer in this area”.

“Its intent is to regulate and control the development of the block and what it sets out is very prescriptive and a detailed set of conditions that will make it very difficult for the developer.”

A City of Sydney spokesperson said that the City’s Design Advisory Panel recommended that “a heritage study was needed to provide a better understanding of the heritage values of the Bourbon development site and more specific guidance to inform the preparation of proposed planning controls”.

The Lord Mayor said, “We will be recommending any new development set aside 50 per cent of its floor space for non-residential uses and we’ll be pursuing heritage listings for Kingsley Hall and the facade of the Bourbon,

as well as asking that future development of the Empire Hotel recognises its social history as the home of the infamous 1960s nightclub, Les Girls”.

“It is unclear to what extent the Bourbon will be saved as Council says various things such as ‘there will be a stepped 8m set back behind the exisiting wall,’ and then the proposed DCP...for the Bourbon…encouraged a minimum set back...of 6m,” Andrew Woodhouse said.

As for the Empire Hotel site the proposal allows the building to be redeveloped provided any new development takes into account the site’s history and social connections.

Does this mean that a bustier cast in bronze and exhibited in one of its bars will suffice?

Kingsley Hall is a 1931 Emil Sodersten apartment building built in 1931 and is one of

the finest examples of art deco architecture in the area.

It is at the corner of the development site, and the building and its inhabitants would be severely impacted by any demolition and building works.

“I’ve got to give recommendation to the Council for the work that they have done and it’s good to see Kingsley Hall get a heritage listing as it is a very important building,” Kingsley Hall resident Dr Martin Denny said.

“But they keep saying that they are going to increase the height of the chemist shop next door to seven floors which means that views and the light of people living here will disappear.”

“The illustrations show a massive cantilevered four-storey building above the site with the same footprint as the current building which increase from three to seven stories with the click of a mouse,” Andrew Woodhouse said.

Given none of the community members who made submissions to the DA, the 76 who attended the City of Sydney meeting nor any of 252 who took part in the survey were notified that the draft DCP was released, the feeling among locals is that the City of Sydney is easing the way for another DA. “What the Council is saying that the development can go ahead but with a certain number of restrictions,” Dr Denny said.

If anything the draft DCP will polarise the community with those who will be satisfied that a couple of white arches will be preserved on the Bourbon site at one end, and those who believe any development on the site will wreck the entire neighbourhood, at the other.

“I don’t think people want the development, they want improvements and we have to accept the fact that these are not developers, they are not seeking to improve the public domain, they are only seeking to improve their hip pocket,” Andrew Woodhouse said.

The draft DCP can be found at the City of Sydney website.

Opinion

Another side of Dr Phelps Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide.

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: John Moyle, Sara Lander Contributors: John Moyle, Georgia Fullerton, Sarah McLenaghan, Margo Kingston,Vanessa Lim, Michael Hitch Arts Editor: Jamie Apps Advertising Manager: Georgina Pengelly Cover Photo: Supplied. John Butler Designer: Nadia Kalinitcheva Advertising: sales@altmedia.net.au Mail: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 Email: news@altmedia.net.au, arts@altmedia.net.au Ph: 9212 5677, Fax: 9212 5633 Website: altmedia.net.au If you have a story, or any comments you’d like to share with us: news@altmedia.net.au altmediagroup

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By Margo Kingston I celebrated Malcolm Turnbull’s ascension to Australia’s leadership by publishing a photo on Twitter of my mother and I toasting him with champagne.

“Small l liberalism” - socially progressive, economically dry, environmentally green - was on the rise again in the Liberal Party.

Turnbull held the line as best he could until the right flexed its muscle, moving the party inexorably towards a friendly merger with One Nation, a racially charged government destabilising our centrist politics.

It’s clear that the new Prime Minister is controlled by this hard right. Climate change policy dead.

Energy policy focused on renewables - dead.

‘Religious freedom’ laws demanded by the hard right as compensation for losing the same sex marriage survey - pledged but not to be revealed until after the by-election.

Unfree speech proposals to disallow campus protests unless protesters pay for security floated.

The ABC - at risk.

A non-discriminatory immigration policy - shaky.

Voters in the seat of Wentworth

Dr Kerryn Phelps and members of her purple army. Photo: Supplied

have an historic opportunity to warn the Liberal Party that the moderate wing of its base will not tolerate the demise of the core principles of small l liberalism.

I knew that only an independent in this tradition has a chance to beat the Liberal Party candidate in Wentworth, so I was thrilled when Dr Phelps decided to stand.

This historic by-election, when all is said and done, is a choice between the official Liberal candidate and an independent promising to champion Wentworth’s small l liberal values in our Parliament.

Her victory would set the

dominant hard right back on its heels with a crystal clear warning that it must turn back towards the sensible centre.

Dr Phelps has pledged not to block supply or vote no confidence in the government except in exceptional circumstances.

She would not bring down the government, but she would unequivocally represent socially progressive and economically responsible values and vote accordingly on legislation.

She would also be a strong voice urging the Government to end the suffering of refugees on

Manus and Nauru by bringing them here or to New Zealand.

In that sense, electing Dr Phelps would not be a protest, but a line-inthe sand forcing Morrison to listen to the moderates in his own party and reduce the dominant power of the far right faction.

Even more importantly, Wentworth voters would be presenting our nation a generous gift at a tumultuous time for liberal democracies.

I’ve watched United States politics with horror for nearly 3 years now, sanguine that our system would not fall apart like theirs due to the inherent centrism of our democracy grounded in compulsory voting.

But watching the fall of Turnbull for no decent reason, I realised we’re at risk too.

Wentworth voters have the chance to lessen that risk.

There’s been a lot of drama about Dr Phelps’ rookie errors on preferencing, but I hope and pray that enough Wentworth voters, whatever their political stripe, will decide for the sake of our nation’s future to Vote 1 Kerryn Phelps to ensure she finishes second to the official Liberal Party candidate and wins on preferences.

We’re at a tipping point, voters of Wentworth.

Over to you. city hub 27 SEPTEMBER 2018

3

Return of Inner West democracy groups

By Sarah McLenaghan Inner West residents are being invited to participate in local politics by joining the Council’s democracy groups.

The newly elected Council has re-established a democratic system of 14 advisory committees and working groups.

Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne, said these groups are an important part of how Council engages with the community: “It’s a way for residents to provide direct input into Council’s planning and work on projects like Youth Week, Seniors’ Week and NAIDOC celebrations.”

Democracy groups will consist of interested or expert citizens who meet regularly to deliberate and provide ongoing advice to Council on strategies, policies, programs and actions.

The groups will have the task of helping Council address the community’s aspirations as outlined in the Community Strategic Plan – Our Inner West 2036.

A Council spokesperson told the City Hub “Over the next few years Council will develop a range of strategies and policies into which these local democracy groups will have input.

“These include the new Local Environment Plan (LEP), Integrated Transport Strategy, Climate and Renewables Strategy, and Social Infrastructure Strategy.”

The spokesperson explained the groups, which will form a part of Council’s Community Engagement Framework, will guide “how Council

Inner West Council Democracy Group meeting. Photo: Inner West Council

will engage so that a broad range of perspectives are sought and the community has a strong voice in Council’s decision-making”.

