City Hub 11 August 2016 by Alt Media

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Steven Durbach, Gail Murphy and Cecilia Hwang

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ATP Conference Centre closure final nail in the coffin

BY JORDAN FERMANIS The ATP Conference Centre which was been operational since 1998 will close its doors for the last time on 30 June 2017. In a media release that has flown under the radar of Sydney media outlets, Director of Sales and Marketing at ATP, Ruby Chronis announced the closure. “Australian Technology Park (ATP) Conference Centre, which has been running since 1998, is due to close on 30 June 2017.” “The move heralds a new chapter in ATP’s rich history—one that started more than 100 years ago when it first embraced industries of the future,” Ms Chronis said. Speaking to City Hub Ms Chronis said that the construction of the redevelopment by the Mirvac consortium would affect the Conference Centre’s viability and that the lease on the Conference Centre is due to expire at the end of the financial year. “The construction will be taking place in the carpark which will have a direct impact on the conferencing business.” “We also have a lease which expires in June 2017,” Ms Chronis said. However community groups and politicians alike have been shocked by the announcement which will see the loss of what its own site states is ‘reputably ‘Sydney’s most unique venue.’ The centre has been housed in the heritage listed Locomotive Workshop. Greens NSW spokesperson on Urban Growth, Jamie Parker said that closure of the ATP Conference Centre attests to community concerns that the public would be kept out of the redevelopment. “The announcement shows that local residents were right to be concerned about the sale of what was a vibrant and loved public space to the Mirvac consortium.”

Public access to ATP is being threatened. Photo John Dalton

“The ATP Conference Centre has been home to local designer markets, exhibitions, live concerts, conferences, the Cruelty Free Festival, and many other cultural events. It is one of the most unique and historic venues in Sydney. Now it’s shutting its doors to public events.” Alice Anderson REDWatch Spokesperson said that the conditions on the $263 million sale by the NSW government were to enforce stricter regulations on the development of the site. She was also indicated that REDWatch was concerned at the lack of coverage the closure of the Conference Centre had received. “How the sale was presented to the general community was that there would be heavy government regulations on what could be used

Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide. Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city. Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677. Published by Altmedia Pty Ltd. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content, takes no responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions. ABN 52 600 903 348 Group Manager: Chris Peken Group Editor: Christopher Harris Contributors: Lucas Baird, Andrew Barclay, Arts Editors: Jamie Apps, Alannah Maher Advertising Managers: Mark Barnes, David Sullivan Cover Photo: Chris Peken – Steven Durbach, Gail Murphy and Cecilia Hwang Designer: Nadia Kalinitcheva Advertising: sales@altmedia.net.au Mail: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 Email: news@altmedia.net.au, arts@altmedia.net.au Ph: 9212 5677 Fax: 9212 5633 Website: altmedia.net.au

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for the site and how it could be developed but that is turning out to be false.” “There hasn’t been much coverage on the Conference Centre closing early next year. So it seems like things are being kept quiet and kept quiet for a purpose,” Ms Anderson said. The annoucement of the closure is closely timed to the reopening of the revamped International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour which is scheduled to open in December of this year. The state government seems to leveraging the success of one of Sydney’s most unique and historic venues against the new conference centre megaplex. A spokesperson from Mirvac said that future plans for the Conference Centre are “still to be determined” but reiterated the commitment of

Mirvac and the NSW government to protect the heritage significance of the site. “As the Conference Centre is located within the Locomotive Workshop - which does not form part of the current redevelopment - the final use and plan for this site is still to be determined.” “It’s important to note that as part of the sale of ATP by the NSW State Government, a heritage covenant is in place to ensure the heritage significance of the site and in particular the Locomotive Workshop is maintained and addressed as part of any future development,” the spokesperson said. However Friends of Erskineville President Darren Jenkins said that the closure of the Conference Centre displays a disregard for the community by both Mirvac and the state government. “The ATP conference facilities have been an important meeting place in South Sydney for the last 20 years. “ “It is bitterly ironic that the public consultations about the privatisation of the ATP and the massive development of the Eveleigh rail yards were held in the very same heritage buildings that will soon be off-limits to the public.” “It seems Mike Baird and his government are prepared to do anything to turn a quick buck at any cost, “ Mr Jenkins said. As it remains unclear what the future of the Conference Centre will be, community groups are apprehensive about how much access the public will be granted to the new ATP site after the latest news which has removed an another public space. “With their latest plans and this latest news, that’s very up in the air and questioned and it will have great impact on the surrounding community.” “What are they going to using that space for now? And how will they develop that area?,” Ms Anderson from REDWatch said.

Sydney Business Vote less substantial than predicted BY LAWRENCE GIBBONS Over the last 10 months the City of Sydney has spent more than $8 million enrolling just over 22,000 businesses in the upcoming City of Sydney elections, costing ratepayers more than $360 to register a single non-residential voter. Under a new state law implemented in 2014, the City is required to enrol all eligible businesses to vote. The City has not complied with the law. According to Sydney Matters leader and Lord Mayoral candidate Clr Angela Vithoulkas, the City has admitted “there were 138,000 property owners, corporations, occupiers, sole traders and others who could have been eligible to be enrolled.” The City has registered just over 15 per cent of that figure. According to Clr Vithoulkas, “It is a disgrace that once again millions of dollars of City of Sydney ratepayers’ money has been squandered.” A spokesperson for the NSW Minister for Local Government Paul Toole told the City Hub: “The system of non-residential elector enrolment, passed through Parliament in 2014 and recommended by an inquiry into the 2012 local government elections, is based on the successful City of Melbourne model.” In the smaller city of Melbourne there are three hundred percent more non-residential voters on the roll (65,000 vs 22,000). Businesses represent more than 60% of the vote in Victoria’s capital city. In Sydney businesses now make up just over 20% of the vote, with 100,000 residents and 22,000 non-residents on the roll. Liberal candidate for Lord Mayor, Clr

