City Hub 29 September 2016

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Robert and Sharon Deans at the Sydney Fish Markets, a development they have been working on for more than ten years.

Page 9

NATIONAL ART SCHOOL AT RISK The independence and unique atelier approach of the National Art School is under threat, with proposals for it to be absorbed into the university system and rumours that the heritage Darlinghurst Gaol site will be sold for development.

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city hub 29 SEPTEMBER 2016

Tree inquiry knocked back

BY KRI STE N TS IAM I S A parliamentary inquiry into the CB D and South Eastern Light Rail project did not get up after going to a vote on Thursday 22 September.

The inquiry came after several trees were unexpectedly felled on Alison Road in Randwick.

Since work on the project began, well over 100 trees have been destroyed.

The parliamentary inquiry was put forward

by Greens member Mehreen Faruqi, and within four minutes, the motion was held over, thrown to a vote and knocked back, supported only by the Greens and Labor.

Greens N SW M P and Transport Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi said “it is very clear that the Government is scared of transparency, especially on the flawed roll out of the CS E LR project. If this inquiry had been established, it could have called the Minister and the key decision makers in the project to testify and be accountable for their decisions. I think they would have had a hard time explaining the massive loss of trees, the budget blow outs and the unexplained changes of routes.”

Saving Sydney’s Trees were pivotal in the crusade in bringing the notion of a parliamentary inquiry to fruition.

Margaret Hogg, co-convenor of Saving Sydney’s Trees says that it took the removal of these trees, particularly the Anzac Figs “for people to start looking at everything” and that “they [residents] assumed the government was being completely above board and transparent.”

“The minister has said he’s put 140 trees already in Centennial Park, yet the project has taken more trees than that, the project has just begun, and there are hundreds more trees to go.”

Ms Hogg said that the community is devastated by the blatant lack of

‘A tree on Alison Road, Randwick, where many trees have been removed’. Photo: Margaret Hogg

acknowledgement from authorities, saying that “every tree down High Street, our ‘Tree of Knowledge’, our Anzac trees – gone. This would never happen in other countries, it’s a disgrace.”

“I consider it an attack on the Australian psyche.”

It’s not only the trees that are suffering from the light rail, but will soon be residents, says John Bellamy, the convenor of the Sydney Light Rail Action Group.

“The light rail is cutting public transport in the morning peak by 60%, and with only 16 trams per hour the light rail is attempting to replace 220 buses. These 220 buses currently take 16,000 commuters per hour as opposed to the proposed 6,750 per hour.

Furthermore, the light rail will be “adding 20 minutes to the ride from Kingsford and as much as 7 minutes the other way. There is the capacity to add many more buses because

they’re flexible, and they’ll have to do that to cope with the deficit. Additionally, the trams are cutting out two complete lanes of Anzac Parade.”

“We’ll never be able to put more tram services on in the first ten years – because of the times between the trams and the express buses. The environmental impact statement says that there won’t be increasing frequency of trams” he said.

Ms Hogg told City Hub that there has been a lack of prominence in planning strategy, resulting in the “pulling down of trees willy-nilly…it’s not good enough, something has to be done on the legislative side, which is why the parliamentary inquiry was so important.”

A lack of planning strategy is exactly what has been the root of the problem, said Mr Bellamy, as “the government has had the opportunity to finish the underground rail that runs from Bondi Junction to Kingsford, going though U N SW and Randwick.”

“It was put forward in the 70’s, and all the plans are still there, but it’s not yet come to fruition. I put it forward to the transport minister a year ago, but they refused to meet with me and said they were doing light rail and that’s it.”

Community pressure is paramount, and Dr Faruqi said it “must and will continue and we will use all means at our disposal to have some transparency on this multi-billion dollar project.”

Ms Hogg said that the group will “have to go into negotiations with the Greens and Labor and see what strategy we will now bring, there are other ways.”

The 691 trees that are to be killed and 717 trees that may die as a result of construction can be stopped. Mr Bellamy said it’s “never too late, it took 20 years to get rid of the Monorail, I’ll keep campaigning for better environmental and transport solutions.”

Bondi’s Indigenous Shame 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.

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ABN 52 600 903 348 Group Manager: Chris Peken Group Editor: Jordan Fermanis, Kristen Tsiamis Contributors: Lucas Baird, Jordan Fermanis, Kristen Tsiamis, Charlotte Grieve.

Arts Editors: Jamie Apps, Alannah Maher Advertising Managers: Mark Barnes, David Sullivan Cover Photo: Chris Peken – Robert and Sharon Deans at the Sydney Fish Markets 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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BY CHARLOTTE GRIEVE Plans to destroy an indigenous Australian mural from Bondi’s Roscoe Street has mobilised a local community campaign to save the artwork and maintain recognition of Bondi’s indigenous history.

The Wayside Chapel plans to replace the iconic piece of street art with a $630,000 glass wall as part of a redevelopment of the site.

The piece titled “From little things big things grow” features portraits of five indigenous activists who have been leading figures in the struggle for indigenous recognition; Eddie Mabo, Mum Shirl, Faith Bandler, Charles Perkins and Vincent Lingiari. Each activist has is now referred to as an “Aboriginal saint” amongst the indigenous community for their contribution to Aboriginal rights.

“These people were working at a time where they had a greater chance of being shot than listened to,” artist Etienne Cohen told City Hub. Built in 2013, the artwork was designed and painted by Wiradjuri man Edward Paul Davis and Etienne Cohen as part of a greater reconciliation project throughout the country. The mural features local input and handprints of Bondi elders and Aboriginal schoolchildren from western NSW. Just over a week ago, the artists launched an online petition calling on Waverley Council to save the mural. The petition has already attracted over 150 signatures.

“I am signing because we must preserve

Bondi’s Indigenous Mural, Roscoe Street.

Source: Charlotte Grieve

our culture, our roots, our stories, our foundation,” wrote Michelle Lee, one signature to the petition.

Ms Cohen says she feels frustrated by the lack of consultation with from both the Uniting Church and Waverley Council. The artists have now also applied for the mural

to be listed as a state heritage item.

Waverley Councillor Dominic Wy Kanak is rallying behind the community campaign to save the mural.

“The mural is very important and significant to the community and it must not be removed,” he said.

Clr Wy Kanak stresses the ability of the artwork to create unity and throws his support behind the move to get the mural heritage-listed.

“It covers the whole country that is significant to aboriginal people, from salt water to fresh water and even to the desert. It joins a whole heap of aboriginal mobs and pays tributes to their saints, their heroes and their country,” Clr Wy Kanak told City Hub .

He also believes the artwork is not only significant to the local indigenous community, but also the plight of indigenous communities around the world.

“Bondi is visited internationally and indigenous rights are a global issue,” he said.

According to the Arts Law Centre of Australia, the destruction of such a painting may be an infringement of the artist’s moral right of integrity in the work. In this sense, the Wayside Chapel would be required to give the artists due notice or appropriate consultation regarding the mural’s future.

