Swan Magazine January 2018

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Ho lid ay Sp Re ec ad ial in g

BOOKS JUST OUT Title: The Dragon’s Tale Author: Mark Probert

B

ased on true events, this page turning romantic adventure novel follows Welsh surfer, Rhys Evans, who travels to Sri Lanka to escape the memory of his girlfriend’s infidelity.

While there, amongst other adventures, Rhys is attacked by wild dogs, almost eaten by crocodiles, endures jungle surgery without anaesthetic and is held at gunpoint by battle-hardened guerrillas.

Then, as if this isn’t enough, things get a finished his teaching studies, he travelled whole lot worse when Rhys’ to Asia to discover these girlfriend pursues him to waves for myself. rekindle their love and Spending much of this they are unwittingly drawn time in Sri Lanka, India and into Sri Lanka’s corrupt and on the mystical islands of frightening underworld Indonesia he kept diaries to face a thirty-year jail of his adventures and sentence at the Island’s years later most notorious prison. decided to Read this easy fasttranscribe paced adventure story them into about a young man’s wild digital adventures in the tropics. format.

BCBC Bookclub As he Australia: ‘Book Of the was typing Year 2016’ away on my computer About the Author a n d Mark Probert grew up in the Welsh surfing village those of Mumbles on the Gower peninsula where rediscovering amazing times, he thought he began surfing at the age of twelve on a - ‘Hey, there could be a board it took two to carry.

At this tender age he could only dream book in here somewhere.’ of surfing waves like those splashed up Lo and behold, there on the makeshift screen during surf club was.

Mark currently works as a teacher and movie nights.

Then, during the eighties, having live with his wife and two young children in the wine producing Swan Valley in Western Australia.

Have a book to publish? He still surfs whenever he can.

R Family History R Non-Fiction ~oOo~ R Autobiography R Biography R Fantasy R Fiction R Poetry

Get expert advice on layout, editing, costings, publishing and marketing from professional editors First consultation free Free quotes

Swinburne Press (founded 1989) P: 6296 5161 E: douglassb@iinet.net.au

artist Hephzibah Brown who is persuaded

by Cedric the Imp of Perversity to follow him to the recently independent Ghana, following with the temptation that they will compose a tourist book for him to write and for her to illustrate.

She does follow, but knowing his unreliability, she changes it to a book about tourists—one a pragmatist and the other an idealist. And more than this, her tourist will be a woman. The novel becomes an examination of real life being a form of transience.

As to how she uses satire, La Motte says, “Satire is the uncomfortable life of being, disturbs but draws to our notice the human capacity of doubling our subjective thinking. This is a philosophical impact, which philosopher Thomas Nagel brought to my attention in Mind and Cosmos (materialism).

“Subtracts from the physical world as its major object is everything mental— consciousness—meaning intention or purpose. It is the absence known, but ignored too hard.

Subjectivity becomes fictive but remains to challenge through satire.

“I have this other historically exciting way of writing and making a work of art, which is satire. I’ve been a satirist from the first art works I’ve made. I think one could say that there is a revival of satire,” La Motte adds.

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

About the Author Pru LaMotte has many skills, oil painting, drawing, ceramics and is now an author, all of which have a satirical bent. Honors degree in sociology with the politics of shame her particular interest through it’s connection with satire.

She studied hand loom weaving at the Oxford College of Technology Title: A Perverse Romance: A Tourist UK interrupted by a year working and Dance to Art and Satirical Provocation travelling in Ghana, and in 1970 she Author: Pru La Motte picked coffee on a State farm during the Publisher: Xlibris Publishing Contra revolution in Nicaragua and later Australia in the war zone on the Honduran border.

ISBN: 9781 5245 2032 8 Publication A Mockery: the 9 Faces of Qu’r, 2002, a painting exhibition in 2010. ru La Motte has had an adventurous life. She likes to move and record it DISCLAIMER as she did when she was living and The information in this publication is of working in Ghana via letters home.

This being so, she decided to write not a general nature. The articles contained a travel book, but of an imaginary sojourn, herein are not intended to provide a discussion on each subject and inventing people and encounters. The complete or issues canvassed. Swan Magazine result of which is A Perverse Romance: does not accept any liability for any A Tourist Dance to Art and Satirical statements or any opinion, or for any Provocation. errors or omissions contained herein.

The book presents a satirical tale of

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IN THIS ISSUE PAGE

FEATURES

PAGE What’s On

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A Night at The Palace

of the Stars Best of TV and Film in 2017 Charlotte’s Web the Musical Kalamunda Here I Come James Forte Kookaburra Outdoor Cinema Toodyay Music Festival Perth Fringe World

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Swan Hills Karate Students

Make the Grade

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Books and Writing

Books

Holiday Reading The Puzzle House A Left-Handed Compliment Changes Something on the Roof Pure Champions Letter to the Editor Obituary - Sue Grafton Poetry Relative to What?

Prose The Idler The Ute Business

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Finance with Steve

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Pluslife Moves to Midland Sexual Harassment Lilac Hill

Alicia Van Schoonhoven SAFE The Compassionate Friends

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Community

Entertainment

Leisure

Dining Out

Fleurs d’Olarges 31 Douglas’ Wineries & Dineries 30

Front Page Photograph: Summer Reading Photograph: 123Rf

Jessica Shaw MLA LOCAL MEMBER FOR SWAN HILLS

@JessicaShawMLA Jessica.Shaw@mp.wa.gov.au DISCLAIMER The information in this publication is of a general nature. The articles contained herein are not intended to provide a complete discussion on each subject and or issues canvassed. Swan Magazine does not accept any liability for any statements or any opinion, or for any errors or omissions contained herein.

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HOLIDAY READING THE PUZZLE HOUSE JAMES FORTE

rse’ is a four-letter word. It is not used ‘A in polite society, but Inspector Baird would not have known that - he steered well clear of anything genteel. Words like ‘backside’ or derriere simply did not suit him.

As an Australian policeman, he thought it a somewhat mild obscenity, punching with around the same weight as ‘damn’.

The word was also used to mean ‘cocky’ or ‘impudent’. In particular, it is a synonym for ‘lucky’, so that the sentence ‘That girl’s got some arse’ might be considered ambiguous.

When Baird thought of Celine Davies it was generally as ‘that damn smart-arse’.

And he was thinking of her as he reviewed the mystery of the Puzzle House.

Purely by mischance he had been the senior officer present. Thus it was with an ill-concealed malice that he considered giving her some unofficial share of the opprobrium. He quietly contacted her.

It was not that the inspector was inherently evil. But he was acutely aware that having his difficult cases solved by an untrained young girl was not good for his career. A little humiliation would do her good.

Tall and balding at fifty-five, Baird was the senior detective in the large area east of Perth that included the Avon valley. The Avon gently passes through the pretty towns of Brookton, Beverley, York, Northam and Toodyay before it plunges down the Darling scarp.

Toodyay in particular is picturesque and peaceful and not at all the kind of place to be associated with impossible mysteries.

With most crimes, the police are called after the event. However there are times when they believe that an offence is about to be committed and so arrange to be present.

The ‘locked room’ is being closely watched and they themselves are the principal witnesses. In such cases, it is bad enough if the criminal wins but worse if the police cannot even explain what game they were playing.

The early-morning text to Celine was loaded with intriguing phrases - about the events of the previous Monday at the Puzzle House. These included the exit from an empty room of an Indian gentleman. At the same time a beautiful young woman had entered a bedroom and vanished.

Shortly afterwards, despite the doors being locked and the police hunting everywhere, they had both escaped.

Neither had been identified.

The message succeeded in exciting the girl’s curiosity. Being of British descent, the two covered their mutual dislike with icy politeness. She formally replied that she would be pleased to visit the scene of the crime that afternoon (it was now Friday), provided it was convenient for him. She also contacted her old friend Douglas Cromarty, the editor of the Avon Messenger, for more information. He knew nothing about a Toodyay mystery and forwarded the e-mail to Jessica Smith, his chief reporter.

Celine was eighteen, short, slim and pretty without being stunningly beautiful.

Like many university students she led an existence just above the poverty line. Her dress sense was good but her clothing budget was limited. Her car was twenty years out of date and she was not sure

how she could afford its next service, now overdue.

With waitressing jobs in short supply, it looked like toasted cheese sandwiches for a few weeks. Worse, her last boyfriend had just moved on and there were some grim maths exams on the horizon.

She attended her last lecture for the week at eleven that Friday morning. Then she jumped into the Peugeot and set out along the Great Eastern Highway and the Toodyay Road. She and Jessica arrived at the same time from different directions and parked at the front of the police station.

The Inspector was not pleased to find a reporter in attendance. The police had managed to avoid any publicity so far. He also knew that sooner or later the media were going to hear rumours.

Celine politely declined Baird’s offer of instant coffee in an interview room that 4

probably lacked air-conditioning and smelt of disinfectant. She was eager to see the Puzzle House. The three climbed into Jessica’s Camry. Celine settled quietly in the back while Baird provided a quick briefing from the front.

He smiled, anticipating the total incomprehension he felt sure was about to appear on the ladies’ faces.

Ten years earlier, Tony Emmett - a rich Perth industrialist with a penchant for mathematical puzzles – had acquired a small farm just to the east of Toodyay. It was on a quiet road with fine views over the valley. Belts of trees went from the road down to the Avon’s banks.

He sold the livestock, demolished the buildings and had an architect lay out an estate as a country retreat. The plan of the home was distinctly unconventional and the builders called it The Puzzle House. The name stuck.

The single-storey building faced north, away from the road and towards the river.

It consisted of a series of rooms, none of which had walls which met at right angles. None of the floors felt quite level. The effect was quite disorienting.

The front door was approached along a drive which wound around the house. The path entered a maze of flagstones set into the lawn in front of the porch. The entry hall was a large regular hexagon which had identical doors in the centre of each wall and no other distinguishing features. It became a tradition that the host would get visitors to close their eyes and turn around twice.

With all doors closed, there would be no clue as to which of the six they had just used to enter. This gives a good idea of the nature of the house. Tony Emmett enjoyed keeping his guests off balance and guessing.

Eventually he designed an even larger and more enigmatic house elsewhere and sold the Toodyay estate to the Berat family – who loved its isolated location within easy driving distance of Perth.

The family was well off and apart from the three million dollar estate, owned a large cruising yacht named the Trieste Star, a Cessna and several MercedesBenz Zetros. The latter were six-wheeldrive custom-built mobile homes that could carry practically anything and go anywhere.

With such affluence and no known income, it was inevitable that sooner or later the Australian Tax Office and the

police would become interested in them.

There was a rumour that they had links to Balkan crime families. What were they doing? A look inside the Toodyay house would be useful. And that is when the police struck problems.

The local magistrate had just had a brush with a speed camera - which had cost her a hundred dollars for driving four kph over the speed limit. She did not believe there were sufficient grounds to issue a warrant to search the house.

Investigators hinted that perhaps the Berats might be terrorists. Senior Police laughed and pointed their limited resources at more important targets.

Border Force agent Ian Mitchell talked to his friend, Police Officer First Class Paul Maple, and the two decided to bypass search warrants. In the name of justice, they would emulate Hollywood films and simply kick the door in.

They saw themselves in the ‘Dirty Harry’ mould of policemen who get the job done.

They had serious suspicious about that family.

They recruited policewoman Simone Harris to their cause and, after their shift finished at noon, drove out from Perth to do their duty. They believed that only the patriarch of the family, old Bedrich Berat, would be home that Monday afternoon - and they could talk their way past him.

Simone was not so sure.

She also thought that any Berat defense lawyers would crucify them, but she saw herself as a Dirty Harriet in need of adventure.

“How did you get involved?” murmured Jessica as she followed Baird’s instructions and turned onto a quiet side road.

Baird frowned. “I was driving over to Toodyay. Saw the two cars parked - just here - off the main road. One was a Perth police car. So I stopped. See what was going on.”

“Were they happy to see you?” Celine asked.

“No. But they covered it up well. Told me about their suspicions. I invited myself along. As an observer.”

Jessica jabbed. “You didn’t know they were – how should I put this – acting on their own initiative?”

“Not then. But I’d already decided to call someone in Perth. Let them know I wasn’t happy. Them operating in my area without telling me.”

Celine tried to lighten the atmosphere.

“So. The Magnificent Four headed out – for the gunfight at the OK Corral.”

Baird scowled at her. “No need for guns. Even when we heard the screaming. A woman. Terrified. Coming from the house.

We thumped on the front door. Opened straight away by old man Berat. White as a sheet. The others just raced in. There was a study – I’ll show you in a minute – just off the hall. I pulled out my I.D. and told him to sit still and shut up.”

“Which he did?”

“Yeah.” Baird directed the car in

through a large wrought-iron gate. They parked in front of a police tape which had been stretched across the drive between two Jarrah trees.

“Anyone else at home?” Jessica asked.

“No Berats. The son and daughter-inlaw were away – cruising on their yacht.

The grandson Franz is fourteen. He was at school.”

“But…” Celine prompted.

“There were two others in that house.

Katherine. That’s what Berat said her name was. Must have been her who was screaming. Big dog barking somewhere.

And a man. Looked Indian. He…” “Could you describe her please?” interrupted Celine.

“Wait a minute. I’ll walk you through everything. You need to know the layout.”

Celine stood a while admiring and photographing the maze of paving stones set into the lawn which sloped down to a belt of trees along the river. Baird unlocked the entrance and ushered them in. Celine immediately went through the ritual of closing all the doors, then her eyes, then spinning around twice. She gurgled happily at being unable to identify the front door.

Baird snorted his annoyance at these frivolous antics. They stood in the centre of the hexagonal hall as he identified and opened each door – entrance; guest bedroom; main bedroom; passage to rear of house; lounge; study. Apart from the passageway, all the rooms had excellent views over the valley.

Baird re-enacted the sequence of events.

“After I put the old man in the study… I opened all the doors. Had a good look in the lounge. Weird room in a weird house.

See! Everything emerald green. Chairs, tablecloth, curtains, cushions. Must have been a fight, there’s stuff scattered all over.”

Celine and Jessica peered in.

“From the middle, I could see everything. All the rooms were empty except Berat in the study and Katherine in the big bedroom. As you can see - they don’t have connecting doors. The only way in and out is through the hall. Where we were.”

Celine tried again. “She looked…?”

“She looked calm. Just mooching around looking at stuff. The screaming must have been her – had stopped.”

“I meant: could you give me her description?”

“Mid twenties, Caucasian, one point seven metres, slim, short blonde hair, very good looking, cream shirt, blue slacks, flat heeled shoes, no jewellery.”

“Sounds stunning,” muttered Jessica.

“We were splitting up to start searching.” Baird looked exasperated.

“You have to realize that we’d won.

Berat was quiet. We had all the time in the world to talk to him and the girl.”

He paused - clearly loath to admit the impossible - then he muttered: “It all went mad. In just a few seconds.”

“Right,” said Jessica.

5

“Katherine came out of the bedroom.

Saw me. Looked scared. Dashed into the guest room. Maple and Harris charged after her. The door slammed.”

Baird stopped. Celine raised an eyebrow.

“Mitchell was just going into the lounge... We both swear it was empty. This Indian guy … appeared out of nowhere and pushed past him. Raced off down the corridor to the back of the house. We were both in shock. Then I told him to watch Berat. I’d go after him.”

“I can imagine…” Celine tried to sound sympathetic.

“Then Maple and Harris came out the guestroom. Said there’s no one there. I said there must be. Told Mitchell to go find the Indian. Told Berat – if he moved I’d rip his arms off. Then I went into the guest bedroom to look for Katherine. She wasn’t there. No way out. Nowhere to hide.”

The guestroom had a large bed and wardrobe, a door to the en-suite and windows with tamper-proof security grills. Celine and Jessica went through the formality of examining everything. They agreed that Katherine’s only way out was through the door.

“It’s the Puzzle House. Secret passages?” Celine asked.

“No!” Baird’s frustration was starting to show.

“Maple was jabbering on. He’d only been seconds behind the woman. But when he opened the door, it was empty. Harris kept searching – looking under the bed… anywhere. I checked the en-suite. I swear.

There was no way she could have got out of that room. I saw her go in. But she wasn’t there.”

“I know,” chuckled Celine. “She’s a shape-shifter. Converted herself into a lamp-stand.”

“Don’t get cocky with me, smartarse.” The inspector used his most savage interrogation voice. Then he bit his tongue.

He had intended that it would be Celine losing control while he laughed at her.

Celine retreated into her shell. Moodily, she drifted over to the lounge.

It was up to Jessica to restore peace. “If you say there’s no one there - then there’s no one there.”

Baird cooled down. “No trapdoors or sliding panels or false walls. Nor shapeshifters! She went in. A few seconds later we went in. She’d gone. She never came out.

I’m certain.”

He paused, then: “Didn’t end there.

There’s no secret passage in the lounge either. The Indian just appeared.”

Celine mused over the physicist’s law of conservation of mass. A body vanishes from one place to appear instantly in another. Except that one was young, white and female and the other was Indian and male. The lounge had been left in its state of disarray with soft furnishings scattered everywhere. She spent some time examining the material of the scattered seat covers. She poked a finger through a

tiny rent in the tablecloth.

“From the fight?”

Baird gently mocked her. “I had a clear view of the room when I opened the door – nowhere to hide – not even hanging from the light fittings.”

Celine and Jessica ignored the jibe.

Baird continued with his story. “Gets worse. We started a systematic search for the Indian. The only other door, the back door – we could see it down the passage from the hall. But he wasn’t in the house.

Anywhere.”

“The back-door was closed?” Jessica wondered.

Baird nodded. “Locked. Key still in the lock.”

Jessica prowled around the rear of the house. There was a third external door – from the kitchen to the garage – but this would not open – it was a dummy designed to trick people.

She asked about the air-conditioning which had been on with all the windows locked shut.

They spent some time looking, but the simple truth was that there was nothing to find. The Indian had run from the police and vanished.

Celine took the opportunity to explore the house admiring the subtly sloping floors and walls.

There was a room with mirrors at odd angles to give you simultaneous views in all directions.

They all played tricks on the senses.

Eventually Jessica dragged her away and they gathered back at the Camry.

Jessica asked: “Berat. What did he make of all this?”

“He just sat there – in the study – looking stunned – totally docile.”

“What I want to know,” Celine said, “is what happened to that poor dog?”

Baird resumed the story on the drive back to Toodyay.

Old Bedrich Berat had been cooperative. His grandson Franz had come home from school.

The two had been taken in for questioning. When Berat’s son Gabor and daughter-in-law Maria flew back from the Kimberley the next day, they were picked up at Perth Airport. The four had been interrogated and had closed ranks as only a crime family can. They had good lawyers.

They admitted nothing.

Their story was simple. A woman who said her name was Katherine had turned up looking as if she was suffering from heat stroke. Berat had let her in and gone to get some water.

Without cause, she had started screaming. Berat had been glad to see the police - to shut her up. He had no idea how she had vanished. The Berats knew nothing about the Indian gentleman. They had never seen him before. How he had turned up was a mystery. Reluctantly, the police agreed that they all had alibis.

CCTV footage from Toodyay station was examined but there was no footage of either

the man or woman arriving or leaving town. Inquiries were made to Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Britain and Interpol. None were able to identify the man.

With no evidence against them, the family had been released. The house was stated to be a crime scene. Four reliable and independent officers declared that they had heard a woman screaming before she had vanished. Kidnapped? An unknown man had appeared then disappeared. The Berats moved into a small rented house in Toodyay for a week.

“Well?” Baird asked as they pulled into the police station car park.

Jessica shrugged. “How much of this can I publish? Some of our readers might know something. Have ideas.”

“No names of any officers.” Baird would have loved a solution. But right now he would settle for an admission of total mystification. An embarrassed agreement that the police had done all that was possible.

Celine had to admit that it was a fine puzzle. “Bit of a coincidence, the police turning up just as a woman started screaming?”

“Maybe. For all I know, the Berats regularly torture women.”

“When you were driving past you saw two cars parked at the turn-off. One was a squad car. Whose was the other?

“Hire car leased by Maple. He met Harris and Mitchell there. They were about to raid the house when I arrived.”

“This Katherine – any other information?”

Baird scratched his head. “Nothing.

She seems to have been careful not to touch anything. We have one fingerprint from a cupboard. No match with any of our databases. Nowhere in Australia.”

Celine thought a minute. “You came here to raid the house. To search it. To find out about the Berats. What did you get?”

“I can give you a précis of the material – put together by Officer Mitchell. Most of the Berat computer files are encrypted.

We found enough to guess what they were doing. Not enough to prosecute.”

Jessica chimed in with: “D’you have a theory?”

Baird turned to her. “Might have been a rival gang. Checking out the place. When we turned up, started screaming. Maybe the Berats killed them. Maybe the bodies will turn up.”

Celine formally thanked him for showing her the house.

As they split up, Baird summarized the problem. “In a house with a locked back-door and a policeman at the front, a woman became invisible, a man who had just appeared from nowhere escaped. All in less than two minutes, without four officers seeing or hearing anything.”

“Can we meet here next Friday?” Celine asked.

“You have some ideas?” from Baird.

“Several thoughts. All need checking.”

6

“You can’t withhold information from the police.”

“I don’t have information.” Celine jumped into the Peugeot and drove off. ~oo0oo~ In bed that night, Celine read Mitchell’s précis notes with interest. In short: The Berat family business was smuggling. They saw themselves as carrying on the grand tradition established by local seamen between Cornwall and Brittany in the seventeenth century. They still carried French Brandy in order to avoid import duty and taxes. However there are much more profitable cargoes for the modern smuggler.

Australia has effective Navy and Border Force patrols to catch foreign boats - which might be illegally fishing or carrying people who do not hold a valid entry visa.

Large luxury yachts flying the Australian flag are rarely stopped at sea to have documents checked - unless they are on some Customs watch-list.

If you were a person who thought you would be intercepted at an airport when trying to leave Australia, then you could pay a large fee to the Berats. Perhaps you wished to fight in some illegal war or you were on bail and your passport had been confiscated. The route was: by Cessna from Perth to Broome where you would transfer to one of the Zetros for a luxury safari through the Kimberley.

On some lonely beach, there would be a rendezvous with a small boat from the yacht Trieste Star, which was on a cruise to Singapore, Lombok, Bali or Dili. There was also a fortune to be made in carrying rare and protected fauna, such as exotic birds, in the concealed compartments between the decks.

On the return trip, the boat would carry a couple of people who were barred from entry to Australia, together with guns and explosives. Plus the traditional alcohol, tobacco and perfume if there was room. A Zetros with tinted windows would bring the cargo back from the Kimberley beach to Toodyay for onward processing.

Four trips per year provided a large tax-free income for the Berats. They did not touch drugs, not from any moral scruples but because they had been warned off by other criminal gangs. ~oo0oo~ Over the weekend, Celine tried to study differential equations for the looming exam. But her mind kept wandering.

Eventually she gave up and happily researched the latest Artificial Intelligence approaches to training robots.

On Monday morning, she contacted Emmett Enterprises as a representative of the Maths Students Society. It was concerning a new algorithm for solving mazes. She was delighted to receive a personal call from Tony Emmett within five minutes - offering her a short meeting.

That afternoon she was further pleased

to be offered petit fours with her Earl Grey, how to handle the novel situation of a small Yes it would. when they met in his office. She opened girl interrogating a huge policeman inside Just thinking about Baird made her with some complimentary comments a police station. However there did not blood boil. Patronising sod. A bully. A about the Puzzle House and went on to give seem to be any alternative. person whose only way of maintaining his an analysis of the maze in the front lawn.