Christine Forster told City Hub, “it appears to me to be very obvious that not all of the businesses in the City have been contacted, and many of those which have been have not taken any steps to get enrolled. “ Incumbent Lord Mayor Clover Moore has decried the new business vote laws as an “undemocratic gerrymander”. The Sydney Morning Herald has reported “the increased power of the business vote could rob her of her majority of support among fellow councillors. Because she has had a majority of support on council, The business vote Cr Moore has largely not had to horse-trade with other councillors to implement her priorities.” Had Clover Moore’s City of Sydney complied with the law and enrolled all eligible business voters, the sitting Lord Mayor’s position would have been more severely threatened. But no one appears to have the political will to compel the City of Sydney to register all eligible business voters. The NSW Electoral Commission (NSWEC) told the City Hub: “The process of preparing the Non-residential Roll is administered by the City

is less than expected

of Sydney council under the provisions of City of Sydney Act. The City of Sydney Act is not administered by NSWEC.” A spokesperson for State Premier Mike Baird told City Hub “there are no plans to delay the City of Sydney elections due to be held on 10 September.” Labor Shadow Minister for Local Government Peter Primrose MLC has vowed “The next NSW Labor Government will repeal the costly provisions that require the City of Sydney to maintain a compulsory register of non-residential voters.” city hub 11 AUGUST 2016

City Hall is on the nose for ‘fresh food people’ BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS On Monday Woolworths abandoned plans to open a supermarket on Oxford Street in council owned property. The council had previously announced that Woolworths would occupy the property at 56-76 Oxford Street, but the council was behind on promised capital works which lured the international chain to the street. Across the road in the Oxford Square Centre, Aldi recently replaced Duffy’s supermarket. The council had agreed to invest $750,000 in the building, which would have paid for an upgraded power supply for the supermarket. According to a council document, the City had spent $3.7 million in capital works for the dilapidated building. Earlier this year, a 400kg stone piece of façade of another council owned building fell onto the footpath below. Woolworths were to be the “anchor tenancy” that would bring activation and more commercial activity into the lifeless end of Oxford Street. The document said that the expected completion of the store was due either late last year or early this year. But with the council behind on the promised work, Woolworths backed out of the deal. Liberal Councillor Christine Forster said Lord Mayor Clover Moore had failed Oxford Street once again. “The City of Sydney owns a valuable

to fix Oxford Street was supposed to have been implemented by 2014, but at the end of that year and after my calls for decisive action, the completion date was pushed back by years and it is now expected before 2018. And still Oxford Street remains a shadow of the vibrant destination it was before Clover Moore took the reins.” A City spokesperson was quick to attribute to the decision to Woolworth’s recent woeful stock performance. “Woolworths has informed the City of Sydney that due to changing circumstances within their business they do not expect to proceed with an agreed A vacant shop on Oxford St. lease of City property at 56-76 Oxford property portfolio on the north side of Street for a new Metro store.” Oxford Street, but Clover Moore’s failure “This is a commercial decision taken to implement any overarching strategy for by Woolworths, and follows its recently the assets has left many of them empty and announced national store network review. rundown, and meant the street’s economic The City will not be commenting on viability has been in a steady downturn,” Woolworths’ changed business priorities.” said Liberal Councillor and Lord Mayoral A spokesperson for Woolworths said the Candidate Christine Forster. company was in the process of exiting a “Clover Moore’s answer has been to number of its metro stores. pretend Council’s Oxford Street buildings “We announced recently that we will are a ‘creative hub’ and to lease the exit a small number of Metro store leases shopfronts out at peppercorn rents to early, including one that we will not be pop-up retailers. Meanwhile, parts of the opening, which is the Oxford Street site”. properties’ upper floors have been left to “We currently have 32 Metro stores fall into such disrepair that they are empty and it is an evolving format which we will or uninhabitable, with a 400kg lump of continue to test and improve as we go stone recently falling off one building onto along, and this includes ensuring the sites the footpath below,” Councillor Forster we operate in are best suited to meeting added. our customers’ needs,” the spokesperson “The Lord Mayor’s so-called plan said.

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Libs promise cabinet style council for City BY CHARLOTTE GRIEVE A Liberal Town Hall would have former Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s sister, Christine Forster, as Lord Mayor and Ryde Councillor Craig Chung as her right-hand man. Together, they would conquer Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s “fiefdom” and give the community back their voice, according to Clr Forster. Clr Forster has promised to establish a “cabinet-style council” characterised by a “collaborative approach to leadership.” Under this leadership model, she would create ten City of Sydney portfolios, each led by a different councillor. Clr Forster would assign Clr Chung as the leader of the “economic development.” She regards this allocation as a “no brainer” due to Clr Chung’s “strong business experience and connections to global international business in Macquarie park and in the City of Sydney.” To be eligible to run for the City of Sydney Town Hall, a Councillor must be able to vote in the local area as either a resident or a business owner. Clr Chung has lived in the north-western Sydney suburb of Ryde for more than 15 years. With his residential address located more than 13 kilometres from the CBD, Clr Chung must be a registered business owner in the city precinct, paying over $4,000 p.a. in rent or rates to qualify. Clr Chung describes himself as a “successful small business owner.” He is the joint owner of Qtone Education, a business that was first registered in Darlinghurst just over 12 months ago. At present, the business employs only one person other than Clr Chung in Australia. Qtone is also known as Student Placement Services and is responsible for liaising with foreign contractors to assist Chinese students in their application to Australian Universities. Qstone’s website has no mention of a street address, nor any available contact details. Clr Chung explained this is because all of his customers are foreign. “Most of the applications come from overseas, actually all of the applications come from overseas,” he said. If elected, Clr Forster and Chung will work together to redevelop areas of the City to resemble that of the Darling Harbour skyline. Clr Forster regards such development as “vital for growing and

Business focus: Libs look to redevelop City. Photo: supplied

bringing large numbers of people to the area.” She believes the Darling Harbour precinct is a “great mix” of residential, cultural and commercial space and is “not at all” overcrowded. The Central Sydney Planning strategy has recently released a development plan whereby building height limits could be increased to in excess of 300 metres. This would mean that newly constructed buildings could be as tall as the Sydney Tower in all parts of the CBD. “I have lobbied for some years to make buildings in the City grow taller so I’m pleased to see that part of the strategy being proposed,” said Clr Forster. These new height limits would apply to the Haymarket district which, if redeveloped, could radically alter the atmosphere of City’s oriental hub. Clr Forster has promised to establish an extensive consultation process with the local community by establishing a “China Town Leadership Forum.” “We will set up a permanent forum of community and business leaders from China Town and the surrounding area,” she said.

