City Hub 2 May 2019

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city hub 2 MAY 2019

A whispering in the heart

By Daniel Lok A large family gathers in the bush, eating a roasted sheep together. They are relieved and hungry. There is a rustling in the bush. They cautiously go to look, then, “Bang! Bang! Bang!”

The gunshots ring through the valley, followed by a deafening silence.

This shocking violence against Aboriginal families occurred across Australia too many times. In the next three minutes I will tell you a little of what happened and how we can acknowledge it. This story, the story of an attempted genocide, has been referred to as “the whispering in the bottom of our hearts”.

Did you know that in Australia there were at least 270 recorded Aboriginal massacres in 140 years? In one year, there were up to eight massacres in a single area, each taking about 10 lives and injuring five.

Many more took place but were not recorded.

Death toll exceeded 100,000 The estimated death toll exceeded 100,000. In only one massacre out of all of these were the killers punished.

Trinity Grammar School Year 6 student Daniel Lok speaking at Reconciliation Australia’s monthly staff meeting in Canberra. Photo: Supplied

settlers were bound in chains. These were not physical chains but mental ones, locking away the truth and stopping them from accessing it. The truth was that there were people on this land and Terra Nullius, meaning uninhabited land, was a lie. Until recently in schools, children were taught that the British came and gave Aboriginal people food, medicine, and shelter. It was like learning in a room with only one window, only one perspective to see our history, when there is a completely different story to be told.

These are unforgivable acts, but we can try to recognise them. We can move forward with our relationship with Aboriginal people by firstly addressing the intergenerational trauma caused by these acts.

Following the 1838 Myall Creek massacre, seven of the killers were hanged.

As Aboriginal people lost their land, food during this time was scarce and when desperate, they resorted to killing settlers’ livestock. Settlers and soldiers retaliated with deadly consequences. The British knew that the Aboriginal people were hungry, so they put out bread

The effects of trauma With trauma comes very poor health which can affect life expectancy by almost 10 years.

Education will also be affected, which may lead to poverty and incarceration from making bad decisions.

It is going to be a struggle to close the gap between healthy people and traumatised ones.

poisoned with strychnine and it took many lives.

The British turned other Aboriginal people against each other by promising a home in society, money, and food.

These special police were referred to as the “Native Police” and were also involved in some attacks.

The killings happened because, just like the Aboriginal people, the European

We must also learn from others’ mistakes throughout history and treat people the same, unlike the British to the Aboriginals, or Hitler to the Jews.

We must acknowledge the people who called this land home more than 60,000 years ago.

We can move forward by addressing intergenerational trauma You may think this doesn’t concern you because you have moved here from another country, or you didn’t do it – it doesn’t matter. But we are using this land and by being citizens here we are taking on the history of this country many call home. Only by recognising the truth of how we came to be who we are can we move forward and make choices as a country about who we want to be as a community.

Daniel Lok is a Trinity Grammar School, Year 6 student. He recently delivered this speech at Reconciliation Australia’s monthly staff meeting in Canberra.

War Memorial’s grand design

BY Kylie Winkworth There wasn’t much bipartisanship in the last Parliament, but both the LNP and the Labor agreed to fund the Australian War Memorial’s (AWM) grandiose $500m redevelopment.

Barring late announcements, it seems likely this will be the major cultural infrastructure project for the next federal government.

The plan involves the controversial demolition

of Anzac Hall, an award-winning extension that is less than 20 years old.

The rationale is that the Memorial needs to double its exhibition space so it can interpret more recent conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and peacekeeping missions to East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

Public interest ignored Australia has spent more than $600m commemorating WWI. This includes $100m on the Sir John Monash Centre at Villers-Bretonneux, where visitor numbers have fallen far short of predictions.

Political appetite for war commemorations seems to be higher than the public interest.

Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide.

Add in the AWM’s $500m Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, redevelopment and public spending on convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city. war commemorations will top $1.1b.

Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677.

After so much money has been spent commemorating WWI, is this really Published by Altmedia Pty Ltd. While every effort is made Australia’s highest cultural infrastructure to ensure accuracy of content, takes no responsibility for priority? inadvertent errors or omissions.

While the AWM director Dr Brendan ABN 52 600 903 348 Nelson skilfully wrangled both parties to endorse his grand design, he has not Group Editor & Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons cemented public support.

Production Manager: Michael Hitch Indeed, opposition to the scheme Contributors: Michael Hitch, Daniel Lok, Allison Hore, continues to grow.

When the plans were launched last Alana Levene, Kylie Winkworth, Vanessa Lim year many argued the money would Arts Editor: Jamie Apps be better spent supporting veterans.

Advertising Manager: Georgina Pengelly In March, 83 prominent Australians Cover Photo: Samee Lapham. Bridget Bodenham signed a public letter opposing the Designer: Nadia Kalinitcheva project, including a former AWM Director and Deputy.

And recently a group of Australia’s Advertising: sales@altmedia.net.au most eminent architects penned an open Mail: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 letter criticising the design guidelines Email: news@altmedia.net.au, arts@altmedia.net.au requiring the demolition of Anzac Hall.

Ph: 9212 5677, Fax: 9212 5633 The most compelling objection to Website: altmedia.net.au the Memorial’s lavish expansion is the refusal of the AWM’s Director and Council to include the frontier wars of If you have a story, or any comments you’d like resistance. to share with us: Dr Brendan Nelson has variously cited the lack of a formal declaration news@altmedia.net.au of war, the AWM’s focus on overseas conflicts, and suggested the issue is the altmediagroup altmediasydney National Museum’s responsibility.

A $500 million white elephant? Photo: Wikimedia

All nonsense excuses.

Where other countries such as the USA and New Zealand have publicly recognised the frontier conflicts with Indigenous people as wars, the leadership of the AWM is hiding from the facts.

It is untenable for the AWM, as the nation’s pre-eminent public war memorial and history museum, to be evasive about the foundation wars of modern Australia.

Untenable for AWM to stick to an outdated narrative of our military history The Memorial’s extravagant plan to interpret recent military and peacekeeping engagements only magnifies the institution’s gaping silence about the frontier wars.

New historical research on Aboriginal massacres is expanding our understanding of the conduct and impact of the frontier wars.

We’re learning the names and stories of Aboriginal warriors.

Public interest in the wars of resistance is growing, especially in regional Australia.

Family descendants of combatants are discovering their shared history and reconciling.

As new massacre sites are identified, communities are building memorials to mark the sites.

Some veterans’ groups are supporting commemoration of the frontier wars on Anzac Day, and the frontier wars are remembered at many Anzac Day services.

What does it mean for the AWM’s engagement with Indigenous Australians when their policy implies that Aboriginal warriors who bravely fought to defend their land and people are not worthy of recognition and remembrance in the nation’s war memorial?

And what does this mean for the nation as a whole if the AWM won’t be truthful about the history of this country?

Priorities for reconciliation It is not tenable for the AWM to stick to the wars that suit what is now an outdated narrative of the nation’s military history.

Respect, reconciliation and cross-cultural understanding require honesty and truthfulness.

Australians are ready for it, even if the old guard at the War Memorial won’t face the facts.