Security doors clanged behind as self-esteem was by belittling others. Whose It was of a type that could not be solved he escorted her to a conference room. only talent in life was in the manipulation by following the left edge of a path until you Policemen are not supposed to use social of people for his own ends. She hated him. reached the goal – in this case a sundial in media, but many do. So do their parents “Call me a smart-arse does he? We’ll the centre of the lawn – and then on to the and spouses and lovers and children. see about that,” she muttered as she drove exit at the house’s front porch.

Celine had gone through their FaceBook home.

Tony agreed. From there they moved on pages with great care and now she wanted to three-dimensional mazes, with tunnels information. ~oo0oo~ and bridges, and then to dynamic mazes When it was not immediately The Jacaranda Tearooms is the best which changed their configuration as you forthcoming she apologized but confided café-restaurant in the Avon Valley. moved through them. that she would have to call Inspector Baird. Sheltered by the massive one-hundred Only then did Celine ask about any With a little further encouragement Paul year-old Jacaranda trees, one can sit in special features in the Puzzle House. Tony was able to confirm some of her suspicions peace and listen to the river gurgling had the architectural drawings on his wall. about the raid. somewhere below. It is just down the hill Celine inspected them with great interest They spent some time discussing cars. from Duckmanton College, Celine’s old and took some measurements and photos. The double garage had only one door - school. It holds many memories.

They confirmed that there was nothing a great tilting metal monster and that When Celine arrived, she idly wondered to enable a woman to disappear from a had definitely been locked. There was a if they had any junior waitress vacancies for bedroom or a man to appear in the lounge. Mercedes sedan inside but no sign of the the holidays. She was phrasing a suitable The house had been designed for the Zetros mobile homes. Paul thought both inquiry in her head when, with some fun of disorienting people but it lacked any were in the Kimberley for wildlife safaris. ceremony, she was ushered to a quiet table trick trapdoors or secret passages.

Finally, she asked him to call Toodyay in the corner where the chef was waiting.

Celine had a surprise question. “How District High School. He did and was told “Bonjour Mam’selle. Monsieur Douglas do you get your said you are coming. I hear grocery shopping a little of your detective into the kitchen work. ‘Le Mystere de la from the garage?”

Chambre Jaune’. Mais Tony laughed. “You oui?” noticed.

There Celine nodded quickly. are several doors She didn’t know what to and windows that say. are dummies.

The Jacaranda chef They don’t open. continued. He had created Like the door a small confection and from the kitchen named it in her honour. to the garage.

After a snap of his fingers, Keeps people off a waitress appeared balance.” bearing a large plate “ B i t of Celines. They looked inconvenient when rather like madeleines, it’s raining.” but a taste revealed “Not really. The several other special door in the wall is citrus ingredients. With fixed. Instead the perhaps a hint of apricot? whole wall slides “Monsieur, je suis…” back. There’s a wellThere was only one thing hidden mechanism. to do. She jumped up, Can only be opened stood on tiptoe to give ‘The Jackaranda Tearooms’ and closed from him a kiss on each cheek.

(Photograph by D Sutherland-Bruce, courtesy of The Olive Tearooms) the inside. Goes to She was sitting, quietly the garage. Which I giggling, with the plate of always kept locked anyway.” that the school was not prepared to give celines and a large pot of Darjeeling, when “Are there any such walls in the out information on its students – until Jessica, Douglas and the senior detective bedrooms or lounge?”

Constable Maple became emphatic that arrived. With an effort she prodded herself “No. Just that one wall. And it’s slow this was a potential murder investigation. into a professional demeanor. moving. Takes a minute to slide a whole Young Franz’s form teacher wasn’t Jessica pulled out her recorder and wall open or closed.” available but the Principal considered him held it up for Celine to see. “You really have Celine thanked Tony for the bright and resourceful but devious. He had a solution for us?” refreshments and agreed to tell him of any particular talents in adjusting student “I think so. The key to the case is Glenda new maze solving techniques. records on computers.

Morrison.” Celine was not generally cruel.

Next she called on the local Mercedes Later that afternoon Celine called But she felt a pang of pleasure watching dealer for details on Zetros trucks. Douglas at the Avon Messenger. Would he Baird’s face.

Apparently they were based on a German like to be present when she gave Inspector The inspector had to clamp his jaw shut. military design. They really could go Baird a solution to the Puzzle House?

He glared at her. anywhere.

Yes he would.

Celine lowered her voice. “We need to Final stop was the East Perth police Would a high tea in the Jacaranda ask ourselves a few questions. station where she made contact with Senior Tearooms tomorrow afternoon be a “One. Who is Katherine and why did she Constable Paul Maple. Celine was not sure suitable occasion? start screaming?

7

“Two. Who was she scared of – not old Berat surely?

“Three. Who is the Indian gentleman and what was he doing there?

“Four. What happened to the guard dog?

“Five. Why was there a hole in the tablecloth?

“Six. How do the Berats get their shopping into the kitchen?

“Seven. Where are the Berats’ Zetros trucks?”

It was up to Douglas to interrupt with the real question they all wanted answered: “Who the hell is Glenda Morrison?”

Celine took a photo from her bag and slid it in front of the Inspector.

“Is this Katherine?”

“That’s her! Where’d you get that?”

“An assumed name. She lives in Queensland.”

“How d’you find her?” from Jessica.

“Just doing what you journalists do.

Getting background stuff on people. Sadly the Indian isn’t on social media. ’Far as I can tell. Paul Maple’s children had a ton of photos on Glenda’s recent visit.”

Baird scowled. This was not going according to the planned script. Celine appeared to have all the answers. He tried to upstage her.

“Had word from New Delhi this morning.

The Indian is a Mr Chemuturi. Wanted for fraud, embezzlement and making a lot of money from internet scams.”

“Ah, that makes sense. Thank you.”

Baird lost his temporary advantage by having to ask: “D’you know where he is?”

“I think so.”

“The Berats, Morrison, Chemuturi - just tell me who to arrest,” he said.

“Whom,” corrected Jessica.

“Are there chameleons in India? I’m not very good at Zoology. I’m told they can change colour to suit their background.

Perfect camouflage.” Celine looked around at their puzzled faces.

“Maybe if I put things in order. Mitchell and Maple were correct; Monday was a good time to raid the house. The Berats had just brought Chemuturi into the country, without going through the legal process.

He was staying at the Puzzle House for a few days prior to a move to Sydney where he would fade into the Indian community.

Also that day, young Franz was starting his nefarious career by playing truant from school.

“Harris was also correct. Just turning up at the front door and asking to come in was not going to work. Any lawyers would crucify them. So they hatched a plan. They talked Glenda, Paul Maple’s sister who was visiting from Queensland, into helping the cause of justice. She would call herself Katherine, feign heat exhaustion and gain entry in a state of distress. After five minutes she would start screaming for help – as if being attacked. Waiting outside would be Mitchell, Maple and Harris who would come storming to her aid.

The plan worked. Old man Berat took her in and went to get her a glass of water. At this point, five things happened.

Katherine started screaming. The dog started barking.

Chemuturi saw the police coming around the house. Franz hid in the trees outside. The Indian moved as far away from Katherine as possible - in the lounge across the hall.

Once Berat opened the door to the police, Katherine’s job was done. She started enjoying herself exploring the house – beginning in the main bedroom. She knew Maple, Harris and Mitchell - but when she saw a fourth policemen, Baird, she knew she was in trouble.

She panicked and fled. But the hall is confusing. Instead of the front door, she ended up in the guest room, trapped. Her brother and policewoman Harris came chasing in after her, slamming the door.

The Puzzle House is designed to keep people off balance. One room is all mirrors.

The lounge is almost entirely emerald green. There was no room for the Indian to hide. Not even behind the curtains. So he scrabbled among the chair coverings and tablecloth for some material big enough.

Then he tore a small hole to see through and held the material up in front of him. In front of the curtains, he became a chameleon.

But this would only work for people looking through the door. When Mitchell started searching, his discovery was certain. He made a surprise dash for the door.

Celine then jumped topics. “Inspector, might I ask, have you ever read The Invisible Man by G K Chesterton?”

“Don’t read fiction.”

Douglas stroked his white beard and adjusted his spectacles in an academic manner. “A pity. Classic impossible-crime story. At the risk of spoiling it for you, a murder is committed by an invisible man.

Except, of course, he’s not invisible. He’s a person that everyone expects to see and no one notices. In fact, the postman.”

“What has that to do with…”

Celine smiled. “Not your fault. You saw a policewoman go into the guest room. You were expecting to see one come out. You did see one.”

“Simone Harris,” Baird gritted his teeth.

“Katherine. Looking very much like Harris. She was already wearing blue trousers and flat heels. Give her a policewoman’s hat and Maple’s highvisibility police vest and nobody notices.

Particularly if she is walking quickly behind her brother, a policeman.”

Jessica had a list of questions. She crossed two off. Baird shook his head. “I can count. Only one woman came out of that room. Harris.”

Celine continued. “Katherine headed off. With everyone busy she walked back to the road. Got into the car Maple had hired for her. Drove to the airport. Flew home.’

8

Another question crossed off.

“Paul Maple escorted you into the bedroom - jabbering on about a disappearing woman. Kept you with your back to the door. When you saw Harris in there searching – under the bed and so on – you assumed she’d just come back in.”

Jessica laughed. “So the police did it?”

Celine nodded. “I’m sorry, Inspector. You were the fly in the ointment. Katherine had got them in. Now they had to get her out.”

Douglas agreed. “And Berat - poor bugger. He’d just had a woman trick her way in – then a whole bunch of cops. No wonder he was white.”

Celine continued. “Maple and Harris improvised. Brilliantly. Disguised her.

Pushed her out into the hall. Swore that she’d disappeared.”

Grudgingly Baird agreed. “Best explanation so far.”

“It’s true. Paul Maple corrected a few minor details when I explained it to him yesterday.”

“So I can call off the search for the mystery woman.” Baird realized the joke was on him. “I can tell Maple to stop pretending to look for her.”

“Old man Berat wasn’t the only person home that day. His grandson Franz is a little crim in the making. Playing truant from school. Out the back. When he heard the screaming and saw the cops turn up, he… I’m not sure if it was a pre-arranged plan, or the old man signaled him or… he just used his initiative.”

Jessica crossed off another question.

Celine concluded her explanation.

“Franz has a key to the locked garage. The wall to the kitchen was presumably open.

He grabbed the Indian and the dog and moved them outside.

Then he closed the wall from the inside and slipped through the narrowing gap.

Hustled them over to the belt of trees and down to the river.”

“Why to the river?” Baird interjected.

“It was the first part of the property we searched.”

“I think the Berats kept one of their Zetros six-wheel-drives down there.

Hidden in the trees for a quick escape when needed. Kids like Franz know how to drive.

It could ford the Avon, this time of year, no problem. Probably parked it in State Forrest somewhere with Chemuturi and the dog. Then Franz came home normal time from school.”

“So it’s still around Toodyay somewhere?” Douglas said.

Celine shrugged. “Should think so. They know you’d be looking out for the truck.

They don’t have anyway to shift it. Scared

to use a mobile phone. Franz could walk from Toodyay after school some days. Carry food and messages.”

Baird suddenly felt optimistic. “I’ll have him followed.”

The girl put the last of the celines in her bag. “I’ve a differential equations exam in the morning. Not done any study. Must get home.”

A few minutes later Inspector Baird also excused himself to the staff of the Avon Messenger.

When he said: “That girl’s got some arse”, he was not being ambiguous.

Celine just hoped she was lucky enough to get the right questions tomorrow.

The End

James Forte is the nom de plume of a professional mathematician with a penchant for writing ‘locked room’ mysteries starring Celine Davies as well as a playwright of both stage and radio.

His Busselton Jetty won the top prize from the South-West Shorts competition in 2017.

His Father Christmas beard and the twinkle in his jovial eye belie the cunning and fiendish mind that hatches his plots.

He is also a critic of film and theatre for the Swan Magazine.

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HOLIDAY READING A LEFT-HANDED COMPLIMENT KAREN TREANOR

got more of a kick out of watching the 44th Idocument American President sign his first official than many people.

It wasn’t for any of the reasons that pleased others--first black president; one of the youngest presidents; Democrat; a welltravelled man; a new broom—no, it was the way he grabbed the pen in his left hand.

A southpaw, a molly-duker, a leftie: at last, we dextrally–challenged people of the world have a poster child!

It’s unfortunate that he’s one of those lefties who looks as if he’d got his paw caught in a laundry mangle, but that comes from his not having had a mother who realised that the only reason lefties write in their crippled fashion is because teachers insist on placing the paper on their desks in the same direction as they do for righthanded people, diagonally with the right hand edge higher..

This placement means that the only way a left-hander can write on the paper is with that peculiar crabbed over-the-top-anddown style.

Thanks to my Mother’s intervention, I was allowed to put my paper on the desk at the opposite angle to my right-handed classmates, diagonally with the left-hand edge higher. I could write just as fluidly as the best of them, and didn’t drag my sleeves over my own work.

Penmanship was still taught when I was in school, and I won a few certificates in my time, proving that lefties can reach the same dizzy calligraphic heights as anyone else.

Because I don’t write in the usual crabbed lefty manner, it sometimes takes years for right-handed acquaintances to notice I am not one of them.

One of my cousins only last month exclaimed, “You’re left-handed!” as if she had suddenly discovered I was on probation

for arson.

My Mother wasn’t happy about my being left-handed. She regarded it as a character flaw, and said often “I don’t know where you got that, nobody in MY family is left-handed.”

At school, I was put at the back of the last row, because ‘people can cheat from

your papers by looking over your shoulder.’

I wasn’t sure whether to be proud of the fact that I had papers worth cheating from, or feel guilty for being an occasion of sin for my classmates.

The Latin for left, sinister, has blotched the escutcheons of all lefties—you have only to look into heraldry to find the bar sinister, the diagonal line from left t right, indicating bastardry in one’s ancestors.

A left-handed American President might go some ways towards removing the stain from us all. (Oddly, Mr Obama is only one of five recent incumbents of the Oval Office who were lefties. George W Bush wasn’t— and Mr T isn’t--no surprises there, I guess.)

One hopes that parents and teachers of lefties will do them a favour and teach them to place their paper at the opposite angle on the desk.

The resulting penmanship will be legible, many shirtsleeves will be saved a smudging, and the mark of Cain won’t be quite so visible to a censorious world.

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Donna

FARAGHER Shadow Minister for Education; Training; Women’s Interests

Federal Member for Hasluck

Here to help!

ken.wyatt.mp@aph.gov.au

kenwyatt.com.au

kenwyattmp

Authorised by K.Wyatt MP, Shop 10-12 Forrestfield Marketplace, 80 Hale Road, Forrestfield WA 6058.

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Member for East Metropolitan Region

KEN WYATT MP 9359 0322

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Ground Floor, 108 Swan Street Guildford 6055 9379 0840 | Faragher.eastmetro@mp.wa.gov.au Authorised by D.Faragher, 108 Swan Street, Guildford WA 6055.

9

HOLIDAY READING

CHANGES SUE MORLEY

e’ll be landing in an hour sir.” The “W steward gently tapped Michael’s shoulder. “Would you care for a tea or

coffee?”

He nodded as he adjusted the seat from reclining to sitting, taking the offered tray.

“Nearly home.” Michael thought, as he sipped the hot coffee. He expected things to be much the same as when he left five years ago on his way to Silicon Valley. He’d flown economy then and had been scared and excited at the prospect of living in California.

As a new graduate he’d felt fortunate to get a chance to work with the best IT experts, where slowly he’d worked his way up, forging a successful career.

Pleased then to leave the quiet backwater which was Perth Western Australia, but also to escape home, in particular getting away from his Dad, George, who’d been such a domineering force in his life.

Looking back and with the advantage of hindsight, he could see that his father had only wanted the best for him and his brother, pushing them to study hard to get ahead, but he’d been a stern, often angry man, not given to sentimentality.

James had been making noises lately in his emails about their parents getting older and that maybe he should consider coming home. So here he was, but wasn’t planning on staying for long.

Michael saw the lights of Perth coming into view and prepared for the landing. ~oOo~ “Oh Michael, I can’t believe you’re actually here!” his mother wiped away the tears, but she was smiling too, the joy of seeing her son overwhelming.

He leaned over to hug his Mum, thinking as he did so that she seemed smaller, thinner, less substantial than he remembered.

The airport was full of people reconnecting or saying farewells, the atmosphere charged with emotion.

“Let’s get you home, the car’s parked over there.” Stella said as they crossed the busy road into the car park. “ Your father is so looking forward to seeing you again.”

“Where is he mum, thought he’d want to pick me up?”

“Oh, he’s not up to driving much these days, I’m the chauffeur.”

Michael looked sideways at his mother, to see if she was joking, his dad loved to

drive, surely he’d not given that up while he’d been away.

“Dad not well?”

“Oh, he’s okay, it’s just that his memory’s not what it used to be.”

Michael nodded thoughtfully, he’d see for himself in less than an hour when they got home.

The old house looked just the same from the outside, as they pulled into the garage.

It was still full of stuff, leaving just enough space to park the Jeep. Camping gear, push bikes hanging on the wall, spare tyres and boxes filled the space.

“Come on in, let’s get you a nice cup of tea, you must be shattered after such a long flight.”

“Hi Dad!” Michael smiled as George shuffled into the lounge room, wearing carpet slippers and an old cardigan. He

tried not to show his surprise at the state of his father. Where was the upright man he’d left behind?

“Hello son, long time no see.” The pair hugged awkwardly, Michael feeling surprised at the lack of warmth he felt, and that there were no follow up questions as to his job or his life. George left the room within minutes.

After Michael had rested for a few hours, his brother James came around for dinner with his family, Stella had cooked up a storm to welcome home her prodigal son.

There was laughter and lots of 10

reminiscences, James’ kids Hunter and Skye loved listening to their Uncle Michael’s American accent and were rapt with the presents he’d brought from Silicon Valley, they’d be the envy of their friends.

“Hey Dad, what’s with sending Mum to get me from the airport?”

George looked confused, looking at his wife as if for help.

“Oh it’s the road system it’s all changed, your Dad gets a bit confused, I wanted to pick you up anyway.” Stella quickly changed the subject.

“Tell us about your girlfriend Michael, when are you bringing her home to meet us?”

Later that evening after everyone had gone home and his Dad had gone to bed, Michael and Stella sat having a nightcap. “ Want a drop of Johnny Walker?”

“Gee, better not, the old man will go mad, does he still mark the bottle?” he laughed relating how he and James used to have a nip or two and then top the bottle up with water.

“No, your father’s not the same, there’ve been changes son.” Stella sighed. “I didn’t want to worry you.”

“What’s up Mum, he’s not sick is he?”

“I’m sorry,” Stella looked sad.

“George’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.”

“How long has he been like this?”

“It’s been coming for a while, I noticed because things which would normally have got him riled up, such as Trump getting elected for instance, seemed to hold no interest for him.”

Michael’s eyes filled with tears.

“I thought something was up, he was so unemotional, Gee Mum, I never thought having a calm, even tempered father would scare me!”

“I need help son, I’m out of my depth, he needs assistance with everything now.” Stella cried quietly. “ I can’t ask James, they have the children to care for.”

“I’m here now Mum, I’ll do what I can. I only wish you’d told me sooner.”

Over the next month Michael took over, taking George to medical appointments, helping him shower and dress, showing a care and compassion that surprised even himself.

All the animosity melted away that had built up over the years, towards the man who’d been so tough on him. He found he was able to build a relationship with George, having pleasant times, even sharing a joke.

Change is not always a bad thing.

HOLIDAY READING SOMETHING ON THE ROOF JOHN LEWINGTON

here’s something on the roof.”

“T “What? I can’t hear anything.”

“There’s something on the roof I tell

tactile information back to a giant brain situated deep in the headless body.

Zinok sensed the reflected white light, from the small alien planet accompanying the green planet on which it had landed, and was sure the star system which it had entered with its Red Orb was the right one it was aiming for.

In other words it was in a landscape of the green blue planet being lit up by light from the central star being reflected by the small planet as it was situated in the cosmos.

They had arrived in the right place.

Zinok’s mind was taking notes.

The moisture content of Zinok was still high but the desire to bury itself under the waters was building up. It had to be thus before the Red Orb glowed hot.

The Captal Spheres that had passed the Red Orb on their way from deep space were registering high energy impulses. Zinok knew full well it could not disappear into soil or better still water otherwise it would desiccate and be killed.

The Zinok made a startling and useful discovery.

The surface of the object on which it clung was made of separate pieces.

They moved easily. Moving one, which cracked and slid down the roof allowed the appendage to slip into the cavity beneath and discover a moist dark area. Rapid impulses were sent to the brain throwing the whole slimy body into action.

Zinok lost no time and acted!

Zinok began to pick up the tiles one by one using outer appendages and pile them to one side as it sort to widen the hole into the darkness below. It worked steadily in the moonlight. The wooden battens were a delicious meal with the chunky chewable roof tiles having a slight taste of Crenten leaves back home.

you!”

Tom looked at his wife who was looking up at the ceiling.

“I can’t hear anything.” She muttered.

“Must have been a cat. Are you helping me with these Christmas presents or not?”

“Shouldn’t have left them to till the last minute! On Christmas Eve, for goodness sake, and we’re still wrapping presents.

Listen! Hear that? There’s something up there!

“I heard nothing . Hand me the scissors.”

“You had them”.

“No, you had them.”

“I gave them back!”

“Hell you did! There, under that paper!

Move it I’m fed up with you complaining wrapping presents. Don’t you think I’ve not got enough other things to do to get ready?”

“I’ve been working remember!

Someone’s got to pay for four kids robbing our bank account every 25th December!

Joking dear!”

“Someone has to do the shopping, make the Christmas cake, Clean-“ “Shush! There’s that noise again!”

“You’re hearing things. Hang on though.

Could it be Santa making his first rounds?

We’ll have to hurry up to get this a lot to him. Do you want to ask him down for a drink? You usually leave a bottle of whisky for him by the fire place which ends up in you booze cupboard. Minus a few glasses worth!”

“Funny girl!”

“Have to be. With useless you helping me.”

“I did the washing up didn’t I? I think…Listen! You must have heard that squeaking?”

“I can’t hear anything!”

She was right of course. She needed to get inside her husband’s brain to ~oOo~ understand what was going on.

“I’m sure I heard something,” Tom declared. ~oOo~ “I didn’t! You’d better go out and look Zinok was disturbed. The Captal Sphere then, hadn’t you? It’s a full moon remember. was supposed to open over one of the great Probably the cat next door.” waters of the alien blue water planet.

“You think so?”

How could it have malfunctioned? “You know what it’s like. The full moon Zinok remembered the some free fall and does things to cats. They want to get out then spattering on a hard surface and more. Something like a primeval urge. It’s fusing there. Not in the deep water which like they were alien.” was to be the new home.

“Primeval? Alien? Cats buggering Tentatively Zinok used four of its around on the roof? What is the world tentacle appendages to seek out the edge coming to woman?” of the object on which it had fallen.

“Yes……If you want to go have a look see, The other ten appendages held the do.” creature’s glutinous body firmly on the “Are you sure you didn’t hear anything?” tiles of the roof. The delicate points of the “No I did not! Then again you’re more four exploring appendages danced over sensitive than me. It comes from writing the tiles sensing, calculating and relaying all those queer stories you try to get 11

published.”

“Okay! That’s it then! That’s what all this has been leading up to! Your constant irritation with what I don’t do! You don’t like me spending time writing do you? I should just spend my spare time digging up the garden? That’s it isn’t it?”

“I didn’t say that! I meant to say-” “GRIEF! What the hell was that? You must have heard something then!”

“No!” “Go check the kids are not up to something! I’ll look outside.” ~oOo~ Tom raced to the front door and flung it open. He was surprised the roof noise hadn’t wakened the kids but they were at the rear of the house. He stared out at the moonlight garden and stood stunned at the sight of a high pile of shattered roof tiles.