Team Moore: Four Leafs and a Clover BY JORDAN FERMANIS Clover Moore’s line up for the new City of Sydney Council elections has been announced. According to a spokesperson from the Lord Mayor’s office, Kerryn Phelps will fill the second spot on the ticket. The former president of the Australian Medical Association is a prominent lesbian and gay rights activist and has a local medical practice in Surry Hills. Philip Thalis is third on the ticket. A prominent urban architect, his designs have featured at the Olympic Park and at Pirrama Park in Pyrmont (on behalf of the City of Sydney). His award winning plans for Barrangaroo were set aside in favour of Packer’s unsolicited bid to erect a high rise casino. Jess Scully is fourth on the ticket. She is the creative director of Vivid, curator of TEDX Sydney and public art curator for the Green Square Library and Plaza (for the City of Sydney).

The new Clover Mooore. Photo: Jaquie Manning

city hub 11 AUGUST 2016

Robert Kok is fifth. Currently serving his second term on the City of Sydney Council, he is a lawyer and is involved in the local Chinese community. Fifth is Jess Miller is an advocate for liveable cities and sixth is Catherine Lezer an advocate for apartment residents. In this previous term Kok was fourth on the ticket and was the last person to make it over the line. The current line up signals that the Clover Moore team is confident that there will be a swing towards the incumbent and her team this election. This would see a return of five Moore Councillors, giving her outright control of all Council decisions. Inside sources close to Town Hall speculate that Clover Moore will retire midway through the term and will pass the Lord Mayoral robes onto Kerryn Phelps, which may be wishful thinking on their part.

The redevelopment of the Haymarket precinct has been a controversial election issue across history. In 1999, Kathyrn Greiner, a Liberal lord mayoral candidate running against Frank Sartor and Lucy Turnbull essentially lost the election over her policies to allow building height limit increases in the area. Sources on Council at the time state the argument was and still is that having sky scrapers everywhere would change the nature of the area totally. “It would decimate China Town as we know it. It would give huge windfall profit to property owners and give little back to the community.” While the City of Sydney council unanimously agree on the increased height limits, Councillor Linda Scott is instead focusing her attention on enhancing the cultural festivities of the Haymarket area. “We want to ensure a rejuvenation of the Haymarket area though strong cultural investment in the Chinese New Year celebrations,” Clr Scott told City Hub. In what Clr Forster describes as “infrastructure recycling,” a Liberal Town Hall would also support and facilitate the move of the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta. “The proposal to move the Powerhouse was about unlocking the value of the property in Ultimo in order to pay for a world class cultural institution in Parramatta,” she said. “It’s great that we have our wonderful cultural institutions in the City of Sydney but we also have to recognise that there aren’t many of those facilities in Western Sydney and the people of Western Sydney are entitled to get a fair share of the pie,” Clr Forster told City Hub. “Of course Western Sydney is deserving of a strong cultural precinct and identity but that shouldn’t be funded on the back of the sale of cultural assets in the inner city,” said Clr Scott. It would appear that a cabinet lead by Clr Forster would be characterised by a number of “unlockings” of public land to pave way for major development plans, such as that of Waterloo. Clr Forster regards the redevelopment plan for Waterloo that is set to demolish the homes of more than four thousand public housing tenants to make way for a metro line as a “visionary decision for the future.” “If the sale of public land provides funds to invest in necessary infrastructure that the community needs and that our growing population of Sydney needs, I see no issue with it,” she said.

Community group rallies behind SCA Callan Park’s future secured. Photo: supplied

BY LUCAS BAIRD The Friends of Callan Park has called for the University of Sydney to allow the Sydney College of the Arts (SCA) to stay in the Kirkbride facility. Members of the Let SCA Stay group defeated a move by the University of Sydney and UNSW to combine the art school with UNSW’s faculty of art and design, but the University of Sydney still wants SCA to move out of its current facility in Callan Park. The Friends of Callan Park group has raised concerns over the potential move. They said that the community has a “special interest” in the SCA staying in Callan Park and that the SCA has been an “ideal tenant” “They have kept the building in good order; they have been very accommodating to the public who want to inspect the buildings; they don’t have much of an impact on the park itself. They have been excellent tenants,” said Friends of Callan Park President, Hall Greenland. “Kirkbride, which is the finest bit of colonial buildings in Australia, for the last 20 years it has

been tenanted by the Sydney College of the Arts.” “If it is left vacant or if it’s cut up into a number of tenancies then we have, I think, quite reasonable fears that the state and condition of the building will deteriorate.” However, Mr Greenwood conceded that the move would not affect the group’s Callan Park Master Plan as long as another educational institute took the SCA’s place, but said he didn’t want to risk anything. Let SCA Stay has also diverted their attention to maintaining the Kirkbride campus as they claim that students prefer it over the main university campus and that enrolment numbers would drop. “The student intake would be vastly reduced, the majority of the people studying now would not have a place in the small scale boutique art school,” they said. “The university is only thinking now where the hell they could put us; this is not a thought out and considerate plan.” “Students demand to be treated with respect. Students want to stay at Kirkbride in Callan Park.”

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FEATURE

Creatively Combatting Racism

the past three years. This project has been really good for me because I’m not just telling my story but I’m talking on behalf of many refugees, which makes me feel strong.” It’s not just refugee stories that this performance conveys, it also brings in Red Cross social worker Katie Green to speak about some of the hurdles refugees face and also the emotional impact their stories have had on her. “It was a real privilege to be in that position and hear their stories but it was also incredibly stressful, overwhelming and traumatic,” reflected Katie. “It made me realise how lucky I was to be born in Australia and have all the rights that go along with that.” Breaking down problematic myths is key for arts projects like these to bridge cultural divides within society. Katie says the most commonly held misconception is that “asylum seekers come here and get given houses” when in reality “a couple of years ago they didn’t have the right to work so they were forced onto a government benefit, which was 89% of the average Centrelink benefit, which for a single person amounted to around $450 per fortnight and had to cover everything including rent.” With that fact in mind it’s incredibly disappointing for many of the artists involved in both of these shows when they hear comments like those from Pauline Hanson and Sonia Kruger. “Comments like that make us afraid and promote hate,” said Karen Therese. Gail Murphy however says: “I don’t even get angry anymore, I just feel sorry for people like that.” Aboriginal elder Aunty Ronda Dickson added:“You can’t help but laugh. It shows just how ridiculous and racist these types of moments are.” Steven Durbach may have put it best, saying: “Art gives us a common vehicle and reason to talk to each other. Whenever you can find that common ground you can go past culture and race to realise that people are just people and they’re generally lovely.”