“There’s been not a word for months, absolutely no consultation going on,” Ms Cohen told City Hub . city hub 29 SEPTEMBER 2016

3

New ideas for the Bondi Pavilion

BY CHARLOTTE GRIEVE On Thursday evening, dozens packed into the Bondi Pavilion Theatre to listen to a panel of experts discuss the future of the iconic community centre.

The night hailed “FuturePav” was organised by the local community campaign, Save The Bondi Pavilion, whose motto calls for a “makeover not takeover” of the heritage-listed site.

“Some people have described the current situation of the pavilion as a death by a thousand cuts. The council has systematically neglected both the building and it’s cultural programming,” Gemma Deacon, organiser of FuturePav, told City Hub. According to the Save The Bondi Pavilion campaign, the $38 million plan released earlier this year removes public space and does not respect the heritage nor history of the pavilion. The plan entails the privatisation of the top floor which is currently used as a community space for dance lessons, pottery classes and art studios.

Ms Deacon introduced the evening with a number of studies and arguments highlighting the importance of local cultural centres.

She said that the Bondi Pavilion is “more than just a building” and the Council “need to put culture at the heart of development.”

Throughout her presentation, Ms Deacon showcased a number of successful cultural centres arguing that well-designed community spaces are “not a cost” to society, but rather work to improve social cohesion and productivity.

Also speaking on the night was Vandana

FuturePav at the Bondi Pavilion.

Source: Andrew Woorsman

Ram, an expert in arts and cultural policy who has been instrumental in establishing the Bankstown Arts Centre, which opened in 2011.

Ms Ram told the room that it is often difficult to convince higher powers of the merits of cultural centres, as their value is not often monetary.

“It is something we have to keep struggling and fighting for,” she said.

Next up was Leonie Huntsman, author of Sand in our Souls and retired Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University. She reminded the room about the onceluxurious nature of the Pavilion, “it became successful for the promotion of the image of modern Australia, but it was a financial failure.”

Other speakers included Michael Lynch and Peter Winkler who further stressed

the need for the building to remain in the hands of the community.

“This is a community that lives and breathes on its cultural identity and inclusiveness,” said Mr Winkler.

“If we could activate the Bondi Pavilion as a famous arts hub, it would change the whole use of this place,” he said.

Following the panel discussion, the group brainstormed ideas and drafted a 60 page document that was formerly submitted to Council the following day.

“It was an amazing process where people felt empowered to come up with ideas,” said Ms Deacon.

Among the ideas canvassed was the formation of an advisory committee involving members from the community to run the pavilion and take control of the programs it offers.

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5

Opinion

Sydney Harbour: a jewel in our crown

By Andrew Woodhous e, President, Potts Point and Kings Cross Heritage and Residents’ Society WH E N Governor Phillip left Botany Bay and his flotilla of 12 ships in January 1788 to seek a better location with more fresh water he was relieved to find Port Jackson and Circular Quay. In his first despatch from the colony back to England he wrote: “...we had the satisfaction of finding the finest harbour in the world, in which a thousand sail of the line may ride in the most perfect security...”.

He had one eye on his present circumstances and one eye on Sydney’s strategic and commercial future as a commercial port. Little did he know the French were about to arrive in Botany Bay under the Command of Jean François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse. His ships, the Astrolabe and the Boussole, both 500 tonnes, were here on a scientific and strategic reconnoitre of the South Pacific.

On 10th March he left for New Caledonia.

Lapérouse expected to be back in France by June 1789. However, neither he nor any of his men were seen again – shipwrecked.

In the nineteenth century the harbour was not lusted after by property developers as it is today for its sapphire blue views. It was used as an open sewer, with Rushcutters Bay subject to a typhoid outbreak serious enough to warrant evacuation. And it was abused by slaughter houses, slurry pits from coal mining in Cremorne and metal and other heavy harbour-side factories.

Today, it’s the most well-known tourist attraction we have and known worldwide for its annual fireworks. It makes us

Sketch of proposed Elizabeth Bay marina. Image: Supplied by NSW Roads and Maritime Services

millions. A return ferry tick to Manly is the best and most beautiful harbour cruise in the world. Full stop.

So why would we even think about devaluing it?

Yet the N SW Roads and Maritime Authority, which has responsibility for it, now wants to do just that under the guise of an “upgrade”.

Its proposal for the Elizabeth Bay Marina in Beare Park, for which it is conveniently also the consent authority and thus has a clear conflict of interest, will see this benign,

quiet spot over-commercialised, despite the fact that locals’ calls for a Sydney Harbour Master Plan have fallen on deaf ears.

This 100 year-old site is slated for demolition and a new 30-seat bar and restaurant with a 60% increase in berthing capacity, a 300% increase in jetty length and a mega-two-storey high modern, faux “heritage concept” pavilion - an architectural indulgence - all in one of the densest urban in Australia. Habour view losses, increased traffic and lack of vehicle access to the marina for goods deliveries will create even

more on-street parking problems and late night noise issues. Residents will be living disturbia, not suburbia. They say it’s not an upgrade: its’ a down grade. The design looks frighteningly like a mixed use retail plaza.

Cui bono? The RM S and future marina lessees, that’s who.

Locals are asking their newly-elected Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, who supported them to successfully oppose a similar proposal in 2010 to also oppose this scheme. She correctly said in this newspaper that “Sydney Harbour belongs to the people” with her fellow councillor, John Mant, commenting that “Land-owning government departments were being turned into corporate bodies and urged to maximise financial returns … the government gets three times the revenue from step-on berths than swing moorings … this proposed Elizabeth Bay marina would earn them thousands of dollars each year.”

What would Admiral Arthur Phillip RN, the first Governor of New South Wales, say? He’d issue a command: “Hands off my harbour: it’s the finest in the world. Sydney Harbour doesn’t belong to you: you belong to it. Cherish and protect it, not exploit it for a fast buck.”

Yes Sir (saluting and at attention).

The public are invited to RM S sessions on Saturday 8th October 10:00 am to 2:00pm and Tuesday 11th October 5:00pm to 8:00pm at the Rex Centre 58A Macleay Street, Potts Point, or can phone 1800 874 876 or email elizabethbay@rms.nsw.gov.au to comment.

AirBnb a “nightmare”, says community group

BY LUCAS BAIRD The Neighbours not Strangers community group has urged the City of Sydney to reconsider their attitude towards citizens using home-sharing sites like AirBnb and Stayz.

Short term house-letting services can now be classified as “exempt development”, and Neighbours not Strangers claimthat the impact of these services have been a “nightmare”.

When classified as exempt development, owners who wish to let out their dwellings for short term accommodation through services like AirBnb, would not have apply for a permit if they meet certain requirements such as only letting for a certain number of days a year.

The City of Sydney Council recommended this reform to an Upper House inquiry into the adequacy of short term letting in November last year.

However, Neighbours not Strangers convenor, Trish Burt, said that the City of Sydney’s decision had become “unacceptable” to a community that had been been rocked by the influx of short term rentals.