The next government in Canberra needs to take a good look at that $500m of taxpayers’ money and think about how the scope of the AWM’s plan fits with national priorities for reconciliation with Indigenous people. city hub 2 MAY 2019

3

Bondi Pavilion revamp

BY VANESSA LIM The new Waverley Council has submitted plans to restore the Bondi Pavilion upgrade culture and art facilities important to locals. The new council’s $26.7 million dollar plan comes after the old council’s controversial $38 million dollar plans for Bondi Pavilion were scrapped.

Mayor of Waverley Council John Wakefield commented that they were engaged with Tonkin Zulaiker Greer architects to design the Bondi Pavilion Restoration and Conservation project.

Mayor John Wakefield said, “The Bondi Pavilion is an important heritage building. It has a significant place in the Waverley community, but also is the crown on the international icon that is Bondi Beach. This project will restore and retain the Pavilion for the community and for visitors for generations to come.”

included taking the theatre from the top floor and placing large kitchen facilities on the top floor. That appeared to be, though the Liberals never stated as much, an attempt to turn the top floor into an events function centre.”

Lack of transparency on what the old Waverley Council was planning to do with the Bondi Pavilion strengthened suspicions.

Katie McMurray said, “There was no public Development Application (DA) for the old plans before it was at proposal level and it was very broad stroke.

Bondi Pavilion. Photo: Vanessa Lim

A source of inspiration Katie McMurray, a Bondi local and previous staff member of the Bondi Pavilion, agreed on the importance of retaining the Pavilion, not just for restoration’s sake, but as a source of inspiration for the community.

She said, “It doesn’t just maintain arts and culture. It inspires and facilitates this, which is a really important thing for the community.

“There’s an equity in accessibility that the pavilion has historically offered.

It’s not an elite art space, it’s a space that allows emerging artists to show their work.”

Eliane Morel, from Friends of Bondi

Pavilion (FOBP), who successfully campaigned to halt the plans of the old council, also emphasised the necessity for Waverley Council to continue supporting local artists.

She said, “It’s really important for council to put funds towards not just the bricks and mortar of the Pavilion, but towards cultivating artists, musicians, performers and so on within our community.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the council’s vision of what they’re going to do to reinstate and inspire new programs. That means to restore not only the building itself, but also give their support for what can happen in there. I think that may have been lost for some time,” Ms Morel said.

Accessibility for local artists would ensure a more vibrant arts scene at Bondi.

“We’re actually losing people who are looking for available spaces to work in or perform their art in, and we should be taking advantage of these people.

They shouldn’t be hidden away, the council should be celebrating them.”

These plans have led FOBP to hold an arts festival at the Pavilion in November It’s not just about supporting local artists though, but ensuring that the whole community can experience culture at Bondi.

Ms Morel said, “We need to get in the ear of the council to help them understand how important it is to give

funding for culture and arts in the community. There can be so much emphasis on things like sport that we forget how important the arts are.

“If people could experience culture and arts, their life experience could be so much richer and exciting.”

Past plans made locals like Katie McMurray worry for the future of arts and culture at the Bondi Pavilion.

“When I looked at the proposal a few years ago, the Bondi Pavilion was not regarded as a community cultural centre.”

Eliane Morel said community suspicions that parts of the Bondi Pavilion would be privatised led to the backlash of the original plans.

“We were campaigning to ensure that Bondi Pavilion wasn’t privatised.

A part of the old Liberal Council plans

Pavilion Restoration a centrepiece “The new plans for Bondi Pavilion have about 100 documents in the DA, and they included historical and archaeological information. They include lighting, landscape and sound examinations. A lot of work and consultation has gone into this.”

Mayor Wakefield said the DA for the Pavilion Restoration would be on public exhibition until Thursday 9 May 2019 and would be at the centre of their Bondi Blueprint program.

He said, “The Pavilion Restoration is the centrepiece of Council’s Bondi Blueprint program of works, which includes a commitment of $70 million to improving Bondi Beach for everyone to enjoy. Through Bondi Blueprint, the community will see change over the next four years.” These plans have led FOBP to hold an arts festival at the Pavilion in November to celebrate the restoration.

Watch this space!

Waverley Council Update Mayor’s Message Bondi Pavilion Restoration & Conservation Project Our proposal for the restoration of the iconic Bondi Pavilion has reached a major milestone with the development application now open for public and stakeholder input.

The key features of the restoration include replacing the roof tiles with those similar to the original terracotta tiles, additional amenities on the Northern Courtyard, accessible from the internal courtyard and the walkway between the Pavilion and the Surf Lifesaving Club, a tourism office and a flexible cultural space for exhibitions and alike via the Bondi Story Room.

I would like to thank everyone who has worked hard to get the project to where it is today. Our aim is to start construction February 2020 straight after the peak summer period.

The DA documentation can be viewed via the DA Tracker on our website using reference number DA-105/2019. To make a submission, email dasubmissions@waverley.nsw.gov.au.

city hub 2 MAY 2019

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Bondi Blueprint Waverley Council is embarking on its largest civil infrastructure works program at Bondi Beach in almost a century.

Bondi Blueprint is my Council’s most significant commitment to making the beach a safer and better place for future generations of residents and visitors.

Over the next four years we will stage the delivery of $70 million worth of projects including the Pavilion restoration, new amenities at the southern end of Bondi Park, upgrades to Campbell Parade and Notts Avenue, repairs to the promenade, drainage and pool at North Bondi, and restoration of the Bondi Bathers Surf Lifesaving Club.

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For the list of Bondi Blueprint projects, visit waverley.nsw.gov.au/bondiblueprint John Wakefield, Mayor of Waverley

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city hub 2 MAY 2019

5

Meet the challengers

By ALLISON HORE

equality team was a really valuable part of my career,” Ms Munro tells City Hub. “We’re the party that’s preselected more LGBTQ candidates than any other.”

Ms Munro has also been an active member of the “Keep Sydney Open” movement. In 2016, she left her role as advisor to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian about one month after being spotted in a Keep Sydney Open shirt at a rally against the lock-out laws.

“The lock-out laws were obviously brought in as a response to safety in the city and my feeling is that those concerns have been addressed and can also be better addressed by other measures,” she says.

Jacqui Munro. Photo: Supplied

Jacqui Munro (Liberals) Running for the Liberal Party in the seat of Sydney is first-time candidate Jacqui Munro. For her, it was a passion for the local area that inspired her to run.

Despite being the youngest woman to be pre-selected by the Liberal party, Ms Munro has a wealth of experience in the field of advocacy.

She worked on the media team for the Australian Marriage Equality campaign and organises the Liberal Party’s Mardi Gras float each year.

“I have felt strongly about the issue of marriage equality for a long time and I think equality before the law is a very important principle. So being a part of the marriage

A global 24-hour city “When I talk to people in the area they are really interested in ways that we can invigorate the city and ways that we can open up the city to be a global 24-hour city.”

After leaving the Premier’s office Ms Munro became Vice-President of the NSW Young Liberals and worked as a staffer for Dr Kerryn Phelps despite campaigning for her opposition Dave Sharma.

Our future is on the line and we deserve a seat at the table She says it’s renters’ rights that is a key concern of people within the community.

“There are a lot of renters in Sydney, so rental affordability is something that’s come up quite a bit,” she explains.

“The new taxes the Labor Party is introducing will place more pressure on renters.”