He blinked with disbelief at the number.

The evening had been windless.

A terrible scream rent the air making him jump and bringing the neighbours to their windows. His wife appeared at the doorway, the crying kids trailing behind her panicking form. Her face was ashen as she screamed again and again.

“There’s something fallen through the ceiling!” ~oOo~ Zinok had put on weight. It was eating all those biped creatures on the third planet out from the Red Orb of the galaxy of Ursa Major. The store of them in the Captal Sphere was low however.

Zinok brushed himself down as his bulk spread out over the floor of the main bedroom on the upper floor. The wooden battens had been delicious.

Zinok burped and apologised to the bed next to him.

A puzzled Tom was coming into the house to climb the stairs…

The End

one of our 100 centres in metro, regional and remote areas of Australia, which you can locate on our website headspace. org.au. There are also various resources for young people, families and friends covering different mental health issues and self-care strategies.

Help can also be accessed via eheadspace.org.au providing online and telephone support between 9am-1am (AEDT), seven days-a-week, including Dear Editor, 2017 has come to an end, and this is Christmas Day. Jason Trethowan a great time to reflect and express our headspace CEO gratitude for all the things that have happened this year.

For many of us, it’s a time to finish work headspace tips for families and friends: or school for the year, unwind and settle Encourage your young person to stay connected: Social relationships are into holiday-mode.

Other people may find the festive an important aspect of their general season very difficult, particularly those wellbeing. Friends can provide both play experiencing isolation, loneliness or and support, and spending time with mental health issues. These experiences friends is also important for keeping and can all be heightened as we are bombarded building on existing friendships. with messages of family celebrations, gifts Encourage your young person to stay involved: Whether it is work, hobbies, clubs and holidays.

As well as this, thousands of young or sports – involvement with these can help people may be facing big life changes over a young person feel connected to their the coming months, such as starting a new wider community. school, awaiting exam results for higher Partake in physical activity: If your education opportunities or beginning a young person is feeling down or finding things difficult, physical activities such as job.

Losing the normal routine and walking around the block, can help relieve structure of school, regular contact with stress and frustration. friends or having to financially support Keeping to a regular routine: Getting a themselves can make this time particularly good sleep each night helps young people feel energised, focused and motivated. By challenging.

Students in university or TAFE may also getting up and going to bed at the same be facing stressors at this time affecting time each day, this can help normalise their mental health and wellbeing. Some their body clock. young people may have less parental For more tips and information visit the contact leaving them vulnerable and parents section on our website: www.bit.ly/ changes in their mental health going hssupportingyoungpeople unnoticed.

Families and friends are key in helping headspace tips for young people: a young person get support. Knowing the Eat well: It’s important to have a good signs and symptoms something might balanced diet with less of the bad things be wrong and then how to get help is (like junk food and lots of sugar) and more important. For anyone supporting a young of the good things (such as veggies, fruit, person they don’t need to be able to solve whole grains and water). This can help with sleep, energy levels and general health everything.

However, noticing changes and signs and wellbeing. that something isn’t right is a good first Sleep well: Getting a good night’s sleep step. Being withdrawn, not wanting to helps you feel energised, focused and be with friends, not doing the things they motivated. Developing a bedtime routine would normally enjoy, ongoing worry or can help you sleep much better. To do this, irritability are just some of the things to try to wake up around the same time each day, get out of bed when you wake up and look out for.

If you need support or advice, headspace go to bed around the same time each night. is here to help. As the National Youth Stay away from caffeine after lunch and try Mental Health Foundation, headspace not to look at screens (e.g. phone, laptop) at provides support to young people aged 12- least thirty minutes prior to bed.

25 who are going through a tough time. This Be socially active and get involved: can include support around mental health, Social relationships are really important physical health, work and study or alcohol for your general wellbeing. Spending time with friends is also really important and other drugs.

No matter where you are, you can for keeping and building on existing access help through one of our 100 centres friendships. Getting involved with in metro, regional and remote areas of volunteer work, hobbies, clubs or sports Australia, which you can locate on our can help you feel connected to your wider website headspace.org.au. No matter community while also meeting new people. where you are, you can access help through Play: It’s important for staying mentally healthy. Devoting time to just having fun

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

12

can recharge your batteries, revitalise your social networks and reduce stress and anxiety.

For more information visit: www.bit.ly/ hshealthyheadspace Activities to try over the summer holidays: Find a casual job Earn extra pocket money, gain skills and meet new people.

Check out tips on how to write a resume and prepare for an interview.

Organise and explore - List places you want to visit and things you want to do. Take up a photography course, or find another course that interests you.

Creative projects - Get your creative juices flowing! Revamp your bedroom or create an art piece. Invite a friend over or ask a parent to help.

Get active - Get out on the oval and kick a footy with mates, check out the local skate park or go for walks.

Volunteer - Give back to the community and gain some great experience.

POETRY RELATIVE TO WHAT? TARJA HETTONNEN

hey say its all relative Relative to what?

We should prioritize (So the order of importance is seen) The importance of order Be practical Logical Responsible Where does that leave living?

Touch, sound, sight, smell, taste Everything is now Fast Consume Take it away Slow down, breathe, look around The seconds are ticking away When was the last time you played?

Touched a loved one Heard a motorbike frog Saw a child innocently play in the park Smelt a truly fragrant red rose Tasted home made strawberry jam Lived Loved It all counts, all of it Do it now.

OBITUARY SUE GRAFTON 1940 - 2017 Y is for Yesterday, and now no Grafton worked for the next fifteen years writing screenplays for television movies. more tomorrows

O

n the 20th of December, 2017 this message was posted on Sue Grafton’s Facebook page: “Hello Dear Readers. This is Sue’s daughter, Jamie. I am sorry to tell you all that Sue passed away last night after a two year battle with cancer. She was surrounded by family, including her devoted and adoring husband Steve.

Although we knew this was coming, it was unexpected and fast. She had been fine up until just a few days ago, and then things moved quickly. Sue always said that she would continue writing as long as she had the juice.

Many of you also know that she was adamant that her books would never be turned into movies or TV shows, and in that same vein, she would never allow a ghost writer to write in her name. Because of all of those things, and out of the deep abiding love and respect for our dear sweet Sue, as far as we in the family are concerned, the alphabet now ends at Y.” There was an immediate outpouring of love and sympathy for Sue’s family and grief for the loss suffered by crime readers.

Those that know her work in the ‘Alphabet Series’ love and admire her heroine, Kinsey Milhone, in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, California, a ground-breaking protagonist in the field.

The daughter of detective novelist C. W. Grafton, she said the strongest influence on her crime novels was author Ross Macdonald. Before her success with this series, she wrote screenplays for television movies.

Grafton was born and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, graduating from the University of Louisville in 1961 with a bachelor's degree in English Literature and minors in humanities and fine arts.

Grafton's father was enamored of detective fiction and wrote at night. He taught Grafton lessons on the writing and editing process and groomed her to be a writer.

Inspired by her father, Grafton began writing when she was eighteen and finished her first novel four years later.

She continued writing and completed six more novels. Only two of these seven novels, Keziah Dane and The Lolly-Madonna War were published.

Unable to find success with her novels, Grafton turned to screenplays.

Her experience as a screenwriter taught her the basics of structuring a story, writing dialogue, and creating action sequences.

Grafton then felt ready to return to writing fiction.

While going through a "bitter divorce and custody battle that lasted six long years", Grafton imagined ways to kill or maim her ex-husband. Her fantasies were so vivid that she decided to write them down.

This exercise led to her best-known works, a chronological series of mystery novels known as "the alphabet novels". The stories follow a female private investigator

Sue Grafton wearing Kinsey’s hardwearing ‘little black dress’

named Kinsey Millhone, who lives in the fictional town of Santa Teresa, California.

Grafton described Kinsey Millhone as her alter ego, "the person I might have been had I not married young and had children.”

Grafton's first book of this series is "A" Is for Alibi, written and set in 1982.

The series continues with "B" Is for Burglar, "C" Is for Corpse, and so on through the alphabet.

Unlike almost every fictional detective since 13

Sherlock Holmes, Kinsey ages with the passing years (Holmes did age from 1881 when we meet him until he retired in 1914, but Poirot was ‘retired’ from the Belgian Police Force in 1920, his first novel, so how old was he in 1972, the date of the last novel?).

Grafton overcome the difficulty presented by that by keeping the action of the books into a shortened time-line of perhaps five years.

Which meant no cell phones for Kinsey, no computers, no spy drones - just good honest ‘pounding the pavements’ gumshoe work.

She had refused to sell the film and television rights to her books. She added that she would haunt her children if they sold the film rights after her death.

Grafton publicly stated that the final novel in the series would be titled "Z" Is for Zero, but she did not live to start writing it.

As Neil Gaiman said when talking about the death of Sir Terry Pratchett and the books that will now not be written, we may well mourn the unwritten books, but ‘it behoves us not to be greedy’ and we should cherish what we do have.

Sue Grafton now joins the other greats in that Great library in the sky, but lives eternally as long as well-crafted myteries with engaging characters are valued.

She will be much missed.

DISCLAIMER The information in this publication is of a general nature. The articles contained herein are not intended to provide a complete discussion on each subject and or issues canvassed.

Swan Magazine does not accept any liability for any statements or any opinion, or for any errors or omissions contained herein.

HOLIDAY READING PURE CHAMPIONS VALERIE EVERETT

hen Australians think of our history, W myriad names of prominent people and significant events spring to mind:

the First Fleet, Captain Arthur Phillip, Federation, gold rushes, Daisy Bates, Anzacs, Gallipoli, Simpson and his Donkey or Kokoda.

Less likely would be ‘animals’, more specifically, the horses we call Walers. So what are Walers exactly and where did they originate?

Furthermore, what role have they played in our history? Well, to understand the story of Walers, we must first understand Australia’s colonial history.

Indeed, our very foundations.

It began in 1788. When the First Fleet of sailing ships, en route from England, docked at the Cape of Good Hope. Loaded aboard were provisions, equipment and animals, essential items to help sustain the military, convicts and free settlers about to hit land.

The challenges ahead were immeasurable. Carving out a new colony, New South Wales, from virgin bushland.

Muscles would be needed. Big muscles.

More than human strength. Undoubtedly, that’s why Captain Arthur Phillip had the foresight to load horses aboard at the Cape.

But only seven survived the final leg of the journey: one stallion, two colts and four mares. Presumably, Walers’ origins go all the way back to these first four-legged arrivals.

Yet, the number of foals produced from this small herd couldn’t meet the high demand for horse-power in the Colony.

Hence, the fleets of settlers after 1788, who could afford to, bought horses with them from England; recognised breeds including Thoroughbreds, Clydesdales, Hackneys, Arabians and native British ponies.

But it was a long sea journey to the Colony and only the toughest horses made the distance. From the survivors the breeding of Walers really began with settlers selecting and cross-breeding the very best horses.

It probably took years, trial, error and experimentation to get the mixture of breeds just right. But eventually, Australia’s own unique horses, with the finest qualities, were born. Horses: calm of temperament, strong and able to endure Australia’s rugged environment, going long journeys subsisting on native pastures and available water supplies.

There was a range of colours: blacks, bays, chestnuts, but in comparison to contemporary breeds of the time, they were medium sized and lighter in build.

They took long strides, but could accelerate swiftly to a fast gallop. These horses weren’t intended for show or fuss.

They were put to work. Pulling ploughs,

hauling carts and carrying explorers; horses and humans toiling together to build farms and towns across our great land.

Generically, they’d be called ‘stock horses’ but our colonial horses were deemed Walers because of their origins in New South Wales.

Over time, as the colony of New South Wales expanded and more settlements took hold around Australia, pastoralists bred more Walers.

Eventually, they numbered in the thousands. The early breeders probably had no great aspirations for our colonial work horse. But our Walers didn’t stay our secret for long. With their reputation for strength and speed they earned an export income.

As early as 1816, Walers were in demand by the British Army and the Raj in India, who considered our sturdy horse one of the finest cavalry horses in the world.

Some historians say that Walers played their first significant military role in Australia in 1854 at Ballarat, when British mounted infantry attacked miners, infamously at the Eureka Stockade.

Most likely the horses pressed into service were Walers. Five decades later, in 1899, their military participation increased substantially when Great Britain declared war against Dutch farmers, the Boers, in South Africa.

Australia supported Great Britain by enlisting troopers and horses for embarkation to the Cape Colony, where they served as mounted infantry. Tough Walers were needed to carry their riders on the vast inhospitable velt, up against the Boers, who fought like mounted commandoes.

By the end of the Boer War in 1901, a staggering number of Walers – 37,000 – had been shipped to South Africa.

Thirteen years later, Walers would serve on a scale like never before. When World War I erupted in 1914, Australia aided Great Britain, once more. When mounted infantry units were raised, experienced horsemen enlisted enthusiastically, many with their own horses.

Once again, tough horses were needed and Walers filled the ranks. Together, horses and troopers formed the Light Horse, the men distinguishable from the general infantry by an emu plume in their slouch hats, long puttees and a bandolier of bullets across their chests.

The AIF was shipped to Egypt, where they trained with the New Zealanders in the shadow of the pyramids.

Together, the two armies were named Anzacs. From April 1915, the horses waited in Egypt while the Anzacs fought the Turks at Gallipoli.

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But by December, when the Turks were undefeated, the Australians retreated.

When the surviving troopers were reunited with their horses, they were pitted against the Turks once more.

This time, in the harsh Middle Eastern deserts of the Sinai and Palestine, where the Light Horse was named the Desert Mounted Corps. Walers had to be as tough as teak to carry a rider, equipment and ammunition, perhaps 150 kilos, in temperatures that soared above the Century.

There were notable victories in 1916: the Battles of Romani, Magdhaba and Rafa. Yet, during 1917, no Allied force could defeat the Turkish-held town of Gaza.

Instead, Allied attention focussed on Beersheba and it was there that the 4th and 12th Regiments of the Australian Light Horse executed the unthinkable – a mounted charge against the town.

This, in the late afternoon of 31 October 1917, after a full night’s march and a day’s fighting that left troopers and horses desperate for water. We can only imagine the troopers’ sheer determination to succeed at all costs. Their own lives depended on it, as did their horses and a large Allied army following in their footsteps. Many were certain to perish in the desert if they failed.

When the Turks at Beersheba spotted them through their field glasses, they were caught unawares. Across the shimmering

desert, six kilometres away on rising ground, 800 troopers and horses had lined up. Emu plumes were visible. The Turks knew who they were.

When the Light Horse trotted forward, the Turks didn’t believe a charge was possible. But it happened, at a thundering gallop that proved too fast for Turkish artillery to effectively counter.

When the horses reached the trenches, they leapt over and the troopers fought the Turks until the town finally fell. Tragically, sixty-seven troopers and seventy horses were casualties, but Beersheba was captured.

Beersheba has gone down in history as the last great cavalry charge. The troopers saved themselves, their horses and an army.

By nightfall, nearly 60,000 Allied soldiers and 100,000 animals had swarmed into Beersheba to drink from its seventeen wells of precious water. It was the turning point in the defeat of the Turkish Empire.

A week later, Gaza fell, and by December, Jerusalem. Beersheba hasn’t been forgotten with movies, The Light Horsemen (1987) and 40,000 Horsemen (1940) reenacting the courage of the troopers and their wonderful Walers.

We have to wonder. Would the charge have succeeded if the troopers had been riding another breed of horse?

Their service continued, for another year, with more notable victories for the Light Horse. Western Australia’s own 10th Light Horse helped capture Jerusalem and on ‘The Great Ride’ as they called it, helped defeat the Turks in the Jordan Valley. In September 1918, the 10th was the first regiment to enter Damascus.

After the war ended in 1918, sadly, only one Waler of the phenomenal 160,000 sent abroad came home to Australia, Sandy, the horse ridden by General William Bridges.

For the rest, however, lengthy and costly quarantine was out of the question.

We can’t imagine the troopers’ heartbreak at seeing their faithful mounts re-assigned to the British or Indian Cavalry.

Worse, still, those classified as too old for redeployment were destroyed. In a twist of fate the doomed horses were valuable. Their shoes were removed for redistribution. Their manes and tails were cut off to be sold as horse-hair. Then, once shot, they were skinned, their hides to be sold as leather.

It was a horrible execution for our hero horses. Legend has it that some were shot by their riders, who couldn’t bear the possibility of them falling into Egyptian hands and a cruel servitude for their remaining years.

During World War II Walers were enlisted again. This time with the secret North Australian Observer Unit to patrol the Northern coastline of Australia against possible Japanese invasion.

A small contingent of horses went with the Australians to Papua New Guinea

From the Australian War Memorial: Australian light horsemen riding waler horses.

“The soldiers are of the original contingent of the Australian Imperial Force and the photo was taken prior to their departure from Australia in November 1914. The soldier on the right is Trooper William Harry Rankin Woods, 1st Light Horse Regiment, who died of wounds on 15 May 1915, one of the first light horsemen to die during the Battle of Gallipoli." (Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

and Burma but, by then, with tanks and armoured vehicles, their service was vastly reduced.

In the post World War II years, Walers were used in one of their original vocations, as stockhorses, and for a time with the mounted police.

Eventually, their numbers declined with farmers, the police and sporting and recreational riders preferring more refined breeds: Thoroughbreds, Quarter horses and Arabs. By the 1960s Walers were rare in Australia, but were they destined for extinction?

Thankfully not, with lovers of our colonial horse reviving the breeding of Walers. Perhaps for nostalgia or because they don’t wish to lose, forever, a horse with so many endearing qualities.

Nowadays, Walers are companions and pets. Interestingly, some are therapy horses for soldiers returning from modernday conflicts with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In a complete turnaround from their past as front-line warriors, Walers now assist the wounded. It seems their ‘war service’ continues.

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So where would you see one today?

Perhaps as you pass through country towns or drive past semi-rural plots on the fringes of cities.

Maybe, it’s that ordinary-looking horse you spot grazing at the rear of a paddock.

The quiet, humble beast drawing water from a dam. You should feel lucky to see one. A flush of pride at the sight of an Australian icon.

This year in 2017 as we remember the remarkable feat of the Light Horsemen at Beersheba, one hundred years ago, we also pay tribute to Walers.

Okay, so none has ever won the Melbourne Cup or Gold at the Olympics.

And, yes, because of their origins they may be called ‘mixed breed’ or ‘bitser’. But one thing is certain.

When a big-hearted horse has been needed with bountiful courage and impressive stamina, Walers have proven themselves unbeatable.

Workhorses, war horses, pets and companions, they are indeed, pure champions!

WHAT’S ON IF YOU WOULD LIKE AN EVENT LISTED IN THIS COLUMN RING our office on 0418 934 850 Entries for non-profit entities are free.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - Glen Forrest Group Every Monday evening We meet at 7.00pm at the Glen Forrest Uniting Church, Mc Glew Rd, Glen Forrest.

Call Dermot 0488 905 211 or John 0448 074 536 or the Perth Office (all hours) 9325 3566.

AUSTRALIAN BREASTFEEDING ASSOC. Discussion groups, guest speakers, morning tea. Free breastfeeding counselling. Expectant mothers, mothers, babies and children welcome. National Breastfeeding Helpline 1800 686 2686 is a 24 hour 7 days a week service.

Swan/Mundaring Group meets every Monday, 9:30-11:30am at the Gumnuts Family Centre, 8 Mudalla Way, Koongamia. A qualified ABA counsellor is present at each meeting to give confidential information and support on breastfeeding issues. Contact Natalie 9572 4971.

Kalamunda Group meets fortnighly on a Thursday, 9:30-11:30am at the Maida Vale Baptist Church, Edney Road, High Wycombe. Contact Jenny 9252 1996.

Northam Group meets each second Tuesday of the month at the Bridgeley Community Centre, Wellington Street, Northam 10am to Noon.

Fourth Tuesday each month at Toodyay Playgroup, Stirling Terrace, Toodyay. Noon to 2pm. Please phone Louisa 9574 0229.

TUESDAY BADMINTON CLUB

Tuesdays Join us for Social Badminton from 9am - 11am at Brown Park Recreation Centre.

Beginners Welcome.

Contact Miriam 9274 5058.

EASTERN KNITTERS

DISTRICTS

MACHINE

Friday - second and fourth We meet from 9:00am to noon at 10 Brockman Road, Midland. Feel welcome to join us for morning tea and see how easy it is to make your own garments.

For more information contact Pat 9309 3260; Liz 9572 7074 or Pat 9295 2793.

THE HILLS CHOIR

Monday Evenings Do you enjoy singing and joining with others to make beautiful music? Come and join the Hills Choir. We meet from 7.30 to 9.30pm at the Uniting Church on Stoneville Road, Mundaring.

Contact Margie on 9295 6103 for further information.

SWAN VALLEY SQUARES – ELLENBROOK

Every Friday Night Modern Australian Square Dancing

from 8.00 pm – 10.00 pm Woodlake Community Hall, 1 Highpoint Blvd, Ellenbrook. Friendly, fun and low cost.

No previous experience necessary. All Welcome. Contact Greg Fawell 0417 912 241 or www.swanvalleysquares.weebly. com

SWAN VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTRE

Monday Mornings The Art Group meets at Baskerville Hall from 9am – 12pm for just $5.00 per session.

Group leader Gilly can help and advise with most media. Feel free to come and have a look and meet our local artists – they are a very friendly lot, new members ELLENBROOK COMMUNITY welcome!

WEIGHT LOSS CLUB For more information call 9296 1976 or Every Tuesday evening enquiries@swanvalleycommunitycentre.com We meet from 6.45pm to 8.00pm at the www.swanvalleycommunitycentre.com Woodlake Community Hall, Meeting room 1. Highpoint Blvd, Ellenbrook. Friendly SWAN HARMONY SINGERS support group and low cost. Male and Wednesdays females of all ages welcome. Contact Come and sing with us! Swan Harmony Shirley 9276 7938 shirleysardelich@aapt. Singers is a community choir that meets, net.au.

7-9pm, to sing music ranging from jazz to pop, plus the occasional classic. No MORRIS DANCING auditions. Join us at the Salvation Army All welcome. It’s like bush dancing, with Church Hall, 371 Morrison Rd, (opposite sticks and bells. It’s aerobic exercise and Swan View Primary School), Swan View. great fun!

Enquiries: call Anna on 9299 7249, or Chris Tuesdays 7-9pm practice, Guildford Town on 9298 9529 or 0435 062 728.

Hall, cnr James St and Meadow St, Guildford.

And drinks later at the Woodbridge Hotel ELLENBROOK AND DISTRICT MENS with live Irish music SHED INC. For more information please contact: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Christine Hogan: 9279 8778 We are open at 4 Transit Way Ellenbrook Email: madtattersmorris@iinet.Net.Au from 10.00am to 3.00pm. Potential Website: madtattersmorris.Myclub.Org.Au members can turn up on those days and there will be someone to talk to.

MUSTARD SEED - DISCOVERING Annual fees are low and members can COMPUTERS do their own thing, participate in projects Mustard Seed is a fifteen year old for the community or simply just come in non-profit organisation and teaches all for a chat and a cuppa. aspects of everyday computing. Ability levels from beginners onwards. Want help SWAN VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTRE with Windows 10? In need of instruction MUSIC CLASSES with your Mac computer? Have an iPad or Tuesday mornings Android tablet and don’t know what it will Learn to play tunes on piano or keyboard do? We can help. Cost is $3 per session. immediately – the SIMPLY MUSIC method.

Classes are heldat 56 McGlew Road, Glen Play songs, chords, blues and classical in Forrest. To gain a place enrol now. small groups at a reasonable price. Call Phone 9299 7236 or 0478 604 163 or Heather 9296 4181 for more details.

