City Hub 28 March 2019

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Clean sweep for Greens

BY WENDY BACON Greens MP for Newtown Jenny Leong recorded the highest vote ever for a Greens MP in a single member electorate in Australia in the NSW election last weekend.

Leong recorded 46.8 per cent of the primary vote, with a small swing towards her from her 2015 result. In central Newtown around King Street, she won the majortiy of votes in a number of booths.

In Balmain, Jamie Parker won a third term with a swing of 7 per cent in his primary vote to 43.39 per cent. From a very tight finish in 2011, when he unseated Labor’s Verity Firth, the popular local member has recorded 7 per cent swings in each of the following elections and now has more than 60per cent of the two-party preferred vote.

Overall, this NSW election was a good one for the Greens.

On the Northern Rivers, Ballina MP Tamara Smith also retained her seat with a swing, and Sue Higgenson only narrowly lost to Labor’s Janelle Saffin, who defeated the Nationals in Lismore.

David Shoebridge and Abigail Boyd have both won seats in the Legislative Council, although overall the vote was down slightly, which was likely due to votes that went to the micro party Keep Sydney Open.

Greens’ clean sweep What was even more striking was the evenness of the vote across Newtown and Balmain, with the Greens winning a clean sweep of booths from the tip of the Balmain peninsula to Leichhardt in the West across to South Dowling Street in Surry Hills. Only a tiny Factory Community Centre in Redfern with approximately 150 votes was lost by the Greens by nine votes.

The major parties both lost votes, with Labor dropping below 30per cent primary vote in both seats and the Liberals below 20 per cent.

By contrast, Labor MP Jo Haylon recorded a swing to her against the Greens in Summer Hill.

Labor MP Ron Hoenig easily won his seat of Heffron, which covers Alexandria and Greens

Inner Sydney voters showed that they preferred to vote for positive progressive policies on climate change, renewable energy, TAFE, school funding, cheap public transport, reform to planning laws and police powers and for an inclusive society.

The hope was for a minority government in which Labor would get enough seats to govern with the support of the Greens and Independents.

This looked like a realistic position until the last week of the campaign when Opposition leader Michael Daley was revealed to have openly dog whistled in his “us and them” comments about affordable housing and memory lapses in a broadcast debate with Gladys Berejiklian.

One Nation benefits Ayres Labor in government would have meant that the Sirius building, the Powerhouse Museum, the Stadium and the historic Windsor Bridge, at least, would all have remained. With Labor dependent on their support, the Greens would have been able to put some pressure on Labor to cost the cancellation of WestConnex Stage 3 and implement Greens policies designed to mitigate its impacts.

Jenny being interviewed by ABC Om Saturday evening. Photo: Supplied

Square, but even in this seat the Greens’ Kym Chapple had a swing towards her and won the booths adjacent to the Newtown electorate in St Peters and Erskineville.

Alex Greenwich also easily retained his seat of Sydney with a swing to him, while the Liberals came second with just under 30 per cent of the primary vote. Labor’s Marjorie O’Neill won Coogee from the Liberals.

This means that the Coalition, other than Vaucluse, where the Greens recorded a swing with 32 per cent of the two-party preferred vote, Gladys Berejiklian’s government, holds no seat between the eastern shores of Sydney all the way west to Parramatta, which was held by the Liberals.

Against expectations, the Berejiklian government scraped home with a majority, which means that it is in a strong position to complete unpopular projects such as the knockdown of Sydney Stadium, the Sirius Building, the Powerhouse, the massive overdevelopment of Waterloo and the metro and real estate development from Sydenham to Bankstown.

Last but not least is the hugely unpopular WestConnex that threatens to damage thousands of homes across the Inner West and devastate Rozelle. There is a surge in support for public transport, rather than road building, as a way of solving Sydney’s horrific traffic congestion.

Inner Sydney voters showed that they preferred to vote for positive progressive policies Anti-WestConnex campaigners affected the vote of the Minister for WestConnex, Stuart Ayres, who survived despite a 4.5 per cent swing against him. He benefitted from the preferences of One Nation, which won more than 6 per cent in Penrith in outer Sydney.

While Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s narrative is one of “opportunity for all,” the behind-the-scenes winners in NSW were the big companies such as Lendlease and CIMIC, who benefit hugely from a flow in government contracts.

Wendy Bacon was previously the Professor of Journalism at UTS and supported the Greens in the election.

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By ALLISON HORE After Saturday’s state election, the status quo remains very much intact, with the Coalition returned to power for a third term.

However, with a swing across the state away from the major parties, the crossbench will play an important role in the NSW parliament over the next few years.

The Coalition needed to win 47 seats to gain a majority in the parliament, and after losing four seats across the state, it won a thin majority of 48 seats.

Two of these seats were picked up by Labor candidates and two went to candidates from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.

Although the government has a majority, it is a slim one.

It would only take a couple of by-elections gone wrong for the balance of power to be firmly in the hands of the crossbench.

Alex Greenwich, Independent and member for the seat of Sydney, comfortably retained his seat, winning over 43 per cent of the primary vote.

He is one crossbencher whom Premier Gladys Berejiklian will be looking to work with.

“I’m thankful that Sydney voters have again given me the opportunity to be their voice in the NSW Parliament and advocate for policy action on vital issues like climate change, affordable housing, homelessness, ending discrimination and voluntary assisted dying,” he told City Hub. In an email to his supporters, Mr Greenwich said that he and the other two Independents, Greg Piper and Joe McGirr, had already met with Ms Berejiklian and expressed their willingness to work with her.

Independent Alex Greenwich celebrates his after regaining the seat of Sydney on Saturday night.

Photo: Clover Moore via Twitter

When asked about this, Mr Greenwich told City Hub that he would be continuing discussion with others on the crossbench to decide how they would be working with the government.

“I’ll be meeting with the other Independents to consider how best we can ensure stable government but also action on the issues we’ve been elected to advocate,” he says.

“No matter who is in government, I will continue to work with ministers and other colleagues across all parties to get positive results for NSW and my constituents.”

Mr Greenwich’s ally Lord Mayor Clover Moore sat in a similar position in the state government between 1991 and 1995.