In the last federal election, the Liberal Party candidate won just under 34 per cent of the vote on a two-party preferred basis, with a 2.4 per cent

R O Y

swing towards the Labor Party. Will a young, progressive candidate be the one to unseat the longstanding incumbent?

Matthew Thompson (Greens) Running for the Greens is the outspoken Matthew Thompson, who has certainly made his presence known this election through driving a strong social media campaign.

Like Ms Munro, he’s a young first-time candidate hoping to represent a new generation in parliament. He says that he is worried about what the future looks like for a younger generation if action isn’t taken to address growing social inequality and climate change.

“Our future is on the line and we deserve a seat at the table as decisions that will dramatically impact our lives are being made,” he tells City Hub. “Growing up in the 90s and 00s, my generation has felt the full force of Neo-Liberalism. We’ve been locked out of the housing market, forced into poverty with substandard social security and we’ll pay the ultimate price for decades of inaction on climate change.”

Mr Thompson, who grew up in Newcastle, describes himself as a “proud queer activist” and is a TAFE graduate and community services worker.

For him, it’s important that the voice of diverse Australians, including young people and LGBT+ people, are represented in parliament.

“When you look at our parliament, almost all of our politicians look and sound the same. They don’t reflect or represent the diverse and vibrant communities across Australia,” he says.

A bold vision The bold vision he puts forward is making housing a right for all, providing free education, transitioning to 100 per cent renewable energy and eradicating poverty.

O R T U S O

Matthew Thompson. Photo: Supplied

With such a high profile incumbent, winning the seat for the Greens won’t be easy for Mr Thompson. In the last federal election, the Greens won just under 19 per cent of the primary vote compared to Tanya Plibersek’s 44 per cent.

But Mr Thompson says it is more important than ever that a strong Greens contingent be represented in parliament.

“Now more than ever before we need strong Greens representatives in the House and the Senate to hold the major parties to account and to take strong action on climate change,” he explains.

“The stronger the Greens for Sydney campaign is the more likely it will be that we can keep racists and the far right out of the next parliament.”

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city hub 2 MAY 2019

Second pill-testing trial

BY MICHAEL HITCH Canberra paves the way once again after rolling out the second successful pill-testing medical service pilot at the Groovin The Moo music festival.

The pill-testing trial, designed to reduce harm by “providing health advice to young people,” was organised and conducted on Sunday 28 April

by Pill Testing Australia (PTA), Take Control and Harm Reduction Australia, which tested 171 samples from 234 festivalgoers.

MDMA was found to be the most prominent substance in festivalgoers’ samples, as well as cocaine, ketamine and methamphetamines to a lesser extent.

Dangerous samples containing n-ethylpentylone were also identified and all patrons who were alerted to the contaminated substance used the amnesty bin to discard their “dodgy dingas”.

ACT Government support President and Co-Founder of Harm Reduction Australia, Gino Vumbaca, said in a press release that keeping the “kids” safe was what mattered most, and that the pilot’s success was due to support from the ACT Government.

“The pilot was again overwhelmingly successful by any measure but particularly in doing everything possible to keep our kids safe,” he said.

“The simple truth is that it is time to take practical evidence-based steps to make parties and festivals safer for our kids.

“Huge thanks must go to the Groovin the Moo promoters and the ACT Government for recognising the unmitigated need to provide more information to patrons to reduce harm from drugs.”

The need to reduce harm became apparent when seven of the tested substances containing n-ethylpentylone, a lethal substance linked to mass overdoses overseas, were identified in the pills.

N-ethylpentylone is known to cause lethal heart palpitations, hallucinations and circulation problems. While purity levels of n-ethylpentylone found in the tested substances varied, all substances contained deadly levels of the chemical.

Festivalgoer and pill-testing advocate, Lucy, was one of the lucky few whose pills were identified as containing the lethal substance. Lucy bought her pills from a trusted friend and said that despite having difficulty finding the pill-testing shed, she was ecstatic that she was given the knowledge to make an informed decision.

She said, “Once we found the shed, it was all good. They weren’t shameful and everyone there was so good, they even gave us lollipops afterwards which was great.

“They said that I could’ve hallucinated, not in a fun way, and there would’ve been paranoia. It would not have been a good time. They said it was the high purity of the n-ethylpentylone that was the danger and this makes it scarier.

“Convulsions, increased temperatures, temporary Testing times. Photo: Wikimedia commons paranoia. It’s really fucked stuff and it’s incredibly nasty. When he asked if I wanted to dispose of it, I said ‘of course’ but it was so refreshing that they year doubled since 2018, when only 85 pills were didn’t just confiscate them off me. tested at the first rollout of the trial.

As a result of the two successful trials, PTA is seeking funding from the ACT Government, The number of substances tested now saying that the pill-testing program has benefited this year doubled since 2018 the community.

Shelley Smith, a spokesperson from the Ted “I just don’t understand why NSW is still Noffs Foundation which launched the Take waging its war on drugs. This just shows how Control Campaign, was present at this year’s pilot damaging black-market substances are but we and echoed Vumbaca and Lucy’s words, saying also know that people aren’t just going to stop that the operation’s growing success prevented taking drugs. It’s the only solution we have right fatalities at this year’s Groovin festival. now of keeping people safe so unless the federal government wants to step up and make safe pingas Constant flow of people – this is the only way to keep people safe.”

“It was busy, lots going on. In terms of the Despite the apparent difficulty of finding the pill- service itself… It was just non-stop. We just had a testing shed, the number of substances tested this constant flow of people coming through,” she said.

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“We had a much bigger space this year. Last year we were working in close, cramped quarters so this year we were able to spread out more and have defined areas. We had more people to work together so it was a much more fluid process and we could process a lot more people.

“We identified this particular drug [n-ethylpentylone] in one sample at the trial last year but this time we identified seven separate samples, which was obviously concerning to us.

Luckily, though, we were able to prevent any hospitalisations which was really good!

“We’d love to have it [pill-testing] rolled out everywhere. We’ve already said to every state and territory, “just say the word and we’ll bring it to you,” so really the ball is in the court of our political leaders.”

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7

Typhoid strikes Manus

BY ALANA LEVENE A suspected outbreak of typhoid fever has struck refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island, prompting renewed calls to bring those detained there to Australia.

Two men have been flown from the island to Port Moresby Hospital, and their rooms were sterilised, sources told the AAP. The cases highlighted the squalid health and living conditions in Australia’s offshore detention centres.

“A lot of this is shrouded in secrecy,” said Independent Wentworth MP Kerryn Phelps. Phelps recently helped guide the “Medevac” bill through Parliament, which made it easier to transfer sick asylum seekers to Australia for treatment.

Lack of transparency Phelps, an established medical practitioner and public health advocate, said she’s concerned about public health officials’ lack of transparency regarding the conditions of offshore immigration detention facilities.

“What is the hygiene like on Manus Island for people seeking asylum and for refugees? What is the treatment process for people who come down with a potentially life-threatening illness like typhoid?”

Nick Martin, who has worked as a senior medical offer on Nauru, said he’s not surprised by the suspected outbreak. He noted frequent mice sightings in food preparation areas at these detention facilities.

“I think it’s well documented that the medical care, including physical and psychiatric care of the men on Manus, is terrible,” he said. “It’s almost inevitable that the camps’ living conditions, sanitary conditions, and lack of adequate medical treatment sparked outbreaks.”