Cecilia Hwang. Photo: Chris Peken

By Jamie Apps While many people would rather not admit it, racism is still alive and rampant within Australian society, as evident by recent comments from Pauline Hanson and Sonia Kruger. Thankfully though our vibrant arts community is creating works that combat intolerance and attempt to bring us together as a single unified community. My Place + Your Place = A Better Place, is an art exhibition currently being held at the Waverley Library.This exhibition brings together artists from the Jewish,Aboriginal and Korean communities in a multicultural exhibition which curator Estelle Rozinski hopes will allow “people of different backgrounds to experience the idea of ‘same but different’ and realise that we all have things that [are] universal regardless of culture.” “Art is one of the few remaining things that brings us together,” explained Aboriginal artist Gail Murphy when asked about the importance of this exhibition for the artists involved. Jewish artist Steven Durbach added: “It’s about generating conversations and art is quite a non-threatening way to do that.” By placing the exhibition in a public library rather than a traditional gallery the hope is that it will be much more accessible to the wider community. While the aim of the exhibition as whole may seem incredibly lofty, Estelle will be satisfied if the exhibition can simply “expose one person to a different culture and have them take the time to engage and think”. As Korean artist Cecilia Hwang says: “small gestures can start something much bigger.” Sydney’s arts community also hopes to help change attitudes through a performance piece by Powerhouse Youth Theatre in conjunction with Griffin Theatre Company titled Tribunal. Tribunal brings together Aboriginal elders, refugees, activists and lawyers in a work which takes the form of a peoples court and conveys the parallel story of Australia’s indigenous community with that of refugees. Tribunal was the brainchild of creative director Karen Therese following conversations over the course of almost a year with the members of the cast.“We had to be very committed to letting the project simply evolve out of our conversations,” she explained.“We’re not looking to traumatise people or push an agenda.The work is simply about being kind to people, listening to their stories and not judging.” One of the stars of the show is refugee and “boat person” Mahdi Mohammadi, who explained how important being a part of this show has been for him.“I’m still waiting on the outcome [of my application for refugee status] so the hardest part has been living in a limbo situation for

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Alberto’s Pizzeria at 589 King St Newtown has been local favourite since it opened its doors in 1989. Lots might have changed since the late 80s, but the inner west’s best pizza isn’t one of them. Eighty year old owner Alberto has been working in the pizza business since 1979, when he opened his first shop on Percival St in Stanmore, before moving to the current site on King St. But there is a lot more to the octogenarian than just pizza. Once upon a time Alberto studied music in Sydney, playing the accordion in the live music venues of Sydney’s past. Alberto remembers the shopping high street 8

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mecca of King St as once a “ghost town” compared to the modern day. Alberto goes by the old adage, ‘what you see, is what you get!’, he is a Calabrian by birth, travelling to Australia by ship after the second world war in the exodus of southern Europeans to Australian shores. After arriving in Australia, Alberto’s search for employment took him to the Tablelands of Far North Queensland in Mareeba as well as Wollongong south, before deciding to settle in Sydney. Alberto found a job on the Snowy Mountains Project in 1956 before coming to Sydney and entering the restaurant business. Alberto is a permanent fixture at the pizzeria and can be seen rolling out dough and preparing meals most nights of the week. He is about to release a new menu which has a focus on traditional Italian pizza whilst also incorporating some more exotic varieties. Alberto’s Pizzeria is open seven days a week, from 5pm. to 11p.m. 589 King St, Newtown NSW 2042 Phone: (02) 9519 4262

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Songs For A New World Teagan Woulters. Photo: Ben Fon

It’s hard to describe. Songs For A New World is somewhere between an abstract musical and song cycle, with no narrative plot and a multitude of personas played by four actors. Even actor Sophie Carter, who plays “woman 2” can’t really define it: “It’s sort of hard to nail down a specific description of the show…but that’s one of the beauties about it – it’s so open to interpretation.” Written in 1997, it was the first musical by award-winning composer/lyricist Jason Robert Brown, and has been performed continuously around the world. Carter attributes its

popularity to the fact it has universal themes, relatable situations and incredible songs. “They’re written so beautifully, they’re such a joy to actually sing,” she said. Beautiful, perhaps, but also challenging. Brown’s musicals typically include songs that cover a broad range of styles and genres. Couple that with settings that jump from a 15th Century Spanish galleon, to a high rise New York building, to a pre-Christmas Mrs Claus, to a wannabe basketball hero; and you have four actors who have truly earned their pay by the end of the night. Carter is not at all phased by this and is looking forward to being on stage with the other actors: “…They’re all incredibly strong singers, incredibly strong performers, and I just can’t wait to get that wall of sound going.” The production is being staged in the very intimate Hayes Theatre, which Carter believes is apt because the play is about “connecting the songs to people in the audience”. With the depth and diversity of emotions, personalities and scenarios as well as a songbook of instantly likeable tunes, this show should appeal to a wide crowd. (RB) Aug 12–28, varied performance times. Hayes Theatre, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point. $49-$59. Tickets & info: www.hayestheatre.com.au

Off The Record

How do you act in public? How do you act outside it? How different are these two selves? Force Majeure’s Off The Record is a wry, semi-biographical exercise in oversharing that looks to transgress from the private sphere into the public. Performed by a cast of actors with and without disability, the co-directors hope that over-sharing might not just be funny and touching, but also insightful.

