City Hub 16 November 2017

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city hub 16 NOVEMBER 2017

Ferry naff

BY ALEC SMART Maritime workers are threatening to boycott working on a new ferry with the ‘ridiculous’ name of Ferry Mc Ferryface.

Maritime Union of Australia NSW assistant branch secretary Paul Garrett described the name decision as ‘insulting’, and insisted his workers would refuse to work on the ferry until a more sensible name was chosen.

“The Transport Minister is demonstrating here that he treats public transport as a joke,” Mr. Garrett said in an interview with 2GB Radio on Monday 13 November. “He’s taking the absolute mickey out of public transport in this state. Sydney Ferries have had an iconic history with Sydney Harbour and are named after iconic beaches and iconic Olympians. The workers are just frustrated with it.”

Transport Minister Andrew Constance yesterday berated the union workers, declaring, “The union are just a bunch of spoilsports for thousands of kids looking to hop on board.

“Sydney voted for this name, and we have listened,” he added.

Due to start service on 26 November, the new ferry is among a fleet of six new vessels commissioned

by Transport for NSW to carry passengers across Sydney Harbour.

The other five vessels were named after prominent Australians: three medical doctors Victor Chan (heart surgeon), Catherine Hamlin (obstetrician) and Fred Hollows (ophthalmologist) and two Aboriginal leaders; explorer and entertainer Bungaree (incidentally, the first person to have been recorded as an ‘Australian’ when the country was still known as New South Wales) and

resistance fighter Pemulwuy.

The name choice was the result of an online public poll, voted on by 15,000 respondents via Transport For NSW’s Name Your Ferry website poll.

The final six were ultimately decided by a four-person panel, including: Australian National Maritime Museum director and chief executive Kevin Sumption, Australian Museum director and chief executive Kim McKay, NSW Young Australian of the Year Melissa Abu-Gazaleh, and former NSW Volunteer of the Year Patrick Dodd.

‘Ferry McFerryface’ in fact came fifth behind the more popular Boaty McBoatface, which took its cue from a similar competition in Britain in April 2016 to name a polar research vessel.

On that occasion former BBC radio presenter James Hand proposed the name as a joke. Even though he didn’t vote for it – preferring the more sober ‘Sir David Attenborough’, which polled fifth with 10,284 votes and was ultimately selected – his wacky proposal received 124,109 votes, four times more than second placed ‘PoppyMai’, named after a 16-month-old girl with incurable cancer.

The submarine aboard the controversially named polar research vessel ultimately inherited the Boaty McBoatface title, while the ship at the heart of the storm became the Sir David Attenborough.

The Boaty McBoatface joke spread worldwide, inspiring the naming of an Australian racehorse Horsey McHorseface at Warwick Farm last year and an express train in Sweden named Trainy McTrainface earlier this year.

“Members don’t want to crew the vessel,” Garret told Australian

Maritime workers refuse to work on a new ferry with the ‘ridiculous’ name of Ferry Mc Ferryface. Photo: Alec Smart

Associated Press on Tuesday. “It’s an insult to the integrity and heritage of Sydney Ferries, it undermines the professionalism and pride of the fleet.

“This is not a five-minute Internet sensation — this name has to be around for 20, 30, 40 years. This vessel will be left alongside the wharf until further notice.”

If the impasse is not resolved, the Maritime Union revealed that one ferry is always kept on standby in case another breaks down or is undergoing maintenance. It seems likely that the ferry doomed to remain on the reserve

bench will be Ferry McFerryface.

Boaty McBoatface is not the first time a public naming poll has turned up unexpected results. Environmental activists Greenpeace launched a campaign to name a humpback whale in the South Pacific Ocean in a spirited attempt to personalise it and deter Japanese whalers from harpooning the cetacean.

Among the names proposed, Mr. Splashy Pants inspired a voting frenzy, and won with 78% of the ballot.

Similarly in 2012, soft drinks bottler Mountain Dew, owned by

Pepsi, sought public help in naming a new apple-flavoured beverage.

Despite previously successful public polls, which invited people to elect new names, flavours, colors and merchandising for Mountain Dew products, which they termed ‘dewmocracy’, this time the results were skewed.

Pepsi were forced to abandon attempts to elicit the public’s help in naming the new apple-flavoured drink after fascists, who ensured that ‘Hitler Did Nothing Wrong’ was the overall winner, hijacked the election.

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BY JOSHUA KINDL Concerns are building among Eastern Suburb residents as government plans to remove key bus stops along the 389 route from North Bondi to Pyrmont move forward.

This plan, designed to streamline the route and keep buses on time, would see 16 stops along the route removed, including some servicing local schools and aged care facilities.

Jane Anderson, Secretary of the East Sydney Neighbourhood Association, said these government plans would leave those most in need of public transport out to dry.

‘It’s a patently ridiculous statement to make that because the bus is running late, it needs to have fewer bus stops.

The timetable needs adjusting. There’s more and more traffic in Sydney, the route was changed [and] it was greatly lengthened…

That needs to be taken into account.”

The proposed plan would see these stops removed as part of Transport for NSW’s ‘Sydney’s Bus Future’, which aims to improve several features of Sydney’s bus systems in order to better meet customer demands.

These stops include several throughout Sydney, and controversially include a stop oppososite Vincentian Aged Care, a prominent Eastern Suburbs aged care facility.

Following the plan’s announcement, Transport for NSW received close to 150 submissions on the project, from both individual residents and community organisations alike, many of which were in opposition.

Many pointed to the impact the proposed changes may have on residents of Vincentian

Eastern Suburbs residents are worried by plans to remove bus stops along the 389 route from Nth Bondi to Pyrmont. Photo: Lawrence Gibbons

Aged Care, which operates adjacent to the Stanley St stop, as well as schoolchildren attending Sydney Grammar.

Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, echoed these community sentiments and believes that making access to public transport increasingly difficult for residents that may rely on it is antithetical to the purpose of the service.

“This is an essential service that links elderly residents at Vincentian Aged Care in Darlinghurst with Woolworths near Town Hall and the shops at Bondi Junction.

“I don’t understand why the Government wants to make it harder for our elderly people and young students to access public transport,” she said.

Transport for NSW yielded on the original proposal to remove a bus stop at Yurong St, which also services the area, following the

community consultation period in August, citing accessibility, safety and congestion concerns.

However, The Stanley Street stop is still set to be removed.

In its ‘Community Consultation Report’, Transport for NSW stated that the Stanley St. stop would be removed as “it is only 170 metres from the previous stop on Stanley Street, near Crown Street, and only 225 metres from the next stop on William Street, near College Street.”

Ms. Anderson says that these numbers can be deceiving without considering proper context.

“This might not seem [like] large distances for young, fit people, but, for older people, they are big distances and it’s restricting older people’s ability to make use of the public transport,” she said.

Member for Pyrmont, Alex Greenwich, said removing bus stops on the 389 route will not only lead to a lower quality of life for aged care residents but will hurt the city of Sydney as a whole.

“Some older and less mobile people will be pushed out of public transport and cut off from everyday life.

“Always giving priority to private vehicles leaves the city in gridlock and makes it hard for everyone to get around,” Mr Greenwich said.

Work to remove the stops is set to begin by the end of this year, with community action in opposition of the plan also starting to muster.

