City Hub 30 April 2020 by Alt Media

APRIL 30, 2020

C I T Y H U B SY D N E Y. C O M . AU

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Now that we’re all staying home and have ample free time it is a great time to upskill or add new credentials to your resume.

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BY JAMIE APPS FIAFitnation: If you’re thinking about making health and fitness your career, then FIAFitnation might just be the place for you. They offer a variety of courses – that range from Diplomas to short courses, so whether you’re looking to become a fully trained Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach or want to add to your list of fitness qualifications, FIAFitnation can help. Now is the time to upskill and make this time count, discover a course that you feel passionate about. FIAFitnation have a range of short first aid, functional training, group fitness, nutrition, personal training and rehabilitation courses to keep your professional development and registration up to date. Visit www.fiafitnation.com.au to learn more.

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OW that we’re all staying home and have ample free time it is a great opportunity for self-improvement. Whether you want to simply upskill and add new credentials to your resume or if you want to completely shift fields there are a plethora of online courses from highly regarded institutions. City Hub has gathered together the most intriguing courses to help kick start your online learning. NIDA: If you’ve every fancied yourself as a future star of television or the silver screen then NIDA have the perfect online course for you. Their Introduction To Acting For Adults (16 years and over) will give you a great platform to explore a career in acting. Be introduced to the fundamental skills of an action-based acting technique. Connect to your inner playfulness, be present in the moment and learn to create character. This is a fully online course designed for beginners and is delivered through NIDA’s online learning management system.

Delivered face to face via Zoom over three, two hour sessions. •May 5 & 19, 6pm–8pm •May 10 & 24, 9am–11am NIDA have even more courses to be released over the coming weeks. For more info head to www.open.nida.edu.au AFTRS: Australia’s premier screen arts and broadcast school, is offering a range of interactive online courses developed and delivered by top industry practitioners.

The AFTRS course catalogue supports all levels of development and creative ambitions, from introductory skills for beginners right through to advanced development for industry practitioners wanting to sharpen their skills or take on new ones. So whether you’re looking to dive into something completely new with their introductory courses in radio, directing, screenwriting, creating mobile content and more; or looking to apply your existing know-how to the much needed fields of production accounting and screen business essentials, check out AFTRS’ online course range and enroll today. For more info head to www.aftrs.edu.au Continued on page 2

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University Of Sydney: With social distancing restrictions forcing the cessation of face-to-face teaching the University Of Sydney has had to adapt their programs rapidly to keep courses going. One such innovation has been the introduction of virtual reality classrooms, particularly for psychology students. Virtual spiders and skyscrapers are among the tools being used to teach University Of Sydney students during the COVID-19 shutdown, as a virtual reality laboratory in the School Of Psychology has been transformed into a classroom for learning about a range of physical and psychological conditions. Typically used for research and selective teaching on virtual reality therapies for

conditions including phobias, PTSD, pain, and eating disorders, the lab is now being used solely to teach these therapies to undergraduate and postgraduate students. For more information head to www.sydney.edu.au University Of Tasmania: With healthcare being under the microscope at the moment it’s exciting to see a number of offerings available in this field from UTAS. First up is their Postgraduate Nursing program, which is delivered online and in a part-time capacity to give students a realistic work-life balance. Studying a nursing specialisation with UTAS will allow students to apply that knowledge in the workplace, so they can track their progress in real time.

AFTRS Podcasting Course. Photo: supplied

STUDY ONLINE AT AFTRS Australia’s Premier Screen Arts and Broadcast School

CITY HUB 30 APRIL 2020

Next up are two very important dementia care programs. Join over 14,000 participants from around the world who have enrolled in the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre’s FREE Preventing Dementia MOOC (Massive Open Online Course). Learn about the modifiable risk factors for dementia from leading world experts in this FREE 4-week online course. The Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre is a global leader in dementia research and the largest provider of dementia education. These courses are fully online and available full-time or part-time. Study the online Diploma Of Dementia Care with a 100% tuition fee waiver for students commencing in 2020. For more info head to www.utas.edu.au William Angliss Institute: With two Australian campuses (Melbourne & Sydney) and a presence in five countries, William Angliss is the epicentre for experience industry training in the ASEAN region. Their global network of students has unrivalled access to industry opportunities and expert teaching that you can only find at Australia’s largest specialist centre.