The benefits of these kinds of groups are reflected in the experiences of members of existing and former committees who shared insights into Inner West democracy.

Member of the existing LGBTIQ Working Group, Teresa Savage, said the group was formed in 2012 after she met with Mayor Darcy Byrnes to ask what the group could do to improve Council’s services for LGBTIQ people in the area.

Since then, says Ms Savage the group has become an “established voice” in the Inner West Council.

The group meets once a month to highlight areas of concern for the

community and work on events or publicity campaigns to improve any issues.

Thus far the LGBTIQ Working Group has contributed to an annual “Feel the Love” event to coincide with Mardi Gras, annual rainbow flag raising, providing speakers for local schools for “Wear it Purple”, and a rainbow Roundtable community consultation event.

Speaking of the group’s achievements, Ms Savage said “Working with Darcy Byrne, the mayor, has resulted in the employment of a worker for the Pride Centre, the establishment of five Pride Seats across council area, opening of council venues for same-sex marriages, endorsement of marriage equality [and] grants to local LGBTIQ groups.”

Another member of the LGBTIQ Working Group, Amanda Honey, said the group is particularly concerned with acknowledgement of history and expressed her joy over the Council accepting a donation of Pride Seats bearing plaques celebrating local LGBTIQ role models for installation in five high profile locations in the Inner West.

“They [the community] resoundingly nominated some pillars of community who have largely represented us in years gone by and risked their safety, careers and incomes to support our rights,” she said.

The names of the honorees will be announced this October at the first ever permanent Rainbow Crossing at Summer Hill.

The re-establishment of the democracy groups was made a priority after a number of the committees which formed under the three former councils were dissolved upon amalgamation.

Former member of the now disbanded Cooks River Committee, John Butcher, described a number of issues the group worked on “The kind of things we were involved with were Steel Park - getting that plan changed so it introduced water sensitive urban design features, and bank naturalisation and salt marsh regeneration.”

Mr Butcher has a list of projects a re-formed Cooks River Working Group could tackle “One of the big things that I think people want to address is some kind of legislative enforceable framework to address the stormwater issue in the river.

“Having a Cooks River Working Group I think means the Council will focus in some way on the Cooks River and adopt policies that implement water sensitive urban design and address the water quality of the river and the bank actualisations along the river.”

Member of the Council’s Environment Strategic Reference Group, Nicole Boyd, said the group provided input into Council’s new Community Strategic Plan, specifically the Ecologically Sustainable Inner Waste strategic direction.

“The group undertook a series of workshops, each focused on a different environmental issue such as biodiversity, waste, food, energy and water.

“I was very happy to see our contribution was included in the plan and I felt the Council really listened to the group,” she said.

Council is urging interested citizens to apply online or at Council’s service centres and libraries. Of these, fifteen applicants will be selected to help shape the future of Sydney’s Inner West.

“It is fundamental to Local Government to develop policies and programs with their communities,” said Ms Boyd.

“Not only is the Inner West fortunate enough to have highly educated community members who can provide their expertise for free, but including the community in decision-making will create community buy-in and better outcomes for the whole LGA.”

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city hub 27 SEPTEMBER 2018

Heath to give Wentworth an education

By Michael Hitch Community for Local Options for Secondary Education (CLOS East) campaigner, Licia Heath is running as an independent candidate for the Wentworth by-election.

The “proud product of our public education system” announced her candidacy in September, with both Alex Greenwich and Clover Moore throwing their support behind her.

Ms Heath is Director of the not-for-profit organisation, Women for Election Australia (WFEA) who has campaigned fiercely to establish a new coed public secondary school in Wentworth to relieve pressure on existing public schools within the area.

“We call [over-capacity classrooms] the pig in the python,” she said.

“In the Wentworth area you have 15 private high schools and one public high school, which is Rose Bay Secondary College and that’s over-capacity now and it’s going to get critically over-capacity in the next coming years due to feeder primary schools.

“I’m a product of public schooling and I’m delighted that the trend has returned for people wanting to support public education but the choice of one over-crowded school is not a choice.”

Ms Hinch said the lack of public high schools sets a ceiling on how many people can choose public education.

“If you go back 25 years ago you had the same number of private schools, but you had four extra public high schools through the eastern beaches.

All of those sites but one have been sold off and that was basically done by a Labor state government and a Liberal state government, so no one’s guilt free.”

Another concern of Ms Heath’s is the Morrison Government’s recent decision to

inject $4.6 billion into Catholic schools in a funding boost seen as way more than needed.

Ms Heath said “The funding announcement was a step backwards in my opinion.

“That’s because what that has done, has brought back these funding and sector wars.

Basically, pitting private, catholic and public against each other…it’s divide and conquer.

“We’ve been so deliberate in our campaign to not pit private schools against public schools because we don’t begrudge parents making a choice for a school if that school is the best for their kid.

“So it’s not about either or, it’s about 15-vs-1 in that area…it’s about the lack of choice.”

Ms Heath has lived in Wentworth since 2003 after moving from Melbourne.

Since moving she has been active in her community by volunteering at a Surf Life Saving club and participating in P&C activities.

As Director of the WFEA, Ms Heath works to “make the political sector more transparent”, empowering women by giving them the knowledge and skills to participate in political actions at any government level.

The WFEA has caught the attention of other candidates in the upcoming Wentworth by-election with both Science Party candidate, Andrea Leong and Voluntary Euthanasia Party candidate Shayne Higson attending a WFEA conference in August.

Ms Heath says her campaign for better public education in Wentworth began when many primary schools introduced portable classrooms in limited outdoor space, dropoff/pick-up times to relieve traffic congestion and staggered lunchtimes due to playground over-crowding.

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Licia Heath is a public education choice for Wentworth.

Photo: Supplied

The Liberal Candidate for Wentworth, Dave Sharma claims to share Ms Heath’s concerns for public education in Wentworth, saying construction of a second public secondary school in the area needs to be considered.

“As a graduate of a Sydney public high school myself, I was really excited about bringing my kids back to Australia so that they could enjoy all of the great benefits of an education in Australia,” he said.

“We do need to look at the options for

public high school in Wentworth, given there is only one non-selective State school in the electorate.

“I believe there is a good case to look at a second public high school here, to ensure local families have a choice about where to educate their children,” said Mr Sharma.

“The Government has been able to deliver an increase of 51% over a decade for every student at all of the 16 public schools in Wentworth. This is what a strong economy provides. And only a vote for the Liberal Party will help to ensure that this good work is not put at risk.”

Ms Heath said that she fought hard for public education in Wentworth and the fact that other candidates including Dave Sharma now have that topic as their running platform was a win for the cause.

Ms Heath said she believes her local profile would be an advantage to her campaign and that moderate and unaligned voices such as hers will hopefully re-engage local residents to end the reign of “rubbish politicians”.

The N SW Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich supports Ms Heath in her candidacy and told the Daily Telegraph in September that she represents the community of Wentworth in her policies, which also focus on fighting corruption and climate change.

“Licia is a strong and community based independent who I’m proud to support,” Mr Greenwich said.

“From her commitment to public education, a federal ICAC (Independent Commissioner Against Corruption), parliamentary reform including fixed fouryear terms and action on climate change, she represents the values and issues important to Wentworth.”