In light of this, Ms Anderson has a final suggestion for the government.

“Just don’t do it. Leave it as is.”

A spokesperson for Transport for NSW refused to comment. city hub 16 NOVEMBER 2017

3

Not a lunatic asylum plan

BY GEORGIA CLARK More than a year after the State Government pushed back bids to have the Refugee Welcome Centre in Callan Park transformed into shortterm accommodation. The newly-elected mayor of the Inner West Council, Darcy Byrne, has renewed calls to convert the State Government heritage site into temporary accommodation for newly-arrived refugees.

The move comes as speculation around the integrity of the Turnbull Government’s treatment of refugees on Manus Island last week prompted widespread uproar among refugees and activists. The Refugee Welcome Centre has been operating as a drop-in day centre since the start of the year, and has welcomed around 900 refugees by directing them to various service providers.

But Byrne wants to see more services rolled out, including employment and education assistance.

“I think we have got to be a lot more ambitious. The truth is that the unelected Inner West Council didn’t progress the Refugee Welcome Centre anywhere near far enough.

There’s enormous public support for us to offer a service there that offers a welcome Refugees granted asylum may be housed in the former Callan Park mental asylum. Photo: Alec Smart and helping hand to people escaping war and famine... In the long term we’d like to see to keep the inner west diverse. With the west has become such an expensive place to short-term accommodation for people who’ve majority of refugees living in Sydney’s west live… that’s why it’s so important that we recently arrived in Australia,” he said. by gentrification, Byrne hopes the move will be proactive in finding ways to include those Byrne has criticised the former unelected welcome more refugees into the inner city. people in our community,” he said. council for failing to make full use of the “Because of the cost of housing in Sydney With community consultation set to soon resources available to it at the centre. Although we have seen increasing segregation along commence, the services could be rolling out more than 500 volunteers opted to volunteer at socioeconomic grounds but also ethnic in a matter of weeks. Timothy O’Connor the centre when it opened, he says that the large grounds. The vast majority of asylum seekers from the Refugee Council of Australia says majority of volunteers were never taken up on and refugees coming to Sydney are landing that local initiatives such as these should be their offer. in places like Fairfield and Liverpool. In applauded.

The measure comes alongside a swathe of part because there’s established communities “The toxic political debate that exists around other initiatives introduced by Labor slated there…but also because, let’s face it, the inner people seeking asylum in this country takes up

all the debate, it is like a sinkhole when really there’s another side of the story… but on the other side, we have a long and strong record of success resettling people in Australia. We have a good resettlement program. Crucial to that is welcome by local communities. Local government areas play a very important role, the leadership shown by local government leaders is absolutely crucial to making people feel welcome, which is one of key attributes that leads to successful integration and ultimately a stronger society.”

According to Byrne, the State Government should be injecting more resources in Callan Park to make use of the near-derelict facilities.

“The State Government doesn’t want to spend a dollar in Callan Park, they’ve demonstrated that through their conduct over the last 5 or 6 years since they came to office. They’re overseeing the demolition by neglect of a range of heritage buildings in Callan Park.”

More than a year ago bids by the then Labor Councillor Simon Emsley to have the Welcome Centre transformed into refugee accommodation were pushed back by the then Baird Government. But Byrne is adamant that he still has these plans in sight, if he can win State Government backing.

“I thought the real opportunity here for state government is they could attract state and federal funding and other resources to rehabilitate some of the buildings for this use and it is disappointing short term accommodation hasn’t been supported by the state government at this point.

But we want to make the day centre and Refugee Welcome Centre running there such a success that over time we can convince them that short-term accommodation is a good thing.”

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We have proposed these changes in response to residents’ requests. The proposed changes would provide: • tradespersons parking permits for residents and businesses • more choice in the type of vehicle eligible for a business parking permit • more visitor parking permits for most households and more flexible purchase options • recommended parking restrictions for different types of development.

There would be an increase in some permit fees to help with overall administration costs.

You can review the draft neighbourhood parking policy at sydneyyoursay.com.au and email your feedback to parkingpolicy@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or post it to: Chief Executive Officer Attention: Christine Laurence Transport Policy Analyst GPO Box 1591 Sydney NSW 2001 Submissions close at 5pm on Friday 12 January 2018.

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Manus menace

BY ALEC SMART The plight of refugees in Manus Island Detention Centre has created headlines in the past week, provoking public demonstrations, whilst human rights organisations condemned Australia’s national refugee policy.

Over the past fortnight, up to 600 refugees detained in the Manus Island detention centre on Papua New Guinea (PNG) refused to accept relocation to another centre under construction, expressing concerns for their safety. They barricaded themselves in and resolved to stay, despite dwindling food supplies and the authorities turning off the electricity and water.

On Monday this week, PNG police officers entered the camp and sabotaged the water tanks so the months’ supply of water within leaked out.

Demonstrations in Australia in support of the Manus refugees included disruption to the Melbourne Cup horse race last Tuesday and closure of the Melbourne CBD on Friday.

In Sydney last Thursday, a banner saying ‘Evacuate Manus, Bring Them Here’ was unfurled on the rooftop of the Sydney Opera House by five climbers from the Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance, who were subsequently arrested.

The following day, a rowdy crowd heckled attendees arriving at a Liberal Party fundraiser in Eveleigh, near Redfern.

At the latter, former Prime Minister Tony Abbot’s sister, Councillor Christine Forster, was jostled by protestors from the Refugee Action Coalition, causing her jacket to rip open as police ushered her through.

A spokesperson from Refugee Action, Ian Rintoul, denied an accusation that any of them grabbed Cr Forster’s jacket, saying, “I didn’t see any mistreatment of Christine Forster.”

The City of Sydney Councillor’s same-sex partner, Virginia Edwards, later posted a picture of the torn jacket on Facebook, proclaiming, “Physically shredding the jacket off of someone’s back is NOT how you express your political in viewpoint in Australia.”

Photo: WACA

Edwards labelled the unfortunate wardrobe malfunction as ‘un-Australian’.

However, when it comes to describing what is acceptably ‘Australian’ behaviour, one might question the Australian Government’s policy of detaining asylum-seekers, including children, for months, often years, in offshore prisons such as Manus Island, deceptively labelled ‘processing centres’.

Last Friday, 10 November, The United Nations Human Rights Committee (OHCHR) released a report critical of Australia’s poor record in upholding basic human rights, citing multiple issues, including the exclusion of same-sex couples from the Marriage Act and our treatment of refugees.

The report expressed concerns with, “The detention and processing of those seeking asylum in Australia, including offshore processing and use of mandatory detention. This includes the closure of the Manus Island Detention Centre without adequate arrangements for long-term viable relocation solutions.”

The expert committee expressed concerns about the conditions in the offshore immigration processing facilities on Manus and Nauru Islands, “including inadequate mental health services, serious safety concerns and instances of assault, sexual abuse, selfharm and suspicious deaths; and about reports that harsh conditions compelled some asylum seekers to return to their country of origin despite the risks that they face there.”

Law Council of Australia President, Fiona McLeod SC, said “The Committee’s report is a clear and definitive statement about steps the Government needs to take to address the human rights concerns identified. The Government must show leadership in human rights through the development of policies that reflects a commitment to fairness, equality and the rule of law.”