Accordingly, co-directors Danielle Micich and Philip Channells were interested in examining “the performers’ documented histories, such as assessments of their aptitude, personal characters and health, in order to find out where in their lives they may have started to break the rules”. In fact, the body of the play was generated from the performers’ narrative responses to “a series of 20 questions around the theme of [when they had broken] rules”. Co-produced with Carriageworks in partnership with Dance Integrated Australia, Off The Record attempts to highlight the consequences, both personal and social, of following the often unspoken rules of public conduct, and the consequences of breaking them. Off The Record attempts to voice the small, everyday ways disability can impact one’s life, in public, in private, and in the moments in-between. (ZS) Aug 17–20, varied performance times. Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh. $35. Tickets: www.ticketmaster. com.au/artist/2179884 Info: www.forcemajeure.com.au

a&e

city hub 11 AUGUST 2016

10 STAGE 12 SCENE 13 Sounds 14 SCREEN

The Last Five Years Jason Robert Brown is a composer/lyricist whose name might not be familiar to the casual theatregoer, and yet currently two of his musicals are being staged in Sydney. “He has quite a cult following,” explained Belinda Humphries, who is starring in one of those productions,The Last Five Years by The Lane Cove Theatre Company. As is typical of Brown, this musical is a hybrid of song cycle and abstract narrative, with songs encompassing a broad range of styles and genres. Apart from the technical difficulties of dealing with different time signatures and melodic phrasing, the actors also have to grapple with a spectrum of sentiments and intense situations. “The emotional journey that these characters go on is incredibly raw and incredibly honest…” Humphries remarked. The story covers the five-year span of a relationship, from start to finish, featuring only the couple involved.The device twist is that each character is moving in opposite chronological direction.At the start of the play Cathy (Humphries) is at the end of the relationship and

Jamie (Brent Dolahenty) & Cathy (Belinda Humphries)

moving backwards; Jamie (Brent Dolahenty) is at the beginning and moving forward.They meet in the middle – their wedding – but then continue past each other until they each reach the other end of the relationship. It’s supposedly based on the demise of Brown’s own marriage, which would explain the visceral nature of the story and songs: “You can leave either way…you can essentially leave feeling either elated or you can feel devastated that a marriage has ended,” explained Humphries. She thanks musical director, Keiren Brandt-Sawdy, for helping Dolahenty and herself deal with the vocal challenges. In fact, she acknowledges the high calibre of Brandt-Sawdy, Dolahenty and director Lochie Beh whose combined talents have created a special piece of theatre. (RB) Aug 12–20, varied performance times. The Performance Space @ St Aidan’s, 1 Christina St, Longueville. $15-$25 ($70 family pass).Tickets & info: www.lanecovetheatrecompany.com

Review: Beirut Adrenaline Beirut Adrenaline packs a powerful punch of self-reflection for its 2016 Sydney audience. Currently playing at Belvoir’s nooky downstairs stage, the play takes audiences back to 1980’s Beirut at the time of the civil war. Centred upon the Daher family, audiences are given a personal snapshot of the painful heartbreak of war as Mona and her brother Zyad escape to Paris leaving behind their loved ones. Considering today’s political climate; there’s a lot this play is saying. The story shifts between the cities of Paris and Beirut and captures the characters’ struggles to adapt to the new, while aching for the past. Clever stage direction keeps audiences intrigued through scenes of dense dialogue, whilst varying levels of emotional intensity shape the narrative nicely. Sparing it from becoming too heavy an evening of theatre, the play is as equally captivating comically as it is emotionally. All actors were strong; Neveen Hanna’s powerful and at times confronting performance making her a standout. But a crowd favourite was undoubtedly Delphine Vuagnoux and her kooky portrayal of Zyad’s French girlfriend, who had crowds laughing along as she complained of her new Lebanese diet

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

causing her to gain weight. It’s director Anna Jahjah’s latest triumph for Theatre Exentrique. Fresh, engaging and relevant. (CW) Until Aug 14, varied performance times. Belvoir Street Theatre, 18 & 25 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills. $32-$45.Tickets & info: www. belvoir.com.au or 9699 3444

Contributors: Carmen Cita, Craig Coventry, Greg Webster, Alicia Sim, Peter Urquhart, James Harkness, Leann Richards, Lisa Seltzer, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Sarah Pritchard, Athina Mallis, Leigh Livingstone, Joseph Rana, Shon Ho, Jacqui Rothwell, Emily Shen, Andrew Hodgson, Irina Dunn, Cindy Aravena, Jacob Aguilar, Caitlin Burns, Zeiya Speede, Rita Bratovich, Chantal Walsh, Raffaele Piccolo, Barbara Karpinski, Taylah Felice.

Review: The Hansard Monologues: Age of Entitlement Even the ABC discontinued its television broadcasts of parliamentary debate in the graveyard shift, when only those desperate to be lulled to sleep with boredom tuned in, so who would have thought it possible to craft a piece of lively, entertaining and instructive “verbatim” theatre from edited extracts of Hansard? Katie Pollack and Paul Daley certainly thought so when they decided to trawl the records of the 44th parliament of Australia to fashion the drama of parliamentary debate as an entertainment for the stage. The result is a surprisingly engaging work which highlights the ideas and arguments of the speakers by collecting them around themes such as the carbon tax, asylum seekers, Indigenous Australians, same sex marriage and so on. Resisting the temptation to satirise those whom it would be all too easy to mock, Timothy Jones has directed his terrific cast of

four (Andrew Tighe, Heather Mitchell, John Gaden and Michelle Doake) to take the words of the politicians seriously, and focus on their intent. Not that all the speeches are serious. There is a fair amount of humour in the play, perhaps no scene more so than when Heather Mitchell, as Speaker Bronwyn Bishop, ejects 18 members of the Opposition one after another, setting one of several records in her parliamentary career. Some speeches are even astonishingly moving, such as Melissa Parke’s eulogy on the death of Malcolm Fraser. Strangely enough, this show does much to restore one’s faith in democracy and parliamentary debate. Highly recommended. (ID) Until Aug 13, varied show times. Seymour Centre, Cnr City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale. $36-$45. Tickets & info: www.seymourcentre.com.au

The Australian gothic motif of lost children in a vast, foreboding landscape has long occupied the works of artists and writers. It can be traced at least back to McCubbin’s Lost and Lindsay’s Picnic at Hanging Rock, most famously adapted to the screen by Peter Weir. As a motif, it has long fascinated both artist and audience alike and is the central trope in Angela Betzien’s, The Hanging. When three teenage girls mysteriously disappear, it is detective David Flint (Luke Carroll) who tries to piece together the puzzle. Only Iris (Ashleigh Cummings) has been found but she can’t recall what’s happened. Her teacher, Ms. Corrossi (Genevieve Lemon), is enlisted to unlock her memory, her confusion, her anxiety – and doubtless that of the audience as well. As a tense, claustrophobic three-hander, The Hanging is driven along by taut dialogue, which according to Luke Carroll, is the life-force of the play. “Angela Betzien has written a beautiful work,” said Carroll. “The rhythm and the beats are all in the writing. It’s rapid fire in places, then stops to allow our thoughts to breathe, then goes again.” Secrets are revealed but not all is resolved – so the audience is still left ‘hanging’ – as the title suggests. Clearly a highlight for Carroll is renewing his partnership with director Sarah Goodes, a collaboration that began last year with STC’s Battle of Waterloo. “I love working with Sarah. Apart from being amazingly talented, she is a lot of fun,” he said. The Hanging will be Goodes’ last show for STC as she takes up an associate