E: mustardcomputers@gmail.com W: noodlebytes.com HILLS CHRONIC PAIN SUPPORT GROUP 1st Wednesday of each month SWAN WOODTURNERS GROUP Hilltop Grove Estate, 1645 Jacoby The group meets in the rear hall of Street, Mahogany Creek. Morning tea The Senior Citizens’ Centre, The Avenue, provided, between 10.30 - 12.00 noon.

Midland, at 1-00pm. on 1st, 3rd, 4th, Enquiries Terina 9572 1655. and 5th. Tuesday, and at 7-00pm. on 2nd Tuesday of each month. A demonstration MIDLAND MEN’S SHED and cuppa are the norm. Men and Women Every Tuesday morning are welcome. Enquiries to Ted 9295 4438. We meet socially every Tuesday morning from 9.30am to 11.30am in the TALKING HORSES Bellevue Baptist Church Hall. At least Wednesday evenings 6:00pm once a month we have a guest speaker on a The WA Horse Council equestrian radio range of topics. program is now in its seventh year. The We also go on excursions to various programme is broadcast on the Community places of interest..

Radio Station 91.3 SportFM. To ensure that For more information on the Shed your club, event, breed or business gets please contact Kevin Buckland on 0417 961 coverage, call Diane Bennit 0409 083 617. 971 or by email to kebinsv@tpg.com.au.

16

FICTION THE UTE JOHN TAYLOR

CHAPTER 8 – THE NEW BEGINNING illy hung around town doing a bit of B casual work, maintaining his bank and close proximity to Janey.

Auntie Pat was not shy coming forward about Janey’s loss of a chance to better her education.

“He’s a lovely boy, but it’s all too quick!

He should go back up country for twelve months, allow things to happen slowly.” She advised.

Billy worked for horticultural contractors the first six months, renting a house on the edge of town. Janey stayed at Auntie Pat’s, close to uni, applying herself to her studies.

“Weekends were her undoing”, Auntie Pat advised anyone who’d care to listen.

“Off out to Billy’s Friday night, partying, working with Bill”, who had just set himself up as a lawn and general garden contractor, “Often not coming home till Monday morning with not a tap of study done.”

A year raced by. Janey, much to Auntie Pat’s chagrin, gave up on uni, preferring to be out working with Billy full time.

Between them they built up a good business on a trailer load of tools, attitude and energy.

Energy was being expended in other areas as well and it wasn’t long before it began to show. Janey began spending more time around the house resting and although in excellent health, medical appointments becoming a part of her week to week routine.

“We’ll need a new ute the way we’re

going, Janey.” Billy remarked one night. “The old girl’s getting to be cop bait! Done us well, eh? Remember that time at the turn off?”

Janey responded, patting her belly.

“Pass the remote, Billy, and what about a cuppa tea?” Janey settled in, comfy lounge, reasonable rent by the sea and a brand new baby in six weeks or so. Her frown was quickly replaced by a smile as she accepted a fresh cup of tea.

“Long way from a pannikin on the run”, she mused. “Wonder should we write?

Clyde’d know. What about a newslettery thing? Shame they’re not on email, but then the generator’d have to be on.”

Thoughts of Anne and Red’s mail truck, that wonderful ride home as sunset and sunup chased each other halfway round Australia; arriving late at night unexpected, hoping someone would know and be there, even a message, finally arriving in bush, quiet and dark as suburbs at night can be until, bumps and roundabouts clog as daylight increases the city’s speed till all’s a quandary of rocking and rolling, full tilt, out on the street.

And nights in the stock camp, reflecting strongly back with a pannikin, not full of tea, as it’s softly absorbed, muscles gone slack and the cattle lowering down the creek.

Of course, it’s not right what’s happened.

Of course it’s not fair. There, you see! Billy was thriving financially, enjoying the not so hot heat and outdoor activities.

Janey gave birth to twins; little Billie, a bubbly blonde haired girl, and the more serious Jake. Exclaiming proudly how easy it all was, Janey quickly got back in shape; already back helping Billy, as against power walking.

Billie and Jake, gurgling, content in shade nearby, gazing up through white fly screen and leafy branches at

17

bright blue sky, absorbing all that flew and crawled their way, nuzzling hungrily at full white breasts, tiny hands grasping purchase as they sucked themselves to sleep.

“Whatta life”, Billy quietly commented to the content threesome reclining in the shade, stacking tools on his newish ute.

“Come on Janey! One more job then home.”

Time rolled on, sunup came later and lost its sting. People, gardens and outdoor additions rolled up in hibernation. Must be the wet coming in, Billy thought. Seems like a big one the way this mob are behaving.

Billy’s crook leg started playing up, causing him some angst as he balanced the bank against four or more months of similar or worse weather. Wouldn’t be any fun out there anyways, working in this mongrel weather!

He stayed home a lot, lolly gagging around the house, playing with the kids and dodging work in the inclement weather.

‘Situations Vacant’ became a big part of the day-to-day, throwing questions of “what about this or that?” at Janey who fielded them nicely; aware of Billy’s increasing frustration and hoping against all hope he wouldn’t break out on the booze or worse.

Billy made a concerted effort to stay away from pubs, a burning urge now, more so even than during those heady summer months, to go back out bush and pick up the reins of his old life, which now seemed a long time back.

If only things had been different with old Bob, he mused, grinning wryly. Wonder what happened in the end? Probably dead along with that cop.

What about Clyde? Yeah, he thought, What about Clyde? Nice enough, poor useless bastard took to the holiday caper like a duck to water. He’ll be out there patching something.

Come on Billy, he reminded himself, mow

a lawn; do something. This weather’ll break!

He moved lethargically off, clattering tools about in the ute. The day dragged slowly by under leaden, soggy clouds spitting intermittent bursts of misty rain directly at Billy labouring below.

Finally he chucked his hand in, heading home via a bottle shop for rum. Cracking the cap, swigging a warm draught as he engaged gears; unaware that a prowl car had observed every move from a speed trap under huge Morton Bay figs outside.

Billy pulled over on the siren’s first blast, hastily screwing back the recently removed cap, observing the level had dropped significantly with two or three swigs.

The cop who interviewed him initially seemed a decent sort of bloke and Billy, with a record number of hyperventilates, hoped he’d be right blowing in the bag; which after some discussion between officers, proved incorrect.

Just unfortunately, the other cop seemed to be having a bad day and insisted on booking Billy who well knew the cost.

“Ha, well, I’ve had a good run. Dodged ‘em all summer. Wonder if I’ll do me licence.

May be the decision I need. Could be heading back bush sooner than later.”

In due course papers arrived regarding activities on that dismal day, a minimum term of three months’ duration was expected against him with a distinct possibility of a longer term due to previous points lost and alcohol content of his breath when apprehended; depending entirely order upon which magistrate attended.

Billy signed off “guilty”, happy to be done with the business; his mind already back out bush. Billy continued his gardening business while licence suspension cogs turned slowly in the background; winding his business down, concentrating now on Hillview; a large customer, but a little further to travel, to the extent Janey commented he may as well stay at Harry and Margaret’s rather than commute.

The kids laughed and gurgled, constantly attended by Janey and the household atmosphere was noticeably less strained as if both Billy and Janey knew they’d be returning bush, now simply a matter of time.

Harry and Margaret were overseas but old Jim, the stockman caretaker, went about his business quietly, making the odd comment or question, nearly always ending on “Let it ride awhile, young feller. Boss’ll be back soon: could easily put a young bloke like you on full time if you’re interested in coming around the bush.”

Jim didn’t say much, but Billy was excited to learn from scraps of conversations that Harry also had cattle stations “up north” and was “Scottish, not that you’d know” and was “often on these away trips”.

Billy was reasonably happy with the situation, especially when cheques arrived promptly from the office and more of his time was spent at Hillview than anywhere else, “Almost as though I was on the payroll!”

Janey was not leaving her comfortable home until things were signed and sealed.

Finally, within days of court action, including mandatory licence suspension, Harry and Margaret arrived home. Happy to be back, bustling about, having been cooped up in cities, airlines and queues this previous six weeks.

Harry’s normally ruddy complexion paled with exposure to fluoro lights, overcast and smog-filled skies. Often complimenting Billy on his efforts around the property and yet not making the offer Billy was waiting for, the old feller was still saying, “Let it ride a bit. I’ll happen.”

Harry finally got down to a cup of tea with Billy and without further ado presented him with an envelope, suggesting “if he’d like employment on his pastoral and farming

properties and conditions therefore were to his and Janey’s liking, an agreement could be entered into forthwith.

His lack of a motor driver’s licence had been noted and due to the outback location of employment, arrangements could easily be made in case of a need to travel on gazetted roads, “of which”, Harry added, “There were very few!”

Billy was buzzing, anxious to be home with Janey and discuss the deal, gulping his tea, assuring Harry and Margaret he’d be back soon.

“Phone us”, Harry quietly suggested.

“Make a time, Billy, tomorrow or the next day will be fine.” Billy left early, already partway out bush in his mind; he caught Janey having an afternoon nap, kids sleeping quietly as well.

Billy flopped on the bid, giving an excited wiggle.

“Janey!” He exclaimed, “We’re employed; Harry’s give us a start! Dunno where. He must have stations as well as farms!” Janey, rousing slowly, used to Billy’s energetic ways, had been feigning sleep, having heard the ute pull up and the door slam.

Reaching out for the envelope Billy was holding she ripped it open, unfolding half a 18

dozen A4 sheets.

Janey perused the pages, handing them on to Billy, commenting to Billy that she preferred the last where it stated that if either part wished to alter or discontinue the working arrangement, a month’s wages plus holiday pay and superannuation would be paid and transport of furniture and themselves would be arranged to point of employment.

Janey hushed Billy’s enthusiastic scramble for the phone, folding papers back into the envelope, adamant that they have an experienced person check the deal.

Billy reluctantly agreed with a feeble, “but it looks okay, Janey, and things have been good up to date”, tailed off outside, checking fuel and oil for tomorrow.

She’s probably right, Billy reckoned, unaware that Janey was already making arrangements for Auntie Pat to have a look this evening. Billy was surprised when he returned inside to find the kid’s up and fed, Janey in her “off to town gear”, with news that Auntie Pat would check the contract as soon as they arrived.

This, of course, appealed to Billy who quickly cleaned up, strapped the kid’s in and without further ado they proceeded to the other side of town.

Billy was offered a cold stubbie. It was still a little early for dinner so the contract was presented to Auntie Pat who, after carefully polishing and donning her glasses, proceeded to digest the information presented, proclaiming shortly after that it was quite the standard workplace contact one could expect for the situation available.

Billy gave a grateful sigh, thankful the contract had been given the thumbs up by Auntie Pat and aware Janey would now be at ease.

Billy asked to use the phone to confirm a time with Harry, who in his most accommodating manner, agreed to meet them at the town office early tomorrow, Margaret, being a little tired, would not be attending tomorrow’s meeting but looked forward to discussing with Janey how to keep things running smoothly her end at a later date.

Billy and Janey finished dinner, thanking Auntie Pat very much, bundled up the kids and headed home, Billy going on about outback possibilities as Janey dozed, cradling her kids, twitching a little as they slept.

Billy might as well be talking to himself, Janey thought. I’m so glad Auntie Pat’s happy with the contract. Harry and Margaret have been such good people and good payers.

Billy as usual was up early, anxious to get moving, Janey obstinately reminding him it was 5 am, the kids were asleep and it was only twenty minutes’ drive to the office and that furthermore she would not be rising before 7 am at which time a cup of tea would be appreciated!

Billy clumped out to the shed shifting things and generally mucking about. Finally, they could get on with the real meaning of life, moving out bush, making it happen.

Billy and Janey threaded their way to Harry’s downtown office, traffic flowing quite well at this later hour, locating a parking spot fairly close.

On the short walk in, Billy with the pusher, commenting on traffic density, as he was oft to do, adding, “We’ll be parking where we like soon, Janey, no inspectors or white lines where we’re off to.”

Janey bringing up the rear nodded patiently adding a little, “Yes, Billy”.

Harry’s secretary greeted Billy and Janey in a personable manner, ushering them into Harry’s jarrah lined office with a view, offering the usual refreshments.

Where would this country be without tea? Janey thought, thinking she actually wouldn’t mind rum just to settle herself a little. Perhaps a cup of tea, wondering how requesting a rum would affect Miss Punctilious here then replying, “Yes, thanks, both black with one”.

Nostrils twitching a little as wood smoke tickled in her mind, fire flaring on a blackened quart pot.

“Love a rum”, Janey thought aloud, nudging Billy who gave a grin as the secretary politely left the room, adding, “Mr Drummond was running a bit late so please make yourselves comfortable.”

Harry arrived shortly after, opening the door for his secretary with a laden tray, Miss Punctilious nodding, adding Harry’s request and returned shortly with a steaming kettle and cup.

Harry brought the meeting quickly to order, requesting someone in an outer office to attend, who promptly arrived with documentation, obviously in relation to Billy and Janey’s future with Drummond Pastoral Pty Ltd. “It seemed we were in that office a long time”, Billy noticed the time at 11.15 am, “actually an hour and a quarter in total and here we are back on the street with a new direction in life. I’m feeling a little light headed from all that quiet drama! All our futures have all changed and they’ve slept through most of it.”

Billy proudly pushed the twins back to the ute with Janey again bringing up the rear, quietly immersed in the enormity of their change, yet knowing this was what she, they, really wanted.

“Janey, remember that time we were looking for Bob at the races, then Kev popped up and turned the whole game around!” Janey steered him firmly to the ute.

“Come on, Billy, let’s not go back to those days, not without a drink anyway. Need to be able to write ‘em off!”

She shook off further thoughts and comments in this direction as she settled the twins and slamming the ute door, indicatingto Billy “down the road hotshot!”

CHAPTER NINE - THE EMPIRE In the first instance of their employment with Drummond Pastoral Pty Ltd Billy was expected to travel to various pastoral leases, familiarise himself with properties and management with the view of returning

to each property with a mobile mustering team.

Harry made it quite clear that internal politics would require this, at times, to be handled delicately and that it was in Billy’s court as to how the job was managed day to day.

Harry added, “Frankly, the days are gone for teams of workers to be employed on one property. Mobility is the keyword!”

Billy was equipped with a near new fourwheel drive and within a few hours of the day of employment was heading out of town with tuckerbox, swag and Co fuel card, on a two-week tour of inspection, Janey and the kids falling behind, fading as the kilometres ticked by.

Billy looked over at the empty passenger seat, reminding himself, “It’s only for a fortnight” and there were phones in the country where he was heading.

Billy arrived at the first Drummond property, Mount Cole, a little late to be bothering anybody, so he rolled his swag out at the house paddock gate, rising early to be greeted by a young Aboriginal indicating the homestead with smoke emanating promising tea and maybe breakfast.

The manager was nearly as old as Harry’s caretaker and made a big effort to rise and pour a cup of tea, Billy noticing a strong smell of rum as the old feller waved a bottle past Billy’s cup, by way of enquiry.

“Good start for the day, young feller, particularly these cold mornings”, replacing the cap as Billy declined.

Gilbert Roberts, as the old feller turned out to be, had been working the Drummond leases since well before Harry arrived upon the scene and couldn’t figure out why Harry Drummond kept him and others of his ilk on the payroll.

“Should have been put out to pasture years ago”, he reckoned, tracing a calloused forefinger along a map he’d produced, indicating the extent of Harry’s properties.

“This’d be the best road to take”, Gilbert nodded as his hand waved over an area of land, “Keep the ranges on your west and just head along. You’ll pass a pile of rocks at the end of the range; take a left there and be early at Glen Dolan or you’ll miss dinner.

Henry goes to bed with the chooks and you won’t wake him, deaf as a post. Dunno why Harry keeps us on, been destocked a few years now but there you go; mills and fences are okay but bloody old, like the rest of us!”

Billy did a tour with Gilbert on part of the bottom end, Gilbert insisting on taking the young feller along to open gates.

“Bit stiff meself”, he commented. “Be all day getting in and out of the car; long way off the ground these new four-wheel drives. Land Rovers were lower down. Done a lot with Land Rovers”, he commented, “And Willys Jeeps. Plenty of them around after the war!”

“Country’s looking good!” Billy said.

“Yeah!” Gilbert replied. “No stock eating, only roos and goats and dogs are movin’ on them too; and Harry’s still buying 19

properties!”

Gilbert and Billy completed their inspection and were back drinking tea, Gilbert’s with a little additive, Billy considering his next move, already forming a picture from the inspection and stories of Drummond Pastoral Pty Ltd from Gilbert.

“Old fellers all the way to the gulf and back around. Most of ‘em okay, some a bit cranky, but you’ll be right. He’s got me down here close ‘cos of me ticker, otherwise I’d be up the top where I come from.” Gilbert said.

“Born a gulf man!”

Spreading his gnarled hand out over a quarter page of Australia, chipped thumbnail resting on a little range a long way off in the mind and time. Billy turned his mind back to the job.

“Wouldn’t mind moving on, Gilbert.”

Billy remarked, observing Gil had topped his pannikin without tea. Reckon I know where you’ll be heading soon! He thought.

Billy followed the range, observing dog tracks and very few others, criss-crossing the road. When he came to the tumbled rock pile he turned and headed to the Glen Dolan homestead, arriving before dark, smoke drifting lazily from the chimney, hoping the steaks were still on, as an aroma to die for drifted across to Billy approaching the door.

“Come in!” someone shouted from the softly lit interior which Billy had spied passing the kitchen window, stooping through the door as it scraped on the hearthstone.

Henry, it turned out, was not as mobile as Gilbert but they both seemed to enjoy discussing their aches and pains over a rum.

They shared the privilege of an old team left over from their old droving days, the team being bolstered by the odd young bloke, wandering through, or on tribal parole.

This group of nomads wandered the Drummond leases, assisting Gilbert and Henry with mills and fences, as they wished, or as the old blokes could encourage with tobacco and tucker incentives; hence the aged stockman-like condition of both of these runs.

Billy was a little dubious how much pressure the fences would take with a decent mob pushing: Mind you, the mills up to date beat Clyde’s hands down; haven’t seen one patch. S’pose that’s Harry supplying pipe and parts; fancy buying more properties? You’d reckon he’d got enough; must have a plan; seems to be the case.

Billy settled into an easy chair by the fire, accepting a plate of steak, spuds and onions.

Henry was on the same page as Gilbert, regarding increased amounts of additive in less tea, and Billy was enjoying a top understand from a bottle he’d brought in as Henry related stories of yesteryear.

“Marvellous”, he’d say, “how things have changed and yet there’s still people who’ll have a go”, nominating Harry as a prime candidate.

“Dunno what drives him”, Henry remarked, “and he’s still buying, the agents say. Look at yourself, young fella. What brings you out here?”

They both topped up and reminisced into the night on tracks they’d crossed and people they’d known or heard of. Billy gleaning more information about properties and places as Henry moved on through country he drove through and managed for decades with mates, and, he quietly added, others he’d not be talking of.

He told of landmarks to look out for, water points, where country changed and opportunities to shortcut a drive, at certain times, when conditions were right.

Henry didn’t go to bed with the chooks that night. In fact, he and Billy dozed off in their chairs, in the early hours, quite happy with their steak, rum, fire and company, Billy stacking the fire a few times in the night when the chill crept in.

Daylight found the kettle whistling, Henry having cranked his arthritic frame into gear earlier on. The smell of toasting bread woke Billy in the low, gloomy kitchen.

Not quite knowing where he was, but adjusting quickly he accepted the pannikin of tea as Henry rounded from the fire, pointing at bread toasting if he liked.

Henry had been worded up regarding Billy’s proposed involvement, followed by another look at the map, where Billy could mark in landmarks recommended and inspect the top end on the way out.

“Country up there rougher for a while, then opening out onto a big plain”, Henry explained. “You may need to camp out, as it’s easy to miss the track between here and Coondoola, Harry’s next station, at night.”

“Watch out for old Ernie up there!” Henry warned, “Funny old bugger! Got a good missus, comes from up here. Old family.

Used to be a nurse or teacher; you’ll like ‘em!

Dunno why Harry keeps him on; dunno why he keeps any of us on for that matter! Better do a bit; see ya, young feller. Get Ernie to call when you arrive.” Henry added, shaking Billy’s hand as he hobbled briskly off across the yard.

Billy let the clutch, smiling to himself over his last couple of days’ experiences, happy with how things were panning out. If the properties stay close to these last two’s condition, there’ll be no trouble improving conditions and increasing numbers, Billy thought, driving off, taking Mill Road to Coondoola.

Dusk found him in rough country. Tracks crossing each other would be barely visible on a moonless night made him decide on Henry’s advice to camp up rather than risk wandering off on the wrong track with no guiding stars.

A few nips of rum and the swag warming nicely, Billy drifted off to sleep, interrupted by the odd howling dog.

Next morning Billy continued his circuitous route to Coondoola, pleased to have landmarks on his map and equally pleased at mill and fence conditions, all being of the same standard as on Gilbert’s and Henry’s run.

The low number of cattle puzzled Billy, but he guessed there must be a reason; perhaps simply spelling these stations.

Billy was aware of previous dry times out this way and was surprised how well the country was holding up. None of the properties to date had professional ‘roo shooters, evidenced by way of ‘roo tracks and sightings as the country became rougher.

Billy ticked a mental note on his recommendation list. He arrived at Coondoola homestead at morning smoko and was cordially invited in by Ernie’s wife Sara who informed him that he wasn’t far and suggested he have tea and sandwiches and perhaps a look around the sheds whilst waiting.

Sara also expressed interest in what Billy’s participation involved, adding, “A bit of young blood would be wonderful. These old boys, you know, dear, are getting a little past it all; very good at handling labour, when, of course, it’s available. Anyway, please don’t let me hold you up; make yourself at home. Ernie won’t be long.”

Sara continued on with her housekeeping. Ernie indeed wasn’t long, Billy having fuelled his vehicle while waiting.

Ernie made additions to the map, sweeping pencil lines and advice with whistles and crackling from his damned hearing aid; Sara fussing round adjusting signal and volume.

By midday Billy was off, Sara providing him with a hunk of salt meat for the journey, threading his way through gum tree creeks, the few cattle very sleek and content, as were the numerous ‘roos.

Several neighbouring stations caused Billy to take the main road, some 300 kilometres at right angles to his previous direction, to line up another string of Drummond pastoral holdings.

Billy was aware that he wasn’t all that far from his old stamping ground, Mungatawny, as the crow flies. Considering whether Sienna would have missed that little extra cash that came his way and originally, of course, the roll from Johnny Montellini, who had provided him with a respectable amount already, the combined total having been sufficient for Billy to set himself up in the lawn mowing venture and have a holiday with Janey.

Billy camped off the road late that night, his mind a little twitchy, as he reminisced about Sienna, Johnny and the quick run down to the big smoke.

He’d have liked to have gone over to Mungatawny but: Ah, well, he thought, may’s well move on. Not getting much rest. No point pushing the issue and I’ve got a job to do. After all, I’m being paid, plus fuel and tucker.

He cut a slab of salt beef, kept adding sauce and gnawed away awhile before dawn, having given up on sleep.

He’d seen enough of Drummond pastoral properties to realise that whatever Harry had in mind would be achieved by Harry, his team of efficient personal managers and himself when Harry unlocked his Pandora’s Box of ideas.

Billy’s belief in this was enhanced even further after inspecting another two large runs that ran parallel to Mungatawny, east 20

of either of these managers, regarding other properties, simply landmarks and directions to the next, maybe around neighbouring runs, always accurate in their directions.

Billy was pleased when piccaninny dawn broke. A message came from Harry over the Flying Doctor radio, at the next property (with the standard personable manager and wife), to the effect that “Billy may return if he considered he’d seen enough”, came as a relief.

Obviously the office and managers had been monitoring Billy’s journey, unbeknown to Billy. “Harry has been overseas and would be back about when he (Billy) arrived home.”