“Needless to say, short term rentals made our home lives a living nightmare, both in the daily/nightly disruption, constant breaches of security and almost total loss of amenity, nil 6

city hub 29 SEPTEMBER 2016

sense of community, additional costs borne by all owners.” Ms Burt told City Hub. Ms Burt said that the council’s decision was “planning anarchy” and that “Council’s recommendations contravene the three C’s of good town planning: clarity, consistency and certainty”.

The group appear to have the support of Councillor Linda Scott, who when asked by City Hub said that she would continue to organise meetings with the Shadow Minister for Planning in relation to issues concerning Sydney residents, including short term letting.

But Neighbours not Strangers seem to be facing an uphill battle after a City of Sydney spokesperson gave no indication that they will back down from their previous submission.

“We have found that community members, platform owners and visitor accommodation providers want a state-wide approach that is clear and consistent,” the spokesperson said.

“Our submission asked the NSW Government to strike a balanced approach that clearly distinguished occasional short-term letting from commercial tourist accommodation - permitting short-term letting under circumstances that would minimise impacts on neighbours.”

Clover Moore’s new council appear to be standing behind their previous submission to an Upper House Inquiry into short term rentals.

Source: Bidgee

“We have recommended a new definition for short-term rentals and a consistent approach across NSW.” But Ms Burt said that this approach was “unacceptable” and “unsustainable” for the community.

“Residents call this stealing [...] It steals

our rights to live in our chosen residential environment and our inalienable rights to an affordable, safe and stable living environment.”

The City of Sydney spokesperson also urged anyone with concerns about overcrowding, to call their customer service line.

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7

Webcasting in chambers, live and accountable

BY KRISTEN TSIAMIS The newly-appointed City of Sydney Council has deferred further consideration of webcasting Council meetings, despite the motion passing in March of this year.

Councillors who were not on the Lord Mayor’s team have been frustrated by the notoriously secretive way the City runs council meetings, where complete minutes are not taken.

When the motion passed in March, council resolved that the CEO present a proposal for webcasting in council meetings.In May, plans for a 12 month trial were tabled, and council resolved that “further consideration of this matter be deferred pending the election of a new Council in September 2016 (so as to enable the provision of input and guidance from elected members of the new Council regarding the arrangements for the streaming of Council and Committee meetings.”

As the new Council has now been elected, now is the time to be talking about how to make a more transparent City of Sydney Council.

At the first meeting of the council, held on September 23, webcasting was not on the agenda.

A Council spokesperson told City Hub, “in May, Council resolved to defer further consideration of webcasting until the new Council was elected. As such, a new report is being prepared and will be put to the new Councillors.”

City of Sydney Councillor Angela Vithoulkas told City Hub that the introduction of webcasting of council meetings was “way overdue, I think as part of the platform that I campaign for to be a smart city, the minimum we should require for accountability and transparency for the rate payer, is to enable them to view all council meetings.”

Transparency in Council chambers, as well as

‘Sydney Town Hall’ Flickr taken by Sv1ambo

bringing Council into the 21st century are part of the reasons that the motion for webcasting Council meetings went through.

Labor Councillor, Linda Scott, said that transparency and public participation in council deliberations were key to a functioning Council.

“I welcome more openness, more transparency and more participation in the deliberations and decision making of the City of Sydney Council and webcasting council meetings will allow this.

“The nuances of a councillor’s position on a certain matter or issue are never accurately reflected in council minutes,” she said.

One of the positive aspects of webcasting is the fact that citizens can peruse the meeting at their leisure, without having to sit through the entire meeting, particularly if the issue they are attending the meeting for isn’t addressed for sometimes, several hours.

“Some people work late or have families to

get home to and simply don’t have the time to attend council meetings in person,” Cr Scott said.

Cr Vithoulkas said that the implementation of webcasting will be an important development in the council relationship with the public, as “an accurate record [of council meetings] isn’t kept, it’s only the voting process that is recorded. It’s a shame that their views and questions aren’t heard as well.”

Councillors need to be seen as accessible and approachable, according to Cr Vithoulkas, and one way to do that is allowing “people to see how a council chamber works when there is a majority and one voice is heard. There is little opportunity for others to share their views. People voted for different councillors for different reasons, the rest of the people should still hear and see what is going on, webcasting will make it easier and more accessible. “ “The Lord mayor has dragged her heels over this, it’s certainly an issue that my ex-Liberal colleague and I were in support of. The Lord Mayor had opposed it and previously voted it down.”

Cr Vithoulkas said that if the motion is reconsidered in Council, she “would support a live webcast, it’s important because decisions are made instantaneously, so people should be able to see the motion and the votes.”

“I’m not scared of people hearing what I have to say or how I vote. I’d like to see all councillors feel the same way. I’d like to think they do, and supporting what has already been voted on is the ideal way of showing that – unless they have something to hide” she said.

Liberal Councillor Christine Forster in support of the webcasting motion is planning to file a motion in October, bringing the issue of webcasting to the forefront of council discussions.

Inner west baby boom over but not gone

By Michael Forno The recent baby boom in the inner west may be over but its effects are still ongoing according to former independent Leichhardt councilor John Stamolis.

John Stamolis.

Image Lena Rizk

“We missed the baby boom, even though we’re still planning for it, we missed it by a long shot,” he says.

While Mr. Stamolis concedes that the boom is over there are still long term flow on effects.

8

city hub 29 SEPTEMBER 2016

“To tell you where the birthrate is now, the latest data is from 2014, and we’re down about 600 births from where we were in 2010,” he says.

“It has turned, but I suppose the big issue here is are we planning sufficiently for these young kids? Because those children are five to eight years old now,” he says.

ABS figures suggest that the area that now makes up the Inner West Council has recently had the highest birth rates of any region across Sydney. In 2014 City Hub reported that the Leichhardt council projections of the extent of the baby boom were overstated. But despite signs of a decline in birth rate the Lichhardt council committed to building a $4mil childcare centre in Lilyfield.

“In my first term in council, I saw the boom peak. But I don’t know why the council thought the best investment was a $4mil childcare centre, instead of upgrading facilities for young children, and also thinking about the needs of youth,” Mr. Stamolis says.

“It’s probably only another four years off and they’ll be teenagers, and we have to ask are we ready for that? We have seen to the needs of younger children, we’ve upgraded libraries and play equipment but we need a broader approach,” he says.

Image: Supplied

Local amenities for youth including, skate parks, basketball courts and aquatic centres are all lacking across the inner west according to Mr. Stamolis. While the children of the boom are growing older he believes that councils are still too focused on childcare services. He is further concerned about the future of these matters since the creation of the new Inner West Council and the appointment of an interim administration.

“The trouble though is the length of time that we’re under administration. It’s a long time to be left without quality decision-making and without

members of our community developing their vision and policy. The ability to develop new policy is just not there,” he says.

Despite inadequacy amenities for youth Mr. Stamolis believes the inner west is still a desirable place to live, a reason for the baby boom in the first place.

“I think that people are drawn to the lifestyle of the inner west and younger people who are employed in the city want to live close to the city,” he says.