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city hub 27 SEPTEMBER 2018

5

Affordable housing still too exie

City climate action

By Michael Hitch Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney, Clover Moore has joined forces with over 23 cities around the world in order to fight climate change as part of a Global Climate Action Summit.

Over 4,500 delegates from cities such as Sydney, London Montreal, Paris, Tokyo, New York and Washington DC called upon national governments to step up their climate change action commitments at the summit which was held from September 12-14.

The City of Sydney Council has signed up to six agreements during the summit which include commitments to reduce waste going to landfill, increase the use of renewable energy and to make all local buildings have zero net energy consumption.

At the summit, Ms Moore pointed out that that strong action to climate change in cities was vital as cities generate 75-80 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions despite only covering two per cent of the world’s surface.

Ms Moore said: “Since 2006, our City economy has expanded by 37 per cent and, with business as usual, our greenhouse emissions would have increased by 50 per cent.

Instead, we have driven emissions down by 25 per cent in our own operations, and city-wide by 20 per cent.

“We’ve achieved this because we developed a long-term plan with ambitious targets and we determinedly stuck to that plan for over a decade. We’ve also found that our business leaders, their employees and our residents are very ready and eager to work with us.

achieved a 6 star green star rating.

The ‘Green Star’ system was developed by the Green Building Council Australia and is a and comprehensive rating system that evaluates the environmental design, construction, interiors and performance of buildings and communities in order to determine the structure’s environmental sustainability.

Senior Teaching Fellow for Sustainable Environments and Planning at Bond University, Ned Wales said that he was delighted to hear that the City of Sydney Council was leading the way in sustainability.

“It’s great that the local government is taking on the leadership and not waiting for state or federal government to mandate it [sustainable buildings],” he said.

“It’s amazing that achieving ‘net zero’ or certainly reducing the amount of pollution that our buildings produce is really coming from a grass roots movement rather than waiting for government to create policy.”

Mr Wales also discussed the economic benefits of the sustainable development “renaissance”.

“Normally a building like the ‘Mirvac School of Sustainable Development’ would cost $9 million if you just built it in the usual way with centralised air-conditioning and lighting and so on. With the sustainable features, the building actually cost $14 million to build and as a result the building paid for itself in savings of energy within 5 years.”

“If asset holders purchase a building that’s gonna cost a lot of money to keep running, then they’ve got an asset that’s depreciating in value. The asset holders, not the

City of Sydney takes global climate action. Photo: Michael Hitch

Green Square affordable housing still unaffordable. Photo: Vanessa Lim

By Vanessa Lim The City of Sydney is planning 330 new affordable rental units in Green Square within the next 15 to 20 years in a bid to ease rental stress.

This will add to community housing group City West Housing’s contribution of 200 affordable units as part of the Green Square Town Centre development.

Karen Walsh, CEO of Shelter NSW said, “I think Green Square is a really good example of a long-term urban renewal project that presents a great opportunity to live in affordable housing for low income earners and also for workers that are on moderate income.”

“I absolutely commend any development that does include affordable housing because we certainly want to see all developments provide opportunities for everybody, not just the rich.”

Over the past 5 years, the median rent for dwellings in all bedroom categories in the inner west has risen, causing rental stress for people on low to moderate level incomes.

Ms Walsh claimed the number of low cost private rentals available for low income households had reduced by more than a half from 4,410 in 2006 to 1581 in 2013.

Even with the extra affordable homes in Green Square Karen Walsh said she has estimated NSW needs 8000 to 10000 more affordable housing places per annum in order to keep up with current population levels.

“It’s a huge need and it’s a growing need and it’s literally growing every day and every week,” she said.

6

city hub 27 SEPTEMBER 2018

Green Square resident Michelle Eckardt shares a 2 bedroom house with 2 others for $650 a week.

“I like the Green Square area but the prices are ridiculous, we’re getting a good deal really for $650, most other 2 bedroom houses are $800 or more,” Ms Eckardt said.

She said living through the construction of the Green Square Town Centre was inconvenient, but for the greater good.

“I think the development is necessary because the area was old, unused, a little run down and definitely needs an update, but if they’re going to make more houses, they really need to make more public transport and more services, shops and more parking.”

Resident Angus Cohan said he was concerned the infrastructure would not be sufficient for increased population.

“As far as I’m aware there doesn’t appear to be transparency around the goals for resident numbers and how the infrastructure will cope with that,” he said, adding “[since] I moved into the area two years ago, the NBN has already become unusable during portions of the evening as it’s clear bandwidth demand is greater than supply.”

33 year old local Urijah Sward said he welcomed the development, and dismissed other residents’ concerns.

“They’re worried about the quality of life, which is a joke because the worst thing for the quality of life is not having affordable housing,” he said.

“You hear arguments about high density housing and crime, which is really people just having a dig at low income and minority families.”

“These extra commitments at the Global Climate Action Summit will work alongside our current target to make our local area ‘net zero’ by 2050.

“However, Australia is among the highest producers of greenhouse gas emissions per capita. We are doing everything we can to build a prosperous and resilient global city, but we are facing shameful inaction by our State and Federal Government.”

The commitments include enacting planning policies to ensure new buildings are ‘net zero’ carbon by 2030 and that all buildings in the local area are ‘net zero’ by 2050. A ‘net zero’ building has zero energy consumption and instead uses renewable energy created on site to power the structure on an annual basis.

Other commitments include reducing solid waste going to landfill or incineration by 50 per cent (compared to 2015) by 2030 and having 100 per cent renewable energy for all heating, cooling and transport by 2050.

In order to achieve the goals of constructing ‘net zero’ buildings and ensuring renewable energy uptake, the Council will also commit to phasing out the use of coal power and supporting clean energy through policies and investments.

Bond University in Queensland successfully constructed the first educational ‘net zero’ building in 2008 with the ‘Mirvac School of Sustainable Development’ having

developers, get real benefit from having a sustainable building in terms of long-term cost.”

Owner and creator of Sydney’s Sustainable House, Michael Mobbs said that the commitments are a step in the right direction, but other considerations need to be assessed.

“We need to start doing what farmers do every day out in the country,” he said.

“However, there are real barriers to making buildings ‘net zero’. The first is the fear from architects and engineers to actually do these things cause they haven’t been trained at university and secondly the red tape and the design processes are so complex.

“This is good idea, but it should’ve happened yesterday, there’s so much waste and loss of capacity … this is an emergency.”

A City of Sydney spokesperson said: “We lead by example and we partner with businesses and residents to help them on their journey. As the first government in Australia to be certified carbon neutral, our achievements show the impact that can be had at a City level.”

“Well-designed buildings that operate efficiently and powered by renewable energy can be safe, comfortable and affordable, especially when taking into account lower running costs.

“Buildings are the predominant source of emissions in our area today and the biggest opportunity.”

Watsons Bay hordes descend

By Georgia Fullerton A proposal to convert part of Sydney’s South Head National Park into a commercial function and wedding centre has been met with fury from local residents.

The proposal for the centre, put forward by businessman and head of Dockside catering group, Christopher Drivas, could see a further 800 guests visit Watsons Bay each weekend.

Residents protesting the development, including Mad Max director George Miller, say it would heavily compromise the iconic headland park, which is a heritage listed area.