Billy still puzzled why things were as they were, anxious to return, not having heard for the past fortnight from Janey, understanding now the office would have called and reassured her; Billy drove virtually day and night for 48 hours, finally arriving at a small town boasting a public phone: Relieved when the phone actually worked when Janey answered and assured Billy “everything was going well at home”.

Concerned that Billy “had covered such a lot of ground so quickly”, amused when he commented “On how close he’d gotten to Mungatawny”.

Janey was telling Billy “to rest a while, drive safely”, when his money ran out or the phone jammed or whatever. Billy returned to the idling ute, headlights ineffectual as sun slowly set, keen to be home and done with this lonely road.

Twenty-four hours on Billy pulled in at home, a phonecall that morning announcing his late-night arrival on Janey’s answering machine. The house porch light on welcoming him, physically and mentally exhausted from his efforts.

Billy called as he entered the house, undressing as he collapsed into bed, motioning to “shush” as Janey woke turning on the bed lamp, turning it off when she realised Billy needed a good sleep.

Janey rose early, pleased to have Billy in her previously lonely bed. Accustomed to having him and his shenanigans with her or not far, fun times, sexual contact, always bubbling, “A fortnight”, Janey exclaimed, “It’s too long. the kids missed you and so did I”, moving purposefully back into bed.

Janey slipped out bed some time later as Billy rested, sunlight spilling into their room.

“Silly bugger”, Janey inaudibly breathed, “hasn’t slept for days; going to have to improve his act.”

She moved around the house in a light wrap, preparing a cereal and tea for them all, checking messages and generally getting on with the day. Janey observed a lightness of step and a zing she’d been missing.

“Bastard”, she affectionately breathed, nudging Billy, handing him a steaming mug, “Let’s see if this’ll build you up!”

Towards mid-morning Billy showered and dressed, little Billie bouncing on his knee, Jake crawling off: spoke to Harry on the phone, briefly outlining his trip and made arrangements to meet on the morrow.

Filling his day with rest, maintenance

and more rest, idly wondering on tomorrow’s meeting.

Billy found his way down to the office, Janey opting to stay home, realising there’d be a whole lot of discussion between the two men of little interest to her, but Janey stipulating “there’s no way she was staying home alone, weeks at a time! We go as a family, Billy, or not at all!”

Billy was well aware she was serious, deadly serious. As usual Harry was running a little late, Billy sipped tea, flicking pastoral magazines and inspecting the large pastoral map covering a portion of one wall.

Billy’s attention drew to the proximity of Mungatawny range to Drummond’s leases, last known to Billy. Bloody long way, Billy thought. No wonder I’m a bit puffed, whilst idly flicking over papers on a chart table near the big map, pin flags identifying places, probably water points or landing strips; lists of mining and current share prices, slipped off the map pile.

Harry would be bound to dabble in share trading; another clear plastic map slid off, indicating, by way of crossed picks and poppet head images, prospecting and mine sites, spread throughout the country, operating mine leases circled with corresponding pins on the big map.

Harry entered the room at this point, extending his hand, “You made good time Billy!” He commented, restacking and filing smaller maps.

“Invest on the stock market, you know, Billy: Like to keep an eye on my investments.

Flags indicate landing strips; yellow flags bush strips, red flags operational mine strips with night landing facilities, white flags indicate good water points.”

Billy noted a yellow flag on what he thought was the cattle yard on the Mungatawny range and made a mental note to check that map out one day; his mind snapping back on the job, as Harry with an expectant “Mm’hmm” opened the meeting.

Harry and Billy got down to business.

Details were pointed out on the wall map.

Harry’s managers briefly touched on some things, obviously with Billy adding “These people have been in for the long haul”.

Midday arrived and Harry, with a quick look at his watch, announced “enough of this map and paper talk. Let’s eat”, informing the secretary, as the pair marched out of the office and down the street to a restaurant, Harry ordering two pints as they entered.

Harry embarked on an interesting speech, as Billy could best remember, ticking off his requirements and ideas around the run, adding that he’d purchased more land since Billy’s inspection.

Going on into how he’d like to handle extra livestock and the need for Billy to fly an aircraft if he were to take up his offer

of permanent employment. This speech coincided with the arrival of more pints of beer and a bottle of red.

“Does justice to a good steak m’boy”, Harry remarked, ordering more, adding to his existing (nearly lost to Billy), list of requirements, something about housing and to “keep in mind schooling, my boy” and that “by and by it would be necessary to attend to these problems!” Harry emphasised, calling for the bill.

“First and foremost my regards to Janey”, presenting a gold brooch. “From my last trip!” Harry explained, steering Billy

carefully pointing out responsibilities the company and the employee expected of each other. Moving on to proposed accommodation and training, Mr Jones “being aware that current accommodation” he believed “was adequate for the short term and that further discussion would be entered into at a later date, with Billy and his wife regarding that issue.

“Meantime”, Mr Jones added, Billy had been enrolled at the local flying school and if he “wouldn’t mind signing here”, indicating on the page with his Parker, insignia gold top.

outside, the glare causing him to stumble.

Harry hailed a taxi, quoted his account number and with a tap on the cab roof and a reminder of Sunday lunch farewelled Billy till the morrow.

Billy arrived home more out of it than after the trip. Janey was annoyed she couldn’t obtain any information on the afternoon’s discussion other than snippets regarding land and aeroplanes and after Billy making a few feeble romantic attempts decided to leave him on the lunge.

With little Billie tickling her father’s nose with a feather duster, having a most amusing time, Billy slept through the afternoon, rising sluggishly in time to decline tea, opting for a shower and more sleep.

Next morning Billy had regained his enthusiasm for the race and was up and about early talking excitedly to Janey, sloshing tea on the bed covers as he recounted what he could of yesterday’s lunch meeting.

He suddenly remembered the gold brooch and fumbling yesterday’s clothes from under the bed was relived upon finding the brooch, happy as Janey quietly accepted the gift.

“Need to be at the office in half an hour, Janey. See ya!” He called, slamming the flywire as he skipped about, pinching little Billy’s chubby cheeks, whizzing Jake in a tumble.

The job commenced with a full induction

by Jones. Mr Jones, as he was introduced,

“Lessons commence Monday; flying plays a very important part in station management. Mr Drummond owns several aircraft and mustering helicopters”, Mr Jones added, gazing off at the ceiling, “very expensive but important nonetheless.

“Of course”, Mr Jones added, “a medical certificate will be required.” Billy was struggling to suppress his laughter at the straitlaced attitude the old bugger maintained, managing to excuse himself on a pretext of visiting the toilets before bursting out laughing.

Catching his reflection Billy pulled up taking a long hard look at himself before proceeding to the urinal. On his return Billy looked again. Having a quick rinse he slowly slicked his hair back, something was seriously niggling him! He shrugged to his reflection.

Imagine the Christmas party, all these old boys and their girls. What an outfit!” He winked, “An now by royal decree, one shall fly! Billy and Janey spent the weekend at home, having a relaxing time, sleeping in and generally loafing perhaps a little on edge regarding their future.

“Not on edge”, Billy remarked. “Maybe simply keen to see what it’s like not having to patch everything. And Janey”, he added, “a place that’ll fix the tyranny of distance; something Jones talked about: each property had well-maintained strips and fuel reserves so obviously aircraft popped in from time to time.”

21

Monday morning found Billy at the local air training school; engine revs were being run up, planes straining on their brakes, air frames flexing with the torque, flaps and ailerons flipping as checklists were ticked.

Other planes standing quiet on their moorings, clear skies beckoning as Billy pushed the throttle forward, guided by this pimply-faced instructor, sitting casually beside. They completed the basic checklist several times and steered around the apron.

Billy was slowly coming to terms with steering with his feet when, after a few static remarks on the radio, the instructor kicked the aircraft’s nose out towards the strip, indicating to Billy to apply power to maintain direction. Billy watched the speedo increase and the strip quickly disappear behind them.

Groundspeed having reached the desired amount for take-off and they being still glued to the ground and rapidly running out of strip the young instructor overrode Billy’s first take-off attempt, smoothly levelling the aircraft after its initial skyward bound.

Back under Billy’s guidance, they gradually increased their climb, the instructor explaining to Billy the business of trimming the aircraft as its altitude changed during and after take-off.

The morning wore slowly on, with Billy and the laconic instructor completing bumps and circuits, interspersed with smoko, lunch fuel stops and advice on practical and technical aspects of aircraft care and operation.

Billy’s head was buzzing; arms weighed down by books on aero-ops and checklists.

When they’d finally finished Billy risked one Bundy on heading home, shakily bought at the first pub he came to.

“Early start tomorrow, eh, Billy”, the instructor had reminded. “You’ll be right!”

Glad he reckons it’s okay”, Billy thought, rum settling his jangled nerves. Billy became quite adept at handling the little aircraft, notching up several hundred hours rather quickly over the first few months.

His first few trips out bush were with the instructor, who was impressed with his natural ability at the controls and his navigation. Billy was becoming quite a competent pilot, shifting cattle about to some extent and checking tanks and mills and flying home whenever the combination of parts, office work and proximity favoured.

Of course, Mr Jones’ hour meter ticked along with the aircrafts and every other check and balance around the properties: properties of which Billy was finding more as his sphere of operation increased.

Harry Drummond’s gargantuan appetite for land acquisition seemed to know no bounds. Mr Jones and the office staff were run ragged with bookwork and land department enquiries.

Billy had been quietly introducing young stockmen to the company, spreading them throughout the properties, carefully screening them to be sure to complement the old boy Drummond core; well aware the plan from Harry was to increase numbers

which would require a larger amount of workers and knowledge to maintain.

Billy was out and around the runs a considerable amount of the time these days and he had authorised the spending of a large sum of money, so it was no surprise when he received a telegram to attend the office.

In fact, Billy had been questioning the program’s direction since commencement and now with truckload after truckload of yard, fence and mill gear disappearing in this outback void, question time with Mr Jones was expected, followed by contract and employed labour issues, with all manner of problems fielded as they wended their way through.

Billy looked forward to this meeting, prepared with a full book of diarised events and the opportunity to spend time at home.

Flying in low at Coodoola to refuel, Sara, out feeding the chooks, waved, indicating the kitchen and office; obviously Ernie was in one or the other and food would be on.

Ernie’s message was regarding meeting at the office, which, of course, Billy assured him, between tucking in, he was onto.

Enquiring of Ernie if he knew what’s going on, he replied, after tweaking his whistling earpiece, “Whassat”, at which Billy mumbled something and shook his head; Ernie walked around the kitchen tweaking and whistling, peering out at the weather.

Billy departed shortly after, marvelling at the distance covered, idly observing parchment pastoral country turning patchwork greens, yellows and browns in farmland, towns and cities falling away under wing.

Janey was waiting at the Hillview farm strip as Billy was not sufficiently confident with his radio protocol to attempt landing in town at this busy latter part of the day.

Harry and Margaret drove in as Billy and Janey were leaving the farm, Harry flashing his headlights as he pulled up, alighting from his car rather quickly for Harry and without any further ado embarked on the plan: apologising about tomorrow’s meeting but would Billy mind dropping into the office at his leisure and discussing any items of interest with Mr Jones.

Meantime Harry was leaving tonight in the “twin”, as Harry affectionately referred to his executive jet, for gulf country. “An interesting deal has been developing m’boy, for some time now, and if I may suggest by daylight tomorrow it may well come to a head!”

Billy marvelled at the energy Harry expended, popping up bright and early time after time. With a polite good buy and a request to stick around town for a while, a wave from Margaret and the glare of passing lights, they were gone.

Billy once again was left partly in awe of this operation he’d become involved with, wondering where it would end up. Lights turning on and off in the homestead.

“Better go, eh, Janey. They’ll beat us downtown if we don’t. Whatta team!” Later next morning the office crew gave Billy a 22

turning over he’d never experienced: Trays of invoices since flight school days, yard builders, fencing contractors and mill men all requiring part or final signing off.

Billy ploughed through, Mr Jones topping up trays or raising issues as if he knew every corrugation and gutter on the track and Billy thought, maybe he does; personalities, abilities, rainfall or lack of.

“We’ve got to be ready now, Billy.

Something big’s in the wind,” Mr Jones explained, “and I want all this accounting done!” He complemented Billy on his diary saying how “good field diaries like yours often save the day, often in a court of law.”

Adding quietly, as he tapped his nose, “but, of course, Billy, there are some things better left unwritten”, sipping as he walked off in contemplative mood, his large cup of tea and saucer balanced delicately in his left hand.

By midday Billy was becoming crosseyed with paperwork and questioning.

Makes flying lessons easy, Billy thought, stacking paper, girding for another brace of questions.

Finally, late in the afternoon Mr Jones announced, “enough for today; a tidy up tomorrow would be in order”, and that he expected to hear from Mr Drummond in the near future. “Otherwise, Billy, please be here 9 am sharp; now go so I may organise these last few files.”

Billy left, head spinning, happy to be off.

He arrived home shattered. “Rather shoe a yard full of rough horses”, he told Janey, “than this office lot. Mind you, flying’s all right, less time away. It’s always good out in the bush and, yes, I did bring up the point about us settling somewhere central on the stations. It’s a bit hard to find centre, way Harry’s going. We’ll see, Janey. We’ll make it happen.”

The following morning dragged on, even Mr Jones was not his composed self and Harry was actually getting into quite a dither.

Office staff were not accustomed to this behaviour in their day-to-day life. It’s as if the cyclone was brewing, someone commented.

In a way it is, Billy thought. The cat’d be out.

Mr Jones breezed by from time to time. He loved lists and Billy’s neat handwriting, down the page, reminded him so much of when things were different, particularly in stock and station offices.

Then at 10.47 and 30 seconds to be precise, Drummond Pastoral received a call from Heath, Petty & Grey Barristers and Solicitors for Gulf Pastoral Inc, formally announcing on their client’s behalf acceptance in principle of the Drummond Pastoral offer.

Harry performed a highland jig; Mr Jones promptly put the kettle on, adding a nip of whisky when the tea brewed, Harry expanding his long term plans to Billy of restocking the southern leases with these drought-affected but well-bred stock from the gulf.

“That’s the start we had to have, Billy.

If we can pull this off, my boy, thousands of

good cattle can be saved from starvation and your work can really start.”

By 11 am congratulations wound down, festivities finished. The fight to gain the gulf cattle stations had commenced.

Serious phonecalls were in place. Within ten minutes the office was a battlefield HQ. Phonecalls received, sent and on hold.

Harry was quietly holding out for all of the stations, pointing out the enormous stock losses and the excellent cash offer he was making while the Gulf solicitors were keen to just sell one.

Negotiations were at a stalemate but Harry held his nerve. A minefield of bookings was appearing on the whiteboard. Billy was running ragged, an avalanche of questions fired at him. “Are all the roads to the various stockyards okay for road trains? How many cattle would you expect to load on each road train?” Minnie, the receptionist, withdrew her services by 3.30 pm, accusing Billy of causing the upheaval in her life.

“Nothing”, she spat, “has been the same since he arrived”, and it was only due to Mr Jones and Miss Hathaway’s caring intervention, that Minni didn’t tip her tea right over Billy and “never return to this awful office!” Minnie flumped a bit over the next days but actually took a shine to Billy, making him tea and always being very polite with messages and there were plenty.

At 4.02 Harry breathed a gigantic sigh as he put the phone down, found a cigar, took a triumphant look around the busy room and went through the doors to the courtyards and for the first time in a long while relaxed as he slowly smoked.

The fight for the gulf stations was won: now the real fight to shift the cattle would begin, Harry was sure he had the right team to finish this fight.

By midnight, enough was enough; most staff had left at their usual time. Anyone involved with planning, particularly on this project, were “required on deck”.

Legal and general pastoral logistics entered into with Gulf Pastorals’ solicitors was one thing; moving such a large number of cattle so far in a time of drought would be a very different affair requiring experienced planning and execution; par tway on the project spelt failure.

Wealth lay with the cattle landed safely south: their welfare was paramount. Billy arrived home about 1 am, Janey more than a little distracted by timetables over these last few months.

She actually wanted to chuck it in and try something else. Billy stuck to his guns until he finally fell asleep. No good arguing by myself, Janey thought, slipping into bed beside Billy’s inert form. Not much fun here, she mused, but could be worse. Wonder how long this project will take and whether I’ll ever get out there again.

Billy spent long hours at the office, contacting transport companies, organising mustering crews and every other part and parcel necessary to muster and truck large numbers of cattle the recently purchased gulf stations still produced, even in such dry

times. Cows and calves would be drafted off, if not considered strong enough to handle the trip, and arrive in reasonable fettle.

Young bullocks, Mickeys and Heifers were priority listed. Billy got quite a head of steam up as he thought of the comparative ease of the chase that finance, equipment and competent stockmen made on the job, a far cry from repairs and patches of the past.

In fact, three Gulf properties had now commenced mustering, slowly moving mobs in from the back blocks, turning cattle back that were unfit to truck. Trucking cattle to rail was finally deemed the most cost effective, allowing a feed and drink at rail head yards, with an option of tailing weaker stock out.

Cattle would then be trucked out from southern rail yards to Drummond pastoral properties. It was anticipated that enough cattle would be lifted from the Gulf to restock most of Drummond’s southern properties.

Mr Jones had run himself quite spare, calculating fixed costs and estimates, constantly sipping tea, tut-tutting and nodding his head as numbers clicked in place until finally he was happy: Well as happy as one could expect from a person so immersed in operating points of cents, Billy reckoned.

Finally, one day Mr Jones summoned Billy to his office and declared “officially the gulf muster was now to proceed and would Billy mind tidying up any business that could not be attended to from a gulf office or satellite telephone”, handing a sat phone over the desk as he spoke.

“Fred McKay”, Mr Jones commented “a young bloke up the gulf, is familiar with their operation and is always happy to help.”

Something about cranking the aerial out, aiming it skywards and waiting for a signal. Sounds a bit like the song telephone to glory over joy divine, Billy thought.

Mr Jones tailed off, “Now, please, leave me to tidy up these miscellaneous issues.

Oh, and, Billy, a quick call from the phone would be appreciated. They are very expensive to run mind; and, please, continue with the diary, excellent work the diary; big job you know, this gulf lift. There’s a lot in the balance; need to keep a handle on it”, tailing off once again with an absent minded, “Leave me now”, to his lists and computer files and balances.

Billy was ecstatic. These past ten days and half the nights spent in the office with reams of paperwork, phone, fax and meeting had nearly done him in.

Billy planned a nice little celebratory night out, starting with a bunch of flowers from a stall he knew on the way home.

The house was unlit when he arrived, pushing the door open with his shoulder, being laden with bottles and flowers, realising before seeing the note Janey was not home. Billy slowly unscrewed a lid, carefully sipping from the bottle as he read: “Gone out! Billie and Jake are at Auntie Pat’s.

May stay over.” Signed Janey.

Nothing about your tea’s in the oven! Or, 23

lots of love Janey! Just Janey. In fact, almost, “Ya bastard! Janey !”

Billy took another decent pull on the bottle, raw alcohol and sudden rage coursing through his system; ideas on how to handle the situation flicking through his flaring brain. Suddenly, painfully aware this had been brewing for some time now; and here’s me expected to be in the air at daylight tomorrow, off on a few months’ work. There’s no way I’m ringing Pat, the sanctimonious old fart!

Working his way slowly through ideas and the bottle until finally sleep overcame him in fitful stops and starts; tempted to ring, but at 2 am, even with the lucidity of rum on side, it didn’t seem right. Wobbling around in the kitchen before dawn, boiling up the kettle and peering in the fridge he gave a rum fumed belch, spitting bile in the sink, rinsing with black tea.

Thank Christ I didn’t give the old girl a call then, Billy thought as he played back on last night’s activities, thinking out his next move which he well knew was out to Hillview and flying.

Every hour lost came off start time up the gulf and there were a lot of people hinging on him being on deck. Showering always helped. He packed his bag and swag and headed out leaving a note and the flowers.

Janey wants to play games I’m happy to play too. Little Billie and Jake will be okay.

Probably be back in a few weeks.

Can’t imagine Mr Jones being happy with faxes and phonecalls. Still, Harry’s bound to be around. There’s some big strips up there; room for the twin. As Billy approached Hillview he noticed the homestead lights were on. Aware Harry was overseas he carried on to the strip and loaded his gear across to the light aircraft that was fuelled for the trip; planning his flight and fuel stops as the engine chugged to life.

Feeling the airframe flexing and juddering as he ran the motor up, moving slowly from the hangar into an early dawn, wishing Janey and the kids, even if the kids were asleep, were there to see him off.

Wishing he’d left that bloody rum alone last night, and, Billy reckoned, I should have rung Pat. Would have been better before I got too far through that bottle but still rung.

Ah, well, he reconciled to the runway, It’s only going to be a few weeks!

End of Chapter Nine Living and working under the harsh but strangely beautiful conditions of the Australian bush, JT (as he is known to his closest friends and readers) appreciates the spirit of those hardy souls that have survived the modern challenge.

If you would like to read the whole novel, it can be purchased as either an epub for kindle or iPad. Go to John’s website www.poetdownunder.com or www.lulu. com/shop/john-taylor/the-ute/ebook/ product-22566720.html or on the Apple store www.itunes.apple.com/au/book/the-ute/ id1086709294?mt=11

ENTERTAINMENT CHARLOTTE ‘S WEB THE MUSICAL

L to R: Director Fran Gordon, Musical Director Krispin Maesalu, Ella Hagon (Fern) Sean Smith (Wilbur) and Jacob Miles (Avery)

e all remember Charlotte’s Web from W our childhood - E.B. White’s charming book about Wilbur the Pig and his good

I am sure that the fantasy that is Charlotte’s Web will be enjoyed by all who see it.

‘The plot is simple, Charlotte saves Wilbur from the slaughterhouse by devising an intriguing plan which involves writing words on her web, encouraged by a small group of farm animals.

‘The action takes place at the Arables Farm, in the Zuckerman Barn and at the County Fair. This joyous musical offers the audience a very special experience.’

The production features many songs, including Eating, Wilbur the pig's humorous yet poignant song about growing up; Who Says We Can't Be Friends, an enchanting duet between Wilbur and his new-found companion Charlotte; Nice to Meet You, featuring the story's unforgettable animals; and Summer, a

friend Charlotte, a barn spider who saves his life.

Written in 1952 Charlotte’s Web has been a much-loved classic ever since, along with Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan.

He died in 1985 aged 86, with a huge literary legcy, mostly now forgotten except for these children’s books.

He once said: “I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.”

In 1989 the musical version of Charlotte's Web brought a new dimension to the timeless tale, with book by Joseph Robinette and music and lyrics by Charles Strouse (Annie, Bye Bye Birdie).

This delightful musical is Stirling Youth Theatre’s next production.

Directed by theatre doyenne Fran Gordon, who said: ‘I am very happy to again be directing the Stirling Players Youth Group in a musical at Stirling Theatre.

‘After the successful season of Mulan, earlier this year, I was thrilled to find a musical version of the well loved children’s novel, and decided to put it forward as part of the program for 2018.

‘Many have questioned my sanity, but I enjoy working with Charles Strouse the younger people and

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haunting, nostalgic chorus number which evokes a time and place from everyone's childhood.

Charlotte’s Web the Musical runs at Stirling Theatre, Morris Place, Innaloo from February 9th to the 24th at 8 pm, with matineés at 2:00pm.

Tickets cost $25 (Adult), $22 (Concession) and available from Morris Newsagency on 9446 9120 or trybooking. com/SESS.

ENTERTAINMENT KALAMUNDA HERE I COME DOUGLAS SUTHERLAND-BRUCE

oel O’Neill i Noel O’Neil was born in N Cork, Ireland and moved to New York in his late teens where he studied acting with

both Lee Strasberg and Herbert Berghof.