Manus Island is the largest of the Admiralty Islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, a 2,100

km2 group of 18 islands in the Bismarck In April 2017, allegedly drunken PNG soldiers Archipelago north-west of New Guinea. shot at refugees in the centre, wounding nine.

The controversial Manus Island regional Dr. Peter Young, formerly the chief psychiatrist processing centre is not actually on Manus Island responsible for the care of asylum seekers in Manus but neighbouring Los Negros Island, accessed by a and Nauru, described the camps as ‘inherently bridge fording a narrow sea channel. toxic’ and accused the Immigration Department of It sits within another compound, the Lombrum deliberately harming vulnerable detainees.

Naval Base, which was an Australian base – Since October 31, the detainees have huddled HMAS Tarangau – until PNG independence in behind barricades without food, running water, 1975. electricity or medicine. The UN High Commissioner Following a ruling by Papua New Guinea’s for Refugees described the situation as a Supreme Court in April 2016, which declared the ‘humanitarian emergency’. detention centre ‘illegal and unconstitutional’ and East Lorengau Refugee Transit Centre, their in breach of fundamental human rights, three new destination, is still under construction, but will only premises were constructed in the nearby town of house 300 inmates. Independent observers say the Lorengau. proposed new housing, run by contractor Paladin The Manus camp closed at the end of October Solutions, is inadequate. when its all-male population of 800 was to be A percentage of the remaining 500 will be granted relocated to the new facilities. asylum and expected to settle and find work in Yet over 600 detainees refused to move for fear Lorengau, an area of high unemployment, whose of the consequences. Citing threats by Lorengau residents are hostile to their presence. They will residents to kill them, and recalling multiple be accommodated in a new $137m demountable incidents where they have been mugged and, in acropolis, built by the Australian government to house at least nine AHN cases, attackedadbyW128mm machetes, the 600 refugees, 1whilst unsuccessful10:23 applicants will be newspaper X H158mm Oct 2017freed PRESS.pdf 17/10/2017 AM remained in the dismantled camp. deported back to their country of origin.

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7

Sydney is losing the plot

BY JADE MORE LLI N I Sydney cemeteries are running out of space with only 15 years of burial capacity left, and the rising death rates are not making it any better.

Death rates are increasing at fewer than 2% per annum and will increase at this rate for the next 34 years. In N SW at the moment, there are 500,000 deaths each year and by 2051, this number will exceed 100,000 deaths. This highlights that in just over three decades, Australia will experience an increase in deaths of over 100%, compared with today.

“This is where the problem is, we may not be able to find more efficient uses of land to cater for this,” Chief Executive Officer at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Graham Boyd said. “There is still a very large increase in deaths occurring and we cremate around 70% of those, and the remaining 30% is quite significant in terms of land use.”

“Waverly Cemetery is quite an old cemetery, it’s in a spectacular location and was established in the 1800s,” said planner at Urbis Planning, Kate Ryan. “I know with a lot of older cemeteries, it is hard for cemetery managers to determine how much space is left, because record keeping over 100 years is traditionally quite poor. So there are areas in the cemetery where they are not actually sure how much space is left.”

The demand for land is extremely high and with a growing population, buildings and houses are taking priority, leaving cemeteries behind and making it difficult to find open areas for new cemeteries. It could take five to ten years to find land suitable enough for a new cemetery, to conduct studies, rezone

Waverley Cemetery is among many Sydney graveyards with limited capacity. Photo: Alec Smart

it with community participation and provide infrastructure to begin operations.

“We’re looking at Bumborah Point,” Boyd said, “and Bumborah Point is 3.8 hectares of land next to the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park that’s potentially got another five years’ burial capacity. In addition to that, we are still looking for land that is suitable for cemetery use down at the South Coast.

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“The Bumborah Point re-zoning is very important to us and we work with the Aboriginal land councils both the local Aboriginal land council and the state one. We are going for a former re-zoning application to Randwick Council.”

If the application submitted by Urbis Planning to Randwick Council is successful, an additional 2000 graves may be available.

Despite cremation gaining popularity over the past few years, it is against some religion’s beliefs. The Jewish, for example forbid cremation and according to the 2011 census, more than any other religion, Judaism is highly localised in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.

“Cremation and the reuse of graves certainly won’t be for everyone,” Ryan said. “Sydney is a multicultural place so it is expected that we will continue to have a higher proportion of burials compared to other areas just because we are so multicultural and certain religions definitely prefer or require full body burials.”

The Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (S MCT) proposed a plan to build Australia’s first catacombs in early April which will offer a great deal of space for new corpses. This is an additional 7000 burial spaces and this can be used and re-used for centuries to cater for N SW growing population.

“The Catacomb project is something we are still developing; our architectures and engineers are well developed. The cost for this project will exceed 10 million dollars but we aren’t sure of the actual amount yet because we do it by stage development, not all at once,” Boyd said.

This plan may be a temporary solution if it proves to be effective as it caters for those who prefer a full body burial and is allowed for religions.

“This could have significant appeal to those religious or cultural groups, we are going to consult with the community and the Greek Orthodox, Jews and Italians. I’ve spoken to some Greek Orthodox community members over at Woronora and they are quite keen on ossuary boxes.”

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PROPOSAL TO INSTALL A TEMPORARY MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION FACILITIES AT DAWES POINT PARK, HICKSON RD DAWES POINT AND MRS MACQUARIE’S CHAIR, 4A MACQUARIE STREET SYDNEY. Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) wish to inform the community of a proposal for the operation of temporary telecommunications facility at the north-western corner of Dawes Point Park and Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in the Royal Botanic Gardens that will provide additional services to the people in the area during the New Year’s Eve Celebrations. The temporary facility will operate from the 12 December 2017 to 2 January 2018.

The proposal involves the following activities: • The delivery and set up of the equipment room and radio mast 15 metres in length; • The installation of three (3) panel antennas and one (1) radio dish on the top of the radio mast at a height of approximately 15 metres; • The placement of a diesel generator adjacent to the base station trailer if required; • Associated and necessary works to ensure the proper functioning of the telecommunications facility including guy wires, fencing, cabling, electrical works, signage and safe access.

The proposal does not require development approval. The proposed infrastructure complies with the ACMA EMR regulatory arrangements.

If you have any questions or wish to obtain further information, please contact Mark Byrnes on (02) 9363 3815 or email info@commplan.com.au.

Written submissions on the proposal should be addressed to VHA C/- CommPlan Pty Ltd, PO Box 267, Edgecliff NSW 2027 by 30 November 2017.

PROPOSAL TO INSTALL A TEMPORARY MOBILE PHONE TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY AT DAWES POINT PARK, DAWES POINT 2000 Optus wish to inform the community of a proposal for the installation and operation of a temporary telecommunications facility at Dawes Point Park, Lower Fort Street, Dawes Point NSW 2000. The facility will provide additional services to the people in the area during December and January when the New Year’s Eve celebration events are occurring in the area.

The temporary facility will operate from the 11th December 2017 to the 5th January 2018.

The proposal involves the following activities: • The delivery and set up of a trailer supporting an equipment shelter and a pump-up radio mast with a height of 15.5 metres; • The installation of three (3) panel antennas at heights of 14 metres and three (3) antennas at 15 metres on the mast; • The installation of a radio dish (600mm in dia) at the top of the mast at a height of 15.5 metres; • The placement of a diesel generator adjacent to the base of the mast; • Associated and necessary works to ensure the proper functioning of the telecommunications facility including guy wires, fencing, cabling, electrical works, signage and safe access.