Member of the Save South Head campaign, Stuart Spence, said, “As a professional photographer living in Watsons Bay, and having spent countless hours shooting one of the greatest sunset views of Sydney from up at Gap Bluff, the thought of those precious moments being spoilt by hordes of partying drunks makes me seriously ill...and depressed”.

Located at Camp Cove beach, the six buildings included in the plan comprise three cottages next to the beach and another three a short distance away in national parkland near the sandstone cliffs of The Gap. Local and owner of Watsons Bay Milk Bar and general store Con Georgiou said if the proposal goes ahead the impact on the community would be severe, “Nearly everyone in the community comes through the store, and the overwhelming response from the people of Watsons Bay and Camp Cove is negative.

“I believe if it does go ahead, it will affect people’s lives and I just don’t think it is appropriate.”

The National Park is enjoyed by thousands of international visitors and locals, who come for the iconic views of Sydney and the fish and chips.

Defence Security Advisor for the Australian Defence Force and Watsons Bay resident, Judy Tietzel-Berry, said Watsons Bay has a unique status as Australia’s oldest fishing village but also draws locals and visitors to its nature reserves and spectacular park lands.

“It is known as a tourist area on account of the amazing harbour views but on the back end of this, it is also our home,” she said.

“Our community loves sharing this wonderful space with the many international visitors that come each day, but we also see the lasting effects of the over-polluted peak times and fractured infrastructure.”

The Gap Bluff development proposal was first submitted three years ago, but after strong community objections has since been scaled back by 12 per cent.

Under the revised plan the venues would now cater for more than 400 guests daily, with functions running in two separate areas from 8:30pm until midnight, seven days a week.

If the proposal is approved, the lease will run for 40 years.

Residents have raised concerns about the impact the development will have on noise, parking, and a high traffic volume on already congested and narrow roads each weekend.

Wedding planners crush Watsons Bay. Photo: Stephen Turner

In response, Dockside Catering Group has promised to put in place traffic and safety marshals,

soundproofing and curfews to ensure “minimum disruption to the area”.

Ms Tietzel-Berry said, “It is heartbreaking to think what this new commercial function and wedding centre would do to our little village…we need to keep this national treasure for our kids and also for the wider community and tourists to enjoy the tranquility and ambience of this unique area.”

Watsons Bay is already home to large wedding centre and restaurant Dunbar House, and the frequently visited Watsons Bay Hotel and seafood restaurant, Doyles on the Beach.

In October of 2016, Woollahra Council wrote to NSW Transport, urging for an increase in ferry frequency after commuters had been turned away because the ferries were too full.

Watsons Bay resident Bronwyn Joan said lack of ferry space is still a pressing issue, “Most weekends you will see a line stretching from the ferry door to the very end of the Watsons Bay Hotel.

“It is impossible to find a parking space already, imagine what will happen if we have 800 more people frequenting the area each weekend.”

Woollahra Council unanimously opposed the development three years ago.

In 2016, Member for Vaucluse Gabrielle Upton declared herself “uncomfortable” with the proposal and supported a petition against it.

Ms Upton is now Minister for the Environment, and her department will be the determining authority as to whether or not the proposal will go ahead.

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city hub 27 SEPTEMBER 2018

7

FEATURE

John Butler is Home

By Jamie Apps Over the course of his 20 year music career John Butler has carved out a large slice of the pie for himself, and his band the John Butler Trio, by becoming Australia’s highest selling independent artist of all time. With his career spanning two decades though Butler has witnessed dramatic and dynamic shifts both within the industry and within his own personal musical passions/influences.

The latest record from the John Butler Trio, Home, has taken four years to produce and represents many of the dynamic changes that have occurred. Most notably Home saw Butler experimenting with new musical tools and an entirely new recording process during the record’s production.

For this album Butler chose to record alone rather than with his band, which he told City Hub was an emotionally challenging experience.

“The idea of being more insular and not making most of the music with my band in the genesis stage really caught me off guard. It was certainly a weird feeling and I was constantly hoping I wasn’t hurting anybody’s feelings by doing it this way.”

The decision to work this way was taken because Butler was dealing with intense anxiety and burnout after working non-stop touring his previous record. The stress and anxiety meant that Butler was finding it difficult to focus on his music within a group setting.

“It was a pretty sensitive time in my life and I found it quite distracting to have lots of people around,” he explained, “It felt like having too many channels on the TV at once so I just needed to be by myself making the music just to keep my focus.”

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city hub 27 SEPTEMBER 2018

John Butler.

Photo: Supplied

Internally not only was Butler dealing with anxiety but his creative energy was also telling him that working solo really was the way in which “this album wanted to come out.” This was mainly due to Butler’s desire to implement new technology driven production techniques into his music.

With the accessibility and ease of use

afforded by software such as GarageBand on an iPad Butler’s musical repertoire was opened up to an entirely new world.

“Having an iPad and GarageBand gave me access to all of the drum machines and synthesisers I could ever want,” said Butler. “I listen to a lot of modern music, whether that be hip-hop, pop or dance music, but never had

access to those instruments until now. So to be able to experiment in the recording process and see what a song would sound like if it was essentially dance production over a folk song was incredible.”

Obviously by implementing these new techniques and production elements Butler had to be cautious so as not to lose what has always been at the heart of his music.

“I’ve always made the music that I hear in my head, it’s always been a very personal and self indulgent journey that I can only hope has a positive affect on other people,” explained Butler. “I’ve always been an alternative artist that plays with folk and blues instruments. So with this album one of my biggest missions was not to throw the baby out with the bath water while playing with all of my new toys and I think for the most part I’ve been successful on that front.”

Now with Home out in the wild Butler is set to head out on an extensive world tour spanning Japan, Europe and North America to close out 2018 before returning to Australia in January and February for a special run of shows alongside Missy Higgins.

For Sydneysiders the pair will be performing with the most iconic of backdrops as they takeover the Sydney Opera House Forecourt for a one night only concert.

Home is available now in stores and on all music platforms.

Feb 14. Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Bennelong Point, Sydney. $104+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com

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2018 Sydney Market Guide Blossoms are blooming, seasonal fruits are ripe and the air is warm and full of potential.

It’s Spring, so let’s do as George Michael suggested and go outside. Sydney is a city that thrives on activity and Sydney-siders love being with friends, discovering new things, enjoying good food, being entertained and shopping.

That’s why there are so many markets around - you can get all these things and more!

And with so many markets on offer, each one can specialise, have their own signature, cater to a particular crowd - the diversity.

The diversity in Sydney’s market scene proves it. In this, our first in a special series on markets, we’ve selected a handful to profile.

They represent variety in style, product and audience as well as being a good primer for market lovers who are keen to explore. Enjoy!

Blak Markets

Bare Island is an historic fort just off the coast of La Perouse in picturesque Botany Bay, and is the original home of

Blak Markets. Run by the charity, First Hand Solutions, the market helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders achieve business goals and get valuable training, and is one of the few truly authentic marketplaces for indigenous art and products. It’s been on pause since April this year, but is making a grand comeback on September 30.