“For the council it’s a matter of being ready, and not doing things after,” he says.

FEATURE

fishy business

BY JORDAN FERMANIS On August 21, 2013 Robert Deans was flying high. The day before he would be named Sydney’s Best Real Estate Agent by City Hub, he attended a meeting with representatives of 10 NSW Government agencies. Deans was invited to present a solution to redevelop the Sydney Fish Market (SFM). He had been working on this proposal for more than seven years.

The meeting appeared to finally resolve a range of stakeholder obstacles which had stood in the way of improving “the largest market of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and the third largest seafood market in terms of variety in the world,” according to the SFM website.

Two years earlier, in 2011, Deans presented earlier draft plans to then NSW Planning Minister Brad Hazzard. At the time City Hub reported, “After 15 years and millions of dollars invested in looking for a solution, the government finally has an opportunity to support the Sydney Fish Market,” Mr Deans said. “It simply requires the coordination of the various government agencies.”

In his August 2013 meeting, he presented a draft of an unsolicited proposal to the NSW government which included a redevelopment of the SFM, the relocation of Bridge Rd and an extension of Wentworth Park. The complete proposal was called ‘Fishbank’.

Five days after his meeting with NSW Government agencies, Mr Deans alleges, “I was informed by a leaseholder who supported our solution that it had been approached by a person representing Brookfield Multiplex (Brookfield) to withdraw its support for our solution.

Brookfield representatives subsequently approached other landowners along Bank Street with the same intent, and also SFM.” The Australian newspaper reported that Brookfield Multiplex made donations to the Liberal Party prior to the previous state election.

“Property giant Brookfield Multiplex donated $22,000 to the Millennium Forum, a fund that a corruption inquiry has heard was often used by NSW Liberal Party figures to get around state laws banning developers from making political donations before election campaigns. Multiplex made the payment in 2013…”

Blackwattle Bay is part of Urban Growth’s Bays Precinct development which includes 5.5km of harbour front including the fish markets, Wentworth Park and the White Bay Power Station.

Redevelopment of the site has a history of controversy. In 2010, the former Labor Government awarded an alleged associate of Eddie Obeid, Joe Elias the rights to redevelop and operate a floating strip club on an adjoining site on Blackwattle Bay. In 2014, Fairfax reported that in order to facilitate the deal, Mr Elias was introduced to former government officials by Eddie Obeid Jnr. Robert Deans said that he had been working on the development of the fish markets for more than ten years. In that time he had slowly developed a community-backed solution which also had the support of the tenants and shareholders of the fish market. However Mr Deans said that he was refused when attempting to present his proposal to the board of the Sydney Fish Markets.

“All I really needed to do was have a meeting with the board of the Sydney Fish Markets, because I had the shareholders, I would of automatically got the support of the board because they had to act in accordance with the constitution.”

“Within 5 days of presenting our unsolicited proposal, Brookfield Multiplex were doing there lobbying all of our stakeholders.”

“They also spoke to the Chairman of the Sydney Fish Markets, who refused to allow us to do a presentation. So for the last two and a half years, he’s refused to allows us to present our solution to the board and to the tenants.”

“That behaviour in itself is questionable,” Mr Deans said.

Robert and Sharon Deans outside their former busniness at Sydney Fish Markets.

Photo: Chris Peken

Mr Deans’ alleges that Brookfield Multiplex submitted development plans similar to his own, including the relocation of Bridge Rd, prior to the NSW government announcing that it was part of the Blackwattle Bay development.

“So why did Brookfield include the Bridge Road land in its proposal when it did not have any legal or other right over that land or any reasonable expectation that it would gain a legal right over that land? The only reasonable conclusion is that Brookfield was advised by someone within the NSW Government that RMS was taking the right to redevelop the Bridge Road land back from Blackwattle Bay Marina Pty Ltd and that it would be given the right to use that land to accommodate the new Sydney Fish Market facilities,” the statement says.

Speaking to City Hub, Mr Deans said that the solution presented by Brookfield Multiplex also included land that they did not control, namely Joe Elias’. Mr Deans said that he himself had made an agreement with Joe Elias, but that the RMS had said they would terminate Joe Elias’ lease, therefore freeing the land for Brookfield Multiplex’s solution.

“The presentations that Brookfield Multiplex did, included land they did not control. Brookfield Multiplex and Urban Growth have done presentations which included development. On top of that Brookfield Multiplex said the government was going to terminate Joe Elias’ lease, therefore they could present their proposal. To date that hasn’t occurred,” Mr Deans said.

In 2014, Mr Deans statement says that the board of the SFM arranged a third party assessment of the site “to justify its support for the Brookfield proposal.” This was undertaken by the Savills Real Estate group. Mr Deans says the process, “refused to allow Leighton and my company sufficient time to respond to its questionnaire and to present our solution.” Savills then recommended the Brookfield Multiplex solution.

Mr Deans statement says that as early as 2014, Brookfield Multiplex were working covertly with Urban Growth to push forward their proposal.

“The board of SFM organised a presentation by Brookfield to the boards of Tenants and Catchers Trust in October 2014 which was also attended by

representatives of Urban Growth, which showed Brookfield and Urban Growth were working closely together at that time and further undermined our support,” Mr Deans statement says.

By 2015, Mr Deans involvement in the SFM precinct had reached a climax. He first brokered a deal by Chinese investor Dahua to purchase the Bank Street site adjacent to the fish markets for $17.5 million. Mr Deans was then involved in a new deal which saw John Camilleri from Baiada Poultry purchase the property off Dahua one year later for $21 million.

It was around this time, in October 2015, that Mr Dean claims that the SFM entered an “exclusive agreement” with Urban Growth. Mr Dean goes on to question why Brookfield Multiplex would relinquish involvement in the deal.

“Brookfield, despite having an exclusive agreement with SFM, which conferred upon Brookfield a valuable right, gave up that right to allow Urban Growth to enter into an agreement with SFM in its place. Why would Brookfield give up this right? What promises have been made to Brookfield in return?” the statement says.

In a media release from UrbanGrowth NSW on 12 October 2015, Urban Growth announces it has entered a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the Sydney Fish Market.

“UrbanGrowth NSW and Sydney Fish Market today entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, committing them to working together on the rejuvenation of the fish market as part of the broader transformation of The Bays Precinct,” the media release said.

However in response to the allegation that Brookfield Multiplex was involved in the partnership between Urban Growth and Sydney Fish Market, a representative from the Sydney Fish Market told City Hub that: “Brookfield hasn’t been selected as the developer, it hasn’t gone to tender yet.”

“We’ve been working with Urban Growth, developing our functional brief which outlines the requirements we need for the fish markets and we are anticipating the announcement to go to the next stage of the tender process.”

“We didn’t believe he [Robert Deans] had the capacity to develop it. When the government announced the redevelopment of the Bays

Precinct we were supportive of the idea of an open tender process,” the spokesperson said.