The proposal does not need development approval from the Local Council.

The proposed infrastructure complies with the ACMA EMR regulatory arrangements.

Further information can be obtained from Mark Byrnes on (02) 9363 3815 or email to info@commplan.com.au.

Written submissions on the proposals should be addressed to Optus C/- CommPlan Pty Ltd, PO Box 267, Edgecliff NSW 2027 and received by 30 November 2017.

city hub 16 NOVEMBER 2017

9

MEET the locals

Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink: see you on the ice!

BY JADE MORE LLI N I The Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink is one of Australia’s oldest rinks and it has been running continuously for the past 46 years in Inner West Sydney.

They are a not-for-profit organisation and their main focus is promoting the disciplines of ice skating, aiming to be the premier training rink in Australia for Figure Skating, Ice Hockey and Speed Skating.

There are a number of programs and lessons on offer where visitors can learn and master the skills of skating.

Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink have group lessons and private classes for skating, figure skating, speed skating and ice hockey, as well as in-house clubs and skating activities available for skaters to join throughout the year.

Manager of Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink, Wayne Disbery, said: “We run learn to skate programs during every holiday period, so we will be doing school holiday learn to skate classes in January. We also run classes for figure skating, speed skating and ice hockey.”

These classes are very costeffective with highly skilled and experienced instructors who nurture the growth of their students. Their group lessons run throughout the entire year and guests can join at any time.

“We do have some Olympic representatives that train at Canterbury who are going to be

representing Australia at next year’s winter Olympics in figure skating so that’s pretty cool. Their names are Harley Windsor and Kartia Alexandrovskaya,” Disbery said.

The facilities Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink offer are an Olympic sized ice surface, a free public car park and a heated canteen with a wide variety of foods to indulge in.

They also offer coin-operated lockers to keep anyone’s belongings safe while they’re skating and disabled access and toilets are also available on the grounds.

Patrons are provided with a clean rink and good ice conditions, with seating for up to 300 people. They also have a pleasant and welcoming team and a great atmosphere for all to enjoy while skating. “We’re a friendly family focused venue for sports of ice skating,” Disbery said.

Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink is very affordable, with prices ranging from $11 - $23, including skate hire.

These prices vary depending on age and whether it is a regular or disco session. They hold disco nights on Friday and Saturday nights with the newest hits, disco lighting and monthly theme nights.

They also host birthday and group parties, as well as different events.

Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink have a Family Fun Day taking place on 17th December offering on-ice activities and outside activities such as BBQ breakfast and lunch, as well as inflatable games and face painting for all visitors to get involved in.

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Youth cop unwanted attention

BY ANNA FREELAND The Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has publicly condemned the disproportionate targeting of Indigenous and young Australians by a NSW Police program.

Described as a pre-emptive policing initiative, The Suspect Target Management Plan (STMP) came under fire last month after a report by the Youth Justice Coalition (YJC) revealed that the program had been administered on children as young as 10.

The Vice President of ALHR Kerry Weste said the findings were deeply

operational arrangements of the program.

“There’s no oversight, no guidance and the public don’t know why, let alone whether it’s achieving its stated objective,” said Dr. Vicki Sentas, a lawyer and academic from the University of New South Wales.

Dr. Sentas, who co-authored the YJC report, says the failure of NSW Police to disclose information about the STMP is part of a broader trend towards secrecy around policing.

“We believe it is in the public interest to know what the object of the policy is, to know what the risk categories are and

“We know that time in detention is the greatest indicator of recidivism, so the best thing that you can do is divert young people away from the criminal justice system with evidence-based programs that focus on their needs and the social reasons often associated with their offending behaviour,” Ms. Weste said.

Dr. Sentas agrees and says that overpolicing has additional social ramifications for Indigenous Australians.

“Increased monitoring and surveillance of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander communities is incredibly disruptive to everyday life. There’s a sense of social

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights condemn disproportionate targeting of Indigenous and young by NSW Police.

Photo: Police

concerning, and commended YJC for, “Shining a light on this human rights issue.”

“The program raises serious issues relating to civil liberties, police accountability and the appropriateness of a program that is not evidence-based,” Ms. Weste said.

In line with the report’s recommendations, the ALHR is advocating for changes to prevent the targeting of children, low-risk offenders and those who have committed minor offences like graffiti and shoplifting.

“Nobody under the age of 18 should be placed on that program,” Ms. Weste said.

“It seems that the STMP is focused on crime prevention through over policing and isn’t taking into consideration what the best interests of a particular child are. We consider that to be in breach of Australia’s obligations under the Convention of the Rights of the Child.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for the NSW Police said the STMP framework is used to target recidivist criminal offenders.

“A thorough risk management framework is used to ensure the NSW Police Force is targeting the right people at the right times to reduce violence and crime in the community,” the spokesperson said.

While operating since 2000, details about the STMP and its outcomes have largely been kept outside of public purview. As recommended by the YJC report, the ALHR is calling for greater transparency by NSW Police in the

the assumptions underlying those risk categories,” she said.

“It’s one thing for NSW Police to say the STMP is appropriate because it targets criminals and reduces crime but there are a number of assumptions within that, that need to be interrogated.”

While the program aims to deter recidivism, Dr. Sentas says there is no publicly available evidence to suggest that the program has been effective as a crime prevention measure.

“Even if hypothetically the STMP was found to correlate with a reduction in offending of those on the STMP as compared with those who aren’t, what we think is the more important question is, is it fair and is it appropriate,” she said.

According to the YJC report, administration of the STMP has also led to unlawful police conduct. “We think that’s seriously concerning,” said Ms. Weste.

“We’re also very concerned by the disproportionate use of the program against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and against young people.”

The report found that 23.5 per cent of STMP targets were under 18, while 44 per cent were from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Ms. Weste says the program is at odds with the Young Offenders Act NSW. “One of the main objects of the Act is to address the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through diversion from the Criminal Justice System,” she said.

exclusion, a sense that you don’t belong to Australian society, that you’re singled out for attention.”

During a Senate Estimates hearing last Thursday, Police Commissioner Mick Fuller was grilled about the STMP by Greens MP David Shoebridge.

Commissioner Fuller disclosed in the hearing that out of 1800 people subject to the program, over 55 per cent were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. This figure is significantly higher than the 44 per cent quoted in the YJC report, which was limited to data provided by the NSW Police for 10 Local Area Commands.

Asked whether NSW Police would review the program, the spokesperson declined to respond.

While it remains unclear whether the recommendations put forward by YJC will be implemented, a spokesperson for the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC), the NSW Police watchdog, indicated that they will be undertaking an investigation into the program.

“For the present, the LECC is examining the research that underlies STMP and the policies concerning its use in particular cases,” the spokesperson said.

“A project plan is being developed to undertake the enquiry and will consult with the NSW Police Force and community groups to refine its scope.”

Ms. Weste said the ALHR fully supports an investigation by the LECC.

FEATURE

Rainbow Weddings

By Rita Bratovich Legalisation of same sex marriage in Australia is appearing more likely, but with certain exemptions being proposed, it begs the question: can same-sex couples have their (wedding) cake and eat it? The buzz within the wedding industry would suggest they most certainly can.