Noel gained his acting experience via the New York stage in productions such as: The Hostage, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Come Back Little Sheba, Little Moon of Alban and Of Mice and Men. He is currently a Lecturer at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University. Noel also teaches acting for the Perth Actors Collective Theatre Workshop, Stage Door and Frog Management.

Noel has appeared on the Hollywood screen in movies such as Salem’s Lot and The Great Raid, The ABC series Constructing Australia, based on the pipeline constructed in Western Australia

by Irish engineer C.Y. O’Connor and most recently The Decadent and Depraved an Australian ‘Western’.

Noel is also an award-winning playwright. To his credit are the following full length plays: Last Bus to Contrition, The Picture House, and Confetti from Graceland and several one act plays including: A Day in the Life, The Potato Eaters, Heaven’s Above and Holly & Ivy.

Many of his plays refer back to his Irish roots, as does Kads first play for 2018 Kalamunda Here I Come.

Based in Dublin, circa 1999, Kalamunda Here I Come is a dark(ish) comedy which, through a series of flashbacks via eldest daughter Louise (Lulu), tells the story of a typical Northside Dublin family and their individual dreams and ambitions – or lack thereof.

A story which many of us ex-pats will relate to, Lulu is a young nurse who struggles with the decision to leave her family and move to the exotically named, mysterious “Kalamunda” to carve out her own niche in this world.

Directed originally by O’Neill for the Irish players, this production is directed by Caroline McDonnell and featuring Denice Byrne, as Mam, together with Nathan Holland, Conor Rice, Noel O’Neill, Eims Ni’Hindeberg Baylor, Brian O’Donovan, Stan O’Neill and Ultan Kiely.

Kalamunda Here I Come opens at the Kads Town Theatre on the 16th of February and runs until the 3rd of March.

Tickets cost $20 (Concession $17) except for the 24th February, which sees a return, by popular demand, of the ‘Fish and Chip Supper’ night at $30.

Noel O’Neill

Tickets are available on-line at TryBooking www.trybooking.com/TPBB. For groups please ring Linda Murray on 0448 779 891.

By arrangement with the author

By: Noel O’Neill Directed by: Caroline McDonnell At The Town Square Theatre

Kalamunda, Here I Come

Sun Wed Thurs Fri Sat 16 17 18* 21 23 24 March 25* 28 2 3 Curtain Up 8:00pm ~ *Matinées 2:00pm Fish and Chip Supper - February 24th February

Tickets: Adults $20.00 Conc $17.00 Fish & Chip Night $30.00 TryBooking www.trybooking.com/TPBB Group Bookings Linda Murray 0448 779 891

Feb 14th to March 3rd. 2018 25

ENTERTAINMENT TOODYAY MUSIC FESTIVAL TAIA SINCLAIR

ollowing the past years success this Fmusic marvellous festival celebrating local and musicians returns in March, on the 24 from 10am until 9pm.

This will be a vibrant exciting day of music from many genres to entice all lovers of music.

Toodyay’s two beautiful parks, Duidgee and Stirling, will each have a stage for bands and many artists to perform on throughout the day. Toodyay’s own St

Stephens Church will be the place to showcase choirs and instrumentals.

There will be a great assortment of food stalls in Stirling Park to attract the hungry and other stalls for perusal and purchase of their wares.

Buskers will abound in the streets performing to shoppers and patrons of cafes alike.

In the evening Toodyays parks will be lit up like never before.

COMMUNITY ALBANY NEXT LOCATION IN PUBLIC SILO TRAIL his March, Form’s Public Silo Trail is Tstories bringing its program of street art and to Albany.

Over the past three years the trail has put regional Western Australia up in lights, bringing world class murals to grain silos, public walls and transformer boxes in country towns across the state.

The project will create a 35 metre high ephemeral artwork across the four western facing silos at CBH Group’s Albany Grain Terminal Ports depot and a series of murals on Western Power transformer boxes throughout the town, as well as facilitating engagement workshops with local youth.

The Public Silo Trail celebrates the natural and industrial assets that make regional Western Australian towns iconic destinations and promotes these communities as vital and vibrant contributors to Australia’s cultural identity.

The Trail has so far created artworks by local and international artists on public walls, CBH Group grain silos and Western Power electrical transformer boxes.

CBH Group General Manager Grower and External Relations Brianna Peake said: “Bringing the silo trail to Albany this year will provide a fitting backdrop and an international drawcard during a significant period of cultural activity in the region.�

Community engagement and the selection of participating artists for the project is currently underway. To find out more, get involved, or stay updated on participating artists, workshops and artwork locations head to www. publicsilotrail.com.

feed your soul in the KIMBERLEY KIMBERLEY WRITER’S WORKSHOP ~ May 2018

 � � �

www.ontheverandah.com.au Phone 0428 254 529

www.facebook.com/ontheverandah 26

ENTERTAINMENT A NIGHT AT THE PALACE OF THE STARS arina McRoberts is a well-known novelist of both fantasy and Kof late historical fiction, in particular the Harker Investigates series Victorian crime, Music Hall and the WA Goldfields, starting

with the first book - The Palace of the Stars, described as ‘no dry collection of facts, but a thrilling panoply of time-travel adventure, mystery, intrigue, humour, horror and romance, flavoured with some Gothic spice. ‘ Each year in the WA country town of York, an event takes place to celebrate the story, both fictional and factual. It is largely a re-creation of the period, but moves through time, offering an ‘All-new exciting living history show, supper, and dance. Magic, mayhem, acrobatics, singers, dancers, and themed actors; plus a live orchestra so you can dance the night away!

The concert/party/evocation takes place in the beautifully restored period jewel that is The York Town Hall on the 10th March.

The line-up of stars for the stupendous show includes multi-award-winning, nationally and internationally-acclaimed actor and comedian Damon Lockwood who will delight you in the role of the inexorably charming Palace Impresario, JT Gordon; the beautiful Ellen Brookes, golden-voiced songster, actor, and dancer extraordinare.

She’ll melt your heart and dazzle your soul.

Music will be provided by the truly fabulous Hills Big Band and Vocalists - 2018’s “Orchestra

of the Stars”. They will rock you.

Check out the event website for more performers and specials: www.palaceofthestars.com.au.

Before the show, which starts promptly at 7:00pm, there will be a display of vintage cars from 6:30pm.

Come early, buy a book for a chance to win a prize and help out a worthy charity. Patrons are requested to wear a period costume from between 1850 and the 1940s - be photographed in style with costumed characters.

Tickets cost $70 for a table seat and $65 for the balcony. The price includes supper and dancing. Book before February 15th and receive a 10% discount on each ticket!

Tickets can obtained on line at TryBooking - www.trybooking. com/book/sessions?eid=339958.

More information can be obtained by emailing the organiser: leela5chelandra@gmail.com

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ENTERTAINMENT KOOKABURRA OUTDOOR CINEMA - JAN/FEB PROGRAM terrific line-up for January from A Kookaburra to start the movie new year off well - literally something for everyone from Art House to Family to the very latest Star Wars episode.

Kookaburra Outdoor Cinema would like to wish all their patrons a Happy New Year and to thank them for all their support over the years.

Goodbye Christopher Robin (PG) UK Director: Simon Curtis Stars: Domhnall Gleeson, Margo Robbie, Kelly MacDonald, Will Tilston Fri 12th and Sat 13th, January After leaving London for the English countryside, writer A.A. Milne starts to spin fanciful yarns about his son’s growing collection of stuffed animals.

These stories form the basis for Winniethe-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, published respectively in 1926 and 1928.

Milne and his family soon become swept up in the instant success of the books, while the enchanting tales bring hope and comfort to the rest of post-war England.

suburban existence is Martin (Barry Keoghan), a fatherless teen who Steven has covertly taken under his wing. As Martin begins insinuating himself into the family’s life in ever-more unsettling displays, the full scope of his intent becomes menacingly clear when he confronts Steven with a longforgotten transgression that will shatter the Murphy family’s domestic bliss.

Lanthimos has crafted a sensational thriller brimming with unsettling humour and creeping dread, steeped in Greek tragedy, Hitchcockian psychodrama, and riveting suspense. Darting confidently between genres to subvert our expectations at every turn, The Killing of a Sacred Deer firmly cements Lanthimos in the pantheon of world-class auteurs and marks him as a cinematic provocateur without precedent.

The Disaster Artist [M] (US) Director: James Franco Stars: Ari Graynor, Dave Franco, Jacki Weaver, James Franco, Josh Hutcherson, Seth Rogen, Zac Efron Fri 19th, Sat 20th January Based on Greg Sestero’s non-fiction The Killing of a Sacred Deer [MA15+] book of the same name, the film depicts (Ireland/UK/US) the early friendship of Sestero and Tommy Director: Yorgos Lanthimos Wiseau, the filmmaker behind the 2003 cult Stars: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Sunny film The Room, described by many critics as Suljic, Raffey Cassidy, Barry Keoghan “one of the worst movies ever made”, and Sun 14th January only the making of the film itself.

Dr. Steven Murphy (Colin Farrell) is a renowned cardio-vascular surgeon The Teacher [M] (Slovakia/Czech Republic presiding over a spotless household with [Subtitled]) his ophthalmologist wife Anna (Nicole Director: Jan Hřebejk Kidman) and their two exemplary children, Stars: Zuzana Mauréry, Peter Bebjak, 12-year-old Bob (Sunny Suljic) and 14-year- Zuzana Konečná, Csongor Kassai old Kim (Raffey Cassidy).

Sun 21st January Lurking at the margins of his idyllic A wildly entertaining black comedy 28

inspired by the true story of a Communistera school teacher who manipulated her pupils and their families for unprecedented personal gain. The Teacher delivers a timeless and universal story of opportunism, bias and human dignity.

Laced with wicked humour and standout performances, this rousing morality tale employs a delicate touch to skewer not only the complications of communism, but the human characteristics that ensure it never quite works out as expected.

Ferdinand [G] (US) Director: Carlos Saldanha Stars: The voices of John Cena, Kate McKinnon, Bobby Cannavale Tue 23rd January

After Ferdinand, a bull with a big heart, is mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home.

Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure.

Coco [G] (US) Director: Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina Stars: Anthony Gonzalez, Benjamin Bratt, Gael García Bernal Thu 25th January Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt).

Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colourful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events.

Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

Star Wars - The Last Jedi [M] (US) Director: Rian Johnson Stars: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson Fri 26th, Sat 27th, Sun 28th January The Skywalker saga continues as the heroes of The Force Awakens join the galactic legends in an epic adventure that unlocks age-old mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past

the imagined utopia of Disney World, The Florida Project follows six-year-old Moonee and her rebellious mother Halley over the course of a single summer. The two live week to week at “The Magic Castle,” a budget hotel managed by Bobby, whose stern exterior hides a deep reservoir of kindness and compassion.

Despite her harsh surroundings, the precocious and ebullient Moonee has no trouble making each day a celebration of life, her endless afternoons overflowing with mischief and grand adventure as she and her ragtag playmates—including

Paddington 2 [G] (UK) Director: Paul King Stars: Hugh Grant the voice of Ben Whishaw, Brendon Gleeson, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins Fri 2nd February Settled in with the Brown family, Paddington the bear is a popular member of the community who spreads joy and marmalade wherever he goes. One fine day, he spots a pop-up book in an antique shop -- the perfect present for his beloved aunt’s 100th birthday.

When a thief steals the prized book, Paddington embarks on an epic quest to unmask the culprit before Aunt Lucy’s big celebration.

The Florida Project [MA15+] (US) Director: Sean Baker Stars: Willem Defoe, Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, Valeria Cotto, Christopher Rivera Sat 3rd February Warm, winning, and gloriously alive, Sean Baker’s The Florida Project is a deeply moving and unforgettably poignant look at childhood.

Set on a stretch of highway just outside 29

DOUGLAS’ WINERIES AND DINERIES

These are the restaurants and eateries, casual and formal, and wineries that I personally reccommend and eat at for pleasure.

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DINING OUT

The Thoughts of an Ageing, Balding Foodie FLEURS D’ORLARGES

DOUGLAS SUTHERLAND-BRUCE deep in the coutryside of southern SsmalletFrance, in the Lanuedoc region lies the Medieval village of Olarges, rated as

one of the most beutiful in France.

Originally a Roman settlement, it has been owned by the Vandals, the Visigoths and by the end of the 11th century, the Viscount of Minerve.

It has two massive points of interest for the food-mined traveller - the Pont du Diable (the Devil’s Bridge), an eleventh century bridge and an amazing restaurant called the Fleurs d’Olargues, run by a Danish matriarch, her son and his wife and set on the the most glorious terraced riverside.

During our recent holiday we took luncheon there on a warm, sunny day with the old stone walls of the town, many a thousand years old, picked out in clear, vivid relief.

Our table was outside, under shady vines with the tinkling ripple of the river in the background.

The meal was a three course table d’hote at a cost of 24 euros each (A$ 36) consisting of a velouté of spinach and parsnip with local olive oil and white asparagus - alsolutely heavenly.

We mixed and matched this with orders off the a la carté menu - my main was a delicious filet mignon stuffed with apricots.

Dessert was ‘Mousse au citron, et coulis d’orange, servis avec un biscuit danois’, or Citrus mousse and a coulis of orange served with Danish biscuits - as good as it sounds.

The whole meal was beautifully presented, served with charm and speed and entirely delicious.

I used my entire Danish language store as we left: Tak tak, I said (thank you very much) then reverting to English ‘for one of the more memorable meals of my life.’

The restaurant is now closed for winter, re-opening early in the European spring 2018 - if at all possible, do visit.

Very Highly Recommended Indeed.

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ENTERTAINMENT Jancey, a new arrival to the area who quickly becomes Moon’s best friend— fearlessly explore the utterly unique world into which they’ve been thrown.

Unbeknownst to Moonee, however, her delicate fantasy is supported by the toil and sacrifice of Halley, who is forced to explore

clam house; Humpty (Jim Belushi), Ginny’s rough-hewn carousel operator husband; Mickey (Justin Timberlake), a handsome young lifeguard who dreams of becoming a playwright; and Carolina (Juno Temple), Humpty’s long-estranged daughter, who is now hiding out from gangsters at her father’s apartment. Wonder Wheel is a powerful dramatic tale of passion, violence, and betrayal that plays out against the picturesque tableau of 1950s Coney Island.

2018 ROOFTOP MOVIES ake your new yea’s entertainment to the Tprogram next level with Rooftop Movies’ second for the season!

Program 2 has kicked off and what better way to unwind from the silly season than with a relaxed evening at Perth’s only outdoor cinema perched six-stories above the city’s hustle and bustle.

Running to Sunday 28 January, Program 2 of 4 is guaranteed to satisfy all film-loving taste buds. It features some of Lucky [MA15+] (US) this year’s most anticipated blockbusters Directory: John Carroll Lynch such as Justice League and Star Wars: The Stars: Harry Dean Stanton, David Lynch, Last Jedi, 90’s favorites such as Matilda and Ron Livingston, Tom Skerritt, Ed Begley Jr. Muriel’s Wedding, classics such as Back To Fri 9th February The Future, plus The Disaster Artist, James A 90-year-old atheist has outlived and Franco’s breakaway hit about the cultout-smoked his contemporaries, and as he followed film The Room. comes to terms with his own mortality, he searches for ever-elusive enlightenment.

Downsizing [M] (US) Director: Alexander Payne Stars: Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, Laura Dern, Jason Sudeikis, Alec Baldwin, Neil Patrick Harris Sat 10th, Sun 11th February When scientists discover how to shrink humans to five inches tall as a solution increasingly dangerous possibilities in to over-population, Paul and his wife Audrey decide to abandon their stressed order to provide for her daughter. lives in order to get small and move to a new downsized community--a choice that Wonder Wheel [PG] (US) triggers life-changing adventures.

Director: Woody Allen Stars: Kate Winslet, Justin Timberlake, Juno Temple Sun 4th February Wonder Wheel tells the story of four characters whose lives intertwine amid the hustle and bustle of the Coney Island amusement park in the 1950s; Ginny (Kate Winslet), an emotionally volatile former actress now working as a waitress in a

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Rooftop Movies is presented by Fringe World Festival, and Marketing Director Jo Hos says it’s the perfect time of year to soak up the warm and balmy Summer evenings of Perth, whilst enjoying all that Rooftop Movies has to offer.

“January is when summer in Perth is at its peak and the best time to get out and enjoy awesome entertainment. Whether you’re looking for a mid-week pick-me-up, the perfect date night or some weekend fun with mates, there’s nothing better than enjoying a balmy summer evening with a cold brew in hand, a spectacular city sunset to unwind and an awesome flick.”

ENTERTAINMENT BEST OF TV AND FILM IN 2017 CHRIS MCRAE

time of year when awards season Iatt’sis theinthatfullfilms swing and we take a look back and television shows which

shaped the year, along with those in the film industry who moulded them into modern masterpieces.

With the Golden Globes and Academy Awards fast approaching, here are some of the film and television highlights from 2017 and a summary of a fantastic year for both the small and silver screens.

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2017 1. DUNKIRK Director: Christopher Nolan Starring: Fionn Whitehead, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh and Tom Hardy Taking top spot is the masterpiece that is Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk. The master of paralell storylines is at his cinematic best with a stunningly shot and beautifully executed piece of cinema which combines the harrowing realism of one of history’s most important stories with the humanistic heroics of those who fought on the land, in the air and at sea.

Bold, beautful and one of the great modern war movies of our time.

Defining Moment: The spectacular aerial dogfights.

3. LOGAN Director: James Mangold Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen and Boyd Holbrook Jackman dons the claws one final time for what is potentially the most brutal and brilliant ‘superhero’ film put to celluloid.

Old Man Logan is channelled as Hugh rips and shreds his way through the bitterness of Logan’s ageing body and Wolverine persona. This character driven piece is a fitting send off for a brilliant franchise and a tribute to Jackman’s commitment to the role over seventeen years!

Defining Moment: X23 is born.

4. PADDINGTON 2 Director: Paul King Starring: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Hugh Grant, Brendan Gleeson and Peter Capaldi Sweet, charming and endearing only begin to describe the charm of this absolute gem about the adventures and misadventures of the little bear from darkest Peru. Everything a good family film should be with some of the cream of British acting and a spirit that will warm the hearts 2. THE GREATEST SHOWMAN of young, old and even bears.

Director: Michael Gracey Defining Moment: Paddington’s daring train Starring: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, chase with the assistance of the Brown’s.

Zendaya, Michelle Williams, Keala Settle and Rebecca Ferguson 5. THOR: RAGNAROK Roll up, roll up for a cinematic experience Director: Taika Waititi that is colourful, uplifting and a joyous Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, celebration of all that is unique and special. Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba and Jeff Goldblum Hugh Jackman’s trademark charisma and We all knew this was going to be good song and dance skills drive this spectacular but oh boy, what arrived was unexpected movie musical with brilliant support from and slick! Director Taika Watiti breathed Zac Efron, Zendaya, Michelle Williams and an amazing sense of colour, fun and a talented ensemble cast. Toe-tappingly scintilating humour to the franchise, with special and a great show indeed!

Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston at Defining Moment: Jackman and Efron play their heroic best as Thor and Loki. master and apprentice in a slick bar room Wildly colourful and a dazzling spectacle! duet.

Defining Moment: The final bridge battle.

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6. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 2 Director: James Gunn Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel Riding the giddy success of the first instalment, the second Guardians of the Galaxy is just as good, if not better than the original with the colourful characters (and the cute as ever Groot) combining with the intergalactic setting and rollicking soundtrack to create yet another smash hit!

Defining Moment: Groot’s boogie time opening sequence.

7. KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE Director: Matthew Vaughn Starring: Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Colin Firth, Channing Tatum and Julianne Moore The surprise hit of 2014 gets a worthy sequel with even more ultra violence, chaos and quintesential British charm than the original. Introducing even more colourful, crazy and often sadistic characters to the insanity, The Golden Circle grabs you, shakes you around and doesn’t let go!

Defining Moment: Mountaintop cable cars come tumbling down.

8. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Director: Bill Condon Starring: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellan, Kevin Kline and Emma Thompson With the animated original regarded as one of the best animated films of all time, this live action adaptation had a lot to live up to. With an all star cast, Bill Condon at the helm and brand new original songs to compliment the classics from the original, this was something truly special.

It beautifully captured the magical essence of the story whilst bringing it to a new generation in a dazzling manner.

Defining Moment: The magical first dance.

Just like the original if not better!

9. THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS Director: Bharat Nalluri Starring: Dan Stevens, Christopher Plummer, Johnathan Pryce, Miriam Margoyles and Morfydd Clark Flying largely under the radar, this exquisite looking film cleverly combines the magical story of A Christmas Carol with the tale of its creation as Dan Stevens’ Charles Dickens faces hardships and even the spirits of his own characters on the road to creating a masterpiece. Truly warms the heart and chock full of Christmas cheer.

Defining Moment: Dickens faces his childhood demons at the workhouse and a classic is born.

10. MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS Director: Kenneth Branagh Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Johnny Depp, Judi Dench, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Josh Gad, Penelope Cruz and Willem Dafoe The latest Christie adaptation puts Kenneth Branagh at the helm and sees him donning the famous moustache of Hercule Poirot. Largely disregarded by critics, this is a handsome looking film with a talented cast and plenty of twists and turns, complimented by an atmospheric soundtrack. Top notch filmmaking.

Defining Moment: Poirot creates a line up and solves the final puzzle.

TOP 10 TELEVISION SHOWS OF 2017 1. GAME OF THRONES (HBO) Creators: David Benioff and D.BWeiss Starring: Lena Headey, Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage, Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj CosterWaldau, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams The HBO juggernaut continued with it’s hotly anticipated seventh season and it didn’t disappoint. With the effects and characters developing and the plotlines becoming even more thrillling (if that was even possible), this was television at it’s very best and a testament to why the small screen is beginning to rival the big screen in terms of quality and content. The Army of the Dead are here, as is Winter and I for one can’t wait to see what Season 8 brings!

Defining Moment: Dragons meet the Wall!

2. STRANGER THINGS (Netflix) Creators: Matt and Ross Duffer Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Materazzo, Caleb McLaughlin and Noah Schnapp One of the most unique and gripping shows of the last couple of years returned for Season 2 and threw viewers right back into the retro eighties feel of Hawkins, Indiana.

A return to the upside down was also on the cards as this gem blended eighties style with science fiction thrills in a seamless manner.

The predominantly youthful cast were brilliant as always as were the excellent adult cast members. Thrilling, terrifying and one of the best of the year!

Defining Moment: Steve and Billy face off in a brutal showdown.

3. DOCTOR WHO (BBC) Creator: Sydney Newman Starring: Peter Capaldi, Pearl Mackie, Matt Lucas, Michelle Gomez and David Bradley With sonic sunglasses and guitar in tow, Peter Capaldi’s twelth doctor returned to battle supernatural and extra terrestrial forces one more time in his farewell season.

Bringing a frenetic ‘rockstar’ quality to the famous character, Capaldi’s take on the timelord will be missed but has paved the way for a bit of history with Jodie Whittaker set to take the reigns as the series’ first female doctor. Geronimo, Allons-y and bring it on!

Defining Moment: Doctor, I let you go. An emotional regeneration.

6. THE CROWN (Sony/Netflix) Creator: Peter Morgan Starring: Claire Foy, Matt Smith and Victoria Hamilton With the first season an award winning success, Claire Foy and Matt Smith reprise their roles of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip as the ‘semi-fictionlised’ history of the monarchy is explored throughout the 1950’s. The relationship between Elizabeth and Phillip are delved into as is the connection between the Monarchy and the people as key moments from 20th 4. SHERLOCK (BBC) Century history act as narrative drivers in Creators: Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat this perfectly pitched drama.