She and other Independents sitting in the NSW parliament held the balance of power over the Greiner Liberal government. It was her threat to vote against the government that led to the Premier’s resignation.

In his supporter email, Mr Greenwich acknowledged many were disappointed with the outcome of the election but he assured them he would continue pushing for progressive policy. city hub 28 MARCH 2019

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Historic walkout defers demerger vote

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city hub 28 MARCH 2019

Independent Councillor John Stamolis in front of Balmain Library. Photo: Joan Henson

BY JOAN HENSON A historic walkout of Inner West councillors has deferred a vote on whether a plebiscite should undo the council’s amalgamation.

On Tuesday 26 March, Mayor Darcy Byrne used the first council agenda item to request a retraction and apology from two colleagues for Facebook comments made last July.

The comments, made by Independent Councillor Pauline Lockie and Greens Councillor Colin Hesse, were alleged to suggest that Byrne and other councillors who voted for a development proposal were corrupt.

The request to vote on the councillors’ conduct had been tacked onto a routine item about a local arts precinct without notice. At 5:15pm that evening Councillors Lockie and Hesse received legal letters about the potentially defamatory statements that related to the adoption of a draft development control plan.

Unprecedented walkout In a point of order, Greens Councillor Rochelle Porteous argued vociferously that social media comments could not be prosecuted as a matter of council misconduct. She then led colleagues from the left side of the chamber outside.

With only seven councillors left in the room, no vote could be made and the meeting was abandoned.

Leaving the meeting, Independent Councillor John Stamolis said he had not witnessed a local council walkout in his 20 years of politics.

He said the Mayor’s handling of the agenda had been “clumsy and unproductive,” and that the item could have been deferred, or the defamation allegations withdrawn.

A week earlier Councillor Stamolis had tabled a motion asking colleagues to “consider” giving former Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville council residents a public vote on whether to remain merged.

Councillor Porteous informed City Hub that she would table amendments to strengthen the councillor’s motion. Moreover, residents had registered to speak on the issue and voiced their support in chambers that evening.

Councillor Stamolis said that state election candidates attending a Balmain forum had set the tone for the plebiscite vote. All candidates in attendance, including Labor’s Elly Howse, were supportive of a plebiscite or de-amalgamation. The Liberal candidate was absent and was represented by a photograph on a chair.

Former Labor state opposition leaders, Michael Daley and his predecessor Luke Foley, supported plebiscites. Similarly, in June 2016, Bill Shorten flagged $20 million toward plebiscites in his bid to become prime minister.

Councillor Stamolis’ motion was punctuated by a plea for urgent financial planning. “We have spent tens of millions on the merger in the first three years… we are about to get some briefings on the

budget that show it is in dire financial straits,” he said.

Councillor Lockie agreed that the amalgamated council has efficiency and financing problems.

“Anybody who interacts with council knows that there are many areas where our systems are in triplicate, because they’re all still based on what they used to be in Ashfield, Marrickville, or Leichhardt.

We need a significant funding boost from the state government to help us do it.”

While not opposed to a community vote, the councillor said that she was not sure that demerging would help. “Most concerning for me is that we’ve lost a lot of staff as a result of the merger across all three councils, and that kind of institutional knowledge and background is really difficult to replace.”

Councillor Porteous said that she receives constant community complaints about the merger, which she says has not improved services.

That kind of institutional knowledge and background is really difficult to replace “Most of the communications from council seek to paint a very rosy picture of this forcibly amalgamated council … [the council] has been largely operating as a corporation which just wants to put out good news stories, rather than being a level of government which needs to properly report with transparency, accuracy, accountability and without spin on the actions of council,” she said.

Late into the afternoon at Rozelle public school, Balmain Greens representative, Jamie Parker, and his supporters continued to hand out “how to vote” cards.

Parker said, “We support de-amalgamation.

We think that if councils are amalgamated the ratepayers should decide.”

Council disengaged Cynthia, who is Secretary of Friends of Callan Park, also feels the council is disengaged from the community. “It’s much harder for us as local residents to influence decisions because you’re talking to some councillors who have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”

When the group approached council about hanging a banner across Darling Street to congratulate the group on its twentieth anniversary as a community institution, the response was disappointing.

“The mayor, who happens to be a Balmain representative, voted against the banner, supporting six people who don’t even live in the area, and aren’t familiar with Friends of Callan Park,” she said.

Mayor Darcy Byrne could not be contacted for comment on the plebiscite vote before going to print.

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city hub 28 MARCH 2019

West Bondi twin-tower development

BY VANESSA LIM The proposed 11-storey twin-tower building at West Bondi has been recommended to the NSW Department of Planning, despite public disapproval.

The Independent Planning Commission has advised the NSW Department of Planning to proceed to the finalisation of the Stargate Property Group’s luxury apartment development.

But this proposal has received backlash from locals such as Catharine Munro, who manages the Facebook page “Save West Bondi Junction”. Ms Munro said, “We have been fighting this for seven years and the response from the community has consistently been strong opposition to it”.

Proposal twice rejected This plan is also rejected by Waverly’s Labor Mayor John Wakefield, who said, “Council has twice rejected this development proposal. We continue to lobby the State Government to reject it. During the week I have again written to the Minister on behalf of impacted residents to seek his refusal of the project”.

A major concern that locals have voiced is the impact it will have on Centennial Park. Munro said, “When you’re standing in the park with the beautiful tree skyline and no buildings you feel like you’re out in nature, but that’ll be destroyed as you’ll have the block of apartments in the skyline.

There’s also overshadowing in the corner of the park”.

With the developer’s proposal, the current height limit of four storeys will increase by 2.4 times.

Munro said, “In cities there are plans that limit heights so that you don’t end up with really unpleasant urban landscapes”.

The four terrace heritage sites have also raised concern for locals. Mill Hill Bondi Junction committee member Ilana Cohen said, “Other

Locals campaign against the twin tower building. Photo: Save West Bondi Junction Facebook page

issues are that they will take the heritage protection off the terraces, this could set a precedent, and a mass clearing of the terraces in the area could start.”