According to ANZ senior economist Cherelle Murphy, a change to the marriage law could boost economic revenue by around $650 million, and businesses are already jostling for a share of the pie.

Orlando Sanpo is an award-winning, internationally renowned cake and cup-cake creator, and is the genius behind Black Velvet and newly opened concept store,Vanoir. His exquisite designer cakes and cup cakes are on wedding planner lists of the rich and famous. He already caters for same-sex weddings where either the couple were married overseas but want to celebrate in Sydney; or where one partner is a citizen of a country that recognises same-sex marriage and they marry in that consulate.

Sanpo believes it’s just a matter of time before the law changes and that appears to be a widely accepted view - his business has seen an uptick in enquiries since the marriage equality debate began in earnest.

There are some notable differences in the way straight and gay couples do business. For starters, in heterosexual couples, it’s the bride who tends to make most of the decisions, whereas same-sex couples like to be equally involved.

“Also same-sex couple wedding cake design is more ‘wow’ and ‘think outside the square’ and they are willing to spend big budget to make their ideas come true,” says Sanpo.

Equally Wed is an online directory for wedding

Kat & Leanne Reid with Marriage Celebrant Stephen Lee

services catering to LGBTQI+ couples in Australia and New Zealand. Founder, Nivello Miller has also noticed an increase in enquiries, both from same-sex couples and professionals wishing to list their services.

The potential new segment in the wedding services market will bring with it a steep learning curve in terms of culture and attitude, and Miller feels that only those businesses who are genuine about understanding the market will succeed.

“Venues and service providers including celebrants and photographers will likely see a rise in demand if they appropriately cater for LGBTQI clients. However, if they simply place a rainbow on their website, somehow, that is meant to denote that they have instantly become gay-friendly. Granted they may get a couple of customers through their door, but those who

genuinely adapt and make changes in terms of language, understanding & respect for the LGBTQI community, and demonstrate their active support for the community are far more likely to see a higher demand for their services.”

A site such as Equally Wed obviously needs to maintain integrity within its database and many providers themselves identify with the LGBTQI+ community, but it’s not a prerequisite.

“There are certainly businesses who want to show their support but may not fully understand the nuances of a same-sex wedding, so it is a learning curve for them and we guide them through by providing a series of marketing material on becoming inclusive and welcoming to same-sex couples,” explains Miller. “There are a handful of businesses who provide dedicated same-sex wedding packages…and l anticipate

many more businesses will start thinking about how to offer their services for the same-sex wedding industry.”

Stephen Lee is a celebrant who performs ceremonies for all occasions. In a bitter twist, he and his male partner were married in England many years ago but it is not recognised in Australia.

“It will be amazing to finally end that irony,” says Lee, feeling confident about the current marriage equality campaign, “I’ve been hopeful before but this time it feels like there really is an appetite for change.”

Just to add to the sting, Lee is required by law to say the phrase, “Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life” when marrying a heterosexual couple.

However, most of his clients are happy for him to temper it by explaining he is required to say it and adding something to the effect of “but John and Jane look forward to the day when everyone is equal under the law.”

Lee - and others in the industry - are gearing up for inevitable legalisation. As he sees it “…there are lots of same sex couples who are waiting for the law to change, so I think we’re going to see a big rush of people when it first becomes legal.”

He then believes there will be a lull of around six months to a year - the lead time it takes to organise a big wedding.

“I think there’s going to be exciting times ahead actually, in terms of business and I think there’s going to be a great boost to the wedding industry in Australia.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT From Broadway to La Scala

From Broadway to La Scala is returning to Sydney after a massive sell-out in 2015, bringing a brand-new production with some of the greatest hits from musicals and operas to the stage.

Showcasing some of Australia’s most highly acclaimed singers, David Hobson, Teddy Tahu, Lisa McCune and Greta Bradman, they will perform songs, arias and duets of the past two centuries.

Teddy Tahu said, “This year we are presenting a whole new show. Audiences can expect a wonderful range of music from Broadway to some great Operatic arias.”

Working together to create the show, they incorporated an eclectic mix of favourites to share with audiences on the evening.

“It was a collaborative process between David, Greta, Lisa and myself and of course our conductor/musical director. We always have a lot of fun and a lot of laughs preparing these shows and David and I will be singing a really beautiful duet from the musical The Secret Garden. It’s one of my favourite duets, the emotion behind the song is very powerful,” Tahu said.

Tahu wants audiences to enjoy the show, coming away knowing they had a great night out and were able to appreciate the music, whether it was familiar or not.

“It is great to be singing together again.

Perhaps some of the repertoire will be unknown to them [the audience] and it may inspire them to go and find a recording of something new they heard and liked. I don’t think there is anything else like our show. It has a little bit of each of us in it. The combination of voices and arrangements of songs are unique, sometimes not what you would expect.” (JM) Nov 18. Sydney Opera House.

Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000. $119-$179+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.frombroadwaytolascala.com.au

Violent Extremism & Other Adult Party Games Political satires have always appealed to avid theatre-goers and this play, which explores a C-grade celebrity’s entry into the world of politics, should also prove to be quite popular.

Is Robert Kelly cut out to be the politician who can save Australia? How many lies must he tell in the name of truth? And most importantly does the truth hurt in politics?

“This is one of those plays which starts off and you think it’s going to be quite simple but not everything goes quite right and everything starts snowballing out of Robert’s control,” explained Thomas Pidd who plays the lead role of Robert.

“This is a tragicomedy with a very political spin and I think Richie Black (the writer) has done a brilliant job of not letting anybody go – throughout the play everyone gets a crack. It

Watching absurdist theatre is like looking at a magic 3D image; if you look too hard for a structure or meaning, you won’t see much, but if you relax and allow yourself to passively absorb, then suddenly a shape will appear. Harold Pinter wrote The Caretaker in the late 1950s - towards the end of the absurdist movement, when England was still feeling battered after WWII and the social atmosphere was infused with distrust, resentment and a strong sense of self preservation.

With only three characters, one setting and no discernible plot, The Caretaker manages to not only capture the milieu of the time, but also remains relevant.

“The emotions and the concept of the play could be anytime, anywhere,” says director

city hub 16 NOVEMBER 2017

revolves around in my world! People always make the comment that politicians are really just actors anyway and in a way I do believe that.” (MMo) Until Nov 25. Depot Theatre, 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville. $22-32.

Tickets & Info: www.thedepottheatre.com

The Caretaker

Courtney Powell. Prior to this production, Powell had never seen or read the play and she feels

that’s a positive thing because it has allowed her a more authentic, uninfluenced approach. She admits

that absurdist theatre can be challenging - for actors and audiences - and this play in particular is confronting because of the unmitigated racism and brutal depiction of homelessness.

“It can be very uncomfortable to watch...” explains Powell, “Everyone in the rehearsal room feels the discomfort.”

Yet it promises to be a powerful theatre experience thanks to the intuitive, empathetic performances by the cast.

The Caretaker is, as Powell puts it, “still fresh and relevant” and this production by Throwing Shade Theatre Co will prove it. (RB) Nov 22-Dec 2.The Playhouse at The Actors Pulse, 103 Regent St, Redfern. $30-$35.