Robert Gavagna, formerly of the Blackwattle Cove Coalition told City Hub that he understood that Urban Growth, Brookfield Multiplex and the Sydney Fish Market had formed a “troika.”

“The next surprising development was for a troika comprising the state government appointed supra development body Urban Growth, the construction company Brookfield-Multiplex and the management of Sydney Fish Markets to apparently co-promote an alternative plan for redevelopment of Sydney Fish Market Pty Ltd. Unfortunately, like all other community members, I have no precise knowledge of this plan (as it came from the ‘top down’). From what I can gather, it seems to rely on certain aspects of the Robert Dean Destination Blackwattle Bay proposal and is based on a presumed but apparently contentious right of occupation of the Bridge Road foreshore,” Mr Gavagna said.

Robert Deans is currently contesting a court battle in the NSW Supreme Court. Deans owns a business, Felans Fisheries, at the fish market, he also acquired a 25 per cent shareholding in the Tenants and Catchers.

Deans said he agreed to rescind his contracts with his supporters but that the SFM attempted to terminate his lease which was when he decided to take the matter to court.

“They are now trying to force the sale of my shares. I am in court with them at the moment and on Friday we got judgement on our security of costs hearing.”

“They asked for a $500 000 bond. We went in to he court and our solicitors argued that my only form of defense was attack. So as of Friday the court ruled in our favour and said we don’t have to put up a bond,” Mr Deans said.

City Hub requests for information from Brookfield Multiplex returned a ‘no comment response.’ A representative from Brookfield Multiplex said: “Unfortunately I don’t have any comments for you for your story.

I have been advised that tenders have not even been issued from government at this stage.”

City Hub also asked Urban Growth to comment, who failed to respond in time for publication. city hub 29 SEPTEMBER 2016

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city hub 29 SEPTEMBER 2016

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT La Sonnambula

Power Plays

investing her own capital in the absence of any government or private funding. The singers are all volunteers, happy for the chance to perform and garner experience in a playing field that offers few opportunities.

The small amount of money earned from ticket sales is predominantly allocated to costumes because the characters are the most important part of the production.

“We use minimal sets and props, partly because we can’t afford them and partly because we really want the singers to be the focus…”

Some scenery is provided via a projected backdrop. The projection also provides the surtitles, a must since all the productions are sung in their original language.

Nathanial Kong plays the piano reduction score under the musical direction of Keiren Brandt-Sawdy.

In the intimate, preserved art deco surrounds of the Independent Theatre in North Sydney, the opera, divested of all the usual production bling, will have a pure, “unplugged” feel. There won’t be any sleepwalkers in the audience. (RB) Sept 29–Oct 2 (7:30pm Thurs + Sat, 4pm Sun). The Independent Theatre, 269 Miller St, North Sydney. $15-$45. Tickets & info: www.operantics.com.au or www. theindependent.org.au or (02) 9409 4462

If the short story is having a ‘moment’, then maybe the short play is having its moment as well. Hence STC’s commissioning of a quintet of Australia’s finest playwrights to create a collection of five short works about power.

Power Plays is about identity, survival, love, hate, sex – who wields the power and how they wield it. Steering a course and finding a coherent thread throughout the show is director Paige Rattray.

“Nailing the tone and the idea of the play in 20 minutes is really tricky and everything feeds into that,” said Rattray. “But then making it all one, allowing the ideas in the plays to accumulate over the evening, to build on each other – that’s the trickiest thing”.

Writer Melissa Bubnic (Boys Will be Boys) sets the tone with an opening monologue that plumbs the internal conflict of a woman whose insatiable desire for a designer handbag cannot be quenched. “It’s a stream of consciousness that we’re using as an overture,” said Rattray. “Michelle Lim Davidson is a divine actor, technically unique and incredibly charming. She is popping most of that monologue and then we break out into places where other actors join her.”

For a flagship theatre company like STC, it would be easy to stick with material that is familiar and predictable, but Power Plays promises to be fresh and new. The actors were

For the last opera of their 2016 season, independent company Operantics will stage Bellini’s La Sonnambula. Set in a Swiss mountain village, the story is of romance shadowed by deception, intrigue, misjudgement and hints of the supernatural.

Asked about the choice, producer Katie Miller-Crispe explains that it’s a crowd pleaser, it has lovely melodies and most of all – one of the singers in the company already knew all the songs. When you’re a fledgling, independent opera company with budget and time constraints, every little bit helps.

Miller-Crispe founded Operantics last year,

Melissa Bubnic

cast first and the writers wrote around the ensemble. In the writers – Bubnic, Nakkiah Lui, Michele Lee, Hannie Rayson and Debra Thomas – we have some of our best young voices, from wildly diverse backgrounds. Rattray added: “Rather than doing things that are well known and expected, this is so fresh and so now.”

(GW) Until Oct 15, evenings and matinees.

Sydney Theatre Company, Wharf 2 Theatre, The Wharf, Pier 4 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay. $30-$39.Tickets & info: www.sydneytheatre.com.au or 02 9250 1777

Ruby’s Wish

Threnody Many people spend most of their lives wishing for a little bit of peace and quiet, imagining the blissfulness of not having to interact with the boss or the awkward neighbour.

Veronica however is not most people, she lusts after a half-hearted conversation with a friendly face that doesn’t belong to one of her parents. Her parents had raised her to live what they would call a ‘pure’ life, but what Veronica would call an incredibly dull and boring life, and she’s ready to correct them on that.

Written and directed by Michael McStay, Threnody follows Veronica’s journey as she ventures into the outside world for the very first

time. Narrated in verse, this niche production touches upon both the gritty and humorous sides of adulthood, and the loss of innocence we all feel as we take that plunge in to the real world.

“We are projecting such a powerful message, but in a way that nobody has ever seen before, it really is a unique concept as well as a credit to the new era of Australian writers,” said Lauren Richardson, one of an all-female cast of six who weave this exceptionally captivating production. (BS) Until Oct 8, 9:30 PM.The Old Fitzroy Hotel, 129 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo. $25.Tickets & info: www.theatrenow.com.au

a&e

11 STAGE 12 Sounds 13 SCENE 14 SCREEN

Holly Austin.

Photo: Brett Boardman

We’ve all heard the age old adage that ‘laughter is the best medicine’, so to see this brought to life in a fun and heart-warming manner on stage is incredibly special.

Fusing together a combination of live performance with puppeteering, magic and music, MAKEbeLIVE tell the incredibly compelling story of Ruby, a small girl who has been confined to a hospital bed for much of her childhood and has thus been forced to grow up far too fast. When Ruby meets Dot, a tonguetied clown doctor, her imagination is sparked into fantastical use as the duo create a world filled mop monsters, bed caves and imaginary paper friends.

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

As someone who spent much of his own childhood in hospitals throughout the years, I know all too well just how much clown doctors can help the rehabilitation and healing process.

Ruby’s Wish is something truly special in the fact that it will have audiences walking out of Belvoir Street Theatre realising not only the need to foster imagination in young children, but also the important work that happens in hospitals every day by those not donning doctors scrubs or lab coats. (JA) Until Oct 9, varied performance times.