“This is another reason why they should close these camps,” he said.

Typhoid is generally caused by contaminated

“Not only is the food not nurturing, sometimes obviously dangerous, and the amount not enough, but the men in Hillside camp have not been given adequate sanitation and the toilets are not being cleaned properly,” Kanapadhi said.

Kanapadhi called the situation a “nightmare”.

He said the Pacific International Hospital was closed during Easter. One refugee, who believed he had typhoid, was sent back to the Hillside camp with medication and “told he will be fine”.

The man then spent the weekend worrying that he would spread his illness.

“It is well over time for the camp to be closed,” said Kanapadhi, who just spent his sixth Easter on Manus Island.

Martin said that the local hospital is not wellequipped to look after the Manusians, let alone the refugees.

Manus Island detention centre. Photo: Wikimedia

water, according to Martin. Symptoms include explosive diarrhea. Its treatment requires fairly intensive rehydration, and Martin doubts that’s available to affected patients.

The sick refugees are some of the hundreds of men who’ve been held on Manus Island since 2013.

“The Australian Government has provided considerable funding in support of PNG’s and Nauru’s provision of offshore health services,” a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said.

Further inquiries were referred to the Government of Papua New Guinea.

Last weekend, at Melbourne’s Palm Sunday Rally, novelist Richard Flanagan called for an end to the offshore detention of refugees, and suggested a Royal Commission should look into its history.

Activist Anthea Falkenberg, of Adelaide Vigil for Manus and Nauru, said she has visited Manus Island eight times and noted the conditions of “prolonged squalor and neglect”.

“Once again, it is clear that neither the Department of Home Affairs nor their contractors have succeeded in delivering the most basic of services,” Falkenberg said. “At times food made available to refugees has in the past even contained teeth. Very rarely does it contain fruit and vegetables.”

I think Australia’s public health officials should know what’s actually going on Due to the news blackout on Manus Island, refugees have taken to Facebook to share evidence of their conditions.

Shamindan Kanapadhi, a 27-year-old Sri Lankan Tamil refugee, attributed the typhoid cases to poor sanitation and contaminated water and food. He said the food ration for men in the Hillside camp had been reduced in recent weeks.

Health professionals weigh in Martin worked on Nauru from November 2016 to August 2017, during which time he corresponded with several medical professionals on Manus Island.

“Manus’ local hospital is in an even worse state than the Republic of Nauru Hospital,” he said.

While every refugee should be offered a typhoid vaccine and a booster, no vaccine is 100 per cent effective,” Martin said.

Phelps wants to know what the preventive health program is for people seeking asylum under Australia’s care — including whether they’re being immunized against typhoid.

“It goes to prevention of other illnesses, too,” she said. “Have people, for example, had their vaccinations against tetanus, hepatitis, and other preventable infectious diseases?”

“I think Australia’s public health officials should know what’s actually going on, how many cases there are, what measures have been taken to protect other people on Manus Island, and what care is in place for people,” Phelps said.

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emaIl trades@buildingsolutionsnsw.com.au today to submit your expression of interest. thIs expressIon of Interest opportunIty closes on friday 17th may 2019@ 5pm

Measles defy record vaccination

BY ALANA LEVENE A flurry of measles outbreaks could make 2019 Australia’s second-highest year of reported cases since the late 1990s, according to government health officials.

Australia is on track to reach or surpass 2014’s nationwide high of 339 cases, according to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. More cases were recorded in the first three months of 2019 than total cases in some recent years.

In NSW, 37 people have been infected with measles since Christmas, health officials said.

Despite the rise in cases, NSW has reached record vaccination rates, with more than 95 per cent of five-year-olds vaccinated against measles, according to the latest Annual Immunisation Coverage Report. Rates for oneyear-olds has surpassed 95 per cent, the herd immunity figure.

Still, anti-vaccination sentiment is growing in some areas.

In the shop window of Natural Progression Nutrition and Health at Bondi Beach, a book cover reads VACCINE EPIDEMIC: How Corporate Greed, Biased Science, and Coercive Government Threaten Our Human Rights, Our Health, and Our Children.

Measles coming in from abroad Outbreaks in popular tourist destinations, including South East Asia, have heightened the risk for the potentially fatal disease being imported into Australia, according to a NSW Health spokesperson.

“Most cases have involved holidaymakers returning to Australia with the disease,” the spokesperson said.

In recent weeks, people unknowingly infected with measles have passed through the Sydney Opera House, Paddy’s Market, Central Station,

or sneezes. It can linger in the air for up to 30 minutes, according to NSW Health Director of Communicable Diseases, Vicky Sheppeard.

The first symptoms include fever, sore eyes and a cough. Within days, a red, blotchy rash spreads from the head to the rest of the body.

It usually takes anywhere from 10 to 18 days to notice the first symptoms after exposure, according to Sheppeard.

Herd immunity ideal Experts say vaccination is the best protection against the extremely contagious disease.

The NSW Government poured more than $100 million into this year’s Immunisation Program budget, which includes commonwealth and state vaccines. The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is free for anyone born during or after 1966 who hasn’t already had two doses.

Experts say vaccination is the best protection against the extremely contagious disease

Record immunisation rates have helped quell a spate of measles cases. Photo: Wikimedia

and various cafes and shopping centres. The most recent report came from Dubbo, according to NSW Health. University students, visitors from

abroad, and infants were among those infected.

Measles is highly contagious, spreading through the air when an infected person coughs

Herd immunity reduces the spread of measles if it enters an area, and protects infants and people with weakened immune systems who aren’t able to be vaccinated, according to Sheppeard.

Two infants were infected in January and February, both of whom developed measles on returning to Sydney from South East Asia.

Earlier this month, two more infants, an eight-month-old and an 11-month-old, caught the infection in the Haymarket area near World Square and the Eastwood area, respectively.

All of the babies were too young to receive their routine measles vaccine, according to NSW Health.

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9

FEATURE

Shopping Sustainably

By Madison Behringer This Autumn, Finders Keepers market will be taking over The Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve over the first weekend in May. For those who have never experienced Finders Keepers before, imagine your local farmer’s market but on steroids. Lots of steroids. Add in a huge line-up of live music, food and live entertainment, and you have yourself a fantastic day out with endless things to do and see.

Finders Keepers was originally developed in 2007, with Directors Brooke Johnston and Sarah Thornton wanting to create a market that simply didn’t exist in Sydney – a place that would bring all their fashion, art, food and community needs under one roof.

“It was supposed to be a series of one-off events, and evolved into something much bigger!” said the pair, before going on to say, “The one-off events had music, food and was a celebratory type atmosphere that we originally just wanted to see bring together people that had the same ethos and care for authentic design.”

Both Sarah and Brooke had a passion for this authentic and unique type of market from the beginning, sharing with City Hub what their first market was like.

“The first market in 2007 was a rainy night in June. We were thinking ‘we hope people come’, and the first night packed out! It was all word of mouth marketing - we had no start-up funds but the word spread and people simply loved it.”

The pair have always valued and nurtured the importance of creating a sustainable shopping environment at their Finders Keepers markets, with this notion running alongside their three key values: Community, Connection and Creativity. The team believe in supporting

Bask Capsule Photo: Samee Lapham

independent Australian artists and stallholders.