Walk across the wooden footbridge from the point of La Perouse and for a mere $2.50 you can immerse yourself in a genuine cultural experience as well as having rare access to the historic grounds. The upcoming markets will feature a number of workshops including weaving with Karleen Green (free); a Whale Ceremony and healing workshop on the island and the surrounding beach, performed by Tucky Cooley; and a bush cooking demonstration. There will be a traditional Welcome To Country and Smoking Ceremony and cultural dances performed by Yaama Boys. Triple J Unearthed discovery and rising talent, Rebecca Hatch will sing live. Rebecca is a

ROZELLE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYDNEY ’S FAVOURITE ANTIQUES, VINTAGE

and second hand market www.rozellecollectorsmarket.com.au

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city hub 27 SEPTEMBER 2018

young, inspirational, in demand RnB artist with a strong sense of her cultural roots.

As for food, it’s all about bush tucker.

Blak Markets will be launching their Bush Food range of herbs and spices and cooking up gourmet kangaroo burgers and Gourmet Bush Food Sausages which include kangaroo, emu, crocodile, wild boar. Complete your day by buying genuine artworks, beauty products, homewares, jewellery and Bush Food spices.

Next Market: Sunday September 30, 9:30am - 4pm. Bare Island, La Perouse. $2.50 (kids under 5 - free). blakmarkets.com

Sydney Vegan Market

The Cannery Markets

The large warehouse interior of the former Rosella Soup Cannery gives this market industrial chic. This converted factory space serves as a regular precinct for fine foods, artisan goods, gifts, homewares brands, upbeat eateries and bespoke distillers and bars. On the first Sunday of every month, the cavernous room hosts a lively market with stallholders including regular Cannery retailers as well as unique and varied vendors who rotate monthly. Among those you’re likely to see each month

are Amber Drop Honey, Maethorani Plants and The Little Florist.

Refreshments are care of local brands including Welcome Dose Specialty Coffee, Grain Organic Bakery, 5th Earl, Zeus Street Greek and Banh Xeo Bar. Relax with a beer at Frenchies Bistro and Brewery or go a little more stylish with Stanton & Co. In the revamped inner southern suburb of Rosebery, the Cannery is a short distance from most places and accessible by public transport (your best option as parking is limited).

Next Market: October 7, 10am - 3pm.

The Cannery, 61 Mentmore Ave, Rosebery. Free entry. canneryrosebery.com.au

So popular has this market become that they now have a new, larger, more centralised location in the Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park. On the third Sunday of every month you’ll find over 100 stalls of cruelty free, plant-based, purely vegan food, make-up, skin care, clothing, homewares, art, pet accessories, merchandise, fresh produce and much more. If it gets a bit hectic, take some time out and do a free yoga or meditation session. Learn more and get inspired by listening to a TENT talk.

Sydney Vegan Market developed the TENT talks as a space for community members and newcomers to find out more about what being vegan means.

Talks are given by business owners, significant figures and motivated individuals who want to share their enthusiasm, knowledge, stories and skills.

SVM helps speakers put together and deliver their talks and actively encourages people with diverse and challenged backgrounds to take advantage of this platform.

DJs and live musicians keep the pulse beating throughout the day. There’s stuff for the kids and fur babies are totally welcome. There’s plenty of parking or you can catch a bus or ride your bike.

Next Market: October 21, 9am - 4pm.

Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park.

Free entry. sydneyveganmarket.com Northside Produce Market

One of the longest running and most popular markets in Sydney, set in the tranquil grounds of Civic Park, Northside Produce Market has established a reputation for consistency and integrity with its commitment to provenance, quality and value. Every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month you’ll find

2018 Sydney Market Guide scratch. The Butter Boys, Oli and Seb, from Pepe Saya will be challenging kids to churn their energy into butter. Karen Borg from Willowbrae Chevre Cheese will introduce dairy lovers to the unique taste of goats milk and cheese. Take a tour around the cheeseboard with Rose Lambert, the Cheesboard Queen from The Hunter valley Cheese Factory.

Plus, help our drought stricken farmers by adopting a cow (by proxy, of course).

Next Market: October 6th “Dairy Day”, 8am - 12pm. Civic Park, 220 Miller Street, North Sydney. Free entry. northsydneycentre.com.au Paddy’s Market

seasonal fruit and vegetables; artisan cheeses; organic breads, meats, cereals, nuts; hand crafted smallgoods; flowers; wine and beer; delicious breakfast; Sydney’s best coffee; Sydney’s best knife sharpener.

The market holds regular special events and coming up on October 6th is Dairy Day. Come and meet makers and farmers, listen to expert speakers and take part in some fabulous workshops.

Artisan cheesemaker Kristen Allan will show you how to make fetta from

1st & 3rd Saturday

8am - 12pm

Paddy’s might be Australia’s oldest continuous market, with its roots tracing back to 1834.

It’s definitely one of Sydney’s favourite markets. Inside a warehoue-like building in Haymarket is a bargain bazaar that sells everything from fresh flowers and vegetables to electronics, toys and gizmos to shoes and clothing to everything else you need and plenty of stuff you don’t. Walking up and down the grid of pathways between the stalls is a shopping adventure that can yield amazing finds. Eventually you work out how to dress and undress discretely in the cramped space behind a flimsy curtain that is a makeshift dressing room.

It’s worth the effort for the price - and once you know your size you can buy one in each colour. There are food trucks and snack stalls so you can replenish your energy levels and perservere through the rows. They’re open from Wednesday to Sunday and the Light Rail stops right outside.

Every Wednesday to Sunday, 10am 6pm. Hay Street, Haymarket. Free entry. paddysmarkets.com.au Rozelle Markets

Every Saturday and Sunday devotees and newcomers visit the historic school grounds of Rozelle Markets to browse among trestle tables and racks and muse at the curiosities on display. This fresh air cornucopia of all things old, unique and kitsch has been operating for over 20 years, delighting treasure hunters with

unexpected finds among the second hand goods, collectibles, fashion, jewellery, art and music, bric-a-brac and antiques. Meet up with friends and make a day of it.

Grab some of the delicious street eats and sit on a sandstone ledge in the sun while you listen to local talent strumming in the background. Have a coffee at one of the nearby cafes and look through your bargain purchases, comparing fabulous shoes, charming tea-pots and...whatever that is... with your friends.

Every Saturday & Sunday, 9am - 3pm, 663 Darling St, Rozelle. Free entry. rozellecollectorsmarket.com.au

NORTHSIDE

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MARKET

220 Miller Street, North Sydney

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city hub 27 SEPTEMBER 2018

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2018 Sydney Market Guide Hypmotive

We Need You! Street Food Circus is crowd funding to bring a new local and social alternative festival to fruition.

We’ve found an amazing venue - that has all Council and Licensing approvals, a 2,000 indoor/outdoor capacity and it’s local to the creative hub of the Inner West. We want a boutique event - so none of the stress of mainstream festivals with little seating, overcrowding and huge queues.

Pledges range from $2 - $35 donations, to sponsorship of $1,500 which include special rewards, discount show passes and opportunity to have branding on the day.

This is a truly unique gift shop and creative hub where local artists of all disciplines can share their skills, knowledge, products and enthusiasm.

When Jake and Renee Russo conceived of Hypmotive, they wanted it to be a dynamic platform for local creatives and the community. And it is. The reformed commercial space in Marrickville is a venue for practical, hands on workshops, talks, exhibitions and as a marketplace for emerging local artisans and creatives.