There is also worry that when a couple of highrise buildings are developed, other landowners will soon follow suit.

Local council and community efforts opposing the proposal have been disregarded Munro said, “If he does that just for his land, other landowners will come out and say ‘Well we want the height limits changed for our land too because he got it so why can’t we?’ That’s where people are concerned.”

Mill Hill Bondi Junction committee member Georgia Koutsandrea has experienced the effects

of urbanisation in Bondi.

She said, “I have lived in Bondi Junction for the last eight years and experienced first-hand the gradual worsening of these issues as the high rises have gone up”.

This potential domino effect isn’t the only thing the community is worried about. Chris Matthews from the Bondi Resident Action Group said, “Insufficient data collected on traffic impacts to Oxford Street, especially in light of the recently approved community cycleway, will further narrow this already overly busy intersection (cnr of York Road, Oxford Street and Syd Einfeld Drive). This is the main exit/entrance to Waverley Bus Depot, (itself under threat)”.

But local council and community efforts opposing the proposal, due to its negative impacts, have been disregarded by the NSW Department of Planning.

Munro said, “When a bureaucrat as opposed to a politician gets told to assess a proposal, they have to have parameters for assessing it.

Their guidelines are about putting lots of high rise close to public transport. So if that’s your main consideration for assessing this proposal it gets a big tick. But when you take into account environment, heritage, community needs and traffic impact, it’s a bigger picture that needs more consideration”.

Matthews also voiced his concern about the approval process. He said, “Since the current State Government took the planning powers from local councils in August 2017, the rate of developments in Bondi Junction and all over Sydney has accelerated significantly.

“Although some change is inevitable with the growth of our populations, it should not be at the expense of the existing suburban population. The current government is driving change at such a rapid rate that there is a cost associated with this process, the degradation of our happiness and our homes.”

Questionable guidelines Munro said, “Power taken away from the local community, that is of major concern, but we also just need good analysis and assessment.”

She cited the questionable guidelines.

“What’s happened is that they’ve had narrow guidelines for considering it and perhaps guidelines that aren’t all that relevant. These are luxury apartments where everyone will own a car and probably not need public transport.”

The NSW Labor and Greens have both agreed to review the approval process but NSW Liberals have yet to take action. NSW Labor memberelect for Coogee Majorie O’Neill said in a media statement that the Liberals need to, “rule out sneaking this approval through in the final days on the election campaign”.

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7

International student troubles

BY ALANA LEVENE For many of Sydney’s international students, finding a place to live is treacherous. They navigate the housing process with no local support network, no rental history, and little knowledge of local tenancy laws.

Sydney’s biggest universities — The University of Sydney and University of Technology Sydney — can only accommodate a small fraction of their students in their residences. Private off-campus providers like Urbanest and Iglu aren’t budgetfriendly, charging premium rates up to 50 per cent higher than universities.

This is why most international students turn to share houses in the private rental sector. It’s the only option left, according to a UTS report on international students.

Despite some highly-publicized reports detailing the squalor and overcrowding that some students endure, few protective measures and regulations have been established, according to Leo Patterson Ross, a senior policy officer at the Tenants Union of NSW. “Attention on international students kind of comes and goes,” said Ross. “It’s slowly shifting.

I think there is an increasingly loud push for governments to get back in to ensure enough affordable housing is being built.”

With rising costs of private rentals, domestic students might seek financial relief by moving back home and commuting to class. But international students don’t have that option.

“When I talked to classes at unis, 10 years ago, almost everyone in the class would be renting. They were in share houses,” said Ross. “Now, many of them are at home because the rents are so high.”

Left to their own devices With a student population of about 59,000 students, USyd can accomodate about 2,120

international students, but we haven’t been able to accept them.”

With intense pressures to find accommodation in Australia’s most unaffordable housing market, international students need to rely on their own due diligence.

Michael Basckin surfing WooMates.com.

Photo: Alana Levene

of them in their residences. This figure doesn’t include independently-run student housing near their campuses or affiliated residential colleges, according to a spokesperson.

UTS currently houses 1,204 students out of its total population of 45,930. A spokesperson said they offer support all year for students who need help with off-campus accommodation matters.

Most of Sydney’s 35,000 international students shoulder a higher cost burden than their Australian classmates, paying up to three times the domestic tuition for their degree. Unlike Australian citizens, international students aren’t permitted to apply for long-term housing at co-operatives like STUCCO in Newtown.

“That’s a condition that was kind of imposed on us,” said Daniel Naoumenko, a STUCCO member. “We definitely have heard from

A global problem inspires a student Enter Michael Basckin. In 2017, the Sydney University student went on exchange in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he noticed international students, like himself, were experiencing similar housing woes.

Basckin wanted to live by Tel Aviv’s beaches, and he wanted to live with other students. His university said he couldn’t have both.

So he and another student rented a fourbedroom apartment on the beach, and posted an invitation on Facebook to find students to fill the other two bedrooms.

“We were inundated with messages from other students who were looking for the same thing,” Basckin said.

Basckin wanted to see if there was such a demand from international students in Sydney.

International students are especially likely to be victims of online advertising scams and rent-gouging One student from China told Basckin that she put down a $1,000 deposit for an apartment she found on sydneytoday.com. But when she arrived at the address, no one was there. It didn’t exist.

She never heard from the landlord again.

Ross said that due to intensified pressures to find accommodations, international students are especially likely to be victims of online

advertising scams and rent gouging, or find themselves unwittingly forced into sub-standard accommodations.

Maeva de Tahiti, a French student at UTS, scrambled to find a place to live after her contract ended with university housing. After two weeks of couchsurfing, she found a private room in Surry Hills on Gumtree. When she moved in, de Tahiti realized it wasn’t a “real private room” — it was a tiny single room split in two by a thin divider.

“I picked it because I had no home,” de Tahiti said.

WooMates Last semester, Basckin launched WooMates, a service designed for international students wanting secure and affordable student-oriented housing.

The idea was that Basckin would vet the landlords, inspect the property, and rent out the apartments. He’d hook up the electricity, gas, and Wi-Fi. He would fill his apartments entirely with students, and match them based on their living preferences.