Before one of their markets is held, the curators at Finders Keepers spend months going through stallholder applications looking for applicants that are a perfect fit. Speaking on this process, Sarah and Brooke said, “Overall we look for innovative and original work; and products and items that fit in with the overall vision of the Finders Keepers.”

One stall to look out for at the upcoming Finders Keepers market at Barangaroo is Bask Capsule, a label designed and run by Rebekah Delaney. Rebekah’s label and design process are heavily centred around similar values to those held by the Finders Keepers team.

“For us, sustainability and ethical production are non-negotiable. We want to ensure the products we’re putting into the world are making a positive contribution,” Rebekah said, going on to explain their sustainability commitment further. “There are two branches in our sustainability commitment.

The first is the immediate impact of our wares on the environment. The materials we use, production processes, waste minimisation, packaging. The second is around how our wares are consumed. The development of Bask Capsule shifts the emphasis from trend-based clothing to a more thoughtful wardrobe. Timeless, transseasonal pieces slowly gathered, cherished and worn again, and again, and again.”

The guys and gals at Finders Keepers are just as on-board with ideals such as those held by Bask Capsule, saying, “investing in better design and craftsmanship with longevity is important to us and promoting sustainability and ethical design is one of our core values.

We also love that designers are leading this movement, they’re coming up with clever ideas and solutions to problems and leading these areas.”

Bask Capsule seek to be sustainably accountable throughout the whole process of their clothing and accessory line. The label uses material offcuts from their clothing pieces to make accessories and other items.

They also only produce their items made-toorder, or in small runs in Sydney.

“This allows us to stay receptive to demand and avoid dead stock. Each step of this production process, from the pattern making, to the cutting room floor, through to the sewn garments uses materials as economically as possible,” Rebekah explained.

Finders Keepers at Barangaroo this May will have all of their regular cherished and celebrated features such as live music, fashion and design stalls, art, food, bars and community events, with an exciting addition provided by adored Aussie magazine Frankie.

“Our longstanding media partners Frankie are hosting some ‘chinwags’ which are panel talks about the value of the handmade,” shared the girls from Finders Keepers. “Our incredible major partner Xero is hosting a special recharge lounge and Castle & Cubby are hosting free planting workshops for kids.

Other than that, as always we offer a full line up of live music all weekend long!”

Rebekah from Bask Capsule told City Hub how much she looks forward to the Finders Keepers events.

“I can’t wait to see what everyone else has to bring to the Market! Finders Keepers is a great place to discover new designers and other like-minded makers. I’ve met so many wonderful individuals along the way so the biannual markets are a brilliant opportunity to see how these Australian brands evolve.”

May 3-5.The Cutaway, Barangaroo Reserve, Hickson Road, Barangaroo. $5.Tickets & Info: www.thefinderskeepers.com

Discover Iconic Blak Markets

Shop for original and affordable aboriginal artworkS, handmade beauty productS and jewellery Singer Songwriter charlie trindall and dance performance by jannawi dance clan Special motherS day weaving workShop for your mum for motherS day book online www.blakmarkets.com

ROZELLE PUBLIC SCHOOL

Sunday 12 may | 9.30am to 3pm | bare iSland, la perouSe

SYDNEY ’S FAVOURITE ANTIQUES, VINTAGE

and second hand market www.rozellecollectorsmarket.com.au

www.blakmarkets.com 10

city hub 2 MAY 2019

Markets & Shopping Guide 2019 Paddy’s Markets Mother’s Day Week Pop-Ups Your one-stop-shop for Mother’s Day arrives at Paddy’s Mother’s Day Week Pop-Ups from next Wednesday.

For the environmentally conscious Mum, Eco Shop Co. will be selling its carefully selected reusable, sustainable and natural products.Think reusable steel and bamboo straws, bamboo toothbrushes, natural coconut bowls and cutlery, and much more.

For the boho, free-spirited Mum, Magic Moonbeam’s Mysteries will be onsite offering tarot card and spiritual readings, with gorgeous gems and crystals, salt lamps and essential oils available for purchase.

Eco Shop Co. Coconut Bow

For Mum’s with a sweet tooth, Sweet Creations

By Jess will be selling her delicious cupcakes, slices and desserts all week.They’re sure to earn you brownie points!

To top it off, an abundance of beautiful blooms and bouquets provided by Aunty Poppy’s Florist will also be available throughout the precinct.

May 8-12. Paddy’s Markets, 9-13 Hay St Haymarket, Sydney.

Blak Markets There will be plenty in store for Mum’s during the Mother’s Day celebrations at the Blak Markets at Bare Island La Perouse next Sunday, May 12.

The Blak Markets are a great chance to buy authentic unique gifts knowing that 100% of the profits go back into Aboriginal communities.

The Blak Markets feature authentic, original and affordable Aboriginal artworks, beauty products, native plants including bushfoods and bushherbs and one-of-a-kind homewares and jewellery as well as various Indigenous inspired food and refreshments.

Throughout the day the markets will also

charming tea-pots and...whatever that is... with your most precious family members.

Every Saturday & Sunday. 663 Darling St, Rozelle. Free Entry.

Info: www.rozellecollectorsmarket.com.au

feature a very special weaving workshop by master weaver Phyllis Stewart where you can learn to weave a basket alongside your Mum. May 12. Anzac Parade, Bare Island, La Perouse. Entry: $2.50/person.

Info: www.blakmarkets.com Rozelle Collectors Markets Every Saturday and Sunday devotees and newcomers visit the historic school grounds of the Rozelle Collectors 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.

With Mother’s Day fast approaching a trip to the Rozelle Collectors Markets would make for a wonderful day out with Mum. 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,

The Cannery Rosebery If you’re looking to truly treat your Mum this Mother’s Day then you should head down to The Cannery in Rosebery.At the heart of the local community,The Cannery offers a foodie experience like no other.The light and airy converted warehouse is home to some of Sydney’s best bakers, distillers, brewers, greengrocers, butcher and an artisan bottle shop.

Artisanal food, speciality ingredients and the freshest finds are bought in from farms across Australia and offer everything you need to create a meal which makes your Mum feel like the most special lady on the planet.

61 Mentmore Ave, Rosebery. Info: www. canneryrosebery.com.au Hypmotive Hub Sydney-siders are always flat-out and shoppers have never been more in need of one-stop shops. Hypmotive Hub is the perfect location to satisfy this need, and yet it’s still one of Sydney’s best kept secrets.

Hypmotive Hub is an incredible unique gift shop and creative hub filled with an amazing selection of goods produced by over 60 skilled artisans, designers, artists, jewellers and emerging creatives.

By being centred around creativity, Hypmotive Hub exists to bring you a go-to destination for thoughtful unique gifts, original art, homewares and fashion created by local brands, artists, designers and makers each with their own

unique story to tell. As such this makes Hypmotive Hub the perfect place to shop for that most special woman in your life, your Mum! Head down to Hypmotive Hub this week and purchase her something that is special and unique so that she knows just special she is to you.

155 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville.

Info: www.hypmotive.com Northside Produce Markets One of of the longest running Farmers’ Markets in Sydney is celebrating their 20th birthday this weekend, and what better way to celebrate than head out and stock up for a Mother’s Day feast.