Tickets & Info: www. throwingshade.com.au

Australia Day

In the fictional,Australian country town of Coriole, they’re planning the Australia Day festivities. It will probably be the same as last year but getting the right multicultural sausage on the barbie is important, and so is a committee.This one is a blend of political and partisan views with the odd Australian born Vietnamese thrown in for good measure. It’s Australia Day by Jonathan Biggins and this version at New Theatre could be the recipe for a much-needed laugh at the end of the year.

Poking fun at Australian ‘jingoism’ has some risk.

The parochial country town is a bit of a sitting duck for satirists and it would be easy to fall into excess and cheap shots. Jonathan Biggins (The Wharf Review) is one of our finest writers and while he can throw barbs, Australia Day is a work that shows restraint and empathy for people - it

a&e

12

doesn’t matter whether you’re centre left or right in the political sphere Richie has found a way of having a go at everyone.”

Themes of not taking anything so seriously in life and standing up for your beliefs are prevalent in this play, as Robert never solidifies what he believes in.

“I think something that Robert struggles with in this play is that people are pushing and pulling at him when he should actually stand up and say: No! This is me! This is my life! F***king leave me alone!”

Pidd says he has learnt more than he thought he would about politics from his involvement in this play, but would he enter the world of politics himself?

“No. Politics is definitely not something that ever

12 STAGE 13 Sounds 14 SCENE 15 SCREEN

has a dig but always with gentleness and humour.

Director Louise Fischer, is also conscious of the sensitivities, having grown up in the country herself.

“It looks at the foibles and idiosyncrasies of country folk but in the end, what they’ve got is a huge heart.”

Exploring the Australian identity can seem like a form of national adolescence at times. Fischer agrees. “When we just got on with the basis of being Australian, we didn’t need to worry about our identity. I grew up being Australian just thinking it was a nice thing to be. I think we are too preoccupied with it and we should just ‘be’.“ And priceless moments to watch for?

“Let’s just say you will never look at sausages the same again.” (GW)

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 @CityHubSyd

Until Dec 16. New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown. $20-$35.Tickets & Info: www.newtheatre.org.au or Ph: (02) 9519 3403

Contributors: Alannah Maher, Alicia Sim, Athina Mallis, Barbara Karpinski, Caitlin Burns, Chantal Walsh, Craig Coventry, Daniel Jaramillo, Emily Shen, Georgia Fullerton, Greg Webster, Irina Dunn, Jade Morellini, James Harkness, Joseph Rana, Leann Richards, Lisa Seltzer, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Olga Azar, Peter Urquhart, Rita Bratovich, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Sarah Pritchard, Shon Ho, Zeiya Speede, Jade Morellini, Alex Eugene, Manuel Gonzalez, Tommy Boutros, Riley Hooper & Taylor Martin.

REVIEW: Time Stands Still Brooklyn couple James (Matt Minto), is a war correspondent and his girlfriend Sarah, (Emily J Stewart) a photo journalist. Sarah has hurt her leg in a roadside bombing, during a particularly difficult assignment in Iraq and sees herself as a ghoul with a camera in the war zone, who’s built a career off people’s suffering; she feels she is nothing but a fraud.

The characters struggle with the effects of a life dedicated to covering areas of conflict, both mentally and physically, the morality of standing by while atrocities are happening around them. Is documenting conflict more important than stepping in and saving a life?

The new Tap Gallery space is their lounge-

room, an unconventional but clever use of space, a Brooklyn style loft that seats around 30. This is immersive theatre, with immersive elements, the action happening all around the audience, depending on where they sit. On a lap top the sound person sits in full view, operating the ambient, sometimes eerie music and lighting.

Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Donald Margulies poses questions of love, duty, pain, honesty, questions of family versus career and the cost of creating war coverage for mass consumption while weaving complex characters in naturalistic interactions.

Richard (Terry Serio) is Sarah’s magazine editor boss, a Helpman award winning actor

Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE Sydney

By Jamie Apps Alfie Arcuri

James Kenyon: One of Australia’s standout songwriters to emerge in 2016 after the release of his album Imagine You Are Driving, produced by Nick Huggins. Kenyon’s songs traverse the human experience; the love, loss, desperation and redemption, moving from detail to widescreen as verse to chorus.

Thu, Nov 16, The Temperance Union Josh Cashman: Is set to round out a huge year with a headline national tour in support of his new EP Instinct.

“This body of work is a small light inside of my conscious actions and feelings, through love, relationships, the grind, and all that makes up my 22 years of reality so far.” says Josh.

Fri, Nov 17,The Record Crate

City Of Holroyd Brass Band: Set to perform a selection of smash hits from Broadway musicals and blockbuster films. The repertoire will include well-known music from both stage and screen including Broadway musical hits such as All That Jazz from Chicago The Musical and I Dreamed A Dream from Les Misérables; as well as cinematic hits such as Star Wars, Dances With Wolves and many more.

Sun, Nov 19, Riverside Theatres

Arrowhead: Sydney’s prestigious stoner rockers launch their second album, Desert Cult Ritual, this week.

Supporting the trio will be Dawn and post-grunge act Simple Stone.

Fri, Nov 17,The Town Hall Hotel

Oshy Tugendhaft & Black Yoghurt: A spectacular crosscultural musical event is coming to Sydney this week. Voices is a musical journey that merges the melodies, harmonies and rhythms of Israel, Africa and the world.

Conceived and created by legendary South African cantor Oshy Tugendhaft, Voices fuses Hebrew, English and African music into a blend that emerges as a different genre of music altogether.

Mon, Nov 20, Moriah College

Alfie Arcuri: Compelled to play his part and demonstrate just how ready Australia is, artist Alfie Arcuri has self-penned an emotional anthem in support of the Marriage Equality campaign, called Love Is Love.This week he will perform a special live and intimate show at The Oxford Hotel.

Fri, Nov 17,The Oxford Hotel

Dear Seattle: After releasing their debut self-titled EP in July, Dear Seattle jumped in the van and drove around Australia on their first ever headline tour. After selling out a bunch of those shows the group are ready to do it all again following the release of new single, Cut You Deep.

Tue, Nov 21, Lansdowne Hotel

Gold Class: Followed up their slow burning cult success debut record It’s You with their new album Drum earlier this year. In support of the new record the band are coming back to Sydney to show it off to fans here.

Sat, Nov 18, Oxford Arts Factory

Tapz: Having already brought his electrifying energy to the same stage as heavy-hitters like A$AP Ferg, Jeremih, Tinie Tempah, Hermitude, G-Eazy, Danny Brown and BANKS, his meteoric trajectory continues with a headline show this week.

Wed, Nov 22, Brighton Up Bar

and musician who’s experienced in musical theatre. Mandy (Laura Djanegara) rounds out the foursome as his much younger girlfriend.

Time Stands Still is pretentious, self-absorbed and deals with first world problems, a play about the media industry where everyone has a coveted job, including Mandy who is an event planner, and the characters are egotistical and know-it-all. There is a cringe worthy scene where middle aged Richard raves about how great it is to have a youthful girlfriend that will have feminists in the audience see red. Add to this, annoying New York accents. (MS)

Emily J Stewart. Terry Serio.