NIDA’s Introduction To Acting For Adults. Photo: supplied

William Angliss even have FREE courses in the fields of hospitality, tourism, retail baking, meat processing, and commercial cookery. So if you’ve always wanted to dive into those fields now is the time. Alternatively William Angliss also have a range of Bachelor or Masters level degrees alongside their practical TAFE course offerings. For more info head to www.angliss.edu.au

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CITY HUB 30 APRIL 2020

HubNEWS

Cross traders bypass Covid-19 (See p.5)

Swastika drawn on Aboriginal flag BY ALEC SMART n Aboriginal flag mural in Camperdown Park, Newtown, was defaced with a swastika, prompting quick community action to cover the offensive graffiti. On 24 April, Diego-Andres RothseyRodriguez caught sight of the racist graffiti. He told City Hub, “I was just walking through the park about 10 o’clock in the morning when I saw it and I thought, ‘That’s not right!’ I needed to head off to work, so I took a photo and put it on the Newtown community page on Facebook, knowing that someone would do the right thing.” Someone did. Aimee, a nearby resident, saw the post and rushed out to cover it with yellow paint. Aimee told City Hub, “There have been several Aboriginal flags painted on that wall in Camperdown for a few years; this isn’t the first time it’s happened, unfortunately. I think it’s important to not tolerate seeing that sort of symbolism in our community.”

HubARTS: STUCK IN THE MIDDLE… NOT WORKING AT HOME I didn’t see this coming!.. Now I’m at home NOT working. And it’s weird. (See p. 6)

Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide. Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city. Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677. Published by Altmedia Pty Ltd. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content, we take no responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions. ABN 52 600 903 348 Group Editor & Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons

An Aboriginal flag was defaced with a swastika in Camperdown Park, Newtown, but it was quickly painted over by locals. Photo: DiegoAndres RothseyRodriguez

Another incident involving a swastika occurred a week earlier close by. A Nazi flag was seen in the window of a house just 350 metres from the Newtown Jewish synagogue. On that occasion Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne responded, and in a

Religious Bill relegated

News Editor: Alec Smart Contributors: Alec Smart, Mike Hitch, John Moyle Cartoonist: Sam Mcnair Arts Editor: Jamie Apps Contributors: Erika Echternach, Irina Dunn, Madison Behringer, Mark Morellini, Olga Azar, Renee Lou Dallow, Rita Bratovich, Olga Sedneva Advertising Manager: Georgina Pengelly Cover Photo: Supplied Designer: Nadia Kalinitcheva Advertising: sales@altmedia.net.au Mail: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 Email: news@altmedia.net.au, arts@altmedia.net.au Ph: 9212 5677 Fax: 9212 5633 Website: cityhubsydney.com.au If you have a story, or any comments you’d like to share with us: news@altmedia.net.au @CityHubSydney 4

CITY HUB 30 APRIL 2020

Facebook post on 18 April said, “After receiving notice yesterday that this Nazi flag was being displayed at a house in Newtown, I contacted the Inner West Police, who have helped to ensure that it has now been removed.”