Belvoir Street Theatre, 25 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills. $25-$48.Tickets & info: www.belvoir.com.au or (02) 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, Caitlin Burns, Zeiya Speede, Rita Bratovich, Chantal Walsh, Raffaele Piccolo, Barbara Karpinski, Taylah Felice, Georgia Fullerton, Bobby Stephenson, Olga Azar. city hub 29 SEPTEMBER 2016

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Jay Laga’aia’s Family Time

Jay Laga’aia has as much talent as his broad shoulders can bear, with a resume that casually name checks Star Wars II and III, Xena: Warrior Princess, Water Rats, The Lion King (stage production), Jesus Christ Superstar, Play School, Jay’s Jungle, and much more.

Despite his broad range he has ultimately decided his true passion is in children’s entertainment. With the dust still settling from the Jay’s Jungle Live! tour, Laga’aia is now preparing a new show, Jay Laga’aia’s Family Time When it comes to inspiration, having his own

brood of eight provides plenty. One song on his current album, ‘Too Many Bubbles In The Bathtub’ was written after two of his kids decided to pour the entire contents of a new bottle of shampoo into their bath water.

Laga’aia credits his heritage and upbringing for both his musical talent and family values. Music was played in his church and encouraged at family gatherings.

“As a Polynesian… our history is very much oral, so it’s not only spoken but it’s sung and it’s danced,” he said.

His Family Time show promises to be a fun experience not only for children, but adults as well, which is what he strives for. Using song, guessing games, sound effects, comedy, and multiple musical instruments, he temporarily transports his audience to another world: “For the next 50 minutes, using their imagination – we go on an adventure…and we never left the building!” (RB) Until Oct 1; 10.30am + 12.30pm weekdays**, 12.30pm + 2.30pm Sat. Monkey Baa Theatre, 1-25 Harbour Street, Darling Harbour. $29 (group + family packages avaliable).Tickets & info: www.monkeybaa.com.au **Relaxed performance: Thu 29 Sep 12.30pm, $17. (See website for details.)

Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE Sydney

By Jamie Apps

Made In Sydney - Music Makers & Innovators: For the past month Made In Sydney has been celebrating those creatives putting Sydney on the map and this week we close out celebrations with one of the city’s finest creative scenes, the music industry. Some of the city’s most influential music proponents and creators will come together to talk about what makes the Sydney music scene unique.

Thu, Sep 29, aMBUSH Event Space, Central Park Harry Coulson: Harry Coulson’s got a thing about dogs. They turn up in both of his recent albums, and they represent something very specific and very personal to the Melbourne based guitarist and singer/songwriter. This week he celebrates the release of his second album, Blue Dog, which follows on from debut album Rain Dogs.

Fri, Sep 30, Old Growler Save Sydney Park Festival: This long weekend don’t just party, be a part of some social activism as Reclaim The Streets (RTS) and WestCONnex Action Group (WAG) protest the destruction of Sydney Park and support the antiWestConnex blockade. The family friendly festival will feature multiple stages hosting local acts playing a diverse array of musical styles.

Sat, Oct 1, Sydney Park The Bear Hunt: Reminiscent of 90’s alt rock with fuzzed out 12

guitars, big melodies and big outros; angular, weird, but super melodic. Following the release of their new single ‘Who Made You God?’ The band have packed their suitcases and arrive in Sydney this weekend to showcase the tune.

Sun, Oct 2, The Record Crate Abby Dobson: The much loved singer with Leonardo’s Bride & Baby et Lulu has a dream to record her long awaited solo album in Nashville, so in order to help her out Camelot Lounge presents an intimate evening of song with Abby, with 100% of proceeds going directly towards the fundraising campaign. Come and support one of the greatest voices this country has ever produced and be swept away by the sheer beauty of her singing and songwriting.

Sun, Oct 2, Django Bar Pup: Hot off a festival performance in Wollongong at the Yours & Owls festival the Toronto punk four piece will return to Sydney for an intimate headline performance early in the week to help you extend that long weekend.

Tue, Oct 4, Oxford Art Factory Cate Le Bon: The Welsh trailblazer of avant-pop will perform in Sydney this week in support of her fourth record, Crab Day, a harvest of psych musings that was released earlier this year.

Wed, Oct 5, Newtown Social Club

city hub 29 SEPTEMBER 2016

The NITWITS’ Fractured Fairytales King Street Theatre’s school holiday program launches into full-fledged silliness as The Nitwits return to Newtown with their new show, Fractured Fairytales.

Forget what you think you thought you knew about the storybook characters we’ve all grown up with, as Matty Grey and Teddlie Bear turn traditional tales on their head with their chaotic wit.

Little Red never wore a hood, she lived in it; Goldie-Locks’ story is actually a lot older than you think; and “Rapunzel doesn’t have lovely flowing hair growing out of her head in this beautiful ideal of feminine beauty anymore, it’s her eyebrows that have gone crazy!...”

The Nitwits, Kat Placing (Teddlie Bear) and Matty Grey, are not only renowned children’s entertainers, but descendants of the godparents of children’s literature, Hans Christian Anderson and Beatrix Potter.

“Surely it was time we did some damage to these beloved fairytales,” said Kat. Evoking the pantomimes they saw in their youth, Kat and Matty hope that their “not typically commercial” style of theatre filled with “attitude, fun and naughtiness” will “foster an

early love of the arts in kids and make the theatre a really fun place to go”.

As Teddlie Bear, Kat also hopes to break the mould of strictly “feminine and gentle” female characters in children’s entertainment.“We didn’t fell that things should be ‘boy vs. girl’,” she said.

(Fractured Fairytales is recommended for children 5-12 years old.Younger children may be overwhelmed by the ridiculous comedy stylings.) (AM) Oct 3–8; Mon-Fri 10.30am + 1pm (no 10.30am on Mon), Sat 1pm. King Street Theatre, Level 1, 644 King Street, Newtown. $20-$25 (group + family packages available).

Tickets & info: www.kingstreettheatre.com. au or 0423 082 015

Foundry616 Third Anniversary

By Jamie Apps In the time since Foundry616 first opened its doors in 2013, the jazz club has fostered a significant number of burgeoning young Australian talent whilst also growing the reputation of the club within the scene to the point where it is now considered a cornerstone of Sydney’s jazz music scene.

For founder Peter Rechniewsk, opening Foundry616 was an endeavour of passion following many many years in and around the industry. “I wanted to create a venue that was a little bit different from what we’ve had in Sydney in the past,” recalled Peter. “We were going to invest money into rebuilding the venue internally to ensure that it had good acoustic properties, because that wasn’t always the case and I felt this was really important to create the intimate atmosphere that the club has.”

Along the way the venue has had to overcome everything from the usual list of growing pains, such as “accidentally overbooking events”, right up to big regulatory hurdles. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you would be well aware of the late night trading restrictions placed upon

Carl Lockett

venues across the city of Sydney, which Peter said has made life more expensive and difficult.