With over 70 stalls bringing their best produce, exceptional artisanal goods and providing delicious breakfast, brunch and lunch. The Northside Produce Markets boast the best selection of stalls welcoming farmers from as far as Riverina, Orange, Oberon and the Southern Highlands as well as inner city bakers and makers.

Throughout the day there will also be live music, and the markets are also dog friendly.

This means these markets make for the perfect say out for the entire family.

8am-Midday on the first & third Saturdays of each month. Civic Park, 220 Miller St, North Sydney.

The CiTy hub is seeking friendly and reliable people (with a vehicle) to deliver our newspapers.

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11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Small Mouth Sounds

Yalin Ozucelik, Jane Phegan, Justin Smith, Dorje Swallow, Amber McMahon and Sharon Millerchip.

Photo: Robert Catto

When theatregoers read the synopsis of this play, they will learn that this is irrefutably the most unconventional and uniquely entertaining theatrical production ever staged.

The comedy/drama surrounds six characters who send themselves off to a silent spiritual retreat in the Blue Mountains for mental healing. Accomplished theatre actress Sharon Millerchip who has previously mesmerised audiences with her performances in Cats, Phantom Of The Opera and Into The Woods, plays the role of a sex education therapist, who is experiencing an emerging trauma in the relationship with her partner.

“When I first read the script I thought, this is pretty off the wall! How do you make a play that runs for 100 minutes set in a silent retreat where people don’t talk!” laughed Millerchip. “I thought this was going to be a cinch with no lines to learn, but it’s much harder for that fact.You have to be so specific and we learn all these gestures and reactions and movements and sounds as you would learn choreography or scripts. It’s quite intricate.”

With the exception of a couple of monologues, interspersed narration and a few words and exchanges, the dialogue is minimal. ”There’s just enough so audiences don’t go quietly mad! Intense and very funny there’s a lightness to it because it isn’t burdened with much dialogue, so it skips along beautifully. All the minute things that we do that we and others don’t take notice of like slight gestures and involuntary gasps are amplified in this environment and they tell so much story. Because there’s not much dialogue you also get to the core of who the characters are.”

Small Mouth Sounds was the 2016 critics pick of three major New York publications and Millerchip explained that the accolades were justified. “People go to the theatre to watch this play and they think, ‘I’ve never seen anything like this before. I’ve never sat in the theatre and had an experience that’s been performed for me stylistically in this fashion.’ This play resonates with audiences because it’s incredibly inventive and special.” (MMo) May 3–26. Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton St Darlinghurst. $46-$59+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.darlinghursttheatre.com

a&e

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Winyanboga Yurringa “I always get a delight seeing six Aboriginal women on stage. There’s something so lovely and something so rare and precious about it,” says writer Andrea James as she discusses the remounting of her play, Winyanboga Yurringa, at Belvoir Theatre after its successful debut at Carriageworks in 2016.

The play was inspired by the 1981 four part mini-series, Women Of The Sun, in which four Aboriginal women from different generations are profiled, the title of the play itself is “women of the sun” in traditional Yorta Yorta language. James was originally asked to create a fifth episode depicting life for an Aboriginal woman in the 1990s, but it evolved into a play that fused the stories and experiences of a contemporary, diverse group of Aboriginal women.

“So, the play itself is about six aboriginal

women who go onto country and they all think they’re going on a camping trip but it ends up being something much, much bigger than that,” explains James.

One of the women has encouraged the other five - all related - to take time out from all of the things that are distracting them from their country, culture, and kin.

“So they come out there and they bring all their baggage, they bring all their - electricity of the city, I call it - with them,” says James.

There are tensions as they grapple with issues around identity and cultural inheritance, and argue about the fate of a 15-year-old girl whose mother is in jail and who is exhibiting risky behaviour. Adding intensity is the appearance of a white woman who divulges a startling secret.

“Towards the end, a kind of ceremony

happens that reconnects everybody together, but we go through this entire journey with them […] It’s like the audience gets to sort of witness these women in a really private way on stage,” says James. “[It’s an] opportunity to really see us in our raw state - and it’s ugly and it’s beautiful.” (RB) May 4-26. Belvoir St Theatre, 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills. $37-$77+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.belvoir.com.au

Festival UnWrapped

Returning for its second outing, held under the sails of the renowned Sydney Opera House, is the bi-annual Festival UnWrapped.

The event is a celebration of diverse, new, contemporary works from Australian artists varying in age, genre, gender and everything in between. This season’s Festival UnWrapped will feature five acclaimed works which include performances by a wide range of artists including Ali McGregor, Ghenoa Gela, William Yang, Scott Turnbull, Lara Thoms and a

Real-life Australian couple Brian Meegan and Kate Raison have both made their respective waves in the national acting scene, both onscreen and on-stage. Now that the pair’s children have grown up and moved out, the two actors decided to find a two-hander play and take it on tour. Jim Cartwright’s stunning play Two landed in the laps of Brian and Kate and after an eight-week season in 2017, the pair are now taking their work on a regional tour. Included in the line-up for the tour will be Northern Beaches’ Glen Street Theatre.

“It’s a great play in the city…but the pubs in the play are more likely found in regional Australia, and that’s why we’re doing this regional tour,” said Brian.

Two is set in a local pub, and centres on the lives of the landlord and landlady of the local

12 STAGE 14 SCENE 15 Sounds 15 SCREEN

group of five artists from PYT Fairfield.

Festival UnWrapped’s organiser and Sydney Opera House’s Head of Programming Fiona Winning spoke to us about the upcoming festival and the artists involved.

“These are some great artists drawing on their own experience to tell fantastic meaningful contemporary Australian stories,” said Fiona.

Festival UnWrapped focuses on audience members coming to see more than one show during their visit and spending time interacting with the artists and other audience members.

On this audience/artist experience, Fiona said: “We want to create a social space where people actually come and hang out and see the artists… creating a connection between the audience and artists.”

Presenting new and diverse works to Sydney Opera House audiences is incredibly important to the Festival UnWrapped team,

Two

Photo: Clare Hawley

watering hole. Throughout the play, many characters and personalities enter the pub, and Brian and Kate play every single one of them.

“The style is quite unique in that the word “two” actually refers to the landlord and

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

with Fiona saying, “What we wanted to do was cluster a bigger group of works together so that we could introduce artists who may not be known to our audiences.”

Fiona went on to explain the importance of Festival UnWrapped as a whole, stating their main goal is “to be showing work that’s incredibly diverse. That’s from the most incredible international theatre and classical music artists and a bunch of incredible Australian artists. Showing small works too that are right on the edge of cutting contemporary practice.”

Festival UnWrapped opens tomorrow and audiences are encouraged to see multiple works and hang around after performances to meet the artists, with under 30s tickets also available. (MB) May 3-19. Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney. From $30+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com

landlady that run the pub. We both actually play seven characters each. It’s done in many different styles,” explained Brian, continuing, “it’s in your face, it’s humorous and it’s also presentational.”