The Inner West Council has voted ‘no’ to the Religious Discrimination Bill, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Image: Supplied

BY MIKE HITCH he Inner West Council (IWC) has officially taken a stand against the coalition government’s proposed Religious Discrimination Bill after noting

the importance of universally accessible healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Spearheaded by Councillor Pauline Lockie in partnership with Independent MP for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, the

Inner West Council passed a motion on 21 March endorsing a statement from Equality Australia calling for fair and equal discrimination laws that unite, rather than divide. Clr Lockie said that she was happy to see the IWC stand against the proposed Religious Discrimination Bill and the “problematic” effects it could have, not just on the LGBTQI community, but on the entirety of Australia. “I was really pleased to see it [The Motion] gain almost unanimous support because what we are standing against is the fact that it gives people a license to discriminate based on religious beliefs,” she said. “It’s unprecedented in Australian law and it really stands to have a really horrific effect on many people in the Inner West, as well as Australia.” The motion endorsing Equality Australia’s statement received a near-unanimous vote for approval, with only one councillor, Julia Passas, voting against the proposal.

HubNEWS

Southern beaches restricted

Cross-cultural solutions BY JOHN MOYLE That Sydney’s Kings Cross is resilient is an understatement, considering it survived the eighties’ heroin epidemic and, since 2014, has been under the harshest lockout laws in Australia. In spite of of this the area built and maintained a reputation for some of the finest dining in Sydney. One thing other than fine dining that the Cross is known for is exorbitant rents, and suddenly, with Covid-19, restaurants were looking at the blunt end of the stick with no seated customers and no staff. It was adapt and innovate, or die. Night-times are seeing the area buzzing with delivery riders and people picking up food from restaurants. Each Sunday, opera singers David Carroll and Sylvie Woods take to the rooftop of Franconia and perform songs. Orwell’s Coffee and flower seller Amira Zaia turned the north end of Llankelly Place into a Parisian flower market. At the other end, Oracle Café sell home-made rendangs and Balinese chicken dishes. Honkas dumpling and beer in Roslyn Street are fighting back against high fees charged by Uber Eats and Deliveroo with Love Local delivery service, using two staff and their electric bikes. Jospeh Hyde cafe has a takeaway range. On weekends

BY ALEC SMART everal of Sydney’s south shore beaches, which reopened on 20 April for exercises such as swimming, jogging and surfing, were closed just a few days later on 24 April due to reported violations of strict social distancing laws. Beaches under Randwick City administration will remain closed until further notice, including Gordon’s Bay, Malabar beach, Little Bay beach, Frenchmans beach, Yarra Bay and Congwong beach. Reduced access is now only permitted to Coogee, Clovelly and Maroubra beaches in the mornings, between 6am and 9am. Meanwhile, Bondi and Bronte beaches, managed by Waverley Council, were re-opened on 28 April for ‘Swim & Go’ while Tamarama is open to surfers only. Cronulla and Wanda beaches in Sutherland Shire are again open for exercise-only usage after they were closed over Easter. By contrast, North Shore beaches have remained continuously open for surfing and swimming, from Manly at the entrance of Sydney Harbour to Palm Beach in Sydney’s far north.

S Fresh roasted nuts are now being served at Orwell’s Cafe, one of many traders bouncing back from the Covid-19 lockdown. Photo: John Moyle

it becomes a mini-market as vendors sell roasted nuts, dog treats, fruit and veg and hand-knitted scarves and hats. Melo’s make at least 50 meals a day for delivery or pick-up. New Hampton Hotel changed to a takeaway food and bottle shop, with Posh Parmy bar doing bottles of Negroni and margaritas to go. Piccolo Bar restructured their menu to home meals and party food. Innovative DJ Stevio Bee created virtual pub COVID Arms, with musicians performing live in their homes and broadcasting via Watch Parties on Facebook + YouTube. Even Kings Cross police are aiding the less well-off in Woolloomooloo by delivering food parcels.