The biggest challenge Foundry616 and Peter have faced however is the ever-changing nature of the jazz consuming audience.

“There has been a very big change. New listeners to jazz are very eclectic in their tastes and they also listen to a lot of other styles, whereas in the past fans tended to stick with just jazz.”

Whilst this has made Peter’s job of curating the program for Foundry616 more difficult, as

“we’re now competing with those other music styles”, it has also opened doors for new innovative musicians. For Peter this is where many of his biggest highlights from the past three years come from: “The emergence of new artists who write for large ensembles has been great and the fact that we’re able to support them by hosting them, even though that means they take up the stage and part of the floor, is really rewarding.”

Looking towards the future the main goal of Foundry616 is to continue their steady growth, so that each year continues to be “better than the previous one” financially. Obviously though this isn’t the only objective, Peter is exploring options to bring in international artists specifically for Foundry616 from America, Japan and Europe.

Peter reminds us however that “this is an expensive and risky business so you’ve got to pick your targets very carefully, but it’s such a rewarding feeling when the risk pays off.”

Foundry616 is located at 616 Harris St, Ultimo. Gig listings,tickets & info: www.foundry616.com.au

James Vincent McMorrow – We Move

Safe Hands – Tie Your Soul To Mine

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This album is not hard to listen to.

No, its not difficult to take in this tribute to the anxious feelings that many feel but have trouble speaking about. It’s not unpleasant to swirl these ideas around when they are accompanied by the soothing tones of James Vincent McMorrow. The regulated beats, and accessible structure combine in musical flow, tranquil and moving.

This album gives a voice to the thoughts that sometimes stop us from doing things. Ranging from the things we want most to taking care of oneself day to day. It gives a measured voice, that does not alarm its listeners.

It is good to be able to contemplate this in relative comfort, to answer anxiety with calm, to flow into this album when those feelings come around. ‘We Move’ is a balm for agitation, a slow pull back to feeling okay. (SP)

Second albums tend to be one of the hardest releases for any band. Do you stick to the tried and true, or do you display your evolution and growth?

For Novacastirans Safe Hands they have leaned more towards the later with subtle odes to their past. These tracks truly depict the growth of the band members as people and the difficulties of fitting a budding independent music career with the rigours of everyday life.

Although unfamiliar with Safe Hands until this record came across my desk, I was locked in after just two songs. Both the opening track ‘The Coliseum 1921’ and then ‘Traffic Island Wreath’ show the dichotomies of the band’s two distinct eras, with the former learning more towards their heavier roots whilst the latter is more post-punk/pop-punk.

Safe Hands excel when they’re moving down the new sonic path, it allows them to latch onto their strength for writing and telling stories. Look for this band to break out if they continue down this path. (JA)

THE NAKED CITY

COKED OUT IN KINGS CROSS!

With Coffin Ed, Jay Katz and Miss Death What is it about the old and new Kings Cross Coca Cola signs that has raised such passion and anger recently? Writing in City Hub a few weeks ago Andrew Woodhouse, from the Potts Point and Kings Cross Heritage and Residents Society, lambasted the idea that the old sign had any heritage value and branded the auctioneering of it as a cynical PR exercise (‘Good riddance to Coke sign’ 15.9.16).

Here at the Naked City we have yet to formulate an opinion on the pros and cons of the new ultra bright LED sign, other than to point out it does at least alleviate some of the gloom imposed by the closure of the old Crest Hotel and the somewhat sinister skeleton of the (under construction) Omnia Building.Whether the high-tech wizardry of the new everchanging sign does anything to alleviate the current malaise in the Cross remains to be seen.

In a bygone era, when car loads of semiinebriated punters joined a late night procession up William Street to wallow in the sins of the Cross, the Coke sign stood

like a kind of navigational beacon – welcoming all and sundry to a nocturnal world of late night music, sexual titillation and endless booze. In anthropomorphic terms it was like a huge winking eye, seductive and sexualised as it lured testosterone charged youth on their weekly rite of passage.

It was a landmark then and in its new manifestation, either a landmark or an eyesore now – depending of course on your point of view.Without a doubt it’s the most strategically placed piece of signage in the entire city of Sydney. During the week we took the opportunity to conduct a ‘straw’ poll amongst residents and visitors in the Cross as to their reactions to the sign and it’s fair to say opinions were mixed.

One diehard Pepsi drinker described the new sign as “bollocks”, whilst a self confessed sugar addict blamed the sign for her 12 can a day addiction. Others suggested that it be turned off at midnight to allow nearby residents a good night’s sleep, free of the intrusion of animated ambient light.We even discovered the existence of a curious group calling themselves “Friends Of The Coke Sign” who meet regularly on the balcony of the

nearby Kings Cross Hotel to quote “bask in the electronic good vibes and radiant energy of the almighty sign” (we suspect hallucinogens might have been involved).

Coca-Cola have indicated that the new LED sign is far more energy efficient than the old neon, however the power bill for keeping the sucker on 24/7 must still be astronomical, let alone the rental paid to the building’s owners for such a prominent position.As Coke battles to maintain its market share and promote its feelgood image, perhaps the sign could be programmed for uses other than the endless promotion of Coke itself.

Once a week the sign could be used for a free outdoor screening of a classic or long neglected Australian feature movie, maybe even the 1985 production of Frank Moorhouse’s The Coca Cola Kid. Locals and tourists could set up deckchairs and cushions in the surrounding areas and enjoy a free al fresco cinema.As a concession to Coke, they could flash subliminal messages for their product during the movie, with the promise of a stampede to the soft drink section of Coles Supermarket immediately after the screening.

The sign could also become a valuable noticeboard for community announcements, regularly punctuating the red and white onslaught. Coke could still have their say with witty endorsements like “Ice Cold Coca Cola” but “Ice Dealers Keep Out”. Finally, and whilst we are by no means suggesting it, the new computerised Coke sign (like anything these days) is no doubt vulnerable to hackers. Cast your mind back to that brief moment in the late 90s when ‘explicit adult movies’ were projected on the outdoor screen atop the Metro building in George Street and the possibilities are endless!

Cafe Art Australia -

MySydney Photography Competition

Michael Allwight and Ruth Goodwin

By Jamie Apps Sydney is a rich, vibrant, bubbling city which we all live, work and explore in every single day but there is a section of our community who are often easily overlooked… the homeless. Cafe Art Australia aims to give this portion of our community a voice and means by which to tell their stories with a unique and gripping exhibition opening in Newtown this weekend.

Earlier this year the organisation handed out 95 disposable cameras to individuals impacted by homelessness and asked them to take photographs of “their Sydney” over the course of a single week. Of the approximately 1200 photographs received back from the process 400 were given to a panel of judges and 20 finalists chosen.

It is these 20 finalists that will be at the centre of the exhibition alongside each participant’s story of their life and why they took each particular image.

The exhibition is part of a platform enabling those impacted by homelessness to engage with the public directly, about something other than their predicament, namely about their art and about their lives.