He sent his pitch into the Facebook-sphere, and got 500 responses from interested students over the next two weeks.

Ashley Yip, a UTS student from Hong Kong, was one of Basckin’s first customers. Last semester, she lived with four other exchange students in Stanmore.

When she got to her room her bed was set.

Everything was furnished. The apartment was the same as she’d seen in Basckin’s video.

“I just feel more safe,” Yip said of WooMates.

“Everything is just legit, and I’m not scared that someone’s gonna scam my money. Because it’s a very big, scary issue.”

Basckin has four apartments at full capacity ready for next semester, with a few more in the pipeline.

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city hub 28 MARCH 2019

Parking meter furore

BY KYLE HUWALDT The Council of the City of Sydney (CoS) has blatantly ignored the residents and small business owners in Darlinghurst and Paddington (Area 15) by greenlighting the installation of new parking meters along the already struggling Oxford Street.

The street often resembles a ghost town during the day, and its hearty night life has been hit hard by the 1:30am lockout laws. Small businesses will be taking just as large a blow if the CoS moves ahead with its plans for several new parking meters just outside their shops.

The initial proposal was given at a Local Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming Committee (LPCTCC) meeting on 13 December 2018. Item 4 recommended that new parking meters be installed on the City of Sydney side of Oxford Street between Greens Road and Oatley Road. The Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) rep at the meeting suggested that the proposal be delayed and further consultation with residents and business owners carried out.

In spite of the opposition to Item 4, the LPCTCC carried out an amended version of the proposal without advertisement or address by the meeting’s speakers. That the LPCTCC can carry out such a broad, executive action is somewhat alarming and incredibly frustrating for business owners of Area 15.

Ratepayer dismay “Our members, as residents and ratepayers of the CoS, elect councillors to represent them.

Any decision to introduce parking meters for the first time into Paddington should be voted on by all our elected representatives. We ask that implementation of the proposed changes be deferred until the matter is discussed and voted on at full Council,” said Will Mrongovius, President of the Paddington Society and Convenor of the

Paddington-Darlinghurst (Area 15) Community Working Group.

Stephan Gyory, President of the Darlinghurst Business Partnership and local small business owner, found parking meters had been installed outside his shop on Goulburn Street. To make matters worse for him, he never even received the notification sent by the CoS that informed him of the installation of the parking meters.

“We receive other notifications and council newsletters as well as invitations from the Lord Mayor’s office. We have been there 15 years; as an ‘oversight’ this is just incompetence…

Our neighbouring business did not receive the notification and they, like us, are right there on the street 20 meters from the meter box.”

Gyory speaks for many local business owners when he says that the CoS move “is just another instance where revenue and residents take precedence over small business”.

A CoS spokesperson said, “Ticket parking already exists on the north side of Oxford Street towards Woollahra and on the Darlinghurst side.

This has been in place for a number of years and assisted with turnover of parking and availability of spaces for the community”.

Residents of the area certainly have a right to be upset at the CoS The parking meters mentioned here by CoS are located in precincts where the majority of business owners and residents were in favour of the change. Sue Ritchie, a prominent community figure and member of the Paddington Residents Association, expressed her frustration with the situation.

The City’s pot at the end of the rainbow. Photo: Lawrence Gibbons

“In all cases, the lack of community consultation has not been acceptable, the process has not been acceptable, and, most importantly, the opinion of the majority, a united voice from both businesses and residents, is not only being ignored, but their elected representative, Councillor Phillip Thalis, is pushing through the opposite of what the community is calling for. One has to ask who Councillor Thalis is representing. Surprisingly and disappointingly, the Lord Mayor Clover Moore confirmed her support of Councillor Thalis’ position instead of supporting the majority of constituents in stark contradiction to the assurance she had given the community only the year before.”

When Ritchie mentions Clover Moore’s “assurance” from the previous year, she refers to the fact that this proposal had already been rejected when it was first suggested to the Council in 2017.

Majority objections overruled Then, the CoS carried out a survey of residents and business owners within Area 15 to see if they supported or opposed the implementation of 2P and 4P parking on the south side of Oxford Street in Darlinghurst and Paddington.

Of 71 submissions to the survey, a good majority objected to the proposal. At the time, Clover Moore wrote in an email to Will Mrongovious that the CoS would investigate other parking solutions for Area 15 “instead of installing parking meters”.

Residents of the area certainly have a right to be upset at the CoS for ignoring their objections.

They may already have free parking, but they also have a sense of pride in their community, a sense of pride that is hard to maintain when what is supposed to be the commercial and entertainment hotspot of your town is being gutted by State and CoS imposts.

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MEET the locals

Annandale Interiors

Kim Thompson of Annandale Interiors. Photo: Remi Trauernicht

BY REMI TRAUERNICHT Annandale Interiors is a beautiful interior design shop located in Stanmore at 40 Parramatta Road.

The shop is filled with creative and classy décor from corner to corner.

It has a style that aims for comfort, creativity and sophistication. There are plenty of beautiful mahogany tables, plush throws for couches and beds,

stunning art pieces, pops of bright color, and eccentric décor.

There are a few bed displays located on the upstairs level that any person with good taste would like in their home. There are several office setups with wonderful leather seats and very nice tables. Not only are the displays stylish and sophisticated, but they also feel homey and comfortable. They are

pieces that would make for a nice place to lounge, work and host guests.

Kim Thompson, the owner of the store, is passionate about her shop and about creating the best living or working environment for her clients. She feels strongly about basing her works on designs that are popular all over the world. She calls this her “world view”.

Kim loves being an interior designer and incorporating different cultures into her work and displays.

She explains how the homes are classic, but also have a mix of neutral palettes and odd colourful accents to make a sophisticated and stylish pattern. For example, one very eye-catching display is a white leather couch against a cream canvas background and a light brown wood table in front of it. While the colors are mostly neutral, flower blue pillows and a bubble-like lamp are added to create more excitement in the look.