COFFIN ED’S NAKED CITY

hroughout history humour and satire have often been engaged to ease the pain of trauma and tragedy and boost overall morale. This was certainly the case during World Wars I and II when everything from cartoons to popular songs were designed to make people smile in the face of enormous disruption and the grim reality of war. On face value the current pandemic, with over two million infected worldwide and some 200,00 deaths, would appear nothing to laugh about. Nevertheless there are increasing elements of comedy and absurdity that have been generated as a kind of mental vaccine. In most cases it’s a perfectly explainable defence mechanism employed by many people to counter their fears, anxiety and the social restraints of lockdown. Occasionally it makes no sense at all such as the bizarre ‘Corona Pool Party’ held in South Africa around the middle of March. Hundreds of people attended and joined in a mass chant of “Corona Corona Corona” whilst cavorting madly in the pool. Whether it was an act of defiance, an explosion of mass lunacy or the baptism reborn remains open to question. Not a good advertisement for social distancing. T-shirts have always been the perfect human advertising hoarding for catchy and

COVID CAPERS By Sam Mcnair

comic slogans of which the pandemic has spawned literally hundreds. Some of the more original offerings on eBay include “KUNG FLU FIGHTING”, “STRAIGHT OUT OF TOILET PAPER” and the Mona Lisa with a face mask. All bound to be collector’s items in about 20 years time! With lockdowns all over the world, people have far too much time on their hands and recording a ‘COVID-19’ version of a top 40 tune has delivered an ever increasing ‘virus’ song book. The Knack’s

#thatsneakyrabbit

My Sharona (i.e. My Corona) has been an obvious target, with multiple versions that even include a tagalog version from the Philippines. Country singer Buddy Brown has released the rather unoriginal I Got A Case Of Corona and every genre from reggae to now highly appropriate Deathcore has bumped out an internet offering. Filming a ‘corona’ stunt for YouTube can be fraught with danger. When a number of young Russian men staged a fake

virus collapse on the Moscow metro and posted online, it wasn’t too long before the over-zealous Russian police were on their tail. Similarly when budding Canadian social media star James Potok announced to passengers on a flight from Toronto to Jamaica that he was carrying the virus, the pilot turned the plane around with the police waiting at the airport. Stand-up comedians have also had a field day posting their isolation jokes online but when it comes to true comedy in a tragic environment, nothing comes close to Donald Trump. You seriously have to ask, has age and early onset dementia finally caught up with the Donald? Here’s a leader who encourages average Americans to all wear a mask and then says, “I won’t be wearing one.” Here’s a president who says the Corona virus is very interesting, “people can’t get enough of it.” And here’s a world leader who endorses chloroquine as a possible miracle virus cure when there is absolutely no medical proof to back him up. And damm you Trump – you told the world that disinfectant could be administered intravenously to combat the virus. There’s not a container of Dettol left at my local supermarket and just yesterday I caught a good friend trying to shoot up a whole bottle of Pine-O-Cleen. How did we know over 24 hours later that you were just being “sarcastic”? CITY HUB 30 APRIL 2020

HubARTS

SOLE SESSIONS: “This initiative is so wonderful... I got quite emotional afterwards” (See p.7)

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE… NOT WORKING AT HOME

ENSEMBLE THEATRE CONVERSATIONS

ith the city under lockdown ardent theatregoers are going online with Ensemble Theatre Conversations to stay connected. Mark Kilmurry, the Ensemble Theatre artistic director, explained that he came up with the idea of keeping audiences engaged with the actors they may have seen on the stage. “I wanted to have conversations about the actor’s lives and work. It’s not terribly in-depth perhaps and it’s not meant to be that, it’s just to have a conversation and a chat as if you’re listening to two people talking in a foyer.” People who tune in may also have the opportunity to ask these actors questions which they’ve never had the chance of asking. Conversations with Georgie Parker, Kate Raison, and Brian Meegan are already available to watch, with further