They even provide marketing support and an online platform for sales. As well as original artworks, their range includes handcrafted homewares, jewellery and accessories, fashion items and anything else that might take someone’s fancy. It’s the kind of place you can walk into, have a browse and then linger for a chat with whomever else happens to be there.

There is a very strong sense of community with a focus on supporting local talent and on encouraging participation from the vibrant Marrickville neighbourhood. Among some of the upcoming workshops is beginner Ink Art, and Pyrography - the art of “fire writing”, held in their studio space. Put this in your diary too: Annual Meet the Makers Unique Marketplace on the 17th -18th of November. RSVP ASAP to go into the draw for a bunch of great creative giveaways. (RSVP link via Facebook events page). It’s very hypmotivating!

MON, WED, THU, FRI* 10am-5pm.

SAT-SUN 10am-3pm. *Closed Tue. 155 Marrickville Road, Marrickville. hypmotive.com Sydney Fish Market

This popular lunch destination for locals and tourists is the largest seafood market in the Southern Hemisphere.

Serviced by a fleet of traditional fishing

Check us out here

www.streetfoodcircus.com.au 12

city hub 27 SEPTEMBER 2018

boats owned and operated by an Italian immigrant family for decades, the SFM has a welcoming village feel to it. It is globally unique in the diversity of fish it sells - roughly 500 different species. This has been attributed to the melting pot of cultures and therefore, diet and cuisine styles we have in Sydney. It’s a bonus for customers because it means greater choice and greater opportunity to try new seafood recipe ideas. The market sells freshly caught fish daily to restaurants, suppliers and direct to the public. The quality is impeccable and the prices are very low. Many people go to the SFM as a day out to enjoy a delicious seafood lunch on the promenade, have a drink at the waters edge or shop for organic produce in the mini mall. Or all of the above.

Every day 7am - 4pm. Cnr Pyrmont Bridge Rd &, Bank St, Pyrmont. sydneyfishmarket.com.au The Rocks Markets

The old world, village setting, cobblestone streets and historic surrounds make going to The Rocks Markets a unique immersive experience.

Rows of stalls run up and around the charming streets of this iconic Sydney district, incorporating the existing shops, eateries and bars. Add to that the Harbour Bridge towering above, Circular Quay and the Opera House a

short walk away and the salty sea spray of the harbour filtering in between the cracks and it’s the perfect Sydney sampler. The vendors are all makers, artisans and producers of fine quality goods. Hand crafted leather, intricately made jewellery, beautifully carved wood, delicate ornaments, novel home wares, curiosities and rarities. The makers are the sellers so you can speak with them about their process and ask any questions you need to about their wares. It’s a great place to pick up a souvenir, a special gift or a bespoke item for yourself. There are activities and entertainment to keep kids and adults amused and many options for food and drink, whether that be a walking snack or sit down lunch. There are few markets that offer the combination of delights that you’ll find at the Rocks Markets.

Every Fri 9am - 3pm, Sat & Sun 10am - 5pm. Playfair St, George St, Jack Mundey Pl, The Rocks. Free entry. therocks.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Lie With Me

Combining dynamic physical and visual storytelling, the show creates an intimate portrait of a woman facing the greatest crisis a mother can face. Lie With Me is a visceral, honest work exploring the limits of the human heart.

Brave New World is the perfect production partner for this particular piece of theatre as they have a strong commitment to supporting and fostering the growth of emerging artists such as Hobart.

Lie With Me is a semi-devised work from writer Liz Hobart and director Warwick Doddrell with an all female cast headlined by Lyn Pierse. (JA) Oct 2-13.The Old 505 Theatre, 5 Eliza St, Newtown. $30-$45+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.old505theatre.com

Whenever an evil act is committed by a person we very rarely think of the impact this will have on their parents. Brave New World and Liz Hobart however explore this very concept with the new production Lie With Me which opens early next week.

Lie With Me follows a mother’s desperate attempt to survive in a world that subsequently names her the mother of a monster following the arrest of her son for triple murder. Along the way her friends text their support but always had their doubts, while her weatherman exhusband becomes a media sensation in the aftermath of the televised tragedy. What follows is a kaleidoscopic journey of investigation into a mother’s past and future.

Scott Ian – One Man Riot

Jeff Dunham - Passively Aggressive “Everyone here in Australia understands that Vegemite is a joke that you play on unsuspecting tourists. Back in the US, they’re still convinced it’s a delicacy.”

Bringing his nutty cast of characters to the ICC Sydney Theatre for a performance of his brand-new show Passively Aggressive is comedy superstar, Jeff Dunham.

A Guinness world record holder with over a million YouTube subscribers accumulating over a billion views, Dunham recently added to his long list of achievements by receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame stating it was “a true honour! I was just happy that it was in front of a few respectable business establishments, and not just out the door of an adult video store. That would have been difficult to explain to my kids.”

On returning to Australia Jeff said, “I’m very honoured and happy to be back. My wife and I have been here a few times and love it. I’m here alone this time though, because Audrey has our little three-year-old twin sons at

home and they are a handful. Three-year-olds on a fifteen-hour flight? If I’m not mentally ill now, I would be after that flight!”

You can expect lots of “jokes, then hopefully big laughs” in Dunham’s new stand-up show with “some of it scripted, the rest total adlibs and off-the-cuff.”

As for any added characters, “depending on how things go over here, there may be a new one in the act on this run. He’s a bit political, so I’ll try him in the first show or two and see if it works. I get the feeling the rest of the world just turns on our news, grabs a beer, then sits back to watch and laugh their asses off.”

The down to earth ventriloquist then added, “I love what I do for a living. My goal is to make people laugh, and the little guys in the suitcases are my way of making that happen.”

(RH) Sep 29. ICC Sydney Theatre, 14 Darling Dr, Sydney. $79.90+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.jeffdunham.com

Pablo Francisco The comedic legend, Pablo Francisco is touring down under with brand new material which will have us all in stitches.

Pablo will mock everything from celebrities such as Mark Walberg, to popular TV commercials and music. He’s all about observing everything on the internet to make fun of it in a good, non-bully way.

“It’s always fun to go to Australia because they have probably the best sense of humour in the world! It’s easy to try out new stuff, it’s a little bit of ADD, drugs, sex and rock and roll and it’s going to be a fun show so if anybody wants to start the party, just start it off at the Pablo show!”

After six successful world tours and a spike of success across all social media platforms, Pablo is looking forward to connecting with his Australian fans.

“There’s some new impersonations I’m going to try to lock down when I get down there, I want to make fun of Trump and of course Mark Wahlberg. I want to make sure the audience have a good time, I don’t mind if they come drunk, I don’t mind if they come stoned, I don’t mind if they come sober as long as they’re all on the same page that’s the most important thing.” (JM) Sep 29. Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville. $69.90+b.f.Tickets & Info: www. ticketek.com.au

a&e

13 STAGE 14 SCENE 15 Sounds 15 SCREEN

Photo: Tomas Whitehouse

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

The legendary Scott Ian returns to Sydney for his One Man Riot tour, giving his die-hard fans the opportunity to hear about the incredible and almost unbelievable experiences he has had in life.