Quirky and creative pieces The shop is filled with striking colors, from bright oranges paired with deep browns to glass tables matched with light pink cocktail glasses. She has a few tables around the shop that resemble a chess board and have large pieces that are very quirky and creative, but also are well made and sit nicely among her couches and other pieces.

One of Kim’s favourite pieces of art is a photograph of a beautiful woman with a black and white filter over it.

She pairs this painting with a small white table, a patterned throw and a tall bouquet of flowers next to it, making for a creative concept and very appealing look.

Kim says, “a well-collected look is essential in creating a most fashionable home”.

She has worked with owners of the top homes in Sydney to help make their vision become a reality. She also provides feedback and new ideas to help the home look its best.

Every piece counts to create an appealing look

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Next, Kim explains how small decorations can make or break the connection of different styles. She shows her creativity by using small, colourful pieces to create one big design.

She says, “Whether it be on a tile, over a cushion or on the back of the chair, adding art, paintings, photography and sculptures can help connect the differences. That is how great interior decorating works”.

She considers the smaller items important to create an overall “big picture”. Every piece counts to create an appealing look.

One office space she created shows a blue chair with a fringe along the side against a mirror with a light blue frame.

The mirror leans against a light brown table that is paired with a white office

chair. This look is professional, but also makes for an exciting work space.

Inspiration from clients’ origins She adds that she can get inspiration for her design through her clients’ backgrounds. Her clients come from many different countries and have interests of all types. Most of her clients are world travelers, so they have an interest in styles outside of the typical Australian look. Kim says they have a good appreciation of colours, patterns, textures and style. Kim prefers to get to know her clients so she can make their homes as custom-made to their likings as possible.

“They want their homes to reflect their unique global sensibilities,” Kim says.

The shop’s newest collection displays examples of sophisticated style mixing and unique finishes. The collection shows how the finishes are tied together with exotic motifs and classic prints. She uses natural dyes on wax and sandblasted hides to bring the details together. While Kim includes many worldly styles, she also wants her designs to still feel like an Australian home. She says, “You can bring a truly unique style to your Australian life”.

Kim clearly cares about her clients’ opinions and their satisfaction with their home’s final look. She invites readers to visit her at Annandale Interiors for a complimentary design consultation about the latest in home décor and a new well-travelled look.

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FEATURE

Westward Bound For VanFest

By Jamie Apps Regional areas and the music lovers who live there are often deprived of opportunities to see live performances. Having grown up in Tullamore in western New South Wales Matt Clifton knows of this pain all too well and thus wanted to use his experiences and connections within the live music scene to rectify this situation. In order to do this Clifton and his team have grown a one-night event into the behemoth that is the VanFest music festival.

The original concepts and ideas for VanFest first came about in 2014 when Clifton decided to host a small one night only event featuring a “couple of smaller DJ’s and one small band” at his father’s pub, The Vandenberg Hotel. That event was a resounding success, ultimately selling out entirely, and thus inspired Clifton to look for something bigger.

“The first VanFest was a great deal of fun so we looked at following that up with a slightly bigger venue, maybe somebodies back paddock,” Clifton explained before describing how they would eventually settle on the Forbes Showground as the venue for the second VanFest. “I went to the local showground, and knowing what showgrounds were costing in metropolitan areas I was expecting six-figure numbers or something silly, but they said I could have it for the week for $500. So from there, we said, ‘we’ve got a showground now let’s see how many people we can put in there’.”

Since those first two events in June and November 2014 VanFest has continued to experience growth year on year, particularly thanks to the support from Destination NSW and various big name musical acts. Obviously hosting an event of this magnitude came with

VanFest 2017. Photo: Supplied

some unique challenges that a similar event wouldn’t face in metropolitan areas.

“It’s obviously harder to grow in a regional area because the population of Forbes is only 7000 in itself,” said Clifton, “The support from Destination NSW though gave us much more exposure and helped transform the event from a one night spectacle into a week-long destination adventure for people from as far north as Queensland and south as Adelaide.”

The 2019 iteration of VanFest comes with added significance for Clifton and the Forbes community after last year’s hiatus. The festival

was forced to take a year off due to the devastating floods experienced throughout the region last year. For the local community not having VanFest was a significant loss to the local economy.

“The local community in Forbes absolutely love the festival and have always been wonderful supporters. The event brings a great number of economic benefits to the town and the region along with the 4000-6000 people who usually wouldn’t ever come to Forbes. The festival is now about much more than having people venture out to Forbes for just one night, our

event doesn’t start until 2pm on Saturday now so that people can get out to all of the various attractions and actives happening around the town in the morning.”

It’s not just Clifton and the Forbes community that receive great joy from VanFest. The artists who perform at the show have also commented to Clifton following their performances that it “far exceeded their expectations.” The reason for this is that they all seem to expect a small scale event “in the middle of whoop whoop” but are actually greeted by a large scale festival which would rival any of the more well known metropolitan festivals.

Looking ahead at this year’s event there is going to be something for everyone with performances by Golden Features, PNAU, Broods, the UK’s Example and rising vocal prodigy Ruel. Accompanying these musical performances will be appearances by the Crusty Demons and the Bondi Lifeguards.VanFest has also “dumped 450 tonnes of sand” into the venue to create a special Bondi Beach pop-up area for VIP ticket holders. Finally, to complete the adventure there is a special campground community for visitors to stay in during their journey with likeminded music and adventure fans.

As Clifton so perfectly says VanFest is “not just about going to see some music. It’s about travelling with your mates on a road trip and having the experience of going to somewhere you haven’t been before to experience an entirely different culture.”

May 10-11. Forbes Showgrounds. $99.90-$229.90+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.vanfest.com.au

85 Enmore Road Newtown t 9516 2072 www.catprotection.org.au

city hub 28 MARCH 2019

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Noli Me Tangere

Saturday Night Fever The Musical

Euan Doidge and Melanie Hawkins. Photo - Daniel Boud

Not every country has a national novel, but the Philippines does and McFadden Music and Redlands Events are bringing it to the stage this month.

Though it’s a key part of the Filipino identity, producer Peter Fleming says Jose Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere (Tagalog for Touch Me Not) is also a “universal” story.