Ashleigh Cummings. Photo: James Green

directorship at its Melbourne counterpart. She leaves behind a striking body of work. (GW) Until Sept 10, varied show times. Sydney Theatre Company, Wharf 1 Theatre, The Wharf, Pier 4/5 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay. $50-$58.Tickets & info: www.sydneytheatre.com.au or 02 9250 1777

city hub 11 AUGUST 2016

THE NAKED CITY

CRAZY CRAZES TO IGNITE THE CRAZED! With Coffin Ed, Jay Katz and Miss Death Whether it’s fifty or more young people playing Pokemon Go on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House or a queue down George Street for Uncle Tetsu’s Japanese cheesecakes, we live in the era of the instant craze. Fuelled by a ferocious social media these new fangled fads spread like a virus, numbing the brains of the millennial generation and often rapidly expanding their waistlines. Crazes of course have been with us for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Trawl back through the decades and you’ll find history is littered with the artefacts of an endless list of fads, be they hula hoops, yoyos, pet rocks or Chia pets – to name just a tiny few. In Australia we have often been the target of a cultural imperialism, straight from the USA, when the hoops and yoyos descended on us in the 50s and 60s. In the 50s for example it was Coca Cola who promoted the yoyo craze with dedicated Coke yoyos and visiting teams of US yoyo masters ‘walking the dog’ on TV, in shopping centres and even on special school visits. Unlike the often heavy monetary investment needed to access today’s techno-crazes, hula hoops for example were absolutely dirt cheap, almost indestructible and provided a solid hip shaking workout, albeit for only five or ten minutes. For the

record the longest record for keeping a hoop spinning is held by Aaron Hibbs from Columbus, Ohio who kept a hoop spinning for 74 hours and 54 minutes. In Australia, like many other countries the hooping craze was relatively short lived and for the purist was never the same when those nasty plastic hoops replaced the original bamboo design. The simple things in life have of course mostly been superseded by the new technologies but not without some often unforeseen consequences. Take the now infamous segway (‘hover board’), one of the most popular gifts in last year’s Christmas stockings. Whilst nobody has ever burned down a house with a hula hoop or yoyo, the same cannot be said for the once mighty faddish two-wheeled, self-balancing, batterypowered electric vehicle. Rest in pieces! Whilst Pokemon Go does get kids out of their bedrooms, away from their computers and tablets, and into an al fresco environment, it’s hardly an aerobic workout as they shuffle from one pocket monster to the next. Maybe the perpetrator Nintendo could employ a pair of those groovy new virtual reality glasses and generate a virtual hula hoop. The faster players gyrated the more monsters would appear with the sudden burst of exercise going a long way to work off those added calories from Uncle Tetsu’s Japanese cheesecakes.

Treecycle 2016

untraditionally, with clear varnish to allow the different textures to show. The sound it produces is surprisingly good, and it will be played by a musician friend during the exhibition. Other delights include a working clock with hand-made metal parts, a pendant light with wood veneer leaf-patterned shade, hand planes for body surfing, marine themed sculptures and much more. All art is available for purchase. “I’m hoping that people will realise what a wonderful resource we have that grows naturally in the world around us,” added Ginny. Treecycle 2016 is part of the Royal Botanic Gardens 200th Birthday Celebrations. (RB) Aug 12–21, 10am–4pm. Moore Room and Palm House, Royal Botanic Gardens. Free Entry. Info: www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/What-s-On/Treecycle or 9231 8182

So began three years of planning and preparation. The wood needed If anything can mitigate the pity of a fallen tree, to be cut and seasoned then it’s seeing the wood transformed into a stunning distributed to the artists to make artwork. That has been realised in Treecycle 2016, their pieces. There was no brief an exhibition being hosted by the Royal Botanic other than they could only use Gardens and featuring 45 handpicked artisan wood that had come from the woodworkers. Gardens. The wood – from 22 tree Curator Ginny Sadubin conceived the idea species – included types that would three years ago, when she was giving a guided not normally be used in woodwork. tour through the gardens and noticed a cedar “The wood kind of dictates what tree being trimmed. She and her husband, Leon – a furniture maker you need to do with it,” explained Ginny, whose husband carved a – had previously held an exhibition of pieces made from recycled beautiful platter from a section of casuarina. tree remnants. Ginny spoke with the senior arborist at the Gardens Other wood whisperers include luthier Mikey Floyd, who used about doing something similar. three different timbers not normally used in violin making, finishing,

Poetry in Commotion

For lovers of art, education and innovative community development, check out Poetry in Commotion – a free event hosted by community radio station, Radio SkidRow. With the aim of spreading knowledge and inciting social action within marginalised communities, the event features performances by talented emerging dancers, MCs and spoken word poets from Sydney’s west and inner west. With internationally renowned spoken word artist, Sham E Ali, also performing her work alongside the Blacktown Youth Services, it’s sure SCULPTURE BY BARANGAROO Sculpture by the Sea expands to Barangaroo Reserve. This free event showcases twelve artworks by Australian artists. The program features free talks by the exhibiting artists and other special events run throughout the month. The selection of works will “grow and change” over the course of the month along an outdoor walking trail through Barangaroo Reserve, running along the harbour-side 12

city hub 11 AUGUST 2016

to be a powerful evening. Attendees will also have the opportunity to view Nasir Jones’ documentary, Shake the Dust, which features compelling stories of breakdance crews in the slums of Uganda, Cambodia, Colombia and Yemen. “[Nasir] works with us at Radio SkidRow and he’s very involved in community development and hip hop and how the two just go in hand together,” explained Kween G, the station manager at Radio SkidRow. “It’s showing the film but involving poetry and hip hop... It’s about showing different cultures and putting on an event in the local community to showcase that.” “Radio SkidRow has always been the home of hip hop, the home of radio, the home of activism, the home of world music, and we’ve had

that reputation for over thirty years now,” said Kween G. “The whole idea of putting this event together is to bring those elements to the public and showcase the community and show that within us, we have so many talented people who are sharing stories and who are doing positive things through hip hop... People miss how much of a message for change hip hop is.” Even if you can’t make the event, the show will be broadcast live on the day on 88.9FM and will be available through their website. (ES) Aug 14, 4pm–9pm. Gumbramorra Hall, Marrickville Community Centre, 1 42 Addison Rd, Marrickville. Free. For more info: www.radioskidrow.org or 9560 4254