“A similar project was run last year on a slightly smaller scale and we were astounded not just by the quality of the images that the participants produced, but also at how powerful the response to the project was from both participants and the public at large.” said Michael Allwright from Cafe Art Australia.

A Public Vote is being conducted at the exhibition to identify the 13 most popular images from the 20 on display. The 13 most popular images will feature in a calendar for 2017 which has an associated Kickstarter campaign also launching this Saturday, enabling people to make a pledge for the calendar and in so doing help support the ongoing work.

Until Oct 30. Lentil As Anything, 391 King St, Newtown.

Info: www.cafeartaustralia.com

Hidden – A Rookwood Sculpture Walk

Meroogal Women’s Art Prize

Hidden. Kemp’s piece is made up of bottles forming a sort of swimlane for ghosts, the material reminding her a bit of bones and teeth.

“It’s a wonderful place to be spending time. I just like the quietness, all the animals,” she said.

Rookwood as a sculpture site is challenging only in some if the physical aspects, such as finding an appropriate location for work and Fiona Kemp’s Ghost Lane the density of the soil in some Cemeteries are intrinsically ambiguous places, places. The artists come from commemorating death and life at once. Many diverse backgrounds, working in different people visit them for contemplation of both, and mediums.

Rookwood Cemetery adds another dimension “I think it’s wonderful that it is diverse,” said with Hidden, a sculpture walk through the oldest Kemp. “I hope it is a memorable experience for part of the grounds. those viewing the work.”

Since 1867, Rookwood Cemetery, one of the So, like enjoying a treasure hunt, have a oldest in Australia and reputedly the largest wander in the cemetery, discover its secrets, necropolis in the Southern Hemisphere, has think of the past and rejoice in the presence been the last resting place for all major of Hidden. (OA) congregations and provides a glimpse into Until Oct 23, sunrise–sunset. Rookwood history. Since 2009 the contemporary art of Cemetery, Rookwood. Free. Info: www.

Hidden showcases the terrain as a place of hiddeninrookwood.com.au reflection, beauty, nature and culture.

Free school holiday workshops “It’s a fantastic location,” said Fiona Kemp, Sep 27–30 and Oct 4–7, info on the website or whose ‘Ghost Lane’ marks her first entry into (02) 8575 8100.

Meroogal House in Nowra was built in 1885, inhabited by the Thorburn and MacGregor families, and then passed down through four generations of women. In 1998, in acknowledgement of this strong feminine history, Sydney Living Museums established the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize, encouraging female artists in the Shoalhaven area to submit works influenced by the house and its history.

Now open to female artists living anywhere in NSW, the competition has grown in size, prestige and the total prize pool, with the winner receiving $6000 cash.

This year there were 170 entries representing a “huge range of media… painting, print making, video, sound, paper craft, textiles, assemblage, photography…”, according to Sydney Living Museums curator, Joanna Nicholas.

With the same thematic brief being applied each year since the incipience of the competition, you might expect works to become repetitive or predictable, but Nicholas says no: “Some of the works connect to the story quite literally and some are more gentle and referential.”

She cites one artist who submitted a handembroidered sampler, who has “drawn inspiration from the linoleum and the floor coverings in the house, particularly the kitchen.”

Last year a decision was made to hold the exhibition inside the house, and it looks like that

will become the tradition. As a result, many of the artists design their works with a specific interior location in mind.

“It provides you with a different way of looking at the house,” remarked Nicholas. For instance, this year a cupboard which is normally empty and dark will be illuminated by candles in jars. (RB) Until Jan 28. Meroogal House, Cnr West and Worrigee streets, Nowra. $8-$12. Info: www.sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/meroogal city hub 29 SEPTEMBER 2016

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Life, Animated:

The Magnificent Seven

A Story Of Sidekicks, Heroes, And Autism

This reboot of the classic 1960’s western by the same name has added vitality to a genre of films which has over the years, like ‘sword-and-sandal epics’, seen a fall in popularity among movie-goers.

Denzel Washington leads a stellar cast (which includes Ethan Hawke, Chris Pratt and Vincent D’Onofrio) as Sam Chisolm, a bounty hunter who recruits a group of gunfighters to help farmers fight for the ownership of their town against an evil tycoon.

Many of the fundamental elements of the story have changed, the most notable being the diversity in ethnicity of the magnificent seven with the inclusion

The Queen of Ireland

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of a Comanche warrior, an Asian and a Black.What remains however, is the fast paced gun-fighting action and high body count which should enthral enthusiasts of this style of films.

Themes of courage and honour and the bravery of seven men who fought and faced death for a township who couldn’t fight for themselves are still prevalent.

The panoramic beauty of locations, the skilful editing of the gun fighting sequences and an effective musical score all collate to make this one of the better and more respected reboots in recent years. (MMo) WWW1/2

hometown; to navigating underground gay nightlife; to creating Panti Bliss and finding freedom on the dance floors of Dublin, London and Tokyo… These stories are interlaced with the history of homophobia entrenched in a society where homosexuality was not decriminalised until 1993.

We see how Panti Bliss was born out of defiance to discrimination, how O’Neill is affected by intolerance in his everyday life, and how with the help of Panti he stood to change history rather than merely be affected by its repercussions.

Interspersed with intimate interviews, including with his incredibly accepting parents, and capped off with a redemptive hometown show with all the hallmarks of a Hollywood ending.

The Queen of Ireland starts at a slow pace but is ultimately moving – and perhaps a persuasive case study for anyone still opposed to allowing same-sex marriage in Australia…

(AM) WWW1/2

A well-rounded and incredibly human documentary which tells the tale of how a man dressed as a “giant cartoon woman” would become an unlikely leading activist.

The Queen of Ireland tracks the life and times of the larger-than-life Rory O’Neill and how his glamorous drag queen alter ego, Panti Bliss, became an “accidental activist” and the face of the fight for same sex marriage equality in Ireland.

The legalisation of same sex marriage by way of a public vote is of course the climax of this film, but it is all the surrounding, seemingly innocuous details that give this documentary its weight.

From O’Neill recounting the otherness he felt in his small, conservative

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In 2014, Ron Suskind published a memoir – Life, Animated: A Story Of Sidekicks, Heroes, And Autism. The book recounted the story of his son, Owen, who at age 3 developed autism

and was rendered speechless and emotionally remote. After years of therapy and exhaustive effort from his parents, Owen showed no sign that he would ever emerge from his secluded world. Then, one day, he spontaneously said a complete, insightful, articulate sentence, relating a real life situation to the central theme of the Disney cartoon, Peter Pan. It was an epiphany.

Roger Ross Williams’ documentary film is an inventive and moving adaptation of Suskind’s book. Splicing together interviews, family videos, excerpts from Disney cartoons and original animation sequences, Williams has created a movie that evokes tears, laughter and wonder.

Owen Suskind and many of his autistic friends are prominently featured in a way that evinces compassion, curiosity, admiration and enlightenment without ever being patronising.

It’s an incredible story, creatively told that will leave you feeling and thinking deeply. (RB) WWWW

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city hub 29 SEPTEMBER 2016