It tells the story of a man and a woman’s love for each other, for their country and for the idea of freedom.

Mr Fleming said it was his wife who inspired him to bring the novel to stage.

“The show is in a sense a love letter to my wife at one level,” he says.

Mr Fleming met his wife when she was studying in Australia and he went over to the Philippines to spend time with her.At the time she was working at Rizal university which he soon learned was named for the country’s national hero.

“I read his book and I thought it is just such a romantic passionate piece that I very quickly thought I needed to musicalise it,” he explains.

The musical has been in the works for over three years and with it being a story so key to the Filipino identity the creative team has been working in

In 1977, the movie version of Saturday Night Fever radiated disco culture around the globe like a beam of light hitting a mirror ball.

When a stage musical version opened in the UK in 1998, it ignited the fever for new audiences as well as those who were already fans of the film. The show has been a constant inclusion in repertoires overseas, and now Saturday Night Fever - The Musical will finally make its debut in Australia.

“Everyday I’m in there watching everyone dancing, I’m like ‘Oh my God, this is going to be an amazing production. I’m so excited - I can’t wait!’” said Euan Doidge, who plays Tony Manero.

Doidge has had lead roles in some of the biggest productions in recent years including Priscilla - Queen Of The Desert, Kinky Boots, and Les Miserables.

Unusually for a musical, Doidge will be acting and dancing but not singing in Saturday Night Fever.The singing is handled by a group of star vocalists, led by Marcia Hines and featuring Paulini, Natalie Conway, Bobby Fox, and Nana Matapule.

“It’s interesting and it’s perfect for the show,” explains Doidge.

“The music has been arranged for 2019. The arrangements and harmonies sung by the star vocalists are just mind-blowingly good.You get the flavour that everyone is expecting, but also this contemporary, modern pop sound.”

The cast also includes Tim ‘Timomatic’ Omaji as Monty, the nightclub DJ, and the stellar Melanie Hawkins, as Stephanie Mangano.

Tony Manero was the role that catapulted John Travolta to fame in the movie version. Travolta created a certain look and way of moving that have become iconic.

It’s a challenge for Doidge, but he aims to leave his own imprint on the character. Of course, there’s the strut and distinctive dance steps that are indispensable.

Doidge promises a show that will keep bodies shaking and temperatures high.

“Every number is a mind-blowing piece - the dancing is literally going to knock people’s socks off.”

Until Jun 9. Sydney Lyric Theatre - The Star, 55 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont. $59.90185.90+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.sydneylyric.com.au

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close collaboration with the Filipino community.

Putting the novel on stage required reworking some elements of the story, but Mr Fleming says this doesn’t change the essence of the story and that the Filipino cast has had a very positive response.

“When I go into the rehearsals it’s

like the best therapy I’ve ever had.You should see the total engagement of the cast with the material, and passion for the story.” (AH) Until Apr 6.The Parramatta Riverside Theatre, Corner Market &, Church St, Parramatta, $35-$49+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.riversideparramatta.com.au

REVIEW: The Choir Of Man Photo: Jordan Munns

The mood is set as soon as you walk into the theatre. It’s like you’ve stumbled into your local watering hole on a Sunday afternoon where some lively lads are engaging in friendly banter with strangers, and free pints of craft beer are being dispensed from the on-stage bar. By the time the show begins the room is warm and buzzing and it stays that way right through to the end.

It’s hard to define exactly what The Choir Of Man is in terms of genre -

12 STAGE 14 SCENE 15 Sounds 15 SCREEN

cabaret/sing-a-long/pub theatre - but it’s easy to define the effect: exhilarating, joyous, moving, funny, energising.

The talented troupe of eight young men from the UK and Ireland, each with their own distinctive persona, recreate a classic, traditional pub environment.

George Bray, who acts as the ‘narrator’, says it’s about a men’s space that is supportive, safe, and unpretentious; where they take the “toxic” out of intoxication.There’s no real storyline.

Bray performs verses of a ballad style

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

poem between songs, slowly revealing details of each personality on stage.The songs are familiar pop tunes that range over styles and eras, from the operatic 1965 The Quest (The Impossible Dream) to the calypso style Escape (1979) to a surprisingly ethereal version of Chandelier to the everybody-join-in resounding strains of Wake Me Up and You’re The Voice. There are some very tender moments too, in particular, a heart squeezing rendition of Dance With My Father and a hair prickling chorus of The Parting Glass.

Plenty of variety too: a fabulous oldschool tap dance across the whole set including tables and bar counter; a rousing instrumental with everyone on a different instrument; a kind of water ballet at a urinal (no, that’s not a typo); and some unintimidating audience participation for which volunteers are rewarded with a drink. This is the type of atmosphere and entertainment that is being threatened with extinction as pubs crumble under the weight of expanded development.

Go and see it while you can! (RB) Until Apr 7. Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney. $49-$99+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com

Contributors: Emily Shen, Irina Dunn, Jade Morellini, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Olga Azar, Rita Bratovich, Sarah Pritchard, Shon Ho, Riley Hooper, Erika Echternach, Joseph Rana, John Moyle, Madison Behringer, Allison Hore, Renee Lou Dallow, Alannah Maher.

WriterS WANTED A CAll Out fOr the retired, SuperAnnuAted And GrAduAte StudentS Writers needed on local issues across the City Hub’s five distribution regions.

Must be able to write engaging and accurate copy and meet deadlines. please contact City hub with CV news@altmedia.net.au

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REVIEW: Enright On The Night

Nick Enright was one of Australia’s entertainment legends: playwright, screenwriter, lyricist, as well as a theatre director, and actor. He died too soon at age 52, but left behind a large and impressive body of work and garnered awards and acclaim both here and overseas. Though he wrote several scripts for Hollywood and was inspired lyrically by the Illuminati of the American songbook - Gershwin, Porter, Berlin et al - his heart and voice

remained true blue to his Aussie roots.

Enright’s first foray into the thespian world was at age 21 when he stepped onto the stage of the Genesian Theatre, and he maintained a creative relationship with the small erstwhile church from then on.