Brian and Kate’s onstage connection and energy is palpable within their performance of Two, and the skill and prowess at which they each slip into their different characters is both breathtaking and impressive. “[Two] is incredibly entertaining but it’s also a very emotional process. Hopefully, we make you laugh and make you cry! We definitely want to send you out thinking” concluded Brian of the piece. (MB) May 7-12. Glen Street Theatre, Cnr Glen Street, Blackbutts Rd, Belrose. $35-$67+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.glenstreet.com.au

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

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13

The War On The F*#King Election The Chaser’s Charles Firth and The Shovel’s James Schloeffel are here with a book, which is billed as “the most inaccurate guide to Election 2019,” and two Sydney shows at the end of a national tour.

Why did Charles and James embark on this mammoth project?

Charles says,“Any election that pits the towering intellect of Scott Morrison against the charismatic powerhouse that is Bill Shorten demands comment.”

City Hub asked them how much research they actually did, and Charles replied,“Actually, a ridiculous amount.We have crafted jokes for all 150 lower house seats.We are basically the Antony Green of satire.”

Charles elaborates,“Satire used to be all about speaking truth to power, but nowadays it’s all about getting extra followers on Instagram.”

City Hub asked him about the relationship between their show and their book? The answer?

“Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V.Well, the book is like a guide to the election, whereas the live show will evolve alongside the election. It’s possible to be a lot more defamatory live than in print, but I shouldn’t say that in print.

Charles most admires Bennelong as an amazing Australian political figure.

“He literally learnt another language to broker relationships between Sydneysiders and its recent immigrants, and then went to the country of those immigrants to learn more about them and their culture. It’s been all downhill since then, all the way down to Dutton,Abbott and Morrison.They’re actually all the same person. Have you ever seen them in the same room together? You have? Oh.” (ID) May 9-10. Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville. $35-$65+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.chaser.com.au

THE NAKED CITY

LAST TANGO IN PITT STREET With Coffin Ed Record stores have always had a great romance about them – a gathering place for the like-minded to chat about their favourite music, the excitement of discovering something new and exciting and the sheer mental pleasure of browsing through thousands of CDs and old school vinyl.

Whilst they are by no means extinct, and celebrations such as International Record Store Day testify to this, they are certainly an endangered species. One of the major reasons for this, especially in a greed-driven city like Sydney, is the often outrageous cost of real estate. If you are operating an independent record store in the city or just about anywhere in greater Sydney, you are often at the mercy of your landlord and a real estate market that shows no mercy.

Such was the case last week with the closure of Lawsons Records in Pitt Street, one of this city’s longest surviving record shops. The owner Jerry Pasqual was carrying a staggering rent increase from $1,450 to $5,000 a week and whilst the loyal customer base was still there, the overheads simply became too much.

Flashback to the early 60s when Lawsons first began trading and the southern end of Pitt Street, adjacent to the massive edifice of the Anthony Horderns Building, was one of the least glamorous parts of the CBD. Throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s it was home to a number of ‘adult’ book stores, skid row accommodation and quirky pop-up style shops. Rents were cheap and one of the legacies was the proliferation of second-hand record shops.

This was Sydney’s ‘record alley’, home to stores such as Martins, Ashwoods, The Pitt and of course Lawsons. Not only did these shops sell largely second-hand vinyl,VHS tapes and later CDs, but they also bought from the general public. If you were short of a quid and prepared to lose a few items from your record collection, you could nearly always convert them to cash at one of these shops. The prices they paid were not particularly rewarding but it was the instant service they provided that kept sellers coming back again and again.

The shops became particularly attractive for music journalists and book reviewers, who often received multiple numbers of new books and CDs as part of their job. What they didn’t want often ended up at Ashwoods and the like, with the publishers and record companies none the wiser.

With their largely second-hand stock, these shops were also a magnet for record collectors who religiously combed the racks looking for that rare or very collectable item. The new stock was often put out overnight and it was not uncommon to find the more zealous record hounds waiting for the doors to open in the morning, ready to attack the crates.

Despite new shops such as Silver Rocket and a second Red Eye store joining the Pitt Street alley, come the new millennium and their numbers began to thin. Ashwoods moved uptown to a new location and Bob Gould took his chaotic jumble of books and records from The Pitt to Goulds Book Arcade in Newtown. Once the World Square complex was developed in the early 2000s, the

Photo: TLP Images

Wings Over Illawarra

The largest airshow of its kind in Australia, Wings Over Illawarra, is once again set to bring some of Australia’s finest display pilots and aircraft to an airshow within easy driving distance of Sydney.

The event will feature “high-octane aerobatic displays” in the skies above the Illawarra Regional Airport said event director Mark Bright. These feats will be carried out by the country’s top pilots including “Red Bull air-racer Matt Hall and stunt pilot Paul Bennet with flyovers also performed by modern military fighters and helicopters from the Australian Defence Force and a huge array of magnificent aircraft of yesteryear.”

For the aircraft buff, attendees will also have full access to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society.

14

city hub 2 MAY 2019

Wings Over Illawarra doesn’t just cater to the aircraft aficionado though. Throughout the day there will also be a fun carnival atmosphere for the entire family to enjoy, with unlimited carnival rides throughout the day included in the price of admission. Adrenaline junkies will also be treated to some spectacular aerial displays by freestyle motocross riders.

To top things off McDonalds franchises throughout the Illawarra are offering attendees of the airshow a special Wings Over Illawarra discount. So grab a meal either on your way down or on the way home afterwards. (JA) May 4-5. Bright Events Hangar at 1/32 Airport Road, Illawarra Regional Airport, Albion Park Rail. $40-$230+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.wingsoverillawarra.com.au

southern end of Pitt Street underwent a predictable commercial gentrification and rents began to climb.

That Lawsons was able to survive for an incredible 55 years is testimony to the enthusiasm and business acumen of its owner Jerry Pasqual and a very loyal customer base, many of whom began shopping there when it first opened, in a smaller store just across the road. It might have been an anachronism in the world of streaming and Spotify but it was part of the true fabric of Sydney – a much-loved institution.

The demise of Lawsons is yet another sad loss for a city that is becoming increasingly soulless, stripped of its history and cultural identity.As rents skyrocket it seems there is no longer a place for the small independent retailer and the city faces the prospect of becoming one large amorphous Pitt Street Mall, dominated by global brands, Kafkaesque style food halls and multi-storey shopping complexes.

Jane Goodall: Rewind the Future Ageless and fearless and barefoot in Gombe National Park, Tanzania. Dr Jane Goodall is still a woman driven by passion and that passion has not waned. Still relevant, Still challenging the status quo at age 84. Beginning as a humble secretary in Kenya 55 years ago, young Jane Goodall was sent by her then employer to observe Chimpanzees in Gombe. During this time she made some exciting discoveries.

Goodall, then only in her 20s, found that the chimps could make their own tools, ripping leaves off branches to make fishing rods for termite nests, and were not vegans, as previously thought, but were carnivores just like us. “I knew nothing of science.” she has said. “To learn about chimps meant being with them and gaining their trust.” Goodall wandered their habitat barefoot and labelled her chimps, not with numbers, but with funny names like Fifi, David Greybeard and Goliath, discovering that, just like us, each had its own separate personality. Dr Goodall is renowned throughout the world as, ‘The Woman Who Redefined Man.’ As ‘A Messenger Of Peace’ and, a woman

awarded, ‘The Order Of The British Empire’ and, ‘The Legion Of Honour,’ amongst many other awards, Goodall, has paved the way for those driven by a desire to do good in this world.