BY GEOFF SIRMAI s a freelance arts publicist, I’ve happily been working from home for 20 years. Being the ‘matchmaker’ - the middle-man between performing artists and the media. With a special niche in the ‘indie’ scene (as opposed to the pricier big commercial end), I’d always thought my sector was recessionproof. And I’d hoped not to jinx it. Well, like everyone else… I didn’t see this coming! Not a downturn but a violent plunge. Now I’m at home NOT working. And it’s weird. On one side, my clients’ shows, gigs and festivals shut down almost overnight. Likewise on my other side, the arts media have shrunk; with no upcoming live shows to preview or review, pages have disappeared, staff laid-off. I’m in the middle, with nothing to promote… and nowhere to promote it! I’m lucky… I figure I can tough it out on savings, credit, ‘special consideration’, etc, though none of us really know how

talent contributing in the coming weeks including Australian playwright Melanie Tate and director Priscilla Jackman, whose play was in rehearsals when the shutdown was ordered. Kilmurry said that he’d like the Ensemble Theatre Conversations to continue once the theatre reopens. “I’m enjoying doing it and they’ve proven to be quite successful... If we can make it a regular thing, I’d love that!” (MMo) To tune into Ensemble Conversations head to www.facebook.com/ ensembletheatrewww.facebook. com/ensembletheatre

long this will last – or how long it will take for the Arts to recover. I might even qualify for government support, if can ever get through. But the feeling of grief all around me is palpable. And with it a real anger about the disrespect shown to our industry which is always the first to offer help when others are in trouble and which is providing the soul-saving entertainment in this challenging time. Forgotten by government, taken for granted by many… I hope we are all still there when all this darkness ends. Geoff Sirmai is the director of Sirmai Arts Marketing - www.sirmai.com.au

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CITY HUB 30 APRIL 2020

HubARTS

SCULPTURE BY THE SEA RETURNING W ith Sydney making great strides towards flattening the curve of COVID-19 arts organisations and local councils are beginning to make preparations for the future. Waverley Council and Sculpture By The Sea in particular have formulated a plan to bring the iconic event back. The world’s largest annual freeto-the-public outdoor sculpture exhibition plans to return to the

2km Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk in October, pending any public gathering restrictions remaining in place. The announcement comes on the back of a new 10 year agreement between the organisation and council. Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, said the license agreement is an important step forward in the future of the worldclass sculpture event. “Our Council has supported this

event for the past 23 years, and we look forward to continuing to support the event in whatever exciting form it takes.” Founding Director of Sculpture By The Sea, David Handley said, “This exhibition is about Hope. We hope to be able to stage the exhibition this spring. In the meantime, we hope that everyone stays safe and well.” Oct 22-Nov 8. Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk. FREE. Info: www.sculpturebythesea.com

SOLE SESSIONS O

ut of the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic a brand new initiative has been launched to bring home-grown Australian entertainment into the lives of people across the country and around the world. Sole Sessions is an innovative new steaming delivery method designed to allow artists in lockdown to scratch their performance itch, generate a small amount of income for themselves and most importantly ease the feeling of isolation felt by the artists themselves and their audience. Sole Sessions was kicked off by musical theatre star Daniel Assetta with his incredible Songs Unsung show. During Assetta’s performance he was able to finally sing some of his favourite songs, which had previously gone unsung by him. These songs where those which he had hummed along to backstage night after night, belted out in the shower for no one to hear and those which had kept him company on the road or provided him comfort during this period of isolation. Prior to the social distancing measures Assetta was preparing for a starring role in the Darlinghurst Theatre’s production of A Chorus Line. Sadly though that particular show never got to open, with the shutdown coming into affect on opening night. “We were working really hard right up to opening night, it was on opening night that we

DIET CIG - DO YOU WONDER ABOUT ME?

unfortunately had to close the show. So for the past month I’ve felt this really strange, empty feeling,” Assetta told City Hub. Bearing this in mind, Assetta immediately jumped at the opportunity to perform again when he was approached to participate in Sole Sessions. “When they approached me with Sole Sessions I was 100% onboard, even though I knew it was going to take my energy for a couple of days.” When reflecting on the experience afterwards Assetta described Sole Sessions as overwhelming, fulfilling, emotional, unusual and special. “This initiative is so wonderful because it’s giving artists an opportunity to essentially do what we do as a job... I got quite emotional afterwards,” Assetta explained. “Performing to nobody, just a camera, was quite strange. There was something quite unusual but so special about it that made it feel like we were reaching people.” Not only does Sole Sessions allow artists to release their creativity and feel fulfilment but it also allows them to generate some income through virtual ticket sales, donations and tips. Something which is of particular need in this very uncertain time when artists are unsure about when their next opportunity to be on stage will be. When asked if he would recommend other artists apply to participate in Sole Sessions