Enright On The Night is the Genesian’s way of giving back some of the love. It’s a sort of revue featuring songs cowritten by Enright and songs that inspired him, sung with

charm, humour, and alacrity by four of the theatre’s favourite performers. Special guest and seasoned entertainer Angela Ayers, rising star Rosanna Hurley, and promising new talents Juliette Coates and Lana Domeney. The four ladies have a wonderful rapport, great voices, and sharp vaudevillian comic delivery.

The songs vary in tone, from near slapstick to rollicking clapalong to tear-inducing ballads.

Musical director, Dion Condack, plays accompaniment on the piano on stage, adding his own occasional cheekiness to the mix. It’s a truly uplifting night with fabulous songs and highspirited performances that are infectious. A fitting tribute to a man regarded as much for his geniality as for his undeniable genius. (RB) Until Apr 13.The Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent St, Sydney. $25-$30+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.genesiantheatre.com.au

Photo: Klick Photography

Ay Panchanga

REVIEW: The Trojan Woman C’mon now, be honest. When was the last time you saw an ancient Greek tragedy performed in Sydney? Anywhere?

Tucked in a corner of Marrickville, the Hellenic Art Theatre is putting on a most moving and dramatic spectacle. Through The Trojan Woman, the 5th century BC playwright Euripides tells the story of the tragedy of the Trojan women after their city is invaded and sacked by the Greeks bearing gifts in the form of a large horse filled with soldiers.

But mortals are the playthings of the gods, and in the first scene, the gods Poseidon (John Daviskas) and Athena (Chris Messaris) discuss the Trojan war.

Initially, the former supports the Trojans and the latter the Greeks, but Athena changes her mind after the Trojan princess Cassandra is raped by the Spartan warrior Ajax in her temple. The two gods decide to punish the Greeks by whipping up the seas to prevent their easy passage home.

Exeunt gods, enter Hecuba (Mimika Valaris), the queen of Troy, and the chorus, comprising Hecuba’s handmaidens and noble Trojan women who lament the murder of their families, the destruction of their city, and their captivity into slavery by the invading army who will force them to leave their city forever.

This style of theatre is largely declamatory, not

Ay Pachanga returns to Manning Bar this weekend to celebrate the colourful birth of Salsa in 1970s New York. It is partly a performance, partly a dance party, with a 12-piece band led by Martin Taylor.

The band plays the classics of the FANIA record label and raises the temperature of dance show favourites such as boogaloo, salsa and cha-cha among others.

Founded in New York in 1964, FANIA Records produced Latin music stars such as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Ray Barreto, Willie Colon and Ruben Blades,

conversational as we have come to expect in modern times, and therein lie the heartbreaking moments when the women of Troy lament in unison in one loud anguished voice.

Stavros Economidis did a fine job of directing the large theatre troupe of 26 players. (ID) Until Apr 7.The Greek Theatre, Building 36, Addison Community Centre, 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville. $25-$30+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.greekfestivalofsydney.com.au

and showcased a melting pot of musical influences derived from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, America and Panama.

Ay Pachanga fuses the 70s New York Latin barrio sounds of son Cubano, mambo, cha-cha-cha and guaracha with local popular disco, funk, soul and jazz.

This fusion of rhythms was just the beginning of new hybrids such as the boogaloo, Latin jazz and salsa.

Anna Griffiths is one of the producers of the show and says, “as a Salsa dancer myself, I was intrigued by the history of the music I was dancing to, and all the

stories around it, particularly those artists signed to the record label. I wanted to capture this in a show.

Working with Martin Taylor, a Latin music connoisseur, and choreographer Maya Martinez, we chose pieces that best represent the variety of sounds and dances you would have seen in that era.”

So polish your dance moves, everyone, get ready to party! (ID) Mar 30. Manning Bar, Manning House, Manning Rd, Camperdown. $32+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.manningbar.com

THE NAKED CITY

The ‘Jetsons’ Syndrome

With Coffin Ed The Jetsons began as an animated sitcom back in the early 60s - a kind of futuristic counterpart to The Flintstones presenting a fantastic world in which technology enriched almost every aspect of the daily experience. Robots, holograms, gadgetry galore and flying cars made life an absolute joy. Whilst there were minor inconveniences and some often awkward decisions made by the patriarch George Jetson, there was never any real drama and it was as close to a utopia as you could get.

We have yet to see anything like the techno-utopian dream of the Jetsons but there are many who believe at least some aspects of it are just around the corner.Take flying cars for example. It’s well disclosed that the global behemoth Uber, despite being four billion dollars in debt and never having turned a cent of profit, is heavily invested in developing autonomous flying vehicles – the aerial taxis of tomorrow.

Travelling from the city to the airport and you take an elevator to the nearest rooftop sky port, where courtesy of your Uber app, your autonomous air taxi is waiting. Flying at an altitude between 1000 and 2000 feet, hopefully well above the thousands of other drones delivering pizzas and Amazon packages, you’ll be at the airport in around 12 minutes at a cost which Uber currently predicts at about $5 a mile.

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Wow, sure beats sitting in a self-driving car on Southern Cross Drive, reduced to a crawl in peak hour traffic. Funny though - it has been tried before and back in the 1970s a helipad operated from Darling Harbour, whisking cashed up commuters off to the airport and vice versa. Come the 80s and the venture had folded, largely due to lack of patronage.

Uber, of course, envisage an economy of scale with hundreds of

their drone-like taxis buzzing through the skies of Sydney, one of their chosen international cities for the project, as early as a few years from now. The sceptical like myself are definitely not holding their breath, but just a few questions I would like to put to the Uber techs in case their dreams do actually materialise?

1. Do these autonomous flying vehicles come with a parachute in case something goes radically wrong and they decide to drop out of the air?

2. I always enjoy having a chat with the driver – will there be a robotic voice to exchange pleasantries with (like Hal in 2001) or complain about the weather?

3. Is there a boot to accommodate two large suitcases?

4. What happens if some lunatic takes a pot shot from the ground – will we have access to weapons of defence?

5. Can we drop into a suburban backyard to pick up a friend on the way.

If one of these drones does come crashing down and I am badly incapacitated for months at home will I be compensated with free Uber Eats for a month To be honest I don’t really care because chances are I will have been transported by an Uber hearse to an Uber/Airbnb graveyard and buried in a cardboard coffin from Amazon.com, well before the first autonomous flying hack brings down its initial electronic flag fall.