Co-founder of iconic thrash metal band, Anthrax, and rock band, Motor Sister, Ian has had a career spanning four decades in music, print and television and One Man Riot parses through the mischief and back stage antics of Ian’s full career. Coming off the back of the first half of Anthrax’s Slayer Farewell Tour, One Man Riot is a gift to fans wanting to question this musical great.

“One Man Riot is what I call my talking show because the pretension of saying I am doing a ‘spoken word’ show is too much to bear. This isn’t a poetry reading. This isn’t an evening of sensitive discourse. It’s an evening of ridiculous truth,” says Scott Ian. “It’s me talking (swearing) about this insane life I’ve led over the last 38 years, the people I’ve met and the shit that’s happened. And when I’m done swearing, you can ask me anything you want, the floor is yours.” (ES) Sep 29.The Metro Theatre, 624 Geaorge St, Sydney. $65+b.f.

Tickes & Info: www.dinnerforwolves.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, John Moyle, Angela Stevens.

city hub 27 SEPTEMBER 2017

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Photo: Robert Catto

REVIEW: The Season The Season directed by Isaac Drandic (Blood On The Dance Floor), is the new play that takes place on Dog Island, somewhere between mainland Australia and Tasmania. The play centers on the Duncans family who for six weeks every year endure mutton-bird season. This season is explosive as ever with a fire, adultery, lesbianism, and secret mothers.

The main focus of the play is identity.

Who are we? And, where have we been?

“I have always had such a sense of pride in our community and our culture

but after years of being beaten from all angles, understandably it has taken its toll on some of our mob and I wanted to write something for them that was a counter to those blows and maybe heal some of the deep bruising that they have endured for simply existing,” said Nathan Maynard, the writer of The Season.

The actors are a class act with Maitland Schnaars stealing the show with his outrageous antics with and without clothes.

What was most interesting about the play was how visually appealing it was.

The use of lighting, and sometimes lack there of, conveyed the inner struggles of the family and the love that holds them together.

The only criticism of The Season is the occasional awkward breaking of the fourth-wall moments. (AS) Until Sep 29. The Seymour Centre, Cnr Cleveland St & City Rd, Chippendale. $36-$42+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.seymourcentre.com

THE NAKED CITY

Celebrating Two Great Nonagenarians!

With Coffin Ed Longevity in a music, movie, showbiz or arts oriented career is nearly always looked upon favourably.There are of course exceptions and few will be holding their breath that Rolf Harris or Gary Glitter ever turn 90. On the other hand last week we lost two remarkable ‘performers’, both in their 90s and each leaving behind a truly remarkable legacy.

The first of them, saxophonist Big Jay McNeely was well known to Australian audiences having toured here on numerous occasions from the late 80s onwards. His most recent performance was at the Meredith Music Festival in Victoria in 2012, where aged 85, he wowed an audience, the majority well less than half his age.

When we think of the roots of rock’n’roll and r&b we are usually directed to the American South and cities like Memphis and New Orleans.

But it was from the vibrant LA jazz and jump scene of the late 40s and early 50s that Big Jay emerged with his unique honking sax and wild stage antics. Here was an artist who had his first hit record, Deacon’s Hop in 1949 but was still gigging a few weeks before his death last week aged 91.

There are many amazing stories about Big Jay’s early days in LA, of police raiding his shows because he was supposedly corrupting young white audiences and the time he left the venue whilst still playing and boarded a bus outside, returning to the venue only when the journey was completed.

Josie Baker. Photo: Courtesy of the artist

Fambo

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city hub 27 SEPTEMBER 2018

One of my favourite memories of his Australian shows was the time he played at the old Klub Kakadu in Oxford Street and decided to take one of his famous walks, playing the Pied Piper as he led a group of enthusiastic punters down the stairs and onto busy Oxford Street. He almost boarded a passing bus (again!) but quickly detoured into a

Last year’s Marriage Equality Poll caused pain and disillusion for many people in the queer community, especially whenever debate erupted over the definition and integrity of the concept of “family.” It was something that personally affected queer parent Jenn Blake, and motivated her to create Fambo, an inclusive arts festival for the queer community.

Blake appropriated the name “fambo”, from the colloquialism her friends used for “family”, feeling its resonance with “lesbo” gave it an inherent queerness. Her goal was to create a family-friendly event

nearby sex shop where he sparked near chaos as his blasting sax echoed throughout the clandestine world of peep shows and smutty mags. Cubicle doors suddenly flew open as embarrassed patrons scurried for the door, hotly followed by an extremely irate owner who almost had to psychically remove the crazed honking hepcat.

where people who didn’t fit into the social norms could feel not only safe but included.

“I think the queer family in general in an international context is growing, certainly in the visibility of the queer family.

So I think there is a need for opportunities for queer families to come together that isn’t just about a social gathering - that is about a celebration, and interrogation and exploration of queer culture,” Blake explains.

The festival will take place in Redfern and include a full day of workshops, activities, food and entertainment. Participants represent a cross section of

Whilst not as well known in this country Alan Irwin Abel, who died last week aged 94 was a truly remarkable American, the king of hoaxers and when it came to the comedic art, up there with the very greatest.Together with his wife Jeanne he orchestrated some of the most incredible hoaxes on the American public from the 1950s onwards.

Whist he never profited from any of his serial lampoons his reward was always to demonstrate the absurdity of popular culture and the gullibility of the media.

It was SINA, (The Society for Indecency to Naked Animals), that established Abel’s credentials as a master hoaxer, in the late 1950s.The aim of the group was to cover up the genitalia of most animals with slogans such as “a nude horse is a rude horse.”

As absurd as it seemed thousands of Americans embraced it, local chapters were formed and it wasn’t until nearly four years later that the hoax was eventually exposed.

Long before there was fake news and alternative facts,Alan Abel was advertising “Euthanasia Cruises”, a school for beggars in New York and the health benefits of eating your own hair.With a variety of disguises he appeared on numerous talk shows and together with a group of willing actors perpetrated some of the most elaborate ruses you could imagine.

Ironically in 1979 he went to extraordinary lengths to fake his own death, the only time the New York Times has had to retract an obituary.This time around they ran an obituary that was titled: “Alan Abel, Hoaxer Extraordinaire, Is (on Good Authority) Dead at 94”

the community, not only in queerness but cultural/social background. Among the highlights is Shahmen Suku who’ll be appearing as alter ego drag persona Radha La Bia and demonstrating how to prepare and cook banana flowers according to Indian tradition.

“It brings together so many elements that will just excite everyone,” says Blake.

Something else worth catching is the interactive art installation, Wild Woven Colour Cave, by Arab artist Nicole Barakat, who’ll be collaborating with kids to manifest artworks from everyday objects.

Rainbow Families have

stepped in to provide basic food rations in the way of complimentary lunch packs and other goodies. Workshops and events will run throughout the day and can be booked online for a small fee. The program includes something for everyone: vogueing, stopmotion animation, storytelling, a mini dance party and tonnes more!

“I just want the people who come on the day to have a really good time and for people to recognise this is wanted.”

(RB) Sep 29. 107 Redfern St, Redfern. FREE. Info: www.fambo.com.au

Clare Bowen

By Jamie Apps Typically an artist will focus on one medium to convey their vision of the world, but for Clare Bowen simply getting her message out into the world was key.Throughout her career Bowen has done this by partaking in musical theatre, television acting and now with the release of her debut self-titled music album.