Laura Dejanegara. Photo: Katie Barget (Captar Photo)

Until Nov 25.The TAP Gallery, 259 Riley Street, Surry Hills. $25-$35.Tickets & Info: www.eclipseproductions.com.au

The General Assembly

By Jamie Apps The General Assembly, the long-term musical project of climate activist Matt Wicking, are set to perform in Sydney for the first time this year to launch their debut album, Vanishing Point. Ahead of the show the City Hub spoke with Matt about the record and his passion for social issues.

As Matt explained, with this being the bands debut album it’s almost as though they have been working towards this their entire career but there was definitely a period of solid focus on the record.

“We spent probably a year in the studio but some of these songs are up to five years old, so it’s been a while in the making.”

In that time Matt has honed his craft as both a songwriter and performer whilst also gathering together an amazing band of musicians to help convey his message.

Outside of music Matt works as a sustainability consultant and facilitator specialising in change, strategy and communication so he says it’s “really hard not to have that seep in and saturate his music.” Bearing that in mind though Matt is quick to point

Project Mama Earth

out that The General Assembly’s music isn’t “didactic or making an argument, I’m simply getting up there expressing my feelings and creating beautiful authentic music.”

In saying that though when asked if he felt Australia is doing enough to address the issue of climate change Matt said, “In countries like Australia a lot of us live really comfortably with a lot of

Exotic and enticing Project Mama Earth’s self-titled album is encouraging to the listener.

The album draws a strong connection between itself and nature, placing the listener in it, the good and the bad pulling on them simultaneously.

Like a thought the listener keeps in the back of their mind, it rushes forth vivid but familiar, nostalgic and invigorating. Project Mama Earth is vibrant, welcoming and worth the listener’s time, it is light and fun with a depth that can be understood alone by the few neurons living in the heart.

The album has many musical styles which complement one another and evoke different parts of the world, one after the other. Travel with the group, see the things that are hidden in plain sight, enjoying and feeling a mixed bag of emotions. (SP) WWW

uncomfortable stuff going on around us, whether that’s natural disasters or refugee movements increasing. I think awareness is growing on one hand but at the same time we’re getting better at being distracted and not paying attention to this huge elephant in the room.”

From his experiences outside of music Matt realises that “data, graphs and stats don’t change people’s hearts so

that’s where music is so powerful.” Reflecting on one encounter following a show Matt told us that one fan even said to him, “my politics are really different to yours but I don’t care because that was so great” which is precisely the reaction The General Assembly strive for.

Nov 25. The Bearded Tit, 183 Regent St, Redfern.

FREE. Info: www.generalassembly.com.au

Tony Barnard & Casey Golden - Inventions

Who would have thought such depth and diversity could come from just two instruments.

The preceding statement is the easiest way to describe the new record from Tony Barnard and Casey Golden.

Inventions has the two artists combine their powers to produce a record which makes for a lovely soundtrack to any day.

Blending Tony Barnard’s exquisite playing on a 21 string harp guitar with the silkiness of Casey Golden on piano has created a record which is truely unique. The blending of instruments on this record is something to behold as the musicians seamlessly pass the focus back and forth between each other.

The moments that truely standout though are when both instruments are allowed to shine together, which can be a difficult task to conquer, but is done quite often on Inventions. (JA) WWW city hub 16 NOVEMBER 2017

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THE NAKED CITY

BEWARE THE INFRASTRUCTURE MONSTER!

Dr. Woo Pop-Up Tattoo Parlour He’s been called “the most in demand tattooist in the world” and now legendary Los Angeles tattoo artist Dr. Woo (aka Brian Woo), will be visiting Australia for the first time ever, hosting a one-day residency in Sydney this weekend. With a full day of free tattoo appointments up for grabs at his pop-up parlour, fashion-forward Aussies can join an impressive list of Hollywood royalty to have been inked by Dr. Woo. With a rumoured two-year long waitlist and 1.2 million followers on Instagram, Dr. Woo has an impressive starstudded client list, making him hot property. Miley Cyrus, Drake, Emilia Clarke, Cara Delevingne, Sarah Hyland, Frances Bean Cobain and Frank Ocean to name just a few sport his instantly recognisable style. He’s at the forefront of the L.A. black and grey movement, producing intricate fine-line and hyper real designs.

In recent years tattoos have become much more accepted within society with 30 percent of Generation Y’s (22-36 years old) now flaunting permanent body art. “We used to call the big visible tattoos ‘job stoppers’ but this is

Photo: Discover Los Angeles

no longer the case. Tattoos are the new normal.You are almost square if you don’t have one.” said Dr. Woo. If anybody is keen to get a tattoo from one of the world’s preeminent artists you can head down to Hunter and Fox Tattoo at 9am to register for the chance to receive one of the free appointments throughout the day.

(JA) Nov 18. Hunter and Fox Tattoo, 422 Botany Rd, Beaconsfield. Info: www.discoverlosangeles.com/woo

Tali Gallery

With Coffin Ed In the 1959 UK/USA movie The Giant Behemoth, a blatant Godzilla ripoff, a rampaging sea monster emerges from the Thames in London to run riot, destroying all in its furious path.

Sound familiar? Many would say it’s an appropriate metaphor for the high cost of infrastructure that currently overwhelms the city of Sydney and its surrounds.

Not just the cost in dollars and the impact on many small businesses but the social cost that major construction works inevitably entail.

Once unleashed by various State Governments, these massive projects certainly take on a life of their own, sustained by what seems a constant injection of tax payer’s cash and almost a total disregard for those they impact – like homeowners in the path of the horrendous WestConnex.

In The Giant Behemoth, the seemingly unstoppable monster is finally subdued with a torpedo filled with radium fired by a midget sub in the Thames, but in the Sydney experience immediately as one construction monster is complete another quickly arises to take its place.

Only this week a leaked document put the cost of the revamp of Sydney’s Central Station at over three billion dollars with a series of upgrades and additions spread over a supposed twenty year period.The makeover promises to effectively take us back to the days when all trains stopped at Central and it was the true gateway to the City. In the days before Town Hall and Wynyard the phrase “getting off at Redfern” was slang for a contraceptive act - but is of course meaningless today.

But I digress!

Included in the three billion dollar budget is a planned ‘modernisation’ of 14

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the Devonshire Street Tunnel, for years an iconic piece of this city’s history and home to countless buskers and panhandlers.Any commuter stroll through the tunnel is an instant exposure to the mass of multi-cultural humanity which make up this city and a true socially interactive experience.

Please don’t put in a moving footpath that accelerates the experience to half the time normally taken. Power points for buskers to plug in their amps, however would be a welcome addition.

And then of course there’s the light rail – not so much a sea monster but more a slithering giant anaconda that has snaked through the city and nearby suburbs with a paralysing grip.Whilst countries like Japan and China can build this kind of infrastructure in what seems like half the time, our own light rail project appears to be in perpetual slow motion. Let’s hope the actual trams run a lot faster.

Any walk down George Street is now a most dispiriting exercise. It’s like the soul has been ripped out of the heart of the city and replaced with endless orange coloured barricades bedecked with dusty Council messages telling us that they are building Sydney’s future or inviting us to grab a coffee at a nearby shop which has probably closed down anyway due to lack of business. Rubbish piles high on the barricades and street sweepers do their best to keep the pedestrian walkways not looking like a rubbish dump.