Gemma Smith - Rhythm Sequence Celebrated Sydney artist, Gemma Smith’s new milestone exhibition Rhythm Sequence is currently on display at UNSW Galleries. The exhibition is the first career survey exhibition by the critically acclaimed abstract painter, who has featured in more than 100 exhibitions, including large scale public artworks.

By Irina Dunn The raucous Russian-inspired band Vulgargrad are launching their third album, The Odessa Job, at Sydney’s most prolific music venue, the Camelot Lounge, in April.

The songs on this album are “plundered” from Odessa, a city on the Black Sea in Ukraine. It includes pieces about Alyosha, the vodkaswilling, accordion-loving thief, and Aunty Haya, who is expecting a strange package from Shanghai.

There are also songs about knife fights, dive bars and fishermen.

As the blurb stresses, “This is Russian criminal music at its best and baddest!”

Polish-born Australian actor, singer and frontman Jacek Koman explains why Odessa was chosen as the inspiration for this album.

“In the early 20th century, Odessa was a busy port, an ethnic melting pot, a place where trade thrived and crime flourished, the perfect birthplace for the music we love.”

Koman tells me how VulgarGrad was born.

“A man goes to Moscow to immerse himself in Russian Culture.

He returns severely hungover dragging a suitcase filled with a

Reflecting the artists enduring interest, Rhythm Sequence delves into the very act of painting, obsession with colour and experimentation with the language of painting. The exhibition includes works from 2003, right up to the present and sees 10 large scale paintings never before seen in Sydney. The exhibition celebrates Smith’s iconic reworking of

peculiar style of music called blatnyak [known as ‘criminal music’].

He infects with the love for this stuff a bunch of his muso friends... and the rest is history.”

The name of the band is “a playful reference to Volgograd, a town on the Volga River, in Russia. Also, a

Dumbo

Dumbo is a film with heart, soul and everything else in between. There are some very macabre moments when your heart is literally in your

mouth and moments when you are jumping up on your seat with the pure joy of just being a part of the magic.

Tim Burton’s direction gives

abstract codes and styles, as well as testing colour and form.

Featuring over 50 works of paintings, sculptured ‘boulders’ and ‘adaptables’ where colours are reconfigured.

In her early career, Smith worked as a gallery attendant where she would watch people looking at art, which led to influencing her to the art-making practice where she

warning that our material can get a little ‘low brow’. It does come from the gutter.”

Why does Jacek think Russian music would appeal to antipodeans?

“The energy of it is very contagious.

It’s exotic, yet somehow familiar. It’s simple, but very powerful and

Gemma Smith Shard 2011.

Image courtesy: the artist and Sarah Cottier Gallery

creates art that makes people pay attention to detail.

Rhythm Sequence is open for viewing for a limited time, so make sure you pop down to the UNSW Galleries for your free look into Gemma Smith’s amazing creations. (RH) Until Jun 1. UNSW Galleries, Cnr of Oxford St and Greens Rd, Paddington. FREE. Info: www.artdesign.unsw.edu.au

doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s anarchic and fun. And the venues are always very happy with the bar takings.”

The band’s first two albums, called Popular Street Songs Of The Russian Underclass and King Of Crooks, reflect the delinquent origin of the music.

The band mostly focuses on drawing on existing material. “There’s a real gold mine there,” Koman says, “some of it nearly century old.”

Publicity for the show says Jacek’s voice “is NOT mellowing with age – it’s rougher, tougher, and more powerful than ever”.

I asked if all the band members sing, and Jacek says, “Yes, we do. But only I roar.”

Band members are Andrew Tanner (balalaika); Renato VaCirca (drums); Ros Jones (trombone); Adam Pierzchalski (trumpet); Nara Demasson (guitar); and Phil McLeod (piano accordion).

Sounds like a riotous night of great fun! I’ll definitely be there!

Apr 6-7. Camelot Lounge, Marrickville Rd & Railway Parade, Marrickville. $32.90+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.camelotlounge.com

I Know Leopard Love Is A Landmine

The debut record from I Know Leopard is a beautifully sweet and emotional 70s soft-rock record.

Throughout the 11 track offering the group explore themes of happiness, loss, romance and essentially any emotion which is intrinsically tied to love. This kaleidoscopic thematic approach creates a record which is incredibly nuanced and deep.

Allowing listeners to find something new to connect with upon each consecutive listen, whether that be immediately after a play-through or days later.

Love Is A Landmine certainly isn’t a record which is going compel the listeners to jump up and dance but rather it is one to quietly enjoy as it seeps into your soul. (JA) WWW1/2

Five Feet Apart this Disney classic a new shine and morphs it into a world of modern concepts.

So many metaphors and analogies to be explored on so many levels. The villain of the piece, Vandemere, being representative of developers who have no respect for family values, the natural order of things or rewards for hard work, but who simply trample over the little people to get what they want, is dry and focused only on the money.

This is a Disney masterpiece with something for everyone.

Dumbo is adorable and Danny Elfman’s music could make anyone fly.

(RLD) WWWWW

Five Feet Apart is an incredibly accurate and heart-wrenching tale of life as a teenager with the chronic illness Cystic Fibrosis (CF).

The film revolves around Stella (Haley Lu Richardson) and Will (Cole Sprouse), two teens who both suffer from CF and thus have their lives cross path during one of their many hospital admissions.

These two star crossed lovers though are unable to come within six feet of each other, let alone touch or kiss, for fear of cross infection.

Despite the many obstacles placed between them, the film follows the pair as their love blossoms.

As a CF patient myself this was an incredibly difficult film

to watch as it was all far too familiar. Five Feet Apart though is also going to be a tear jerker for many audience members as it hits all of the cliched,

yet highly effective, teen love tropes.You’re certainly going to want to take a nice supply of tissues for this one. (JA) WWW1/2 city hub 28 MARCH 2019

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