Think Inc, a company dedicated to bringing intellectual and philosophical ideas to the masses, is bringing Dr Jane Goodall to Australia.

The main message of her Rewind The Future tour is one of hope. The aim is to inspire youth to make a difference through activism.

According to Goodall, “Great things are happening, but with more involvement, great things can become even greater.” We all need to work together to make a difference. (RLD) May 8. ICC Darling Harbour, 14 Darling Drive, Sydney. $112-$163+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.iccsydney.com.au

By Jamie Apps For the first time in almost three decades, Jack Jones will once again take to the stage in Sydney to perform the hits of the Southern Sons. As a teenager, these songs saw Jones skyrocket to international music superstardom, a period which he reflected on with City Hub during a recent conversation.

Growing up in Victoria Jones told us he only ever had one dream, “be the guitar player in some big band.” Whilst Jones worked incredibly hard honing his craft even he was surprised when that dream was fulfilled so early into his career.

“When the Sons happened it really took me by surprise, I had never really expected it to become what it did but I’m incredibly thankful to still be playing those songs 30 years later.”

Finding such monumental success so early though did come with some downsides. Namely not realising just how special each moment was.

“It was all quite blurry and a stressful experience for me at the time because there was a lot of pressure. So I wasn’t really able to enjoy it as much as I possibly could,” reflected Jones, before adding, “It was also a time which was full of magic and wonder.”

Now moving forward Jones says he is mindful of ensuring he lives life in the moment in order to enjoy every experience as it happens, whether that be an incredible live performance like the

Jack Jones

The Maes upcoming shows at the Opera House or “waking up at six in the morning for a live TV appearance.” This is a point of advice which Jones always gives to younger musicians now.

“My advice would be to simply enjoy it and don’t forget why you do it.”

Looking ahead to this weekend’s performances at the Opera House City Hub asked why now was the right time to go back to the songs of the Southern Sons?

“Honestly it’s something that I avoided, for a bunch of reasons,” Jones answered before explaining further, “I never wanted to go out and perform these songs with a band that wasn’t the Southern Sons because to me it never felt right.”

Ultimately though after repeated requests Jones decided to re-listen to the tracks and quickly realised they held a special place in not only the heart of fans but also in his own.

“I started listening to these songs again and became a bit nostalgic so I thought maybe I should stop being so precious because this could be really fun.”

For these upcoming shows Jones assures fans he is not trying to “reinvent” the music but rather he is looking to “authentically reproduce it” and give the fans a true celebration of the Southern Sons.

May 3-4. Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney. $75-$95+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com

The self-titled debut album from the Melbourne sister duo that comprises The Maes is an intimate collection of gentle and conversational songs.

The purely honest, raw and relaxed style of music highlights the sisters’ outstanding vocal abilities. As an added bonus, Monique Clare lends her cello capabilities to the album as well as her voice to provide a harmonious blend of vocals.

The folksy feel of The Maes’ music makes it the perfect album to put on after a long day when all you want to do is put your feet up and close your eyes.

Treat You Better and Head Over Heels are the standout singles off the record, showcasing the group’s smooth harmonies. (EE) WWW1/2

Phoenix Collective Concert #2 The Baroque Bizarre

Phoenix Baroque Trio

The second concert in the Phoenix Collective concert series will feature the Phoenix Baroque Trio.

This instalment of the series will highlight the quirky, intoxicating and virtuosic nature of the great works by baroque masters Bach and Vivaldi alongside the lesser known composers Castello, Biber and Schmelzer.

Top End Wedding

Photo: John Platt Photography

An unabashed romantic comedy, Top End Wedding is at times amusing, moving, trite and memorable. Its difference from mainstream rom-coms with its connection to first nation culture. Actress and co-writer Miranda Tapsell (with Joshua Tyler) and director Wayne Blair are aboriginal, they worked together on The Sapphires, and together give this movie a distinctively Australian approach.

Tapsell is from Kakadu, but for the purposes of the movie has relocated her country to the Tiwi Islands. As Lauren, she is determined to locate her mother after her partner, Ned (Gwliym Lee) proposes marriage. Lauren has 10 days to organise the wedding, but after she and her fiancée arrive in Darwin, expected confusion and mischief ensue. Her mother has vanished and her father is wandering around in pyjamas. When Lauren decides she can’t wed without her mother’s presence, she and Ned embark on a road trip across the top end, with all of the beauty and disasters such a cinematic journey entails.

It’s a mild clash of cultures, as a tame movie, much of which is a fairly obvious advertisement for the Northern Territory and its islands. But for a rom-com – which the scriptwriters intended it to be – it’s thoughtprovoking and unexpectedly moving. (OA) WWW1/2

The Phoenix Baroque Trio is made up of some of our country’s finest musical talents in Dan Russell (violin), Christian Lillicrap (harpsichord) and Christopher Bennett (cello).

“Baroque music balances my emotions: light and dark, happy and sad are expressed with such appeal and clarity. The harmonies and

melodies can be intensely moving and always delightful. It’s music designed for pleasure,” explained Lillicrap.

May 12. Hunter Baillie Presbyterian Church, Cnr Johnston and Collins St, Annandale. $28-$35+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.phoenixcollective.com.au

Long Shot

If I were to describe Seth Rogen’s latest outing Long Shot in a word, that would be fresh.The movie has a fresh romantic pairing of the leads (Charlize Theron & Rogen aren’t exactly a picture perfect couple - a point made repeatedly in the movie), it’s got a refreshing take on American politics and media; and the movie’s brilliant comic timing acts as a fresh breeze in an industry where comedies are too politically correct and not really funny anymore.

Long Shot is somewhat of a movie-length SNL skit in a way, performed brilliantly by its leads and supported effectively by rest of the cast.There were a number of moments where the audience including myself found ourselves clapping and cheering, and given that most of Rogen’s usual work seems repetitive, surprisingly though his comic arsenal that was unleashed was deep and varied making us roll in the aisles.

In a traditional sense, Long Shot is perhaps one of Rogen’s tamest movies, with Theron almost overshadowing Rogen in most scenes. Her role as the beautiful but conflicted US Secretary Of State

with the desire to be America’s first female President is well within the present political climate and she manages to maintain a certain sense of elegance while engaging in perilous activities that one would associate with a Rogen movie.

The story is essentially a rom-com set within American politics and while the narrative is pretty straightforward and predictable, it is the sheer volume of jokes and gags that really lifts this movie.

From my memory, it’s perhaps the funniest since the first Hangover. (JR) WWWW

The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir This is a light, funny, non-threatening film, that is entertaining enough, although with a few tweaks it could well have been more.

Based on a very popular book with a much longer title, the plot follows the trials and misadventures of Aja Patel (Dhanush), growing up in the slums of Mumbai, then

embarking on an unlikely and luckless journey. It begins in France where he falls in love with Marie (Erin Moriarty) whom he meets in “IKEA” (it’s never actually named) but loses contact with after being unwittingly transported to England and mixed in with a group of illegal immigrants.

Things keep going awry from there.

The film has random elements of fantasy and Bollywood, but is mostly a rom-com. More sombre subjects such as poverty and displacement are touched upon as plot points only. It does start to feel long and a little too congested with ideas, but overall, it’s pleasant viewing. (RB) WWW city hub 2 MAY 2019

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