Can we at least have a big countdown clock, strategically positioned on the front of the Sydney Town Hall, counting down the days until the first light rail carriages rattle their way down George Street? At least this would place some perspective and reassurance on what seems like an interminable wait for completion.

With some slight conjecture around the ethics of selling Aboriginal art it’s important to highlight those galleries doing everything right. One such gallery is Tali in Rozelle.

Tali Gallery has won multiple awards for carefully and ethically sourcing artworks.The gallery and their director Dianne Stevens are also incredibly focused on connecting communities with their friendly, helpful and personal service.

In terms of art the gallery has a wide range of offerings from small knick-knacks right up to $15,000 fine art pieces.

“We pride ourselves on being accessible to everyone.

Especially in the lead up to Christmas we have a fabulous range of gift ideas from $10 Kris Kringle trinkets to specially commissioned $150 paintings...” explained Stevens,“These aren’t just physical gifts though, as everything we sell makes a difference as the sales help the artists in remote communities.”

Tali isn’t simply a place to purchase ethically sourced Aboriginal art pieces though, they are also incredibly committed to education.

Sadly following a recent gallery space downsize these education efforts have become slightly more difficult.

“We recently moved to a smaller premises after our original building was sold so due to our size restrictions we’ve had to reduce class sizes in our education programs,” said Stevens, “We can no longer host 60 school kids at a time but we do have a group of nine coming through this Friday to learn about Aboriginal art from the various regions of Australia.”

To counter this new constraint Dianne says the gallery will be making a more concerted effort to conduct more on location educational talks. (JA) 132-134 Victoria Road (Near the corner of Darling Street), Rozelle. Info: www.taligallery.com.au

REVIEW: Sirius It’s Brutal. Our heritage is on The Rocks. Overdevelopment is getting Sirius.

The puns come easily, but it really isn’t a laughing matter.

While developers appear to slash and burn across the city without impediment, activists have come out in force and proverbially chained themselves to the trunk of the 1980s brutalist social housing building, Sirius.

In the book, Sirius, published by Piper Press, authors John Dunn, Ben Peake and Ameira Piscopo tell the story of this monumental building, icon to some, eyesore to others, but universally acknowledged as a landmark, literally and historically.

With journalistic conciseness, the book tells the story of Sirius, beginning with Jack Mundey and the Green Bans that helped save The Rocks from the greedy claws of developers and prompted the building of new social housing in the city.

It then looks at the design and construction of the modular, mixed level, purpose-built Sirius, with behind the scenes insights and detailed descriptions from architect Tao Gofer.

Images include artist impressions, sketches and floor plans as well as internal and external photographs.

However, the story of the physical structure is just a backdrop to the real story - that of the now erstwhile residents who were part of a unique community unlikely to ever be recreated. Gofer’s thoughtful, empathic vision was realised as a near utopia, where people across the social strata interacted in a true communal environment.

Selected stories of ousted tenants are at once heart-warming and heart-breaking. Sirius manages to distil history, politics and humanity into an engaging and readable book. It is current,

but it is also timeless - and that makes it required reading for anyone who believes that intrinsic social values need to be rescued from relentless pouring of concrete. (RB) WWW1/2

Professor Marston & The Wonder Women

Moviegoers who enjoyed the recent superhero flick Wonder Woman and would like to learn how the character was initially created won’t be disappointed in this sharp, insightful and mesmerising film.

Based on true events, the story commences in 1945 as William Moulton Marston, the creator and writer of the Wonder Woman comics (Luke Evans), is being denounced by the Child Study Association of America for these controversial comics which allegedly promoted sexual perverseness.

Audiences will learn through flashbacks how the illicit

Murder On The Orient Express

Based on the novel by Agatha Christie, is the mystery crime drama of the same name Murder On The Orient Express. Directed

by Kenneth Branagah, the film features a packed cast including, Penelope Cruz, Willem Defoe, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Michelle Pfeiffer and more.

Joining famed detective Hercule Poirot (Branagah) on board the luxurious Orient Express are 12 strangers who become part of a mysterious murder when another passenger is found dead. With the train derailed and a killer amongst them the detective must solve the puzzle

relationship between his wife Elizabeth (Rebecca Hall) and a beautiful young student called Olive Byrne (Bella Heathcote), inspired him to ‘lift the comic out of the gutter’ by creating this iconic superhero which would ultimately transform his life with wealth and notoriety.

This is a sensually sublime film, masterfully produced with memorable performances from a fine cast which also asks, what is normality in a relationship and why shouldn’t a man live with two women as his wives? (MMo)

WWWW

before another murder can unfold.

Although Branagah’s portrayal of Agatha’s detective is brilliant and entertaining, the rest of the film and characters were flat when compared.

The visuals were stunning, a little too reminiscent of a Harry Potter film though and the dialog was fun and hilarious at times with blunt humour. The film was enjoyable but had no real climax. The older and middle aged audience will appreciate this film but I think the younger audience will be slightly disappointed.

(RH) WWW

The Last Goldfish

Su Goldfish always wanted to tell her father’s story. The story of a Jewish refugee who moved to Trinidad, then Sydney, reinventing himself along the way. While still a teenager, Su finds out that her father had kept some things from her – the fact that he is a Jewish refugee, that he was divorced before he met her mother, and that he has other children. So begins her search for the rest of her family. Are there any other Goldfish out there, or is she the last one?

From the West Indies to Australia, Canada to Germany, this is a broad, sweeping

story. Particularly poignant is hearing how a life could be shattered bit by bit – friends lost, synagogues burnt, and Jewish men and women arrested and sent to the prison camps. Su’s father describes some of his experiences in the prison camp reluctantly. Survivor guilt lays heavy on him, and has clouded every aspect of his life.

Emotional and moving, Su’s father’s life and family story come together with her investigation and strong storytelling. (LS) WWW

INTERNATIONAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Limitless learning Early Learning students have been counting their chickens before and after they hatch at International Grammar School (IGS) – and in multiple languages.

The children have been learning about safe and caring environments as well as how to count in French and other languages.

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Central location near Sydney CBD

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Out of hours care

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Exciting music and STEAM opportunities

Bilingualism is an enduring gift. Our students are immersed in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and English classes until Year 7, when Spanish is added to the options. IGS provides a secular, coeducational and multilingual learning environment, from Preschool to Year 12.

Find out more and book a tour: igssyd.nsw.edu.au | 9219 6700 admissions@igssyd.nsw.edu.au

NEW ONLINE STORE uturn.com.au SURRY HILLS | NEWTOWN BONDI | MARRICKVILLE | ROZELLE

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NOW AT BROADWAY CNR GREEK & BAY STREET, BROADWAY

MOVIE TICKETS $19^ movie tickets after 2pm Thursday to Sunday

HOYTS.COM.AU *$15 tickets all day Monday to Wednesday and before 2pm Thursday to Sunday, excluding Midnight screenings, Special Events, Public Holidays and HOYTS LUX. Online, 3D and Xtremescreen surcharges apply. ^$19 tickets after 2pm Thursday to Sunday, Midnight Screenings and Public Holidays excluding Special Events and HOYTS LUX. Online, 3D and Xtremescreen surcharges apply.

Pricing is correct at time of publishing and is subject to change. For correct pricing information, please visit hoyts.com.au.

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