For the past six years Bowen’s time has been primarily occupied filming her leading role as Scarlett O’Connor on the hit US television series Nashville. Now that production has wrapped on the series Bowen is able to reflect on the journey as one which fundamentaly changed her life.

“Nashville was an incredible experience, I got to meet so many wonderful and positive influences who taught me to believe in myself, celebrate my own individuality and helped me find my voice.”

Whilst filming Nashville was an incredibly time consuming process Bowen was determined to simultaneously pursue her passion for music. Obviously working on a debut record this way was a very slow process which Bowen often felt conflicted over.

“There was a point where I thought I should be making this album faster and wishing that it wasn’t taking so long because I could only work on it during time that I snatched between commitments to the show. Looking back now though I’m so grateful to have had five and a half years to make this album because I had to make sure it had absolutely nothing to do with any character I’ve ever played, it had to be just me.”

With the record now released Bowen’s vision and goal of keeping the record incredibly personal has resulted in it being

2018 Freedman Classical Fellowship Concert After a nation-wide search for the Australia’s best young classical musicians aged 30 and under, the three finalists violinist Courtenay Cleary, percussionist Thea Rossen and clarinettist Oliver Shermacher will compete live in concert for the title of 2018 Freedman Classical Fellow, and the careerchanging $20,000 cash prize to undertake a proposed creative project.

The Freedman Fellowship Awards are among the most

prestigious offered to Australian musicians. They are awarded annually to a classical music instrumentalist and a jazz musician. Distinguished musicians from each Australian state and territory, excepting the NT, are invited to nominate candidates from amongst whom three finalists are selected.

All nominees for the award are already very well established and at the top of their profession.

This will be a great night to discover the next wave of great

Australian talent, but it doesn’t end there. While the judges there will be a very special guest performance from former Freedman Fellow, didgeridoo player William Barton. William won the Freedman Classical Fellowship in 2003, and this is an extraordinary opportunity to see him perform. (JA) Sep 29. Eugene Goossens Hall, 700 Harris St, Ultimo.

FREE (but reservations required).Tickets & Info: www.sima.org.au

Ghosthunter

Ghosthunter starts out with the relatively simply premise, following a Western Sydney based security guard and part-time ghost-hunter as he undertakes his paranormal investigations.

As we begin to learn more about the titular ghosthunter’s personal story the film takes a

much darker and more sinister twist than even the paranormal world could conjure up.

Filmed over the course of seven years the documentary follows Jason King and dives into his motivations for becoming a paranormal investigator. The viewer quickly learns that King first entered the paranormal world following the sudden passing of his brother and his subsequent quest to reconcile his featured memories of his childhood. This quest subsequently uncovers a horrific family secret, which sends King into a dark uncontrollable spiral.

Ghosthunter is the sort of documentary which quickly detours from the intended path but never the less keeps the viewer hooked to their screen simply because of the compelling and heart wrenching tale it tells. (JA) WWW1/2

very positively received by fans and critics alike.

This week Bowen is excited to now be able to focus solely on the record and “give it the attention it deserves” as she arrives home in Sydney as part of her national theatre venue tour.

“I’m so excited that I get to come back to Sydney and play the Enmore because I used to work there behind the bar. We’re going to have a big old party where we celebrate individuality and togetherness.

It’s a place where it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, where you’re from or if you feel like you don’t belong anywhere because you belong right here with us.”

Oct 2. Enmore Theatre, 118-132 Enmore Rd, Newtown. $79.90+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.enmoretheatre.com.au

Skegss - My Own Mess Bands from Byron Bay have traditionally been lumped together as simple surf-rockers with very little depth to their music, Skegss break this perception though with their debut record My Own Mess.

Throughout the 15 track offering the group employ authentic, relatable lyricism with touches of sincere deep self-reflection sprinkled thought to create a special record.

Alongside this authentically engaging lyrical content the group still maintain a fun, DIY, surf-rock sound to their music.

Standout tracks are Transaction Fee, which examines the absurdity that is ATM withdrawal fees, and the title track My Own Mess.

(JA) WWW1/2

The Predator The hunt has evolved into a fourth instalment from Predator in 1987 to The Predator in 2018. The science fiction action horror film is directed by Predator alumni Shane Black and written by Black and Fred Dekker. Staring in the film is Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Olivia Munn, Jacob Tremblay, Thomas Jane, Keegan-Michael Key, Sterling K. Brown and Alfie Allen.

The plot sees the hunt come to our suburban streets smarter and stronger than ever before after a boy triggers the return of the Predators. To save the day and prevent the extinction of humans, are a crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled science teacher as they team up to fight the Predators.

The films story was a bit out there and sloppy

with the overflow of one liners almost putting it up there as a parody. The violent and gruesome action is what holds The Predator up but not enough to make it enjoyable. (RH) WW1/2

The House With The Clock In Its Walls A fantasy genre thriller for kids based on the novel by John Bellairs, this movie is directed by Eli Roth, better known for adults only splatter horror. That may account for why the film feels more like an adult sandwich that has had the crust cut off to make it palatable for a younger audience. It’s got the usual menu of effects, scares and sumptuous visuals but the story is not particularly riveting.

Lewis Barnavelt (Owen Vaccaro) is a young orphaned boy who is sent to live with his uncle Jonathan (Jack Black) in a very large, strange house that is given a wide berth by passers by.

Mrs Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett) is Jonathan’s long time friend (“no kissy kissy stuff ”). They are both witches, Lewis discovers, and are hiding a dark secret which they are forced to reveal after Lewis and his school friend, Tarby

(Sunny Suljic) disobey instructions, open a cupboard and unleash terror.

Black and Blanchett have great chemistry and banter which would have been killer with a better script. Vaccaro is a wee bit more insipid than you’d want the child star to be. There’s some fun to be had and kids might enjoy it but it’s not likely to sit among the favourites. (RB) WW1/2 city hub 27 SEPTEMBER 2017

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OCTOBER IS POP-UPS MONTH AT PADDY’S HAYMARKET Throughout the month of October exciting new offerings will be popping up all throughout Paddy’s Markets – school holiday fun, treats for tourists and Halloween horrors.

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SCHOOL HOLIDAYS WEEK 1: 3RD - 7TH OCTOBER BATH BOMB MAKING WORKSHOPS, PAMPER SESSIONS, STACKS OF SQUISHIES AND EVEN A POP-UP BOWLING ALLEY!

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SYDNEY TOURISM WEEK: 17TH - 21ST OCTOBER TAKE A RIDE ON A SEGWAY AND CHECK OUT WHAT SOME OF SYDNEY’S BEST ATTRACTIONS HAVE ON OFFER, INCLUDING DEALS AND DISCOUNTS.

HALLOWEEN WEEK: 24TH - 28TH OCTOBER AN IMMERSIVE SPOOK-TACULAR EXPERIENCE THAT HAS TO BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED! GET YOUR HALLOWEEN MAKE-UP DONE BY SOME OF SYDNEY'S BEST. Just find the 'Paddy's Pop-Up Path' which will point you in the right direction!

To find out more, follow Paddy's Markets Haymarket on Facebook and Instagram.

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city hub 27 SEPTEMBER 2018