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Defining Moment: Scandal rocks the royals Freeman, Amanda Abbington, Mark Gatiss and Una Stubbs 7. FULLER HOUSE (Netflix) After what seemed like an eternal wait, Creator: Jeff Franklin the game was afoot once again as Sherlock Starring: Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie and Watson returned for their fourth Sweetin, Andrea Barber, Juan Pablo di Pace, outing. The three episodes were some of the Scott Weinger and John Brotherton strongest of the series thus far with episode It is the era of nostalgia with plenty of three The Final Problem proving to be a reboots and re-imagining in the world of psychological thrill ride that was impossible film and television. In the 1980’s, viewers to turn away from. Here’s hoping for a return fell in love with the Tanner family in ‘Full by the dynamic duo, but if this season did House’. Now, a third season of the series prove to be the end, what a way to go out! which re-visits the charm of that same full Defining Moment: The incredible final house has been released. With more hijinks psychological game! from DJ’s two boys as well as an adventure into Kimmy’s childhood home, this season is 5. A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS fun, colourful and brings back all the charm (Netflix) of the original with more to boot.

Creator: Daniel Handler aka Lemony Snicket Defining Moment: The final musical moment Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton, Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes, 8. THE GRAND TOUR (Amazon) K. Todd Freeman and Presley Smith Starring: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard After 2004’s ill fated Jim Carrey driven Hammond and James May film adaptation, Netflix and Neil Patrick Bringing back the sheanigans and Harris took the reigns for this dark take on larrakin charm which brought about 22 Lemony’s Snicket’s dreary series. What they hugely successful seasons of Top Gear, produce is creative, quirky and very clever hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond with Patrick Harris encapsulating the slimy and James May crash and bash their way nature of the multi-persona Count Olaf across the globe, finding every possible perfectly. With a second and third season brand of car, lorrie, helicopter and every alread ordered, this is set to continue to be a other mode of transport inbetween. Highly fantastic adaptation that will delight young entertaining, supremely funny and not just and old. for car enthusiasts.

Defining Moment: Neil Patrick Harris’ Defining Moment: Clarkson, Hammond and colourful and outrageous transformations May attempt Operation Desert Stumble 34

9. BROOKLYN NINE NINE (NBC/Fox) Creators: Daniel J. Goor and Michael Schur Starring: Andy Samberg, Melissa Fumero, Terry Crewes, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Lo Truglio, Chelsea Peretti and Andre Braugher The Nine Nine is back! Jake Peralta and the loveable gang from the ninety ninth precinct are back to their old tricks.

With Peralta and Captain Holt starting the season in witness protection and the fourth instalment in the ever entertaining Halloween heist, Brooklyn Nine Nine hits the funny bone with every joke and is getting better and better!

Defining Moment: Halloween heist IV 10. JACK WHITEHALL: TRAVELS WITH MY FATHER (Netflix) Starring: Jack Whitehall and Michael Whitehall Flying under the radar, this little known Netflix series is not to be missed. Awkward British comedian Jack Whitehall (of Bad Education and Fresh Meat fame) decides to take a delayed ‘Gap Year’ and spend several weeks in Asia. The catch, he decides to take his stuffy father Michael along for the ride.

What results is a hilarious mis-match of holiday shenanigans with Jack leaping into new experiences and Michael taking the educated upper class approach to holidaying. Great Bristish comedy!

Defining Moment: Jack and Michael come face to face with Steven Seagal 2017 FILM AND TELEVISION MVP’S NETFLIX - The streaming juggernaut takes Television’s top crown for 2017. With digital content paving the way for the future of television, Netflix is certainly making the most of their popularity with over fifty million subscribers in the US and an estimated 7.6 million in Australia.

With the subscription service now developing their own original content and the success of titles such as Stranger Things, The Crown, Fuller House and Riverdale there is no evidence of the service slowing down and 2018 is set to be even bigger!

HUGH JACKMAN - Australia’s favourite song and dance man and all round nice guy Hugh Jackman was a busy man in 2017, fronting two of the year’s biggest films in Logan and The Greatest Showman. Both were major box office and critical successes.

Logan marked Jackman’s ninth outing as the clawed superhero and seventeen years of playing the role whereas The Greatest Showman saw him return to his musical roots, playing the inventor of the modern circus ‘PT Barnum’. The latter also allowed him to appear in the world’s first ever

live movie commercial which aired during style and without fuss and are always very NBC’s broadcast of A Christmas Story Live. entertaining to watch. He is set to reprise his role as Poirot in the next instalment EMMA WATSON - Starring in the year’s Death on the Nile which is currently in biggest box office success Beauty and the development.

Beast as well as alongside Tom Hanks in the more limited released The Circle, Emma DAN STEVENS - One of 2017’s breakout Watson is certainly developing a wide and stars was Dan Stevens. Best known for varied filmography. Not only is she gracing his role as Matthew Crawley in Downton the silver screen with both her acting and Abbey, Stevens appeared opposite Emma singing abilities, she has proven a powerful Watson as the Beast in Beauty and the figure in social and political arenas with Beast, donning a motion capture suit and her ‘He For She’ campaign assisting in the releasing a stunning singing voice for the advancement and empowerment of women role. This was accompanied by a largely as well as acting as a UN Women Global ‘under the radar’ role as Charles Dickens Goodwill Ambassador. Not only a talented in the beutifully crafted The Man Who young actress but a remarkable young Invented Christmas. Stevens has also been woman. busy on the small screen and will continue his work on the series Legion into 2018. He CHRISTOPHER NOLAN - The master of is one to watch for sure. cerebral, non linear storytelling took on possibly his most ambitious task yet, TAIKA WAITITI - Hailing from New telling a story based on true events and Zealand, director Taika Waititi captured one of history’s most important chapters. attention with sleeper hits What We Do The experiences of WWII soldiers at In The Shadows (2014) and Hunt for the Dunkirk ended up being the perfect fit for Wilderpeople (2016). His quirky, dry Christopher Nolan. His trademark hands- humour style may not have seemed the on approach allowed both the actors and right fit for a Marvel juggernaut, however audiences to get up close and personal with he was inserted as director for 2017’s Thor: the experiences of soldiers and support Ragnarok. What a stroke of genius it proved personnel from the land, sea and air. to be with one of Marvel’s best films to date.

Only Nolan could then add a storytelling Waititi brought style, colour and his well element of three paralell experiences being timed, quirky humour to the film which was told simultanously across three separate the best fun to hit the cinema this year. timelines. It was a filmmaking masterclass and one which should gain some much DAISY RIDLEY - Appearing on billboards needed attention for the director come worldwide is now part of everyday life for awards season.

Daisy Ridley who this year starred in both the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Last KENNETH BRANAGH - One of Britain’s most Jedi and Murder on the Orient Express. She esteemed film and theatre actor’s Kenneth brought her acting strengths to both films Branagh was a name that appeared on and her character of Rey in Star Wars is now billboards and fim screens many times one of the modern franchise’s most popular. throughout 2017. A powerful performance With appearances in Ophelia, Peter Rabbit as Commander Bolton in Christopher and Star Wars Episode IX on the horizon, Nolan’s Dunkirk was followed up by a Ridley is hot property at the moment and directorial and acting turn as the world’s is set to continue to wow audiences in 2018 most famous detective with the world’s and beyond coolest moustache Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express. Branagh’s BENJ PASEK AND JUSTIN PAUL - Being thrust directing and acting style are executed with into the spotlight at last year’s Academy Awards for their lyric work on 2016 smash La La Land, CHRIS MCRAE musical dream team Benj We welcome Chris McRae as a regular Pasek and Justin Paul this columnist to the Swan Magazine as a year branched out on their own and produced some of commentator and critic on film Chris describes himself as ‘a self the year’s best music. After confessed film, music and TV geek’ and he the success of their Tony has always enjoyed anything to do with winning Broadway show Dear Evan Hansen, they popular culture.

As a writer, he enjoys compiling film returned to the world of and TV reviews as well as content on film and television, penning sport (most notably ice hockey) and other original songs for the NBC Live Musical A Christmas entertainment topics.

Chris works as the Learning Area Story along with The Greatest Coordinator for the Arts at Holy Cross Showman for which they College in Ellenbrook, plays ice hockey, have been Golden Globe has directed numerous theatre shows and nominated. A young musical enjoys sharing his opinions on Film, TV and duo with plenty of talent and a bright future!

Music with the local community!

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JAMES FORTE

TURNING POINTS OF HISTORY Luna Cinema Darkest Hour e are all fascinated by the question: W “What if?” Viewing the great turning points of history and considering if – by the

narrowest of margins - a decision had gone the other way.

What if the Royal Navy had won the Battle of Chesapeake against the French, supplied Cornwallis at Yorktown and the American Revolution had failed?

What if the Royal Navy had lost the Battle of Trafalgar and Napoleon had invaded Britain?

One of the great turning points occurred on the 28th May 1940. It was the culmination of a titanic battle between Churchill, the new Prime Minister, and Halifax supported by the old Prime Minister.

With the fall of France imminent, Halifax wanted to beg Hitler for peace, Churchill wanted to fight on despite the likelihood of invasion. With Britain out of the war, Hitler and Mussolini would have been free to invade Africa and Russia without having to fight on two fronts.

Within living memory of our senior citizens, that era continues to fascinate and generate important books and films - such as Dunkirk, Their Finest, Churchill (see the reviews in the June and July issues of this magazine), even Goodbye Christopher Robin and now Darkest Hour.

This is not a war film in the sense of soldiers clashing on the battlefield.

Here the result is fought out in the cabinet room and on the floor of the House of Commons.

Director Joe Wright has pushed Gary Oldman - as Churchill, the workaholic and alcoholic - into a magnificent portrayal.

He captures the private self-doubt (in moments with his wife, Clementine) and the public swagger.

This is Oldman’s best performance since Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and has gained him an Oscar nomination for best actor.

The supporting roles are well cast too: Ben Mendelsohn as King George VI, Ronald Pickup as Neville Chamberlain, Stephen Dillane as Halifax, Kristin Scott Thomas as Clementine, Lily James as Churchill’s secretary.

Particularly powerful are a series of long streetscapes as Churchill gazes from his car window at ordinary Londoners, those who will soon be suffering the blitz as a direct result of his policies.

Joe Wright’s previous film Atonement had similar tracking shots and featured the same period of the Dunkirk evacuation.

As with my viewing of Churchill, I was particularly on the lookout for

anachronisms. If the reader will pardon my self-indulgence, I noted (you can see it in the trailer) Churchill using a C-47 Dakota to fly to Paris on May 16th, an aircraft the RAF was not to get for another two years. In fact he flew in a DH-95 Flamingo of 24 Squadron from Hendon to Le Bourget. Not many people know that.

A second issue concerns the closing conversation between Halifax and Chamberlain, which uses a quotation not made for another fourteen years. But these are nitpicking. They do not change the story in any way and are appropriate and effective artistic decisions.

So should you see this film? Yes – if for no other reason than seeing what leadership is really all about. How one person, with strong moral courage as well as a huge belief in their own greatness, can change history.

As Wellington said after Waterloo: “It has been a damned close run thing - the nearest run thing you ever saw in your life.”

Five stars.

Darkest Hour opens at Luna Cinemas on January 11th.

Gary Oldman - with and wothout make-up as Churchill 36

ENTERTAINMENT PERTH FRINGE WORLD 2018 - WHAT’S ON DOUGLAS SUTHERLAND-BRUCE

Show: The Beast and the Bride Venue: Blue Room Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge Dates: 6th to 17th February Tickets: $26 You would have had to be living on Mars these past few years not to be familiar with the old German folk fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast.

The tale, originally horrifyingly Grimm, now Disneyfied, is the story of a young, naive pretty girl looking rather like Hermione Grainger, who trades herself into the service of a prince, enchanted into a rough beast ... etc etc...

New theatre company Bow and Dagger have now armed themselves with a rather more modern approach to the tale, renaming it The Beast and The Bride and turning it into a bride in Victorian times waiting for her (un-named) groom.

To while away the time she chats to the audience about 'beauties and beasts, bluebeards and blood; erotic, horrifying, and empowering'.

The one-woman show is written and performed by Clare Testoni and directed by Finn O'Branagain.

The stories are told in a mixture of 'shadow puppetry, storytelling, and feminism'.

Testoni says: "Beauty and The Beast has always been my favourite story,along with the other tales that feature animal bridegrooms, but as I've gotten older I've really wondered why I love such a problematic tale, and why I find it so romantic.

"I wanted to take the tales and place them in their original context, to highlight the reasons these stories were told. I wonder if we keep telling these stories without changing them what we are saying about ourselves?" ~oOo~

Show: Josephine!

Venue: Blue Room Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge Dates: 6th to 17th February Tickets: $20 ~ $27 Author Kailash Satyarthi said: “Childhood means simplicity. Look at the world with the child’s eye - it is very beautiful.”

This is by no means the only view local Perth playwright Scott McArdell has remarked: “Childhood is a trial by fire that some kids come unscathed out of and some come away with lifelong trauma.”

McArdell’s play Josephine! explores this theme at the first of the Blue Room’s Summer Nights programme as part of the Perth Fringe World.

McArdell goes on to say “How (children) deal with that is a beautiful, sad, triumphant process and I don’t think they get enough credit for their strength.

Josephine! is a journey through those stages of childhood grief, filled with misadventures, life lessons, songs and the worst part of all – growing up.”

Josephine! is a musical for the young and young at heart, telling the story of a young girl, Josie, living on her own in an abandoned apartment building where she meets William who plays the chello while she sings.

Then William goes missing and Josie must go looking for him ...

Josephine! is a production from Second Chance Theatre, who also produced Laika: A Staged Radio Play which won both the Judge’s Award and Member’s Choice in 2017’s Fringe World. ~oOo~ Show: The Wind in the Underground Venue: Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre, 174 William Street, Northbridge Dates: 27th January to 4th February Tickets: $26 ~ $29 New Ghosts is a local Perth theatre company that has met with considerable success over east and has now returned home to present a new production The Wind in the Underground for the Perth Fringe World 2018.

The plot is described as “The world traveller returns to the front gate of the family home. Times change and memories 37

fade. Four siblings return to their roots and are faced with the decision of whether to sell their father’s house, their home; childhood dynamics and memories reemerge, and the complexities of family bonds are exposed and examined in this heart-warming and compelling story. “ Written by local playwright Sam O’Sullivan, directed by Lucy Clements and starring Bishanyia Vincent, Whitney Richards, Michael Abercromby and Rowan Davie.

There is one show on the 4th February at the Don Russell Performing Arts Centre at 5:30pm at $26. ~oOo~ Show: Anyman Venue: Maali Mia Theatre, 381 Great Northern Highway, Middle Swan Dates: 6th to 16th February Tickets: $25 Peter Lyndon-James is a former ward of the state, a former career criminal and prison inmate, who in 2001 changed his life completely around.

In 2012 he founded Shalom House and began to help men who feel trapped by circumstances and have addictions to drugs. He is also a City of Swan councillor and the author of Tough Love: Tackling Drug Addiction and Seeing Change, published in 2017.

This book is the basis for a new theatrical experience between Shalom House and the Fenceline Theatre Company (Swan Christian College’s theatre company).

Directed by Jane, a drama teacher from Swan Christian College, and featuring residents from Shalom House Anyman is the story of addiction from men in rehabilitation.

To deal with addiction you need to understand the drug, to treat the addict.

Methamphetamines is substituting relationships with deceit, ruining jobs and creating homelessness.

~oOo~

Show: Club Swizzle Venue: The Ice Cream Factory, 100 Roe Street, Northbridge Dates: 27th January to 25th February Tickets: $26 Any patron of last year’s sell-out Perth Fringe World cannot fail to recall La Soiree, that fabulous cocktail of circus, burlesque and cabaret.

La Soiree was formed in 2004 and while the show continues on its glittering way a few years ago the same team that came up with the concept began working on a sister show and began actively looking for innovative, colourful and eclectic performers - the result is Club Swizzle.

The new show has been described as ‘a night of sassy entertainment where the mayhem gets kicked up a notch. The cheekiest souls in showbiz gather on, in and around the bar where legends are made and good times abound. It’s a melee of outrageous cabaret, air-defying acrobatics and infectious musical revelry, backed by a band with a repertoire as big as its bar tab.’

Given a build-up like that it’s hard to see how one could resist. The Club is licensed so you can have a drink before the show - doors open 30 minutes before the show starts.

Club Swizzle leaves shortly after to go on an international tour.

The venue is for 18 year old patrons and over. ~oOo~

member of a dance troupe on Elcho Island called the Chooky Dancers and he wanted to honour a Greek lady, lilane who cared for his sister Priscilla, so he choreographed a dance to the tune by Mikis Theodorakis, Zorba the Greek.

The dance was filmed by his father, Frank Djirrimbilpilwuy, who uploaded it to YouTube, where it became a sensation. it has, by today’s count, been viewed 2,796,690 times - that’s nearly three million times.

If you’d like to see the clip, it can be seen on YouTube as Zorba the Aboriginal.

The dance was so joyous, so lifeenhancing, so delightful and so wellreceived that they performed it on Australia’s Got Talent and formed a touring company that played to sell-out crowds and standing ovations from China to the Solomon Islands; Tel Aviv, Cairo and Cyprus.

And now, having changed their name into their indigenous name Djuli Mala (Djuki means ‘chooky’ and Mala means ‘group’) they’re coming to Perth for the Fringe from North East Arnham Land.

Djuki Mala describe the show as ‘a joyous celebration 40,0000 years in the making’ describing how the group was formed, its ethos and lots of dance - comic and charming, dramatic and dynamic. ~oOo~

Sean Crofton, Patrick McCarthy and Isaac “Spike” Powell.

Author and director Ana Neves: “This genderbender of the characters aims to highlight how in today’s world, an issue that is important and very personal is still generally handled and controlled by people who will never have to consider their personal health when it comes to these issues. “Because Men are the only ones with the right to talk about Women’s bodies.”

Soup is courageous satire, pure and simple, with all the risks and pitfalls that await pure satire, walking a fine line between revelation and travesty. ~oOo~

Show: Soup Venue: Supper Room, Perth Town Hall, 601 Hay Street, Perth Dates: 30th January to 4th February Show: Future’s Eve Tickets: $21 to $26 Venue: The Common Room, Paper Mountain, 267 William Street, Northbridge Dates: 5th February to 11th February Tickets: $20 What role are sex-bots going to play in our future?

A one-person show is always an exercise in courage and fear. You are alone on the stage, just you and the audience, who are highly attuned to your feelings - feelings of inadequacy, insecurity and trepidation communicate themselves as quickly as whatever you may be intending to let them see.

So it’s a brave performer who steps out on a stage, unsupported and unaided except by her trusty Roomba. Michelle Aitken is such a performer. A recent graduate from WAAPA she has put together Sexual abuse, overt and covert, an experimental performance piece secretive and manipulative is much in the examining the role of women in ‘retro sci-fi news these days and we men are gradually and cutting edge AI’. being shown what it is like to be a woman in Her event, called Future’s Eve, is on at a predatory world. this year’s Perth Fringe World.

Soup, by new theatre company Deadly Michelle Aitken: “I’m interested in Entertainment is a play that explores this looking at the world through the lens of divisive and sensitive issue for the Perth female experience and asking why are Show: Djuki Mala Fringe World.

Venue: The Pleasure Garden, James Protagonist Chelsea and her older sister Street, Northbridge Lisa, her sister-in-law Jess, and roommate Dates: 1st to 25th February Kim explore the convoluted and confused Tickets: Various world of relationships as Chelsea reveals Djuki Mala return to Perth following a her innermost secrets. sell-out Edinburgh Fringe season.

In a stunning twist all female roles are In 2007 Lionel Dulmanawuy was a played by men - Maximillian Strzelecki, 38

things the way they are, and, how can I make a case for change, I believe that the future is political.”

Even one-person shows don’t come from one person and the creative team here consists of Michell Aitken, designer: Olivia Tartaglia, composer: Azariah Felton and dramaturg: Andrew Sutherland. ~oOo~

childhood ambition.

But on the brink of a law career he changed track into comedy - now a writer for Channel 10’s The Project. He also went into performance on television (SBS’s RAW Comedy, WTV’s The Leak and The Laugh Factory’s Funniest Person in the World Competition and radio ( ABC’s Comedy Bites and Triple J’s Good Az Friday.)

Earlier this year, his show Jew-ish went Show: The Ghosts of Fremantle on to riotous applause at the Adelaide Venue: Fremantle Prison, 1 The Terrace, Fringe. The title refers to an answer Fremantle Johnathan Miller gave when asked if he Dates: 24th February was a Jew, to which he replied “My father is, Tickets: $20 my mother wasn’t, so I suppose I’m sort of Fremantle Prison is a building with dark Jew-ish.”

Shafar is culturally Jewish and draws on the long history of Jewish humour in the face of adversity to cope.

Michael is now back in Perth to serve up Kosher Bacon at the Perth Fringe World; described as ‘a show about things that make no sense, like marriage, God and barmitzvah DJs.’ Tickets for all these shows can be booked on the FringeWorld website: www. fringeworld.com.au

and forbidding past, redolent with ghosts and misery.

So no better place could be found to host the Perth Fringe World’s The Ghosts of Fremantle, a mixed media, multimedia show of live music, light and sound presented by Genrefonix, ‘a Perth based arts/music collective that combines cutting edge sound engineering and filmmaking techniques to create unique live events.’

The show is described as “a visual feast told through story, black humour and haunting soundscapes narrated by WA’s most famous bushranger Moondyne Joe, a former inmate as he takes the crowd on a journey through Fremantle’s dark past.”

It features musicians from WAAPA jazz graduates and local Perth Rockers. ~oOo~ Show: Kosher Bacon Venue: The Palace Society at Globe Palace, 495 Wellington Street, Perth Dates: 27th January to 4th February Tickets: $20 to $25 Michael Shafar took the long way round to arrive at the gig as a comedy writer and stand-up comic. He grew up in Caulfield, went to Mount Scopus College and Monash University where he studied law, fulfilling a

39

FINANCE HARPOON - REVIEW STEVE BLIZARD

Israel’s Secret War to destroy Terrorism’s “You see that the current organizations “Israel saw what others did not see: that Financiers are evolving, thinking of new strategies, money is the source for terrorism, and if new ways to fight the West; we have to you can stop the flow of the money, you can A recently released book, Harpoon: fight back in similar ways — we have to stop the flow of the terrorism,” she said.

Inside the Covert War Against Terrorism's think out of the box,” says author Darshan- And it wasn’t long before the Israeli Money Masters by Israeli lawyer, Nitsana Leitner who is president of Shurat HaDin, a agents were knocking on the doors of U.S. Darshan-Leitner, and Samuel Katz, makes Tel Aviv-based law center that represents intelligence establishment to inform its for captivating reading. families of terrorist victims. experts of terrorist finance networks that Their fascinating account describes According to Darshan-Leitner, the are based in the United States. behind-the-scenes operations Amongst the culprits was carried out since September a network of charities run 11, 2001 by a range of Israeli by the Middle Easternsecurity organizations and based terror group, private lawyers have set out Hamas, and a Hezbollah to "destroy terrorists’ money counterfeit operation networks." that had managed to Harpoon reads like a quietly amass nearly fast-paced thriller but the US$50 million.

James Bond-style operations “But everybody ignored executed by Israeli and U.S. it,” Darshan-Leitner says. operatives are not the stuff of The focus had been on fiction. the terrorists calling the The book tells the story of shots and carrying out the late Mossad commander the attacks, not on their Meir Dagan, who created financial enablers. a special intelligence task “Everybody targeted the combatants, force code-named Harpoon, everybody targeted the to launch financial warfare Meir Dagan (Photograph courtesy of Times of Israel) headquarters, the places against the terrorist where they hid their organizations that target Israel and the West. method of attacking the financial lifeblood missiles or launched their missiles,” she of terrorist groups is among the most says, “but nobody thought to go after the NEW TACTICS successful used by Israel, and the Israelis funding.”