Wulugul walk from Nawi Cove to Walumil Lawn. Visitors can also book cultural tours to explore the area’s Indigenous history. (ZS) Until Aug 21, 8am–6pm daily. Barangaroo foreshore. Free. Info: www.barangaroo.sydney OVER MANY HORIZONS New media artist Dr Keith Armstrong brings together art and science in this immersive

Alex Lehours’ mural at the Crawford Serviceway

Liverpool Street Art Festival

For one day only an exciting eclectic mix of live music, market stalls, authentic food trucks and colourful street art will converge in Liverpool for a fantastic free event. Amongst the mixing pot of street art Amanda Parer’s globe-trotting Intrude installation featuring a collection of giant, inflatable rabbits will tumble throughout artworks by the likes of Mulga, Skulk, Chocolate Einstein, Alex Lehours and Phibs. The festival program will include performances from Shaun Parker and Company, Jamestown Collective, Revolution Incorporated and Circaholics Anonymous. Festival Director Vi Girgis said the event is an opportunity for audiences from

installation that uses robotics, sound, light and movement to inform and enhance the viewer experience. In spite of the use of technology and physics and some classic scientific themes (like the periodic table), Dr Armstrong insists you don’t need a knowledge of science to appreciate the works. In fact, he sees his art as a way to make science appealing and accessible to the general public. (RB) Until Sep 23 (12-6pm, Mon-Fri). UTS

around Sydney to experience the cultural delights that Liverpool has to offer. “It’s extremely exciting to be able to present such a talented group of performers and artists including Amanda Parer and Shaun Parker and Company.” “Previously, you wouldn’t have imagined artworks and performances of that calibre to be found on the streets of Liverpool. But now, here they are for all to enjoy.” (AM) Aug 13, 3pm–8pm. Bathurst Street Car Park, 350-354 Macquarie Street. Free. Info: www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au

Gallery, Level 4, 702 Harris St, Ultimo. Free. Info: www.art.uts.edu.au FRIDA KAHLO AND DIEGO RIVERA Sydney finally has the opportunity to see the works of these famed Mexican artists in our city. This expertly curated exhibition features 33 iconic paintings – including Kahlo’s ‘Self portrait with monkeys’ and ‘Diego on my mind’ (both 1943) and major examples of Rivera’s

canvas paintings – interspersed with a tapestry of photographs and letters which tell the story not only of the couple’s artistic careers, but of their turbulent relationship, passionate activism and love for their homeland. (AM) Until Oct 9. Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery Road, The Domain. $8-$18 (multi-visit passes available). Tickets & info: www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au

Sydney Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE By Jamie Apps James Kenyon: Kenyon has become known for his outstanding song writing. Sometimes dark, sometimes sweetness and light. The former aborist, shearer’s hand and social worker’s songs reflect the land where he lives and works along with the characters, stories, tragedies and triumphs along the way. Thu, Aug 11, Petersham Bowling Club Canary: With the once-soft buzz around this introspective, deft quintent building to more of an alarming drone, it seems that I Am Lion is shaping up to be one of the most enthralling local albums of the year following its release last month. Tomorrow night the band hits Sydney to celebrate and unleash their unmatched live performance on the city. Fri, Aug 12, World Bar My Echo: Launching their new single ‘Old & Grey’ the classic punk-rock band are excited to give Sydney an early glimpse of their upcoming debut album. Having already supported the likes of Jimmy Eat World, Shihad and Kingswood, the Melbourne four-piece are ready to light up the Australian music scene themselves. Sat, Aug 13, Botany View Hotel Ay Pachanga: A party

showcasing some of the top Latin musicians and dancers Australia has to offer. Featuring talent from Fania Records, one of the world’s biggest Latin record labels, an all-star nine piece band, award-winning Latin dancers and a DJ, the audience can expect a night of non-stop dance both on the stage and the dance floor. Sat, Aug 13, The Basement Melanie Martinez: Hailed as a stunning and provocative singer, songwriter and visual presence, the unforgettable New York artist Melanie Martinez plays her first headline shows in Australia this weekend. Sun, Aug 14, Big Top at Luna Park Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn: Two banjos and one voice – get ready to join husband and wife duo and long-time lauded artists Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn for a magical night at City Recital Hall this Monday. Mon, Aug 15, City Recital Hall Grouplove: It’s true, Grouplove are one of Australia’s favourite indie-pop outfits! Due to overwhelming demand the Californian party-legends have added a second show in Sydney this Wednesday for fans that missed out on the first show. Wed, Aug 17, Oxford Art Factory

By Jamie Apps Opera and hardcore rock music are not two genres you would typically expect to be combined together, but that didn’t deter Hellions as they began working on their latest record. “We always had the title Opera Oblivia in mind and that we wanted the record to sound particularly theatrical, but the idea to structure it like an opera didn’t occur to us until we were in the studio,” explained guitarist Matthew Gravolin. “It was just a matter of putting the songs in the right order so that we had a bit of a narrative there. We were really lucky that we were able to pull it off actually.” While Matthew makes it sound like it was easy, it’s clear that this time around the process took a more concerted effort by the band. The band has been releasing new albums on a consistent basis almost yearly, but as Matthew reflected he realised that “this record has taken a bit more

out of us but we’re happier with it than anything we’ve done before”. Due to this Hellions plan to “sit on this one a little longer and tour it around” more than they have with past releases, even if Matthew has already started “writing for the next one”. Another of the big changes Hellions made during their writing and recording process was welcoming in collaborations from other respected Australian hardcore bands. “It wasn’t something I was open to at first