HEARTS AND BONES ugo Weaving delivers a powerful performance in this important but excruciatingly slow-paced film that examines the building friendship between a photographer and a refugee who dreams of a better life. Daniel (Weaving) is a professional photographer who photographs ‘what his conscious asks him to.’ His photos are described as ‘misery porn,’ as much of his work is from war-torn Iraq. When he selects pho-tographs to include in an exhibition, a refugee implores him not to include any from a massacre that oc-curred in his village. This ignites a series of

April Pine, ‘Shifting Horizons’, Sculpture By The Sea, Bondi 2018. Photo: Charlotte Curd

Assetta told us that he had in fact already begun doing so. “I have already started telling a couple of my friends who have had show ideas to apply. It has definitely been nice to have something to look forward to in this period of time. A lot of performers are quite lost because they’re without their medium for reaching people or working towards a product which gives enjoyment to people. That is the main reason we do this, we love giving and seeing people’s enjoyment. So I really do hope that a lot of people get onboard with Sole Sessions so that they can experience that feeling as well.” Daniel Assetta’s Sole Session can be viewed on www.youtube.com Check online for shows added weekly, including new Sole Sessions by Joanna Weinberg and Conrad Hamill coming in May. Artists can apply to participate in Sole Sessions by emailing sole.sessions@gmail.com

he American duo Diet Cig is back with a new album called Do You Wonder About Me? being released at the beginning of May. The female and male combo effortlessly meshes their young and delicate vocals into the gritty and hardened pop-rock genre, creating an effect all their own. Who Are You? and Priority Mail especially show off the group’s ability to produce fresh and intriguing instrumental riffs while being culturally relevant lyrically. For those who just can’t wait until to hear Diet Cig’s latest work, their single Night Terrors has already been released – although in the words of one of the new singles, the album will be Worth The Wait. (EE)

WWWW

events that changes both their lives. Complex and multi-layered this film is topical and includes several confronting scenes that should spread awareness over the treatment and desperate plight of refugees globally. Hearts And Bones is quintessentially a film that makes a universal statement on the social issues which confront refugees and should be seen by all audiences. However, the film has little commercial appeal outside the art cinema circuit and may be lost amongst the more popular blockbuster films. (MMo) WWW CITY HUB 30 APRIL 2020

How we can all help stop the spread of Covid-19: Observe social distancing

Strict limits on public

gatherings

STAY HOME IF YOU CAN

Practice good hygiene

Follow the self-isolation rules

Covid-19 Support Financial support

For the latest advice, information & resources:

www.health.gov.au NSW Health: www.health.nsw.gov.au

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve lost your job, lost hours, or are suffering financial hardship, find out what support is available, including wage subsidies: www.treasury.gov.au/coronavirus.

Support for businesses & sole traders If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a business or a sole trader, find out what support is available at www.business.gov.au or 13 28 46.

If you have concerns about your health,

seek medical advice. National Coronavirus Helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Support for renters The National Cabinet has agreed to ban evictions over the next six months for commercial and residential tenants in financial distress who are unable to meet their commitments due to the impact of coronavirus. For help: NSW Fair Trading at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au or 13 32 20 or the Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service at www.tenants.org.au or 02 8117 3700.

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If you need further assistance, please call my office on 9379 0700 or email me: Tanya.Plibersek.MP@aph.gov.au

TANYA PLIBERSEK MP COVID-19 UPDATE (AS AT MARCH 31, 2020) Authorised by Tanya Plibersek MP, Australian Labor Party, 1A Great Buckingham St, Redfern

CITY HUB 30 APRIL 2020