The war on terrorism has been have been co-operating to pass it on to the However, attitudes began to change after Al-Qaeda’s September 11, 2001, transformed, moving from battlefields to United States and its allies. courtrooms and from traditional weaponry The story began in 1996, when Meir attacked on New York and Washington DC to the financial “battleground” which is Dagan formed Harpoon as a financial when it became clear that what President from where terrorist or jihadi attacks are counter-terrorism task force that included George W Bush dubbed “the war on terror” bankrolled. soldiers, special agents, hackers, wasn’t just an Israeli problem.

Just as traditional wars required big accountants, and finally lawyers.

Soon after, the United States began outlays of money so too does jihadi killing. Darshan-Leitner says Harpoon had collaborating with the seasoned Israelis Harpoon presents the framework one goal: “to go and choke the oxygen that to learn how they had been combatting of this innovative method of combating drives the terror organizations.” In other terrorist for many decades. terrorism, which sets about collapsing words, Harpoon signifies the adoption of an “Israel and the United States learned the organizations at their foundations by indirect approach in countering terrorism. long ago that there are no white collar disabling a complex web of front money- This was embodied in the agency’s jobs in the terror organizations — that if movers, organized crime, and so-called slogan of “follow the money, target the you move money, you become a target,” “charity” fronts. money, and kill the money.”

Darshan-Leitner said.

The method has been instrumental in helping curb ongoing attacks launched by the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Evidence had emerged that these foundation terrorist entities had been compensating the families of those who had carried out suicide attacks on Israeli citizens.

It comes as a shock when you discover that the more people the attackers killed, the more their families are reimbursed.

“If terrorists know that once they blow themselves up, there will be nobody to take care of their families, they will really consider whether to do it or not,” DarshanLeitner said. Concluded on the next page ...

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COMMUNITY PLUSLIFE MOVES TO MIDLAND NICOLE COX

PlusLife staff reunite at new $10 million and Wallsend Road. The property is owned by the State Government and leased headquarters in Midland to PlusLife through the Metropolitan lusLife, Perth’s bone and tissue bank, Redevelopment Authority. has relocated its entire operation to Under the first phase of the relocation, Midland, signalling a new era for the administration staff from PlusLife’s important West Australian health service. Nedlands office moved to Midland in PlusLife managing director Anne Cowie September last year. Technicians remained said PlusLife’s bone and tissue processing at the Nedlands facility to maintain the facility had moved from Hollywood Private tissue processing and graft distribution Hospital in Nedlands to its new $10 million while the new laboratory was under construction. facility in Midland.

“This is an exciting new chapter for “I would like to thank our staff for their tireless work this year,” Mrs Cowie said.

PlusLife,” Mrs Cowie said.

“Our new purpose-built facility includes “Working across two sites has had its two tissue processing cleanrooms, freezer challenges. Staff have worked diligently storage, a tissue testing laboratory and a to ensure our service has not been compromised dedicated research laboratory.

“These resources mean we will be able in any way, the facility to continue our important work managing qualifications have been bone and tissue donations in WA and we completed and we have will strive to meet growing demand for our managed a seamless transition of our operations services.”

In 2016, the State Government from Nedlands to our committed $10 million to build a new advanced new facility in Midland. workspace for PlusLife.

The new laboratory and processing “In addition, our builder facility in Midland reached practical PS Structures and the entire completion in October and recently project team have worked underwent Therapeutic Goods hard to ensure the building Administration inspections of its retrieval, was completed on time and storage and distribution activities. That on budget,” she said. “From start to finish it took less licence was issued this week.

PlusLife’s new headquarters is on than twelve months.

Yelverton Street, bound by Helena Street “We greatly appreciate the State

P

Concluded from the previous page ...

“A lot of this funding encourages terrorists to carry out attacks.”

Harpoon reviews the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, where Hamas was running short on funds, and families of combatants were complaining to the terrorist group about the lack of payments.

Darshan-Leitner says, “They were desperate, so eventually Hamas sent the money-men to Iran.”

One of the Hamas men received US$13 million in suitcases from the Iranians. Little wonder that, “Israel targeted the person, shot missiles at his car, and took him down.”

And not surprisingly, soon after this money had been lost, Hamas negotiated a ceasefire with Israel.

FINANCIAL WARFARE The Harpoon program used a similar approach to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Dagan regarded a military attack on a nuclear system as a last resort, so turned instead to short-of-war options, including financial sanctions, diplomatic pressure, cyberattacks, and direct assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists.

According to co-author Samuel Katz, the methods are quickly becoming the new face of warfare.

Some operations dealt with issues that were not easily carried out.

Katz noted that when Harpoon tracked Hamas finances to charity organizations, many of which were based in the United States, the charities were often providing services to its citizens that Hamas refused to provide.

While Hamas kept its charitable and militant wings separate, Katz noted, the aid to civilians went with a price.

“The price of allegiance to this organization was waging a ‘holy war,’ and it was a ‘holy war’ that resulted in countless suicide bombings on Israeli civilians,” he said.

Katz said the actions of Harpoon to stop the flow of finances “became a very successful tool” in ending many terror campaigns of Hamas and Hezbollah.

Meir Dagan died in 2016, but his groundbreaking method of depriving terrorists of funds has largely crippled their ability to attack Israel and remains a principle in combatting this ongoing threat.

Courtesy of Roxburgh Securities 41

Government’s commitment of funds to build this facility, which has enabled our life-changing work to continue to help future generations.”

PlusLife bone and tissue transplants are required almost every day to treat patients with spinal deformities, young people with bone cancers (often preventing the amputation of a limb); and many more patients with arthritic joint disease and sporting injuries.

“One deceased tissue donor has the potential to improve the wellbeing, sight and mobility of up to 60 people through the donations of bones, tendons, corneas, heart valves and skin,” Mrs Cowie said.

“These selfless donations can have very real benefits to an individual’s life, but despite this, many people do not realise tissue donation is even possible.

“We are very proud that all our bone and tissue is donated in Australia to benefit Australian patients.”

Last year, PlusLife supplied more than 500 people with bone and tissue transplants.

“We are immensely grateful to our donors and their families. Without their generous gift of donation we could not continue the work that we do,” Mrs Cowie said.

PlusLife has two donor programs. Living patients having hip replacement surgery can donate the ball part of their hip, which is used commonly in a ground-up form for children with spinal deformities.

And, like organ donation, bone, tendons and ligaments can be donated after death with consent from next-of-kin.

PlusLife can be contacted on 6144 3500 or 0419 196 815 after hours or email info@ pluslife.org.au To register as a bone, tissue or organ donor: www.donorregister.gov.au.

COMMUNITY SEXUAL HARASSMENT HOLLY FUNG

New YouGov research explores what Please note: All figures refer to the % exactly people consider to be sexual of people who agreed to answer questions harassment: how the genders and about sexual harassment generations see the issue differently.

T

he issue of sexual harassment is firmly in the limelight, following recent allegations about various public figures.

YouGov's recent survey on sexual harassment in public places shows that younger women are more likely than older women to say they have been harassed in the last five years.

A separate YouGov survey in the UK showed a strong correlation between a woman’s age and whether or not she considered wolf whistling to be acceptable, with older women being much more likely to think it is.

This data raised the possibility that older women have different perceptions of what constitutes sexual harassment, and that this could also be part of the reason why fewer older women say they have been sexually harassed recently. (Although it is still likely to be the case that the largest factor is that harassers are more likely to target younger women).

In order to find out, YouGov has conducted a new study examining the difference in perceptions of sexual harassment both between men and women and across the generations.

What constitutes sexual harassment?

YouGov asked respondents about twelve actions and asked whether they would consider each to constitute sexual harassment if done by a man to a woman who was not his friend or romantic/sexual partner. Many of the actions are very obviously sexual harassment, but some could be considered grey areas.

The genders and generations are broadly united on the more obvious and severe forms of harassment. More than 80% identify upskirt photos, bum pinching, flashing, requesting sexual favours, directing sexual jokes at a woman, and a man going up to a woman in a club and dancing by pressing himself against her as either always or usually sexual harassment.

The most divisive action asked about is wolf whistling. Two thirds (68%) of millennial women (those aged between 18 and 34) say that wolf whistling is always or usually sexual harassment. That figure falls with each subsequent age group to 29% among female baby boomers (those aged 55 or over).

After wolf whistling, the next biggest divisions between younger women and older women are when it comes to winking

42

(36% of millennial women said is usually or always harassment, compared to 10% of the over 55s), commenting on a woman’s attractiveness (38% vs 19%) and a man touching a woman’s lower back (52% vs 37%).

Broadly speaking, the differences in opinion between female generations were also present among men. The issues that divide the genders the most are looking at a woman’s breasts (which women are more likely to see as sexual harassment, at 69% compared to 55% of men) and a man going up to a woman in a club and dancing by pressing himself against her (which 88% of women consider harassment, compared to 79% of men).

It might not be harassment, but is it acceptable?

While older women may not see certain actions as sexual harassment, is it actually that they consider them perfectly acceptable behaviour or do they still believe them to be inappropriate, albeit not specifically sexual harassment?

To test this, we asked women how they would feel if someone who was not their friend or romantic/sexual partner did each of those same actions to them personally.

Among the two actions that most divide younger and older women – wolf whistling and winking– there are indeed noticeable differences in sentiment

COMMUNITY LILAC HILL GRETA JASIAK

ith international standard cricket W facilities, a family park, and a beautiful Swan River frontage, Lilac Hill

Park in Caversham is one of the City of Swan’s most popular reserves.

New plans to improve the condition of the foreshore, encourage local fauna and flora to thrive, and make the river easier to access and enjoy are afoot with a recent Rivercare grant of $22,375 from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

The City of Swan and the Department are working together to develop foreshore management concepts to enhance the reserve’s natural values.

City of Swan Mayor David Lucas said the foreshore along the Swan River is a site of ongoing erosion and needs special care to maintain.

“Erosion can be caused by a number of factors including human traffic, tidal movement and wave action associated with boating activities on the river,” he said “This project will help control erosion at the riverbank, manage weeds, protect biodiversity and improve access to the river.”

matches to Lilac Hill Park in Caversham between December 30, 2017 and January 21, 2018.

The last series attracted close to 5000 spectators over three days, which is an excellent turn out and we are expecting this round to be even bigger.

Mayor Lucas: “I am very pleased that the City, the Midland-Guildford Cricket Club and the WACA have developed a strong partnership and come together to deliver this unique and engaging sporting event to the community. “ The Scorchers will face the Hobart Hurricanes on January 21.

The Cricket Carnivale will see free rides, amusements and Scorchers cricket activities for the kids, while the Boundary Pop Up Bar and Eatery will provide spectators with an array of food, drinks and live music for the big kids.

There will also be a free shuttle bus running from Guildford Train Station to the venue on game days and free parking will be available onsite, just follow the signs Rebel Women’s Big Bash League The City of Swan has partnered with the from West Swan Road.

Perth Scorchers to bring another series of For more information please visit www. explosive Rebel Women’s Big Bash League swan.wa.gov.au/WBBL. Lilac Hill Park is of great Aboriginal significance, falling within the boundary of the Bennett Brook Camp Area, which is registered under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972.

The City consulted with nineteen Noongar community members and incorporated their comments and aspirations into the project planning.

Councillor Rod Henderson said the project was part of the City’s five year Bushland Preservation Program.

“Managing and protecting our highlyvalued natural reserves is a priority for the City,” he said.

“Our Bushland Preservation and Foreshore Restoration Programs fund projects that aim to protect the biodiversity of these reserves, and keep them at their best.

“Keeping these reserves beautiful is not only good for the environment, but for the community’s benefit too.”

About YouGov

between the generations. Older women are significantly more likely than their younger counterparts to say that they do not find these behaviours inappropriate.

Again, wolf whistling is the most divisive behaviour. 58% of millennial women consider it inappropriate, compared to just a third (34%) of females in the 55+ age group. Indeed, three in ten (30%) women aged 55 and over say it is acceptable behaviour (including 23% who'd find it flattering), while another 34% have no strong feelings on it.

Perceptions differ on how widespread harassment is While the research uncovers how women of different ages see sexual

harassment differently, it could suggest that the largest reason that older women are less likely to say they have been sexually harassed recently is simply because they haven’t been harassed at all.

For instance, while older women are far less likely to say they have been harassed in the last 5 years (38% of 18-34 year olds, compared to 9% of 55+ year olds), older women are more likely to say they have ever been sexually harassed (52% and 58%, respectively). *Data was collected online by YouGov Omnibus between 23 and 27 November 2017 among 773 respondents in Australia. Results are representative of the adult population.

43

YouGov is an international data and analytics group. Our core offering of opinion data is derived from our highly participative panel of 5 million people worldwide.

We combine this continuous stream of data with our deep research expertise and broad industry experience into a systematic research and marketing platform.

Our suite of syndicated, proprietary data products includes YouGov BrandIndex, the daily brand perception tracker, and YouGov Profiles, our planning and segmentation tool.

Our market-leading YouGov Omnibus provides a fast and costeffective service for obtaining answers to research questions from both national and selected samples.

With thirty offices in twenty countries and panel members in thirty-eight countries, YouGov has one of the world’s top ten international market research networks.

For further information visit https://au.yougov.com/ Enquiries : holly.fung@yougov. com

COMMUNITY ALICIA VAN SCHOONHOVEN - MISS GALAXY AUSTRALIA FINALIST is a popular opinion that beauty pagent contestants are T here empty-headed clothes horses that happen to be very beutiful.

This could hardly be further from the truth, as the story of Ms

Van Schoonhoven proves.

She is currently competing for the title of Miss Galaxy Australia 2018, as she has been selected as a National Finalist for the well-regarded international pageant for the third time.

She says: “I am very excited to be representing Western Australia on the National stage in March on the Gold Coast.“ Miss Galaxy Australia is more than just a beauty pageant, with a strong emphasis on community and philanthropy work.

Alicia has volunteered and worked for a total of thirty different not-for-profit organisations as part of her Miss Galaxy Australia campaign, and will be supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She is planning to host a fundraiser for Make-AWish before travelling over East for the National Final.

The winner of Miss Galaxy Australia 2018 will travel alongside Miss Teen Galaxy Australia, Mrs Galaxy Australia and Ms Galaxy Australia to Florida in the United States, proceeding on to the International Stage for the International final of the pageant, representing Australia.

This time around her focus is on mental health promotion, education and advocacy.

Since May 2017 she has been working within the health promotion team at a local mental health organisation.

“My primary role involves visiting high schools to educate youth about mental health and mental illness. I talk to them about a range of different topics regarding mental health, including but not limited to, the different types of mental illness, risk factors, drugs and alcohol, relationships as well as how to stay mentally healthy and the different support services that are available to them.”

During 2017 she has also been heavily involved in ‘The Fear to Freedom Project’.

The project aims to share the stories of women who have been through difficult situations in their life, such as mental health issues, domestic violence and bullying.

Ten women were interviewed about their experiences and the videos were then transcribed into the book From Fear to Freedom

by Adrian Kwan, which was published in December 2017.

Alicia is very proud, both to be the Ambassador for the project and to having been involved in this project, as an interviewee

Alicia Van Schoonhaven (Photograph by Damo Guy)

talking about her experiences with anxiety and depression and also assisting with other important tasks such as the editing of the book.

The book was launched in Sydney on Saturday, the 2nd of December and will be launched in Perth on Saturday, the 20th of January, as six of the ten women interviewed are from Perth.

To find out more information about the project, to view the interview videos or to purchase the book, visit the project website: www.thef2fproject.com.

Alicia says: “Having struggled with depression and anxiety myself in recent years, I understand how difficult it can be to climb out of the darkness of life’s lows.

“I have searched for and trialled different approaches to help me personally overcome these and while I am still learning about this area everyday, I hope to use my lived experience and education to help others.

“I believe Miss Galaxy Australia is the perfect platform to launch this initiative in order to reach and support as many people as possible and if I’m crowned Miss Galaxy Australia 2018, I will make it my mission to do so.”

Alicia Van Schoonhaven has been sponsored by local businesses Robert Crispin Hair Salon in Hillarys Boat Harbour and Ignite the Night dress hire in Fremantle.

The Sydney From Fear to Freedom book launch (Photograph by Matt Clark)

Author Adrian Kwan with Alicia at the book launch (Photograph by Matt Clark) 44

LEISURE SWAN HILLS KARATE STUDENTS MAKE THE GRADE LISA SKRYPICHAYKO

Brown / black be lt grading (Photograph by at Swan Hills Goju Ryu dojo Melinda Brezmen )

Hills Goju Ryu Karate ended 2017 on a high note S wan after intensive training and successful gradings.

Twenty members of Sensei Bob Allen’s dojo returned

from karate’s birthplace in Okinawa, Japan, where they spent a fortnight training with their masters in karate and traditional Okinawan weaponry. s ill H ing at Swan ack belt grad zmen) A week later, back in WA, it was now time for end-ofbl in d al on Melinda Bre r and Ben McD year gradings. Testing for white through to green belt Grace Saw yeu Ryu dojo (Photograph by Goj students proceeded throughout the morning, followed in the afternoon by the annual brown/black belt testing.

This grading was a three-hour challenge of body, mind and spirit for those attempting higher levels, beginning with basic stances, then continuing through blocking / striking / kicking techniques, on to kata (pattern work), and culminating in sparring with one another.

The spirit and focus of all the students was palpable, and Sensei Bob noted that throughout the gradings, he saw many students use the challenges of the day to go above and beyond their previous efforts.

Of all the students who participated, Ben McDonald (recently returned from Okinawa), Grace Sawyer, Michael Samirich and Philippa Jackson of Swan Hills Goju Ryu's sister dojo in Bridgetown were promoted to shodan (senior black belt), with new junior black belts also given to two younger students.

“I am extremely proud of what our group has accomplished this year” declared Sensei Bob, adding, Michael Samirich and Philippa Jackson in black belt grading at Swan Hills “We have all gained from the support of our students, Goju Ryu dojo (Photograph by Melinda Brezmen) committee members and also the Shire of Mundaring, who’ve assisted us from time to time with grants for equipment and first aid training”. With a smile and a sigh of relief, he commented, “I think we all deserved a wellearned rest over the holidays, but now I can’t wait to see what 2018 brings!”

Sensei Bob Allen is the WA head of Goju Ryu Australia. He was a referee at the state and national level for 21 years, and is one of the WA Karate Federation’s senior kata coaches. Sensei Bob teaches students of all ages at his Midland and Mount Helena dojos.

For more information, please ring Bob on 0419 922 609 or email bob@swanhillsgojuryu. com.au .

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WANTED - FOSTER CARERS JUDY WEBB

t’s a New Year at SAFE and we have dogs Iavailable and cats of all shapes, sizes and ages for adoption.

You will have ongoing support from SAFE whilst you have an animal in your care and you will be part of As well as that though we’re keen to the adoption process for your foster find new foster carers in Perth to assist us in pet. preparing our animals for their new homes. Foster care enables our animals to experience normal household life and social interactions, all while FOSTERING Foster caring is a rewarding and feeling loved and SAFE. fulfilling role at SAFE. Becoming a foster It allows them to relax so we carer is a great way to help an animal in can see their true personalities and need by opening your home to a cat or a make great matches for them and their adopters. And it gives them the dog on a temporary basis.

This can range from a short to long-term skills to make their transition into permanent homes smooth. foster care or even just on one occasion.

Pictured, are two of our dogs living in foster care in Karratha. Dash (18 months) and Baxter (four years) are available for adoption and can stay safely in foster care until they are adopted.

A few hours in a plane is absolutely worth it for remotely located animals like these two.

Flights to Perth for dogs are $150 thanks to sponsorship from QANTAS. Cats can fly to Dash (Photograph by Emilie Cowell) Perth for $50 and two

Baxter (Photograph by Helen Osler)

kittens can share a crate for just $50.

Dash is full of beans and looking for an athletic family who are calm, firm and consistent and will continue his training.

He’s a young and energetic boy and will make a great companion for an equally energetic family.

Baxter is an obedient, calm and active boy who will likely steal your heart very quickly. He loves being around his people especially if they’ll play tug or ball with him.

Our animals are all vaccinated, desexed (voucher provided if too young) and SAFE INC. AT A GLANCE microchipped. If you’d like to adopt one SAFE is WA’s largest volunteer-based animal rescue and rehoming service using the of these lovely dogs call SAFE Karratha foster care model. Our goal is to save homeless pets from unnecessary euthanasia by on (08) 9185 4634. fostering, desexing and rehoming them.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN 2018 We are a not for profit organisation administered by a skilled board of directors,

Our branch in Perth, SAFE Metro, is meeting high standards in the charity sector. SAFE Inc. is a proud member of Animal keen to hear from people interested Welfare League of Australia. in volunteering, particularly in foster SAFE began in the Pilbara in 2003 and has grown to a network of 12 branches around caring. the state, with an average of over 300 companion animals in care each month.

With more than 14,000 cats and dogs desexed and rehomed since our inception, we Metro also has opportunities for volunteers with skills in photography, are making a difference! administration and fundraising.

Click on the link ~ To enjoy the rewards of being part of Join our team of volunteers: safe.asn.au/volunteering.html our SAFE Metro network and meet like Be a financial supporter: safe.asn.au/Donate.html minded people, please contact us on Look at our animals available for adoption: safe.asn.au/Pets_available 0475 346 545.

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COMMUNITY Compassionate Friends of Western TwhoheAustralia strives to support families have lost a child, regardless of that

child’s age throughout WA. We are a non-profit, non-government funded charity that provide peer call support, group meetings, a drop in centre, sending out quarterly newsletters, Anniversary Cards, we hold Walk of remembrance and a candlelight service (non-religious) at Christmas.

We are run by volunteers and bereaved parents that are further along in their grief and wish to help others who have suffered this tragedy.

Although everybody’s grief is different it helps to talk to someone who has actually had this tragedy happen to them.

They WON”T say “I know how you feel” as no one can, but they will say “I don’t know exactly what you are feeling but this is how I felt when my child died”.

We raise funds by holding events, charity drives and donation from our members and outside bodies.

Although this is fantastic, we still

struggle with the cost of keeping our doors open so any suggestion on fundraising or donations are gratefully accepted.

WALK OF REMEMBRANCE HELD IN MARCH EACH YEAR Events like these above give the bereaved some hope of a life after the death of their child. They connect with others that have been through the same tragic experience.

In doing so its helps them to feel that they are not alone in their grief, that there is a worldwide connection to other suffering the same.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED We are always looking for volunteers to help man Sausage Sizzles, Charity Shopping Centre Drives and other events along with peer support volunteers (bereaved parents) for telephone support and group meeting facilitation.

other information to the newly bereaved, community groups, doctors surgeries and hospital throughout Western Australia.

They help us cover advertising cost in newspapers throughout Western Australia, pay for our office and utilities allowing us to have Peer Support Workers come in and contact to bereaved that wish to have contact.

The Compassionate Friends of WA Inc. DONATIONS receives no Government funding Donations allow us to in any way. purchase stamps so we can send our booklets and

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By arrangement with the author

By: Noel O’Neill Directed by: Caroline McDonnell At The Town Square Theatre

Kalamunda, Here I Come

Sun Wed Thurs Fri Sat February 16 17 18* 21 23 24 March 25* 28 2 3 Curtain Up 8:00pm ~ *Matinées 2:00pm Fish and Chip Supper - February 24th

Tickets: Adults $20.00 Conc $17.00 Fish & Chip Night $30.00 TryBooking www.trybooking.com/TPBB Group Bookings Linda Murray 0448 779 891

52 Feb 14th to March 3rd. 2018