Ngaiire – Blastoma

A quick bit of soul refreshment. Blastoma is a group of short songs that use a combination of voices, a multitude of rhythms, and together they form a living train destined for warmer feelings. If listeners can’t manage to sing along the first time they will at least be humming and swaying their shoulders to the insistent underlying rhythm. Hitting listeners with her soulful singing, her music swells with funky beats building intrigue with dischord and alternative percussive sounds. Harmonious and filled with a thousand voices, joyful and lamenting all at once, surprising and understanding and filled with the total spectrum of human emotion. Ngaiire’s new album appeals to all with open ears, who enjoy some vibrant rhythms. A few minutes with Ngaiire will clean out all those worries creating cobwebs in your chest. (SP) WWW

because I don’t like the idea of somebody else writing songs for you,” said Matthew. “It wasn’t like that though, in this case it was just these other people drawing the better ideas out of me and us. They definitely put a much needed fresh perspective on some of the songs and I was really surprised by how much it benefited us.” Obviously with the structure of Opera Oblivia being so closely linked to a traditional stage opera show, it was impossible not to ask whether Hellions would ever consider writing the music for a stage production... “We would all love to,” answered Matthew, with an excited giggle. “I’m not sure we’re those kind of musicians but it sounds like quite the challenge and we’d be humbled to try it one day if the opportunity presented itself.” Aug 12, 6.30pm. Bald Faced Stag, 345 Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt. $15+b.f. Tickets & info: baldfacedstag.com

Storm The Sky – Sin Will Find You

Since releasing their last album, Permanence, Melbourne outfit Storm The Sky have essentially morphed into an entirely new band with a new sound. Latest offering Sin Will Find You is the epitome of this change as they now explore a sound which is best described as death-pop, which employs pop sensibilities and melodies with occasional touches of hardcore shouts, guitar riffs and drum breakdowns. Lyrically this album is an incredibly deep and honest affair with the group exploring themes of love, cheating, drug abuse and failed friendships. With these emotional outpourings on every track the use of catchy pop sections are vital to keep it light while the heavy rock elements are employed to convey the weight of the themes. This is a far reach from what fans of the band will be used to and could very easily lead to a divide in the fan base. For me though this is an even better batch of songs than their first outing and will surely see them rocket into mainstream prominence. (JA) WWWW1/2

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city hub 11 AUGUST 2016

Truman

Motorkite Dreaming

When a film begins with a character sleeping for several minutes, it might also put the audience to sleep. When that character arrives to find a long-lost friend with terminal cancer, then movie audiences might expect to encounter two hours of upbeat gloom and some lessons about love and death, with a bouquet of redemption thrown in. Instead is a curious and meandering four days, while Tomás (Javier Cámara) leads his best friend Julián (Ricardo Darín) on a wandering and obfuscating life in Barcelona, a life both wonderful and sad. A certain story of how friendship means more than most, as Tomás leads his friend to find a suitable replacement to house his beloved dog. It’s an almost documentary-like examination of the trying details of dying: one last hurrah, one last whisper, one last assertion of self. As the audience, we don’t need to admire or like the characters. They are flawed, stupid, lovely and loved. Many films use death as a plot. Audiences wait

The whole enterprise is fraught from the start, with Glasby and Clarke attaining their flying licences barely a week before departure.They seem naive and ill-prepared and the polar differences in their personalities becomes more evident and more problematic as they move deeper into challenging territory – literally and metaphorically.This in turn affects their respective relationships with their partners. But perhaps the most poignant story, leading to a truly moving moment in the film, is Carroll Karpany’s sense of longing for the ancestral song that his own tribe has lost. In fact, if there is a criticism it is that there is no backstory and sense of “why” for Glasby and Clarke’s quest. So, while it’s entertaining and visually stunning, it’s hard to get emotionally invested in the journey. That said, it is still well worth a look. (RB) WWW In Cinemas August 2016. Info: www.motorkitedreaming.com

Suicide Squad

Enchantress (Cara Delevinge) – with Robbie stealing the show, whilst the remainder of the Squad play supporting roles. Jared Leto’s portrayal of the Joker is very nicely done although extremely limited, fingers crossed we get a more Joker-centric spin-off title. Action sequences and pacing are once again issues for DC, the action can become a little too chaotic and hard to decipher, whilst the overall pacing of the film has it starting out really strong as the characters are introduced before losing steam and being left feeling long and padded out. Overall this is DC’s best outing to date, so hopefully they take these lessons to heart and continue to build their universe around this style. Handy hint: be sure to hang around during the credit scene for a glimpse into the future of DC. (JA) WWW1/2

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At long last the Marvel juggernaut might finally have had its arch nemesis stand up to fight back.After many faltering starts at launching the DC cinematic universe Suicide Squad has finally found the perfect blend of dark, gritty storytelling with vibrant, psychedelic characters. Throughout the film the cast of characters introduced maintain their wacky, fun nature as they shoot biting barbs back and forth between each other.This prevents them from getting mired down in the overarching story like we have seen far too often in past DC offerings. This film is all about Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Deadshot (Will Smith) and

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for tears. Truman delivers no tears. And in this quiet, joyous film, we don’t want them. Or need them. But we have them, and that means more than all. (OA) WWWW

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The “motorkite” in the title refers to an ultra-light aircraft that is effectively a motorised tricycle with glider-style wings attached. Mates Aiden Glasby and Daryl Clarke decided they would each fly a motorkite from Adelaide to Broome across some of Australia’s most treacherous, inhospitable terrain and film the adventure.That’s the “dreaming” in the title. Film-maker Charles Hill-Smith immediately said yes to the project. He along with Glasby and Clarke’s fiancée’s Lexi Keneally and Elsie Tonkin,Aboriginal guides Carroll Karpany and Bart Sansbury, and unofficial mascot Mylo (a miniature dingo) drove support vehicles through mud, long grass and crocodile infested swamp. The film is beautifully shot, with Hill-Smith fully exploiting the dynamic texture and palette of the Australian landscape – from the dusty ochre hues of deserts and mountain ranges to the glassy mirrored surface of Lake Eyre.The rare and intimate encounters with Aboriginal communities give depth and resonance to the journey.

SaleS PerSon wanted do YoU want a new challenge, we want YoU! Call on a range of local business both over the phone and in person. Provide advertising solutions across multiple platforms including digital, print and native editorial packages. We are centrally based in Ultimo and focus on the core inner city from Bondi to Balmain, and the inner west. We are seeking someone who is willing to hit the phone and pound the pavement. Sales experience desirable but not essential.

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